[5] He moved to the United States in 1959 to pursue professional that same year, wrestling under his real name and as "Pancho López", primarily in the Amarillo, Texas territory.

[7] As Pancho López, he won the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship two times in 1960, defeating Gene LeBell and Mike DiBiase respectively.

[8] Soon thereafter he formed a tag team called "Continental Warriors" with Bobby Hart, under the ring names "Mephisto and Dante".

The team found great success as a heel pairing, using underhand tactics to achieve victory, including the use of foreign objects.

[12] Parente held several other championships during the remainder of his career, including two reigns as NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Champion, both times defeating Don Greene.

He settled in Brentwood, Tennessee, with his wife Christine "Dina" Parente[5] where he opened a successful restaurant; Lorenzo's Italian Village in 1975.