Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Chango Carmona

[kikibalt]

Art Aragon vs Tommy Campbell

[granberry]

Does anyone know how Jesse Burnett is these days?

I'll see if I can fine out for you.

Thanks, Frank. Jesse was surely one of the unluckiest light-heavies ever. They robbed him a million times.

I sat next to Eddie Gregory watching the Jerry Martin-Jesse Burnett fight at the Philly Spectrum.

Gregory commented to me at some point during the fight that Burnett was the “slickest” fighter he had ever fought.
I wish I had asked him to explain that in further detail, but we were watching the fight.

Both Burnett and Martin were tall light heavies.
Burnett landed his right hand repeatedly, round after round. Martin was so strong at that time that he just took it, round after round. I assumed Martin was losing the fight.

It was a 12-round fight. In the final round, showing great stamina, Martin came on strongly, drove Burnett around the ring, and knocked Burnett down.

The decision was a surprise to me--for Martin, the hometown fighter.

I always brought 4 one-quart wax containers of orange juice with me in a big paper bag when I went to a fight, and gave them to fighters I liked after their fights in the dressing room.

I went to Burnett’s dressing room. He was sitting there surrounded by some weirdly dressed pimp types. Also there was his manager, (white guy), the guy who had some connection with blacklisted basketball player Connie Hawkins..

I told Burnett that Martin was a friend of mine, but that I thought he [Burnett] won the fight.
Burnett commented that Martin was “strong,” but still had “things to learn.”

I gave Burnett one of my quarts of orange juice, which would be a godsend for a dehydrated fighter after a fight, as long as his mouth wasn’t cut. One of the pimp types grabbed at the carton as Burnett held it, saying “Why do you get all that? What about us?” and tried to take it away from him.
I got furious, and said, “This guy just fought and got robbed. What did you do? I gave the juice to HIM, not you.”

I was so angry every one there was afraid of me, even though there was only one of me and many of them.

Then I went to Martin’s dressing room and I saw something I have never seen before. Martin was sitting on a table in the room, and as I started to step in the room it almost felt like a force was pushing me back out. Martin’s face was so swollen on the left side high on the face from all the heavy right hands he had taken from Burnett, that the swollen side of his face projected out so that it seemed to take up most of the room. I NEVER saw a face like that. It looked like a space man’s face.

Martin’s local manager-trainer said that they had to go to the hospital to have the cut on the surface of the swelling stitched up, because although he was a medic, he didn’t know how to handle a cut like that on top a swelling so huge.

Burnett and his entourage then came into the room. Burnett grinned and yelled out loudly (and somewhat affably) as he entered, “How is that TURKEY?” to Martin. Martin sat there quietly and they talked a bit, with Martin complimenting Burnett about his abilities.

I followed Martin and his manager to the hospital in my car.
Martin wasn’t afraid of fighting, but he was terrified once we got inside the hospital and he went into an operating room with the Asian doctor on call there that late at night. Very interesting how someone can be unafraid of an area that would scare most people, but totally terrified in another.

I could see what a bad state of mind Martin was in as he took off his clothes to lie on the table, so I told him I would be around the corner, holding his clothes and his wallet for him.
In the next room I sat and waited, talking to Martin’s ‘manager.’

The doctor came out and said they were done, and as I went into the room I could see Martin was still totally terrified. Some comments he made as I handed him his wallet and clothes showed me he was in an extremely bad state of mind.
At the same moment the clueless manager started jabbering loudly and critically about what Martin should have done in the fight, completely oblivious to the condition Martin was in psychologically.

The jerk kept up his clueless barrage as we walked out. I could see Martin, in the state of mind he was in, was possibly going to go kill himself if he was subjected to that steadily in a closed car on a long ride home, so I took Martin by the arm and said, “I’ll give him a ride home.”
The manager said, “I’m his manager. I’ll give him the ride home.”

I said again I was giving him the ride home, and the guy decided not to fool with me.

On the ride I asked Martin about various buildings we passed in Philly, about people I had seen at the gym earlier in the day---all commonplace conversation—which eventually brought him back to a normal state of mind. By the time he was home he was in a perfectly good state of mind.

The manager must have talked about that, because the next time I called the Philly promoter to ask what he had coming up, when I said, “What about Jerry Martin? Does he have anything coming up?”
the promoter, paused and said to me very pointedly,
“That’s for his manager to decide—isn’t it.”

Martin had great equipment. They trained him to beat James Scott, because they wanted to get rid of Scott. They gave Martin the best sparring partners, and primed him to win that fight. He knocked Scott down with single right hands in both the first and seconds rounds, something nobody else ever did.

Then they told Martin to take time off (get out of shape) and that he wouldn’t fight until the end of the summer. I told him that didn’t make any sense, and that he shouldn’t get lax at that point.
Then, after he did stop training, they suddenly sprung on his him that he was fighting Eddie Gregory in a 15-round title fight in a couple weeks. In his ‘preparation’ for the fight, his stooge manager told him NOT to use any of his best punches, not practice them, etc. I talked to him only once before that fight, and he said he was “arguing” with his manager about that. Sick.
Martin’s chance of beating Gregory would have been NOT to allow Gregory to use his strengths—which were boxing at longer range, and to try to concentrate the fight in close where Martin would be using his strengths. Among other things, referee Tony Perez made sure there was no infighting.

Time stops me from going into detail re the Saad Muhammed-Martin title fight, where Martin was the only one involved who was not a member of the [muslim] club, with promoter Murad Muhammed, opponent Saad Muhammed, Saad’s managers, and referee Larry Hazzard-- all muslims. And of course the Larry Hazzard all time prize‘performance’ as so-called ‘referee’ in that fight.

Or Martin’s title fight with Braxton, where he wasn’t in condition to work out in a gym, much less fight, and showed up for that fight with stitches taken out of his lower lip two days before the fight and badly bruised ribs. And the lovely Eddie Futch there—the only time he was ever in Martin’s corner—just to make sure the fight did go on. And Futch didn’t even bother to go back to the dressing room with the badly beaten up Martin after the fight. On to his next ‘assignment.’

Some of these guys had great abilities and strengths, but were used a pieces in the overall ‘agenda.’

Take a look at Martin against James Scott, when they did prime and train him to go all out and win.

Burnett was robbed royally in his fight with Leon Spinks.
(Larry Hazzard was the ‘referee,’ of course.)

[BoxBuzz]

granberry, if these are your words I have a re evaluated respect for you. For what you have seen and your abililty to effectively communicate it. When you shift into objective mode you create a very compelling vision. That does not mean I agree with all your assumptions, because these very experiences have formed very strong subjective opinions. And though I disagree with many, I have respect for them.

You just may have a book in you. One that I nor anyone else could muck up by our sidebar, or distracting comments. If you don't want to hear from folks like me who you say have no business commenting....then I say write that book, have your say.

I just might buy a copy. ...If you would guarantee me you would sign it if I mailed it to you. Otherwise it would be at least a good library read.

[Rick Farris]

In my last post, regarding Tony Baltazar, I mentioned that Jimmy Lennon Jr. would be the announcer for the '66 Jr. GG championships. I meant Jimmy Lennon SENIOR.

Blame it on the punches!

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Granberry-

Good stuff amigo!

-Rick Farris

[Lausse]

Frank,

If you don`t mind me asking, what kind of a woman was Aileen Eaton? I have heard that she was one tough cookie when it came to the negotiating table and all, but did she have a soft spot for fighters in general? Was she personable and friendly with people or was it the opposite? I ask because I have heard conflicting accounts about her, and if anyone would know I reckon it would be you. I also recall reading a long time ago something to do with her possibly involved in Howie Steindler`s death, although I may be wrong on this because it was many years ago .

Lausse,

Aileen Eaton was indeed a tough cookie when it came to neotiating contracts, I think, no, I know that she had a soft heart for fighters that were down on their luck, because I seen her help them with money more then onces, out of respect I will not name said fighters.

She also knew have to go around the fighters and their managers with some of their demands. I remember when we sign the contracts for Frankie's fight with Bazooka Limon, Limon and his manager would not sign unless they would get more money then us, we sign a contract for less money then Limon, the night of the fight we got a second contract that gave us a % of the gate, so now we have two contracts and we lose the fight LOL!

The fact is I liked her , but you had to be tough with her too, because if she could get your fighter for nothing, she wouldn't think twice about it, she was that kind of a person.

Frank

Thank you for answering my question Frank, I appreciate it. I guess Aileen had no choice to be tough in a sport traditionally dominated by men, but it is nice to know she a soft spot for fighters who were down on their luck. I notice on most of the pictures I see of her around fighters that she is always smiling and seemingly happy, you could tell she liked her job.

[scartissue]

Ex-pug, I sent you an PM.

Scartissue

[Lausse]

Granberry,

That was one hell of a story, and it makes much more sense now to me as to why he looked so dramatically different in his fight versus Scott who he outclassed and then his poor showing vs Gregory. I never could figure out why he fought the way he did in that fight as that wasn`t his usual style and he threw almost no body punches either which he normaly did. A shame what happened to him as he had a lot of potential and was a very strong guy with a good head on his shoulders, would you happen to know what Jerry is up to these days and how he is doing by any chance?

[kikibalt]

Gil King

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Danny Valdez with Gene Fullmer

I first met Danny when he was 13 years old, we were both living in E.L.A. at the time, don't remember where I met him at, but anyway after we met I would pick him up at home since he was to young to drive and we would drive over to his trainer's house, his trainer Art Arviso, not sure of the spelling on Art's last name, Art had like lots of trainer back then a gym in his backyard, I train there with them only about 4-6 months.

Danny went on to turn pro and fought Davey Moore for the featherweight title in 1961, Danny was a very good fighter, but Davey Moore was a monster.

[kikibalt]

I received this and other photos from my good friend Hap Navarro

This photo of Hap (L) and Enrique Bolanos was taken at the Mexican Sports Writer banquet held in 1951 at the Club El Sarape, on west Sunset Blvd. Hap was the emcee that night and handed out awards to bert Colima, Manuel Oritz, Baby Arizmendi, Art Aragon and Enrique. It was the first time Mexican boxers had ever been honored that way....through popular voting in the Mexican newspaper La Opinion.

[kikibalt]

Caption by Hap Navarro

Fabela Chavez is getting his final check as a pro after losing a decision to Juan Luis Campos at the Hollywood Legion in March 1954.Trouble is, he "unretired" and came back to fight three more times, away from me. He had boxed my opening show at Bakersfield (Not in the record book) and we became kinda close friends. he had promised I would promote his last fight and we planned a big celebration for it but it was all for nothing when he decided to come back, the Legion Stadium manager, Jesse Smith, is handing Fabela his check (I had my hand out just in case, you know? (lol)

[dagosd2000]

Rick or Frank
Help me with this one. I remember watching Shotgun Alborado at the Olympic. He was a good action fighter with an impressive record. Then he gets stopped in the first round by a guy named Dino Del Cid. What happened in that fight? I couldn't figure how a guy of Alborado's caliber could lose to a fighter in one round like Cid. I know Oscar won the rematch. Also is Aborado still around? The Dago

[kikibalt]

Rick or Frank
Help me with this one. I remember watching Shotgun Alborado at the Olympic. He was a good action fighter with an impressive record. Then he gets stopped in the first round by a guy named Dino Del Cid. What happened in that fight? I couldn't figure how a guy of Alborado's caliber could lose to a fighter in one round like Cid. I know Oscar won the rematch. Also is Aborado still around? The Dago

Dago,

I don't know much about that fight as I didn't see it, as for Alborado, he is living in Texas.

[kikibalt]

What happen to Ex-Pug?

[Rick Farris]

Dagos . . .

I posted the reply to your Albarado question on the Lopez thread. I know things have shifted, maybe the reply well, as well.

-Rick

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Bernard Docusen vs Tippy Larkin...1949

[kikibalt]

Dagos . . .

To be perfectly honest, I didn't see either one of Albarado's two fights with Dino Del Cid. I know he won the second, but really can't comment on as to why he lost the first.

I remember seeing him working out at the Main St. Gym, around 1969, after he came to L.A. from Texas, and began fighting for the Olympic Boxing Club. Albarado impressed Aileen Eaton with his '68 KO of Lonnie Harris, a middleweight born in Memphis, but who fought out of L.A. Harris could hold his own with most of the best middleweights in the world. The "Uvalde Shotgun", blasted out Harris in less than a round.

I believe, based on what I saw Albarado do against guys like Hedgemon Lewis, Ernie Lopez, Armando Muniz, etc. that Albarado was very good, but just a cut beneath the best L.A. had to offer at the time.

Of course, in Japan he won the World Jr. Middle title, and he defended it more than once. However, I believe this is one case where viewing the record of a boxer's career, will serve as a road map to their place in history. Oscar was a World Champ, but seemed to be just a bit shy of what it took to be the best.

Guys, my opinion only, of course.

I know this, I saw Albarado and Ernie Lopez have some GREAT gym wars at Main St. In the gym, both were impressive against each other. In an actual fight, the cream that rose to the top of the barrel was "Indian Red".


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Rick,

I moved your post on Oscar Albarado.

Frank

[dagosd2000]

Rick,

I moved your post on Oscar Albarado.

Frank

I'm zigging when I should be zagging.

Hey pal,what radio shows did you listen to in LA? Johnny Otis? Art Leboe?
There's an ol' Mexican gal who owns a little beer joint on Logan Avenue. I got a mechanic who does some work on my car across the street. I'll have a coke in her place as I wait for my car. She's got one hell of a jukebox. Lupita Palomera. Chelo Silva. Little Willie and the Midniters. Los Angeles Negroes. Los Bukis. Sometimes I look forward to my car breaking down.

[dagosd2000]

What happen to Ex-Pug?

My guess he's freezing his ass off in Chicago.

[kikibalt]

Rick,

I moved your post on Oscar Albarado.

Frank

I'm zigging when I should be zagging.

Hey pal,what radio shows did you listen to in LA? Johnny Otis? Art Leboe?
There's an ol' Mexican gal who owns a little beer joint on Logan Avenue. I got a mechanic who does some work on my car across the street. I'll have a coke in her place as I wait for my car. She's got one hell of a jukebox. Lupita Palomera. Chelo Silva. Little Willie and the Midniters. Los Angeles Negroes. Los Bukis. Sometimes I look forward to my car breaking down.

Yeah, I listen to Johnny Otis and Art Leboe, but before they came on the scene, I listen to Joe Adams, Hunter Hancock and later on Huggy Boy, I started listening to Adams about 1949, Hancock about 1951, it was all early R&B, thats the music I like.

Frank

[kikibalt]

What happen to Ex-Pug?

My guess he's freezing his ass off in Chicago.

So he tells me!!

[dagosd2000]

Back in the 80's I coached American football at a private high school(prepatoria) in Tijuana called CETYS. It was the first time a team from Mexico went north and beat teams in the U.S. We did it 9 times out of 13!. Just took some organization.

We had some pretty good athletes. There was this one kid on the team who was also a fighter. I can't for the life of me remember his name,but it's not important. This kid is undefeated in 6 fights and he asks me if I want to see him fight at the Auditorium. Of course!

He's in one of the undercards. Now in Tijuana it's always a good match up to have a local fighter(Tijuanero)fight a guy from Mexico City(Chilango)
I don't know what it is ,but a lot of Tijuaneros don't care for Chilangos. Where I worked at CETYS,the school had a policy not to hire anyone from Mexico City.

Well my kid is in the ring and he's a real good looking kid and I figure being from TJ he's real popular too.The Mexico City dude climbs into the ring and he just didn't have the "presence" of my kid. Kind of hunched over and frail looking. It's a 6 rounder. The announcer grabs the microphone to introduce the two boys. He points to the Chilango and announces his name. A big round of whistles(chifles)and boos. No surprise there.

The announcer then points to my kid's corner and says his name. Well since this kid goes to school,his nickname is "El Estudiante"(the Student).Geez! I thought they just announced Hitler. They hated this kid! I found out later. A"student"is not condusive to the manly sport of boxing in Mexico. It's a sissified name for a fighter. Students aren't fighters. Now Miguel Canto's nickname was "Maestro"(Teacher). I guess Canto taught the other guy a "lesson" and the other guy was the"student" and probably Canto wasn't a student and never went to school much anyway.