Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

I like that article about Rodolfo and Mando.
The thing that jumps out at you is, its just an article about a couple fighters.
It didnt have to be a promo for a pay perview extravaganza which is the only time a fight or fighters seem to get any ink nowadays.
I also like that Rodolfo didnt wanna be treated as a mere sparring partner.
Its attitude like that that makes a champ.

"Its attitude like that that makes a champ".

You got that right, Pug.

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

Lou Filippo

[El Gato]

It was near the end of 1979 and I was visiting in San Diego from New Mexico where I was then living. I was going into a restaurant and two men were coming out. One of them recognized me. It was Junior Robles. We talked outside the restaurant for some time. The result of this meeting was unbelievable.

Junior was the director of the Community Youth Athletic Association of San Diego. He had already received a grant for $165,000 to start a youth program for under privileged kids. He asked if I could help him. I agreed and moved to San Diego and became the project coordinator of the "1980 Youth Superstar Sports Festival". He was so pleased for me to help out because he was planning to leave on the trip to Poland. The Superstar Sports Festival involved kids from 7 years of age to 21 and was for those who otherwise would not have a chance to participate in Junior Olympic type games. We started the program in January of 1980.

It was a very sad day in March when we received the news of the plane crash and that Junior and Byron and all the boxing team had died. Carlos Palomino's brother was part of the team. I worked closely with Junior's girlfriend, Aida, and she was devastated. When they brought Junior's body back to San Diego for burial we all went to the service to pay our respects where I met all of his family.

I did continue the program with eight assistants until it ended in November of 1980. Throughout the year we had registered 2,800 kids, the winners receiving gold, silver and bronze medals. We also gave ribbons for the preliminary game winners. The events were held in communities throughout San Diego county. Channel 8 covered all of the events including the finals at the Sweetwater High School grounds in National City and the Parade of Champions that was also held in National City with torch runners that came running from the San Ysidro border. The parade was led by the San Diego Marching Band and hundreds of people, parents, families and friends were cheering for the champions. It was such a heart warming experience to see the happiness and the unity of families and the community. It was a huge success and one that Junior Robles would have been so proud to see.

El Gato

[kikibalt]

Gilmore Heritage Auto Show: Woody Wagon joy rides

David Holmes

A one-of-a-kind "camperized" 1946 Mercury Marmon-Herrington Woody. This and a dozen other Woodies along with 45 other vintage cars at the Gilmore Auto Show this Saturday at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles.

By -- Brenda Rees

Motoring around Santa Monica with Dougger Anderson is like taking a drive with Angelina Jolie or George Clooney, except it's the car, not the passengers, that has the celebrity status.

"Hey, how you doing?" chimes Anderson as he waves "hang loose" to a guy snapping a cellphone shot of the pristine maize-colored Ford Woody Wagon -- one of the quintessential old-school "cheap" beach cars with wood paneling that were perfect for hauling surfboards and buddies -- as it idles at a red light.

"What year is it?" hollers another fellow along Ocean Boulevard.

"It was built in 1946, the same year I was," Anderson shouts back with a grin.

Despite the bumpy outing, the grind of the stick shift and the lack of power brakes and steering, the Woody ride is more than just a grown man showing off his expensive toy.

"It reminds me of what being in Southern California is all about," says Anderson, who surfed his youth away at Dana Point. "It represents the carefree beach days, the smell of Coppertone, the Beach Boys. I bought it for the joy of the image it projects. It just makes everyone happy."

Anderson joins owners of a dozen other Woodies -- along with 45 other vintage cars, including an extremely rare 1902 Autocar Tonneau convertible -- at the Gilmore Heritage Auto Show this Saturday at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles. The "Knock on Wood" exhibition, a smorgasbord of classic surf cars, features wood-sided wagons from the '30s, '40s and '50s.

Another one-of-a-kind car on display is a "camperized" 1946 Mercury Marmon-Herrington Woody. Current owner Dave Holmes of Santa Monica was so enamored of the adventurous and classy vehicle that he sold two vintage cars -- a 1942 Ford Woody and a 1959 Corvette -- to buy it.

"I like stuff that's unique, and this car is like driving around in a museum," Holmes says. His Woody was first owned by Donald Bleitz, a preeminent Southern California ornithological photographer.

Traveling the Southwest to photograph local birds from the mountains to the deserts, Bleitz transformed his simple car into a practical overnighter: The back seats were removed and a folding aluminum cot was stowed on the interior roof. An extra gas tank was installed along with a stainless steel, cork-insulated ice chest for film and food. A dashboard button dispensed drinking water from a supplementary water tank. And the roof rack, which doubled as a photo shoot platform, was modified with extra ribs; folding metal steps were added on the rear.

Holmes encourages car-show visitors to view each vehicle as a time capsule. "They couldn't help but make things stylish back then," the retired schoolteacher says. "Every old car has something you don't see in today's cars: authenticity and flair."


GILMORE HERITAGE AUTO SHOW
WHERE: Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A. WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday PRICE: Free INFO: (323) 933-9211

[dagosd2000]

It was near the end of 1979 and I was visiting in San Diego from New Mexico where I was then living. I was going into a restaurant and two men were coming out. One of them recognized me. It was Junior Robles. We talked outside the restaurant for some time. The result of this meeting was unbelievable.

Junior was the director of the Community Youth Athletic Association of San Diego. He had already received a grant for $165,000 to start a youth program for under privileged kids. He asked if I could help him. I agreed and moved to San Diego and became the project coordinator of the "1980 Youth Superstar Sports Festival". He was so pleased for me to help out because he was planning to leave on the trip to Poland. The Superstar Sports Festival involved kids from 7 years of age to 21 and was for those who otherwise would not have a chance to participate in Junior Olympic type games. We started the program in January of 1980.

It was a very sad day in March when we received the news of the plane crash and that Junior and Byron and all the boxing team had died. Carlos Palomino's brother was part of the team. I worked closely with Junior's girlfriend, Aida, and she was devastated. When they brought Junior's body back to San Diego for burial we all went to the service to pay our respects where I met all of his family.

I did continue the program with eight assistants until it ended in November of 1980. Throughout the year we had registered 2,800 kids, the winners receiving gold, silver and bronze medals. We also gave ribbons for the preliminary game winners. The events were held in communities throughout San Diego county. Channel 8 covered all of the events including the finals at the Sweetwater High School grounds in National City and the Parade of Champions that was also held in National City with torch runners that came running from the San Ysidro border. The parade was led by the San Diego Marching Band and hundreds of people, parents, families and friends were cheering for the champions. It was such a heart warming experience to see the happiness and the unity of families and the community. It was a huge success and one that Junior Robles would have been so proud to see.

El Gato

Thanks for sharing that Gato. I used to coach football in National City. When Robles and Lindsay died I don't think that community ever fully recovered the closeness that those gave to the people.Boxing in National City ,with Robles's gym being the focal point,I know never recovered from that. Archie Moore mentioned to me about Junior's passing once. I remember Arch's voice sort of drifting away as he expressed his recollection of Junior Robles and those boxers that died in that plane crash.

[dagosd2000]

Gilmore Heritage Auto Show: Woody Wagon joy rides

David Holmes

A one-of-a-kind "camperized" 1946 Mercury Marmon-Herrington Woody. This and a dozen other Woodies along with 45 other vintage cars at the Gilmore Auto Show this Saturday at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles.

By -- Brenda Rees

Motoring around Santa Monica with Dougger Anderson is like taking a drive with Angelina Jolie or George Clooney, except it's the car, not the passengers, that has the celebrity status.

"Hey, how you doing?" chimes Anderson as he waves "hang loose" to a guy snapping a cellphone shot of the pristine maize-colored Ford Woody Wagon -- one of the quintessential old-school "cheap" beach cars with wood paneling that were perfect for hauling surfboards and buddies -- as it idles at a red light.

"What year is it?" hollers another fellow along Ocean Boulevard.

"It was built in 1946, the same year I was," Anderson shouts back with a grin.

Despite the bumpy outing, the grind of the stick shift and the lack of power brakes and steering, the Woody ride is more than just a grown man showing off his expensive toy.

"It reminds me of what being in Southern California is all about," says Anderson, who surfed his youth away at Dana Point. "It represents the carefree beach days, the smell of Coppertone, the Beach Boys. I bought it for the joy of the image it projects. It just makes everyone happy."

Anderson joins owners of a dozen other Woodies -- along with 45 other vintage cars, including an extremely rare 1902 Autocar Tonneau convertible -- at the Gilmore Heritage Auto Show this Saturday at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles. The "Knock on Wood" exhibition, a smorgasbord of classic surf cars, features wood-sided wagons from the '30s, '40s and '50s.

Another one-of-a-kind car on display is a "camperized" 1946 Mercury Marmon-Herrington Woody. Current owner Dave Holmes of Santa Monica was so enamored of the adventurous and classy vehicle that he sold two vintage cars -- a 1942 Ford Woody and a 1959 Corvette -- to buy it.

"I like stuff that's unique, and this car is like driving around in a museum," Holmes says. His Woody was first owned by Donald Bleitz, a preeminent Southern California ornithological photographer.

Traveling the Southwest to photograph local birds from the mountains to the deserts, Bleitz transformed his simple car into a practical overnighter: The back seats were removed and a folding aluminum cot was stowed on the interior roof. An extra gas tank was installed along with a stainless steel, cork-insulated ice chest for film and food. A dashboard button dispensed drinking water from a supplementary water tank. And the roof rack, which doubled as a photo shoot platform, was modified with extra ribs; folding metal steps were added on the rear.

Holmes encourages car-show visitors to view each vehicle as a time capsule. "They couldn't help but make things stylish back then," the retired schoolteacher says. "Every old car has something you don't see in today's cars: authenticity and flair."


GILMORE HERITAGE AUTO SHOW
WHERE: Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A. WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday PRICE: Free INFO: (323) 933-9211

Frank
Hanging around the beach as a kid,we saw a few of those"woodies". And that article is so true about the price of those cars in those days(1964). I remember a friend picked one up for $60.

[kikibalt]

Gilmore Heritage Auto Show: Woody Wagon joy rides

David Holmes

A one-of-a-kind "camperized" 1946 Mercury Marmon-Herrington Woody. This and a dozen other Woodies along with 45 other vintage cars at the Gilmore Auto Show this Saturday at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles.

By -- Brenda Rees

Motoring around Santa Monica with Dougger Anderson is like taking a drive with Angelina Jolie or George Clooney, except it's the car, not the passengers, that has the celebrity status.

"Hey, how you doing?" chimes Anderson as he waves "hang loose" to a guy snapping a cellphone shot of the pristine maize-colored Ford Woody Wagon -- one of the quintessential old-school "cheap" beach cars with wood paneling that were perfect for hauling surfboards and buddies -- as it idles at a red light.

"What year is it?" hollers another fellow along Ocean Boulevard.

"It was built in 1946, the same year I was," Anderson shouts back with a grin.

Despite the bumpy outing, the grind of the stick shift and the lack of power brakes and steering, the Woody ride is more than just a grown man showing off his expensive toy.

"It reminds me of what being in Southern California is all about," says Anderson, who surfed his youth away at Dana Point. "It represents the carefree beach days, the smell of Coppertone, the Beach Boys. I bought it for the joy of the image it projects. It just makes everyone happy."

Anderson joins owners of a dozen other Woodies -- along with 45 other vintage cars, including an extremely rare 1902 Autocar Tonneau convertible -- at the Gilmore Heritage Auto Show this Saturday at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles. The "Knock on Wood" exhibition, a smorgasbord of classic surf cars, features wood-sided wagons from the '30s, '40s and '50s.

Another one-of-a-kind car on display is a "camperized" 1946 Mercury Marmon-Herrington Woody. Current owner Dave Holmes of Santa Monica was so enamored of the adventurous and classy vehicle that he sold two vintage cars -- a 1942 Ford Woody and a 1959 Corvette -- to buy it.

"I like stuff that's unique, and this car is like driving around in a museum," Holmes says. His Woody was first owned by Donald Bleitz, a preeminent Southern California ornithological photographer.

Traveling the Southwest to photograph local birds from the mountains to the deserts, Bleitz transformed his simple car into a practical overnighter: The back seats were removed and a folding aluminum cot was stowed on the interior roof. An extra gas tank was installed along with a stainless steel, cork-insulated ice chest for film and food. A dashboard button dispensed drinking water from a supplementary water tank. And the roof rack, which doubled as a photo shoot platform, was modified with extra ribs; folding metal steps were added on the rear.

Holmes encourages car-show visitors to view each vehicle as a time capsule. "They couldn't help but make things stylish back then," the retired schoolteacher says. "Every old car has something you don't see in today's cars: authenticity and flair."


GILMORE HERITAGE AUTO SHOW
WHERE: Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A. WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday PRICE: Free INFO: (323) 933-9211

Frank
Hanging around the beach as a kid,we saw a few of those"woodies". And that article is so true about the price of those cars in those days(1964). I remember a friend picked one up for $60.

diego,

My dad had a 1941 Ford "Woodie" I'm trying to fine a pic. of it that I had, if I fine it I'll post it.

[kikibalt]

It was near the end of 1979 and I was visiting in San Diego from New Mexico where I was then living. I was going into a restaurant and two men were coming out. One of them recognized me. It was Junior Robles. We talked outside the restaurant for some time. The result of this meeting was unbelievable.

Junior was the director of the Community Youth Athletic Association of San Diego. He had already received a grant for $165,000 to start a youth program for under privileged kids. He asked if I could help him. I agreed and moved to San Diego and became the project coordinator of the "1980 Youth Superstar Sports Festival". He was so pleased for me to help out because he was planning to leave on the trip to Poland. The Superstar Sports Festival involved kids from 7 years of age to 21 and was for those who otherwise would not have a chance to participate in Junior Olympic type games. We started the program in January of 1980.

It was a very sad day in March when we received the news of the plane crash and that Junior and Byron and all the boxing team had died. Carlos Palomino's brother was part of the team. I worked closely with Junior's girlfriend, Aida, and she was devastated. When they brought Junior's body back to San Diego for burial we all went to the service to pay our respects where I met all of his family.

I did continue the program with eight assistants until it ended in November of 1980. Throughout the year we had registered 2,800 kids, the winners receiving gold, silver and bronze medals. We also gave ribbons for the preliminary game winners. The events were held in communities throughout San Diego county. Channel 8 covered all of the events including the finals at the Sweetwater High School grounds in National City and the Parade of Champions that was also held in National City with torch runners that came running from the San Ysidro border. The parade was led by the San Diego Marching Band and hundreds of people, parents, families and friends were cheering for the champions. It was such a heart warming experience to see the happiness and the unity of families and the community. It was a huge success and one that Junior Robles would have been so proud to see.

El Gato

Rodolfo,

Thanks so much for your insight on Junior Robles and Byron Lindsay, I met Jr. a few times at boxing events, and of course when Tony boxed Byron, I'm going to talk to Don Fraser and see if we can inducted, Robles, Lindsay and Palomino's brother into the "California Boxing Hall of Fame" for 2009, I can't promise anything, other then I'll give it everything I can in the effort to inducted'em.

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-tv-zz-dOU
Vicente Saldivar vs Howard Winstone

[kikibalt]

Sugar Ray Robinson

[dagosd2000]

I remember when I found out about the deaths of "Junior" Robles and Byron Lindsay. I was working in Paradise Hills at the school for the handicapped kids. After work,on the way back to the freeway, I'd go through National City because I always liked stopping at Niederfranks Ice Cream and get something sweet. Niederfranks was a local ice cream maker and Mr. Niederfrank still had his little shop off 8th Street. The place wasn't moderrn looking,but it had a homey worklike atmosphere. Bags of sugar and flavors would be stacked along the wall. You could see the ice cream making machines in the back with their big stainless steel mixing bowls. Inside the shop was a small counter with the open drums of ice cream and a few tables and chairs. The street was shaded by trees and I always remembered the block as quiet. Birds were always chirping.

Niederfranks didn't have a lot of fancy flavors. Cherry,peach,boysenberry,banana,mango,chocolate and vanilla. The ice cream wa rich and natural. I always wanted to change it up,but I ordered the same.
"The usual?" asked Mrs. Niederfrank. Mr. was in the back making the ice cream.
"Yep. Cherry malt. Make it a big one."
I couldn't find anyone that could make a malt like Niederfranks. I liked the taste of the malt. It made the ice cream even more rich. There were chunks of cherries in the ice cream. I'd think about ordering something else,but it was always the cherry malt.

Well ,I was stopping at Niederfranks more often each week. Then I'd go home to eat dinner. I was letting the notches out on the old belt. Pretty soon I'd have to go up a size. I was determined to have some self control. I hadn't stopped at Niederfranks for over a week. But it was sunny out and maybe the seratonin was activated in my my brain. What the hell. I'd been good. I pulled over next to the ice cream shop. There was always plenty of parking along the street. As i got near the door,Mrs. Niederfrank saw me and smiled. But before I went inside I noticed a faded newspaper article that was taped inside the front window. The small headline read,"Two Local Men Die In Plane Crash In Europe." There were no pictures.

I didn't want to read it because my mind was on ice cream,but at a glance I saw the name "Robles". The story was about the plane crash with "Junior" Robles and Byron Lindsay accompaning a U.S boxing team to fight in Europe. Everyone aboard was killed. The article was short and straight forward. The newspaper was dated a week ago.

I stopped. My mind was going fast. Why hadn't I heard about that crash? You go in different directions. I hadn't had my mind on boxing for a while. Just trying to work and get back on my feet. But I remember Robles's Gym and Byron Lindsay. They loved National City and were always involved helping kids and old folks and setting a good example. The gym was always busy and was a trademark of the community. You said "Junior" Robles's name and you connected it with honesty and hard work. How didn't I know? Whether you worked out there or not,it was always a meeting place for fighters and fans. It was a central point. A grounding center. You knew were in a good place when you were there.

The gym was gone now. Later I'd realize how much it was missed. Mrs. Niederfrank saw that I was reading the article. She wasn't smiling. I went back to my car. Right then I didn't have a taste for anything sweet. I didn't have an appetite for anything.

[kikibalt]

Willie Vaughn and Hap Navarro

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

Sugar Ray Robinson

"The Sugar Man"
By Diego

[kikibalt]

Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

Hoy en dia esta plaza esta siendo demolida aun cuando es un simbolo de la ciudad de tijuana

[dagosd2000]

Hoy en dia esta plaza esta siendo demolida aun cuando es un simbolo de la ciudad de tijuana

Frank
Thanks for getting that on there. They say the old place ain't safe no more.Gonna tear it down. But the memories last. Salas,Olivares,Azteca,Saldivar,Laguna,Sugar Ramos,Archie Moore,Davey Moore,Sugar Ray Robinson. The cheers will never go away. They last forever.

[kikibalt]

Hoy en dia esta plaza esta siendo demolida aun cuando es un simbolo de la ciudad de tijuana

Frank
Thanks for getting that on there. They say the old place ain't safe no more.Gonna tear it down. But the memories last. Salas,Olivares,Azteca,Saldivar,Laguna,Sugar Ramos,Archie Moore,Davey Moore,Sugar Ray Robinson. The cheers will never go away. They last forever.

diego,

In all my 60+ years of going to fights, I never made it there.

[kikibalt]

Outside the historic Auditorio De Tijuana in Tijuana, Mexico.

[kikibalt]

[dagosd2000]

Hoy en dia esta plaza esta siendo demolida aun cuando es un simbolo de la ciudad de tijuana

Frank
Thanks for getting that on there. They say the old place ain't safe no more.Gonna tear it down. But the memories last. Salas,Olivares,Azteca,Saldivar,Laguna,Sugar Ramos,Archie Moore,Davey Moore,Sugar Ray Robinson. The cheers will never go away. They last forever.

diego,

In all my 60+ years of going to fights, I never made it there.

Frank
I've told some stories about going to that place. The downtown bullring. Plaza de Toros. The parking lot in front where everybody parks their cars every which way. Across the boulevard is the famous blocks of taco stands. On a summer night the lights from those stands illuminate the entire street. You can see the steam and smoke rising and the rich aromas ,the manteca crackling. All the hungry people standing around,the vendore shoving the paper plates of tacos wrapped in paper,chile and juices soaking through. The big ice chests with cokes and orange and strawberry sodas. Big jugs of "limonada "Then across the street to the bullring. More vendors. The excitement of watching a big fight. It's in the bullring so it has to be a big fight. The cops standing around. Little kids running through the crowd . The lights and noise. The crowd pushes inside. The overhead lights above the ring. Someone throws the dead rattlesnake. If you catch it,you fling it to someone else. Then the womwn's under pants. Huge,the crotch soaked in blood. Everybody is laughing. The vendors shouting out,each vendor having his particular"pitch" selling cold beer."Cerveeezah!" All the betting going on. Men raising their hands showing someone across the ring how much he wants to put on the fight. The Mexican whistle,the"chifles". That provacative "chifle". Firecrackers. The crowd noise surges with excitement.More firecrackers snapping.More noise from the crowd. The fighters are walking down with their handlers to the ring. The announcer grabs the microphone.
"La pelea estelar de quince rouuuuunds!!!. Por el campeonato del mundo!"

Ah,yes. Those were great nights Frank. We would have had a great old time.

[dagosd2000]

Outside the historic Auditorio De Tijuana in Tijuana, Mexico.

Mostly wrestling now. Across the street is Carnitas Uruapan. Eat carnitas,drink beer,and listen to the Mariachis. Park your car along the side,but make sure you tip the kid a dollar so when you come back your windows aren't broken. They once approached me to wrestle at the Auditorio. I could see that. Wanted to pay me 200 a week. One night in TJ,Sundays in Mexicali.
"And what do you do for a living?"
"I wrestle in Tijuana."
"What's her name?"

[Expug]

Dagos , if that wrestling offer still stands, maybe we can work as a tag team.
They'd love us down there.
We would be like Bruiser and Crusher all over again.