Classic American West Coast Boxing

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Laurent Dauthuille vs Paddy Young

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Ralph Dupas

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"Victory"
By Diego

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Luke Easter

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Luke Easter vs Bobby Scanlon

[raylawpc]

Frank, you were probably there that night. The picture looks like the cut was at the side of Gato's eye. Was Gato having trouble seeing as a result of the cut? Because it doesn't look like any blood is going into his eye.

Tom,

The cut was not in a bad spot, but it WAS a nasty cut, the fight had to be stopped, no doubt about that.

Okay. I've never particularly liked it when a fight was stopped on a cut, and yet the fighter could still see to defend himself and land punches. Unless the cut would lead to a serious disfigurement or permanent damage, I think a fight should continue unless the fighter can't see to defend himself.

I remember when Marvin Hagler got cut on the forehead in his battle with Hearns. A nasty cut. The cut was examined by the ringside physician, who asked Hagler if he could see. Hagler replied, "I ain't missing him, am I?" I loved that reply!

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Harry Greb
By Diego

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Bernard Docusen

Docusen is to be inducted into the
"California Boxing Hall of Fame" on
Saturday, June 21,2008

[dagosd2000]

There was no way I was going with him that night. Dewey had never been right since he got back from Vietnam. He was in an artillery unit. He told me when he was on the "incoming end",he'd try to crawl under a rock.
"I never thought they'd let up. I went crazy. I thought I was going to die."
Another time when he said he was "delivering the mail",he experienced something that had an effect on him. I guess Dewey was the guy who "sighted" the targets. He was looking through the glasses and saw a Viet Cong field hospital. They were carrying wounded Viet Cong soldiers and civilians into the building. Women and children were among the wounded. Dewey told his commanding officer of what he saw.
"Waste it," he commanded.
Dewey said when the round was delivered ,the hospital evaporated.
"There was nothing left."

Dewey returned to the States pretty fast from what I remember. Yesterday in Nam,today in San Diego. You could tell he wasn't right. He bought a mtorcycle and started to get into a lot of fights. Especially if he saw someone who was in the service. He began using meth,and then went to heroin.

That night he wanted me to go with him to settle a score with some guy who burned him in a drug deal. He was leaving his place with a gun.
"No way I'm going with you."
"OK,I'll go it alone."

Well Dewey shoots the guy,gets arrested,and goes to jail. The guy's not seriously hurt,but the judge gives him a stretch in CYA. They release him out in the foothills at Campo .Dewey wants me to pick him up. He climbs into the car.
"Well.what's your plans?"
"After I check in with my P.O.,I want to go to the gym. I want to be a fighter."
"What gave you that idea?"
"Youth Authority had a boxing team. I watched the fights. I got inspired."

I promised Dewey I'd take him down to the Coliseum and introduce him to some of the trainers. San Diego was shy of boxing talent,so anyone who wanted to give it a try was more than welcome. We walk inside and I see Burke Emery in the ring working with a lot of the boys. Burke is the friendliest guy around,but when he's training fighters,he's real serious. All business.
I wait for a lull ,and then walk with Dewey to where Burke is towelling off a fighter.
"My friend wants to be a fighter."
Burke doesn't look up.
"Does he have any gear?" Dewey takes a step back. Burke jumps in.
"That's OK. Bring him to the locker room and they'll fix him up."

I make a move to the locker room and Dewey stands there. Just then one of the guys in the ring sparring goes to a knee from a punch to the face. Burke grabs the kid's face and gives him the once over.
"Your nose is broke."
Burke presses a towel against the kid's face and pushes his head back.
"Keep this ice on it. You're through for today."
I can see Dewey looking at what just went on.
"Maybe we should go to Stanley Andrews and buy some boxing gear," he says.
"I don't think they sell boxing equipment there."

I walk behind Dewey and start prodding him towards the locker room. Inside there's water all over the cement floor. The smell is horrible. I see two fighters i know sitting on the end of a bench. It looked like they were done for the day.
"Burke asked me if someone could fix my friend up with some gear."
One of the fighters turned and smiled.
"Don't worry. We'll take care of him."

I went outside and watched the fellas train. Sweat soaking through their shirts. Banging heavy bags. Skipping rope. Sparring,working,aweating. It was hot in there. It was all business. After a while I forgot about Dewey. Burke began to tape a kid's hands.
"Where's your friend?"
"I don't know. I'll look for him."

I went back inside the locker room. The two fighters were still there.
"Where'd my friend go?"
"He said he was goiung to buy some boxing gear. I told him he could use my stuff,but he wanted no part of it."

I walked back over to Burke. He was wrapping this kid's hands still.
"He's not inside."
"What happened?"
Burke didn't look at me . He was concentrating on correctly wrapping the kid's hand.
"I don't know. I guess he didn't have what it takes."
Burke put the last strip of tape over the kid's knuckles. He then looked at me.
"Well not many do when it comes to fighting."

[kikibalt]

Great story, diego.

[Expug]

Great story, diego.

I agree.
I can picture that scene in my mind.

[bennie]

Bernard Docusen

Docusen is to be inducted into the
"California Boxing Hall of Fame" on
Saturday, June 21,2008

They say you have to beware of the unmarked fighters. This guy looks like he could really fight.

[bennie]

Great pics, Frankie.

Thanks to Dan!

Dan Hanley?

[kikibalt]

Great pics, Frankie.

Thanks to Dan!

Dan Hanley?

Yes!!

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Don't say she hit like a girl

By Larry Stewart, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Boxing aficionado Johnny Ortiz, former part-owner of the Main Street Gym and the host of a boxing radio show for 12 years, will be among the inductees into the California Boxing Hall of Fame at a luncheon Saturday at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City.

Ortiz, who has written a yet-to-be-published book about his life, has one boxing memory that sticks out.

Ortiz was cheering on his friend Jerry Quarry as he beat up on Brian London at the Olympic Auditorium on March 9, 1967, when suddenly the woman behind him conked him on the head with her purse.

It was London's wife.

"I said at the time that London may have won the fight had his wife been in the ring with him," Ortiz recalled.

Trivia time

Another inductee at Saturday's boxing luncheon will be Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label. What is Gordy's connection to boxing?

[dagosd2000]

I'll bo going to Southern Spain today with my wife and my grandchildren,Amanda and Adam for three weeks. Adam will be studying guitar and Amanda will be dancing Flamenco. I know Frank and some of the gang will be together in LA. at the Boxing Banquet. I wish I could be there,but I made the reservations way in advance because of the price of air travel. By the time I knew of the Banquet it was too late.

I'll try to find something there pertaining to boxing,but so far nothing. Bullfighting,soccer,Flamenco,and their contemporary interests(which doesn't include boxing)is quite different than the Southland LA. scene,and even Mexico. Southern Spain(called Andalucia)has not modernized that much like Northern Spain or Barcelona. It has kept most of its traditions and like every country, people are aware of the region they live in. They are proud to be Andalucians.

Anyway,I'll send something. It might not be about boxiing,but I'll try to make it interesting.
Dagos

[bennie]

Top bloke, Dan. He used to post on an old Yahoo groups boxing site of mine (Boxing before it got crazy). A real gent and a real boxing man. There ain't many left (of either).

[bennie]

Don't say she hit like a girl

By Larry Stewart, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Boxing aficionado Johnny Ortiz, former part-owner of the Main Street Gym and the host of a boxing radio show for 12 years, will be among the inductees into the California Boxing Hall of Fame at a luncheon Saturday at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City.

Ortiz, who has written a yet-to-be-published book about his life, has one boxing memory that sticks out.

Ortiz was cheering on his friend Jerry Quarry as he beat up on Brian London at the Olympic Auditorium on March 9, 1967, when suddenly the woman behind him conked him on the head with her purse.

It was London's wife.

"I said at the time that London may have won the fight had his wife been in the ring with him," Ortiz recalled.

Trivia time

Another inductee at Saturday's boxing luncheon will be Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label. What is Gordy's connection to boxing?

Gordy is a former pro.

[kikibalt]

Don't say she hit like a girl

By Larry Stewart, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Boxing aficionado Johnny Ortiz, former part-owner of the Main Street Gym and the host of a boxing radio show for 12 years, will be among the inductees into the California Boxing Hall of Fame at a luncheon Saturday at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City.

Ortiz, who has written a yet-to-be-published book about his life, has one boxing memory that sticks out.

Ortiz was cheering on his friend Jerry Quarry as he beat up on Brian London at the Olympic Auditorium on March 9, 1967, when suddenly the woman behind him conked him on the head with her purse.

It was London's wife.

"I said at the time that London may have won the fight had his wife been in the ring with him," Ortiz recalled.

Trivia time

Another inductee at Saturday's boxing luncheon will be Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label. What is Gordy's connection to boxing?

Gordy is a former pro.

You're right, he fought at the Olympic 3 times in 1949, I think.

[raylawpc]

From Boxrec about Barry Gordy:

= Gordy had at least three bouts in the Los Angeles area in 1949.
= He went on to found Motown Records.
= His autobiography reports him as having a pro record of 10-3-2 (4). Reported by another source as having won 13 out of 19 pro fights
= Served in the Korean War

[bennie]

Don't forget those pics on Saturday, Frankie.

[kikibalt]

Don't forget those pics on Saturday, Frankie.

No I won't foget, I myself will be shooting pics. and I will have two of my grandsons shooting with my other two cameras, I'm going to set one of my cameras on B & W.

[kikibalt]

I'll bo going to Southern Spain today with my wife and my grandchildren,Amanda and Adam for three weeks. Adam will be studying guitar and Amanda will be dancing Flamenco. I know Frank and some of the gang will be together in LA. at the Boxing Banquet. I wish I could be there,but I made the reservations way in advance because of the price of air travel. By the time I knew of the Banquet it was too late.

I'll try to find something there pertaining to boxing,but so far nothing. Bullfighting,soccer,Flamenco,and their contemporary interests(which doesn't include boxing)is quite different than the Southland LA. scene,and even Mexico. Southern Spain(called Andalucia)has not modernized that much like Northern Spain or Barcelona. It has kept most of its traditions and like every country, people are aware of the region they live in. They are proud to be Andalucians.

Anyway,I'll send something. It might not be about boxiing,but I'll try to make it interesting.
Dagos

Diego

You and the family have a nice and safe journey.

[kikibalt]

Ortiz's memories brimming of life

By Doug Krikorian, Sports Columnist

Johnny Ortiz is slumped on a couch, and the venerable boxing authority gazes with pride at the mementos in his midst.

"I can live very happily on my memories," he says softly.

He has turned his two-bedroom Studio City apartment where he has resided for the past 36 years into a museum of his life, and the walls are covered with the many women he has dated, the many friends he has made, and the many celebrities and prizefighters he has known.

There's an autographed picture of the actress, Bette Davis, hanging in the front room and there are photos of him posing with Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Fonda, Mickey Rooney, Roberto Duran, Frank Sinatra, Alexis Arguello, Dean Martin, Sylvester Stallone, Sugar Ray Leonard, Connie Stevens, Thomas Hearns, Sammy Davis Jr., Milton Berle, Rocky Marciano, Oscar De La Hoya and many other famous people and also photos of him - a lot of them - with women with whom he was affiliated with for periods of time.

He has been an actor who played a gym owner in Ron Shelton's "Play It To The Bone," and in his younger days hung around the Hollywood crowd at Sunset Boulevard hangouts like Googie's and was pals with guys like Dennis Hooper and Nick Adams, who introduced him to James Dean and Elvis Presley.

He has been a saloonkeeper - he co-owned a couple of places in Downey called the Stardust and Lancer Lounge - and etched a widespread reputation as a bartender with his charismatic personality in such Valley joints as the Red Chariot, Casting Office, Oyster House and El Chiquito.
He has been a fight manager - one-time Ecuadorian No. 1 ranked featherweight Hector Cortez was his top operative - and he also was co-owner of the famed Main Street Gym in Los Angeles with Carol Steindler.

He has been a radio personality, and his "Ringside with Johnny Ortiz" show was a fixture on the local airways for 12 years and became popular weekly listening fare for aficionados of the sweet science.

While Johnny Ortiz has had a most colorful existence brimming with memorable experiences in dramatically different spheres - he did shots one evening at the Whiskey A Go Go with the Doors' Jim Morrison and partied on another occasion with another notorious figure who died prematurely, comedian Lenny Bruce - it is in the fistic orbit where he has had a continuing impact across the decades.

Well, on Saturday at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City, the old Downey Flash, Johnny Ortiz - he was given that nickname by his close friend, the late journalist Bud Furillo - will be honored for his contributions to the sport as he will be among those inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame at its annual banquet.

While he certainly made an imprint in the bar business and has been involved in the acting field going back to the mid 1950s when he'd listen to people like Rod Steiger and Walter Matthau and Anthony Quinn give pointers at workshops at the Coronet Theater, Johnny Ortiz will readily tell you that boxing always has been his greatest passion since his older brother Phil Ortiz, a professional fighter, would take him to the Main Street Gym when he was a youngster.

"Once I became old enough, I trained regularly at Main Street," says Ortiz, who pursued a successful amateur career while attending Mt. Carmel High and wound up 48-1. "Boxing has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. I watched all the old fights on TV, and used to go to the Hollywood Legion Stadium and Olympic Auditorium and Ocean Park Arena when I was a kid. I boxed a bit in the Army, but when I got out I turned to acting."

But those in the acting scene were aware of Johnny Ortiz's boxing background, and always referred to it in introductions.

"I'll never forget the time we were over at Nick Adams apartment, and Elvis Presley showed up," recalls Ortiz. "Nick said to Elvis, `I want you to meet an actor-boxer friend of mine, Johnny Ortiz.' And Elvis said, `I love boxing.' And we must have talked 30 minutes on boxing. I'd see Elvis around town on occasion after that, and he'd always pump his right fist at me. He did the same one evening when he was performing at the Forum, and spotted me sitting in a front-row seat."

Johnny Ortiz has the same Jan. 8 birthdate as Elvis Presley, although Ortiz refuses to divulge the year in which he came into the world in Havana, Cuba, one of 12 children of a wealthy family that lived on a sugar plantation - it would be lost soon after his father was killed in a farming accident - and that his mother Clara brought up alone in an area near Huntington Park.

"My age is something I forgot about the moment I turned 50," says Ortiz with a laugh.

But he long has paid homage to his chronological link with Presley with the numerous large photos - some signed - of the king of Rock `n' Roll that are in his apartment, as well as those of Marilyn Monroe.

In his younger days, he also often dressed like Presley right down to the shaded glasses - and could do a stirring impersonation of him.

And, like Presley, Johnny Ortiz has had his share of female admirers throughout a life in which his only marriage vow has been to never take one. If there was a Hall of Fame in this area, Ortiz would be a first-ballot entry.

Bud Furillo always maintained there wasn't anyone in America who could charm a lady with the silkily smooth light-hearted banter of Ortiz, who, true to his chivalrous creed, never betrays anything intimate about the countless liaisons he's had over the years.

"I will go to my grave loving women - and I've never done anything intentionally to hurt anyone," says Ortiz, who has a 22-year-old married daughter, Jonna McCullough, and one grandchild, 2-year-old Trinity.

But Johnny Ortiz does admit he's had a couple of harrowingly close-brushes because of his fondness for the opposite sex.

"Never forget the time I was at the Largo on Sunset, and hustling a young stripper named Candy Barr, and Mickey Cohen (L.A. gangster) told me to get out of the place immediately," he relates.

"He had two big goons behind him, and told me they'd break my arms and legs if I didn't leave. I didn't realize Cohen was dating Candy Barr at the time. And there was another time I was in Las Vegas sitting at a hotel bar, and making conversation with an attractive lady. And she says to me, `The guy I've been seeing is a former world boxing champion.' And I say, `What's his name?' And she says, `Rocky Marciano.' I knew Rocky was in town at the time. That was the end of that budding friendship."

Johnny Ortiz is a keen raconteur, and is just finishing up a picture-laden, 28-chapter autobiography entitled appropriately, "My Life Among The Icons," in which he recounts, among other titillating revelations, his encounters with 15 Academy Award winning actors.

"It's all in the book like the time the Rams' linebacker Mike Henry brought Henry Fonda to the Stardust in Downey one evening and the time I was with Bud Furillo at a restaurant in Palm Springs and Sam Giancana (Chicago mob boss) joined us at the table," says Ortiz.

"There are just so many stories to tell, and a lot of great boxing ones. I've been working on the book for five years, and I've finally finished it."

Johnny Ortiz is asked if he'll ever finally break down, and get married.

"A bachelor never forgets that he's a thing of beauty and a boy forever," cracks Ortiz. "I guess you can take issue with the former with me now, but not on the latter. I'll be a boy forever..."

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