Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

L-to-R
Bobby, Connie and Frankie Baltazar, Dolores and Poncho Velasquez.
Olympic Auditorium, on a Sunday public workout for a Mando Ramos Fight
1969

Frank . . . I remember Poncho Velasquez, seeing his face takes me back forty years. I remember "Poncho" was his nickname, and I believe his first name was Alfonso, right? As for Rudy "Porky" Acuna, a few months ago you posted a '69 L.A. AAU team photo I sent you. "Porky" was kneeling right next to me. Last time I saw him was in the early 70's when I was living in Monterey Park. My girlfriend and I were shopping at the Atlantic Square shopping center and suddenly this Marine wearing fatiques taps me on the shoulder. It was Rudy Acuna, who was home on leave after boot camp. Viet Nam was going hot & heavy at the time and I asked him, "What in the Hell did you join the Marines for?" He told me he'd been drafted and chose the corps over the Army. Don't know if he went to Southeast Asia or not? Regardless, glad he's alive and doing well. He was a great guy and we had a lot of fun. And for those who don't know "Porky", his uncle was an L.A. legend in his own right, the "Maravilla Kid", Ruben Navarro. Next time you see him, tell him I said "hello".

By the way, Frank, even though the pic is in B&W, I recognize Frankie wearing the gold w/blue stripes Jr. GG tournament trunks. I still have my two gold & blue Jr. GG "Champion" jackets from '67 & '68, and a "runner up" pair of trunks from '66. Like you say, it feels just like a couple of years ago. I can see you & Louie J., Johnny Flores, the Soto brothers, Jake Horn & Noe Cruz from Stanton A.C., L.C. Morgan, Dwight Hawkins with his kids from Watts, Tony Cerda from Sacred Heart A.C. in Pomona with Albert Davila and the Sandoval boys, Hawaiian Gardens teen post 109, the kids from Seaside Gym with Sonny Ray and Ernie DeFrance, etc. etc.

-Rick

[Big Bad John]

Hi, Rick, et. al. For a lot of users, this thread has been somewhat intimidating, like the one on the Cyber Boxing Zone. Would you be interested in starting a thread that points casual members towards what you call the most exciting parts of the thread? I would be glad to help, of course. PM me if you need help/advice.

[Rick Farris]

Hi, Rick, et. al. For a lot of users, this thread has been somewhat intimidating, like the one on the Cyber Boxing Zone. Would you be interested in starting a thread that points casual members towards what you call the most exciting parts of the thread? I would be glad to help, of course. PM me if you need help/advice.

John, I'd be glad to help, however, I wouldn't know where to start. Once I post, I just keep going forward, although there is much here I need to review for myself. Kinda hard for me to remember exactly where everything is. Sometimes I must be careful not to repost info I've posted in previous pages. In my opinion, Frank B. is this threads key contributer.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

My cousin Mike Adame, I'm working his corner during a fight against
Oscar Muniz.
Stanton A.C?...1970

I can still remember Stanton A.C. clearly, with it's ring sitting on the stage at one end of the building. The club was located just a couple miles from Knott's Berry Farm.

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

In 1969, whenever I rode in a car or bus with boxers to a tournament or match, there was one song that most of the guys said was their song . . . "THE BOXER" by Simon & Garfunkle.

-Rick Farris

[bennie]

Dago's post about listening to music on the way home from the gym reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in years. In 1969, the L.A. Golden Gloves team was in Kansas City for the National tournament. After the first round of eliminations, we were all happy because we had all won. They packed us into a small bus to drive us back to the hotel and on the way the radio played Sly Stone's, "Hot Fun In The Summertime". I was sitting next to Porky Acuna and he began to sing along with the radio, as did I, then the two guys in front of us, Mike Quarry and Florentino Ramirez joined in, and the two guys next to us, heavyweight Walter Moore (the only L.A. guy to win a nat'l title that year) and Bobby Torrance. Javiar Muniz was up front sitting next to one of our coaches, Jake Horn, who was rubbing his bald head for luck and smiling. Sitting next to the driver was another coach, Sonny Ray of the Seaside Gym ( a former contender out of Chicago) who's good mood was wearing thin listening to all the racket, "You guys should be arrested for murdering that song!", Sonny told us. We didn't care, we were young, had won, and were one step closer to our goals. The coaches were also closer to their goal, staying up all night playing poker and getting drunk in their hotel room (after the finals, of course.) Great memories! Hot fun in the summertime, you better believe it . . . even if it was still winter.

Ricardo

Dude, after reading this I just had to go to Youtube to listen to that song again. Man, I was just picturing the bus with you guys on it rocking to a good time while the song was playing. You're right, it has to be a great memory. Incidentally, I know Sonny Ray managed or trained pros later on because I saw him on TV involved in an altercation after a fight. I think it was the Donald Curry-Tony Montgomery fight but I'm not sure. In this fight if you recall, Curry was really pounding Montgomery and a stoppage was imminent. Then I saw Montgomery ram his head into Curry. The minute he did this I knew what he was doing. A moment later after the warning my fears became reality when Montgomery again rammed his head into Curry's face. He was going for the DQ rather than get KO'd. Of course, a moment later he played the billy goat again, got DQ'd and then had the gall to walk over to Curry to say 'good fight', when Curry clocked him. Can't say I blame Curry one bit. His face was busted up from a guy who purposely took the easy way out rather than go out on his shield. The corners went at it and I'm positive Sonny Ray was in the center of it being restained on National TV. He was in Montgomery's corner. Anyone recall this or am I thinking of Sonny Ray in another altercation?

Scartissue

You are spot on, Scar. I had watched Montgomery's previous fight when he stopped someone on the Lloyd Honeyghan-Don Curry bill in Atlantic City, and Montgomery's corner were playing up then (verbally). I'm not sure who this Sonny Ray is but there was a big black guy in Montgomery's corner that night, wearing a sort of sailor's hat, who was particularly unpleasant. It came as no surprise to me when I read of the post-disqualification fracas a few months later. I can imagine that big guy was more than involved.
Curry, bizarrely, won the Montgomery fight by disqualification due to being butted and his next fight against Puerto Rico's Carlos Santos unfolded in exactly the same cicumstances, when Santos repeatedly butted him and got slung out.

[bennie]

This would have had Larry Holmes twitching. Cooney later paid the price for making the front cover of Time magazine.

[bennie]

Jake LaMotta & Rocky Graziano
Circa 1980s

Wow, I thought Graziano died long before the 1980s!

[kikibalt]

L-to-R
Bobby, Connie and Frankie Baltazar, Dolores and Poncho Velasquez.
Olympic Auditorium, on a Sunday public workout for a Mando Ramos Fight
1969

Great shots of the kids and Connie. How's the leg doing?

I'm going to Michoacan to our home with the wife and grandkids in two weeks. Tomorrow though I'm going to TJ. Gonna' get my eyes examined. I don't want to trip over any drunks when I go to the Boom Boom Club. So far is everything on for Mando's memorial?

diego,

Connie is seeing her doctor today, she is holding up real good, I'm the one thats falling apart, having to do all the cleaning, cooking, etc, etc, the cleaning I don't mind, its the cooking, I'm no cook!, hell I can't even boil water, I burn it!!

Btw, have a good time in Mex.

Yes, thing're still set for Mando's memorial.

[bennie]

...just browsing Denny Moyer's record. There aren't many fighters who can say they fought Robinson and Monzon.

[bennie]

L-to-R
Bobby, Connie and Frankie Baltazar, Dolores and Poncho Velasquez.
Olympic Auditorium, on a Sunday public workout for a Mando Ramos Fight
1969

Did you take that shot, Frankie?

[scartissue]

Dude, after reading this I just had to go to Youtube to listen to that song again. Man, I was just picturing the bus with you guys on it rocking to a good time while the song was playing. You're right, it has to be a great memory. Incidentally, I know Sonny Ray managed or trained pros later on because I saw him on TV involved in an altercation after a fight. I think it was the Donald Curry-Tony Montgomery fight but I'm not sure. In this fight if you recall, Curry was really pounding Montgomery and a stoppage was imminent. Then I saw Montgomery ram his head into Curry. The minute he did this I knew what he was doing. A moment later after the warning my fears became reality when Montgomery again rammed his head into Curry's face. He was going for the DQ rather than get KO'd. Of course, a moment later he played the billy goat again, got DQ'd and then had the gall to walk over to Curry to say 'good fight', when Curry clocked him. Can't say I blame Curry one bit. His face was busted up from a guy who purposely took the easy way out rather than go out on his shield. The corners went at it and I'm positive Sonny Ray was in the center of it being restained on National TV. He was in Montgomery's corner. Anyone recall this or am I thinking of Sonny Ray in another altercation?

Scartissue[/quote]

You are spot on, Scar. I had watched Montgomery's previous fight when he stopped someone on the Lloyd Honeyghan-Don Curry bill in Atlantic City, and Montgomery's corner were playing up then (verbally). I'm not sure who this Sonny Ray is but there was a big black guy in Montgomery's corner that night, wearing a sort of sailor's hat, who was particularly unpleasant. It came as no surprise to me when I read of the post-disqualification fracas a few months later. I can imagine that big guy was more than involved.
Curry, bizarrely, won the Montgomery fight by disqualification due to being butted and his next fight against Puerto Rico's Carlos Santos unfolded in exactly the same cicumstances, when Santos repeatedly butted him and got slung out.[/quote]

I remember that, it was too weird, the exact same result in the same round, same circumstance except that Curry didn't have a go at him afterwards. I wouldn't have blamed him though. I was thinking this would start a rash of this BS at the time. Fortunately it did not, however, I covered a card here in Chicago at one of the many Ramada Rumbles they were staging, when a fighter pulled the same stunt. I was seated right next to a well known boxing writer (well, one of these guys who thinks he was a boxing writer but also covered anything the editor told him to cover) and he was oblivious when the fighter pulled the old headbutt routine to opt out of the hiding he was taking. It was laughable how amazed he was when I told him another headbutt was coming up. He must've thought I was friggin' Nostradamus the way I way I predicted the outcome. But it was nothing mind-blowing, everyone at this thread could have read these signs as well. I'm sure we've all seen this happen.

Scartissue

[bennie]

Incidentally, Scar, I don't think it would have been Sonny Ray in the sailor's hat dishing out the verbals. The guy was too young.

[kikibalt]

L-to-R
Bobby, Connie and Frankie Baltazar, Dolores and Poncho Velasquez.
Olympic Auditorium, on a Sunday public workout for a Mando Ramos Fight
1969

Did you take that shot, Frankie?

What do you think?.... Of course I did.

[bennie]

L-to-R
Bobby, Connie and Frankie Baltazar, Dolores and Poncho Velasquez.
Olympic Auditorium, on a Sunday public workout for a Mando Ramos Fight
1969

Did you take that shot, Frankie?

What do you think?.... Of course I did.

I thought so. Connie is giving her man a sexy siren look, if you don't mind me saying so.

[kikibalt]

Incidentally, Scar, I don't think it would have been Sonny Ray in the sailor's hat dishing out the verbals. The guy was too young.

No, that was not Sonny Ray.

[kikibalt]

Did you take that shot, Frankie?

What do you think?.... Of course I did.
I thought so. Connie is giving her man a sexy siren look, if you don't mind me saying so.

No, I don't mind at all, nice to know that others think she looked kind of sexy

[bennie]

Did you take that shot, Frankie?

What do you think?.... Of course I did.
I thought so. Connie is giving her man a sexy siren look, if you don't mind me saying so.

No, I don't mind at all, nice to know that others think she looked kind of sexy

Just a bit. Frankie, you are a right charmer.

[bennie]

By the way, Frankie, you didn't answer my question on the Tony Baltazar-Mayweather youtube thread...

[dagosd2000]

In 1969, whenever I rode in a car or bus with boxers to a tournament or match, there was one song that most of the guys said was their song . . . "THE BOXER" by Simon & Garfunkle.

-Rick Farris

Hey Rick 'ol buddy. Any song sung by Simon and Garfunkel can't be that condusive to boxing. Better get a hold of Frank. I'm sure he heard something better than that on the Hunter Hancock Show.

[dagosd2000]

L-to-R
Bobby, Connie and Frankie Baltazar, Dolores and Poncho Velasquez.
Olympic Auditorium, on a Sunday public workout for a Mando Ramos Fight
1969

Great shots of the kids and Connie. How's the leg doing?

I'm going to Michoacan to our home with the wife and grandkids in two weeks. Tomorrow though I'm going to TJ. Gonna' get my eyes examined. I don't want to trip over any drunks when I go to the Boom Boom Club. So far is everything on for Mando's memorial?

diego,

Connie is seeing her doctor today, she is holding up real good, I'm the one thats falling apart, having to do all the cleaning, cooking, etc, etc, the cleaning I don't mind, its the cooking, I'm no cook!, hell I can't even boil water, I burn it!!

Btw, have a good time in Mex.

Yes, thing're still set for Mando's memorial.

Remember Monique? Well you chose choice number three. So I had to teach my wife how to read and write. The thing I got going for me is that she ain't to good with numbers either.

I tried to get Monique on board the plane inside my carry on luggage. Problem was I didn't zip up the bag. One of her boobs was hangin' out. Busted---literally.

[bennie]

Hey, Dagos, how good was Denny Moyer?

[dagosd2000]

...just browsing Denny Moyer's record. There aren't many fighters who can say they fought Robinson and Monzon.

Glad you brought that up Bennie. Moyer,Hafey, and Ronnie Wilson were all fighting down here in San Diego at the end. Rick Farris is right. When you ended your career in Dago Town,you knew it was just about over. San Diego was a good place to get your start,but if you were good,you got out of here and fight the big fights (and win)in towns were the money was. Kenny Norton for example. Even 'Ol Arch didn't fight in San Diego after he won the title. I think there was a "mercy fight". Even a go in Tj against King.

Ronnie wilson and Art Hafey art two examples of guys who couldn't break through. Ronnie had his chance up in Woodland Hills against Mike Quarry but lost fair and square. Hafey got a push when he caught Rock A By Ruben with a nice left hook to his out of shape midsection in Monterrey Mexico and it looked like he was going to get out of Dodge finally. But after losing some fights in LA. and Alexis demolishing him in Nicaragua,it was back at the Coliseum. To here these two boys talk,they blamed it on Burke Emery and Sid Flaherty. Emery handled Art,but Burke says that it was George Parnassus that rushed things too fast. Ronnie was fighting every other week. His cuts weren't healed and he was tired. I knew Ronnie's father in law. He hated Sid and Danny Rodriguez.

Rick posted something to me about how these Canadian boys were like tune up fighters for the up and comers. The more I think about that I think he's right.

Denny Moyer,well he fought them all and was a Light Middle Champ. By the time he finished up in San Diego,at least he could say he wore a belt.

[dagosd2000]

Hey, Dagos, how good was Denny Moyer?

I think we posted at the same time. If you see him on replays against Robinson and Griffith he was very sharp and liked to mix it up. They say he had a baby face. Some baby!

By the time he got down here he had a lot of mileage and all the drinkin' didn't help either. You know Benny,I look at it like this. If you watch Joe Louis against Max Baer,he's like a cobra with his abilities. If you watch Louis against Marciano,It was like slowing down the speed of the camara on Louis's end. Because of age or whatever thay just couldn't execute anymore nor get out of the way. Case made with Denny Moyer.

[bennie]

Hey, Dagos, how good was Denny Moyer?

I think we posted at the same time. If you see him on replays against Robinson and Griffith he was very sharp and liked to mix it up. They say he had a baby face. Some baby!

By the time he got down here he had a lot of mileage and all the drinkin' didn't help either. You know Benny,I look at it like this. If you watch Joe Louis against Max Baer,he's like a cobra with his abilities. If you watch Louis against Marciano,It was slowing down the speed of the camara on Louis's end. Because of age or whatever thay just couldn't execute anymore or get out of the way. Case made with Denny Moyer.

Cheers, Dagos. For a moment you had me thinking you were the fastest poster in the Universe. Moyer scored 97 wins, and he is one of those fighters who pops up on the records of great fighters everywhere - but I know little about him (apart from the fact he won the light-middleweight title when 'junior' weights were frowned upon).
He sounds like a warrior.