Classic American West Coast Boxing

Randyman
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Randyman »

kikibalt wrote:Did anybody notice that Margo. was totally dry when he came into the ring? like he didn't warm-up in his dressing room, thats why I think it takes him 6-7 round to get going, bad move on his trainer's part, if I'm right about him not warming-up.
Frank, i noticed the same thing. It made me a little nervous especially since Cotto had some sweat on him when he got in the ring. I'm with you, a bad move on the trainers part, but somehow in this case it didn't matter. It might in the next fight.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Randyman »

Rick Farris wrote:
kikibalt wrote:Did anybody notice that Margo. was totally dry when he came into the ring? like he didn't warm-up in his dressing room, thats why I think it takes him 6-7 round to get going, bad move on his trainer's part, if I'm right about him not warming-up.

Yes Frank, I did notice that, it's the first thing I look for in a boxer, is he dry or steaming.. It seems the Mexicans are always slow starters, but this started fast. Once Margarito's engine was warm, the beat down started. Damn, what a great fight! A throwback fight, as we say. We in L.A. grew up with this kinda action EVERY week at the Olympc.

-Rick
Rick, that Margarito beat Cotto in such a typical Mexican fashion has to make his victory all the sweeter.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Talk to Don Fraser this morning and he is going home today, good luck Don.... :TU: :TU:
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Randyman »

Rick Farris wrote:Speaking of the Randyman . . .

Working so many hours these days has kept me away from posting on this board, however, thanks to technology, my cell phone has internet access and although I don't use it to contribute posts, it allows me to keep up on the action here. During the day, I pull the phone out of my pocket, between shots, and check out what Frank, Dagos, Pug, Bennie, Scar, Ray and Randy have to say. I feel bad I can't join in, but, when I get home sometimes I can get on the computor and put in my 2 cents worth.

Reading Randy's blog always takes me back to the days of Mel Epstein, the Main St. Gym and the charactors we were around at the time. When Randy reminded me of a dinner we had with Mel Epstein, 32-years-ago, it put in focus how things were back then, and what Epstein thought of Randy. I had given Mel fits. Alcohol and drugs weren't my problem, it was women, I loved 'em and when I mixed in a little booze and mota, well, it was off to the races. At age 24, after six pro years, I was finished. It was about this time I would stay in touch with Epstein, who lived alone and never drove a car. On holidays, such as Christmas & Thanksgiving, he'd often spend the day with myself and family, or my girlfriend's family. He was a charactor, and such a gentleman.

Mel became excited over a new young fighter he had hopes of developing into a top contender, and he would speak highly of this kid, Randy. When Mel would discuss his future contender, he'd always take a dig at me, as he did Mike Nixon to me when Mike would defy his rules. "This kid Randy has some real talent, and he doesn't show up at the gym with red eyes after one of those saturday night specials, like somebody I used to know". I would meet Randy, and share Mel's opinion of his new prospect. Good looking kid, looks you in the eyes, has all the right qualities of charactor that we know today are the foundation of a great fighter. The same qualities that make for a great man. My only worry for Randy was that he wouldn't let Mel run him off with his constant nagging. With all respect to Mel Epstein, whom I will put on next years ballot for WBHOF induction in the expanded catagory, along with Frank Baltazar's name, Mel could really ruin a good time. Mel really had a way of breaking up a good time, kinda like finding a turd in the bottom of a punch bowl. But Mel Epstein was a great guy, a kind man who never made money off his fighters, and was always "dipping into his cash register" to see his fighters ate right, or had the right equipment.

I'll stop here, I'm rambling. Just want to welcome Randy, once again, he's one of us!


-Rick
Rick, I am laughing out loud right now because you are so right about Mel. I can't count how many times we (He) walked out of a restaurant if the meat, eggs or whatever it was he ordered wasn't done to his exact request. I would almost beg him so sit down but no, off he went and I had no choice but to follow him. Red faced and embarressed i would just shrug at the waitresses, who usually had no as to what just happened. Sound familiar? Still he was quite a guy.

You're right too about dipping into his own cash registar. He paid for most of my equipment back then. The only thing he would get pissed off at me for was my car, it was always breaking down. One time, I had scheduled fight at the Olympic, we were taking my care, I was on empty. Mel lived near rampart & 3rd. somehow I made it to his house, to the Olympic, back to Mel's and then back home. talk about an angel watching over me!

Rick, thanks again for the kind words.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Randyman »

kikibalt wrote:Talk to Don Fraser this morning and he is going home today, good luck Don.... :TU: :TU:
Glad to hear that Frank, and thanks for keeping us informed.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

When you have a slow starter, you want to warm him up more then a fast starter, I think Margo and crew have been doing this for a while, and it might have cost'em the Williams fight, if I remember right, Mago came on late in that fight, but it was too little too late.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Image
LAS VEGAS - JULY 26: Giovani Segura's eye starts to swell during his interim WBA light flyweight title fight against Cesar Canchila at the MGM Grand Garden Arena July 26, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Canchila won by unanimous decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Image
Cesar Canchila, right, of Colombia, connects with a right to Giovani Segura during the fifth round of their interim WBA junior flyweight championship boxing match Saturday, July 26, 2008, in Las Vegas. Canchila won by unanimous decision.
(AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Rick Farris »

Frank, would you do me a favor and post boxrec's record for "Young Firpo" (Guido Bardelli) on this thread. There is an interesting link to what transpired in California boxing relating to Firp's record. Guys, all of us regulars know boxing, I want to discuss a few of the names on this special fighter's record, names such as "Tiger" Jack Fox, John Henry Lewis, Wesly "KO Ketchell, Leo Lomski. etc. Names such as "Doc" Kearns, Dempsey, Mickey Walker, Maxie Rosenbloom, really add color to a remarkable life story.

-
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Rick Farris »

Frank, would you do me a favor and post boxrec's record for "Young Firpo" (Guido Bardelli) on this thread. There is an interesting link to what transpired in California boxing relating to Firp's record. Guys, all of us regulars know boxing, I want to discuss a few of the names on this special fighter's record, names such as "Tiger" Jack Fox, John Henry Lewis, Wesly "KO Ketchell, Leo Lomski. etc. Names such as "Doc" Kearns, Dempsey, Mickey Walker, Maxie Rosenbloom, really add color to a remarkable life story.

-
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Rick Farris »

Frank, would you do me a favor and post boxrec's record for "Young Firpo" (Guido Bardelli) on this thread. There is an interesting link to what transpired in California boxing relating to Firp's record. Guys, all of us regulars know boxing, I want to discuss a few of the names on this special fighter's record, names such as "Tiger" Jack Fox, John Henry Lewis, Wesly "KO Ketchell, Leo Lomski. etc. Names such as "Doc" Kearns, Dempsey, Mickey Walker, Maxie Rosenbloom, really add color to a remarkable life story.

-
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Firpo came out of retirement in 1947 and fought Bob Noonan. A clipping provides: "Young Firpo, not so young now as fighters go, displayed some of his old ring prowess last night in St. Regis, knocking out Tiger Bob Noonan, the St. Regis Slaughterer, in the fourth round of their bout on an Armistice day card." John Bardelli (Young Firopo's son) interviewed three ringsiders who saw the fight, fight fans who did not know one another, and all three told him that in the fourth round Firpo landed a left hook and it sounded like a gun shot went off. Noonan's head struck the canvas before any part of his body and there was great fear that he was permanently injured. Fortunately, he recovered after being carried from the ring. Bardelli stated further: "I recall meeting him several times in the later 1950's in St. Regis while traversing through Montana with my father. Noonan was so respectful in seeing Young Firpo during these sojourns. As a youngster, I did not understand what the "glee" was about at the time as Dad did not even mention to me he had fought Noonan. Now, I understand the respect directed toward Firpo by Noonan".

Young Firpo

Alias Wild Bull of Idaho
Birth Name Guido Bardelli
Country USA
Global Id 9419
Hometown Burke, ID, USA
Birthplace Barre, VT, USA
Division Light Heavyweight
Born 1907-04-25
Died 1984-08-21
Stance Orthodox
Reach 183cm
Height 171cm


Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1947-11-11 Tiger Bob Noonan Saint Regis, USA W KO 4
1937-09-10 Dallas Bennett Portland, USA L KO 1
1937-08-13 Tommy Lynch Kellogg, USA W TKO 7
1936-03-24 Red Bruce Portland, USA L KO 2
1936-02-07 Red Bruce Spokane, USA L KO 4
1936-01-21 Nash Garrison Portland, USA W KO 1
1935-11-01 Leroy Brown Spokane, USA W TKO 6
1935-05-10 Tiger Jack Fox Spokane, USA W DQ 10
1935-01-01 Dutch Weimer Portland, USA W PTS 10
1934-09-20 John Henry Lewis Portland, USA D PTS 10
1934-08-28 Tiger Jack Fox Portland, USA W PTS 10
1933-11-28 Wesley Ketchell Portland, USA W PTS 10
1933-08-18 Dave Humes Wallace, USA W KO 2
1933-04-18 George Manley Portland, USA W TKO 1
1933-04-04 George Manley Portland, USA W DQ 3
1933-04-04 Tiger Roy Williams Portland, USA W TKO 4
1933-01-24 Wesley Ketchell Portland, USA W PTS 10
1933-01-02 Leo Lomski Portland, USA W PTS 10
1932-07-27 George Gilstrap Kalispell, USA D PTS 10
1932-07-15 Leo Lomski Portland, USA W PTS 6
1932-02-09 Young George Dixon Portland, USA W PTS 6
1931-07-01 George Gilstrap Saint Maries, USA L PTS 10
1931-06-22 Wesley Ketchell Portland, USA L PTS 10
1931-05-12 Young George Dixon Portland, USA D PTS 10
1931-02-20 Eddie Shelton Bozeman, USA W PTS 10
1930-12-16 Leo Lomski Portland, USA L KO 2
1930-12-09 Herman Ratzlaff Portland, USA W TKO 10
1930-11-18 Wesley Ketchell Portland, USA W KO 6
1930-10-09 Red Uhlan Wallace, USA W PTS 10
1930-08-01 George Courtney San Francisco, USA L DQ 5
1930-07-08 Roy Jacks Portland, USA W KO 4
1930-05-27 Jimmy Darcy Spokane, USA W TKO 3
1930-05-13 Pete Cerkan Portland, USA W TKO 2
1930-04-15 Harry Dillon Portland, USA W UD 10
1930-02-26 Del Fontaine Seattle, USA W KO 3
1930-02-18 Del Fontaine Portland, USA W PTS 10
1930-01-21 George Manley Denver, USA L PTS 10
1930-01-20 George Rickard Kellogg, USA W KO 2
1930-01-16 Bill Nearing Wallace, USA W KO 2
1930-01-07 Ray Pelkey Portland, USA W KO 2
1929-10-18 Jimmy Hanna Rock Springs, USA W PTS 10
1929-10-08 Howard Ball Butte, USA W TKO 10
1929-08-16 K O White Wallace, USA W KO 6
1929-06-19 Fred Lenhart Wallace, USA L PTS 12
1929-05-03 Denny Lenhart Spokane, USA W TKO 6
1929-03-12 Tom Patrick Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1929-01-25 Johnny Barry Hollywood, USA W PTS 6
1929-01-20 KO Franklin Wallace, USA W KO 2
1929-01-15 Marvin Rife Los Angeles, USA W TKO 2
1928-11-28 Al Webster Wallace, USA L PTS 10
1928-10-27 Dusty Miller Wallace, USA W SD 10
1928-07-03 California Jack Lee Alan, USA W PTS 10
1928-06-20 Buck La Deaux Wallace, USA W KO 1
1928-06-07 Mike Stewart Wallace, USA W KO 4
1928-05-10 Pete Cerkan Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1928-01-02 Fred Lenhart Tacoma, USA L PTS 6
1927-12-24 Jimmy Darcy Wallace, USA W PTS 12
1927-12-15 Hank Rykor Tacoma, USA W KO 1
1927-11-29 Jimmy McDermott Dishman, USA W TKO 4
1927-11-22 Tiger Thomas Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1927-08-19 Frankie Wine Kellogg, USA W PTS 12
1927-08-02 Fred Lenhart Alan, USA L PTS 12
1927-07-02 Buck Holley Missoula, USA W KO 2
1927-06-16 Mickey Rockson Wallace, USA W TKO 8
1927-05-16 Buck Holley Wallace, USA W PTS 10
1927-04-30 Spark Plug Boyd Wallace, USA W PTS 10
1927-02-28 Orville Darr Wallace, USA W KO 8
1926-07-22 Spark Plug Boyd Alan, USA D PTS 8
1926-07-04 Eddie Shelton Wallace, USA W KO 11
1926-05-25 Fred Lenhart Alan, USA L PTS 8
1926-03-29 Eddie Shelton Wallace, USA L PTS 10
1926-03-23 George McCormick Coeur d'Alene, USA L KO 2
1926-02-13 Bert Tribbey Wallace, USA W PTS 10
1926-02-10 Mike White San Francisco, USA W KO 2
1926-01-20 Al Stradley Wallace, USA W KO 7
1926-01-18 Leo Stokes Wallace, USA W PTS 10
1926-01-15 Bobby Hart Wallace, USA W PTS 10
1925-12-12 George Gilstrap Wallace, USA W KO 9
1925-11-30 Mike Brotherton Kellogg, USA W KO 1
1925-11-04 Louis Taylor Kellogg, USA W KO 4
1925-10-17 Lester White Wallace, USA W KO 1
1925-10-02 Ray Jackson Saint Maries, USA W KO 1
1925-09-07 Danny Needham Alan, USA W TKO 2
1925-08-20 Cowboy Martin Alan, USA W KO 1
1925-08-14 Delbert (Battling) Mabe Kellogg, USA W KO 1
1925-07-01 Vic Wolt W PTS 6
1925-06-06 Jimmy Monroe Wallace, USA W KO 1
1925-06-02 Frank McCoy Alan, USA W TKO 2
1925-06-01 Al Anderson W PTS 6
1925-05-01 Tom Markin W KO 3
1925-04-10 George Burns W KO 3
1925-03-01 George Burns W KO 1
1924-12-01 Bill Grenich Mullan, USA W KO 1

Record to Date
Won 74 (KOs 45) Lost 15 Drawn 4 Total 93
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Rick Farris »

Randyman wrote:
Rick Farris wrote:Speaking of the Randyman . . .

Working so many hours these days has kept me away from posting on this board, however, thanks to technology, my cell phone has internet access and although I don't use it to contribute posts, it allows me to keep up on the action here. During the day, I pull the phone out of my pocket, between shots, and check out what Frank, Dagos, Pug, Bennie, Scar, Ray and Randy have to say. I feel bad I can't join in, but, when I get home sometimes I can get on the computor and put in my 2 cents worth.

Reading Randy's blog always takes me back to the days of Mel Epstein, the Main St. Gym and the charactors we were around at the time. When Randy reminded me of a dinner we had with Mel Epstein, 32-years-ago, it put in focus how things were back then, and what Epstein thought of Randy. I had given Mel fits. Alcohol and drugs weren't my problem, it was women, I loved 'em and when I mixed in a little booze and mota, well, it was off to the races. At age 24, after six pro years, I was finished. It was about this time I would stay in touch with Epstein, who lived alone and never drove a car. On holidays, such as Christmas & Thanksgiving, he'd often spend the day with myself and family, or my girlfriend's family. He was a charactor, and such a gentleman.

Mel became excited over a new young fighter he had hopes of developing into a top contender, and he would speak highly of this kid, Randy. When Mel would discuss his future contender, he'd always take a dig at me, as he did Mike Nixon to me when Mike would defy his rules. "This kid Randy has some real talent, and he doesn't show up at the gym with red eyes after one of those saturday night specials, like somebody I used to know". I would meet Randy, and share Mel's opinion of his new prospect. Good looking kid, looks you in the eyes, has all the right qualities of charactor that we know today are the foundation of a great fighter. The same qualities that make for a great man. My only worry for Randy was that he wouldn't let Mel run him off with his constant nagging. With all respect to Mel Epstein, whom I will put on next years ballot for WBHOF induction in the expanded catagory, along with Frank Baltazar's name, Mel could really ruin a good time. Mel really had a way of breaking up a good time, kinda like finding a turd in the bottom of a punch bowl. But Mel Epstein was a great guy, a kind man who never made money off his fighters, and was always "dipping into his cash register" to see his fighters ate right, or had the right equipment.

I'll stop here, I'm rambling. Just want to welcome Randy, once again, he's one of us!


-Rick
Rick, I am laughing out loud right now because you are so right about Mel. I can't count how many times we (He) walked out of a restaurant if the meat, eggs or whatever it was he ordered wasn't done to his exact request. I would almost beg him so sit down but no, off he went and I had no choice but to follow him. Red faced and embarressed i would just shrug at the waitresses, who usually had no as to what just happened. Sound familiar? Still he was quite a guy.

You're right too about dipping into his own cash registar. He paid for most of my equipment back then. The only thing he would get pissed off at me for was my car, it was always breaking down. One time, I had scheduled fight at the Olympic, we were taking my care, I was on empty. Mel lived near rampart & 3rd. somehow I made it to his house, to the Olympic, back to Mel's and then back home. talk about an angel watching over me!

Rick, thanks again for the kind words.
Randy
Randy, I remember Mel's place in the Rampart district, on LaFayette Park place between 3rd and 6th St. He moved to that place in late '71, after leaving his Wilshire Blvd. Apt. "The Bryson", which at the time was owned by actor Fred MacMurray. Mel's original apartment at the Bryson had made service and was once quite a well known Wilshire area Hotel. Dempsey owned a place close by during his reign as world champ, during the years he lived in L.A. Dempsey's place, known as "The Barbara", was located on the N/W corner of 6th & Bonnie Brae. In each of the suites, Dempsey had a "Baby Grand", and whenever Dempsey's manager became smitten on a woman, he'd give the woman one of the pianos, which really frosted Dempsey's actress wife, Estelle Taylor, who hated Kerns with a passion. Today, the lot is vacant, and years back when Mel pointed the building out to me, it was nothing more than a drug den. Today the neighborhood is one of the most dangerous in L.A. The MS13 and 18th St. gangs control the area, the most corrupt department of the very corrupt LAPD does it's thing in that neighborhood. Today, across MacArthur Park on Park Pl. is the old ELKS Bldg., now knoiwn as the "Park Plaza Hotel" is vacant, being refurbished, a giant monolithic bldg of over 100 years old. It was once a place where George PArnassus had his office, and where Suey Welch resided, as well as Mike Mazurki's restaurant in the ELK's. This is where I once trained, side-by-side with Olivares, Arguello, Napoles, Chacon, Hafey, Crawford, Hedge Lewis, Pimentel, Castillo, Herrera, Gil King and so many more. Today, all the old guys are gone, and many of the younger men of that day are gone too. Last week I went into the building while filming a TV show in the park across the street. It was kinda haunted, but Hell, it felt that way to me in 1971, most of those old guys I'd see there, had a ghost like quality to them. Legends, legends who would always exist in the history of boxing. Very strange memories.

More rambling memories, just writing them down, no editing here, just thoughts.

-Rick
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by bennie »

kikibalt wrote:Did anybody notice that Margo. was totally dry when he came into the ring? like he didn't warm-up in his dressing room, thats why I think it takes him 6-7 round to get going, bad move on his trainer's part, if I'm right about him not warming-up.
Good spot, Frankie. A trainer's spot. Dundee noticed Andy Price was bone dry and ordered Leonard to "jump on him".
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by bennie »

Randyman wrote:I'm leaving right now to my daughters house to watch the fight. I'm just going to come right out and say it. Margarito by late round KO. The way I figure, anyone willing to give up his title to take the other guys title must really want that guy bad. I don't think he gives a rat's ass about the title. He just wants Cotto's head, period. I'm not saying it'll be easy, but it will be Margarito.
Randy
Randy, that is a rather stunningly accurate prediction. :o
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by bennie »

scartissue wrote:
bennie wrote:
kikibalt wrote:Image
How the f**k does Margarito make welter! He looks huge on his knees!
Bennie, I'll give you another freakish welter. Remember Crisanto Espana? A Venezuelan welter who somehow based himself out of Belfast no less with the Eastwoods. Even married an Irish girl I understand. Anyway, a story Steve Collins, the Dublin middleweight/supermiddleweight champ related, was he sparred with Espana the welterweight and everytime Collins saw a punch coming he would time it and lean back out of its way, but he was getting tagged regardless. He was thinking his timing was simply off until the two of them were in the locker room changing and Collins was leaning down tieing his shoe, peered up to see Espana scratching his shin. The kicker was that he wasn't leaning over to do it, but standing erect. Talk about neanderthal-like arms.

Scartissue
Yeah, Espana's arms can only be described as the claws of a crab, and he was nicknamed "Claws". He used them well, whipping in hooks and uppercuts, particularly to the body. I watched him dish out a beating to Nottingham's Del Bryan in 1989 at the Albert Hall in London. Bryan was no slouch, but Espana 'bossed' him and went on to win the WBA welterweight title, which he lost to Ike Quartey. No disgrace.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by bennie »

bennie wrote:Bit of trivia...

Can anyone name the former world champion murdered on Christmas Day?
Anyone? He was a Mexican bad boy (which hardly narrows it down, I know).
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Expug »

I think it might be Clemente Sanchez Bennie.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Antonio Margarito's win over Miguel Cotto shakes up welterweight division

Eric Jamison / Associated Press

Several previously proposed matchups now appear unlikely and fighters are left scrambling for opponents.
By Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS -- Antonio Margarito's dismantling of Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand on Saturday laid waste to more than just Cotto's unbeaten record and his goal of unifying the welterweight title. It also changed the landscape of the division, leaving a number of proposed matchups now unlikely and sending several fighters scrambling for opponents.

Although it will take some time for the dust to settle, gone, apparently, is any hope of a big-money bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Cotto. But De La Hoya, according to Margarito's manager, isn't warm to the idea of fighting Margarito, which leaves him without a foe for his retirement fight, scheduled for Dec. 6 at the MGM.

"We really don't think De La Hoya will fight us," Sergio Diaz Jr. said Sunday. "We'll start to hear the excuses. He's really going to work to choose his next fight. He wants to retire, but he doesn't want to retire hurt."

Cotto, meanwhile, may not fight again before the end of the year, which would push an already discussed rematch with Margarito into the spring. He spent three hours in the hospital after Saturday's punishing loss, his first in 33 pro fights, and though all the tests were negative, Cotto said he wants to take some time off to reevaluate his career.

One intriguing possibility for De La Hoya is a fight with lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao, boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter according to Ring magazine. Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 knockouts), dominated the super-featherweight division before moving up to 135 pounds. And after knocking out David Diaz in his last fight to win his fourth different weight-class title, he could be ready to step up again.

What's more, Pacquiao is without an opponent for his next scheduled bout, Nov. 15 in Las Vegas, while for De La Hoya a matchup with the Filipino would give him a name opponent for his going-away party.

Richard Schaefer, chief executive of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, was vacationing in Europe and not available for comment Sunday.

Margarito, the newly crowned World Boxing Assn. champion, plans to meet in two weeks with promoter Bob Arum to discuss his next move. On Saturday, Arum threw out the possibility of a bout with Shane Mosley should Mosley beat Nicaraguan Ricardo Mayorga on Sept. 27. That's a fight people close to Mosley say the former world champion really wants.

But Sergio Diaz said he'll press for a fight with Zab Judah if Judah beats Joshua Clottey on Saturday in a fight for the International Boxing Federation title Margarito vacated.

Lurking as the wild card in all this is Floyd Mayweather Jr., the undefeated six-time world champion who abruptly announced his retirement in June as his camp was negotiating a fight with De La Hoya.

"Tony's going to take a break but we'd really like a fight before the end of the year," Diaz said. "We are open to a rematch but Cotto may not fight for a while. There could be a unification bout."

Whenever and whoever Margarito fights, he'll go in as the favorite, a big step for a fighter who was often considered one loss from journeyman status despite an aggressive, hard-punching style that produced two world titles even before he grabbed a third off Cotto's head.

"Tony's really happy," Diaz said of his fighter, who floored Cotto twice in the 11th round after the Puerto Rican had gone 32 fights with only one knockdown. "He came prepared for this type of fight, this type of war [because] we knew Cotto has a big heart.

"We've always known Tony was a good fighter. But nobody would give us an opponent."

Now trying to find an opponent is something the rest of the division will be struggling with as well.

[email protected]
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Image
Miguel Cotto is given an eight count after getting knocked to the canvas by Antonio Margarito in the 11th round. Cotto would go down one more time before his corner requested that the bout be stopped.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Image
Antonio Margarito lands a final punch as Miguel Cotto drops to a knee in the 11th round of their WBA welterweight title bout Saturday night. Cotto's corner threw in the towel moments later.
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Rick Farris »

Expug wrote:I think it might be Clemente Sanchez Bennie.

I think you're right, Pug. However, I had to look up Sanchez's record to verify it, I knew Clemente had been murdered, but the Xmas day date is news to me. Thanks for the question Bennie, makes us think.


Rick
Rick Farris
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by Rick Farris »

Here's a little L.A. trivia. . .

Who was the first promoter at the Olympic Auditorium? And, what role did he play in in the Hollywood film industry?

-Rick
kikibalt
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Image
Miguel Cotto, bloodied and beaten, watches as the referee stops the bout upon request by Cotto's corner,
giving Antonio Margarito the victory with a technical knockout Saturday night.
July 26, 2008
kikibalt
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Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing

Post by kikibalt »

Image
Antonio Margarito and one of his handlers begin to celebrate Margarito's victory Saturday night over previously unbeaten Miguel Cotto.
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