Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Billie Holiday



"Billie"

By Diego

[kikibalt]

Carl Bobo Olson

[Rick Farris]

Carl Bobo Olson

In the early 90's, while on film shoot in Las Vegas, I met and became friends with former middleweight contender, Joey Giambra. I believe Joey whipped Bobo Olson twice, once for sure in the early 60's up in San Francisco. Giambra is a very interesting charactor and has a treasure trove of inside boxing history from the fifties and early sixties. Coming out of Buffalo N.Y., when Joey discusses ''mob'' activities in boxing, it isn't second hand speculation or misinformation. His book ''Joey Giambra is the Uncrowned Champ'' is great reading. And Joey G. has been a great friend! -Rick

[dagosd2000]

"Verdugo,gana Margarito."
"Si Rogelio. Campeon del Mundo."
I couldn't get the side door open on my van. The key would go in,but the door wouldn't slide open. I went to the dealership and ordered a new lock.Everyone was on the phone. I waited about ten minutes before someone put down the phone. No one looked at me while I was waiting.Finally I moved in front of the guy who had hung up the phone. The guy told me it would have to come down from LA.He ordered it on the computer. He said an extra ten bucks would be added on to code the new lock to my key.They called me two days later on the phone to get the lock. There were a lot of people that looked like they were milling around the parts department. I had to wait at the counter and finally clear my throat to get someone to wait on me. After finishing there ,I drove to Coahuila Street to have Verdugo install the new lock.
"Verdugo,no sirve la puerta por el lado."
Verdugo wanted the key. He walked to the side door.
"You watch fight?"
"No quiero pagar."
"I watch free in my house here."
Figures. I should have crossed the border to watch the fight. Not only was it free down there,but I could have enjoyed the company of some exhuberant boxing fans on top of it.

"Rogelio.Lock is not broken. Why you buy lock?"
I told Verdugo the guy working in the parts dpartment in San Diego said the the lock was shot. I was beginning to get upset.
"No Rogelio. See the lock turn. No broke."
I asked Verdugo what was the problem. He went into his little shack of a tool shed and brought out a rubber mallet.
"I see for you."
A young kid came out from the inside of his one car garage where he worked on cars. Verdugo motioned the kid over and was explaining,I think,what the situation was with my door. Verdugo told the young kid to pull while he pounded on the back side of the door. I said nothing.
"I think it work now Rogelio."
Verdugo slid open the door like it was yesterday. He was smiling. The young kid stood there .
"It was only stuck. You no need lock."
I knew I couldn't return the lock once it was coded to my key.$35.50 wasted.
"Verdugo. I come see you. You always find way to fix todo. Nunca problema. Es magico. Magic."
Verdugo put his arm around the young kid and pointed at his old hand painted sign that said "Verdugo Taller Electronico."
"No Rogelio. Es Verdugo. I am the magic."
The young kid smiled.
"Gracias amigo. Cuanto te debo.?"
"Nada amigo.Soy Verdugo the magician."
I opened the door and got in my van. I knew i'd have a long wait at the border . Verdugo shouted at me before I took off.
"Rogelio. Es good Margarito es Campeon."
"Si Verdugo. Es real good."

[Randyman]

Billie Holiday



"Billie"

By Diego

Rog, that's beautiful.

[kikibalt]

Today is my one and only daughter, Linda, birthday and we are having a little party at Shakey's Pizza for her tonight, I'll shoot some pics. and post'em late.

Btw she is 52 today.

[dagosd2000]

Today is my one and only daughter, Linda, birthday and we are having a little party at Shakey's Pizza for her tonight, I'll shoot some pics. and post'em late.

Btw she is 52 today.

Feliz Cumpleanos. Be sure to sing Mananitas.

[bennie]

[quote="bennieCastillo was outboxing Arguello for much of the way but the Nicarguan thin man finally wore him down and got to him in the 11th (from memory). He was too small for Arguello, really, and then dropped down to feather and gave Sanchez a fabulous fight before dropping a close 15-round decision. Laporte came next, also at feather, and the heavy handed Puerto Rican dropped Ruben twice on the way to a sparkling decision. A great display from Laporte, and Castillo's best chance to win a world title was gone. Finally, back at super-feather (junior-light), Chavez proved too strong and stopped Castillo in seven or eight. Really, Castillo was a featherweight and boxing there when Chacon won back the super-featherweight title on that unbelievable night against Limon. Boza then fought Chacon because he was the mandatory and because he earned it (in my opinion), belting Arturo Leon in four, winning the European title by making a tough Spaniard quit, belting Johnny Verderosa, outscoring Blaine Dickson in a war... Boza went on a brilliant run up to the rematch with Chacon (whom he had previously stopped).
Ultimately, Castillo lost a few 10-rounders he should have won and that cost him mandatory shots and possibly a shot at Bobby, although he was challenging Laporte when Bobby was surviving about 20 cuts to get past Boza. Incidentally, I'm not sure Chacon ever had it easy; that is the last thing that comes to mind with Bobby. The only break Bobby ever really got was NOT fighting Camacho in 1983. Bobby didn't need that after the Limon and Boza wars, even though he was still unfairly stripped.

Bennie, totally agree with your assessment on Castillo-Arguello. I had Castillo leading until, I believe two body shots took the wind out of Castillo's sails in the 11th. And for the record, I had Castillo-Sanchez dead even after 15 rounds. The LaPorte and Chavez fights shouldn't haunt him, as he was past his best by then. Regarding Chacon/Camacho/Edwards, Chacon was the champ and Boza was his #1 contender and had an offer to fight him for $450,000. However, the Don King controlled Camacho camp (who was usually Carl King) offered the Chacon people $250,000. Now, this is sort of a no-brainer, isn't it? But no, the WBC mandated Chacon fight Camacho over their #1 contender, which was obviously turned down and they stripped Bobby of the title. The fight went ahead and Chacon sued on anti-trust grounds, I believe, but he no longer had the title. I wonder if he saw anything out of that.

Scartissue[/quote]




Yeah, I decided to check out the unfairness of it all by way of Mickey Duff's autobiography, which is factually flawless. Undoubtedly Camacho was dynamite around that time and deserved a crack at Chacon but Boza was next in line for Bobby as the mandatory challenger - and had really earned a shot himself by rebuilding brilliantly from a shattering defeat to Rolando Navarette in 1981 with a series of thrilling wins in the States.
Now, surprise, surprise, Don King wanted Camacho to have the shot first (he had a six-fight deal with Camacho) and, annoyingly and typically, had THREE options on Chacon. When NBC signed Chacon-Boza, the King puppets at the WBC withdrew sanctioning for the fight. Shocking.
Chacon needed 40 stitches but felled Boza in the last (shades of Limon) and won the fight and was still champ, given the WBC had not stripped him. The fact that the WBC had failed to acknowledge a fight between their own champ and their own No. 1 contender, between two men who battled it out magnificently and sportingly, preceded the next shameful event, however, when Chacon was offered a million dollars to defend against Camacho by California's Don Chargin and $450,000 from King. Chacon, for some reason, decided he wanted the million and the WBC stripped him.

[dagosd2000]

The Crea gym opens at 3 in the afternoon,or whenever the first fighters get there. Somewhere around that time of the day. I waited around for someone to show up. Maybe Margarito. He was back in Tijuana after beating Cotto. Lived in the Zona Norte near Morales' Gym,but liked to train at the Crea. Morales was the center of his place even though he wasn't fighting anymore. The Crea was wide open to anyone. Besides the good workouts were there. You had to be able to hold your own at the Crea. If you did,you were a cut above the other fighters in gyms in Tijuana.

There was a lot going on at the recreation facility. Lots of kids playing softball,basketball,and soccer. School had just started up and now the activities would start later in the day. Parking ,as usual, was very crowded. I parked in the street a few blocks away because the lots were full. Didn't like that. Stolen cars on the street are out of hand. Everyone is in on it. Go to the cops, and it's like going to the thieves. They sell the metal,the parts,the tires. Nothing is left. Send you all over town looking for your car when they know it's in bits and pieces. But what's the use worrying? That's the best way to deal with Tijuana. If it can happen,it will happen to you someday.

I saw this little hunched over guy in a gray white T Shirt go to the door of the gym and open the lock. He must of had 20 keys on his chain. He immediately found the key to open the gym. He didn't look at me. He was short. The more I looked at him,the more he seemed familar. He looked like a fighter. An ex fighter. His hands were calloused and his face was misshapen. Scar tissue around his eyes. Broken nose. All the signs. He went to a corner and grabbed a broom.He swept the floor deliberately,slowly. I knew him from somewhere. I knew I saw him in the ring. The face was bringing it around to me.

He stopped sweeping to stretch out his arms and backl. They were big for his height. He was tank like. He was Joe Valdez. I knew now when he showed his back and arms. Short thick arms. I remember watching him fight in Tijuana.

"Amigo",I said. "Como te llamas?"
He didn't answer. He didn't hear me or just wanted to ignore me. Why would I want to know his name? Figured I was crazy. He continued sweeping the floor.Then I went for a reach.
"Joe Valdez."
He turned.
"Me conoces?"
"Si amigo. Box en el Auditorio."
The squatty man put down the broom and walked over to me. I could see his face had been busted up pretty good over time.I remember when he fought. He was strong,but slow. Got hit a lot,but that was the only way he could hit back. Let the guy come in,hit me,and then I'll swing.
"Cuando me viste?"
I told him I saw him fight at the Auditorium. I couldn't remember who he fought. I didn't want him to think right now that he was a faint memory.
"Mayon. Mayon," he muttered.
"Si,si. Recuerdo. Mayon."
"Rodriguez. Recuerdes?"
"Si recuerdo."
I remembered nothing. Only that I remembered the way he fought. Awkward. Strong. Left himself open. Swung back hard. He was satisfied if he hit the other guy anywhere. Arms ,elbows,top of the shoulders. He was too slow to pick his spots. Let the guy come in. Hit me. I'll hit back. Not important where. But he knew that the other guy was taking everything he could throw at him. He was serious.

I wanted to change the subject.
"Cuando llegan los fighters?"I asked .
"Ahorrita vienen."
I thanked him for letting me in to wait for the fighters. I waited for almost an hour,but no fighters came into the gym. The old fighter swept up and then brought out a towel and cleaned up and down the ring posts.

"You like my fight?"said the old fighter as he now was putting polish on the the ring posts.
"Si amigo, Muy valiente en el ring."
He put down his rag and looked at me.
"You wait for Margarito?"
"Si ,viene?"
"No think Margarito come today."
I wanted to find an excuse to get going. Hoped my car was all right.
"I show Margarito how to box."
I smiled and nodded my head.
"I teach Margarito."
"Bueno."
I told the old fighter that I was going to come back in a while.
"My nombre Jose Valdez. Me recuerdes?"
I told him I remenbered him and that I would come back later.
"You not come back amigo.Margarito no come today. You want Margarito."
I said no,that I would be back in an hour. The old fighter picked up the rag and continued to polish. I walked out of the Crea. I wanted to get to my car to see if it was still there. I never came back.

[kikibalt]

[bennie]

Maxim beat our own Freddie Mills in London for the world light-heavyweight title. He knocked a couple of Freddie's teeth out, but Freddie was there to see him off at the train station, in the days before commercial air traffic.
Maxim must have enjoyed the long journey home.

[bennie]

Just browsing Ruben Castillo's record. His fight with Sanchez must have been a boxing clinic. I actually thought he quit after Chavez busted him up and stopped him in six rounds in 1984 but he was still fighting in the 1990s - right up to 1997, in fact.
I know he also did a bit of TV work for a while. Wonder what happened with that.

[scartissue]

[quote="scartissue. The fact that the WBC had failed to acknowledge a fight between their own champ and their own No. 1 contender, between two men who battled it out magnificently and sportingly, preceded the next shameful event, however, when Chacon was offered a million dollars to defend against Camacho by California's Don Chargin and $450,000 from King. Chacon, for some reason, decided he wanted the million and the WBC stripped him.

Absolutely shameless.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Just browsing Ruben Castillo's record. His fight with Sanchez must have been a boxing clinic. I actually thought he quit after Chavez busted him up and stopped him in six rounds in 1984 but he was still fighting in the 1990s - right up to 1997, in fact.
I know he also did a bit of TV work for a while. Wonder what happened with that.

The TV work that he did was working the fights from the forum on Prime Ticket, when his contract came up for renewal he priced him self out by asking for too much money, he was shown the door.

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Today is my one and only daughter, Linda, birthday and we are having a little party at Shakey's Pizza for her tonight, I'll shoot some pics. and post'em late.

Btw she is 52 today.

Frank,
Tell your daughter from one 52 year old to another, peace, health & Happy Birthday.

Bobbin & Weavin

[kikibalt]

Today is my one and only daughter, Linda, birthday and we are having a little party at Shakey's Pizza for her tonight, I'll shoot some pics. and post'em late.

Btw she is 52 today.

Frank,
Tell your daughter from one 52 year old to another, peace, health & Happy Birthday.

Bobbin & Weavin

Thank you every much B & W, I will tell her that.

[Rick Farris]

Bennie, totally agree with your assessment on Castillo-Arguello. I had Castillo leading until, I believe two body shots took the wind out of Castillo's sails in the 11th. And for the record, I had Castillo-Sanchez dead even after 15 rounds. The LaPorte and Chavez fights shouldn't haunt him, as he was past his best by then. Regarding Chacon/Camacho/Edwards, Chacon was the champ and Boza was his #1 contender and had an offer to fight him for $450,000. However, the Don King controlled Camacho camp (who was usually Carl King) offered the Chacon people $250,000. Now, this is sort of a no-brainer, isn't it? But no, the WBC mandated Chacon fight Camacho over their #1 contender, which was obviously turned down and they stripped Bobby of the title. The fight went ahead and Chacon sued on anti-trust grounds, I believe, but he no longer had the title. I wonder if he saw anything out of that.

Scartissue[/quote]




Hey Scar, we've never discussed Ruben Castillo, but perhaps we should interview him this year at the WBHOF event. I know Ruben fairly well, but not from boxing. Ruben was close to the late actor Victor French, who was also a friend of mine. Thru this friendship, he would visit Vic occaionally on the set of "Little House on the Praire" and "Highway to Heaven", when Vic and I both worked for Michael Landon. Vic and I would leave the studio together and drive directly to the FORUM to catch monday night fights, when Castillo was a ringside commmentator for Prime Ticket Network in the 80's. We'd usually hook-up with Castillo after the fights in the Forum Club. By the end of the night (which was usually well into the morning) we'd roll out of the bar three sheets to the wind.

The next day, Vic and I would have to be on the set early, and both look like we'd just gone fifteen rounds with Marciano. Luckily for me my job was behind the camera, while vic would pull himself together like the great actor he was and appear to have had a good nights sleep. "Thank God for make-up!", he'd say. Ruben would usually take up Vic's invite to drop by the studio and have lunch with us, and we'd remenisce about mutual friends in boxing. I told Castillo I had a program from a junior amateur bout he fought with Frankie Baltazar Jr. from January of 1970, a card held at the China Lake Navy base where I had my last amateur bout before turning pro. At the time, Ruben and Frankie Jr. weighed only 60 lbs.! I showed Castillo the program and he wanted me to give it to him, but I refused, since it was from my last amateur bout in which I beat Joey Sandoval, Richie and Albert's older brother.

Ruben is experienced in front of a microphone and a very interesting interview. Thanks to Bennie for bringing up the name Ruben Castillo, because he fought some all-time greats and can really provide a lot of what we are looking to accomplish in our interviews. Let's get that interview, Dan.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Maxim beat our own Freddie Mills in London for the world light-heavyweight title. He knocked a couple of Freddie's teeth out, but Freddie was there to see him off at the train station, in the days before commercial air traffic.
Maxim must have enjoyed the long journey home.

I've learned a lot about Maxim from John Bardelli. Bardelli, as I've mentioned before, is a boxing historian who lives in Spokane, Washington, and the son of former light heavweight contender "Young Firpo". I always considered Maxim somewhat of a boring fighter to watch, because of his counter-puncher style, but what a nightmare for his opponents to deal with. A young Floyd Patterson was matched with Joey in an eight-rounder early in his career. Maxim gave Patterson a boxing lesson and handed Floyd his first loss. Today, in a world of "protected" boxers, a manager would never let a young prospect in the ring with a Maxim, however, a wise Cus D'Amato knew that such a "lesson" would pay future dividends to his young fighter, and he was right.

By the way, Maxim's real name was Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli.

-Rick

[kikibalt]

Guys, here is Frankie Baltazar and Ruben Castillo at the CBHOF of this year.

[Rick Farris]

Just browsing Ruben Castillo's record. His fight with Sanchez must have been a boxing clinic. I actually thought he quit after Chavez busted him up and stopped him in six rounds in 1984 but he was still fighting in the 1990s - right up to 1997, in fact.
I know he also did a bit of TV work for a while. Wonder what happened with that.

Ruben shouldn't have made that come back. I was ringside for his fight with a tough Filippino (forget his name) and it was a bad night for Castillo, not to mention painful. Ruben had been sitting ringside calling fights with the late announcer Chick Hearn (of the L.A. Lakers) for a couple years and began to miss the excitement of his boxing days. I knew for a fact that Castillo had no business boxing again simply due to the social life he had been living at the time, not to mention his age, the number of fights he'd already had, etc. Ruben missed the attention, but the attention he got wasn't really what he had in mind. As I sat ringside, I watched Castillo enter the ring witha big smile on his face, waving to the crowd which was behind him 100%. He didn't seem to focus much on the hungry unknown little Fillippino across the ring, as he took in the applaude of the crowd. Ruben started fast, throwing pretty combos that were way off their target, looking impressive but not landing. The opponent just pressed forward and then found his target, thowing a short little hook to Castillo's unprotected liver. That punch ended the fight, with Castillo doubled over in pain on the deck. I felt bad for Castillo, because I knew what it felt like to return to a boxing ring after lots of years, only to be reminded that it didn't always feel good inside the ropes. There is a down side, especially when your timing is off and your body has been ruined by things you never did when you were young. We all have our 15 minutes, and when it's gone, it's gone (That is unless your name is Eder Jofre).

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Guys, here is Frankie Baltazar and Ruben Castillo at the CBHOF of this year.

Two very special men. However, in the ring Frankie jr. owned Castillo.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Today is my one and only daughter, Linda, birthday and we are having a little party at Shakey's Pizza for her tonight, I'll shoot some pics. and post'em late.

Btw she is 52 today.

Frank,
Tell your daughter from one 52 year old to another, peace, health & Happy Birthday.

Bobbin & Weavin

Same from me Frank, Happy Birthday to Linda!

[kikibalt]

Today is my one and only daughter, Linda, birthday and we are having a little party at Shakey's Pizza for her tonight, I'll shoot some pics. and post'em late.

Btw she is 52 today.

Frank,
Tell your daughter from one 52 year old to another, peace, health & Happy Birthday.

Bobbin & Weavin

Same from me Frank, Happy Birthday to Linda!

Thanks Rick.....

[Rick Farris]

[quote="scartissue. The fact that the WBC had failed to acknowledge a fight between their own champ and their own No. 1 contender, between two men who battled it out magnificently and sportingly, preceded the next shameful event, however, when Chacon was offered a million dollars to defend against Camacho by California's Don Chargin and $450,000 from King. Chacon, for some reason, decided he wanted the million and the WBC stripped him.

Absolutely shameless.

Scartissue

The WBC and Jose Suliman are just another example of the corrupt nature of the alphabet groups. There is little that will rid boxing of these groups or corruption in general. Sadly, promoters are tied in with these organizations and the promotors tie up the boxers contractually which means we will rarely see the best fights out there. This is why the younger fight fans are passing on boxing in favor of MMA. Also, we rarely see well trained boxers. Last night, my wife was watching the Olympics, and although not interested in what they call "amateur boxing" today, I couldn't resist watching the last member of a very weak American team compete in the semi-finals. The rest of the USA team had already been eliminated, and the guy who was left was easily eliminated by the Italian rep in his weight class. I would give you the American's name, but I was so unimpressed I didn't care to get it. He was a guy with two years experience who had been a delivery truck driver. He fought below the level of an L.A. Jr. Golden Gloves novice in the 60's. The guy did not know how to box, punch, or avoid getting hit. I've seen schoolyard street fighters with far more savvy and ability. From this, we will get the next crop of professionals. I will say that a bout in the 125 lb. division featuring a kid from Mexico (Gomez, I bleieve) and a Chinese rep, was full of action, hard fought, both boxed and punched impressivly, etc. These kids from other countries (of course, Mexico was no surprise) embarass today's American reps. We may be the best in swimming, etc. But Americans are no longer fighters in ability or spirit. Sadly, there are no longer great teachers to develop one who may show up.

-Rick the grouch

[Rick Farris]

Today is my one and only daughter, Linda, birthday and we are having a little party at Shakey's Pizza for her tonight, I'll shoot some pics. and post'em late.

Btw she is 52 today.

Frank,
Tell your daughter from one 52 year old to another, peace, health & Happy Birthday.

Bobbin & Weavin

I never met Linda, but when I started boxing she would have been eight-years-old. Tony was only three! Damn, I guess the rocking chair is next for me

-Rick