Classic American West Coast Boxing

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[Randyman]

Rog, you reminded me of when us micks used to drive around with dates in the car, we'd always joke about how we werent gonna drive around Italian style.
Guys in the front seat , girls in the backseat was Italian style to us.
I dont know where the hell we got that, it was funny to us knuckleheads in the late seventies.

It was a big thing with Chicanos to go cruising on the weekend. Cruising down Whittier Bl was the thing to do. It was packed with girls, car clubs and just a bunch of guys looking for a good time, or a fight. The thing is and maybe it's just a thing with Chicanos but we wouldn't be caught dead sitting three guys in the front. It was called "sitting pussy". Whenever there was an odd man out someone would invariably ask "Who's sitting pussy?". Sometimes a fight would breakout just to see who was sitting shotgun or pussy. It wasn't so big a deal in the back seat but it was taboo in the front. It just wasn't manly. Funny thing is, even here in Los Angeles I had always heard it the same way, three girls in the back, three guys in the front, was Italian style. I have no clue where that came from. maybe the movies.

Randy

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[Expug]

Rog, you reminded me of when us micks used to drive around with dates in the car, we'd always joke about how we werent gonna drive around Italian style.
Guys in the front seat , girls in the backseat was Italian style to us.
I dont know where the hell we got that, it was funny to us knuckleheads in the late seventies.

It was a big thing with Chicanos to go cruising on the weekend. Cruising down Whittier Bl was the thing to do. It was packed with girls, car clubs and just a bunch of guys looking for a good time, or a fight. The thing is and maybe it's just a thing with Chicanos but we wouldn't be caught dead sitting three guys in the front. It was called "sitting pussy". Whenever there was an odd man out someone would invariably ask "Who's sitting pussy?". Sometimes a fight would breakout just to see who was sitting shotgun or pussy. It wasn't so big a deal in the back seat but it was taboo in the front. It just wasn't manly. Funny thing is, even here in Los Angeles I had always heard it the same way, three girls in the back, three guys in the front, was Italian style. I have no clue where that came from. maybe the movies.

Randy

We always joked about the other ethnicities growong up , but the truth is , I love the Italian people and culture as well as the Mexican and Chicano people and there cultures.
These are people with heart .

[dagosd2000]

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.


"Jr."

By Diego

A guy lucky he's not fighting in his father's era. I've never seen a more "protevted" Mexican boxer. I believe that in do course, we will see Junior flattened by a ham & egger.

-Rick

Rick
What gets me is with all the money Sr. made,you'd think he would have hired the best trainers and management group that would have steered this kid properly. An extensive amateur backround and exposure. This kid never had an amateur fight! he could have been brought up like a Leonard or a Frazier. All you see is the old man screaming and boasting ringside at his son's fights. I saw this kid fight at a night club in TJ about 5 years ago. I think it might have been his first fight. I swear pal it was a fight in a whorehouse.

I believe there should be a seperation between fighting and f-----g. It was demeaning to see such a spectacle.What a disorderly crowd of criminals and degenerates(including myself). The bathroom looked like the Crystal Palace. Narcs,cops. Who were the good guys? Who were the bad guys? One and the same. More dope and guns in that place(Pulgas, which means Fleas)than the Tj Police Headquarters. I'm sure Frank would have loved to have unlimited resources to bring his sons along. Sr. had the dough. Or did he blow it all in that whorehouse where his son was fighting?

[kikibalt]

[dagosd2000]

Rog, you reminded me of when us micks used to drive around with dates in the car, we'd always joke about how we werent gonna drive around Italian style.
Guys in the front seat , girls in the backseat was Italian style to us.
I dont know where the hell we got that, it was funny to us knuckleheads in the late seventies.

It was a big thing with Chicanos to go cruising on the weekend. Cruising down Whittier Bl was the thing to do. It was packed with girls, car clubs and just a bunch of guys looking for a good time, or a fight. The thing is and maybe it's just a thing with Chicanos but we wouldn't be caught dead sitting three guys in the front. It was called "sitting pussy". Whenever there was an odd man out someone would invariably ask "Who's sitting pussy?". Sometimes a fight would breakout just to see who was sitting shotgun or pussy. It wasn't so big a deal in the back seat but it was taboo in the front. It just wasn't manly. Funny thing is, even here in Los Angeles I had always heard it the same way, three girls in the back, three guys in the front, was Italian style. I have no clue where that came from. maybe the movies.

Randy

We always joked about the other ethnicities growong up , but the truth is , I love the Italian people and culture as well as the Mexican and Chicano people and there cultures.
These are people with heart .

hey Pug

The other day I go with my two Italian sisters to buy this drafting chair. We pile the thing in the van and take it home. It needs to be put together. Well here's the three of us trying to line up the holes ,read the directions,turn the allen wrenches. Talk about chaos,cussing,yelling,tantrums,and insults. Finally after about 20 minutes of this outrage we finally got it together.

Then my sister says,"Can I make you a salami sandwich?"

[Randyman]

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.


"Jr."

By Diego

A guy lucky he's not fighting in his father's era. I've never seen a more "protevted" Mexican boxer. I believe that in do course, we will see Junior flattened by a ham & egger.

-Rick

I know that Mexican boxing fans would love nothing better than to have lightning strike twice in the Chavez family, but Papa Chavez has some awfully big shoes to fill. I don't know if it'll be a ham & egger that will knock him out though. I just think that eventually he's going to be put in over his head with a real live fighter, or maybe a title shot (undeservedly) and then goodnight junior. Like a lot of these guys, including Marvis Frazier, they want so bad to please their fathers. I can't fault them for that. I blame their dads and managers. They know better. If junior was being brought up the right way. Fighting a little better opponent with every fight. Maybe even getting the loss out of the way early. In other words, just like everybody else, he might have a chance. As it is, he's in for a rude awakening.

Randy

[dagosd2000]

Hank Saur
My first baseball hero as a kid in Chicago. Could hit the ball a ton. Wrigley Field. Cubby uniforms. Jack Brickhouse announcing the games. No lights. Just day games.

Hey Frank,the words in James Brown's song "Bewidered." LOST IN A DREAM. Nice ,real nice

[Randyman]

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.


"Jr."

By Diego

A guy lucky he's not fighting in his father's era. I've never seen a more "protevted" Mexican boxer. I believe that in do course, we will see Junior flattened by a ham & egger.

-Rick

Rick
What gets me is with all the money Sr. made,you'd think he would have hired the best trainers and management group that would have steered this kid properly. An extensive amateur backround and exposure. This kid never had an amateur fight! he could have been brought up like a Leonard or a Frazier. All you see is the old man screaming and boasting ringside at his son's fights. I saw this kid fight at a night club in TJ about 5 years ago. I think it might have been his first fight. I swear pal it was a fight in a whorehouse.

I believe there should be a seperation between fighting and f-----g. It was demeaning to see such a spectacle.What a disorderly crowd of criminals and degenerates(including myself). The bathroom looked like the Crystal Palace. Narcs,cops. Who were the good guys? Who were the bad guys? One and the same. More dope and guns in that place(Pulgas, which means Fleas)than the Tj Police Headquarters. I'm sure Frank would have loved to have unlimited resources to bring his sons along. Sr. had the dough. Or did he blow it all in that whorehouse were his son was fighting?

It's Chavez Sr.'s ego. It's going to ruin his kid.

[Expug]

Some Trivia . . .

For some reason, when I think of our pal Dagos, the late Rocky Marciano comes to mind. Both are Italian-Americans, and both have an imposing presence with a warmth about them. We all know the the Rock was never beaten in 49 fights, and won 43 of them by knockout. Only six of Rocky's fights went the distance, and only five men can claim to have taken Rocky to the final bell. One of them, did it twice. Who was it? Ez Charles? La Starza? NO. It was "Tiger" Ted Lowry of Rhode Island.

This "forgotten" contender not only remained on his feet against the Rock in two bouts, he was standing at the final bell, both times. Now if you think that Lowry must have been a rock-chinned catcher that took a beating from Rocky, study the bouts, and you'll discover that most thought Lowry whipped Marciano fair & square in the first match. The newspapers all had Ted winning the first bout by a margin of 6-4 after ten rounds. When they fought again, Lowry concededs that Marciano deserved the nod.

I can't tell you about Ted Lowry like the guy who taught me, John Bardelli, but John did more than provide documented history, he literally shared a recorded telephone conversation, an intervew, he had with Lowry a few years back.

If you look at Ted's record of over a hundred fights, you'll see that he fought a "who's who" of boxing greats, including another Italian legend, Joey Maxim. In the Maxim bout, Ted was promised a title fight if he carried Maxim thru the final bell. The result was a disputed decision loss and, of course, no title shot. When you see the number of losses on Ted's record one of "today's" so-called "experts" might think Ted was a loser. But they don't understand the bigger picture of Ted's era. Sometimes you just had to play ball with the powers that be, if you didn't you would be black balled and not be able to fight against anybody, or anywhere. The people who ran boxing in those days had a long reach, and called shots in boxing worldwide.

But let's get back to Lowry, now well into his eighties, still living in his native Rhode Island, and still living boxing, now as a trainer, one who teaches amateurs. His mind? Well, after all those fights in such a tough era, against so many greats, his mind must be a little soft, wouldn't you think? Well, like the great Archie Moore before his death, Ted Lowry is as sharp as a tack, and his recall is brilliant.

Such a warm individual I listened to, as John Bardelli replayed his recorded interview of Lowry to me. John Bardelli is a true historian, one who knows boxing from it's roots, the son of Hall of Fame light-heavyweight Young Firpo, (Guido Bardelli). I won't attempt to share all I heard that day, but it was certainly an education of boxing from that great era, an education from "the inside".

Frank, I must once again impose upon you to do us a favor here and ask if you'll post the record of "Tiger" Ted Lowry. You raised a Tiger yourself, one that became a contender. It would be fun to checkout the fights of another Tiger, from an earlier era.

-Rick Farris

Have any of you guys any info on an old fighter named Johnny Pretzie.
He fought both Rocky Marciano and Jake Lamotta.
After he retired he was training fighters in Southie(South Boston).
Some of the fighters did some work for Whitey Bulger, head of the Irish mob there.
Pretzie was shot to death by his girlfriend I believe.

[dagosd2000]

Hey Frank
Can you find Bewidered (The Original by James Brown)? I was in South East today eating Bar B Q. That song came on. and I got lost in a dream. these kids today think we're washed up. No. just want to get away from them sometimes.

[Expug]

Rog, A Salami sandwich sounds real good about now.
I told my wife the other day that I should have told her a long time ago, I have one request in our marriage.Please dont ever buy me any f...in thing that I gotta assemble.
I hate that shit.
Whatever it is buy it already built.
Duke the clerk an extra twenty, just buy it already built.

[Randyman]

Rog, you reminded me of when us micks used to drive around with dates in the car, we'd always joke about how we werent gonna drive around Italian style.
Guys in the front seat , girls in the backseat was Italian style to us.
I dont know where the hell we got that, it was funny to us knuckleheads in the late seventies.

It was a big thing with Chicanos to go cruising on the weekend. Cruising down Whittier Bl was the thing to do. It was packed with girls, car clubs and just a bunch of guys looking for a good time, or a fight. The thing is and maybe it's just a thing with Chicanos but we wouldn't be caught dead sitting three guys in the front. It was called "sitting pussy". Whenever there was an odd man out someone would invariably ask "Who's sitting pussy?". Sometimes a fight would breakout just to see who was sitting shotgun or pussy. It wasn't so big a deal in the back seat but it was taboo in the front. It just wasn't manly. Funny thing is, even here in Los Angeles I had always heard it the same way, three girls in the back, three guys in the front, was Italian style. I have no clue where that came from. maybe the movies.

Randy

We always joked about the other ethnicities growong up , but the truth is , I love the Italian people and culture as well as the Mexican and Chicano people and there cultures.
These are people with heart .

Pug, we all do that. I'll tell you this much, and everyone on this thread will support me on this or they are not boxing fans. Nobody has bigger hearts than the Irish. The history of boxing was built by the sweat of the Irish. So when a mick (if I may say that) says Chicanos and Mexicans are people with heart, then I am going to take that as a supreme compliment. My first boxing hero when I was a kid was Jack Dempsey. My father's favorite heavyweight was Irish Jerry Quarry. There were none tougher.

Randy

[dagosd2000]

Rog, A Salami sandwich sounds real good about now.
I told my wife the other day that I should have told her a long time ago, I have one request in our marriage.Please dont ever buy me any f...in thing that I gotta assemble.
I hate that shit.
Whatever it is buy it already built.
Duke the clerk an extra twenty, just buy it already built.

I srear there was amoment when I was thinking of killing both of them. All this rage was coming out.over a stupid chair. A salami sandwich. Here's one. I don't know if it's just me or an Italian thing. But after making love,I get out of bed and make a salami sandwich. Italian men really aren't the greetest romantics. Only to get them to marry you. Then it's to the refrigerator for the salami sandwich. Valentino ,I'm not.

[Expug]

Thank you Randy.

By the way, I have read some of your Writing on other sites .
Absolutely brilliant stuff.

[dagosd2000]

Rog, A Salami sandwich sounds real good about now.
I told my wife the other day that I should have told her a long time ago, I have one request in our marriage.Please dont ever buy me any f...in thing that I gotta assemble.
I hate that shit.
Whatever it is buy it already built.
Duke the clerk an extra twenty, just buy it already built.

I srear there was amoment when I was thinking of killing both of them. All this rage was coming out.over a stupid chair. A salami sandwich. Here's one. I don't know if it's just me or an Italian thing. But after making love,I get out of bed and make a salami sandwich. Italian men really aren't the greetest romantics. Only to get them to marry you. Then it's to the refrigerator for the salami sandwich. Valentino ,I'm not.

Did you ever think that there's a group of psychiatrists out there working on their PHD's and writing theories of behavior for renown magazines and publishing books on the complexities of the human mind by going to this thread?
Gee. They can thank guys like Scar,Rick,Benny,Pug,Dagos,Randy,and Frank for the next scientific breakthroughs. Maybe there's a Noble Prize in it for us. Who'll make the acceptance speach?

[dagosd2000]

Thank you Randy.

By the way, I have read some of your Writing on other sites .
Absolutely brilliant stuff.

Agree Pug. Randy's site is for real. OUTSTANDING!!!

[Expug]

Randy was interviewed at I believe Ringsidereport.
I believe it was called boxing changed my life.
Please correct me if Im wrong about the title Randy.
Anyway, the interview was really great and heartfelt.
I very much enjoyed it.

[Randyman]

Speaking of Jerry Quarry. In 1993 I took my son Andrew to a card show at the Long Beach Convention Center. Jerry Quarry was going to be there. I wanted Andrew to meet him. He was scheduled to be there at a certain time so we waited around, walked around, bought a few things and by the time we came back he was all set up and ready to meet his fans.

He had spot that was isolated and separated from all the other celebrity guests, which included Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The lines for these guys formed fast. The crowd was excited to meet these guys. All except Quarry. I would like to say that I waited in a long line to meet him but the truth is not one person besides myself wanted to meet him. It was awkward at first, like when a comic screws up the punchline and no one laughs. Then I though "Srew'em". Andrew and I have him all to ourselves.

We ended up spending about an hour talking to him. He was genuinely grateful that we wanted to meet him and get his autograph. As we talked he said he was making a comeback. Well, not knowing at the time about his failing mental health, I was excited for him, wishing him luck and so forth. The guy that was sitting next to me made eye contact with me and just shook his head ever so slightly, clueing me in on Jerry. He was letting me know not to pay to much attention to what he was saying. Suddenly the light bulb went on and my heart was suddenly broken. I mean it was broken. Here was this big strapping man with arms like oak. Strong and eager but in a few minutes it became obvious to me. my son didn't see it. He was only eleven at the time. It didn't change how I felt about him. He was still Jerry Quarry. he signed two photos for my son and I. I still have them.

In a way, I was glad that no one else spoke with him. people can be cruel. There is a difference between an all around sports fan and a true boxing fan. I think they would have laughed at him. I don't think I would have tolerated that.

[Randyman]

Thank you Randy.

By the way, I have read some of your Writing on other sites .
Absolutely brilliant stuff.

Agree Pug. Randy's site is for real. OUTSTANDING!!!

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. honestly, being on this thread is an honor. You guys are the real deal.
Randy

[Randyman]

Speaking of Jerry Quarry. In 1993 I took my son Andrew to a card show at the Long Beach Convention Center. Jerry Quarry was going to be there. I wanted Andrew to meet him. He was scheduled to be there at a certain time so we waited around, walked around, bought a few things and by the time we came back he was all set up and ready to meet his fans.

He had a spot that was isolated and separated from all the other celebrity guests, which included Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The lines for these guys formed fast. The crowd was excited to meet these guys. All except Quarry. I would like to say that I waited in a long line to meet him but the truth is not one person besides myself wanted to meet him. It was awkward at first, like when a comic screws up the punchline and no one laughs. Then I though "Srew'em". Andrew and I have him all to ourselves.

We ended up spending about an hour talking to him. He was genuinely grateful that we wanted to meet him and get his autograph. As we talked he said he was making a comeback. Well, not knowing at the time about his failing mental health, I was excited for him, wishing him luck and so forth. The guy that was sitting next to him made eye contact with me and just shook his head ever so slightly, clueing me in on Jerry. He was letting me know not to pay to much attention to what he was saying. Suddenly the light bulb went on and my heart was suddenly broken. I mean it was broken. Here was this big strapping man with arms like oak. Strong and eager but in a few minutes it became obvious to me. my son didn't see it. He was only eleven at the time. It didn't change how I felt about him. He was still Jerry Quarry. he signed two photos for my son and I. I still have them.

In a way, I was glad that no one else spoke with him. people can be cruel. There is a difference between an all around sports fan and a true boxing fan. I think they would have laughed at him. I don't think I would have tolerated that.

[Randyman]

Randy was interviewed at I believe Ringsidereport.
I believe it was called boxing changed my life.
Please correct me if Im wrong about the title Randy.
Anyway, the interview was really great and heartfelt.
I very much enjoyed it.

Yes, they used a quote from the interview as the title. Thanks Pug.

[dagosd2000]

Speaking of Jerry Quarry. In 1993 I took my son Andrew to a card show at the Long Beach Convention Center. Jerry Quarry was going to be there. I wanted Andrew to meet him. He was scheduled to be there at a certain time so we waited around, walked around, bought a few things and by the time we came back he was all set up and ready to meet his fans.

He had spot that was isolated and separated from all the other celebrity guests, which included Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The lines for these guys formed fast. The crowd was excited to meet these guys. All except Quarry. I would like to say that I waited in a long line to meet him but the truth is not one person besides myself wanted to meet him. It was awkward at first, like when a comic screws up the punchline and no one laughs. Then I though "Srew'em". Andrew and I have him all to ourselves.

We ended up spending about an hour talking to him. He was genuinely grateful that we wanted to meet him and get his autograph. As we talked he said he was making a comeback. Well, not knowing at the time about his failing mental health, I was excited for him, wishing him luck and so forth. The guy that was sitting next to me made eye contact with me and just shook his head ever so slightly, clueing me in on Jerry. He was letting me know not to pay to much attention to what he was saying. Suddenly the light bulb went on and my heart was suddenly broken. I mean it was broken. Here was this big strapping man with arms like oak. Strong and eager but in a few minutes it became obvious to me. my son didn't see it. He was only eleven at the time. It didn't change how I felt about him. He was still Jerry Quarry. he signed two photos for my son and I. I still have them.

In a way, I was glad that no one else spoke with him. people can be cruel. There is a difference between an all around sports fan and a true boxing fan. I think they would have laughed at him. I don't think I would have tolerated that.

Randy

You probably weren't around when I posted this Quarry story. It was 1968. Jim Healy was doing a show in LA. on Channel 5. Sports talk. His guests that night were Deacon Jones and Jerry Quarry. Well Deacon had just finished second in the MVP voting in the NFL.Quarry had just lost to Joe Frazier.

Healy asks Deacon the key to his success. Deacon is all full of himself and goes on to tell the world that it has to to with confidence. Believing in yourself. All the while Quarry is sitting next to him kind of impassive listening to all of Deacon's boasting. Finally Jones turns to Quarry and says,"If I wanted to,I could be Heavyweight Champ of The World. Like a jack in the box,Quarry pops out of his seat and stands over Jones clenching his fists.
"Come on mother f----r,.Right now. I'm going to kick your ass."(Live TV).
Stone cold silence. The Deacon slumps in his chair with this chcken shit liitle smile. All the while you think Jerry's gonna pounce on him. Healy says,"We'll be back after this commercial."
After the commercial,the Deacon was gone.Probably thanking God that Quarry didn't kick his ass.