Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Randyman]

The following photos are from the Johnny Chavez benefit in Azusa, California in 1993. Chavez lost his eyesight after a fight. His last fight was against Gabriel Castro at the Forum in Inglewood, California on November 6, 1092. I'm assuming that's the fight where the damage occurred. Frank will probably know more about this. Look at the autograph on the lower right hand corner. Frankie Baltazar Jr. Always a gentleman.

It was almost as difficult speaking with Mike Quarry as it was speaking with Jerry. He was very fragile by this time as Rick can probably attest to. Several of guys that Mike was speaking with were laughing at him behind his back. I pulled him away and had a good chat with him. It was painful.

I opened the show for Mike at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas on October 30, 1976 when he fought Tom Bethea. Mike won a 10 round decision. earlier that year Mike and I had sparred on three separate occasions. something I won't forget.

When I heard Mike had died and how he died, I remembered that day. He was no longer the same Mike Quarry.

R.I.P. Mike

Mike Quarry, Andrew De La O and Randy De La O

[Expug]

Sad about Mike Quarry.And its outstanding that you were involved in that benefit for Johnny Chavez Randy.
The guys on this thread are great people.They really are.People with a common interest in boxing, but it goes deeper then that.
The guys I have met here are people who are what we call in Chicago,stand up guys.
People who will be there for others and do what they say they are gonna do. Tough guys but good guys.Its the measure of a man.There are MEN here.

[Randyman]

Sad about Mike Quarry.And its outstanding that you were involved in that benefit for Johnny Chavez Randy.
The guys on this thread are great people.They really are.People with a common interest in boxing, but it goes deeper then that.
The guys I have met here are people who are what we call in Chicago,stand up guys.
People who will be there for others and do what they say they are gonna do. Tough guys but good guys.Its the measure of a man.There are MEN here.

Pug, I wasn't involved in the benefit except as a fan in the crowd. My son Andrew had a great time meeting all the guys from our era. There was a ring set up and they had several exhibitions, including Danny Lopez and Alberto Davila, all of the sparring was light hearted and in fun. The crowd was really enjoying it. Frankie Duarte was in the crowd. I had half a mind to go tell him that Davila was talking about him behind his back, just so we could get them in the ring again for a third fight. The crowd would have thanked me. I'm sure of it. It might have been worth it. I was at their second fight at the Forum in 1987 and it was one hell of a fight. I came to my senses.

As far as the guys on this thread go, I couldn't agree more. "Stand up guys" you said it Pug! You're one of them.

[kikibalt]

Watching "Somebody up there likes me" right now (TCM) for about 20th time, love the movie.

[Randyman]

Ken Buchanan

Great Photo. It makes me sad though. You can see the brightness in his eyes. He was full of life in this photo. It has to be before Duran. After his loss to Roberto Duran. Buchanan was never the same. It was mental. The fight got into his head and he could never accept the loss. He's convinced himself but for the low blow, he might have won. Nothing and no one could have saved him from Roberto Duran that night.

That's the thing about boxers, especially champions, and even more so the very great ones. When the gig is up, they can't accept it. The very quality that got them where they are; heart, courage, determination, intestinal fortitude, desire, and that deep burning desire to never say die, the refusal to lose, betrays them at the end of their careers, it can make fools of them. The very quality the once was their best attribute is now their worst. Sad but true. Just look at Julio Cesar Chavez at the end of his career and you'll see what i'm talking about.

That's what happened to Buchanan. The fight and the loss to Duran didn't ruin the Ken's quality of life. That came from within. Over the years he became bitter. His unhappiness is evident in every interview I have ever seen.

[Randyman]

Watching "Somebody up there likes me" right now (TCM) for about 20th time, love the movie.

Love that movie Frank. Don't forget the popcorn!

[Randyman]

Ken Buchanan & wife Carol

After the Roberto Duran fight?

[kikibalt]

Re, Mike Quarry, Rick and I knew Mike and Jerry since their early days in boxing, and its hard to see what happen to them and other guys that you have known up close and personal when they keep fighting too long, guys like Jerry and Mike, and my boys too, that started fighting real young and were taking punches as young kids, well you can't be surprise when they end up the way Jerry and Mike did, I just hope my boys don't get too bad in years to come.

[kikibalt]

Watching "Somebody up there likes me" right now (TCM) for about 20th time, love the movie.

Love that movie Frank. Don't forget the popcorn!

And the beer....

[Expug]

Ken Buchanan & wife Carol

After the Roberto Duran fight?

Maybe Bennie can shine some light on this.
I think I read that Ken wound up divorced and that he really took the situation on the chin.
Finances went bad and that was the reason he kept on fighting.
Sad story.Did Ken maybe pick the wrong flower?

[kikibalt]

Watching "Somebody up there likes me" right now (TCM) for about 20th time, love the movie.

Love that movie Frank. Don't forget the popcorn!

Randy, right now Rocky (Paul Newman) is fighting Tony Zale, second fight, and I see that it was shot at the Olympic.

[dagosd2000]

Hell!, I do the dishs and laundry.

When you're a kept man you have to do those things....

Hey Fellas
It's about time we rescue Frank. I've got a reservation at the Boom Boom Club.

The BOOM BOOM Club? Tell me where, and when. I'll pick-up Randy and we'll swing over to the barrio and kidnap Frank. Then it's off to the races!

-Rick

Rick
I just had three Zambucas at my sisters' house watching the Charger game. I'm in no condition to write about the Boom Boom Club right now. So I'll just hit the covers and dream about it. Rog

[dagosd2000]

Hell!, I do the dishs and laundry.

When you're a kept man you have to do those things....

Hey Fellas
It's about time we rescue Frank. I've got a reservation at the Boom Boom Club.

I don't want to be rescue, I like been a kept man, get up when I feel like it, don't have go to work, have a few bucks in my pocket, eat when I want, what can be better then that?... 8)

A night at the Boom Boom Club.

[dagosd2000]

Pat Valentino vs Tony Bosnich

I bet Valentino never used a napkin.

[Randyman]

Joe Palooka or is that Rog?

[Boxingnut]

Ken Buchanan & wife Carol

After the Roberto Duran fight?

Maybe Bennie can shine some light on this.
I think I read that Ken wound up divorced and that he really took the situation on the chin.
Finances went bad and that was the reason he kept on fighting.
Sad story.Did Ken maybe pick the wrong flower?

Yeah Buchanan did get divorced and he invested a lot of his money in a hotel in Edinburgh which ended going belly up. There is a great 3 part video on Ken on Youtube, here are the links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxnBoDqn-qk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ7kLJFTYf8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vewXtvV2 ... re=related

Bennie (I think!) knows a great story about Ken when he was working on the building sites after his career was over and he was working as a carpenter. I will let Bennie tell it as he will do a better job than me.

[bennie]

Speaking of big hearts. Here's two photos of Danny "Little Red" Lopez that have never been published on the web before. The top photo was taken at the Main Street Gym. The bottom photo is from the Olympic Auditorium July 26, 1975. The victim is Raul Cruz. Stopped in the 6th round by Danny.

Jesus (pun intended)! Danny has crucified the poor guy.

[bennie]

Ken Buchanan

Great Photo. It makes me sad though. You can see the brightness in his eyes. He was full of life in this photo. It has to be before Duran. After his loss to Roberto Duran. Buchanan was never the same. It was mental. The fight got into his head and he could never accept the loss. He's convinced himself but for the low blow, he might have won. Nothing and no one could have saved him from Roberto Duran that night.

That's the thing about boxers, especially champions, and even more so the very great ones. When the gig is up, they can't accept it. The very quality that got them where they are; heart, courage, determination, intestinal fortitude, desire, and that deep burning desire to never say die, the refusal to lose, betrays them at the end of their careers, it can make fools of them. The very quality the once was their best attribute is now their worst. Sad but true. Just look at Julio Cesar Chavez at the end of his career and you'll see what i'm talking about.

That's what happened to Buchanan. The fight and the loss to Duran didn't ruin the Ken's quality of life. That came from within. Over the years he became bitter. His unhappiness is evident in every interview I have ever seen.

He's happy now, Randy. That same look is back in his eyes. He and Duran made up over here (they must have hugged for 15 minutes without a break, the watching crowd hushed in respect and admiration; it was a truly beautiful moment) and his induction into the Hall of Fame also really helped him.
Yes, Kenny was bitter for years. His wife did the dirty on him with another bloke, taking his money in a divorce AND his kids (the latter must have been particularly hard to take), and Duran, of course, went on to prove himself one of the greatest fighters of all time, as Kenny banged in those nails as a joiner. Jim Watt (a man Kenny licked) also went on to enjoy several glory nights, much closer to home.

Ken has come through.

[bennie]

ROCKIN’ RODNEY MOORE
KING OF THE BLUE

An Interview by Ken Hissner

One can not talk about Philly’s legendary Blue Horizon without mentioning the king of the Blue, Rockin’ Rodney Moore, the self proclaimed “one of Philly’s all time greats”. In 29 appearances he only lost once along with a draw at the classic Philly venue. He was inducted into the New Jersey International Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 2007. I caught up with Moore and he was good enough to do a Q&A with me in spite of his busy schedule as President/CEO of “Fight To Learn”, an after school program designed to help 5-12 year old boys and girls improve their lives through academics, life skills training and athletics. Past funding contributors have included HBO Sports, the Evander Holyfield and the George Foreman Foundations.

KEN HISSNER: Let’s start at the beginning. Who was your trainer, manager and what gym did you work out of?

RODNEY MOORE: Fred Jenkins was my trainer and manager. We worked out of the ABC Recreation Center, 26th & Masters, in Philadelphia. In sparring with guys like Marvin Garris, Ernest Jackson, Bryan “Boogaloo” Jones and Andre Sharpe Richardson, it taught me how to fight. I learned from those early beatings. Jenkins was quoted as saying “I took a guy with no ability and made him into a world class fighter. Adding, “he was a fighter than listened well to instruction.” To that Moore replied, “I believe my trainer Fred Jenkins saw some possible talent in me early in my career. Fighting those very rough and tough experienced guys when I was inexperienced and none of them inflicted any damage to me or really hurt me. I was put in over my head (a lot in my first 15 fights) at the very beginning and survived any serious physical beatings. Therefore, after all that Fred realized that he had a guy that can potentially become a future world champion. Fred is one of those “good” trainers that should get more recognition than he has gotten. After all he has produced so many quality fighters that came from his stable.

KH: There have been some world champions and top contenders come out of there.

RM: Olympic gold medalist and world champion David Reid, along with IBF lightweight champion Charley “Choo Choo” Brown were two of the world champions.

KH: You lost three of your first five fights. Were you discouraged?

RM: No, because I first fought Tyrone Trice, a top amateur out of Detroit’s Kronk gym. In losing a close fight to him I knew I could fight. I was also put in over my head in my fifth fight with Ricky Young in New York. That was another learning experience.

KH: Then you reeled off eight straight wins before being put in with contender Brian Baronet (29-2) of South Africa and losing a split decision.

RM: It was my first 10-rounder. I jumped from a six to a ten (rounder). (Baronet had won a WBA eliminator match the year before).

KH: You also lost to Miguel Santana (18-0) but would reverse it two years later.

RM: I was much more experienced by then.

KH: You were put in with former title challenger Terrence Ali (32-4-2) after that.

RM: By the ninth round my nose had swelled up and I couldn’t continue.

KH: You then went on a 20 fight unbeaten streak including two draws.

RM: The one draw was with Bryant Paden on four days notice and I had to lose 15 pounds.

KH: In that win streak you beat some good fighters. Names like Santana, Olympic gold medalist Jerry Page, future world champ Sammy Fuentes, Tony Baltazar and Victorio Belcher. Tell us about some of those bouts.

RM: When I was to fight Belcher (30-2-1) I overheard his manager at ringside, Lou Duva say “you’ll get him out of there quick. He’s nothing but a gym worker.” He was talking about his fighter Belcher whom he signed so he didn’t have to put his other fighter Meldrick Taylor in with him. I stopped him in the 5th. I watched Page (11-3) in the amateurs and won but just couldn’t get him out of there. (He was surprised when I told him it was Page’s last fight). Fuentes was a hard puncher. I was able to get him out of there early. Baltazar was the second hardest puncher I ever fought. (Felix Trinidad would later become the first.)

KH: After the Baltazar fight you lost what would be your only loss at the legendary Blue Horizon by split decision to a Mexican boxer named Ramon Zavala (13-7).

RM: For some strange reason I used my bathroom scale while in training. It kept showing a high weight and I believe I over trained not realizing I was on weight.

KH: You win back to back fights over Louie Lomeli (33-3) and former WBA lightweight champion Livingstone Bramble (34-9-2) to earn a title bout in 1993.

RM: I fought Charles Murray (28-1) for the vacant IBF light welter title. I trained like never before, doing more than I ever did. I think I left my fight in the gym. I made the mistake of trying to knock him out while he was scoring punches by boxing.

KH: After scoring a knockout win in your next fight you go nine months without a fight and get your second title shot against Frankie Randall (51-3-1) for his WBA light welter title in December of 1994 in Mexico.

RM: I don’t like using excuses but I had trouble making weight. It would be my last fight as a junior welterweight. Don King was my promoter and promised me if I took this fight he would get me another shot if I didn’t win.

KH: You were stopped in the 7th round. Then you beat three guys with losing record’s and are put in with IBF welter champ Felix Trinidad (27-0).

RM: That was for taking the Randall fight. Trinidad was the hardest puncher I ever fought. I knew my career was coming to an end after that loss.

KH: Over a year later you beat Tony Ortiz (8-3-1) in three rounds ending your career. Did you know it would be your last fight?

RM: I pretty much knew it because I was starting to complain to my wife about training. She said “the fire is out of your eyes.” We both knew I was finished after that fight.

KH: I have your record as 38-10-2 with 20 knockouts. I know you have it a little different, and better I must say. One thing for sure you can’t help to think about the Blue Horizon without thinking about Rockin’ Rodney Moore.

RM: I had 29 fights at the Blue Horizon losing only once. I was given the nickname “Mr. Blue Horizon”. It would be upgraded to “King of the Blue Horizon”. I’m glad we finally got together. I look forward to reading the article.

Tony was past his best - but second only to Trinidad! NICE tribute. Moore was a good fighter, a Philadelphia throwback.

[bennie]

Kenny works as a joiner (a skilled carpenter) and many of his workmates don't even know he is a former great fighter, given the generation gap and the fact Kenny never fought in Edinburgh as a pro. Plus, Kenny is a very modest guy.
On a building site one day, he WAS recognised by a passer-by, who asked him for his autograph. Kenny duly obliged, watched by a young workmate, who then told Kenny, "you must be one Hell of a f ucking joiner!"

[bennie]

Ken Buchanan & wife Carol

After the Roberto Duran fight?

The second Laguna fight, Randy.

In the recent Duran biography, Hands of Stone, the writer claims that Buchanan could have fought Duran again but that the Scot didn't want to travel to Panama (he wanted the fight at MSG). Given Kenny won the title in Puerto Rico and defended in LA and fought all over the globe (including a later challenge in Japan), I found such a revelation quite interesting.

[bennie]

The following photos are from the Johnny Chavez benefit in Azusa, California in 1993. Chavez lost his eyesight after a fight. His last fight was against Gabriel Castro at the Forum in Inglewood, California on November 6, 1092. I'm assuming that's the fight where the damage occurred. Frank will probably know more about this. Look at the autograph on the lower right hand corner. Frankie Baltazar Jr. Always a gentleman.

It was almost as difficult speaking with Mike Quarry as it was speaking with Jerry. He was very fragile by this time as Rick can probably attest to. Several of guys that Mike was speaking with were laughing at him behind his back. I pulled him away and had a good chat with him. It was painful.

I opened the show for Mike at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas on October 30, 1976 when he fought Tom Bethea. Mike won a 10 round decision. earlier that year Mike and I had sparred on three separate occasions. something I won't forget.

When I heard Mike had died and how he died, I remembered that day. He was no longer the same Mike Quarry.

R.I.P. Mike

Mike Quarry, Andrew De La O and Randy De La O

People laughing at Mike behind his back... Inevitable, I suppose, but still upsetting.

[kikibalt]

ROCKIN’ RODNEY MOORE
KING OF THE BLUE

An Interview by Ken Hissner

One can not talk about Philly’s legendary Blue Horizon without mentioning the king of the Blue, Rockin’ Rodney Moore, the self proclaimed “one of Philly’s all time greats”. In 29 appearances he only lost once along with a draw at the classic Philly venue. He was inducted into the New Jersey International Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 2007. I caught up with Moore and he was good enough to do a Q&A with me in spite of his busy schedule as President/CEO of “Fight To Learn”, an after school program designed to help 5-12 year old boys and girls improve their lives through academics, life skills training and athletics. Past funding contributors have included HBO Sports, the Evander Holyfield and the George Foreman Foundations.

KEN HISSNER: Let’s start at the beginning. Who was your trainer, manager and what gym did you work out of?

RODNEY MOORE: Fred Jenkins was my trainer and manager. We worked out of the ABC Recreation Center, 26th & Masters, in Philadelphia. In sparring with guys like Marvin Garris, Ernest Jackson, Bryan “Boogaloo” Jones and Andre Sharpe Richardson, it taught me how to fight. I learned from those early beatings. Jenkins was quoted as saying “I took a guy with no ability and made him into a world class fighter. Adding, “he was a fighter than listened well to instruction.” To that Moore replied, “I believe my trainer Fred Jenkins saw some possible talent in me early in my career. Fighting those very rough and tough experienced guys when I was inexperienced and none of them inflicted any damage to me or really hurt me. I was put in over my head (a lot in my first 15 fights) at the very beginning and survived any serious physical beatings. Therefore, after all that Fred realized that he had a guy that can potentially become a future world champion. Fred is one of those “good” trainers that should get more recognition than he has gotten. After all he has produced so many quality fighters that came from his stable.

KH: There have been some world champions and top contenders come out of there.

RM: Olympic gold medalist and world champion David Reid, along with IBF lightweight champion Charley “Choo Choo” Brown were two of the world champions.

KH: You lost three of your first five fights. Were you discouraged?

RM: No, because I first fought Tyrone Trice, a top amateur out of Detroit’s Kronk gym. In losing a close fight to him I knew I could fight. I was also put in over my head in my fifth fight with Ricky Young in New York. That was another learning experience.

KH: Then you reeled off eight straight wins before being put in with contender Brian Baronet (29-2) of South Africa and losing a split decision.

RM: It was my first 10-rounder. I jumped from a six to a ten (rounder). (Baronet had won a WBA eliminator match the year before).

KH: You also lost to Miguel Santana (18-0) but would reverse it two years later.

RM: I was much more experienced by then.

KH: You were put in with former title challenger Terrence Ali (32-4-2) after that.

RM: By the ninth round my nose had swelled up and I couldn’t continue.

KH: You then went on a 20 fight unbeaten streak including two draws.

RM: The one draw was with Bryant Paden on four days notice and I had to lose 15 pounds.

KH: In that win streak you beat some good fighters. Names like Santana, Olympic gold medalist Jerry Page, future world champ Sammy Fuentes, Tony Baltazar and Victorio Belcher. Tell us about some of those bouts.

RM: When I was to fight Belcher (30-2-1) I overheard his manager at ringside, Lou Duva say “you’ll get him out of there quick. He’s nothing but a gym worker.” He was talking about his fighter Belcher whom he signed so he didn’t have to put his other fighter Meldrick Taylor in with him. I stopped him in the 5th. I watched Page (11-3) in the amateurs and won but just couldn’t get him out of there. (He was surprised when I told him it was Page’s last fight). Fuentes was a hard puncher. I was able to get him out of there early. Baltazar was the second hardest puncher I ever fought. (Felix Trinidad would later become the first.)

KH: After the Baltazar fight you lost what would be your only loss at the legendary Blue Horizon by split decision to a Mexican boxer named Ramon Zavala (13-7).

RM: For some strange reason I used my bathroom scale while in training. It kept showing a high weight and I believe I over trained not realizing I was on weight.

KH: You win back to back fights over Louie Lomeli (33-3) and former WBA lightweight champion Livingstone Bramble (34-9-2) to earn a title bout in 1993.

RM: I fought Charles Murray (28-1) for the vacant IBF light welter title. I trained like never before, doing more than I ever did. I think I left my fight in the gym. I made the mistake of trying to knock him out while he was scoring punches by boxing.

KH: After scoring a knockout win in your next fight you go nine months without a fight and get your second title shot against Frankie Randall (51-3-1) for his WBA light welter title in December of 1994 in Mexico.

RM: I don’t like using excuses but I had trouble making weight. It would be my last fight as a junior welterweight. Don King was my promoter and promised me if I took this fight he would get me another shot if I didn’t win.

KH: You were stopped in the 7th round. Then you beat three guys with losing record’s and are put in with IBF welter champ Felix Trinidad (27-0).

RM: That was for taking the Randall fight. Trinidad was the hardest puncher I ever fought. I knew my career was coming to an end after that loss.

KH: Over a year later you beat Tony Ortiz (8-3-1) in three rounds ending your career. Did you know it would be your last fight?

RM: I pretty much knew it because I was starting to complain to my wife about training. She said “the fire is out of your eyes.” We both knew I was finished after that fight.

KH: I have your record as 38-10-2 with 20 knockouts. I know you have it a little different, and better I must say. One thing for sure you can’t help to think about the Blue Horizon without thinking about Rockin’ Rodney Moore.

RM: I had 29 fights at the Blue Horizon losing only once. I was given the nickname “Mr. Blue Horizon”. It would be upgraded to “King of the Blue Horizon”. I’m glad we finally got together. I look forward to reading the article.

Tony was past his best - but second only to Trinidad! NICE tribute. Moore was a good fighter, a Philadelphia throwback.

Bennie,

Yes, Tony was past his best, and still he KD moore 3 time in the first round, we had the 3 KD rule in the fight and after the 3th KD the ref picked Moore up and stood him up against the ropers and gave him a chance to recover, after that it was a very close fight, had that fight been in L.A., Tony would had won by a first round ko, but he was fighting in Moore home town and as in the Howard Davis fight we knew going in that in order for Tony to win he had to score a ko.

[Rick Farris]

I don't want to be rescue, I like been a kept man, get up when I feel like it, don't have go to work, have a few bucks in my pocket, eat when I want, what can be better then that?... 8)[/quote]

A night at the Boom Boom Club.[/quote]






C'mon Frank . . . What if we pick-up Pug's Uncle John and have him sing "Danny Boy"?

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Ken Buchanan & wife Carol

After the Roberto Duran fight?

The second Laguna fight, Randy.

In the recent Duran biography, Hands of Stone, the writer claims that Buchanan could have fought Duran again but that the Scot didn't want to travel to Panama (he wanted the fight at MSG). Given Kenny won the title in Puerto Rico and defended in LA and fought all over the globe (including a later challenge in Japan), I found such a revelation quite interesting.

Panama is Duran country. With all respect to Ken Buchanan, he fought Duran gamely and fought hard to the finish. However, he took an ass-whipping, and let's face it, he was never the same. Duran broke him.

-Rick