Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Junior Golden Gloves Jackets . . .

While going thru boxes full of old boxing memorabelia that I pulled from storage this past week, I came across one of two Jr. Golden Gloves jackets that I had won as a kid. It was exactly like the photo Frank posted when he found a couple his son's had won in the 70's. The date on mine was 1968, the last year I fought in the Jr's before moving up to the amateurs.

That jacket meant something to me, like a title belt. Lots of great L.A. boxers had won and worn those jackets . . . the Quarry brothers, Mando Ramos, the Baltazar brothers, the Sandoval brothers, Albert Davila, Frankie Duarte and so many others. Frank, this is just a short list from my era. Can you name a few moere L.A. Jr. Golden Gloves champs that went on to make it in the pros? Before and after my days.

-Rick

[raylawpc]

What a physique Carter had. I didn't care much for Carter's autobiography though, anyone else read it?

I didn't read the book but I saw the movie and didn't care much for the movie, probably for the same reason you didn't care for the book.

The only good thing about Carter's (deserved) incarceration is Dylan's song (Hurricane).
"He ain't no Gentleman Jim..."

Well, Gentleman Jim was no gentleman either, so . . .

[bennie]

Tell us more, Ray. Corbett always looked a bit snidey, to me.

[bennie]

Junior Golden Gloves Jackets . . .

While going thru boxes full of old boxing memorabelia that I pulled from storage this past week, I came across one of two Jr. Golden Gloves jackets that I had won as a kid. It was exactly like the photo Frank posted when he found a couple his son's had won in the 70's. The date on mine was 1968, the last year I fought in the Jr's before moving up to the amateurs.

That jacket meant something to me, like a title belt. Lots of great L.A. boxers had won and worn those jackets . . . the Quarry brothers, Mando Ramos, the Baltazar brothers, the Sandoval brothers, Albert Davila, Frankie Duarte and so many others. Frank, this is just a short list from my era. Can you name a few moere L.A. Jr. Golden Gloves champs that went on to make it in the pros? Before and after my days.

-Rick

I was looking at Victor Abraham's record the other day. He looked like a real solid fighter, and a bit unlucky not have secured a big fight.

[bennie]

"El Maceton"

Mr. D.

There's your Man!!!

Marvin Camel.
He fought a few guys from here.
Young Joe Louis
Leroy Murphy
Chuck Warfield.

Warfield fought Yaqui Lopez too.
He tried to train a fighter once.
He brought a guy to the gym once who wanted to fight.
He bugged my trainer for half an hour to let him spar with me.
I had already one or two pro fights.
Anyway this guy was clearly right out of the joint.
Muscles everywhere , tatoos and that wild freakin look in his eyes.
Finaly my trainer said ok.
Round one this guy comes at me like a wildman .
He even lands a few but they are wild shots and dont hurt.
End of the round , and hes thinkin this boxing aint so hard.
But I had just been layin back a bit and hes gassed.
Round two I hang him up on the ropes and open up with both hands.
Heres the funny part.
The guy jumps out of the ring walks over to Warfield and says FU.K this take these things off.
He walks out of the gym and thats that.

What a great story Pug! It looks easy but wimps need not apply.

Pug, what was the word in Chicago on Leroy Murphy's fight with Chisanda Mutti? It was Rocky II - for real.

[raylawpc]

Tell us more, Ray. Corbett always looked a bit snidey, to me.

"Snidey" is a good description. Like all of us, Corbett had his share of character flaws (racist, braggart, poor sport, etc.). But the most telling for a guy who was styled as "gentleman" was the way in which he treated his women. He left his first wife, a delightful San Francisco girl named Olive, for his second wife, Vera, a showgirl whom he met on the road and then introduced as his wife - while still married to Olive. He cheated on both wives - often brazenly. And rumors floated around at the time that he beat both of them. Hardly a "gentleman."

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

Hey Guys, we're coming up to 100,000 views, maybe today.....

[bennie]

Finch was outclassed.


...and the writer of that release certainly doesn't know his boxing history.

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Junior Golden Gloves Jackets . . .

While going thru boxes full of old boxing memorabelia that I pulled from storage this past week, I came across one of two Jr. Golden Gloves jackets that I had won as a kid. It was exactly like the photo Frank posted when he found a couple his son's had won in the 70's. The date on mine was 1968, the last year I fought in the Jr's before moving up to the amateurs.

That jacket meant something to me, like a title belt. Lots of great L.A. boxers had won and worn those jackets . . . the Quarry brothers, Mando Ramos, the Baltazar brothers, the Sandoval brothers, Albert Davila, Frankie Duarte and so many others. Frank, this is just a short list from my era. Can you name a few moere L.A. Jr. Golden Gloves champs that went on to make it in the pros? Before and after my days.

-Rick

Rick & Frank,
Did you guys have Jr. Olympics in So-Cal; we had Jr. Olympics in Nor-Cal but not Jr. Golden Gloves. We just didn't have enough amature tournaments in Nor-Cal I fought in the Jr. Olympics a couple years, then at sixteen we could move up to amatures, (I think 1972 the rule changed the age from 17 to 16), which is the year I fought in the Golden Gloves I had turned 16 nine days before and had been yapping in my dads ear the second I heard the rule changed. If we were lucky there would be one other amature show a year for some benefit or another and I was also lucky enough to open on a few pro cards as an amature. I am a firm beleiver that you do most of your learning as an amature, you can get away with a mistake or two without getting your head knocked off and if you prove yourself worthy then you turn pro, which I never did. Of course today you would turn pro and your first fight would be a world title fight of some kind or another.
Bruce

[kikibalt]

Tony Ayala

[kikibalt]

Tony Ayala vs Mike Baker

[Randyman]

Tony Ayala

Talk about wasted talent! I have no sympathy for this guy. Not one iota. He was given a second chance at life and career and ends up doing the same thing. The man is a convicted rapist.

As for his boxing career, he might have become a champ. There's no such thing as a sure bet but he just might have done it. If my memory serves me right they were going to match him with Roberto Duran just before he flushed his career down the toilet. He was a rugged fighter but he fought with uncontrolled anger. I think that would have worked against him with someone like Duran, but who knows.

[kikibalt]

Dennis Andries

[kikibalt]

Dennis Andries vs Tomas Hearns

[kikibalt]

Dennis Andries vs J.B. Williamson

[kikibalt]

Dennis Andries vs J.B. Williamson

[kikibalt]

Photo and caption by Diego


The Elderly always keep their respect . It's easy because people show them that.

[dagosd2000]

THE BIGGER THEY ARE DOESN'T MEAN SHIT


The 32nd Street Gym ttoday has a sign on it reading"The Olde 32nd Street Gym." Let me tell ya',I remember it as always being old. Lots of fighters trained there. The fighters not only beat each other up,but beat up the gym as well.

The door to the locker room was shot. Splinters were coming off and there were more cracks in it than an old side walk. Gary Young and myself not only liked to box at the 32nd Street Gym,but we lifted iron there often too. Gary was sort of a carpenter and asked if he could fix up the old door. We went to the hardware store and bought hinges and screws and sand paper. I remember Gary putting the "bit" into the drill so he could make holes for the hinges.

Between me and Gary we had arms that looked like ham hocks. We were both incredibly strong in the weight room. Gary starts to drill into the wood and the bit doesn't budge. He's practically doing a handstand on it and nothin' is happening.
"Rog,you want to try.?"
I'm thinking why not? Maybe I can show Gary who's stronger by shoving that bit into the door. But I give it my all ,and I'm up against it too. Finally both of us give up.
"Let's take it to the base carpenter",says Gary.
So we dragged the door over to the carpenter shop.

We walked across the lot and there's the carpenter. The guy's about as big as a bantamweight. I looked at his arms and they reminded me of something out of an Oscar Mayer plant. Gary hands him the door and tells him that we can't drill through.
"If I can't get my triceps to do it,it ain't gonna happen ",says Gary.
The carpenter lights a cigarette and studies the door.
"Let me try",he said.
The carpenter grabs the drill, puts it into the wood and it went right through smooth as can be. Gary and myself are just looking at each other. Mouths open. The carpenter handed back the door with a grin on face.
"How did he do that?"I asked.
"Smoking three packs a day and not lifting weights."

[kikibalt]

Photo and caption by Diego


My wife,Maria,and her cousin. Paderrones,Michoacan

[Boxingnut]

Alex Ramos Fights Back From Edge Of Death

By Shawn Murphy,


The old saying goes: once a fighter, always a fighter. Alex Ramos hasn’t fought in the ring for almost fourteen years but he continues to exemplify that old saying.

Most boxing fans know that Ramos was found in his apartment in late August, unconscious and barely alive; he was in a coma for several days with a grim prognosis. Jump ahead now to October and Ramos tells me by phone, “I’m doing just fine, I’m doing great. I have a lot of doctor’s appointment and physical therapy appointments but I’m doing real well. The doctor originally wanted me to walk with a walker, but I told him no way, never. I have used a cane for awhile but that’s gone as well.”

When asked about the outpouring of support he received, Ramos said he appreciates everyone who was rooting for him, that someone was looking out for him. “I’ve got some beautiful letters, it was so cool how many.”

Ramos, who had a 39-10-6 mark during a pro career that ran from 1980-1994, says there will not be any lasting effects. “All I need to do is take my medication and continue therapy, I’ll be fine. I’m ready to rumble,” he said.

As for taking any time off from his duties at the Retired Boxers Foundation, Ramos says, “No way! Since I have been out of the hospital I have been working as hard as I can, that won’t stop.”


We all wish Ramos much continued success in his comeback. Please check out the Retired Boxers Foundation that Alex holds so dear to his heart. www.retiredboxers.com .

[Expug]

Bennie, fight fans here were always excited about Leroy Murphy.
He was such a huge puncher and a tremendous amateur that people really had high expectations .
He made the 1980 olympic team , but of course the US boycoted those games so Leroy didnt go.
I think fans wound up a little disappointed in Murphy as they thought he could have done more in the pro ranks.
He used to get huge between fights which gave the impression that he wasnt working that hard and liked to play around too much.Id see him in the gym, and he looked like a different person between fights.
When he fought Mutti, there really wasnt that much press about it here in Chicago.Maybe because Mutti wasnt that well known here, or because the fight was in Monte Carlo I think.
In one of his biggest fights, against Dwight Qwawi, he got the shit kicked out of him.I think that might be the fight that most remains in peoples minds.I think it was on National TV here.

[kikibalt]

We're over 100,000 views......

[Randyman]

The movie

Frank, this movie is one of my personal favorites. A slice of 1940's-1950's L.A. from a Chicano perspective. Of course everyone knows that Art Aragon was in the movie, playing himself but did you know Keeny was in the movie? He's in a gym scene skipping rope.