Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

I want to see Diego's plate!

[Randyman]

My Thanksgiving plate.

I thought you were sick, Randy!!....

Frnnk, now that I'm aging I can't eat like I used to. This is like the plate my mother used to feed me when I was still in a high chair. In my eating prime George Foreman or Roberto Duran would have ran for their lives. I could eat. This is my plate after my wife and daughters telling me that I have to watch my weight.

Randy

[Expug]

Randy, it looks like you had a great Thanksgiving.
You have a beautiful family.

We had a great one at the Higgins household also.

[kikibalt]

I have to put my two cent here about a fighter showing heart, my son Frankie showed me more heart that I thought he had when he fought Juan Escobar, you that have seen that fight, I think would agree with me.


Frankie after the Escobar fight...

I can back up that statement. Frankie showed a big heart in the Juan Escobar fight. How good was Escobar? Well, He fought Salvador Sanchez to a draw so that gives you some indication. Frankie had a rough start in that fight. He wasn't able to find his range early on and he wasn't getting his punches off, throwing one punch at a time. The early rounds, and I'm not taking anything away from Escobar, were marked more by what Frankie wasn't doing than by what Escobar was doing. Frankie seemed distracted.

The announcers were already writing Frankie off and almost seemed to expect Frankie to be knocked out. A fighter with heart should never be counted out. Frankie was still in the fight and in the fourth or fifth round landed a solid right hook that shook Escobar and was the beginning of Frankie's comeback in the fight. He found his range.

My plan was to write a review on my website alongside the video but I have just not been able to upload the video to youtube or any other site. I'll be reviewing this fight soon. This fight contains my favorite fighting word: Heart! Frankie wears that word quite well and to be fair so does Escobar. That's what made it a great fight.

I was always a fan of both Frankie and Tony back in the days when they were both fighting. Both of them were good, tough durable fighters that gave their all. They never got the titles they wanted. That's okay, they gave championship performances when it counted. They're in good company with guys like Armando Muniz, Yaqui Lopez, Indian Red Lopez, George Chuvalo, Charley Burley and the Quarry brother, Jerry and Mike. I'd say that's damned good company to be in. They can both hold their heads up proudly, their fans remember them.

Frank, I think we would all be interested in what was going through yourmind while you were in the corner, especially during the early rounds.

Randy

Randy,

We took that fight on a two weeks notice, Art Frias was going to fight Escorbar, Escorbar was training in TJ, Frias people decided to go to TJ to get a look at Escorbar, when they came back they said Frias was sick and had to pull out of the fight, Don Fraser called me and offer us the fight, after we negotiated a bit I got the money we needed for such a fight, plus I got Tony on the card for the same amount of money.

Frankie's fight was a hard one, he was getting the crap beat out of him in the first 4 rounds, in between the 4th and 5th round I told Frankie that I was just going to give him one more round, if he didn't do better I was stopping the fight, well he came back and won the 5th round, so I let him stay in the fight, he won every round after the 5th, with a knockdown in the 10th.

After a hard fight like that, what happened next? the frigging checks bounced, took two week to get our money.....

[kikibalt]

Rick,
A pic. of Deports Viking, courtesy of Diego.

[kikibalt]

"Mike Tyson"

By Diego

[dagosd2000]

ONE GOOD DEED

I don't figure for a guy to hang around a bunch of Mormons,but I became friends with quite a few. Now don't get me wrong,Their ideas about drinking and smoking and overeating and premarital sex and extra curricular intercourse is against my instincts. I'd like to live a clean life like that,but I'd have to be comatose to accomplish it. You always hear homosexuals say they were "born that way." Well I was born to be a glutton and a sex maniac. I guess booze and drugs weren't part of my chromosomes because I beat those urges.

Anyway back to my Mormon buddies. Really a good lot. Went to school with a few of them and we played baseball together on the high school team.I even played on the Mormon softball team,LDS 11. Got to know their parents and everything was all right. They knew what I was like.

I remember once way back one of the Mormon Eldres asked me if I'd like to join a bunch of them in building a house in Tijuana. Now it wasn't a mansion,but just a sigle room dwelling.
"How did you start this project?", I asked.
"Well,"said the Elder,"We decided to go to a poor neighborhood in Tijuana,and then find the poorest house,and then tell that family that we were going to build them a new house."
"That was kind of you."
"It's the Lord's way,"said the Elder.

The work was done on the weekends. I went with the Mormons and helped put together the modest dwelling. It was a simple frame job,concrete floor,and utilities. A hell of a lot better than what those poor souls were living in. I remember people standing silently as we worked. No one talked to us. Not even the people that we were buliding the house for. I only worked one time. About a month later I saw the Elder in the store.
"How did the good deed go?"
The Elder shook his head.
"Not to well. "
"What do you mean?",I asked.
"Well it turned out the neighborhood was upset with us because we were building a house far a fmily they said was lazy. The husband was an alcoholic and his wife didn't want to work and their kids didn't go to school and they were dirty."
"I see."
"They felt this family didn't rate a new house. We're not going to try this again."

I said good bye to the Elder. His head was still down. As I walked to the parking lot,I thought about what the Elder said about what they were doing was the "Lord's Way." I hoped he still believed that. Just sometimes He just has a mysterious way of making you see things.

[Ron C]

Ernie "Red' Lopez

That is an awesome photo!

That is a cool photo! I still can't get over the open book story on Ernie's last fight.

[kikibalt]

Ernie "Red' Lopez

That is an awesome photo!

That is a cool photo! I still can't get over the open book story on Ernie's last fight.

I hope you enjoy and join us here Ron/Rob....

[kikibalt]

Photos and caption by Diego



Ever since my father's passing 12 years ago,my sisters keep the
family tradition of no turkey. Of course everybody there was
excited over eating chicken cacciatore,lasagna,and sausage
and meatballs. Me? Next year I'm going to Denny's for turkey.

[Rick Farris]

Rick,

I have the Rojas/Saldivar fight, plus Rojas vs Shozo Saijo and vs Yoshiaki Numata

Frank, as you well know, both the Saldivar-Rojas, and Saijyo-Rojas title fights were held at the L.A. Coliseum. I had the luck of being at both. In the first bout in '65, Rojas was a 22-year-old challenger about to suffer his first loss to the 23-year-old champ Saldivar. However, in the second fight, he was the defending WBA 126lb. king and would lose his title to Japan's Saijyo. On that same card, Rojas stablemate, 19-year-old Mando Ramos would lose his first bid to win the lightweight title from Teo Cruz. Raul Rojas' two appearances at the Coliseum were two of his toughest fights, his first two defeats.

Frank, I haven't seen either fight since it happened. Both were great fights. After the Saijyo fight, I waited up around the dressing room as the fighter's returned to the tunnel. I saw Raul and he was busted up pretty bad. I'm sure you were there too, I know that Mando was a friend of yours and the boys. Lots of Junior Golden Gloves L.A. Boxing history come to mind when I think of what evolved from our tourney between the emergence of Mando Ramos and the Balatzar boys. Lots of first class professional boxing came out of the L.A. Jr. Gloves program.

As for your Rojas fights, I'd like to see them again one day. Classic late 60's L.A. Boxing. I was a Rojas fan, but more a Dwight Hawkins fan. Had the two fought (and McCoy wanted no part of Hawkins for Rojas.) Raul might have won, but he'd have taken one of those beatings that take a lot out of a fighter. Johnny Flores and Hal Benson tried every way possible to make the match. Aileen Eaton made a lot of money off of Rojas' fights (expecially his two with Pajarito Moreno) and had no desire to damage her cash cow in a match with Hawkins.

One night after a Hawkins victory in '68. Dwight's co-manager, Hal Benson confronts Jackie McCoy in the Olympic dressing room. He starts to bark at McCoy about letting Rojas fight Hawkins. Jackie had enough of Hal's noise and leveled the fat, red-headed, red-faced Benson with a quick hook to the chin. You know, when Johnny Flores told us the story the following evening in his gym, I began to laugh. I disliked Hal Benson, a blow hard I found difficult to imagine Flores would associate with. When I saw him step into Flores Gym later that night, his face was all swollen, I had the last laugh. Hal had once told me that a kid named Claud Durden was gunna kick my ass in the '67 Jr. GG's. I ended up stopping Durden, and now would have the pleasure of telling Hal that I heard Jackie McCoy had kicked his ass the night before. Benson saw the smile on my face and his fat face turned so red with anger he looked like he was going to explode.

Flores then announced, "But the man didn't go down", and I asked, "So he lost by TKO?", even Benson started to laugh. Hal boasted, "I pissed him off! I made a point! Rojas is scared shitless of Hawkins and McCoy knows it. Jackie was a top bantamweight you know, and he punched me. That McCoy can't control himself, not when I speak." Benson whined.

Sorry guys, too much info. These jumbled memories just crossed my mind. I guess it's kinda like real boxing history, from the inside. Just a night at the gym, where we learned a little bit about why a match would never be made between two hot L.A. featherweights of the era. I'm sorry for Dwight that the match was never made, as well as all of us L.A. boxing fans, but I'm happy Jackie cracked Hal Benson in the chops. A year later, at age 49, a grossly overweight Hal Benson died instantly from a massive heart attack. This was one month after Dwight Hawkins retired after losing to Antonio Gomez.

Today, Raul Rojas is 66-years-old and it's a miracle he's alive. More on Raul Rojas later . . .

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Rick,
A pic. of Deports Viking, courtesy of Diego.

Thanks to both Roger and Frank. To be honest Rog, back in the 60's Viking Deportes really didn't have a lot to choose from either. I expected they would have more. I used to find what I wanted and needed, but I ended up getting a better deal and selection on equipment from a guy who would bring up it up from Mexico. He lived in South L.A. and I could get Casanova training gloves for $10 a pair, so why drive to TJ?

Hey Frank, do you remember a lady named Margo who sold equipment near the gym. For awhile she sold equipment out of a gym on Washington Blvd. then she got her own store. Randy might remember her, she started her business around the time he was fighting.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Vincente Saldivar — A Mexican Legend


photo courtesy
David Martinez

By Jim Amato

The 1960’s spawned many great fighters. Dick Tiger, Jose Torres, Emile Griffith, Luis Rodriguiz and Carlos Ortiz just to name a few. One of the best of this era was a 5′ 3″ southpaw from Mexico City named Vincente Saldivar. He ruled the featherweight division for three years and then retired. He decided to come back and two and a half years after he gave up his crown, he re-claimed it.

This boxing legend was born on March 5, 1943. He started his professional career in 1961 and quickly showed that he was a budding star. Saldivar won his first sixteen fights and scored thirteen knockouts. He suffered his first loss in December of 1962 when he was disqualified in a bout against Baby Luis.

The year 1963 saw Saldivar make great strides in the rankings. He halted the respected Dwight Hawkins in five rounds. He avenged his loss by stopping Baby Luis in eight rounds. There was also an impressive one round win over Eloy Sanchez.

On February 8, 1964 Saldivar captured the Mexican featherweight title by knocking out Juan Rameriz in two rounds. He defended the title with a twelve round points win over tough Eduardo ” Lalo ” Guerrero. Then on June 1st Vincente won a very important bout against future lightweight champion Ismael Laguna. Saldivar outscored the clever Laguna in ten rounds.

On September 26, 1964 Vincente Saldivar won the featherweight championship of the world. He battered the great champion Sugar Ramos and the bout ended in the twelfth round with a new champion being crowned. Saldivar was about to begin a campaign that eliminated all opposition to his throne. He started in 1965 by wearing down and finally stopping his game challenger Raul Rojas in the final round. In his next defense Vincente turned back the fierce challenge of Welshman Howard Winstone in fifteen rounds. These two would get to know each other very well over the next few years.

Saldivar opened 1966 with a two round kayo over Floyd Robertson. Next Vincente faced the stern challenge of Japan’s Mitsunori Seki. For the Japanese tiger, it would be his third shot at a world’s title. He failed in a 1961 bid to dethrone flyweight champion Pone Kingpetch and in 1964 he was beaten in six rounds by featherweight king Sugar Ramos. Seki gave Saldivar all he could handle but in the Vincente pounded out a decision victory.

Seki and Saldivar would meet again in 1967 and this time Vincente left no doubt to his claim to the title ending Seki’s challenge in the seventh round. Next was some unfinished business with Mr. Winstone. Again the spry and crafty Welshman traveled the fifteen round distance but in the end he fell short. The two bouts between Saldivar and Winstone were close enough to justify a third meeting. This time Saldivar ruled supreme ending Winstone’s dream in the twelfth round.

With really no one left to seriously challenge Vincente, he decided to retire. Quickly the World Boxing Council matched Saldivar’s two toughest challengers, Howard Winstone and Mitsunori Seki for the vacant title. On January 23, 1968 Howard Winstone finally got his championship beating Seki in nine rounds. Howard’s stay at the top was short lived as he lost the title to Spain’s Jose Legra in five rounds.

Finally there was some new blood in the division. Legra in turn would lose his crown by decision to Australia’s Johnny Famechon. Saldivar still felt he was the best featherweight in the world so he embarked on a come back. To prove he was worthy of a title shot he out fought Legra to win a ten round verdict. Then on May 9, 1970 in Rome, Italy Vincente met the champion Famechon. The Aussie was a very good fighter who had just sent the great Fighting Harada into retirement with a brutal fourteenth round kayo. Against Saldivar he was out boxed and out fought but gamely went the distance. The great Saldivar was king again.

It all came crashing down in his next fight. Vincente took on Japan’s Kuniaki Shibata. It seemed like Vincente grew old overnight. At times he boxed well and punched sharply but at other times seemed overwhelmed by the force of Shibata’s attacks. The Japanese fighter was very strong and try as he might, Vincente was unable to hold him off. Finally it was over. It ended in the thirteenth round. The reign of Saldivar was over.

Maybe Vincente was not yet convinced he was through or maybe he wanted to go out a winner. Anyway Saldivar returned to the ring seven months later and outpointed the always tough Frankie Crawford. Then two years later Saldivar again emerged to attempt to regain his throne. Former bantamweight champion Eder Jofre of Brazil had won recognition by the W.B.C. as featherweight champion by winning a majority decision over Jose Legra in May of 1973. Vincente would meet Jofre on October 21, 1973 in Brazil. What looked to be a great match up on paper turned out to be a bitter disappointment. Saldivar had nothing left. His great skills had eroded. Jofre was too strong and too powerful for the shell of this once great fighting machine. It ended in the fourth round and so did Saldivar’s career. There would be no more comebacks.

Vincente only had forty fights in his career. He won thirty seven of them. He was a knockout winner on twenty six occasions. He was the whole package in his prime. Pound for pound he was one of the best fighters in the 60’s.

Saldivar is almost forgotten. I had the opportunity of watching him defeat Raul Rojas in his first defense of the World Featherweight title, at the L.A. Coliseum in 1965. On the undercard, my stablemate, a heavyweight Nat'l Golden Gloves champ, Jerry Quarry, made his pro debut. Saldivar and Rojas busted each other up pretty good, but it was Saldivar who retained his title, stopping Raul in the 15th round.

Vicente's last fight against Eder Jofre, took place in my wife Monica's hometown of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

At the recent WBHOF banquet, Raul Rojas took his place on the dias with the rest of the legends. A former world champ himself, Rojas was a helluva fighter in his day. I fought on the undercard of two his past prime losses, to my stablemate Ruben Navarro, and a few months later to his former stablemate, Mando Ramos. Seeing Raul recently was not a happy moment. Confined to his wheel chair and barely aware of his surroundings, Rojas' eyes would light up when a familiar face would approach him. His head was bandaged from some sort recent injury.

Sometimes the ride on the way down can be Hell. As for Saldivar, I know he liked to drink, and he passed away at a very young age (he was in his 40's).

-Rick Farris

Saldivar's early death was a shock to me because he was renowned for his fitness as a fighter, an incredibly low pulse rate. I suppose neither was going to protect his liver.
Sadly, Winstone also basically drank himself to death.

Bennie, I became a Saldivar fan the night I saw him whip Rojas, whom I knew was a quality fighter. I followed his latter title defenses against Winstone, Seki, Robertson, etc. The Winstone fights were well publicized in the boxing mags, and I'd read all I could about Howard Winstone. In those days, my bedroom walls were plastered with fight photos, posters, anything to do with fights. I came across a great portrait of Winstone in a fighting stance which I hung on the wall, along with photos I'd clipped from mags from his Saldivar fights. I need to see a video of Winstone one day.

By the way, I also would read about bantam Alan Rudkin, how he was from Liverpool and supposedly went to school with a couple of the Beatles(?). I followed Rudkin's career from afar and finally saw him in person as he trained for his title fight with champ Ruben Olivares here in L.A. Although outgunned by the great Olivares, I liked what I saw in Rudkin and wonder if you have any memories or info on him. Is he around the boxing world at all today? Any updates?

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Question for Bennie . . .

Hey Bennie, back in the mid-60's when I was a kid, I'd read about boxing in England and I remember that there were quite a few clubs promoting fights in Britain. I recall that I would read about various boxing venues in the London area and many were actually "supper clubs" that provided boxing for entertainment. They had names such as the "Anglo-American Sporting Club", etc. They weren't typical fight arenas such as that York club you recently told us about in South London. Do you recall these clubs, and do they still exist? Also, I would hear of gyms located upstairs above a pub. Any memories?

-Rick

[Expug]

I remember reading about such places too Rick and Bennie.
It seems I remember that Howard Winstone trained at such a place in Wales .I might have that wrong.
It always seemed like a slice of heaven, a boxing gym right above a pub.How can you top that?
Only problem would be trying to walk through the pub after working out without grabbing a stool and ordering a pint ,or two...

[bennie]

The old sporting clubs are virtually all gone, Rick, and it is no bad thing. The clubs are private and its members all men, all rich men. Basically, after oysters in the morning and golf in the afternoon, these members have a lavish evening dinner and then watch some boxing. It is just an excuse for fat cats to drink too much and eat too much, and sleep it off in a fantastic hotel, although the clubs do (well, did) offer plenty of work to fighters. Ken Buchanan was reared in such clubs because his manager, Eddie Thomas, didn't work with the leading promoter of the day, Mickey Duff.
I attended a few of these clubs in the 1980s, up in the balcony with the other paupers. It was actually quite interesting to celebrity spot. I remember sitting directly above Michael Caine in 1983. He was with Dennis Waterman (a well-known British-TV actor and brother of the fighter Peter) and both were smoking huge cigars after their meal. This was at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, home of the Anglo-American Sporting Club. I went to the National Sporting Club several times at the Cafe Royale on Regent Street. It was great, that one, because you didn't have to wear a penguin suit and just made your way up to the balcony and got on with watching the boxing (and the celebrities). Leonard Rossiter was there one night, another well-known British-TV actor (he actually died just weeks later). On another night the entire Australian cricket team were there, drinking, eating and smoking the night away - the night before a test match with England. It certainly separated cricket from boxing. Jeff Thompson was one of the Aussies.
I also remember turning up at the Grosvenor House Hotel one night (The World Sporting Club) with a tie but not a bow tie (there was a strict dress code). Davey Jones organised the event and I knew I was going to cop some flak but I also knew Davey barked and growled a lot but that underneath he was a good dog, and sure enough, after he had jumped around for 10 minutes, I was given access to the balcony.
As for the boxing gyms, there are fewer and fewer gyms above pubs today but they used to be everywhere. The most famous would probably be the legendary Thomas A'Becket on the old Kent Road in South London, where Henry Cooper trained and which is now the domain of a property consultant (the first floor). Terry Lawless' gym above The Royal Oak in Canning Town is another famous one, as is The Wellington in Highgate, where Conteh trained.
The Finnegans used to train above a pub in Lavender Hill and down several pints of Guinness after training (and probably before).

[bennie]

Rudkin was quality, a great, great British fighter. He was destroyed by a peak Olivares, who set him up beautifully, but went the distance in tough world title fights with Harada and Rose. I think he went to school with the lead singer of Gerry and the Pacemakers. Sadly, Alan is before my time. I met him on a train once and he looked so unassuming.
"I haven't got a pot to piss in," he admitted.

[bennie]

Ernie "Red' Lopez

That is an awesome photo!

That is a cool photo! I still can't get over the open book story on Ernie's last fight.

Off the top of my head, Ernie's last fight (in the ring) came with our own John H. Stracey.

[bennie]

At Lori and Tom's for Thanksgiving.

Randy always looks so content, and you can see why. A beautiful family.

[Boxingnut]

By the way, I also would read about bantam Alan Rudkin, how he was from Liverpool and supposedly went to school with a couple of the Beatles(?). I followed Rudkin's career from afar and finally saw him in person as he trained for his title fight with champ Ruben Olivares here in L.A. Although outgunned by the great Olivares, I liked what I saw in Rudkin and wonder if you have any memories or info on him. Is he around the boxing world at all today? Any updates?

-Rick

[/quote][/quote]

Hi Rick

Although Alan Rudkin is before my time I know that he still lives in his (and mine) home city of Liverpool in an area called Anfield. Sadly Alan is not in the best of health nor is he financially well off. I know a few years ago a low level crook offered him £10,000 for his Lonsdale belt. Thankfully Alan said no. As far as I know he has no involvement in boxing, which is a shame. What a great little champion though.

Rob

[Ron C]

Off the top of my head, Ernie's last fight (in the ring) came with our own John H. Stracey.

http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?t ... ght:248831


"Kenny Louis vs. Ernie Lopez
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia
(Redirected from Fight:248831)
Jump to: navigation, search
1987-07-07 : Kenny Louis beat Ernie Lopez by KO in round 1 of 6
Location: Omni-Daisy Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Ernie Red Lopez was a truck driver at this time, he read in the papers that there was a show and went with his old friend Jimmy Heair When he got to the arena Heair and the promoter Red Fortner talked him into fighting. "

[kikibalt]

Fighters rock new arena


Carlos Baeza
Chris Arreola, left, would defeat Travis Walker in the third round of their heavyweight bout with a technical knockout.

Chris Arreola pummels way to heavyweight win and Paul Williams prevails at 154 pounds in the main card at venue in Ontario.

Bill Dwyre
November 30, 2008

It was a new place to practice their craft, but the two-headed monster promoted by Dan Goossen and named Arreola/Williams seemed to feel right at home Saturday night at the new Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario.

The crowd was listed as 5,400, in a new stadium that can seat 10,000 for events such as boxing, and that seemed a decent crowd for a sport that hasn't been featured in this region in some time.

The new arena has already played host to the likes of a Lakers exhibition game. But if fans thought that was a lot of action, they should have seen what went on in the boxing ring.

In a night of blood, guts and thunder, heavyweight Chris Arreola destroyed Florida fighter Travis Walker with so many huge punches in the second and third rounds that both the ring uprights and the arena were rocking.

Arreola finally finished Walker, after being down once himself in the second round and punching Walker to the ground twice himself in the same round, with a huge left hook. That left Walker crumbled in a corner, referee Jack Reiss hovered over him to make sure he had no ideas of getting up.

Which, as it turned out, was a good idea on Reiss' part.

"I wanted to continue," Walker said. "I didn't think I was hurt. . . . I was surprised I started to get hurt. He did get good shots in, all on point."

Three rounds of incredible action, and that wasn't even the main event.

In that one, the rubber man, Paul Williams, all 6 feet 2 and 154 pounds, with legs like twigs and hands like hammers, wore down 39-year-old Verno Phillips to the point that he remained in his corner after the eighth round.

Neither fighter had gone down, but Williams, who is lanky and has a reach that forces opponents to attack by wading through three or four shots just to get into range, beat up Phillips badly.

Paul Wallace, the ringside physician, who recommended to Phillips' corner that their fighter had had enough, said, "He was ready to go. He wasn't answering questions appropriately. The difference [in how Phillips was] between the seventh and eighth round was a lot."

Williams' main problem in this fight was the cut he suffered over his right eye in the first round. It did not come from a punch, but from a head butt, and if Wallace had ruled it was bad enough to stop the fight in the first four rounds, the result of the match would have gone to the judges' card.

But Williams survived it well.

"That's the first time I bled like that," said Williams, who has fought 37 professional matches and won 36. "I had blood in my eye a lot, but I did what I had to do."

Williams said he thought the third round was the turning point.

"I could feel Verno's legs leaving him," Williams said.

In the first round of the Arreola-Walker fight, Arreola could probably feel his unbeaten record (26-0), not to mention his quest to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion, leaving him.

Walker unloaded several times and even scored a rare knockdown against this tattooed block of granite.

"He's a strong guy," Arreola said. "In the first round, I wanted to see how much power he had."

Arreola, the frequent subject of criticism over the weight he carries into the ring -- 254 pounds Saturday night -- said afterward, "I'm not concerned about my weight. I just wanted to go to war."

He also admitted, however, that he would be back in training Monday.

Mentioned often in post-fight interviews were the names of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, along with Antonio Margarito.

The Ukrainian Klitschkos, each holding a belt in separate heavyweight groups, seem to be the goal of Arreola and his promoter, Goossen.

Asked in the ring afterward whether he thought he was now ready to fight one of them, Arreola answered by saying, "Ask the fans."

Margarito is a world-class fighter who Williams beat a year ago at the Home Depot Center in a result that shocked the boxing world. Now, Williams and Goossen seem to be pushing for a rematch and the big payday that would come with it.

"I'll get in the ring with anybody," Williams said.

Getting in the ring too Saturday night was Shawn Estrada, the Olympian from East Los Angeles, who won his professional debut with a first-round technical knockout of Lawrence Jones in a middleweight bout.

[email protected]

[bennie]

Off the top of my head, Ernie's last fight (in the ring) came with our own John H. Stracey.

http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?t ... ght:248831


"Kenny Louis vs. Ernie Lopez
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia
(Redirected from Fight:248831)
Jump to: navigation, search
1987-07-07 : Kenny Louis beat Ernie Lopez by KO in round 1 of 6
Location: Omni-Daisy Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Ernie Red Lopez was a truck driver at this time, he read in the papers that there was a show and went with his old friend Jimmy Heair When he got to the arena Heair and the promoter Red Fortner talked him into fighting. "

Barmy. Lopez had no business fighting in 1987.

[kikibalt]

Ernie Lopez's record

Alias Indian Red
Country USA
Global Id 11406
Division Welterweight
Born 1945-09-23


Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1987-07-07 Kenny Louis Memphis, USA L KO 1
1974-10-29 John H Stracey Kensington, United Kingdo L TKO 7
1973-07-26 Armando Muniz Los Angeles, USA L TKO 7
1973-02-28 Jose Napoles Inglewood, USA L KO 7
WBC Welterweight Title
WBA Welterweight Title
1972-11-10 Jose Luis Baltazar Los Angeles, USA W KO 5
1972-10-12 Manuel Gonzalez Stateline, USA W RTD 5
1972-03-30 Emile Griffith Los Angeles, USA L UD 10
1972-01-20 Sal Martinez Los Angeles, USA W TKO 3
1971-10-28 Oscar Albarado Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1971-09-16 Manuel Fierro Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1971-07-08 Danny Perez Los Angeles, USA W KO 2
1971-05-03 Emile Griffith Las Vegas, USA L MD 10
1971-01-20 Peter Cobblah Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1970-10-10 Cipriano Hernandez Woodland Hills, USA W UD 10
1970-08-03 Ruben Rivera Sacramento, USA W KO 6
1970-07-08 Manuel Avitia Las Vegas, USA W KO 8
1970-02-14 Jose Napoles Inglewood, USA L TKO 15
WBC Welterweight Title
WBA Welterweight Title
1969-10-04 Hedgemon Lewis Los Angeles, USA W TKO 10
1969-07-10 Hedgemon Lewis Los Angeles, USA L UD 10
1969-03-13 Chucho Garcia Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1969-02-18 Brad Silas Los Angeles, USA W KO 1
1969-01-30 Raul Soriano Los Angeles, USA W TKO 9
1968-08-01 Polo Corona Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1968-07-18 Hedgemon Lewis Los Angeles, USA W TKO 9
1968-04-30 Gabe Terronez Fresno, USA W UD 12
1968-03-03 Raul Soriano Mexicali, Mexico L UD 10
1968-02-08 Bob Murray Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1967-11-20 Doug McLeod Las Vegas, USA W KO 4
1967-10-12 Jose Valenzuela Los Angeles, USA W TKO 10
1967-08-08 Musashi Nakano Nagoya, Japan W KO 3
1967-07-06 Andy Gonzalez Los Angeles, USA W KO 7
1967-06-13 Phil Robinson Honolulu, USA W PTS 10
1967-05-22 Ed McGruder Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1967-04-20 Frank Jennings Los Angeles, USA W TKO 8
1967-03-27 Johnny Brooks Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1967-03-06 Benito Juarez Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1966-12-12 Adolph Pruitt Las Vegas, USA L UD 10
1966-09-19 Johnny Brooks Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1966-08-22 Johnny Brooks Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1966-06-21 Tito Marshall Las Vegas, USA W UD 10
1966-05-09 Jose Stable Las Vegas, USA W UD 10
1966-04-04 Johnny Brooks Las Vegas, USA W PTS 12
1966-02-28 Al Grant Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1966-02-14 Mel Fields Las Vegas, USA W KO 3
1966-01-31 Memo Lopez Las Vegas, USA W KO 6
1966-01-17 Al Andrews Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1965-12-20 Pulga Serrano Las Vegas, USA W TKO 4
1965-12-06 Armand Laurenco Laurinco Las Vegas, USA W KO 1
1965-11-09 Armand Laurenco Laurinco Las Vegas, USA D PTS 6
1965-11-01 Billy Marsh Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6
1964-12-22 Don Minor Las Vegas, USA L UD 12
1964-10-19 Chappell Funnye Santa Monica, USA W KO 8
1964-09-29 Bernie Magallanes Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6
1964-07-04 Jesse Armenta Hermosillo, Mexico L KO 9
1964-06-12 Joe Clark Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6
1964-03-30 Andres Herrera Santa Monica, USA W PTS 6
1964-03-10 George Green Las Vegas, USA W KO 5
1964-03-03 Trini Lopez North Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1964-02-13 Mickey Davitt Los Angeles, USA W KO 1
1964-02-04 Carl Moore Las Vegas, USA W KO 3
1964-01-21 Armand Laurenco Laurinco Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6

Record to Date
Won 47 (KOs 23) Lost 13 Drawn 1 Total 61

[bennie]

Ernie Lopez's record

Alias Indian Red
Country USA
Global Id 11406
Division Welterweight
Born 1945-09-23


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1987-07-07 Kenny Louis Memphis, USA L KO 1
1974-10-29 John H Stracey Kensington, United Kingdo L TKO 7
1973-07-26 Armando Muniz Los Angeles, USA L TKO 7
1973-02-28 Jose Napoles Inglewood, USA L KO 7
WBC Welterweight Title
WBA Welterweight Title
1972-11-10 Jose Luis Baltazar Los Angeles, USA W KO 5
1972-10-12 Manuel Gonzalez Stateline, USA W RTD 5
1972-03-30 Emile Griffith Los Angeles, USA L UD 10
1972-01-20 Sal Martinez Los Angeles, USA W TKO 3
1971-10-28 Oscar Albarado Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1971-09-16 Manuel Fierro Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1971-07-08 Danny Perez Los Angeles, USA W KO 2
1971-05-03 Emile Griffith Las Vegas, USA L MD 10
1971-01-20 Peter Cobblah Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1970-10-10 Cipriano Hernandez Woodland Hills, USA W UD 10
1970-08-03 Ruben Rivera Sacramento, USA W KO 6
1970-07-08 Manuel Avitia Las Vegas, USA W KO 8
1970-02-14 Jose Napoles Inglewood, USA L TKO 15
WBC Welterweight Title
WBA Welterweight Title
1969-10-04 Hedgemon Lewis Los Angeles, USA W TKO 10
1969-07-10 Hedgemon Lewis Los Angeles, USA L UD 10
1969-03-13 Chucho Garcia Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1969-02-18 Brad Silas Los Angeles, USA W KO 1
1969-01-30 Raul Soriano Los Angeles, USA W TKO 9
1968-08-01 Polo Corona Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1968-07-18 Hedgemon Lewis Los Angeles, USA W TKO 9
1968-04-30 Gabe Terronez Fresno, USA W UD 12
1968-03-03 Raul Soriano Mexicali, Mexico L UD 10
1968-02-08 Bob Murray Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1967-11-20 Doug McLeod Las Vegas, USA W KO 4
1967-10-12 Jose Valenzuela Los Angeles, USA W TKO 10
1967-08-08 Musashi Nakano Nagoya, Japan W KO 3
1967-07-06 Andy Gonzalez Los Angeles, USA W KO 7
1967-06-13 Phil Robinson Honolulu, USA W PTS 10
1967-05-22 Ed McGruder Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1967-04-20 Frank Jennings Los Angeles, USA W TKO 8
1967-03-27 Johnny Brooks Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1967-03-06 Benito Juarez Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1966-12-12 Adolph Pruitt Las Vegas, USA L UD 10
1966-09-19 Johnny Brooks Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1966-08-22 Johnny Brooks Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1966-06-21 Tito Marshall Las Vegas, USA W UD 10
1966-05-09 Jose Stable Las Vegas, USA W UD 10
1966-04-04 Johnny Brooks Las Vegas, USA W PTS 12
1966-02-28 Al Grant Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1966-02-14 Mel Fields Las Vegas, USA W KO 3
1966-01-31 Memo Lopez Las Vegas, USA W KO 6
1966-01-17 Al Andrews Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1965-12-20 Pulga Serrano Las Vegas, USA W TKO 4
1965-12-06 Armand Laurenco Laurinco Las Vegas, USA W KO 1
1965-11-09 Armand Laurenco Laurinco Las Vegas, USA D PTS 6
1965-11-01 Billy Marsh Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6
1964-12-22 Don Minor Las Vegas, USA L UD 12
1964-10-19 Chappell Funnye Santa Monica, USA W KO 8
1964-09-29 Bernie Magallanes Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6
1964-07-04 Jesse Armenta Hermosillo, Mexico L KO 9
1964-06-12 Joe Clark Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6
1964-03-30 Andres Herrera Santa Monica, USA W PTS 6
1964-03-10 George Green Las Vegas, USA W KO 5
1964-03-03 Trini Lopez North Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1964-02-13 Mickey Davitt Los Angeles, USA W KO 1
1964-02-04 Carl Moore Las Vegas, USA W KO 3
1964-01-21 Armand Laurenco Laurinco Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6

Record to Date
Won 47 (KOs 23) Lost 13 Drawn 1 Total 61

I'm disappointed in Jimmy Heair.