Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Randyman]

I have fond memories of Gil Cadilli from the Main Street Gym. He could be pretty blunt about things though. One day when I first started sparring, I can't remember with who, I was catching too many right hands. It was enough to get Cadilli's attention and when I was climbing out of the ring, Cadilli lit into Mel. He said to Mel "What's wrong with you? Why don't you teach him some defense?" I'm going by memory but it was pretty close to that..

As Rick can tell you, Mel would take it as a personal affront if another trainer even spoke to one of his fighters, much less interfere with his methods. Mel fired back with "Mind your own f**king business I know what I'm doing". They went back and forth for a few minutes until Gil just walked away. Mel was talking to himself for days.

Randy

Great suff Randy.
There was a time when a trainer would get real salty if another trainer started sticking his nose in to a fighters buisness. I wonder if trainers are still protective of their fighters like that.Or have things changed in that way too.

Good question Rick. In the early 90's when I was taking my son Andrew to the Brooklyn Street Gym in East Los Angeles, it seemed like most of the trainers didn't have a clue about the fighters. Half the time they were in a group bullshiting away when they when they should have been paying attention to their guy. Most of them didn't put Vaseline on the fighters when they sparred. Little things like that would really irk me. I doubt some of these guys cared if anyone talked to their guy or not.

Remember Mel's little green bag. Something like a doctors bag. He carried the tools of his trade with him. He was an old school trainer. No one could bother one of his fighters. He had no qualms about telling anyone and everyone where to go. That was Mel. A disappearing breed Rick.

Randy

[Rick Farris]

Question for Hap . . .

A couple years back, I was visiting Mando Ramos at his home in San Pedro. I'd come to watch a few fight tapes with him and we began to talk about his early days in boxing. Mando told me that he'd often attend the thursday night Olympic Aud. fights with his trainer Jackie McCoy when he was a kid. One thursday, Mando became fascinated by a down and out ex-pug who sold programs outside the 18th & Grand arena. The guy had only one eye and told Mando of how he had once been a champ, made tons of money, drove the finest cars, was pursued by the most beautiful women, etc. etc. Mando said that the ex-pug would punctuate every story with a swig from a bottle of booze he quietly tucked away under his stacks of programs.

Young Mando was impressed. The guy had made a fortune fighting, and although he lost an eye, had everything Mando could want from life. After a few minutes, McCoy grabbed Mando by the arm and told him, "it's time to go." As they left, Mando told his future manager, "I want what he had!" McCoy just smiled and looked at his future champ in the eye and asked, "But what does he have today?"

At the time, young Mando Ramos had no idea what Jackie McCoy was trying to tell him, however, more than four decades later the message was perfectly clear. All we could do was laugh at at the irony. By the way, the down and out program vendor Mando was talking to was Filippino great, Speedy Dado.

Hap, although Speedy Dado's career was long over when you were making matches at the Hollywood Legion, do you have any memories of the Fillipino great?

-Rick

[Randyman]

Randy and Dagosd:
I honestly think boxing lore means nothing unless it is shared

Thanks for the kind words, Randy, and only once did I have a fighter box for Mel Epstein. I had been sent five young boxers from the Texas border area by a good friend. I was a llicensed matchmaker at the time and could not handle them myself so I turned them over to a respected manager/traner I trusted.

One of the kids was Ramon Tiscareno, who was signed by Mel for a 1952 bout against Sid Flaherty's Eddie Chavez at Butte, Montana. When the fighter and his new manager returned to L.A. they regaled me with stories about the most unruly fight mob they had ever seen in the mining town where boxing was ruled over by Mel Epstein. They had no complaints about Mel himself, but they said the men in the audience were rowdy as hell,

Aside to Dagosd2000:

I lived in San Diego for more than 30 years and on trips to Tijuana we always ate at one of two places; the La Mesa, for seafood, and a little dive downstairs on Revolucion called La Especial. That place had a huge platter with carne asada, beans, rice, guacamole plus fresh tortillasat the fanastic price of a buck (oro). We found the prices had changed the last time we ate there.

hap navarro

Hap, thanks for that little gem. I'm always hungry for any information or story about Mel. Mel could and would talk endlessly about Butte, Montana, the fighters, the local characters and the copper mines. I didn't mind listening. He could spin a yarn.

Reading about that carne asada plate just made me hungry.

Thanks Hap!
Randy

[Expug]

Great story Rick.
I heard a great one about Beau Jack once.
It reminds me of the Speedy Dado story.
Beau Jack started out life as a bootblack. He shined shoes.
Eventually, he became a fighter and made and lost over a million dollars.
He wound up back shining shoes at the Fountainbleu Hotel.
Somebody once asked him,"Beau, you made over a million dollars in the ring, but now your back shining shoes. How does that make you feel?"
Beau looked at the guy and said , "hell, I dont mind. If it wasnt for boxing, I would have been shining shoes my whole life".

The more I think about it, the more I realize that boxing aint the sport to get into to get rich.
Boxing is the sport to get into to make friends, tell stories and have a few laughs.
And of course, thats the problem nowadays. Nobody is laughing anymore.

[Rick Farris]

Great story Rick.
I heard a great one about Beau Jack once.
It reminds me of the Speedy Dado story.
Beau Jack started out life as a bootblack. He shined shoes.
Eventually, he became a fighter and made and lost over a million dollars.
He wound up back shining shoes at the Fountainbleu Hotel.
Somebody once asked him,"Beau, you made over a million dollars in the ring, but now your back shining shoes. How does that make you feel?"
Beau looked at the guy and said , "hell, I dont mind. If it wasnt for boxing, I would have been shining shoes my whole life".

The more I think about it, the more I realize that boxing aint the sport to get into to get rich.
Boxing is the sport to get into to make friends, tell stories and have a few laughs.
And of course, thats the problem nowadays. Nobody is laughing anymore.

So true, Brian. The thing that boxing has lost is it's PERSONALITY. Lucky for us, two boxing personalities still live and are a part of this great thread. . . Hap Navarro and Frank Baltazar Sr. God Bless you both.

Tu amigo . . .

Ricardo

[Rick Farris]

If you look closely at the fine print at the bottom of this program, you'll see that one of Gil Cadilli's stablemates (managed by Johnny Forbes) was a future California ref, Vince Delgado. Vince is one of my fellow WBHOF directors and the nephew of Carlos Chavez. I've had several conversations with Vince about his uncle Carlos who was killed in an ELA street fight years ago.

-Rick Farris

[bennie]

Gus Dorazio vs Joe Louis
February 17, 1941, Convention Hall
Philadelphia

Gus Dorazio,he was quite the hellion outside the ring.
It didnt take much for him to bounce a hook off the skull of some unfortunate.

I seem to recall he once killed a man, acting as a union 'heavy. The guy was roughed up and died later at home.

[bennie]

Tony Baltazar vs Robin Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLcuE-kQ6Cg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh2z-n4f1g0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hhHjZkndHM

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

What a fight! Blake never looked so good again, which tells you what Tony took out of him.

[bennie]

Tom:

That little maneuver of Manuel's was a part of his feinting technique, which I have always considered among the best displayed by a western fighter in the past 70 years. Manuel used his head to feint successfully, causing his opponent to commit himself and counterpunching him sillly. He was an expert at the ploy; maybe the best in my time.
His hands down technique was also meant to lure an opponent into a solid exchange he felt he could easily win.

hap navarro

Yes, I agree with your statement about that "little maneuver." ("I have always considered among the best displayed by a western fighter in the past 70 years.") It would take incredible timing to pull that off - especially a bantamweight like Ortiz, given the hand speed possessed by fellows in the lower weight classes. I was really pretty amazed when I saw Ortiz do it on the dvd, and more amazed when he did it again and again, lulling the opponent in and then throwing those beautiful counterpunches.

It is fantastic to read these accounts of Manuel Ortiz, a man I knew nothing about, bar his phenomenal world title record. This man won 21 world bantamweight title fights.
Unbelievable.

[kikibalt]

Great story Rick.
I heard a great one about Beau Jack once.
It reminds me of the Speedy Dado story.
Beau Jack started out life as a bootblack. He shined shoes.
Eventually, he became a fighter and made and lost over a million dollars.
He wound up back shining shoes at the Fountainbleu Hotel.
Somebody once asked him,"Beau, you made over a million dollars in the ring, but now your back shining shoes. How does that make you feel?"
Beau looked at the guy and said , "hell, I dont mind. If it wasnt for boxing, I would have been shining shoes my whole life".

The more I think about it, the more I realize that boxing aint the sport to get into to get rich.
Boxing is the sport to get into to make friends, tell stories and have a few laughs.
And of course, thats the problem nowadays. Nobody is laughing anymore.

Pug...I had my shoes shine by Beau Jack at the Fountainbleu, in 1977 I had Frankie fight Francisco Villegas for Don King in what was the last of the U.S.A tourney he and the Ring were running on ABC, King put us up (Frankie, Johnnie Flores and myself) at the Fountainbleu.

"hell, I dont mind. If it wasnt for boxing, I would have been shining shoes my whole life".

That line reminded me of a Art Aragon quote, when some ex-pug who didn't do anything in boxing called Aragon a "Has-Been", Artie shot back "its better been a has-been then a never-was"

[kikibalt]

Tony Baltazar vs Robin Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLcuE-kQ6Cg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh2z-n4f1g0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hhHjZkndHM

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

What a fight! Blake never looked so good again, which tells you what Tony took out of him.

Bennie....Tony ruin Blake.....

[kikibalt]

AFTER THE FIGHTS


Across the boulevard from the Bull ring is the long row of taco stands that is a popular spot for people to stop and eat. Tijuana is known for tacos. When it's the Day Of The Taco in Mexico there are so many people crowding around those stands it's almost impossible to see them. The aroma of the manteca and the crackling of meat frying on the grills is something the memory never forgets. The bright bulbs strung across the front of the stands. Radishes,chiles,cilantro,and salsas of red and green in bowls adorn the stands. After the fights at the bull ring ,we always went to eat at the stands . Tacos Al Pastor with the meat on the spit shaved off into the small hot corn tortillas dipped in the hot manteca tasted wonderfull.
"Si amigo. Con todo."

Me and Pat were hungry after the card at the Bull Ring. We got lucky .We found a stand with two empty stools on the end. We piled the tacos on the white cardboard plates. The grease soaked through the wax paper onto the cardboard.The night air got cold and I was looking at the steam coming off from all the grills.
"Olivares had an easy time with that Jap," I remarked as my plate was being filled with tacos.
"They're not going to risk anything with him down here,"said Pat.
"They'll have a big fight with him later in the year in Los Angeles."
It seemed that everyone at the Bull Ring crossed the boulevard to eat tacos at the stands. As fast as the tacos were filled on the plates, they were emptied by the happy aficianados.

I was starting to fill my stomach. The cold beer in the brown bottles helped wash it down.
"Someone told me there are 7000 registered fighters in Mexico,"I said.
"How many in the U.S.?"
"Not even half that number."
Pat was starting to slow down too. We just drank beer.
"I don't think Mexico would have near that number of fighters if they didn't border the U.S.,"I said.
"Yeh,it would probably have as many fighters as Panama."
"The fighters know in Mexico if they do well,it's the big money in the U.S."
"Yeh,the Forum or maybe New York."
The beer was beginning to warm me up . I didn't feel the cold anymore.
"You're right. They didn't want to risk anything with Olivares tonight."
"Picking the Japanese guy was a coup. The crowd liked to see him get his ass kicked."
"Especially what Shibata did to Saldivar."
The crowd dwindled down. Some of the stands had no one in front of them. Me and Pat sat at the end of the stand. There were a lot of the empty brown bottles in front of us.
"Another way the U.S. impacts Mexico,"I said. My mind became very clear. I was sure of my statements.
"I don't follow."
"They fight well here,and then make the big money on the U.S. side."
"Yeh."
I looked along the long row of stands. Just me and Pat were left. The man making the tacos came over.
"Se cabo. We close."

I paid the man for the tacos and beer. I put my arm on Pat's shoulder. He looked up..
"Of those 7000,how many make the big money?"asked Pat.
"Hardly any. Only a few."
The man turned off the lights to the stand.
"Hey Pat,I know a place at the bottom of Revolution where the geek bites off the chicken's head."
"Now that's something I've got to see."

Diego...Any of those taco stands have "tripas tacos"? I love tripas.....

[Expug]

Great story Rick.
I heard a great one about Beau Jack once.
It reminds me of the Speedy Dado story.
Beau Jack started out life as a bootblack. He shined shoes.
Eventually, he became a fighter and made and lost over a million dollars.
He wound up back shining shoes at the Fountainbleu Hotel.
Somebody once asked him,"Beau, you made over a million dollars in the ring, but now your back shining shoes. How does that make you feel?"
Beau looked at the guy and said , "hell, I dont mind. If it wasnt for boxing, I would have been shining shoes my whole life".

The more I think about it, the more I realize that boxing aint the sport to get into to get rich.
Boxing is the sport to get into to make friends, tell stories and have a few laughs.
And of course, thats the problem nowadays. Nobody is laughing anymore.

Pug...I had my shoes shine by Beau Jack at the Fountainbleu, in 1977 I had Frankie fight Francisco Villegas for Don King in what was the last of the U.S.A tourney he and the Ring were running on ABC, King put us up (Frankie, Johnnie Flores and myself) at the Fountainbleu.

"hell, I dont mind. If it wasnt for boxing, I would have been shining shoes my whole life".

That line reminded me of a Art Aragon quote, when some ex-pug who didn't do anything in boxing called Aragon a "Has-Been", Artie shot back "its better been a has-been then a never-was"

Great line by Aragon.
I would have really enjoyed meeting Art Im sure.

[Expug]

Gus Dorazio vs Joe Louis
February 17, 1941, Convention Hall
Philadelphia

Gus Dorazio,he was quite the hellion outside the ring.
It didnt take much for him to bounce a hook off the skull of some unfortunate.

I seem to recall he once killed a man, acting as a union 'heavy. The guy was roughed up and died later at home.

Bennie, I recall reading about that in Nigel Collins book "Boxing Babylon,"
I recommend that book its very entertaining.

[bennie]

I read it there too.

[kikibalt]

Great story Rick.
I heard a great one about Beau Jack once.
It reminds me of the Speedy Dado story.
Beau Jack started out life as a bootblack. He shined shoes.
Eventually, he became a fighter and made and lost over a million dollars.
He wound up back shining shoes at the Fountainbleu Hotel.
Somebody once asked him,"Beau, you made over a million dollars in the ring, but now your back shining shoes. How does that make you feel?"
Beau looked at the guy and said , "hell, I dont mind. If it wasnt for boxing, I would have been shining shoes my whole life".

The more I think about it, the more I realize that boxing aint the sport to get into to get rich.
Boxing is the sport to get into to make friends, tell stories and have a few laughs.
And of course, thats the problem nowadays. Nobody is laughing anymore.

So true, Brian. The thing that boxing has lost is it's PERSONALITY. Lucky for us, two boxing personalities still live and are a part of this great thread. . . Hap Navarro and Frank Baltazar Sr. God Bless you both.

Tu amigo . . .

Ricardo

Thanks Rick...

[dagosd2000]

Randy and Dagosd:
I honestly think boxing lore means nothing unless it is shared

Thanks for the kind words, Randy, and only once did I have a fighter box for Mel Epstein. I had been sent five young boxers from the Texas border area by a good friend. I was a llicensed matchmaker at the time and could not handle them myself so I turned them over to a respected manager/traner I trusted.

One of the kids was Ramon Tiscareno, who was signed by Mel for a 1952 bout against Sid Flaherty's Eddie Chavez at Butte, Montana. When the fighter and his new manager returned to L.A. they regaled me with stories about the most unruly fight mob they had ever seen in the mining town where boxing was ruled over by Mel Epstein. They had no complaints about Mel himself, but they said the men in the audience were rowdy as hell,

Aside to Dagosd2000:

I lived in San Diego for more than 30 years and on trips to Tijuana we always ate at one of two places; the La Mesa, for seafood, and a little dive downstairs on Revolucion called La Especial. That place had a huge platter with carne asada, beans, rice, guacamole plus fresh tortillasat the fanastic price of a buck (oro). We found the prices had changed the last time we ate there.

hap navarro

Hap
La Especial is still there. La Mesa ,I don't know. There's a place on 9th Street where I go for seafood to sit down called La Costa. Very ,very good. But I'll tell ya' pal(I've posted this before),there's a cart on 3rd and Madero Street that sells fish tacos and shrimp tacos. Aside, they sell the consume from both. The guy has to sell a thousand tacos a day. He's got ice chests of sodas and a big vat of lemonade. Best eats in town. Rog

[dagosd2000]

AFTER THE FIGHTS


Across the boulevard from the Bull ring is the long row of taco stands that is a popular spot for people to stop and eat. Tijuana is known for tacos. When it's the Day Of The Taco in Mexico there are so many people crowding around those stands it's almost impossible to see them. The aroma of the manteca and the crackling of meat frying on the grills is something the memory never forgets. The bright bulbs strung across the front of the stands. Radishes,chiles,cilantro,and salsas of red and green in bowls adorn the stands. After the fights at the bull ring ,we always went to eat at the stands . Tacos Al Pastor with the meat on the spit shaved off into the small hot corn tortillas dipped in the hot manteca tasted wonderfull.
"Si amigo. Con todo."

Me and Pat were hungry after the card at the Bull Ring. We got lucky .We found a stand with two empty stools on the end. We piled the tacos on the white cardboard plates. The grease soaked through the wax paper onto the cardboard.The night air got cold and I was looking at the steam coming off from all the grills.
"Olivares had an easy time with that Jap," I remarked as my plate was being filled with tacos.
"They're not going to risk anything with him down here,"said Pat.
"They'll have a big fight with him later in the year in Los Angeles."
It seemed that everyone at the Bull Ring crossed the boulevard to eat tacos at the stands. As fast as the tacos were filled on the plates, they were emptied by the happy aficianados.

I was starting to fill my stomach. The cold beer in the brown bottles helped wash it down.
"Someone told me there are 7000 registered fighters in Mexico,"I said.
"How many in the U.S.?"
"Not even half that number."
Pat was starting to slow down too. We just drank beer.
"I don't think Mexico would have near that number of fighters if they didn't border the U.S.,"I said.
"Yeh,it would probably have as many fighters as Panama."
"The fighters know in Mexico if they do well,it's the big money in the U.S."
"Yeh,the Forum or maybe New York."
The beer was beginning to warm me up . I didn't feel the cold anymore.
"You're right. They didn't want to risk anything with Olivares tonight."
"Picking the Japanese guy was a coup. The crowd liked to see him get his ass kicked."
"Especially what Shibata did to Saldivar."
The crowd dwindled down. Some of the stands had no one in front of them. Me and Pat sat at the end of the stand. There were a lot of the empty brown bottles in front of us.
"Another way the U.S. impacts Mexico,"I said. My mind became very clear. I was sure of my statements.
"I don't follow."
"They fight well here,and then make the big money on the U.S. side."
"Yeh."
I looked along the long row of stands. Just me and Pat were left. The man making the tacos came over.
"Se cabo. We close."

I paid the man for the tacos and beer. I put my arm on Pat's shoulder. He looked up..
"Of those 7000,how many make the big money?"asked Pat.
"Hardly any. Only a few."
The man turned off the lights to the stand.
"Hey Pat,I know a place at the bottom of Revolution where the geek bites off the chicken's head."
"Now that's something I've got to see."

Diego...Any of those taco stands have "tripas tacos"? I love tripas.....

Tripas. Now what would a Tijuana taco stand be without tripas? Cesos, gordas,tacos al vapor,mulas. I'm tellin' ya' Frank,you can't get a decent taco in San Diego.

[dagosd2000]

Great story Rick.
I heard a great one about Beau Jack once.
It reminds me of the Speedy Dado story.
Beau Jack started out life as a bootblack. He shined shoes.
Eventually, he became a fighter and made and lost over a million dollars.
He wound up back shining shoes at the Fountainbleu Hotel.
Somebody once asked him,"Beau, you made over a million dollars in the ring, but now your back shining shoes. How does that make you feel?"
Beau looked at the guy and said , "hell, I dont mind. If it wasnt for boxing, I would have been shining shoes my whole life".

The more I think about it, the more I realize that boxing aint the sport to get into to get rich.
Boxing is the sport to get into to make friends, tell stories and have a few laughs.
And of course, thats the problem nowadays. Nobody is laughing anymore.

So true, Brian. The thing that boxing has lost is it's PERSONALITY. Lucky for us, two boxing personalities still live and are a part of this great thread. . . Hap Navarro and Frank Baltazar Sr. God Bless you both.

Tu amigo . . .

Ricardo

And that's because they're a couple of characters. Threw the mold away. They're happy in their own skin. They know what LA. and the region was like .It's in them. I saw it as a little boy. When they talk about it,I understand and learn what I was intrigued about. Roger

[dagosd2000]

Question for Hap

Archie Moore told me the best fighter he ever faced was Charley Burley. They fought only one time. That was at the Hollywood Legion . Any recall on this fight? Rog.

[dagosd2000]

Hap, I've only seen two tapes of Ortiz in action. One a very long time ago; the other recently. In the one that I have, he is defending his title against a shorter opponent (whose name I can't recall - the guy looked like he was about 4'10"). Ortiz did something that I've never seen another fighter do - at least, not as smoothly or with as much success: Several times, Ortiz would lean forward slightly at the waist and drop his hands to about chest level as if daring the other fellow to hit him. Then, when the guy tried, Ortiz would lay some absolutely beautiful counters on him. Was that his regular modus operandi, or did he do it only in that one fight?

Watching that tape of him was a real pleasure. He was an artist in the ring.

That was Luis Castillo....

And I'm going to be watching Manuel Ortiz vs. Luis Castillo in about ten minutes. I consider it "prizefighting relief" after an overdose of contemporary ring "action". I guess I'm spoiled. I came up in L.A. when real fighters fought their hearts out for little money and defined the word "heart" for boxing fans. Today? NADA!

-Rick

Rick
That's exactly the point. When looking at old film of the boys of the past,they always put on a good show. The exceptions were if the styles didn't pan out,or one of them went into the tank. I can't remember when a ref had to seperate two fighters like today. Fighters back then knew if they fell into a clinch,the fans wouldn't appreciate that,so they fought out of the clinches. If you didn't put on a good show at the Garden or the Olympic,you wouldn't be back,at least not in the main event. I guess it has to do with pride. Today,it's purely about money.

[kikibalt]

AFTER THE FIGHTS


Across the boulevard from the Bull ring is the long row of taco stands that is a popular spot for people to stop and eat. Tijuana is known for tacos. When it's the Day Of The Taco in Mexico there are so many people crowding around those stands it's almost impossible to see them. The aroma of the manteca and the crackling of meat frying on the grills is something the memory never forgets. The bright bulbs strung across the front of the stands. Radishes,chiles,cilantro,and salsas of red and green in bowls adorn the stands. After the fights at the bull ring ,we always went to eat at the stands . Tacos Al Pastor with the meat on the spit shaved off into the small hot corn tortillas dipped in the hot manteca tasted wonderfull.
"Si amigo. Con todo."

Me and Pat were hungry after the card at the Bull Ring. We got lucky .We found a stand with two empty stools on the end. We piled the tacos on the white cardboard plates. The grease soaked through the wax paper onto the cardboard.The night air got cold and I was looking at the steam coming off from all the grills.
"Olivares had an easy time with that Jap," I remarked as my plate was being filled with tacos.
"They're not going to risk anything with him down here,"said Pat.
"They'll have a big fight with him later in the year in Los Angeles."
It seemed that everyone at the Bull Ring crossed the boulevard to eat tacos at the stands. As fast as the tacos were filled on the plates, they were emptied by the happy aficianados.

I was starting to fill my stomach. The cold beer in the brown bottles helped wash it down.
"Someone told me there are 7000 registered fighters in Mexico,"I said.
"How many in the U.S.?"
"Not even half that number."
Pat was starting to slow down too. We just drank beer.
"I don't think Mexico would have near that number of fighters if they didn't border the U.S.,"I said.
"Yeh,it would probably have as many fighters as Panama."
"The fighters know in Mexico if they do well,it's the big money in the U.S."
"Yeh,the Forum or maybe New York."
The beer was beginning to warm me up . I didn't feel the cold anymore.
"You're right. They didn't want to risk anything with Olivares tonight."
"Picking the Japanese guy was a coup. The crowd liked to see him get his ass kicked."
"Especially what Shibata did to Saldivar."
The crowd dwindled down. Some of the stands had no one in front of them. Me and Pat sat at the end of the stand. There were a lot of the empty brown bottles in front of us.
"Another way the U.S. impacts Mexico,"I said. My mind became very clear. I was sure of my statements.
"I don't follow."
"They fight well here,and then make the big money on the U.S. side."
"Yeh."
I looked along the long row of stands. Just me and Pat were left. The man making the tacos came over.
"Se cabo. We close."

I paid the man for the tacos and beer. I put my arm on Pat's shoulder. He looked up..
"Of those 7000,how many make the big money?"asked Pat.
"Hardly any. Only a few."
The man turned off the lights to the stand.
"Hey Pat,I know a place at the bottom of Revolution where the geek bites off the chicken's head."
"Now that's something I've got to see."

Diego...Any of those taco stands have "tripas tacos"? I love tripas.....

Tripas. Now what would a Tijuana taco stand be without tripas? Cesos, gordas,tacos al vapor,mulas. I'm tellin' ya' Frank,you can't get a decent taco in San Diego.

Diego...There is on the east side of L.A a Mexican restaurant named "The Parrilla", its on First St. a block or so west of Soto St. that serves a hot "Parrilla" with carne asada, tripas and those long green onions, rice and beans, and guacamole and tortillas that are made there on the spot. it was at the Parrilla that I last seen mine and Hap's friend Luis Magana before he moved to Boston.

[kikibalt]

Connie and I are celebrating our 54th wedding annivesary today :) and also my birthday :( , so Happy Birthday to me....

[raylawpc]

Frank - many happy returns to you and Connie!! Enjoy your day!!

[raylawpc]

Hap, I've only seen two tapes of Ortiz in action. One a very long time ago; the other recently. In the one that I have, he is defending his title against a shorter opponent (whose name I can't recall - the guy looked like he was about 4'10"). Ortiz did something that I've never seen another fighter do - at least, not as smoothly or with as much success: Several times, Ortiz would lean forward slightly at the waist and drop his hands to about chest level as if daring the other fellow to hit him. Then, when the guy tried, Ortiz would lay some absolutely beautiful counters on him. Was that his regular modus operandi, or did he do it only in that one fight?

Watching that tape of him was a real pleasure. He was an artist in the ring.

That was Luis Castillo....

And I'm going to be watching Manuel Ortiz vs. Luis Castillo in about ten minutes. I consider it "prizefighting relief" after an overdose of contemporary ring "action". I guess I'm spoiled. I came up in L.A. when real fighters fought their hearts out for little money and defined the word "heart" for boxing fans. Today? NADA!

-Rick

Watch how he lures Castillo in with that head move! You can't teach that.