Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Baby, its cold outside....

Its funny how weather is a matter of perspective. I just looked at the LA weather, and your low today is about 40 and your high about 50. Its the same in St. Louis.

But, this morning, Linda and I were commenting about how warm and pleasant it was outside!!

Tom, where I live at, it below freezing, our low was 31. thats to cold for this hot weather guy.

Frank . . . We California guys have thin blood. I used to have girlfriend who lived in Finland. I was in Las Vegas working on a movie and we'd shoot all night, from 5pm to until the sun came up in the morning. It was about 40 degrees outside and I was happy to return to the warm hotel every morning. One day I called my friend in Finland and complained about the weather. She asked how cold it was and I said, it's about 40 degrees. She said, "forty below, that's terrible, you poor darling." I said, "not 40 below, 40 degrees above." There was silence on the other end of the line and then she said, "Forty degrees? That's not cold, I'd be wearing a T-shirt." What could I say?

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Remembering 1966, Joe Frazier and Tony Baltazar . . .

This was the Joe Frazier I saw when he came to L.A. in the mid 60's with only eight pro fights, all KO's. I watched him workout at the Main Street Gym and remember how strong his legs were. When he'd pound the heavy bag the whole building would shake. I watched him fight on two consecutive thursdays at the Olympic. He KOed a good local club fighter named Chuck Leslie in three rounds, and the following week iced Al Jones in one round. I was a Jerry Quarry fan, but this guy was something special, no doubt. A REAL fighter, a REAL heavyweight champ in the making.

Hey Frank, remember when Frazier was here in the sixties? It was right about the time little Tony, age 5, shadow boxed on TV to publicize the following nights Jr. Golden Gloves Championships. BTW, the night Tony did that, Mando Ramos had just KOed Jerry Stevens in a scheduled six round semi to the Eddie Machen-Joey Orbillo main event. Tony came on during the intermission and had the sold out crowd of 10,000 on their feet. It would be the first of many standing ovations the Baltazar family would generate at the Olympic.

-Rick

[raylawpc]

And Linda Ronstadt singing it!!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You know Tom, I always liked Linda Ronstadt. Back in 1971, when I was 19 and boxing pro, I used to have a pretty hot girlfriend and we went to see Ronstadt at the Troubador, a small club on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. She was on her own then, no longer with her 60's band, the Stone Ponys. The opening act was an unknown comedian. The guy was prematurely grey, came out and played a banjo and had an arrow sticking out of his head. He was hilarious, and if it weren't for the strength of Linda Ronstadt, he'd have stolen the show. Ronstadt was great, the Troubador is a small club, only holds a couple hundred people so everybody is close to the stage. It was one of the best performances I've ever seen. And the unknown comedian, his name was Steve Martin.

-Rick[/quote]

Well, Rick, what straight male wouldn't like Linda Ronstadt . . .

[dagosd2000]

RECUERDOS

I often think if I hadn't married my wife she'd be dead by now. I'm not being morbid. You see when I met her she had nothing. Living in a shack in TJ. No money. Working off and on as a house keeper. She took care of the family when she was younger. All nine of them. Her older brother had a construction business until he had a stroke. Her older sister hauled ass. She wanted no part of cooking and cleaning for her siblings on a poor ranch in Michoacan.

My wife was there. She did those things. She never hit any of them. They were taken care of.

After a few years of our marriage my wife woke up in terrible pain one night. My wife doesn't complain. It had to be something serious. I took her to emergency. They found a tumor on her ovary. It was removed. She's fine now. That was a long time ago. But if that would have happened in some shack in Tijuana,she'd been dead. With no money even the Red Cross down there wouldn't have helped her. Besides no one would have taken her there. Not even her family. Take my word for it.

Today,my wife is very happy. We go to Europe,built a house in Michoacan. We have no bills. My wife still helps her family. She gets more mother's day cards than anyone I know from nieces and nephews and everyone with the last name of Madrigal. Her family respects her. She's on a pedastal. They don't think of ripping her off.

But if I hadn't married her? That night she was in terrible pain? If she was alone in that shack?

Her family is nice to her now. With me it came too late.

Roger, I still laugh when I think of the story you told us that night in the bar, the one about Maria fighting with the knives she used to clean fish. How after work you had a list of things to do; some grocery shopping, pick the kids up from school, bail Maria out of the Tijuana Jail. This woman is very pretty, she has strong eyes and features, I saw the good in her although I only spend short moments in her presence. You get a feeling about people, she was real and proud, I felt her strength. Monica and I like and respect her very much. And of course, the same applies to you.

-Rick

Rick
Thank you sincerely for those words. When I looked into Monica's eyes at the banquet,I knew you had the real goods. Lots of soul and heart there. Rog

[kikibalt]

Rick...I don't mind 50 degrees, but when it get below that, well thats not for me, I had to put up with some cold weather in my travels with the boys, like in 1982 when we travel to NYC to meet with Don King, the highest it got was 18 above, and in 1991, or was it 1982? I had Tony fighting Rodney Moore in Philadephia, in the middle of the day it was with the wind factor 9 below zero, to damn cold for me, I had Connie with us on that trip, she couldn't wait to get home....

[raylawpc]

Remembering 1966, Joe Frazier and Tony Baltazar . . .

This was the Joe Frazier I saw when he came to L.A. in the mid 60's with only eight pro fights, all KO's. I watched him workout at the Main Street Gym and remember how strong his legs were. When he'd pound the heavy bag the whole building would shake. I watched him fight on two consecutive thursdays at the Olympic. He KOed a good local club fighter named Chuck Leslie in three rounds, and the following week iced Al Jones in one round. I was a Jerry Quarry fan, but this guy was something special, no doubt. A REAL fighter, a REAL heavyweight champ in the making.

Hey Frank, remember when Frazier was here in the sixties? It was right about the time little Tony, age 5, shadow boxed on TV to publicize the following nights Jr. Golden Gloves Championships. BTW, the night Tony did that, Mando Ramos had just KOed Jerry Stevens in a scheduled six round semi to the Eddie Machen-Joey Orbillo main event. Tony came on during the intermission and had the sold out crowd of 10,000 on their feet. It would be the first of many standing ovations the Baltazar family would generate at the Olympic.

-Rick

Hey, Rick, that's the second time in as many days that you've mentioned a fighter's name that brought back memories for me.

I was in Memphis Al Jones' corner in Dallas back in 1974 when he nearly decapitated Boone Kirkman with as hard a right hand as I've ever seen. (I think I've written about it before. I thought that Al had literally killed Kirkman with that shot.)

I worked with him for his next fight against Chuck Olivera (He was undefeated with me in his corner. . . ).

[raylawpc]

Rick...I don't mind 50 degrees, but when it get below that, well thats not for me, I had to put up with some cold weather in my travels with the boys, like in 1982 when we travel to NYC to meet with Don King, the highest it got was 18 above, and in 1991, or was it 1982? I had Tony fighting Rodney Moore in Philadephia, in the middle of the day it was with the wind factor 9 below zero, to damn cold for, I had Connie with us on that trip, she couldn't wait to get home....

If it gets below 70 degrees, its not for me.

Signed,

Poor, Poor Pitiful Tom

[kikibalt]

Remembering 1966, Joe Frazier and Tony Baltazar . . .

This was the Joe Frazier I saw when he came to L.A. in the mid 60's with only eight pro fights, all KO's. I watched him workout at the Main Street Gym and remember how strong his legs were. When he'd pound the heavy bag the whole building would shake. I watched him fight on two consecutive thursdays at the Olympic. He KOed a good local club fighter named Chuck Leslie in three rounds, and the following week iced Al Jones in one round. I was a Jerry Quarry fan, but this guy was something special, no doubt. A REAL fighter, a REAL heavyweight champ in the making.

Hey Frank, remember when Frazier was here in the sixties? It was right about the time little Tony, age 5, shadow boxed on TV to publicize the following nights Jr. Golden Gloves Championships. BTW, the night Tony did that, Mando Ramos had just KOed Jerry Stevens in a scheduled six round semi to the Eddie Machen-Joey Orbillo main event. Tony came on during the intermission and had the sold out crowd of 10,000 on their feet. It would be the first of many standing ovations the Baltazar family would generate at the Olympic.

-Rick

Rick...I remember that real well, I agree with you that Frazier was something special.

[kikibalt]

Rick...I don't mind 50 degrees, but when it get below that, well thats not for me, I had to put up with some cold weather in my travels with the boys, like in 1982 when we travel to NYC to meet with Don King, the highest it got was 18 above, and in 1991, or was it 1982? I had Tony fighting Rodney Moore in Philadephia, in the middle of the day it was with the wind factor 9 below zero, to damn cold for, I had Connie with us on that trip, she couldn't wait to get home....

If it gets below 70 degrees, its not for me.

Signed,

Poor, Poor Pitiful Tom

Poor, Poor Pitiful Tom.... ;;-)

[kikibalt]

George Chuvalo vs Doug Jones

[dagosd2000]

MOTORIN' WITH THE MONGOOSE

I think I might have slipped this in a while back about Archie Moore's drivin' habits. I heard Charley Powell talking about it to someone once.
"Don't get in a car with him if he's driving. He's crazy," I heard Powell say.
Well I knew I'd never have that opprtunity so I wasn't worried. One time though Henry Brown brought it up in a discussion over lunch. This is when we were working at Juvenile Hall.
"I was starting out boxing amateur when Archie Moore wanted to take us to workout at the Main Street Gym,"said Henry.
I didn't think nothing of it at the time,but when Henry began describing the ride up there,he gripped the side of the table.
"I was driving the fellows up there. Archie Moore was sitting in the passenger seat.He wasn't saying anything. He was rolling his fingers on the dash."
"Pull over."
"What?,"asked the puzzled Henry.
"Pull over to the side of the freeway."demanded Moore.
"I thought he had to go to the bathroom,"said Henry.
"You're driving to slow. It'll take us forever to get up there."

Well Henry went on to describe the thrill ride up to the Main Street Gym. Moore was always in the fast lane tailgating anyone who was going under a hundred.
"We all were scared as hell. We told him to slow down,but that just made him angry."

I can't ever remember Archie Moore angry. Even when he was fighting. It was like job to do that he took seriously,but I can't remember him losing his head. Henry went on to say that all the boys in the car that afternoon had spent more energy worrying if they were going to get killed on the freeway than the actual fights they had in the gym.

Maybe it was psycholgical. Maybe Archie wanted those young fighters to condition themselves towards fear. However the more I think about it,I think Archie Moore was just crazy behind the wheel of a car.

[kikibalt]

Couple of pics of my son James as he is about leave to go to a Xmas party tonight.

[dagosd2000]

Couple of pics of my son James as he is about leave to go to a Xmas party tonight.

Frank
Just watched Frankie and Tony with their fights that you sent me on DVD. Lots of talent there. But what impresses me about your sons(I never talked to Tony)is what good kids they are.Quality guys. Bobby,Jimmy,and Frankie are polite,bright,unpretentious. Good lookin' kids. Nothing outrageous. Smart dressers too. I saw Tony's interview with Greg Haugen in the ring. Straight forward with a bit of humility. I can see why they're the topic of so many of your posts. Rog

[dagosd2000]

LOVE SEATS AND DINETTES

Like I said it's a furniture warehouse now. When Jerome Navarro was handed down the business from his father,he closed the Coliseum and made space to put his furniture inventory there. There was where Archie Moore ,Bob Murphy,Ken Norton,and a thousand other battlers laced up the gloves dreaming of becoming a Champion. Now it's space for love seats and dinettes.

On Tuesday night fight night there was buzz on lower 14th Street. You parked where you could find a space on the street. The neighborhood was pretty lifeless and old,but on Tuesday night the boxing crowd would cheer up the surroundings. You'd see the same faces.The fans from all over the city. We liked our fighters. Burke Emery,the Millsapps,later Flaherty, trained the guys we were pullin' for. The Canadian boys--Hafey,Wilson. There was Norton. The fighters from Mexico. Some of the boys were on their way down. We saw Bobby. There was Denny Moyer. We were lucky to see them. Then it was over. Just like that it was over. Make room for the bar stools.

My grand daughters Flamenco class is up the hill from the old Coliseum. After class I drive back by the old arena.
"Why did we go this way abuelito?" asked my grand daughter.
"Oh ,I just want to see something."
"All I see are homeless people against the side of an old building. They're hard to see because it is very dark."
After a few blocks,I turned onto the ramp to get on the freeway.
"Amanda,did I ever tell you how I practiced boxing with the Heavyweight Champion?"
"What's a Heavyweight Champion?"
I didn't answer . My mind was on something that I couldn't explain to her.
"Are you hungry sweet heart? I'll stop and get you a hamburger."

[Rick Farris]

RECUERDOS

I often think if I hadn't married my wife she'd be dead by now. I'm not being morbid. You see when I met her she had nothing. Living in a shack in TJ. No money. Working off and on as a house keeper. She took care of the family when she was younger. All nine of them. Her older brother had a construction business until he had a stroke. Her older sister hauled ass. She wanted no part of cooking and cleaning for her siblings on a poor ranch in Michoacan.

My wife was there. She did those things. She never hit any of them. They were taken care of.

After a few years of our marriage my wife woke up in terrible pain one night. My wife doesn't complain. It had to be something serious. I took her to emergency. They found a tumor on her ovary. It was removed. She's fine now. That was a long time ago. But if that would have happened in some shack in Tijuana,she'd been dead. With no money even the Red Cross down there wouldn't have helped her. Besides no one would have taken her there. Not even her family. Take my word for it.

Today,my wife is very happy. We go to Europe,built a house in Michoacan. We have no bills. My wife still helps her family. She gets more mother's day cards than anyone I know from nieces and nephews and everyone with the last name of Madrigal. Her family respects her. She's on a pedastal. They don't think of ripping her off.

But if I hadn't married her? That night she was in terrible pain? If she was alone in that shack?

Her family is nice to her now. With me it came too late.

Roger, I still laugh when I think of the story you told us that night in the bar, the one about Maria fighting with the knives she used to clean fish. How after work you had a list of things to do; some grocery shopping, pick the kids up from school, bail Maria out of the Tijuana Jail. This woman is very pretty, she has strong eyes and features, I saw the good in her although I only spend short moments in her presence. You get a feeling about people, she was real and proud, I felt her strength. Monica and I like and respect her very much. And of course, the same applies to you.

-Rick

Rick
Thank you sincerely for those words. When I looked into Monica's eyes at the banquet,I knew you had the real goods. Lots of soul and heart there. Rog

Monica had her share of tough times in Brazil, which is also a very dangerous third world country. She left by herself with nothing, moved to Europe speaking only Portugese and Spanish, lived in France, Holland & Italy, learning the languages of each country. Like Maria, she worked hard. A few years later she came to the U.S. not speaking a word of English, eight years later when we got together, she was fluent in our language. She's truly good inside, just like Maria. I can be very difficult at times. She has changed my life. I've never been happier.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Remembering 1966, Joe Frazier and Tony Baltazar . . .

This was the Joe Frazier I saw when he came to L.A. in the mid 60's with only eight pro fights, all KO's. I watched him workout at the Main Street Gym and remember how strong his legs were. When he'd pound the heavy bag the whole building would shake. I watched him fight on two consecutive thursdays at the Olympic. He KOed a good local club fighter named Chuck Leslie in three rounds, and the following week iced Al Jones in one round. I was a Jerry Quarry fan, but this guy was something special, no doubt. A REAL fighter, a REAL heavyweight champ in the making.

Hey Frank, remember when Frazier was here in the sixties? It was right about the time little Tony, age 5, shadow boxed on TV to publicize the following nights Jr. Golden Gloves Championships. BTW, the night Tony did that, Mando Ramos had just KOed Jerry Stevens in a scheduled six round semi to the Eddie Machen-Joey Orbillo main event. Tony came on during the intermission and had the sold out crowd of 10,000 on their feet. It would be the first of many standing ovations the Baltazar family would generate at the Olympic.

-Rick

Hey, Rick, that's the second time in as many days that you've mentioned a fighter's name that brought back memories for me.

I was in Memphis Al Jones' corner in Dallas back in 1974 when he nearly decapitated Boone Kirkman with as hard a right hand as I've ever seen. (I think I've written about it before. I thought that Al had literally killed Kirkman with that shot.)

I worked with him for his next fight against Chuck Olivera (He was undefeated with me in his corner. . . ).

Tom . . . The Joe Frazier-Memphis Al Jones fight would be the first in which Eddie Futch would work with Smokin' Joe. Yank Durham, Frazier's trainer phoned Futch from Philly, wanting to check out West Coast competition for his unbeaten '64 Olympic champ. Durham was concerned about Futch's choice of Al Jones as an opponent for Frazier. As you know, Jones was 6'5" and had more experience than Joe, and despite a losing record he could fight, having just lost a close ten rounder to Jerry Quarry. Durham was most concerned about the 6" height difference. Futch assured Durham not to worry and worked with Frazier on a way to overcome Jones' height advantage. The result was a one round KO for Frazier and a permanent job for Eddie Futch, who at the time was working for the post office in L.A. and also training Detroit welterweight, Hedgeman Lewis. I'd like to hear about your experience with Memphis Al Jones and other fighters. You really know boxing from the inside.

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

LOVE SEATS AND DINETTES

Like I said it's a furniture warehouse now. When Jerome Navarro was handed down the business from his father,he closed the Coliseum and made space to put his furniture inventory there. There was where Archie Moore ,Bob Murphy,Ken Norton,and a thousand other battlers laced up the gloves dreaming of becoming a Champion. Now it's space for love seats and dinettes.

On Tuesday night fight night there was buzz on lower 14th Street. You parked where you could find a space on the street. The neighborhood was pretty lifeless and old,but on Tuesday night the boxing crowd would cheer up the surroundings. You'd see the same faces.The fans from all over the city. We liked our fighters. Burke Emery,the Millsapps,later Flaherty, trained the guys we were pullin' for. The Canadian boys--Hafey,Wilson. There was Norton. The fighters from Mexico. Some of the boys were on their way down. We saw Bobby. There was Denny Moyer. We were lucky to see them. Then it was over. Just like that it was over. Make room for the bar stools.

My grand daughters Flamenco class is up the hill from the old Coliseum. After class I drive back by the old arena.
"Why did we go this way abuelito?" asked my grand daughter.
"Oh ,I just want to see something."
"All I see are homeless people against the side of an old building. They're hard to see because it is very dark."
After a few blocks,I turned onto the ramp to get on the freeway.
"Amanda,did I ever tell you how I practiced boxing with the Heavyweight Champion?"
"What's a Heavyweight Champion?"
I didn't answer . My mind was on something that I couldn't explain to her.
"Are you hungry sweet heart? I'll stop and get you a hamburger."

I guess it's hard for others to understand the feelings we have for places like the San Diego Coliseum. It's one of those things where we have to say, "well, you'd have to have been there." However, we understand, Rog. Just curious, is the old U.S. Grant Hotel still alive? Randy and I were both taken there by our manager, Mel Epstein, prior to bouts we had at the Coliseum.

-Rick

[bennie]

Thanks to everyone that enjoys my stories. I used to pay a shrink a hundred bucks an hour . I'd tell him a story. He'd be writing something down. He'd smile and then write me a prescription for Prozac.

This is much better therapy . Writing something for my friends.

Besides,it saves me money.

We love it Roger, keep it up, please.

-Rick

Roger's stories are the greatest.

[bennie]

George Chuvalo vs Doug Jones

Doug Jones should have got a rematch with Ali for the title.

[scartissue]

George Chuvalo vs Doug Jones

Doug Jones should have got a rematch with Ali for the title.

This is the write-up on this fight, which I took from Boxrec's 'open book'. Great photos and one of Chuvalo's better wins.

Scartissue


1964-10-02 : George Chuvalo beat Doug Jones by TKO in round 11 of 12
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA
Referee: Arthur Mercante

"George Chuvalo of Toronto staged a major upset by flooring Doug Jones of New York once while winning a TKO in the 11th round of their heavyweight elimination fight at Madison Square Garden. Chuvalo floored the higher rated Jones with a left hook in the 11th round. Jones rose groggily to his feet at the count of '5' and took the remaining three counts on his feet. Chuvalo immediately barraged him with smashes to the head. Referee Arthur Mercante intervened and stopped the fight at 1:28 of the 11th." -United Press International

Retrieved from "http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Fight:73873"

[kikibalt]

Couple of pics of my son James as he is about leave to go to a Xmas party tonight.

Frank
Just watched Frankie and Tony with their fights that you sent me on DVD. Lots of talent there. But what impresses me about your sons(I never talked to Tony)is what good kids they are.Quality guys. Bobby,Jimmy,and Frankie are polite,bright,unpretentious. Good lookin' kids. Nothing outrageous. Smart dressers too. I saw Tony's interview with Greg Haugen in the ring. Straight forward with a bit of humility. I can see why they're the topic of so many of your posts. Rog

Diego...what did you think about Frankie in his fight with Chango Cruz, he was 18 years old and had had 5 pro fights at the time, was 2 points underdog, but he came through alright.

I got some input on that fight from Randy now I would like the same from you and Rick if that is ok.

[kikibalt]

Don't nobody tell me it don't get f :x :x king cold where I live.
These photos I shot this morning when I want outside to get the newspaper.

[dagosd2000]

LOVE SEATS AND DINETTES

Like I said it's a furniture warehouse now. When Jerome Navarro was handed down the business from his father,he closed the Coliseum and made space to put his furniture inventory there. There was where Archie Moore ,Bob Murphy,Ken Norton,and a thousand other battlers laced up the gloves dreaming of becoming a Champion. Now it's space for love seats and dinettes.

On Tuesday night fight night there was buzz on lower 14th Street. You parked where you could find a space on the street. The neighborhood was pretty lifeless and old,but on Tuesday night the boxing crowd would cheer up the surroundings. You'd see the same faces.The fans from all over the city. We liked our fighters. Burke Emery,the Millsapps,later Flaherty, trained the guys we were pullin' for. The Canadian boys--Hafey,Wilson. There was Norton. The fighters from Mexico. Some of the boys were on their way down. We saw Bobby. There was Denny Moyer. We were lucky to see them. Then it was over. Just like that it was over. Make room for the bar stools.

My grand daughters Flamenco class is up the hill from the old Coliseum. After class I drive back by the old arena.
"Why did we go this way abuelito?" asked my grand daughter.
"Oh ,I just want to see something."
"All I see are homeless people against the side of an old building. They're hard to see because it is very dark."
After a few blocks,I turned onto the ramp to get on the freeway.
"Amanda,did I ever tell you how I practiced boxing with the Heavyweight Champion?"
"What's a Heavyweight Champion?"
I didn't answer . My mind was on something that I couldn't explain to her.
"Are you hungry sweet heart? I'll stop and get you a hamburger."

I guess it's hard for others to understand the feelings we have for places like the San Diego Coliseum. It's one of those things where we have to say, "well, you'd have to have been there." However, we understand, Rog. Just curious, is the old U.S. Grant Hotel still alive? Randy and I were both taken there by our manager, Mel Epstein, prior to bouts we had at the Coliseum.

-Rick

Yes Rick it is. Still very high end. One of the few places in the city that has remained classy and kept its memories.

[dagosd2000]

Couple of pics of my son James as he is about leave to go to a Xmas party tonight.

Frank
Just watched Frankie and Tony with their fights that you sent me on DVD. Lots of talent there. But what impresses me about your sons(I never talked to Tony)is what good kids they are.Quality guys. Bobby,Jimmy,and Frankie are polite,bright,unpretentious. Good lookin' kids. Nothing outrageous. Smart dressers too. I saw Tony's interview with Greg Haugen in the ring. Straight forward with a bit of humility. I can see why they're the topic of so many of your posts. Rog

Diego...what did you think about Frankie in his fight with Chango Cruz, he was 18 years old and had had 5 pro fights at the time, was 2 points underdog, but he came through alright.

I got some input on that fight from Randy now I would like the same from you and Rick if that is ok.

Frank
I saw a kid who looked like he was 28. Drawing that guy to him and then LEADING with his right hand. Knew how to throw the straight left. Uppercut counters. Slipped punches,in very good condition. More importantly,was an underdog against a more experianced pro who had a punch. Frankie was a little shaken in the middle round and then fought back out of it to take command. Finished the guy off when he had him in trouble. Cruz knew he had taken a lickin'.

It must be very satisfying for you to watch. You looked very proud and happy in the ring that night.

[dagosd2000]

Don't nobody tell me it don't get f :x :x king cold where I live.
These photos I shot this morning when I want outside to get the newspaper.

Shit,if it would have been that cold outside where I live,I would have turned on the TV to get the news.