Portland Oregon boxing greats.

[jrow72]

Who are the best boxer out of Portland Oregon? Andy Minsker? Ray Lampkin? Steve Forbes? David Banks? What do you guys think?

[Expug]

Denny Moyer has to rank up there.

[zurdo]

Denny Moyer has got to be the number one fighter from that town he's the only Portland fighhter you could make a case for being in the hall of fame ( not a lock mind you, but he was better and more accomplished than a lot of guys who are in)
His brother Phil was also a a pretty good fighter but more of a journeyman.

Mike Colbert was a talented middleweight contender in the 70s who got his jaw broken by Marvin Hagler but managed to last until the 12th round. Mike was a pretty smart guy he became a CPA after he left boxing.

Baby James Manning
was a fringe bantamweight contender during the 80s

[Matt]

A couple other names:

Billy Mascott
Joe Gorman
Chuck Hellman
Thad Spencer
Joe Kahut (actually from Woodburn, but had 50+ main events in Portland)
Richard Sue

As mentioned by others, Moyer is far and away the greatest fighter out of Portland.

[Zelley]

Denny Moyer and Ray Lampkin

[scartissue]

Don't forget to throw Andy Kendall into the mix.

Scartissue

[Zelley]

Don't forget to throw Andy Kendall into the mix.

Scartissue

Excellent comment! Andy Kendall had an interesting boxing record starting with his victory over Ernie Gipson at Yakima in 1962. and his 1964 victory over Scrap Iron Johnson at Portland. Some may also remember his various bouts with Larry Buck in Seattle and Portland
or the bouts with Billy Marsh.

[zurdo]

Two guys from the 80s who were not "great" but more percisely greatly traveled .

Classic Journeyman James Williams and Curtis Ramsey mixed it up with a slew of top fighters from that era

Most of the time they lost but occasionally Williams Ramsey ramsey would summon ther wherewithal to spring an upset over the homwetown fave.



They were probably the Portland boxers who were knocked out on the most differant continents

[sf1986]

Interesting that this subject is here. Back in the 1980's I sparred with many of the people mentioned on this board: James Manning, Andy Minsker, Delbert Williams and many more good boxers from Portland. I watched Mike Colbert work out several times. Met Ray Lampkin and used to spar with his nephew Lionel Lampkin, who was also a good boxer. All of these guys were very good boxers. I think the best is a toss up between Ray Lampkin and Mike Colbert with a slight edge going to Colbert. Mike Colbert was both a nationally recognized amateur and professional. He boxed well, had power in each hand, especially the left hook, and was as game as they come. I watched him spar several times while making a brief comeback in the mid 1980's. I remember one of his sparing partners yelling and complaining that he hit too hard. I have heard that the Moyer brothers were very good boxers too. Although, they were before my time, and I do not know much about them.

[Zelley]

Interesting that this subject is here. Back in the 1980's I sparred with many of the people mentioned on this board: James Manning, Andy Minsker, Delbert Williams and many more good boxers from Portland. I watched Mike Colbert work out several times. Met Ray Lampkin and used to spar with his nephew Lionel Lampkin, who was also a good boxer. All of these guys were very good boxers. I think the best is a toss up between Ray Lampkin and Mike Colbert with a slight edge going to Colbert. Mike Colbert was both a nationally recognized amateur and professional. He boxed well, had power in each hand, especially the left hook, and was as game as they come. I watched him spar several times while making a brief comeback in the mid 1980's. I remember one of his sparing partners yelling and complaining that he hit too hard. I have heard that the Moyer brothers were very good boxers too. Although, they were before my time, and I do not know much about them.

I think if we look at the combined amateur and professional activity, I would rate
Denny Moyer ahead of Ray Lampkin and Mike Colbert. Concerning Lampkin and Colbert,
as I fought Ray Lampkin twice, I would like to think Ray was better than Michael.

I believe Denny Moyer was the 1957 National AAU Champion and turned pro in '57,
so it isn't surprising many of today's fight fans, boxers or even some trainers
would remember much about Denny Moyer. But reviewing his first three years of pro boxing tells an interesting story of a class act to follow for other Pacific Northwest boxers.

Moyer had 23 fights 1957 to 1959 and only lost one to Don Jordan in a welterweight title fight
in Portland that went the distance, and there was no home town decision.
Some of those he defeated in his first three years were Gaspar Ortega, Vince Martinez,
Paddy DeMarco and Virgil Akins. Some of his earlier fights would have been with
some of the likely unknowns in todays boxing fan base such as Buddy McDonald.

For just over a year, Denny briefly held the Jr. Middleweight title. And in 1971 and 1972,
he briefly held the North American middleweight title.

[sf1986]

After looking at the facts, it is clear that Denny Moyer deserves to be considered the best ever from Portland, Oregon. My picks following him are Mike Colbert, then Ray Lampkin. Richard Sue is still remembered in the St. John's area by those who around in the late 1960's and 70's, and deserves honorable mention, along with Andy Minksker for his amateur success. If my memory serves me correctly, Andy Minsker's father was also a very good boxers, who represented the US in one of the olympics.

Best Referee ever from the Portland, Oregon area is Bill Thornberg. This man passed away early this year, and will be sorely missed by many in this city as he was heavily involved in charity work and gave needed love in the places that need it the most. He referreed many professional bouts in the northwest and was active in the community with the amateur boxing program at Matt Dishman community center (knott street) during it's hay days.

David Banks is the most popular boxer in the Portland, Oregon area, gaining national recognition by being a contender on the boxing reality show "the contender". I remember watching his bout on TV, a bout I thought he did well in, but none the less he lost the decision. He trains at the "grand avenue gym" in SE Portland, and I have seen him there a couple of times while doing drop in work outs. I am yet to see him spar, so I can't say what I think of his skills in the gym. He looked good on TV, but obviously not good enough. I do not think I would give him honorable mention yet because he has not proven that he is at the elite level as many other boxers mentioned here have.

Zelley, did you win either bout with Ray Lampkin? What is your memory of the bouts? Where would you say his strengths were? His weakness? Did you see the Roberto Duran fight, and what did you think of that?

[actjac]

Phil Moyer was hardly mentioned. He was the brother of Denny and himself a middleweight contender who also defeated Sugar Ray Robinson.
Another boxer not mentioned was "Golden" Guy Villegas. He was a 4 time national amateur champion who was originally from Coos Bay (same hometoen of runner Steve Prefontaine) and lived in Eugene. Villegas trained and boxed out of Portland in the 80's and where he now resides. Guy was ranked as high as #4 in the world and was the NABF lightweight champion. He was touted to be the next Ray Mancini (and even signed with Boom Boom's promoter Phil Alessi) until he ran into Cornelius Boza Edwards on CBS getting stopped and suffering a head injury which ended his career.

[sf1986]

What is it about Coos Bay? Something in the water there ?

[actjac]

There was also some pretty good fighters out of Eugene during the 80's too. Pat Jefferson, Michael Arms, Jesse Lopez were all national amateur champs who located there and had decent pro careers. A Canadian Olympian, Laurie Mann lived and boxed from there at the same time and also did well as a pro.

[scartissue]

Another fighter not to overlook was Pete Gonzalez. I believe he came out of the same gym as Thad Spencer. Pete was a world rated Jr. Lightweight and was in the ring with Mando Ramos, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Johnny Famechon, Raul Rojas, Ruben Navarro, Frankie Crawford, Danny Valdez, Bobby Valdez, Felipe Torres, Enrique Jana and Richie Sue. He may not have been in the upper echelon but it's obvious he ducked no one.

Scartissue

[ben geoghegan]

Greatest boxer to die in Portland: Jack Dempsey (the original)

[Zelley]

After looking at the facts, it is clear that Denny Moyer deserves to be considered the best ever from Portland, Oregon. My picks following him are Mike Colbert, then Ray Lampkin. Richard Sue is still remembered in the St. John's area by those who around in the late 1960's and 70's, and deserves honorable mention, along with Andy Minksker for his amateur success. If my memory serves me correctly, Andy Minsker's father was also a very good boxers, who represented the US in one of the olympics.

Zelley, did you win either bout with Ray Lampkin? What is your memory of the bouts? Where would you say his strengths were? His weakness? Did you see the Roberto Duran fight, and what did you think of that?

Thanks for asking about my memory of those events 40 years ago.

The first contest took place in the 1968 Tacoma Golden Gloves in a prelim bout.
My primary recollection was Lampkin was a smooth moving counter-puncher.
Difficult to recall the round by round activity, but his best shot was a right hand feint
followed by a head thumping left hook Although it landed, due to my balance
and position, it didn't result in a knockdown.

The second contest was the finals of the 1968 Seattle Golden Gloves.
In that contest, I changed my strategy from stand-up boxing to
staying close and working inside as best that I could. However, Ray won
the decision and the rest is history.

Lampkin's strength in my opinion was his ability to counter-punch,
he had a hard punch but it wasn't something that would score
many one punch knockouts. His weakness would be dealing
with a pressure fighter that crowds him and throws punches in
bunches.

Only in our dreams, but if I was to fight him again, I would try
boxing him, but with a twist to counter his strengths I would use more feinting
and try to counter his counter punches. But from time-to-time
mix it up by banging to the body.

Yes I did see the Duran - Lampkin fight and thought Lampkin was winning, but
Roberto being Roberto, there are no free rides to the title. And, like the
flashy Billy Conn lost to Joe Louis, Lampkin lost to Duran in the late rounds.

In International boxing circles, Lampkin may be just a footnote in the wins of
Roberto Duran, but to fighters and fans in the Pacific Northwest, he deserves to
be recognized as one of our greats.

[Zelley]

There was also some pretty good fighters out of Eugene during the 80's too. Pat Jefferson, Michael Arms, Jesse Lopez were all national amateur champs who located there and had decent pro careers. A Canadian Olympian, Laurie Mann lived and boxed from there at the same time and also did well as a pro.

Under the Amateur Boxing section, there is a thread on Pacific Northwest Amateur Boxing.
Please add a few lines about some of the history of amateur boxing in Eugene such as name of clubs, organizers, officials and boxers.

[sf1986]

I knew Jesse Lopez. He used to stop by Knott Street gym for sparring from time to time. He was a very good amateur, and I think he could have been a good pro, but he did not pursue a professional career with same gusto as he did in the amateurs. I remember watching him in a locally televised professional match back in the mid 80's, which I think was in Alaska. He won a decision, and looked to have a promising career ahead of him.

[actjac]

I knew Jesse Lopez. He used to stop by Knott Street gym for sparring from time to time. He was a very good amateur, and I think he could have been a good pro, but he did not pursue a professional career with same gusto as he did in the amateurs. I remember watching him in a locally televised professional match back in the mid 80's, which I think was in Alaska. He won a decision, and looked to have a promising career ahead of him.

I remember Lopez as well. He had an especially great jab. I saw him on ESPN a time or two as well as the Alaska fight mentioned. I think he needed to step it up with a quality trainer as many of the locals needed during those years. There weren't any at a top level who could develeop a talent like Loez.

[sf1986]

He was really good. He was also a very likable person. If I remember right, he had some kind of a hearing deficit, but it did not affect his boxing at all.

Zelley, are there many boxing gyms in your area in Canada? How is amateur boxing doing in Canada? Are you still involved in boxing at any level?

[sf1986]

Another boxer that hasn't been mentioned yet is Doug Holiman. He did not have a very good professional record, but he wasn't afraid to fight some of the toughest guys of his time. He loved to train, and you could find him in the gym just about everyday. He was also very good with amateurs because he wouldn't try to kill them sparring. He was fun to watch because he was very elusive, cagey, and could deliver some offense as well.

Ray Monge was a good amateur from Portland too, as well as Don (smith?). Those two along with Bill Thornberg, made the knott street club a great place to learn boxing and stay out of trouble on the street. There were also many other good amateur and professional boxers there who I do not recall the last names of, but I will give their first names since that is all I can recall: LaMarcus, Gary, Don, Wally (promoter/trainer).

[klompton]

Werent the Trambitis brothers from Portland? I wouldnt call them great but Jimmy Darcy was pretty good.

[actjac]

Another boxer that hasn't been mentioned yet is Doug Holiman. He did not have a very good professional record, but he wasn't afraid to fight some of the toughest guys of his time. He loved to train, and you could find him in the gym just about everyday. He was also very good with amateurs because he wouldn't try to kill them sparring. He was fun to watch because he was very elusive, cagey, and could deliver some offense as well.

Ray Monge was a good amateur from Portland too, as well as Don (smith?). Those two along with Bill Thornberg, made the knott street club a great place to learn boxing and stay out of trouble on the street. There were also many other good amateur and professional boxers there who I do not recall the last names of, but I will give their first names since that is all I can recall: LaMarcus, Gary, Don, Wally (promoter/trainer).

Holiman or Monge were not great. We are reaching here aren't we?
Most of the boxers that appeared on Oregon shows during those years of the 70's, 80's were ordinary. Ken and Doug Arlt, Frankie Moultrie, Brian Tinker, Donnie Fosmire, Curtis Azevado, Arnel Arrezol, Paul Barton, Tony Thomas, Shane Schaeffer, Sam Wilson, Steve Harvey, Bobby Johnson, Jim Ashard. Others from the Seattle area that appeared regularly on Fred McNally's shows at the Portland Marriott were Noe Ramirez, Tony Gallo, Francisco Roche, Roosevelt Green, Larry Frazier, Willie Davis, Herb Johnson, Charles Carter, Victor DeLoney among others. McNally ran a series of shows for years but many of the NW best rarely fought there--Greg Haugen, Bret Summers, Pat Jefferson, Laurie Mann, Joe Belinc, Michael Arms, Rocky Lockridge, Johnny Bumphus, Leo Randolph. I believe that Gordie Racette may have fought as did Dale Grant maybe once each.
The most popular were "Sweet Baby" James Manning and "Golden" Guy Villegas. Add Charles Carter and they were the closest to any boxers that could break out on the national stage. Alex DeLucia and Andy Minsker could have been stars but Minsker neither really developed as pros.

[Chuck1052]

Other Portland-based boxers included Chuck Hellman, Weldon "Tuffy" Wing, Al Spina, Joe Gorman and Frank Farmer.

- Chuck Johnston