Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Danny Valdez, Danny fought Davey Moore for the FW title.

I enjoyed meeting Danny Valdez after all of these years. I knew quite a bit of his ring history, but Frank taught me about his youth, how and where he started out, lots of great personal things that really let you in on what the man is about. After retiring from boxing, Danny went into the same business I did, and worked for years for ABC-TV.

As Frank had told me, Danny was a twin. Born in 1940, at the age of three, he and his brother actually appeared in the Disney movie, "The Lion King". The ex-featherweight title challenger and long time California Featherweigt champ had fought a lot of great fighters. In addition to challenging Davey Moore for the featherweight title in '62, he fought Sugar Ramos, had a couple wars with Gil Cadilli, and two more wars with my all-time featherweight favorite, Dwight Hawkins. The Hawk would hand Valdez his first pro loss back in the late 50's, in a fight that could have gone either way. A couple months later, they fought again on even grounds with Danny get the nod. Danny told me he never fought a tougher fighter than Dwight Hawkins, and Danny Valdez fought everybody and anybody at 126 lbs.

I was happy to see a lot of old friends and make a few new ones yesterday. Frank pretty much described what the GSBA luncheons are like in a previous post. A few of us old foggies, Don kinda guiding things, a few old babes keeping things going. Good group, good people. I wasn't sure what kind of talk I should give. When I'm around fighters, I know who's who and it's important to me to to let them know that I remember who they are and what they did. As far as my talk was concerned, it was a little difficult to address the group because the crowd is all around the room and I was facing only about half a dozen of the group. Doesn't matter, I had a chance to speak with most individually and seeing our buddy Frank is always a special time for me. Thanks for coming amigo, and sharing pics with the guys.

I told a few people about Roger, and about his great painting of the boxing gloves which will likely serve as the cover of the 2009 WBHOF banquet program. One day, there will be a WBHOF Museum, and hopefully a few or Roger's originals will find a home there.

-Rick Farris

Rick, I was lucky enough to engage Danny in a conversation at a past WBHF banquet and I thought too that he was a good guy and really a hysterical guy. He got into a crowded elevator with me once and just reeled around to the unsuspecting passengers and said, "What round is it?" I mean everyone split a gut laughing. What I wanted to ask him and didn't get the chance, was the fight that vaulted him into the Davey Moore fight. Really he was an up and coming clubfighter that was obviously being played as the lamb to slaughter when they matched him with the #1 contender for the title, who they were obviously trying to give exposure to, in Ricardo Gonzalez. I'm too lazy to look it up but their records at the time were polar opposites. And Danny beat him. Then had the audacity to repeat the performance in a rematch which I think Danny stopped him on a cut. Thus, Danny got the title shot. When people talk about upsets, never forget Danny Valdez against Ricardo Gonzalez. Sometimes experience and sterling records just don't respect the other fighter who may have a real hunger.

Scartissue

Scar . . . Thanks for the profile of Ricardo Gonzalez. Gonzalez plays an important part in the career of Danny Valdez and his getting a title shot with the great Davey Moore. I sat next to my WBHOF friend, Vince Delgado, yesterday and Vince also fought Davey Moore at the Olympic, not for the title. Moore laid them both out cold which gives you a clue as to just how good a featherwight champ he was.

Vince thought back on Davey Moore and shook his head, "That guy owned all the Mexican featherweights at the time." Vince didn't have to tell me what an accomplishment that was, I grew up in this town.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Mando Ramos brother

Junior Ramos

Country USA
Global Id 90193
Division Lightweight


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1965-02-19 Jose Barrera Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1965-01-29 Dave White Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1965-01-15 Fidel Cruz Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1964-12-04 Pete Gonzalez Los Angeles, USA D PTS 6
1964-11-12 Pete Gonzalez Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1964-10-13 Florencio Dominguez San Jose, USA W PTS 6
1964-09-11 Joey Aguilar Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4
1964-08-27 Johnny Lattimore Los Angeles, USA W KO 2
1964-08-13 Luis Echevesta Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4

Record to Date
Won 8 (KOs 1) Lost 0 Drawn 1 Total 9

How Things Have Changed . . .

Junior Ramos fought his nine pro fights in exactly six months. We were much busier in those days. I fought 12 times during my first year as a pro, which was about average. Shane Mosely has been considered a fairly active boxer during his career, yet he has only averaged three fights a year since his pro debut. Things change, but I always have believed that busy boxers are better boxers, unless they are hurt and require rest. Henry Armstrong defended the welterweight title 18 times in the two years he held the title (a record). Five of those welter title defenses were held with a three week period! Keep in mind, that Armstrong had a couple other titles he was also defending (lightwt & featherwt titles) as well a few non-title fights. This pretty much kills that age old excuse, "I was stale ".

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Sunset Blvd, Hollywood,Ca.


Looking west from the Dumes Motel just east from the Hollywood
Freeway (101)

Here's a little irony. If you are looking down the street in the picture, down the block to the left, you'll see a tower for KTLA Channel 5. That was the L.A. TV station that broadcast "Boxing from the Olympic" in the 1960's, and Forum Boxing in the early 70's. Several blocks away, off of Hollywood Blvd. is the old Hollywood Legion Stadium (now a Balley's Fitness Center). Boxing history runs deep in Hollywood.

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Unkown


The guy with the hat is a beer drinker, I think he drank a 12 pack in the morning

Frank . . . Before we left, the beer drinker came over and introduced himself to me.
He handed me four business cards and told me he was a film producer, and he would like for me to read a script he had written about an Indian.
I asked him, "Why?"
He seemed surprised by the question, now we were both confused.
We shook hands, he turned around, and went back for another cerveza.

-Rick

Rick, I think the beer drinker seen you as a chance to get his life story made into a movie...

I know, Frank. And I'm just a lighting technician.
These guys gotta realize that it isn't the script that's important, it's getting it to the right person.
Once that's been done, they'll be dismissed officially .

-Rick

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Don Fraser with our waitress, never did get her name

[bennie]

Don Fraser with our waitress, never did get her name

...as long as Don did.

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Rick Farris, Danny Valdez & Vince Delgado

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Don Fraser with our waitress, never did get her name

...as long as Don did.

Bennie...Knowing Don I am sure he did...

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The guy on the left is a friend of Danny Valdez, don't know his name.
Rick Farris, Danny Valdez & Vince Delgado

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Michele Chong, Steve Harpst, Josie Arrey-Mejia & Gwen Adair

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Both these guy I don't know their names, but thats no reason not to
post their photos, as they unselfishly give their time to GSBA

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Antonio Margarito and his trainer are temporarily suspended

By Lance Pugmire
January 29, 2009

Boxer Antonio Margarito was temporarily suspended along with his trainer, Javier Capetillo, on Wednesday after the California State Athletic Commission announced it found a "foreign substance" in the boxer's hand wraps before his Saturday night loss to Shane Mosley at Staples Center.

Margarito and Capetillo have been ordered to appear at a hearing on the matter Feb. 10 in Van Nuys.

In the hour before his first title defense as World Boxing Assn. welterweight champion, Margarito (37-6) was stopped from putting on his gloves when Mosley's trainer Nazim Richardson told officials he believed the taping was excessively thick. When the tape was unwrapped, Richardson pointed out two pads inside one of the hand wraps that appeared wet and laced with "flecks" of a substance that appeared to be like "Plaster of Paris," Mosley's attorney Judd Burstein said Saturday night.

Mosley's promoter, Richard Schaefer, saw a cellphone photo of the stained wraps and said the substance appeared "gray," like "concrete."

The contents of the hand wraps were sealed by a state athletic commission official, and were inspected this week in Sacramento. The foreign substance was suspicious enough to merit the suspensions, state spokesman Luis Farias said, but that an identification of the material "is all pending."

That inspection will include an analysis of the substance found in Margarito's hand wraps by the California Department of Justice, said Tim Noonan, state athletic commissioner.

"The temporary suspension will remain in effect until CSAC has fully investigated the circumstances surrounding events at the Staples Center . . . on Jan. 24," the statement read. "An investigation as to whether either licensee violated CSAC rules is ongoing."

Bob Arum, Margarito's promoter, says he has retained an attorney for the boxer. Arum said Margarito was "fine" after learning of the suspension, "because he's completely innocent.

"We're absolutely confident he's going to be exonerated," Arum told The Times. "He's not a cheater, he wouldn't know anything about cheating."

Asked if he maintained that same position about trainer Capetillo, Arum said, "That, I don't know."

State codes allow Margarito's boxing and Capetillo's training licenses to be suspended when "such an action is necessary to protect the public welfare," Noonan's statement said, explaining rules dictate "the amount and type of gauze and tape allowed under a fighter's glove." A lengthy suspension of Margarito would be obeyed in all other states, in accordance with the Professional Boxing Safety Act, which was amended to account for unsportsmanlike conduct suspensions after Mike Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear in a 1997 bout.

Margarito's manager, Sergio Diaz, told The Times in a text message, "I am assuming [the suspension] is a CSAC standard procedure."

The controversy has reached Puerto Rico, home country of Miguel Cotto, who was knocked out by Margarito in July for his first loss. Cotto and Margarito have a rematch tentatively scheduled for June 13, according to Arum.

Cotto's attorney, Gabriel Penagaricano, said his fighter and his camp are "all going to be paying attention" to the Feb. 10 hearing "for various reasons."

Arum said "nobody should be jumping to any conclusions" that Margarito's hand wraps were doctored against Cotto because that fight was in Las Vegas, where boxing authorities restrict wrapping to a specific type of gauze and supervise the wrapping intently.

"It couldn't have happened in Nevada," Arum said.

Times staff writer Kevin Baxter contributed to this report.

[email protected]

[Rick Farris]

Antonio Margarito and his trainer are temporarily suspended

By Lance Pugmire
January 29, 2009

Boxer Antonio Margarito was temporarily suspended along with his trainer, Javier Capetillo, on Wednesday after the California State Athletic Commission announced it found a "foreign substance" in the boxer's hand wraps before his Saturday night loss to Shane Mosley at Staples Center.

Margarito and Capetillo have been ordered to appear at a hearing on the matter Feb. 10 in Van Nuys.

In the hour before his first title defense as World Boxing Assn. welterweight champion, Margarito (37-6) was stopped from putting on his gloves when Mosley's trainer Nazim Richardson told officials he believed the taping was excessively thick. When the tape was unwrapped, Richardson pointed out two pads inside one of the hand wraps that appeared wet and laced with "flecks" of a substance that appeared to be like "Plaster of Paris," Mosley's attorney Judd Burstein said Saturday night.

Mosley's promoter, Richard Schaefer, saw a cellphone photo of the stained wraps and said the substance appeared "gray," like "concrete."

The contents of the hand wraps were sealed by a state athletic commission official, and were inspected this week in Sacramento. The foreign substance was suspicious enough to merit the suspensions, state spokesman Luis Farias said, but that an identification of the material "is all pending."

That inspection will include an analysis of the substance found in Margarito's hand wraps by the California Department of Justice, said Tim Noonan, state athletic commissioner.

"The temporary suspension will remain in effect until CSAC has fully investigated the circumstances surrounding events at the Staples Center . . . on Jan. 24," the statement read. "An investigation as to whether either licensee violated CSAC rules is ongoing."

Bob Arum, Margarito's promoter, says he has retained an attorney for the boxer. Arum said Margarito was "fine" after learning of the suspension, "because he's completely innocent.

"We're absolutely confident he's going to be exonerated," Arum told The Times. "He's not a cheater, he wouldn't know anything about cheating."

Asked if he maintained that same position about trainer Capetillo, Arum said, "That, I don't know."

State codes allow Margarito's boxing and Capetillo's training licenses to be suspended when "such an action is necessary to protect the public welfare," Noonan's statement said, explaining rules dictate "the amount and type of gauze and tape allowed under a fighter's glove." A lengthy suspension of Margarito would be obeyed in all other states, in accordance with the Professional Boxing Safety Act, which was amended to account for unsportsmanlike conduct suspensions after Mike Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear in a 1997 bout.

Margarito's manager, Sergio Diaz, told The Times in a text message, "I am assuming [the suspension] is a CSAC standard procedure."

The controversy has reached Puerto Rico, home country of Miguel Cotto, who was knocked out by Margarito in July for his first loss. Cotto and Margarito have a rematch tentatively scheduled for June 13, according to Arum.

Cotto's attorney, Gabriel Penagaricano, said his fighter and his camp are "all going to be paying attention" to the Feb. 10 hearing "for various reasons."

Arum said "nobody should be jumping to any conclusions" that Margarito's hand wraps were doctored against Cotto because that fight was in Las Vegas, where boxing authorities restrict wrapping to a specific type of gauze and supervise the wrapping intently.

"It couldn't have happened in Nevada," Arum said.

Times staff writer Kevin Baxter contributed to this report.

[email protected]

I know that the California State Athletic commission has had it's ups and downs during the last couple decades. The most recent Commissioner, Armando Garcia is out, and another is being selected. I don't know much about it so I won't comment. There was a time when the California commission was one of the best.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Michele Chong, Steve Harpst, Josie Arrey-Mejia & Gwen Adair

Four very special people. All devote a lot of time and energy to the WBHOF. Josie is our treasurer, a CPA who also is involved with promoting amateur boxing. Gwen and Steve are on the Board of Directors and Michele is a boxing writer who covers just about every event related to boxing in Southern Cal. By the way, Steven Harpst is a former amateur boxer and runs the Burbank Boxing Club out of the Burbank YMCA. He's also a gifted artist, the bronze sculpter who creates the beautiful trophies "The Boxer", which is awarded to living WBHOF inductees. They all do a great service to boxing in Southern California and I'm proud to call them my friends.

-Rick Farris

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Mando Ramos's dad, Ray Ramos, Trudi Latka & Norm Cote

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Chavez fighting Feb 6
By Edgar Gonzalez

Omar Chavez, the youngest boxing son of the great Mexican champion Julio Cesar Chavez will fight for the first in Southern California when he takes on Rodolfo Armenta of Nogales, Mexico on Friday, February 6 at the Maywood Activity Center in Maywood, California in the series premier of “Boxeo Azteca” to be telecast by Azteca America in the United States. Omar Chavez has been training for five weeks in the Mexican Mountains to get ready for this fight. “My father holds Los Angeles in a very special place. He trained there for many of his fights and it become a second home for him during his boxing days. I’m looking forward to giving the fans there a good fight in the name of my father,” said the 18 year old Chavez.

“I had a great training camp here in Temoaya and my mind, body and soul are at their best,” said Chavez, who has a perfect record of 13-0-1 with 10 KOs.

Chavez has been training side by side with Jorge “Travieso” Arce who will fight on February 7 in Anaheim California.

“I feel that I still have a lot to prove as a professional, I have learned from my mistakes and I intend to put my father and my brother’s name and all of Mexico at the highest point possible. I know this year will be very important to my career and it will decide a lot about my future in this sport,” said Chavez, who is trained by his uncles Rodolfo Chavez and Miguel Molleda.

Omar Chavez made his professional debut on September 16, 2006 in his hometown of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico and has fought in the United States twice. He fought in Las Vegas in August of 2008 and in Atlantic City, New Jersey on December 13 of last year.

“This has been the best training camp of my career. I have worked really hard and will give it my all in the ring. This is the new me and people will like what they see and some of my critics will also be surprise. I know have mature as a person and as a boxer, my father, my uncles and my brother words are now making sense and I will take to heart what they say and I know they expect a lot from me,” said Chavez who is also known as the “Business Man”.

“No more playing around, this is business now,” said the youngest of the Chavez Dynasty.

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Rick Farris at the GSBA luncheon

[Rick Farris]

With the Farris's, Bill & Rick.

Frank reminds me of Johnnie Flores in many ways. Both are L.A. boxing legends, and both look much younger than their age (Johnny was killed in a late 1994 "accident", at age 78, but he looked years younger). It just occured to me that Frank is older than Mel Epstein was when he started training me in 1971.

If Frank lives to be a 120, he could not possibly look as old as Mel did at 70. I know our pal Randy will agree. Mel was born old!

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Hey Randy . . .

A few years back, our friend John Bardelli gave me a beautifully framed photo of his dad, Young Firpo, and Mel, taken back around 1932. Firp loved Buicks, and this pic shows Mel & Firp standing in front of his car, with his arm around Mel's shoulder. Mel would have been right around 32, but he looks about 55. He actually has a full head of hair, and he has this silly smile on his face ala Stan Laurel. It's a classic photo and I'd scan it, but I'm afraid to take it out of it's custom frame. I'll see if John could send it to me via E-mail, and if so I'll get it to Frank to post. It's a grainy B&W print that fully conveys the era. The guys of this thread would enjoy it, brings a smile to your face.

-Rick

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