Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Ali's knockdown by Wepner admittedly was a fluke - combination foot and body punch as Ali was pulling away. But the ref - Tony Perez, if memory serves - called it an "official" knockdown, so what can you do? As John Adams once said, "Facts are hard things," and the facts are Ali got dropped four times in his career despite the weirdness of that Wepner knockdown.

Another hard thing was Cooper left hook! Yes, he really nailed Clay with it![/quote]
______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Tom . . . It was an official knockdown, so in that light, four knockdowns are on Ali's record. That's what would stand up in a court of law. Unfortunatly for bloody Chuck Wepner, his knockdown won't get him into the WBHOF.

-Rick

[raylawpc]

Ali's knockdown by Wepner admittedly was a fluke - combination foot and body punch as Ali was pulling away. But the ref - Tony Perez, if memory serves - called it an "official" knockdown, so what can you do? As John Adams once said, "Facts are hard things," and the facts are Ali got dropped four times in his career despite the weirdness of that Wepner knockdown.

Another hard thing was Cooper left hook! Yes, he really nailed Clay with it!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Tom . . . It was an official knockdown, so in that light, four knockdowns are on Ali's record. That's what would stand up in a court of law. Unfortunatly for bloody Chuck Wepner, his knockdown won't get him in theWBHOF.

-Rick[/quote]

Agreed! But, Wepner should make the Guinness Book of World Records for "Most Blood Spilt by a Fighter in his Career. . ."

[kikibalt]

Tobey Vigil fought all the top guy on the West Coast in his boxing
career, Archie Grant, Gene "Spider Mock" Jensen, Eddie Marcus,
Georgie Latka, Baby Arizmendi, Ray Lunny, Petey Scalzo and John Thomas.
et' al'

[Rick Farris]

Bennie . . . Is it not, "Sir" Henry Cooper?


-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Ali's knockdown by Wepner admittedly was a fluke - combination foot and body punch as Ali was pulling away. But the ref - Tony Perez, if memory serves - called it an "official" knockdown, so what can you do? As John Adams once said, "Facts are hard things," and the facts are Ali got dropped four times in his career despite the weirdness of that Wepner knockdown.

Another hard thing was Cooper left hook! Yes, he really nailed Clay with it!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Tom . . . It was an official knockdown, so in that light, four knockdowns are on Ali's record. That's what would stand up in a court of law. Unfortunatly for bloody Chuck Wepner, his knockdown won't get him in theWBHOF.

-Rick

Agreed! But, Wepner should make the Guinness Book of World Records for "Most Blood Spilt by a Fighter in his Career. . ." [/quote]
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I agree, Tom. Come to think of it, Mr. Cooper dropped a few gallons himself. Can you imagine how many lives could have been saved with the plasma these two left on the canvas?

-Rick

[kikibalt]

Sugar Ray Robinson vs Carl "Bobo" Olson
May 18, 1956
Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California
World Middleweight Championship

[Rick Farris]

Tobey Vigil fought all the top guy on the West Coast in his boxing
career, Archie Grant, Gene "Spider Mock" Jensen, Eddie Marcus,
Georgie Latka, Baby Arizmendi, Ray Lunny, Petey Scalzo and John Thomas.
et' al'

Spider Mock, who fought out of Burbank, Cal. worked for many years in the motion picture industry as laborer. He was an amateur star at the old Jim Jeffries Barn, where the best amateur boxing in Southern Cal history took place prior to WW2, under the promotion of Art and Belle Martell. Spider's son, Gene, is also a laborer in the film business and a friend from the past. Gene Jr. is involved in martial arts.

Eddie Marcus, I've heard he was pretty popular here, and after retirement worked as a bartender in a downtown restaurant owned by George Parnassus. He was a personal friend of one of my late friends. Thomas, Latka, Lunny, Arizmendi. I remember Archie Grant training my friend, heavyweight Alan Boursse'. Some big names in L.A. and world boxing history.

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Rick, on page 564 is a guy that fought Tommy Garland, check him out.

[dagosd2000]

THE TELEPHONE CALL

"Is this Mr. Young?"I asked on the phone.
"Yes it is. You must be Mr. Esty. My son's history teacher."
"I read you message and am returning your call."
His son had been acting out in my class. The typical. Wants to draw attention to himself. Smart aleck answers. A class clown. I failed his citizenship grade.
"That'd good that you did that Mr. Esty. I warned my son about his behavior. That he's there to learn and not give the teacher a hard time."
"Well you must have got the point home because this week he's been behaving himself."

His son had told me that his father was a fighter at one time. I tried to look his record up ,but couldn't find it. That wasn't unusual though.
"Mr. Esty I want to let you know that I'm on the side of the teachers."
"Well I've got my fingers crossed that he'll come around. We had some good conversations this week."

I was relieved that Mr. Young wasn't one of these parents that enabled his kid and thought that society and the system was the reason for his child's failures. Now that this was understood I wanted to ask Mr. Young about his boxing career.
"Your son says that you were a fighter."
"Yeh,that was a long time ago. The early 80's."
"Well I'm 61. That wasn't that long ago."
"I still see Terry Norris and James Kinchen."
"Do you know that Bobby DeFilippis is promting the fights here in town?"
"No,I didn't know that?"
"At the 5 Points Sheraton in Kearny Mesa."
"I've gotten away from boxing,"he said. "The promotors taking everything. The fighters losing their health. The cheating. It's all bull shit."
I didn't want to press the issue with him. He'd been a fighter. He had weighed his career out. This is what it was with him.
"I fought under a different name. I fought at the El Cortez and the Mirage Hotel. I still see some of the old fighters,but that's about it."

I wanted to tell him about our Forum and the Thread,but I could tell he wanted to make things clear with his son.
"Roger,please let me know if he acts up again."
"I'll let you know for sure."
"I really appreciate you getting back with me."
"More than happy. Don't want to leave a parent hanging."
"Roger,it was nice talkin' to you."

When his son had told me that his father had been a fighter,I thought maybe there was a story to be told. I guess it wasn't the story I expected.

[Rick Farris]

The Hawk . . .

He left an impression on me. Of all the fighters I would see, or know, nobody loomed bigger in my life than this 5'3" featherweight contender.
He was one of the first world rated professional boxers I would get to know up close and personal.
He was the most brutal body puncher I ever saw. Not even the best I've seen from Mexico, do it any better to the body than Dwight "The Hawk" Hawkins.
He ruined boxers with his body punches. He was compared with Henry Armstrong in style.
In the gym, ALL of his sparring partners, most top ten round fighters, would wear a padded water ski vest around their bodies to absorb the vicious hooks and uppercuts that Hawkins drove home with extreme power and accuracy.
MAndo Ramos told me Hawkins floored him with body blows in a sparring session.
Rodolfo "El Gato" Gonzalez, a legendary knockout artist and body punch master, acknowledges Dwight Hawkins as one of the greatest body punchers he ever saw.
Anybody who fought him would have to agree.
The Hawk brusied bodies world wide during a long career.

A true L.A. legend.


-Rick Farris

[Expug]

Nice tribute to the Hawk Rick.
A ringing endorsement too.
I wish I would have had a chance to see him fight.
I love watching a fighter who knows how to work the body.
I think its a lost art nowadays.
As you know, there is NOTHING like getting hit with a left hook downstairs.
Its a right of passage for any fighter,
The game takes on a whole different appearance to a guy after he has eaten a shot to the liver.
Hell, Im sure its run a whole lotta people right outta the sport.
Its worse than a shot to the chin.At least when ya get taken out with a shot on the jaw, thats it.
When ya take a beating to the body, it stays with ya FOR DAYS.
I can still remember the hardest Ive ever been hit.It was a shot in the gym from cruiserweight Henry Sims who fought Mike Rossman.
Left hook , busted a rib.

[kikibalt]

Courtesy of Bruce


This is the Ray Lunny that you mentioned earlier as someone who fought Toby Vigil,
with him I believe is his manager Joey Fox also helped out with Ray Lunny III career.
Though Ray was born and raised in San Francisco he fought at least half of his fights in
Southern California.


This is Ray Lunny in the middle when he was handling his son, Ray III, who is on the left
that's me on the right. The Lunny's were not only very good fighters they were
a couple of the nicest guys you could want to meet. I still see Ray the third from
time to time.
Bruce

[kikibalt]

THE CRUNCHING POWER OF CARLOS ZARATE
By Jim Amato


It is somewhat of a shame when the question comes up, who was the greatest fighter to come out of Mexico? The answer is usually Julio Cesar Chavez. Some say Salvador Sanchez. Others may say Ruben Olivares. These three are truly legendary fighters. To me one other outstanding boxer from Mexico is Carlos Zarate.

Zarate began his career in 1970 and won his first fifty-two fights. Fifty-one by knockout. Amazing!!! A lot of Zarate’s early opposition may have been, in the words of Greg Haugen when he questioned Chavez’s fine record were over a bunch of Mexican taxi drivers. Well I don’t know if I’d go that far but Carlos beefed up his record but he was also learning his trade and learning it well.

By 1974 Zarate was moving up in the ratings. He stopped a tough fighter from Odessa, Texas named James Martinez. He halted unbeaten Joe Guevara. He stopped Orlando Amores, Benicio Sosa and Nestor Jimenez.

In May of 1976 Carlos halted the talented Rodolfo Martinez in nine rounds to win the WBC bantamweight title. That would lead to a run of seven title defenses. In 1977 Carlos would meet WBA champion Alfonso Zamora in a non-title match. Zarate won the ” Battle Of The Z Bombers ” with a convincing fourth round kayo. In 1978 Carlos would turn back the challenge of future champion Alberto Davila.

Carlos decided to move up in weight and challenge the also undefeated Wilfredo Gomez for the WBC 122 pound title. The fight took place October 28, 1978 in Puerto Rico. The extremely gifted Gomez appeared to be too fast for Zarate. Wilfredo had Carlos down and the fight was stopped in the fifth round with Gomez retaining his title.

Zarate would drop back to 118 pounds. He would defend his WBC title one more time and then meet tough Lupe Pintor. Zarate started well but Pintor came on strong in the later rounds. After fifteen rounds Pintor was awarded a very controversial decision and the title. In disgust, Carlos would walk away from the game for nearly seven years.

Carlos returned in 1986 and would reel off twelve more wins, ten by knockout. In 1987 he took on Australian sensation Jeff Fenech for the WBC Super Bantamweight title. Jeff held on to his crown by a technical decision in four rounds.On February 29, 1988 Carlos met Daniel Zaragoza for the vacant WBC 122 pound title. The rugged Zaragoza stopped Carlos in the tenth round. It would be Zarate’s last fight.

In all Carlos had 70 fights. He won 66 of them. Sixty-three were by the KO route. He was tall and rangy. He had a stiff jab and a booming overhand right. He also had one of the best-left hooks to the liver I have ever seen. Three of his four losses were to boxers now enshrined in the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. To me he has to rank among the best bantamweights of all time.

[kikibalt]

Tom Georgino was Bennie Georgino's brother, Bennie of course
managed world champions Danny "Lil Red" Lopez, Abert Davila
and Jaime Garza.

Ralph Ganbina was a force in SoCal boxing in the 1940's-50's-60's

[Rick Farris]

Courtesy of Bruce


This is the Ray Lunny that you mentioned earlier as someone who fought Toby Vigil,
with him I believe is his manager Joey Fox also helped out with Ray Lunny III career.
Though Ray was born and raised in San Francisco he fought at least half of his fights in
Southern California.


This is Ray Lunny in the middle when he was handling his son, Ray III, who is on the left
that's me on the right. The Lunny's were not only very good fighters they were
a couple of the nicest guys you could want to meet. I still see Ray the third from
time to time.
Bruce

Great picture, Bruce. Ray Jr . was inducted into the WBHOF. I think in '02?

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Nice tribute to the Hawk Rick.
A ringing endorsement too.
I wish I would have had a chance to see him fight.
I love watching a fighter who knows how to work the body.
I think its a lost art nowadays.
As you know, there is NOTHING like getting hit with a left hook downstairs.
Its a right of passage for any fighter,
The game takes on a whole different appearance to a guy after he has eaten a shot to the liver.
Hell, Im sure its run a whole lotta people right outta the sport.
Its worse than a shot to the chin.At least when ya get taken out with a shot on the jaw, thats it.
When ya take a beating to the body, it stays with ya FOR DAYS.
I can still remember the hardest Ive ever been hit.It was a shot in the gym from cruiserweight Henry Sims who fought Mike Rossman.
Left hook , busted a rib.

Brian . . . You are right, nothing is worse than a hook to the liver. It can instantly turn a winning fighter into a loser. The Hawk was the one who taught me my lesson, when I was about 13. He would spar with me at the Main St. Gym before he boxed with pros back in my junior amateur days. Dwight would take it EZ on me while he warmed up. At times, I'd get throwing hard at him and get careless. I'd throw a jab and lift my right elbow as I extended the punch. Hawkins stopped me and warned me. He showed me my mistake and what could happen. We'd start over and I'd do it right at first, then get careless again. It was about that time Hawkins decided a picture would be better than a thousand words. I made the mistake, he thru the gancho, and to this day I would never again expose my liver when I threw a jab.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

THE CRUNCHING POWER OF CARLOS ZARATE
By Jim Amato


It is somewhat of a shame when the question comes up, who was the greatest fighter to come out of Mexico? The answer is usually Julio Cesar Chavez. Some say Salvador Sanchez. Others may say Ruben Olivares. These three are truly legendary fighters. To me one other outstanding boxer from Mexico is Carlos Zarate.

Zarate began his career in 1970 and won his first fifty-two fights. Fifty-one by knockout. Amazing!!! A lot of Zarate’s early opposition may have been, in the words of Greg Haugen when he questioned Chavez’s fine record were over a bunch of Mexican taxi drivers. Well I don’t know if I’d go that far but Carlos beefed up his record but he was also learning his trade and learning it well.

By 1974 Zarate was moving up in the ratings. He stopped a tough fighter from Odessa, Texas named James Martinez. He halted unbeaten Joe Guevara. He stopped Orlando Amores, Benicio Sosa and Nestor Jimenez.

In May of 1976 Carlos halted the talented Rodolfo Martinez in nine rounds to win the WBC bantamweight title. That would lead to a run of seven title defenses. In 1977 Carlos would meet WBA champion Alfonso Zamora in a non-title match. Zarate won the ” Battle Of The Z Bombers ” with a convincing fourth round kayo. In 1978 Carlos would turn back the challenge of future champion Alberto Davila.

Carlos decided to move up in weight and challenge the also undefeated Wilfredo Gomez for the WBC 122 pound title. The fight took place October 28, 1978 in Puerto Rico. The extremely gifted Gomez appeared to be too fast for Zarate. Wilfredo had Carlos down and the fight was stopped in the fifth round with Gomez retaining his title.

Zarate would drop back to 118 pounds. He would defend his WBC title one more time and then meet tough Lupe Pintor. Zarate started well but Pintor came on strong in the later rounds. After fifteen rounds Pintor was awarded a very controversial decision and the title. In disgust, Carlos would walk away from the game for nearly seven years.

Carlos returned in 1986 and would reel off twelve more wins, ten by knockout. In 1987 he took on Australian sensation Jeff Fenech for the WBC Super Bantamweight title. Jeff held on to his crown by a technical decision in four rounds.On February 29, 1988 Carlos met Daniel Zaragoza for the vacant WBC 122 pound title. The rugged Zaragoza stopped Carlos in the tenth round. It would be Zarate’s last fight.

In all Carlos had 70 fights. He won 66 of them. Sixty-three were by the KO route. He was tall and rangy. He had a stiff jab and a booming overhand right. He also had one of the best-left hooks to the liver I have ever seen. Three of his four losses were to boxers now enshrined in the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. To me he has to rank among the best bantamweights of all time.

In my opinion, all of the Mexican fighters Jim Amato mentioned in the beginning of the story are great, however, the best ever? I can understand how somebody might feel that way, however, they must realize that there was once a Manuel Ortiz, Jose Beccera and even a non-world champ, Alfredo Urbina. We must realize that Mexico produced great fighters before the late 60's. I saw a prime Carlos Zarate settle his grudge with Alfonso Zamora at the Forum in a short, but great war. Zarate could not have been better that night. About ten years later, I would watch a shop worn Zarate look old and shakey in his loss to Daniel Zaragosa in the very same ring, on the undercard of the Azuma Nelson-Azabache Martinez title fight. One thing is certain, Zarate could bang!

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Rick told us about meeting an ex-fighter at a bay area watering hole
one time, his name was Tommy Garland, Garland fought and lost to
Jerry McSwain pictured above.

Frank . . . Jerry McSwain is one I'd like to ask Hap Navarro about. Your post motivated me to look into his record and I see he beat some good fighters, including a KO over Tiger Jack Fox. There is another heavyweight boxer, a Venice kid that Hap remembered who fought some of the world's best heavy's. His name was Hank, but I forget the last name. We met in a Culver City liquor store one saturday, he was there to buy lotto tickets. He was an unusually tall heavyweight, name escapes me at the moment. Also fought at the Ocean Park Arena, I believe? Jerry McSwain will turn 86 in March.

By the way, thanks to boxrec for making data on boxers easily accessable.

-Rick Farris

[geoffreysadao]

I've been a boxing fan for a long time. I toyed around with boxing a little bit, being taught at the New Oakland Boxing Club at 12st and Harrison. Also, I went to Newman's Gym and the Berkeley PAL. I had some great teachers/trainers like Dick Foster, Charley Smith and Jimmy Simmons. Dick and Jimmy are probably deceased now. I last saw Charley in Nov. of 2002 at a boxing show in Vallejo.

I live in Sacramento now, and I used to go to the Capitol Boxing Gym on Stockton Blvd. I remember guys like Ernie Guevara, Joe Guevara, and John Maes Brown.

Most recently, I went to La Dinamita Boxing Gym in North Highlands, which is owned by Rogelio Castaneda Sr. His son, Rogelio Jr., has had a good pro career.

I've had so many favorite fighters in the past. Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Yaqui Lopez, Fidel Fraijo, Jesse Burnett, Andy Ganigan are some that come to mind. I still follow the game pretty closely today, and I watch old fights on You Tube. My wife is a distant cousin to Bobby Chacon. We had the opportunity to meet him at a boxing event in Sacramento last August. My wife has been able to talk to Bobby and his girlfriend over the phone. What a great thing!

I work as a social worker and practice Nichiren Buddhism, something that I've been familiar with since 1981. We chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.

I look forward to correspondence with the West Coast boxing community.

Sincerely,
Geoffrey Prenter

[kikibalt]

Johansson knocked out Patterson, Associated Press

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Ingemar Johansson, the Swede who stunned the boxing world by knocking out Floyd Patterson to win the heavyweight title in 1959, has died, a longtime friend said Saturday. Johansson was 76.

Johansson died at a nursing home in Kungsbacka on the Swedish west coast, said Stig Caldeborn, a close friend who sparred with Johansson when they were in their teens.


Floyd Patterson lies on the canvas after taking a knockout blow from Ingemar Johansson in the third round of their heavyweight title bout in New York's Yankee Stadium in 1959. Caldeborn said he didn't know the cause of death but told The Associated Press that Johansson had recently returned to the nursing home after being hospitalized with pneumonia.

Johansson's daughter, Maria Gregner, told Swedish news agency TT that the former champion died just before midnight Friday.

Johansson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia more than 10 years ago, when he lived in Stockholm. He spent the rest of his life in Kungsbacka, only a few miles from the house where he grew up.

Johansson knocked out Patterson in the third round at Yankee Stadium on June 26, 1959, to win the heavyweight title. He floored the American seven times in the third round before referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight 2:03 into it.

Back home, hundreds of thousands of Swedes listened to the live radio broadcast at 3 a.m. as Johansson became only the fifth heavyweight champion born outside the United States. His feat earned him The Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year in 1959, only the second Swede to win the award.

Patterson avenged the upset loss a year later in the rematch in New York, knocking Johansson out in the fifth round. In March 1961, the Swede floored Patterson twice in Miami before being knocked out in the sixth round of the rubber match.

Johansson had four more fights -- all wins, one of them a knockout of England's Dick Richardson for the European title in 1962 -- before retiring the following year.

Johansson was married and divorced twice, and is also survived by five children. Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

[kikibalt]

hi all,

here is the new story and pics from don's birthday party. click on the link below to view pics and read the story or scan down.
frank and larry, i submitted a photo of you two but it didn't appear in the final layout, so here it in this email :)

it was great seeing everyone and we hope to see you all again soon!
michele and steve

http://myboxingfans.com/2009/01/promote ... -luncheon/

Promoter Don Fraser’s B-day Luncheon
January 29, 2009 by Michele Chong
Publicist is famous for Ali’s “Broken Jaw” bout

Story and photos by Michele Chong

“Ali’s Revenge–The Battle of the Broken Jaw” declared the poster heralding the rematch between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton that was held on September 10, 1973 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. The man behind this famous bout is promoter Don Fraser, who happens to be celebrating his birthday today–January 28.

And what better way to celebrate your birthday than with a room full of friends and associates who are all consumed by the same passion for boxing? That’s exactly what took place at a luncheon in Hollywood, California that was hosted by Larry Montalvo, President of the Golden State Boxers’ Association (GSBA) and his wife, Elsa.

“Dandy Don” was the public relations director at the Olympic Auditorium and the Hollywood Legion Stadium, and the director of boxing at the fabulous Forum. During his tenure, he promoted fights involving Sugar Ray Robinson, George Foreman, Jose Napoles, Carlos Zarate, Salvador Sanchez, Ruben Olivares and numerous other boxers and champions during this “Golden Era” of boxing in Los Angeles.

With his keen eye for knowing what gets people’s attention, Fraser had a stellar career that included all facets of the sweet science: Promoter, matchmaker, publicist, writer, and Executive Officer of the California Athletic Commission are among the many titles listed on his lengthy boxing résumé. He is still active in the community and is currently the President of the California Boxing Hall of Fame.

Through the years, the revered promoter and publicist has received various awards and accolades and has also been inducted into several Hall of Fames for his outstanding contributions to boxing. The spirited Fraser received birthday wishes from his counterparts in boxing–a group of loyal friends made up of fighters, referees, judges, publicists, writers and trainers.

A special guest speaker in attendance was former boxer Rick Farris, who received a personal invitation from Fraser to join the group for this afternoon party. Farris trained at the historic Main Street Gym, has sparred with 12 world champions, and fought at both the Olympic and the Forum. He brought along his father, Bill, and the two received a warm welcome by the boxing bunch that gathered at the party.

During the luncheon, Don greeted everyone by saying, “I want to thank everyone for coming out for my birthday. And thank you to Rick Farris, who had a pretty good record but left boxing and got into the film business–where he has a great career.” Farris fought for Fraser once at the Olympic.

Now working as a chief lighting technician for film and TV, it was Farris’ first time with the GSBA but he immediately hit it off everyone. While introducing himself and chatting about his experiences in boxing, the former bantamweight soon discovered he was connected in many ways to the other guests. Through shared acquaintances of fighters that others also knew, same gyms frequented or TV shows that he had worked on, Farris had a lot in common with the GSBA members.

One such connection was with GSBA V.P. Bill Dempsey Young, whose father, famed referee Dick “Tiger” Young was the third man in the ring for both the “Broken Jaw” bout and Rick Farris’ very first pro fight. Young and Farris then discovered they had both worked on the popular “Little House on the Prairie” series as they reminisced about adventures on the set and of Michael Landon’s generosity with the cast and crew.

Farris, who was recently a member of the “Desperate Housewives” crew and worked on “Eli Stone,” is on the Board of Directors of the World Boxing Hall of Fame and also writes for the Classic American West Coast Boxing forum. “I quit boxing when I was 24, but have stayed interested and today I write about boxers,” he says. Dwight Hawkins, Roberto Duran and Ruben Olivares are three he lists as his favorite fighters. He entertained the crowd with his memory of sparring with Duran at the Main Street Gym in 1973, “He introduced me to the canvas in the very first round!”

The Los Angeles native also spoke of attending his first fight at the Olympic with his father and getting hooked on the fight game, “It’s all still so vivid. I remember my blue program, I remember the referee was Lee Grossman and I remember seeing a great main event, Danny Valdez and Pete Gonzalez.”

Former fighter Danny Valdez just happened to be at this luncheon along with other familiar faces in the room: Frank Baltazar Sr. (father of fighters Frankie, Tony and Bobby), judge and former boxer Vince Delgado, Ray Ramos (father of Mando Ramos), judge Gwen Adair, World Boxing Hall of Fame Treasurer Josie Arrey-Mejia, trainer Stacy White, former WBHF President Norm Cote, Trudie Latka (wife of George Latka), David Villegas were among the attendees who joined the celebration.

During the party toasts were made and jokes were told, but somehow the talk always returned to the favorite subject of the group–boxing! And I’m sure Don Fraser–a member of “L.A.’s boxing royalty”–wouldn’t want it any other way.
Happy Birthday, Don!


Larry Montalvo and Frank Baltazar


Photos by Michele Chong/ Fight poster courtesy of Don Fraser

[bennie]

Scandinavia's greatest ever fighter, Ingemar Johansson, passed away last night at the age of 76 from Alzheimer's.
The handsome, charismatic Swede with the freakish right cross went from ignominy, when he was disqualified in the 1952 Olympic heavyweight final in Scandinavia for "not trying", to celebrity, when he destroyed Floyd Patterson in New York in 1959 for the world heavyweight title (in the days of one world). Patterson was down seven times in the third round before referee Ruby Goldstein decided enough was enough.
Interestingly, Patterson had won gold in the same 1952 Olympics (at middleweight).
Johansson was a huge underdog against Floyd but knockout wins over Henry Cooper, Joe Erskine and Eddie Machen should have flagged some sort of a warning in the States. They didn't. They were tucked away in Sweden, and when Johansson arrived in New York and set up training camp at a swanky hotel, he appeared to spend as much time lounging by the hotel pool with a big-boned, striking woman named "Brigit" as he did raising a sweat in the gym. The press had a field day. Fighters the world over, raised on age-old theories that you trained in the most spartan of surroundings and abstained from any contact with women prior to a fight, were left severely depressed after "Ingo" took the title so easily. It is arguably the most one-sided world heavyweight title fight in boxing history.
Johansson possessed a solid enough chin and a good jab but his lethal right cross was simply out of proportion with the rest of his armoury (and his 6ft frame) and he could afford the odd day off in training. He destroyed the unbeaten Machen inside a round in 1958, dropping one of the toughest heavies of his era over and over again to force a decidedly late stoppage (shades of Patterson), and also had Patterson badly hurt in their second and third fights, before Patterson's greater speed, conditioning and natural ability took over in brutal fashion. The rubber match, incidentally, drew a crowd of 31,892 to the Miami Convention Centre.
Johansson came back to spark Dick Richardson in eight rounds but the Patterson defeats had taken something out of him and he retired in 1963 at the age of 30, a national hero in Sweden for the rest of his days, the last Caucasian to hold the undisputed world heavyweight title.

[kikibalt]

Ernie DeFrance was a trainer working out of the Seaside Gym, Long Beach, Ca.
Rick and I knew Ernie real good back in the day.

Ernie DeFrance

Country USA
Global Id 203394
Division Lightweight


Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1949-08-12 Baby Face Mathis San Diego, USA L KO 3
1949-06-17 Baby Aguila Hollywood, USA W KO 1
1949-06-03 Ron Cannon Hollywood, USA L PTS 6
1949-05-27 Ricardo Palacios Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1949-05-13 Tello Cruz Hollywood, USA L TKO 2
1949-04-29 Tello Cruz Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1949-04-22 Bobby Terrance Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1949-04-14 Chuey Padilla Hollywood, USA W KO 1
1949-04-08 Baby Aguila Hollywood, USA W KO 1
1949-03-02 Nelson Levering Wichita, USA L KO 2
1949-02-16 Nelson Levering Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1949-01-12 Frankie Rivera Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1948-12-08 Bud Love Wichita, USA D PTS 6
1948-10-20 Edmund Carr Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1948-09-29 Louis Crumes Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1948-09-10 Herman Mills Omaha, USA W PTS 6
1948-07-05 Louis Crumes Topeka, USA L PTS 4
1948-06-22 Cy Lewis Topeka, USA W KO 1
1948-06-03 Ron Cannon Minneapolis, USA L PTS 6
1948-05-05 Edmund Carr Wichita, USA W PTS 5
1948-04-30 Russ Moore Topeka, USA L PTS 6
1948-04-14 Pat O'Leary Kansas City, USA W KO 2
1948-03-29 Pat Murphy Omaha, USA D PTS 6
1948-03-22 Solly Sanchez Minneapolis, USA W KO 2
1948-03-15 Victor Creelman Omaha, USA W TKO 3
1948-03-03 Jack Wilson Topeka, USA W KO 2
1948-03-01 Russ Moore Omaha, USA W PTS 6
1948-02-16 Victor Creelman Omaha, USA W KO 5
1948-01-27 Tiger Ted Weems Chicago, USA L PTS 4
1948-01-21 Frankie Rivera Topeka, USA L PTS 4
1947-12-10 Frankie Rivera Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1947-12-03 Freddie White Topeka, USA W KO 2
1947-10-08 Bud Love Wichita, USA L PTS 5
1947-09-30 Bud Love Kansas City, USA L KO 1
1947-06-12 Shifty Gardner Kansas City, USA W KO 2
1947-05-11 Lewis Williams Kansas City, USA L KO 3
1947-04-30 Tommy Graham Wichita, USA W KO 2
1947-04-22 Lewis Williams Kansas City, USA W PTS 5
1947-03-25 Lewis Williams Kansas City, USA L PTS 4
1947-01-23 Do Durant Minneapolis, USA W KO 3
1946-12-30 Russ Moore Kansas City, USA W KO 1
1946-12-30 Spider Webb Kansas City, USA W TKO 1
1946-12-20 Russ Moore Kansas City, USA W KO 2
1946-12-16 Jackie Dickers Saint Louis, USA L PTS 6
1946-12-03 Russ Moore Kansas City, USA W TKO 2
1946-11-27 Francisco Dozal Wichita, USA W PTS 4
1946-11-06 Joe Flores Wichita, USA W PTS 4
1946-10-16 Baby Torres Wichita, USA W KO 2
1946-10-01 Cecil Reece Oklahoma City, USA W PTS 4
1946-09-25 Ruben Salazar Wichita, USA L PTS 4
1946-06-18 Bobby Jarvis Kansas City, USA D PTS 4
1946-05-29 Tex Suddarth Wichita, USA W KO 2
1946-05-27 Paul Martinez Omaha, USA W PTS 4

Record to Date
Won 27 (KOs 19) Lost 23 Drawn 3 Total 53

[kikibalt]

I've been a boxing fan for a long time. I toyed around with boxing a little bit, being taught at the New Oakland Boxing Club at 12st and Harrison. Also, I went to Newman's Gym and the Berkeley PAL. I had some great teachers/trainers like Dick Foster, Charley Smith and Jimmy Simmons. Dick and Jimmy are probably deceased now. I last saw Charley in Nov. of 2002 at a boxing show in Vallejo.

I live in Sacramento now, and I used to go to the Capitol Boxing Gym on Stockton Blvd. I remember guys like Ernie Guevara, Joe Guevara, and John Maes Brown.

Most recently, I went to La Dinamita Boxing Gym in North Highlands, which is owned by Rogelio Castaneda Sr. His son, Rogelio Jr., has had a good pro career.

I've had so many favorite fighters in the past. Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Yaqui Lopez, Fidel Fraijo, Jesse Burnett, Andy Ganigan are some that come to mind. I still follow the game pretty closely today, and I watch old fights on You Tube. My wife is a distant cousin to Bobby Chacon. We had the opportunity to meet him at a boxing event in Sacramento last August. My wife has been able to talk to Bobby and his girlfriend over the phone. What a great thing!

I work as a social worker and practice Nichiren Buddhism, something that I've been familiar with since 1981. We chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.

I look forward to correspondence with the West Coast boxing community.

Sincerely,
Geoffrey Prenter

Geoffrey...Welcome to the thread, feel free to jump in here with comments or photos anytime you want.

[scartissue]

I've been a boxing fan for a long time. I toyed around with boxing a little bit, being taught at the New Oakland Boxing Club at 12st and Harrison. Also, I went to Newman's Gym and the Berkeley PAL. I had some great teachers/trainers like Dick Foster, Charley Smith and Jimmy Simmons. Dick and Jimmy are probably deceased now. I last saw Charley in Nov. of 2002 at a boxing show in Vallejo.

I live in Sacramento now, and I used to go to the Capitol Boxing Gym on Stockton Blvd. I remember guys like Ernie Guevara, Joe Guevara, and John Maes Brown.

Most recently, I went to La Dinamita Boxing Gym in North Highlands, which is owned by Rogelio Castaneda Sr. His son, Rogelio Jr., has had a good pro career.

I've had so many favorite fighters in the past. Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Yaqui Lopez, Fidel Fraijo, Jesse Burnett, Andy Ganigan are some that come to mind. I still follow the game pretty closely today, and I watch old fights on You Tube. My wife is a distant cousin to Bobby Chacon. We had the opportunity to meet him at a boxing event in Sacramento last August. My wife has been able to talk to Bobby and his girlfriend over the phone. What a great thing!

I work as a social worker and practice Nichiren Buddhism, something that I've been familiar with since 1981. We chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.

I look forward to correspondence with the West Coast boxing community.

Sincerely,
Geoffrey Prenter

Geoffrey...Welcome to the thread, feel free to jump in here with comments or photos anytime you want.

Welcome aboard, Geoff.

Scartissue