Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

One more guy that jeked my memory. Ruddy Barro. When I think of guys like Beto Maldonado,Polo Corona,and Benito Juarez,it's "Have Gloves Will Travel." To put a story together with one of these guys would be interesting.

Roger . . . Rudy Barro is exacly the guy you described, and one of the toughest to face in the ring. His losing record may not impress a novice fan, but guys who post here can look beyond the W's & L's and understand results don't always tell the full story. Barro was a "career breaker", and he ruined Jimmy Heair, busting up the popular lightweight and destroying his future as a legit contender. Barro busted Jimmy's nose badly, and proved himself the wrong opponent for Heair. I was surprised after the fight, Jimmy's manager Jerry Moore arranged for the boxer to have his nose fixed surgically, and once it was healed he threw Heair back in with the guy who gave him so much trouble. The result was the same, Barro performed more surgery on Jimmy's nose and again a lot of Heair's blood was left on the canvas. Another guy who Barro gave trouble was another Jerry Moore fighter, Andy Price. Price beat Barro twice, but not without a lot of trouble.

-Rick Farris

Rick....At the time of Jimmy Heair's first fight with Barro, Heair was no longer with Jerry Moore and Henry Blouin, the first Barro fight was Heair's first fight under new management, can't remember who the new guys were, but I do know that they were not boxing people.

[kikibalt]

Can't forget Jaime Nava, Frankie fought him three times..


Jaime Nava

Country USA
Global Id 2282
Division Lightweight


Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1983-02-11 Guy Villegas Eugene, USA L KO 2
1982-08-03 Brett Summers Phoenix, USA L KO 3
1982-02-03 Jimmy Blevins Las Vegas, USA L KO 9
1981-12-02 Eusebio Sammy Flores Las Vegas, USA L KO 5
1981-10-07 Tyrone Moore Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1981-09-24 Rosendo Ramirez Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1981-08-27 Frankie Baltazar Los Angeles, USA L PTS 10
1981-08-05 Roger Mayweather Las Vegas, USA L PTS 8
1981-03-16 Ruben Castillo Inglewood, USA L PTS 10
1981-02-26 Arturo Frias Los Angeles, USA L PTS 10
1981-01-14 Leroy Haley Las Vegas, USA L TKO 6
1980-12-06 Hedgemon Robertson Stateline, USA L PTS 8
1980-11-29 Blaine Dickson Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1980-11-19 Frankie Moultrie Las Vegas, USA W PTS 10
1980-10-09 Juan Dominguez Los Angeles, USA L PTS 10
1980-10-08 Juan Dominguez Las Vegas, USA L UD 10
1980-09-11 Leonardo Moreno Los Angeles, USA L PTS 10
1980-07-30 Ray Mancini Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1980-06-12 Mark Davis Los Angeles, USA L UD 10
1980-05-28 Raul Cruz Las Vegas, USA W KO 5
1980-05-08 Frankie Baltazar Los Angeles, USA L PTS 10
1980-04-14 Manuel Abedoy Fresno, USA L PTS 10
1980-03-20 Leonardo Moreno Los Angeles, USA L PTS 4
1980-03-18 Dennis Quimayousie Sparks, USA L PTS 10
1980-03-13 Randy Clover McNurlin Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1980-02-28 Clark Duran Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1980-02-20 Lionel Harney Las Vegas, USA W UD 10
1980-02-13 Jesse James Castleberry Las Vegas, USA W UD 6
1980-02-03 Sterling McPhearson Las Vegas, USA L UD 6
1979-07-04 Frankie Moultrie Las Vegas, USA L DQ 6
1979-06-21 Tony Baltazar Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1979-05-21 Petrolino Velasquez Bakersfield, USA L KO 8
1979-05-15 Sal Lopez Sacramento, USA L PTS 6
1978-11-09 Frankie Baltazar Los Angeles, USA L TKO 6
1978-08-26 Rafael Limon Fresno, USA L KO 10
1978-05-20 Jose Osuna Fresno, USA W PTS 8
1978-04-10 Fili Ramirez Fresno, USA W PTS 8
1977-09-16 Nacho Ortiz Guadalajara, Mexico W PTS 10
1977-07-11 Jesus Ramirez Guadalajara, Mexico L KO 9
1977-02-18 Rodolfo Castillo Guadalajara, Mexico L TD 5
1976-12-26 Gerardo Aceves Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico L KO 3
1976-09-03 Jose Diaz Guadalajara, Mexico L PTS 10
1976-07-25 Rolando Martinez Guadalajara, Mexico W KO 9
1976-03-26 Francisco Acosta Guadalajara, Mexico W KO 5

Record to Date
Won 9 (KOs 3) Lost 35 Drawn 0 Total 44

[kikibalt]

Roger's baby picture

[Rick Farris]

Hello everyone---

I received the sad news this morning from Johnny Ortiz that our friend, the Legendary cutman, Chuck Bodak passed away this morning at the age of 92 due to the long term effects of a stroke that he suffered in August of 2007.

I will always treasure the handmade watch he made for me a few years ago. Also I have from him a memorable collage of my boxing career he presented to me in the ring at one of the Ken Thompson boxing shows a number of years ago.
He was a wonderful, giving person.

May he rest in peace.

El Gato

Rodolfo, there are few fights during the 90s that Bodak wasn't remembered for being the odd character with the photos stuck to his head. Man, the first time I saw him I thought he was selling space on his head for advertising. He obviously knew his craft because he was sought after. What was your relationship with him? Did he work your corner at any time in your career?

Scartissue

Hey Scar . . . I was thinking back to L.A. cutmen who were around when I quit in 1976, and Chuck wasn't very well known yet. I remember Norm Lockwood was one of the best back then, Frank knows most of the others.

-Rick

[dagosd2000]

Roger's baby picture

Gee Frank that's the same picture my wife carries around in her wallet.

[kikibalt]

Roger's baby picture

Gee Frank that's the same picture my wife carries around in her wallet.

Rog, you do look pretty good there, had hair anyway....

[kikibalt]

Hello everyone---

I received the sad news this morning from Johnny Ortiz that our friend, the Legendary cutman, Chuck Bodak passed away this morning at the age of 92 due to the long term effects of a stroke that he suffered in August of 2007.

I will always treasure the handmade watch he made for me a few years ago. Also I have from him a memorable collage of my boxing career he presented to me in the ring at one of the Ken Thompson boxing shows a number of years ago.
He was a wonderful, giving person.

May he rest in peace.

El Gato

Rodolfo, there are few fights during the 90s that Bodak wasn't remembered for being the odd character with the photos stuck to his head. Man, the first time I saw him I thought he was selling space on his head for advertising. He obviously knew his craft because he was sought after. What was your relationship with him? Did he work your corner at any time in your career?

Scartissue

Hey Scar . . . I was thinking back to L.A. cutmen who were around when I quit in 1976, and Chuck wasn't very well known yet. I remember Norm Lockwood was one of the best back then, Frank knows most of the others.

-Rick

Chuck wasn't around L.A. when Rodolfo was fighting, I first seen him around the L.A. boxing scene in the mid-late 1970's.

Top cut-men in those years in L.A. were Jackie McCoy and Norm Lockwood, there were some other but Jackie and Norm were the top names.

[kikibalt]

Rick, remember Poncho from the Jrs?

Alfonso Velasquez

Alias Poncho
Country USA
Global Id 91366
Division Lightweight


Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1984-04-03 Lorenzo Rodriguez Reseda, USA L UD 6
1984-02-21 Jose Luis Correa Reseda, USA W UD 6
1983-12-16 Joey Olivera Ventura, USA D PTS 5
1983-11-29 Peter Ramirez El Cajon, USA W UD 6
1983-11-11 Rudy Ambriz Los Angeles, USA W UD 5
1983-10-20 James Sowell Los Angeles, USA W PTS 5
1983-08-18 James Sowell Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1983-07-28 Miguel Rodella Los Angeles, USA W TKO 2
1983-05-02 Jorge Ramirez El Cajon, USA D PTS 6
1983-03-21 James Alger Inglewood, USA W KO 1

Record to Date
Won 6 (KOs 2) Lost 2 Drawn 2 Total 10

[dagosd2000]

"Chata" Baltazar

[kikibalt]

"Chata" Baltazar

Thanks a lot, Rog, you just made my granddaughter real happy....

[dagosd2000]

Rick
I think I'm confusing Petey Vital's frame with Petey Gonzalez's. But I remember seeing Vital. He showed a lot of movement in the ring.

[dagosd2000]

"Chata" Baltazar

Thanks a lot, Rog, you just made my granddaughter real happy....

Would your grand daughter like the picture?

[kikibalt]

Thanks a lot, Rog, you just made my granddaughter real happy....

Would your grand daughter like the picture?

Yes, of course she would.....

[dagosd2000]

Thanks a lot, Rog, you just made my granddaughter real happy....

Would your grand daughter like the picture?

Yes, of course she would.....

Give it week to dry and I'll have it up to you. BTW,what's your grand daughter's name? How 'bout a pic of her?

[Rick Farris]

L.A. Cut Men . . .

Today everyone is a specialist. Used to be a boxer's manager or trainer would work on cuts. Some were better than others and most had their own "medicine". When I was with Johnny Flores I never cut, so I never gave it much thought, however if I had been cut, Johnny would have handled it. I know that Johnny had his own special cut "formula" and it was a medicine that surgeons used to stop internal bleeding during stomach surgery. Johnny said that it stopped major hemmoraging in surgery in less than five seconds.

When Flores worked the corner of his heavyweight, Jerry Quarry, Teddy Bentham was Quarry's trainer/cutman in the gym and between rounds. Teddy was great with cuts and had worked with world champ Carlos Ortiz for years, as well as other greats. Bentham had come up in New York, and was around guys like Whitey Bimstein and other's who knew how to stop bleeding. Teddy worked my corner twice, along with Johnnie & Julio Flores.

When I was with Mel Epstein, Mel made sure he had somebody else capable of handling a cut, usually Johnny Villaflor worked my corner. Mel was half blind and his hands were shakey, he'd have turned a simple slice into blood bath. Mel knew boxing strategy, but you didn't want him wrapping your hands or trying to seal a cut. Once, Mel used Jerry Beldering, who was of no use in a corner beyond carrying the bucket and handing in the water bottle. Jerry was a guy who hung around boxing gyms but really didn't know much about the game. He was not a teacher, although I saw him trying to teach others. He'd work corners of top guys occasionally, like Art Hafey, but in the corner he was a lost ball in high grass. If you needed somebody to carry something, Jerry was your guy, but that was it. Luckily, I didn't cut when Jerry was in the corner.

Phil Silvers also was an L.A. corner man, but I don't know how good he was at stopping bleeding. Back in those days, guys wore many hats in the corner. Today, I recall an up and coming young boxer, Francisco "Panchito" Bojado. Here was a kid who turned pro young after doing well in the Olympics. Racked up a few wins and soon had a whole entourage- Joe Chavez was his hand wrapper/cutman. A guy named Rob, who was De La Hoya's nutritionist/conditioning trainer, was brought in to "condition" Panchito's body. Floyd Mayweather Sr. would actually "train" (teach) the boxer. There was a "Internet mgr." There was a PR man. There was a physician on the payroll as "camp doctor". An attorney. And there was Bojado's dad, collecting a check for making sure his son got up early every morning to run. There was also an advisor, Shelly Finkle.

Keep in mind this young fighter hasn't yet reached the top ten, or even the top twenty. As it turned out, they spoiled a great prospect, ruined him with bullshit. The kid thought he was already a champ, and lost his drive, he finally lost to an old vet, and today is nothing more than a De La Hoya sparring partner.

Too many specialists.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Rick
I think I'm confusing Petey Vital's frame with Petey Gonzalez's. But I remember seeing Vital. He showed a lot of movement in the ring.

Roger . . . Your description fits Petey Gonzalez perfectly. I saw Gonzalez in action many times, against Danny Valdez, El Gato and Mando Ramos, to name a few.

-Rick

[dagosd2000]

L.A. Cut Men . . .

Today everyone is a specialist. Used to be a boxer's manager or trainer would work on cuts. Some were better than others and most had their own "medicine". When I was with Johnny Flores I never cut, so I never gave it much thought, however if I had been cut, Johnny would have handled it. I know that Johnny had his own special cut "formula" and it was a medicine that surgeons used to stop internal bleeding during stomach surgery. Johnny said that it stopped major hemmoraging in surgery in less than five seconds.

When Flores worked the corner of his heavyweight, Jerry Quarry, Teddy Bentham was Quarry's trainer/cutman in the gym and between rounds. Teddy was great with cuts and had worked with world champ Carlos Ortiz for years, as well as other greats. Bentham had come up in New York, and was around guys like Whitey Bimstein and other's who knew how to stop bleeding. Teddy worked my corner twice, along with Johnnie & Julio Flores.

When I was with Mel Epstein, Mel made sure he had somebody else capable of handling a cut, usually Johnny Villaflor worked my corner. Mel was half blind and his hands were shakey, he'd have turned a simple slice into blood bath. Mel knew boxing strategy, but you didn't want him wrapping your hands or trying to seal a cut. Once, Mel used Jerry Beldering, who was of no use in a corner beyond carrying the bucket and handing in the water bottle. Jerry was a guy who hung around boxing gyms but really didn't know much about the game. He was not a teacher, although I saw him trying to teach others. He'd work corners of top guys occasionally, like Art Hafey, but in the corner he was a lost ball in high grass. If you needed somebody to carry something, Jerry was your guy, but that was it. Luckily, I didn't cut when Jerry was in the corner.

Phil Silvers also was an L.A. corner man, but I don't know how good he was at stopping bleeding. Back in those days, guys wore many hats in the corner. Today, I recall an up and coming young boxer, Francisco "Panchito" Bojado. Here was a kid who turned pro young after doing well in the Olympics. Racked up a few wins and soon had a whole entourage, Joe Chavez was his hand wrapper/cutman, A guy named Rob, who was De La Hoya's nutritionist/conditioning trainer was brought in to "condition" Panchito's body, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. would actually "train" the boxer, and there was an internet mgr, and there was a PR man, and their was a physician on the payroll as "camp doctor", and the attorney, and there was Bojado's dad, collecting a check for making sure his son got up early every morning to run, and then there was Shelly Finkle, his "advisor". Keep in mind this young fighter hasn't yet reached the top ten, or even the top twenty. As it turned out, they spoiled a great prospect, ruined him with Bullshit. The kid thought he was already a champ, and lost his drive, he finally lost to an old vet, and today is nothing more than a De La Hoya sparring partner.

Too many specialists.

-Rick Farris

Rick
You've really been on a roll lately with your stories on LA. area boxing. You could put that stuff together and have a nice little book. Throw in Frank's photos and you've got something that's a credit to the sport and to good writing. BTW. I suggested this last year. Hey the 14th is coming up. Brian's post on Indian Red.

[Rick Farris]

"Chata" Baltazar

Thanks a lot, Rog, you just made my granddaughter real happy....

Would your grand daughter like the picture?

Another act of kindness from a great friend!

[dagosd2000]

Sugar Ray Leonard

[Rick Farris]

Rick, remember Poncho from the Jrs?

Alfonso Velasquez

Alias Poncho
Country USA
Global Id 91366
Division Lightweight


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1984-04-03 Lorenzo Rodriguez Reseda, USA L UD 6
1984-02-21 Jose Luis Correa Reseda, USA W UD 6
1983-12-16 Joey Olivera Ventura, USA D PTS 5
1983-11-29 Peter Ramirez El Cajon, USA W UD 6
1983-11-11 Rudy Ambriz Los Angeles, USA W UD 5
1983-10-20 James Sowell Los Angeles, USA W PTS 5
1983-08-18 James Sowell Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1983-07-28 Miguel Rodella Los Angeles, USA W TKO 2
1983-05-02 Jorge Ramirez El Cajon, USA D PTS 6
1983-03-21 James Alger Inglewood, USA W KO 1

Record to Date
Won 6 (KOs 2) Lost 2 Drawn 2 Total 10

You bet, Frank. I used to see him hanging out with your boys at the fights. He was a good little boxer, one of the names I remember clearly from 60's.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

"Chata" Baltazar

Thanks a lot, Rog, you just made my granddaughter real happy....

Would your grand daughter like the picture?

Hey Rog . . . Monica also sends you a "high five" for this one!

[dagosd2000]

THE HAIRCUT

My wife wanted to go to Tijuana today because they're going to have a baby shower for my grand daughter at my sister in law's place. I dropped my wife off outside. She wanted me to go inside and say "hello",but my bad manners got a hold of me and I sped on. I pulled into a parking lot near by. I wanted to get a haircut.It was raining on and off all day.

I passed this salon that had written on the window"Corte de Pelo de Hombres 50 Pesos." 2 months ago that would have been around 5 bucks American. Today,it was down to four. There were a couple of women attending to their customers. One customer was an old lady that was getting her hair dyed. The other was a middle aged guy getting the trim. I like going to TJ for a hair cut. They use the scissors a lot and the straight razor. Don't use the straight razor in San Diego no more. Blood pathogens. Can you believe that? I figure if I get AIDS sitting in a barber chair with all the whoring around I've done...well then it's my time.

I sat on a sofa waiting for someone to get up from one of the barber's chairs. There was a little kid in a "walker" moving around the barber shop. The two women cutting hair would look at him and say,"Papi,que quieres? Papi, Yo voy ahorrita."
I don't know who's kid it was between the two of them.

It started to rain again. First a drizzle,then hard. There was a bucket on the floor collecting drops of water that was leaking from the ceiling. At first the drops plopped in the bucket at 5 second intervals. I was counting. The when it started to came down harder, it was a steady trickle.

I watched a portable TV with the rabbit ears while waiting. They had on some variety program with girls in skimpy out fits dancing and strobe flashing on and off. The camera jerked around. It was noisy. The color on the TV screen was bright and smeary looking.

Finally the guy was done with his haircut and I sat in the chair. It wasn't a real barber chair,but one of those salon chairs. I thought I was going to lose my balance.
"No te precupos. No worry. You no fall down. You OK," said the gal that was going to cut my hair.
Just then the little kid bumped into my leg.
"Papi,Yo voy Papi. You want dulce? Candy?"
The gal who was about to cut my hair unwrapped a candy bar for the kid.
"Papi,you like?"
The kid stuck the candy in his mouth.

She asked me how I wanted my hair cut. I told her a number 2 and trim the eyebrows.Before, I never felt right about women cutting my hair,but now I prefer it. Women are attentive and very carefull about pleasing a man about how he wants to be cared for. At least Mexican women barbers are that way.

While she was trimming around,I looked through the nail polsh bottles that were on the rack ,outside to the street. The rain was coming down hard. It was a darkening sky and the wind was picking up. I saw a woman with an umbrella walkng on the other side of the street. I recognized the walk. It was fast and pronounced. Beatriz. I knew were she was walking from. Yes,there was no use standing outside in the rain. No one would come around today. Not in weather like this. She'd just get a cold. The when the sun came out,she'd be sick. I knew were she was walking to. The calafia stand to catch the bus to La Presa. It would take her over an hour to get home in all the traffic and rain. Her head was down .She was walking at a good pace.

The gal finished up cutting my hair and trimming the eyebrows. A liitle talc on the back of the neck,and she took off the apron.
"Listo senor."she said.
I looked in the mirror she was holding in front of me.
"Buen hecho. Very good."
I tipped her a dollar.

As I went outside, the rain had let up. I saw a rainbow to the West. Inside the barber shop I looked at the two women. They were looking at the little kid.
"Ven Papi. Want more candy?"

[dagosd2000]

Rick
You and Monica have a dog?

[kikibalt]

Thanks a lot, Rog, you just made my granddaughter real happy....

Would your grand daughter like the picture?

Yes, of course she would.....

Give it week to dry and I'll have it up to you. BTW,what's your grand daughter's name? How 'bout a pic of her?

James's daughter; Sierra Baltazar

[dagosd2000]

What a beautifull little girl. You're blessed Frank.