Classic American West Coast Boxing

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A young Archie Moore

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[kikibalt]

Young boxers

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lavziNDNHV8

THE LENNON SISTERS DEBUT ON THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-XxGOufmOo

TEAM OC KIDS BOXING

[dagosd2000]

Brian Higgins alias Expug

[Bobbin & Weavin]

AMANDITA

Beautiful granddaughter, Rog, you got to be very proud of her....

Thanks Frank

So Rog,
After posting the picture of you then this picture are you trying to tell us that this beautiful little girl is biologically connected to you? :surprised:
Bruce

[dagosd2000]

Bruce,I know it's hard to believe. Makes one kind of religous

[bennie]

EL RINCON DEL CIELO (The Corner Of Heaven)

That was the name of the place. A little restaurant above the town of Quitupan in the mountains of Jalisco. The family lived in the back. The kitchen was in the middle. The restaurant out front. It was my wife's birthday. We all drove out of Jiquilpan. Took about an hour winding up through the hills and then down into the valleys, and then up again. The ride was slow and the view was beautifull. Everything was green . The agaves,and chaparral. The pine trees were full and rich. Finally we reached the little restaurant. Comidas corridas. Carne asada,carnitas,plenty of frijoles and hot corn tortillas. The coast was not that far away. La Costa Azul. Shrimp cocktails,swordfish was on the menu also.

Who did we find there enjoying a Sunday meal but my neice Esmeralda and her family. We celebrated and ate and drank. Bohemias and Jimador Tequila. After eating the kids played outside on the swings. The sky turned pink and gray and we sang with the mariachis. We emptied many bottles.

On top of the mountain ,looking down on the town of Quitupan ,with all the little amber lights, we were very happy. Looking across the mountains and into the valleys were more of those amber lights. Each representing a little pueblo. You could see the arc lightning electrify the sky and then the sound of thunder.

A corner of Heaven. El Rincon Del Cielo. A good place to live. And when the time comes....

It certainly beats Jack's Island.

[bennie]

Rog, your grand-daughter is getting taller and taller.

[dagosd2000]

EL RINCON DEL CIELO (The Corner Of Heaven)

That was the name of the place. A little restaurant above the town of Quitupan in the mountains of Jalisco. The family lived in the back. The kitchen was in the middle. The restaurant out front. It was my wife's birthday. We all drove out of Jiquilpan. Took about an hour winding up through the hills and then down into the valleys, and then up again. The ride was slow and the view was beautifull. Everything was green . The agaves,and chaparral. The pine trees were full and rich. Finally we reached the little restaurant. Comidas corridas. Carne asada,carnitas,plenty of frijoles and hot corn tortillas. The coast was not that far away. La Costa Azul. Shrimp cocktails,swordfish was on the menu also.

Who did we find there enjoying a Sunday meal but my neice Esmeralda and her family. We celebrated and ate and drank. Bohemias and Jimador Tequila. After eating the kids played outside on the swings. The sky turned pink and gray and we sang with the mariachis. We emptied many bottles.

On top of the mountain ,looking down on the town of Quitupan ,with all the little amber lights, we were very happy. Looking across the mountains and into the valleys were more of those amber lights. Each representing a little pueblo. You could see the arc lightning electrify the sky and then the sound of thunder.

A corner of Heaven. El Rincon Del Cielo. A good place to live. And when the time comes....

It certainly beats Jack's Island.

Now there's a contrast

[bennie]

END OF A CAREER

The way Gary Young would pound me around the ring i always thought he should have turned pro. He came down from the Portland area and he knew Moyer and Flaherty and Johnny Rodriguez. He was also friends with Boone Kirkman. Gary was tall and very strong. He'd take me down to the 32nd Street Navy Base or I'd ride with him to the Coliseum and we'd work out. Mostly sparring,sometimes with each other, or with some of the other amateur heavyweights.

One afternoon after a workout Gary ran what he had in mind about his future boxing career.
"Rog,I've got something lined up in Los Angeles next week. I'm supposed to fight a pretty good heavyweight and if I can get by him,I want to start to earn some money doing this."
I'd seen Gary fight against amateurs at the Coliseum. Mostly guys in the service. Gary never had much problem with them. His strength seemed to overwhelm his opponents. He stood around 6 foot 3 and weighed 220 pounds with no excess fat.
"I want you to come up with me and Dick. "
Dick Wood was working with Gary and was anxious for him to turn pro also.

It was a 3 round go at the Olympic on an undercard that I can't remember who was in the main event. I was a little nervous because I knew the only guys that gave Gary trouble were good boxers. If thet could stay away from his power,they coild cause him a problem.

As usual there was a good crowd at the Olympic. Gary had never fought there before. In the car on the way up he didn't say much. Dick Wood was pretty quiet too.
"I'm tired of fighting for free. If I win I'll turn professional. I've got an interview with the County Schools Monday. They have an opening teaching emotionally disturbed kids ."

Gary's fight was the opener. His opponent was a black fighter who was as tall as Gary was,but not as muscled. The guy looked a little soft. I thought Gary would make short work of him. For some reason they didn't introduce the boys to the crowd. It was like they were trying to rush the amateur card through or something.

At the bell the fighters touched gloves and then Gary rushed at the black guy. The black guy reached with his left and then threw a right hand straight and from the shoulder catching Gary flush on the jaw. Gary crumpled against the ropes. He was hanging on trying to keep from falling threw. He leaned back and forth against the ropes as the black fighter kept unloading right hands. You could here the thumps throughout the arena.

Well the whole fight went on like this with Gary against the ropes getting worked by this guy's right hand. I don't think Gary ever threw a punch in anger. After the final bell, it was a done deal to who the winner was.

I went down to the dressing room after it was over. Gary was perspiring and was holding an ice pack on his left eye..
"Well,you stood in there with him. He couldn't put you down,"I said.
I was trying to think of something positive.
"Hell,he beat the crap out of me."
"What's next?",I asked.
"I'm through with fighting. No more . That was it."
Gary shifted the ice pack from his left eye to his right.
"Monday I'll go down to the district and interview for the teacher position."
"You were just in with a real wildcat tonight,"I said. I knew that comment wouldn't mend anything.
"Who was that guy anyway?"
"I just caught his last name. Shavers."
"Well,"I said. "If you ever fight him again you'll beat him."
I was still trying to find a silver lining.
"Not in a million years,"said Gary.

Earnie later rocked Ali to his boots - in fact, Shavers hurt everyone he fought, including Quarry and the iron-jawed Tex Cobb. "That ain't Hell," cracked Cobb after a 15-round pounding at the hands of Larry Holmes. "Earnie Shavers is Hell."

[dagosd2000]

Rog, your grand-daughter is getting taller and taller.

Bennie,
We're ready to book our annual trip to Andalucia(Seville and Cadiz). Amanda danced the other night with her Flamenco Company here in San Diego. She was spellbounding. All the men couldn't take their eyes off her,and all women hated her guts

[dagosd2000]

END OF A CAREER

The way Gary Young would pound me around the ring i always thought he should have turned pro. He came down from the Portland area and he knew Moyer and Flaherty and Johnny Rodriguez. He was also friends with Boone Kirkman. Gary was tall and very strong. He'd take me down to the 32nd Street Navy Base or I'd ride with him to the Coliseum and we'd work out. Mostly sparring,sometimes with each other, or with some of the other amateur heavyweights.

One afternoon after a workout Gary ran what he had in mind about his future boxing career.
"Rog,I've got something lined up in Los Angeles next week. I'm supposed to fight a pretty good heavyweight and if I can get by him,I want to start to earn some money doing this."
I'd seen Gary fight against amateurs at the Coliseum. Mostly guys in the service. Gary never had much problem with them. His strength seemed to overwhelm his opponents. He stood around 6 foot 3 and weighed 220 pounds with no excess fat.
"I want you to come up with me and Dick. "
Dick Wood was working with Gary and was anxious for him to turn pro also.

It was a 3 round go at the Olympic on an undercard that I can't remember who was in the main event. I was a little nervous because I knew the only guys that gave Gary trouble were good boxers. If thet could stay away from his power,they coild cause him a problem.

As usual there was a good crowd at the Olympic. Gary had never fought there before. In the car on the way up he didn't say much. Dick Wood was pretty quiet too.
"I'm tired of fighting for free. If I win I'll turn professional. I've got an interview with the County Schools Monday. They have an opening teaching emotionally disturbed kids ."

Gary's fight was the opener. His opponent was a black fighter who was as tall as Gary was,but not as muscled. The guy looked a little soft. I thought Gary would make short work of him. For some reason they didn't introduce the boys to the crowd. It was like they were trying to rush the amateur card through or something.

At the bell the fighters touched gloves and then Gary rushed at the black guy. The black guy reached with his left and then threw a right hand straight and from the shoulder catching Gary flush on the jaw. Gary crumpled against the ropes. He was hanging on trying to keep from falling threw. He leaned back and forth against the ropes as the black fighter kept unloading right hands. You could here the thumps throughout the arena.

Well the whole fight went on like this with Gary against the ropes getting worked by this guy's right hand. I don't think Gary ever threw a punch in anger. After the final bell, it was a done deal to who the winner was.

I went down to the dressing room after it was over. Gary was perspiring and was holding an ice pack on his left eye..
"Well,you stood in there with him. He couldn't put you down,"I said.
I was trying to think of something positive.
"Hell,he beat the crap out of me."
"What's next?",I asked.
"I'm through with fighting. No more . That was it."
Gary shifted the ice pack from his left eye to his right.
"Monday I'll go down to the district and interview for the teacher position."
"You were just in with a real wildcat tonight,"I said. I knew that comment wouldn't mend anything.
"Who was that guy anyway?"
"I just caught his last name. Shavers."
"Well,"I said. "If you ever fight him again you'll beat him."
I was still trying to find a silver lining.
"Not in a million years,"said Gary.

Earnie later rocked Ali to his boots - in fact, Shavers hurt everyone he fought, including Quarry and the iron-jawed Tex Cobb. "That ain't Hell," cracked Cobb after a 15-round pounding at the hands of Larry Holmes. "Earnie Shavers is Hell."

Bennie
In retrospect,I wouldn't have believed that the guy who beat my friend up that night would go on to be one of the greatest right hand punchers of all time.

[bennie]

END OF A CAREER

The way Gary Young would pound me around the ring i always thought he should have turned pro. He came down from the Portland area and he knew Moyer and Flaherty and Johnny Rodriguez. He was also friends with Boone Kirkman. Gary was tall and very strong. He'd take me down to the 32nd Street Navy Base or I'd ride with him to the Coliseum and we'd work out. Mostly sparring,sometimes with each other, or with some of the other amateur heavyweights.

One afternoon after a workout Gary ran what he had in mind about his future boxing career.
"Rog,I've got something lined up in Los Angeles next week. I'm supposed to fight a pretty good heavyweight and if I can get by him,I want to start to earn some money doing this."
I'd seen Gary fight against amateurs at the Coliseum. Mostly guys in the service. Gary never had much problem with them. His strength seemed to overwhelm his opponents. He stood around 6 foot 3 and weighed 220 pounds with no excess fat.
"I want you to come up with me and Dick. "
Dick Wood was working with Gary and was anxious for him to turn pro also.

It was a 3 round go at the Olympic on an undercard that I can't remember who was in the main event. I was a little nervous because I knew the only guys that gave Gary trouble were good boxers. If thet could stay away from his power,they coild cause him a problem.

As usual there was a good crowd at the Olympic. Gary had never fought there before. In the car on the way up he didn't say much. Dick Wood was pretty quiet too.
"I'm tired of fighting for free. If I win I'll turn professional. I've got an interview with the County Schools Monday. They have an opening teaching emotionally disturbed kids ."

Gary's fight was the opener. His opponent was a black fighter who was as tall as Gary was,but not as muscled. The guy looked a little soft. I thought Gary would make short work of him. For some reason they didn't introduce the boys to the crowd. It was like they were trying to rush the amateur card through or something.

At the bell the fighters touched gloves and then Gary rushed at the black guy. The black guy reached with his left and then threw a right hand straight and from the shoulder catching Gary flush on the jaw. Gary crumpled against the ropes. He was hanging on trying to keep from falling threw. He leaned back and forth against the ropes as the black fighter kept unloading right hands. You could here the thumps throughout the arena.

Well the whole fight went on like this with Gary against the ropes getting worked by this guy's right hand. I don't think Gary ever threw a punch in anger. After the final bell, it was a done deal to who the winner was.

I went down to the dressing room after it was over. Gary was perspiring and was holding an ice pack on his left eye..
"Well,you stood in there with him. He couldn't put you down,"I said.
I was trying to think of something positive.
"Hell,he beat the crap out of me."
"What's next?",I asked.
"I'm through with fighting. No more . That was it."
Gary shifted the ice pack from his left eye to his right.
"Monday I'll go down to the district and interview for the teacher position."
"You were just in with a real wildcat tonight,"I said. I knew that comment wouldn't mend anything.
"Who was that guy anyway?"
"I just caught his last name. Shavers."
"Well,"I said. "If you ever fight him again you'll beat him."
I was still trying to find a silver lining.
"Not in a million years,"said Gary.

Earnie later rocked Ali to his boots - in fact, Shavers hurt everyone he fought, including Quarry and the iron-jawed Tex Cobb. "That ain't Hell," cracked Cobb after a 15-round pounding at the hands of Larry Holmes. "Earnie Shavers is Hell."

Bennie
In retrospect,I wouldn't have believed that the guy who beat my friend up that night would go on to be one of the greatest right hand punchers of all time.

You know, Rog, I've got a pic of me with Earnie, who now lives in England, and he is holding that right fist to my chin. I wanted to post it but, to my complete disbelief, I cannot find it anywhere.

[bennie]

Rog, your grand-daughter is getting taller and taller.

Bennie,
We're ready to book our annual trip to Andalucia(Seville and Cadiz). Amanda danced the other night with her Flamenco Company here in San Diego. She was spellbounding. All the men couldn't take their eyes off her,and all women hated her guts

I can imagine, Rog.

[dagosd2000]

THE TEDDY BEAR

My friend I played football with went in for a quadruple bypass. He'd been feeling chest pains and shortness of breath. When he went to the doctor,they gave him the once over and wheeled him into emergency surgery. I was lucky enough to visit him the next day.

He was propped up sitting in a chair with all kinds of wires and tubes in him. His legs were bandaged around like a mummy's.There were two nurses sitting at a table in front of him monitoring the screens in back of him.
"Roger in the Dodger he gasped through his oxygen mask. How ya' doin?"
"I should say how are you doing pal?"
Good. I don't have the pain like I did before."

Neil was a year ahead of me in school. He was our premier lineman. Tough as nails. An all league guy hands down. One of the nurses told him not to cross his feet.
"When can I go upstairs?,"asked Neil.
"Maybe tomorrow ,"answered the nurse.
"I'd like to start walking today,"Neil told her.
"Maybe later today. I have to take your pulse."

I looked at the big guy sitting there with all that paraphenalia hooked up to him. There was a small teddy bear on the table next to him.
"What's the teddy bear for Neil?"
"It's actually a part of my therapy. I squeeze it when they take my blood pressure."
Just then the other nurse got up and gave Neil a pill with a cup of water,then went back to the table and wrote something down.

"Rog,thanks for bringing me the magazine."
"No problem pal."
"Rog,you know it's starting to be our time."
I knew what he meant. My hip. My cataract. It was creeping up on me too.
"Don't hesitate if there's something going on."
"Yeh,I won't."
I felt a little scared. I didn't like seeing my friend like this. The nurse that gave him the pill came over and gave Neil the teddy bear.
"Mr. Medlock,squeeze the bear. We want to take your blood pressure now."
Neil took the teddy bear and squeezed it to his chest.
"Neil ,let me take a picture of you with the teddy bear with the cell phone camera. I want the fellas' to see it."
Neil squeezed the teddy bear in his arms and smiled.

As I held up the phone ,and looked through the view finder,I took the picture. I didn't put the phone down until the tear had fallen off my cheek.

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgeI0NeOjhI

VOLARE

Dean Martin

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9c0wOX5dMc

FLY ME TO THE MOON

Tony Bennet

[Rick Farris]

Allen Syers . . .

This Brit was an exciting fighter who was seen a number of times at the Olympic Auditorium during the mid-60's. When I was a kid, I'd watch Olympic Boxing every week on TV with my grandfather. My London born grandmother would watch along, not particularly interested until she saw Allen Syers introduced in the ring. Syers was born in Liverpool, and she suddenly became an Allen Syers fan. Wonder why?

Syers fought a young Mando Ramos and this where he bit off more than he could chew. Mando dropped Allen in round one and went on to stop him in five, but not before Syers landed a few solid shots himself.

Syers disappeared in the late 60's and I didn't hear the name again until a few years ago when I re-connected with Mando Ramos and Rodolfo Gonzalez. I would learn how Allen gave both Ramos and El Gato strong sparring for many of their top bouts. Allen kind of resembled Scot Ken Buchanan in both appearance and style. He had that strong jab, stand-up agressive style.

Allen is seen at local retired boxer's events in L.A. today and I look forward to crossing paths with him in the future.

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Bennie
In retrospect,I wouldn't have believed that the guy who beat my friend up that night would go on to be one of the greatest right hand punchers of all time.[/quote]

You know, Rog, I've got a pic of me with Earnie, who now lives in England, and he is holding that right fist to my chin. I wanted to post it but, to my complete disbelief, I cannot find it anywhere.[/quote]
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________


In 1969, I saw Earnie Shavers win the AAU Nat'ls. in San Diego. He had come west with the Ohio AAU team to compete in the Nat'l tourney. However, I didn't know he'd ever fought in L.A. as an amateur. Those thursday night Olympic amateur bouts were as popular as the pro fights. We had a group of L.A. heavies at the time, Bunky Aikens, Walter Moore, Al Boursse, Stoney Land. Most turned pro between '69-'71, like Earnie did.

At the beginning of the '69 AAU Natl's, the big favorite was Jim Elder, and Walter Moore was #2. Earnie Shavers was unknown, that is, until that big right hand destroyed the bigger Jim Elder in the finals (Moore didn't fight due to illness). The rest is history, from that moment on until he turned pro a year later, Earnie Shavers was the most feared amateur heavyweight in America. I was surprised that Savers looked smaller than the L.A. guys I was used. My buddy Kit Boursse' was 6'3" and appeared to tower over Shavers when I saw them stand together at the AAU tourney. Shavers was about 6' tall, if I remember correctly.

-Rick

[dagosd2000]

Bennie
In retrospect,I wouldn't have believed that the guy who beat my friend up that night would go on to be one of the greatest right hand punchers of all time.

You know, Rog, I've got a pic of me with Earnie, who now lives in England, and he is holding that right fist to my chin. I wanted to post it but, to my complete disbelief, I cannot find it anywhere.[/quote]
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________


In 1969, I saw Earnie Shavers win the AAU Nat'ls. in San Diego. He had come west with the Ohio AAU team to compete in the Nat'l tourney. However, I didn't know he'd ever fought in L.A. as an amateur. Those thursday night Olympic amateur bouts were as popular as the pro fights. We had a group of L.A. heavies at the time, Bunky Aikens, Walter Moore, Al Boursse, Stoney Land. Most turned pro between '69-'71, like Earnie did after stopping Jim Elder to win the Nat'l title.

-Rick[/quote]

Rick
Stoney Land. That's a name I had forgotten about. Anything on him?