Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Pepe Arciga
May 22, 1957

Give or take a match, professional boxing in all of Southern California has been almost totally in the hands of gloved warriors of Mexican descent for, say, the last 25 years.

This monopoly, if you want to call it such, is no mere accident. It is no scheme on the part of anyone, much less promoters. It is no design of convenience, period.

Mexican fighters, born here or yonder, possess a peculiarity which, with the possible exception of glovers of Irish ancestry, isn't always typical of battlers in general.

That peculiarity, my friends, is very basic. It consists of one utterly simple fact: Integrity to the fullest extent.

Translate this into Cauliflower Alley language and they'll tell you, quite candidly, that those "Mexican kids are all action, plenty of guts with never a thought about tank jobs."

One quick glance at the recent past of top-rated Mexican ring stars will bear out the contention.

Look at Tampico-born Baby Arizmendi. Or Mexico City-born Rodolfo Casanova. Or Los Angeles-born Manuel Ortiz. Or Durango-born Enrique Bolanos.

Or Mexico City-born Raul (Raton) Macias and Ricardo (Pajarito) Moreno. Or Laredo-born Kid Azteca.

All of them individuals who enriched and never tarnished the sometimes shadowy profession of I-punch-you, you-punch-me, let's-get-paid.

Even now, when old aficionados of the boxing game sadly shake their heads to moan the fact that "the game ain't what it usta be," Mexican fighters--particularly those of the Mexico City crop--keep sticking out their heads to proudly proclaim that theirs is no dying sport.

For proof, look at your calendar and mark the date of May 23 (when "Pajarito" Moreno and Jose Luis Cotero clash) as a date when Los Angeles will see perhaps the greatest battle of featherweight fury cooked up here since Arizmendi's heroic duels versus Henry Armstrong.

But, now, the inevitable question mark surrounding the overwhelming participation of Mexicans in pro boxing.

Is there a reason why there should not be, in professional boxing circles, a referee, a judge, a commissioner of Mexican extraction?

Tonight, under the joint sponsorship of the Council of Mexican Affairs and the local chapter of the American GI Forum, the absence of officials of Mexican extraction from boxing circles in California comes up for serious discussion and comment.

Attorney Henry Lopez and Frank X. Paz will conduct proceedings which, needless to say, will be highly interesting.

Prominent personalities from the sports and civic world will await the sound of the gong at 8 p.m. at Casa del Mexicano.

The eight-second mandatory count will not be in effect. Not even for Pepe, who'll be there wearing 60-ounce gloves. And plenty of collodion.

I'll be my own referee. Gracias.

[kikibalt]

San Diego results

February 13, 2009 by Felipe Leon


Bobby D. Presents with the help of Jorge Marron Promotions showcased the first fight card of the year in San Diego, CA. Returning to their previous home, the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Bobby D. and company welcomed a sold out house of 980 fans to witness a five bout fight card filled with young local talent as they take their first steps in their professional careers.

In the main event, local Chula Vista, CA bantamweight Christopher Martin (13-0-2, 2KO) cruised to an easy victory and his first title as he was awarded a unanimous decision and the California State bantamweight title over durable Trinidad “Trini” Mendoza. Judge Tony Crebs scored it 77-75 while both Alejandro Rochin and Fritz Warner scored it 78-74.

In the first, Martin tried to set the pace of the contest with a consistent jab and movement. Both fighters seemed to be studying each other until Martin near the end of round caught Mendoza with a hard right hand that sent “Trini” against the ropes. Mendoza’a game plan became apparent in the second as he weaved under the constant pawing jab of Martin and attacked the body at times trapping Martin in the corner. Half way thru the round, Martin caught Mendoza with a hard counter left hook to the head that stun the veteran. Martin attacked Mendoza as he stood with his back to the ropes but Martin was not able to finish the job. Once Mendoza recuperated his senses, he calmly returned to attacking Martin to the body and head as the local favorite tried to slip the punches. Mendoza went on the attack in the third as he controlled the majority of the first half with relentless pressure as Martin began to fight from his back foot. Martin tried to switch to a southpaw stance in hopes of confusing the wily veteran but there was no budging Mendoza from his position on the inside.

More of the same in the first half of the fourth from Mendoza as he began to tight up his defense and continue to pressure Martin against the ropes and attack with hooks to the body and right hands to the head. In the second half of the round, Martin began to box and use movement to try to tire out his much older opponent. In the last seconds of the round, both fighters threw bombs until the bell. Martin continued his boxing ways in the fifth bouncing as he threw quick combinations while Mendoza continued to work. Martin feeling confident, began to showboat by winking towards the crowd and throwing punches from his waist. Mendoza was not impressed as he continued with his usual strategy of weaving under the Martin jabs and trapping the San Diegan in the corner. Towards the end of the round, Martin began to put quicker combinations together as Mendoza began to run out of ideas to slow down his opponent.

In the seventh, Martin went in for the kill landing three and four fast punch combination to the head of Mendoza as “Trini” just kept plodding forward in hopes of catching Martin with something big. Despite his 7%KO ratio and with the pro-Martin crowd chanting his name, Christopher loaded up in the last round trying to give the crowd what they were asking for. As they stood in close quarters, each fighter loaded up with big punches but for different reasons. Mendoza in hopes of winning the bout since he was behind in the score cards, Martin to appease the crowd. As the last ten second thud was heard, both fighters went toe to toe and threw wild punches with nothing much on them to end the bout.

2008 Manager of the Year Frank Espinoza’s latest charge Ronny Rios soundly defeated an over matched but always tough Benito Abraham of Tijuana, MX with a unanimous decision with scores of 40-36 three times. Abraham had no answer for the rain of punches coming in from all angles by the quick Rios in the first round. In the second, the amateur standout Rios stepped up the pace with quicker combinations to the head and body of the rapidly tiring Abraham. With his large contingent chanting “Ronny, Ronny,” the Santa Ana, CA native Rios continued to attack the body with hard hooks to both side of Abraham’s torse while also landing quick hard right rights to Abraham’s chin. The experienced Abraham taught the newcomer a thing or two as he refused to go down and used his experience to stay on his feet and occasional land a wild roundhouse right followed by a right hook to the body. Although Abraham was his busiest in the fourth round trying to catch Rios with power punches to the stomach, it was not enough to slow Rios’ barrage. Despite Rios was able to land every punch in his arsenal including hard uppercuts at close quarters from either fist, Abraham would not go down and he survived the round.

Andrew Cancio (8-1, 8KO) of Blythe, CA, who usually fights as a super featherweight but walked into the ring at a healthy 146 lbs, took control of his bout against Jaime Orrantia (10-24-4, 2KO) from the first bell with calculated boxing as the tenacious Orrantia gave back as good as he got. Midway thru the third round of a scheduled four, Cancio began to connect with hard right hands followed by uppercuts from same hand. Orrantia’s corner stopped the bout at the 1:23 mark.

In a war between junior middleweight first timers, the war began even enough as Oceanside, CA’s Erin Beach used his lankier body and longer reach to connect occasional right hands on the unorthodox but effective Mario Angeles of San Diego, CA by way of Mexico, City. The swell turned in Beach’s favor as he began to connect more midway thru the third round as Angeles eyes began to swell and his nose to bleed. The fourth was all Beach except for a rare 1-2 combination from Angeles that scored flush and seemed to stun Beach. At the end of the four rounds, Beach’s hand was raised with a unanimous decision of 39-37 three times. Beach begins his pro career 1-0, while Angeles goes the other way with 0-1.

In a hotly contested four round junior middleweight clash, Sergio De La Torre (11-11-2, 1KO) landed enough power punches and used effective defense to win a unanimous decision over Antonio Sorria (2-4, 2KO) of Blythe, CA, The contest was much closer than the 39-39 twice and 40-36 scorecards reflect.

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Its raining....

It was pouring here all night.
It's kind of nice, as long as I don't have to work in it.


-Rick

Raining here in NorCal too guys, nearly nonstop last night very hard couldn't sleep much so I enjoyed lying there listnenting to it hit the roof and my wife sleeping peacefully next to me, she's usually the one who is restless so I was happy for her to be getting some good rest. Other than that the rain is a good excuse to stay inside and read more of this great boxing thread!
Happy Presidents Day!
Bruce

[kikibalt]

Its pouring cats and dogs and the lady across the street is standing outside with the water hose watering her lawn....go figure....

[kikibalt]

Its raining....

It was pouring here all night.
It's kind of nice, as long as I don't have to work in it.


-Rick

Raining here in NorCal too guys, nearly nonstop last night very hard couldn't sleep much so I enjoyed lying there listnenting to it hit the roof and my wife sleeping peacefully next to me, she's usually the one who is restless so I was happy for her to be getting some good rest. Other than that the rain is a good excuse to stay inside and read more of this great boxing thread!
Happy Presidents Day!
Bruce

Same to you, Bruce...Happy Presidents Day...

[kikibalt]

A piece of noir


My mom, Eulalia Adame-Baltazar, circa-1950
Simons Brickyard

[Rick Farris]

Who and who is going to be there for this one?

I'm looking forward to this, weekend after next.

-Rick

[raylawpc]

Carlos Palomino, Armando Muniz took boxing rivalry to higher degree


Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times
Carlos Palomino, left, and Armando Muniz joke around in the ring at the Bell Gardens Boxing Club.
Palomino and Muniz became the first -- and only -- fighters to battle for a world title while being college graduates.

Jerry Crowe
February 16, 2009

As young fighters trying to make their way in a brutal, demanding discipline, Carlos Palomino and Armando Muniz often were given the same advice:

If you're serious about boxing, forget about college. And if you're serious about college, forget about boxing.

Neither paid it any mind.

"It was a dream of mine as a kid to be a boxer," Muniz says, "but I also knew that I was going to go to school."

Palomino stayed in school, he says, "because I figured that even if I got lucky and won a world title, athletic careers are pretty short and I'd still have a whole life ahead of me."

So, even while they continued trading punches, the Southern California-bred fighters never stopped hitting the books.

And when they twice met for the World Boxing Council welterweight championship in the 1970s, they made history: never before had college graduates fought for a world title.

Nor have they since, boxing historians believe.

As longtime boxing writer Bert Sugar notes, "You're not getting your recruits for boxing from the graduating line at Harvard."

That's why, before the first Palomino-Muniz fight, at the Olympic Auditorium on Jan. 21, 1977, Times columnist Jim Murray called the matchup "boxing's finest intellectual hour since George Bernard Shaw wrote to Gene Tunney" and noted with tongue in cheek, "If the fight is close, maybe they can decide it by debate."

Palomino, the champion, had only recently earned a degree in recreation administration from Long Beach State.

Muniz, taking his third title shot, had graduated from Cal State Los Angeles, where he majored in Spanish and minored in math, and was working toward a graduate degree in administration.

Neither, however, was a bookworm.

Their first fight, won dramatically by Palomino when he stopped the challenger late in the 15th round, is considered one of the most memorable bouts of 1977.

After 14 rounds, it was even.

In the 15th, "I went out and just threw everything I had for 2 1/2 minutes," says Palomino, who also won the rematch -- by unanimous decision -- in May 1978. "Finally, he went down."

Muniz wept when the bout was stopped, believing he'd squandered his last title shot, and rues its ending still.

"I was tired, but I was totally aware," he says. "I knew Carlos was on top of me and I knew he was trying to knock me down, but I was waiting for one more punch myself. I knew if I threw one more punch straight at him, he was going to go down."

He never got the chance and less than two years later, after tendinitis in his left arm forced him to quit against Sugar Ray Leonard, Muniz retired with a record of 44-14-1.

Later, after his plan to buy a beer distributorship fell through and he discovered he wasn't cut out for selling real estate or insurance, he used his degree and turned to teaching.

Last June, the former boxer retired after 21 years of teaching Spanish and math at Riverside Rubidoux High.

"I never thought I'd be a teacher," says Muniz, who helps run a youth boxing program in Riverside. "I thought, teachers are paid too little. I'll win the world title and go from there."

Like Palomino, Muniz was born in Mexico. Both are from big families -- Palomino was the third of 11 children, Muniz the second of eight -- and both fought in the Army at Ft. Bragg, N.C., before going to college. Muniz boxed for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics. Both fighters say their fathers' hard-knock lives as laborers motivated their pursuit of higher education.

Today, both are grandfathers.

Muniz is 62, Palomino 59.

"I don't think going to school affected my fighting at all," says Muniz, echoing his longtime friend and former rival. "All I needed to be a fighter was time in the morning to jog, time in the afternoon to go to the gym and the dedication to take care of myself."

He laughs, noting, "I don't know how in the world I did it."

Says Palomino, "A lot of people had doubts. My manager told me, 'You're not going to be able to do it.' I said, 'Just give me a year to see where we're at.' In a year, I was 8-0 and carrying 18 units a semester. He said, 'OK, you're doing it,' but I didn't have much of a life. I trained and went to school."

Unlike Muniz, Palomino never had to rely on his degree to find work. He successfully defended his title seven times before losing a split decision to Wilfred Benitez in 1979, then launched a career as an actor and pitchman. Including a brief comeback in the late 1990s, he ended his career with a 31-4-3 record.

These days, Palomino owns a credit-card processing company and works with at-risk teens, pushing education.

It's a subject he and Muniz know well.

"I'm proud to say that Carlos and I were in that fight," says Muniz, who supplements his pension income as a bail bondsman. "I think the Latino community took it as, 'Wow, two of our guys are doing this.' I just wish it would have translated into more kids going into college and getting out of gangs."

Who's to say it didn't?

[email protected]

Thanks for posting that article, Frank. As you know, I've always thought that Muniz is a class act - both as a fighter and as a human being. He's always been my favorite "all-time great to never win a title." I hope someday to meet him and shake his hand. I hope he enjoys his retirement.

Thanks again for the article.

[kikibalt]

Carlos Palomino, Armando Muniz took boxing rivalry to higher degree


Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times
Carlos Palomino, left, and Armando Muniz joke around in the ring at the Bell Gardens Boxing Club.
Palomino and Muniz became the first -- and only -- fighters to battle for a world title while being college graduates.

Jerry Crowe
February 16, 2009

As young fighters trying to make their way in a brutal, demanding discipline, Carlos Palomino and Armando Muniz often were given the same advice:

If you're serious about boxing, forget about college. And if you're serious about college, forget about boxing.

Neither paid it any mind.

"It was a dream of mine as a kid to be a boxer," Muniz says, "but I also knew that I was going to go to school."

Palomino stayed in school, he says, "because I figured that even if I got lucky and won a world title, athletic careers are pretty short and I'd still have a whole life ahead of me."

So, even while they continued trading punches, the Southern California-bred fighters never stopped hitting the books.

And when they twice met for the World Boxing Council welterweight championship in the 1970s, they made history: never before had college graduates fought for a world title.

Nor have they since, boxing historians believe.

As longtime boxing writer Bert Sugar notes, "You're not getting your recruits for boxing from the graduating line at Harvard."

That's why, before the first Palomino-Muniz fight, at the Olympic Auditorium on Jan. 21, 1977, Times columnist Jim Murray called the matchup "boxing's finest intellectual hour since George Bernard Shaw wrote to Gene Tunney" and noted with tongue in cheek, "If the fight is close, maybe they can decide it by debate."

Palomino, the champion, had only recently earned a degree in recreation administration from Long Beach State.

Muniz, taking his third title shot, had graduated from Cal State Los Angeles, where he majored in Spanish and minored in math, and was working toward a graduate degree in administration.

Neither, however, was a bookworm.

Their first fight, won dramatically by Palomino when he stopped the challenger late in the 15th round, is considered one of the most memorable bouts of 1977.

After 14 rounds, it was even.

In the 15th, "I went out and just threw everything I had for 2 1/2 minutes," says Palomino, who also won the rematch -- by unanimous decision -- in May 1978. "Finally, he went down."

Muniz wept when the bout was stopped, believing he'd squandered his last title shot, and rues its ending still.

"I was tired, but I was totally aware," he says. "I knew Carlos was on top of me and I knew he was trying to knock me down, but I was waiting for one more punch myself. I knew if I threw one more punch straight at him, he was going to go down."

He never got the chance and less than two years later, after tendinitis in his left arm forced him to quit against Sugar Ray Leonard, Muniz retired with a record of 44-14-1.

Later, after his plan to buy a beer distributorship fell through and he discovered he wasn't cut out for selling real estate or insurance, he used his degree and turned to teaching.

Last June, the former boxer retired after 21 years of teaching Spanish and math at Riverside Rubidoux High.

"I never thought I'd be a teacher," says Muniz, who helps run a youth boxing program in Riverside. "I thought, teachers are paid too little. I'll win the world title and go from there."

Like Palomino, Muniz was born in Mexico. Both are from big families -- Palomino was the third of 11 children, Muniz the second of eight -- and both fought in the Army at Ft. Bragg, N.C., before going to college. Muniz boxed for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics. Both fighters say their fathers' hard-knock lives as laborers motivated their pursuit of higher education.

Today, both are grandfathers.

Muniz is 62, Palomino 59.

"I don't think going to school affected my fighting at all," says Muniz, echoing his longtime friend and former rival. "All I needed to be a fighter was time in the morning to jog, time in the afternoon to go to the gym and the dedication to take care of myself."

He laughs, noting, "I don't know how in the world I did it."

Says Palomino, "A lot of people had doubts. My manager told me, 'You're not going to be able to do it.' I said, 'Just give me a year to see where we're at.' In a year, I was 8-0 and carrying 18 units a semester. He said, 'OK, you're doing it,' but I didn't have much of a life. I trained and went to school."

Unlike Muniz, Palomino never had to rely on his degree to find work. He successfully defended his title seven times before losing a split decision to Wilfred Benitez in 1979, then launched a career as an actor and pitchman. Including a brief comeback in the late 1990s, he ended his career with a 31-4-3 record.

These days, Palomino owns a credit-card processing company and works with at-risk teens, pushing education.

It's a subject he and Muniz know well.

"I'm proud to say that Carlos and I were in that fight," says Muniz, who supplements his pension income as a bail bondsman. "I think the Latino community took it as, 'Wow, two of our guys are doing this.' I just wish it would have translated into more kids going into college and getting out of gangs."

Who's to say it didn't?

[email protected]

Thanks for posting that article, Frank. As you know, I've always thought that Muniz is a class act - both as a fighter and as a human being. He's always been my favorite "all-time great to never win a title." I hope someday to meet him and shake his hand. I hope he enjoys his retirement.

Thanks again for the article.

Tom...Are you going to be coming to the coast for the CBHOF luncheon later on in the year? a chance to meet Mando...

[raylawpc]

Carlos Palomino, Armando Muniz took boxing rivalry to higher degree


Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times
Carlos Palomino, left, and Armando Muniz joke around in the ring at the Bell Gardens Boxing Club.
Palomino and Muniz became the first -- and only -- fighters to battle for a world title while being college graduates.

Jerry Crowe
February 16, 2009

As young fighters trying to make their way in a brutal, demanding discipline, Carlos Palomino and Armando Muniz often were given the same advice:

If you're serious about boxing, forget about college. And if you're serious about college, forget about boxing.

Neither paid it any mind.

"It was a dream of mine as a kid to be a boxer," Muniz says, "but I also knew that I was going to go to school."

Palomino stayed in school, he says, "because I figured that even if I got lucky and won a world title, athletic careers are pretty short and I'd still have a whole life ahead of me."

So, even while they continued trading punches, the Southern California-bred fighters never stopped hitting the books.

And when they twice met for the World Boxing Council welterweight championship in the 1970s, they made history: never before had college graduates fought for a world title.

Nor have they since, boxing historians believe.

As longtime boxing writer Bert Sugar notes, "You're not getting your recruits for boxing from the graduating line at Harvard."

That's why, before the first Palomino-Muniz fight, at the Olympic Auditorium on Jan. 21, 1977, Times columnist Jim Murray called the matchup "boxing's finest intellectual hour since George Bernard Shaw wrote to Gene Tunney" and noted with tongue in cheek, "If the fight is close, maybe they can decide it by debate."

Palomino, the champion, had only recently earned a degree in recreation administration from Long Beach State.

Muniz, taking his third title shot, had graduated from Cal State Los Angeles, where he majored in Spanish and minored in math, and was working toward a graduate degree in administration.

Neither, however, was a bookworm.

Their first fight, won dramatically by Palomino when he stopped the challenger late in the 15th round, is considered one of the most memorable bouts of 1977.

After 14 rounds, it was even.

In the 15th, "I went out and just threw everything I had for 2 1/2 minutes," says Palomino, who also won the rematch -- by unanimous decision -- in May 1978. "Finally, he went down."

Muniz wept when the bout was stopped, believing he'd squandered his last title shot, and rues its ending still.

"I was tired, but I was totally aware," he says. "I knew Carlos was on top of me and I knew he was trying to knock me down, but I was waiting for one more punch myself. I knew if I threw one more punch straight at him, he was going to go down."

He never got the chance and less than two years later, after tendinitis in his left arm forced him to quit against Sugar Ray Leonard, Muniz retired with a record of 44-14-1.

Later, after his plan to buy a beer distributorship fell through and he discovered he wasn't cut out for selling real estate or insurance, he used his degree and turned to teaching.

Last June, the former boxer retired after 21 years of teaching Spanish and math at Riverside Rubidoux High.

"I never thought I'd be a teacher," says Muniz, who helps run a youth boxing program in Riverside. "I thought, teachers are paid too little. I'll win the world title and go from there."

Like Palomino, Muniz was born in Mexico. Both are from big families -- Palomino was the third of 11 children, Muniz the second of eight -- and both fought in the Army at Ft. Bragg, N.C., before going to college. Muniz boxed for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics. Both fighters say their fathers' hard-knock lives as laborers motivated their pursuit of higher education.

Today, both are grandfathers.

Muniz is 62, Palomino 59.

"I don't think going to school affected my fighting at all," says Muniz, echoing his longtime friend and former rival. "All I needed to be a fighter was time in the morning to jog, time in the afternoon to go to the gym and the dedication to take care of myself."

He laughs, noting, "I don't know how in the world I did it."

Says Palomino, "A lot of people had doubts. My manager told me, 'You're not going to be able to do it.' I said, 'Just give me a year to see where we're at.' In a year, I was 8-0 and carrying 18 units a semester. He said, 'OK, you're doing it,' but I didn't have much of a life. I trained and went to school."

Unlike Muniz, Palomino never had to rely on his degree to find work. He successfully defended his title seven times before losing a split decision to Wilfred Benitez in 1979, then launched a career as an actor and pitchman. Including a brief comeback in the late 1990s, he ended his career with a 31-4-3 record.

These days, Palomino owns a credit-card processing company and works with at-risk teens, pushing education.

It's a subject he and Muniz know well.

"I'm proud to say that Carlos and I were in that fight," says Muniz, who supplements his pension income as a bail bondsman. "I think the Latino community took it as, 'Wow, two of our guys are doing this.' I just wish it would have translated into more kids going into college and getting out of gangs."

Who's to say it didn't?

[email protected]

Thanks for posting that article, Frank. As you know, I've always thought that Muniz is a class act - both as a fighter and as a human being. He's always been my favorite "all-time great to never win a title." I hope someday to meet him and shake his hand. I hope he enjoys his retirement.

Thanks again for the article.

Tom...Are you going to be coming to the coast for the CBHOF luncheon later on in the year? a chance to meet Mando...

All I can say at this point is that I'm going to try to make it.

[kikibalt]

Tom...Are you going to be coming to the coast for the CBHOF luncheon later on in the year? a chance to meet Mando...

All I can say at this point is that I'm going to try to make it.

You have to be there to take charge of your table, the James J. Jeffries table....

[Expug]

Carlos Palomino, Armando Muniz took boxing rivalry to higher degree


Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times
Carlos Palomino, left, and Armando Muniz joke around in the ring at the Bell Gardens Boxing Club.
Palomino and Muniz became the first -- and only -- fighters to battle for a world title while being college graduates.

Jerry Crowe
February 16, 2009

As young fighters trying to make their way in a brutal, demanding discipline, Carlos Palomino and Armando Muniz often were given the same advice:

If you're serious about boxing, forget about college. And if you're serious about college, forget about boxing.

Neither paid it any mind.

"It was a dream of mine as a kid to be a boxer," Muniz says, "but I also knew that I was going to go to school."

Palomino stayed in school, he says, "because I figured that even if I got lucky and won a world title, athletic careers are pretty short and I'd still have a whole life ahead of me."

So, even while they continued trading punches, the Southern California-bred fighters never stopped hitting the books.

And when they twice met for the World Boxing Council welterweight championship in the 1970s, they made history: never before had college graduates fought for a world title.

Nor have they since, boxing historians believe.

As longtime boxing writer Bert Sugar notes, "You're not getting your recruits for boxing from the graduating line at Harvard."

That's why, before the first Palomino-Muniz fight, at the Olympic Auditorium on Jan. 21, 1977, Times columnist Jim Murray called the matchup "boxing's finest intellectual hour since George Bernard Shaw wrote to Gene Tunney" and noted with tongue in cheek, "If the fight is close, maybe they can decide it by debate."

Palomino, the champion, had only recently earned a degree in recreation administration from Long Beach State.

Muniz, taking his third title shot, had graduated from Cal State Los Angeles, where he majored in Spanish and minored in math, and was working toward a graduate degree in administration.

Neither, however, was a bookworm.

Their first fight, won dramatically by Palomino when he stopped the challenger late in the 15th round, is considered one of the most memorable bouts of 1977.

After 14 rounds, it was even.

In the 15th, "I went out and just threw everything I had for 2 1/2 minutes," says Palomino, who also won the rematch -- by unanimous decision -- in May 1978. "Finally, he went down."

Muniz wept when the bout was stopped, believing he'd squandered his last title shot, and rues its ending still.

"I was tired, but I was totally aware," he says. "I knew Carlos was on top of me and I knew he was trying to knock me down, but I was waiting for one more punch myself. I knew if I threw one more punch straight at him, he was going to go down."

He never got the chance and less than two years later, after tendinitis in his left arm forced him to quit against Sugar Ray Leonard, Muniz retired with a record of 44-14-1.

Later, after his plan to buy a beer distributorship fell through and he discovered he wasn't cut out for selling real estate or insurance, he used his degree and turned to teaching.

Last June, the former boxer retired after 21 years of teaching Spanish and math at Riverside Rubidoux High.

"I never thought I'd be a teacher," says Muniz, who helps run a youth boxing program in Riverside. "I thought, teachers are paid too little. I'll win the world title and go from there."

Like Palomino, Muniz was born in Mexico. Both are from big families -- Palomino was the third of 11 children, Muniz the second of eight -- and both fought in the Army at Ft. Bragg, N.C., before going to college. Muniz boxed for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics. Both fighters say their fathers' hard-knock lives as laborers motivated their pursuit of higher education.

Today, both are grandfathers.

Muniz is 62, Palomino 59.

"I don't think going to school affected my fighting at all," says Muniz, echoing his longtime friend and former rival. "All I needed to be a fighter was time in the morning to jog, time in the afternoon to go to the gym and the dedication to take care of myself."

He laughs, noting, "I don't know how in the world I did it."

Says Palomino, "A lot of people had doubts. My manager told me, 'You're not going to be able to do it.' I said, 'Just give me a year to see where we're at.' In a year, I was 8-0 and carrying 18 units a semester. He said, 'OK, you're doing it,' but I didn't have much of a life. I trained and went to school."

Unlike Muniz, Palomino never had to rely on his degree to find work. He successfully defended his title seven times before losing a split decision to Wilfred Benitez in 1979, then launched a career as an actor and pitchman. Including a brief comeback in the late 1990s, he ended his career with a 31-4-3 record.

These days, Palomino owns a credit-card processing company and works with at-risk teens, pushing education.

It's a subject he and Muniz know well.

"I'm proud to say that Carlos and I were in that fight," says Muniz, who supplements his pension income as a bail bondsman. "I think the Latino community took it as, 'Wow, two of our guys are doing this.' I just wish it would have translated into more kids going into college and getting out of gangs."

Who's to say it didn't?

[email protected]

Thanks for posting that article, Frank. As you know, I've always thought that Muniz is a class act - both as a fighter and as a human being. He's always been my favorite "all-time great to never win a title." I hope someday to meet him and shake his hand. I hope he enjoys his retirement.

Thanks again for the article.

Ray, when you meet Armando, you wont be disappointed .
He is most definitely a class act.I met him at the WBHOF banquet and I was very impressed with him.
With Rick and Mando running things, the WBHOF is in great hands.

[dagosd2000]

San Diego results

February 13, 2009 by Felipe Leon


Bobby D. Presents with the help of Jorge Marron Promotions showcased the first fight card of the year in San Diego, CA. Returning to their previous home, the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Bobby D. and company welcomed a sold out house of 980 fans to witness a five bout fight card filled with young local talent as they take their first steps in their professional careers.

In the main event, local Chula Vista, CA bantamweight Christopher Martin (13-0-2, 2KO) cruised to an easy victory and his first title as he was awarded a unanimous decision and the California State bantamweight title over durable Trinidad “Trini” Mendoza. Judge Tony Crebs scored it 77-75 while both Alejandro Rochin and Fritz Warner scored it 78-74.

In the first, Martin tried to set the pace of the contest with a consistent jab and movement. Both fighters seemed to be studying each other until Martin near the end of round caught Mendoza with a hard right hand that sent “Trini” against the ropes. Mendoza’a game plan became apparent in the second as he weaved under the constant pawing jab of Martin and attacked the body at times trapping Martin in the corner. Half way thru the round, Martin caught Mendoza with a hard counter left hook to the head that stun the veteran. Martin attacked Mendoza as he stood with his back to the ropes but Martin was not able to finish the job. Once Mendoza recuperated his senses, he calmly returned to attacking Martin to the body and head as the local favorite tried to slip the punches. Mendoza went on the attack in the third as he controlled the majority of the first half with relentless pressure as Martin began to fight from his back foot. Martin tried to switch to a southpaw stance in hopes of confusing the wily veteran but there was no budging Mendoza from his position on the inside.

More of the same in the first half of the fourth from Mendoza as he began to tight up his defense and continue to pressure Martin against the ropes and attack with hooks to the body and right hands to the head. In the second half of the round, Martin began to box and use movement to try to tire out his much older opponent. In the last seconds of the round, both fighters threw bombs until the bell. Martin continued his boxing ways in the fifth bouncing as he threw quick combinations while Mendoza continued to work. Martin feeling confident, began to showboat by winking towards the crowd and throwing punches from his waist. Mendoza was not impressed as he continued with his usual strategy of weaving under the Martin jabs and trapping the San Diegan in the corner. Towards the end of the round, Martin began to put quicker combinations together as Mendoza began to run out of ideas to slow down his opponent.

In the seventh, Martin went in for the kill landing three and four fast punch combination to the head of Mendoza as “Trini” just kept plodding forward in hopes of catching Martin with something big. Despite his 7%KO ratio and with the pro-Martin crowd chanting his name, Christopher loaded up in the last round trying to give the crowd what they were asking for. As they stood in close quarters, each fighter loaded up with big punches but for different reasons. Mendoza in hopes of winning the bout since he was behind in the score cards, Martin to appease the crowd. As the last ten second thud was heard, both fighters went toe to toe and threw wild punches with nothing much on them to end the bout.

2008 Manager of the Year Frank Espinoza’s latest charge Ronny Rios soundly defeated an over matched but always tough Benito Abraham of Tijuana, MX with a unanimous decision with scores of 40-36 three times. Abraham had no answer for the rain of punches coming in from all angles by the quick Rios in the first round. In the second, the amateur standout Rios stepped up the pace with quicker combinations to the head and body of the rapidly tiring Abraham. With his large contingent chanting “Ronny, Ronny,” the Santa Ana, CA native Rios continued to attack the body with hard hooks to both side of Abraham’s torse while also landing quick hard right rights to Abraham’s chin. The experienced Abraham taught the newcomer a thing or two as he refused to go down and used his experience to stay on his feet and occasional land a wild roundhouse right followed by a right hook to the body. Although Abraham was his busiest in the fourth round trying to catch Rios with power punches to the stomach, it was not enough to slow Rios’ barrage. Despite Rios was able to land every punch in his arsenal including hard uppercuts at close quarters from either fist, Abraham would not go down and he survived the round.

Andrew Cancio (8-1, 8KO) of Blythe, CA, who usually fights as a super featherweight but walked into the ring at a healthy 146 lbs, took control of his bout against Jaime Orrantia (10-24-4, 2KO) from the first bell with calculated boxing as the tenacious Orrantia gave back as good as he got. Midway thru the third round of a scheduled four, Cancio began to connect with hard right hands followed by uppercuts from same hand. Orrantia’s corner stopped the bout at the 1:23 mark.

In a war between junior middleweight first timers, the war began even enough as Oceanside, CA’s Erin Beach used his lankier body and longer reach to connect occasional right hands on the unorthodox but effective Mario Angeles of San Diego, CA by way of Mexico, City. The swell turned in Beach’s favor as he began to connect more midway thru the third round as Angeles eyes began to swell and his nose to bleed. The fourth was all Beach except for a rare 1-2 combination from Angeles that scored flush and seemed to stun Beach. At the end of the four rounds, Beach’s hand was raised with a unanimous decision of 39-37 three times. Beach begins his pro career 1-0, while Angeles goes the other way with 0-1.

In a hotly contested four round junior middleweight clash, Sergio De La Torre (11-11-2, 1KO) landed enough power punches and used effective defense to win a unanimous decision over Antonio Sorria (2-4, 2KO) of Blythe, CA, The contest was much closer than the 39-39 twice and 40-36 scorecards reflect.

THE CREEP

"I'm meeting with him tomorrow. Let me know if you want to go to the fights,"said Pat.
The last time I went to the 5 Points Sheraton I saw a good card and the crowd was lively. I took some pictures and sent them to the thread.
"Sure. You say he owns the hotel?"
"He does. I'm meeting with him tomorrow morning to work a deal on my lease for the bar."
"Sounds good to me", I said.

I was glad that boxing had returned to San Diego. Bobby D was trying to rev it up to a card a month. That would be just right. Like I mentioned,his last card was enjoyable and the room was good. All the action was close up.
"My room mate Norm should be over in a minute. He'll go with us ,"said Pat.
I had a falling out with Pat which I should have put behind me long ago. He didn't understand why I was sore. I never told him. Sometimes you say things without knowing. Like I said I should have let it go a long time ago.

Since becoming friends again Pat's wife had showed him the door. 30 years. She was tired of his foolin' around. She'd kicked him out before,but always left the door back open. This time she had a lawyer. I knew Pat didn't like living alone. I'd soon meet Norm.

A truck pulled into the drive way of Pat's trailer space. This guy with styled bleached hair and a whiskey face comes through the door.
"Rog,I want you to meet Norm."
The guy walks right by me with a fist out. I was supposed to acknowlege this.
"Norm writes for a local talk sports radio show,"said Pat.
Norm plopped onto the sofa.Then he proceeded.
"I want you to know I'm an ultra right ring conservative,"he boasted.
"Rog,Norm writes some pretty funny stuff. He's put it on my computer."
With that queue Norm went over to Pat's computer.
"Norm ,play the one I like,"asked Pat.

Well I could see the guy scrolling down a list of things he had put on the computer. Pat said that Norm would do these voices. Set up a situation and do the voices.
"The one about calling up the phone company?"
"That's the one I like",said Pat.

I've got a sense of humor I guess. In fact I can be real funny. I've got a bit of a wit I've been told,but what I heard from that computer was against my grain.
"Hey,"came this Bronx voice from the speaker. "Am I talkin' to a n----r? Or a sp-c? Maybe a zi---r head.If you're a sand n----r,go f youself."
Pat in the meantime is rolling on the floor.

It went on like that for ten minutes. Every bit that this Norm had written was of the same racial ilk. Nothing funny,just the racial slurs. In the mean time Pat's rolling on the floor. Finally the last bit had played out.

I'm sitting there kind of sickened. Eight years since I haven't talked to Pat, and I'm thinking what's going on?
"Rog,"Pat said with this happy face."You call me tomorrow and let me know about getting those tickets. It'll be you ,me,and Norm."

The next day I called Pat. I told him that I forgot that I had to take Amanda to Flamenco practice. He asked me if I couldn't drop it and go to the fights anyway.
"Not a chance,"I said." Her parents are still working at that time.Besides,I enjoy taking her."

[dagosd2000]

Amanda with her friend from France,Juliette, at the Flamenco studio

[dagosd2000]

Frank.When is the CBHOF Banquet?

[kikibalt]

Roger Esty and Mando Muniz

[kikibalt]

Frank.When is the CBHOF Banquet?

In Sept., I don't know the date, okay, I do know the date, I just forgot it...

[dagosd2000]

Frank.When is the CBHOF Banquet?

In Sept., I don't know the date, okay, I do know the date, I just forgot it...

Good. I'll be there with sleigh bells on. Last year I was in Spain at that time.

[kikibalt]

Monica's mother . . . "Maria"

She was a school principal in Terra Nova, Bahia, Brazil.
Passed away in 1981, at age 53. Monica was 17.

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCXnDWqv4FU
"Just A Dream"

Jimmy Clanton

[Rick Farris]

San Diego results

February 13, 2009 by Felipe Leon


Bobby D. Presents with the help of Jorge Marron Promotions showcased the first fight card of the year in San Diego, CA. Returning to their previous home, the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Bobby D. and company welcomed a sold out house of 980 fans to witness a five bout fight card filled with young local talent as they take their first steps in their professional careers.

In the main event, local Chula Vista, CA bantamweight Christopher Martin (13-0-2, 2KO) cruised to an easy victory and his first title as he was awarded a unanimous decision and the California State bantamweight title over durable Trinidad “Trini” Mendoza. Judge Tony Crebs scored it 77-75 while both Alejandro Rochin and Fritz Warner scored it 78-74.

In the first, Martin tried to set the pace of the contest with a consistent jab and movement. Both fighters seemed to be studying each other until Martin near the end of round caught Mendoza with a hard right hand that sent “Trini” against the ropes. Mendoza’a game plan became apparent in the second as he weaved under the constant pawing jab of Martin and attacked the body at times trapping Martin in the corner. Half way thru the round, Martin caught Mendoza with a hard counter left hook to the head that stun the veteran. Martin attacked Mendoza as he stood with his back to the ropes but Martin was not able to finish the job. Once Mendoza recuperated his senses, he calmly returned to attacking Martin to the body and head as the local favorite tried to slip the punches. Mendoza went on the attack in the third as he controlled the majority of the first half with relentless pressure as Martin began to fight from his back foot. Martin tried to switch to a southpaw stance in hopes of confusing the wily veteran but there was no budging Mendoza from his position on the inside.

More of the same in the first half of the fourth from Mendoza as he began to tight up his defense and continue to pressure Martin against the ropes and attack with hooks to the body and right hands to the head. In the second half of the round, Martin began to box and use movement to try to tire out his much older opponent. In the last seconds of the round, both fighters threw bombs until the bell. Martin continued his boxing ways in the fifth bouncing as he threw quick combinations while Mendoza continued to work. Martin feeling confident, began to showboat by winking towards the crowd and throwing punches from his waist. Mendoza was not impressed as he continued with his usual strategy of weaving under the Martin jabs and trapping the San Diegan in the corner. Towards the end of the round, Martin began to put quicker combinations together as Mendoza began to run out of ideas to slow down his opponent.

In the seventh, Martin went in for the kill landing three and four fast punch combination to the head of Mendoza as “Trini” just kept plodding forward in hopes of catching Martin with something big. Despite his 7%KO ratio and with the pro-Martin crowd chanting his name, Christopher loaded up in the last round trying to give the crowd what they were asking for. As they stood in close quarters, each fighter loaded up with big punches but for different reasons. Mendoza in hopes of winning the bout since he was behind in the score cards, Martin to appease the crowd. As the last ten second thud was heard, both fighters went toe to toe and threw wild punches with nothing much on them to end the bout.

2008 Manager of the Year Frank Espinoza’s latest charge Ronny Rios soundly defeated an over matched but always tough Benito Abraham of Tijuana, MX with a unanimous decision with scores of 40-36 three times. Abraham had no answer for the rain of punches coming in from all angles by the quick Rios in the first round. In the second, the amateur standout Rios stepped up the pace with quicker combinations to the head and body of the rapidly tiring Abraham. With his large contingent chanting “Ronny, Ronny,” the Santa Ana, CA native Rios continued to attack the body with hard hooks to both side of Abraham’s torse while also landing quick hard right rights to Abraham’s chin. The experienced Abraham taught the newcomer a thing or two as he refused to go down and used his experience to stay on his feet and occasional land a wild roundhouse right followed by a right hook to the body. Although Abraham was his busiest in the fourth round trying to catch Rios with power punches to the stomach, it was not enough to slow Rios’ barrage. Despite Rios was able to land every punch in his arsenal including hard uppercuts at close quarters from either fist, Abraham would not go down and he survived the round.

Andrew Cancio (8-1, 8KO) of Blythe, CA, who usually fights as a super featherweight but walked into the ring at a healthy 146 lbs, took control of his bout against Jaime Orrantia (10-24-4, 2KO) from the first bell with calculated boxing as the tenacious Orrantia gave back as good as he got. Midway thru the third round of a scheduled four, Cancio began to connect with hard right hands followed by uppercuts from same hand. Orrantia’s corner stopped the bout at the 1:23 mark.

In a war between junior middleweight first timers, the war began even enough as Oceanside, CA’s Erin Beach used his lankier body and longer reach to connect occasional right hands on the unorthodox but effective Mario Angeles of San Diego, CA by way of Mexico, City. The swell turned in Beach’s favor as he began to connect more midway thru the third round as Angeles eyes began to swell and his nose to bleed. The fourth was all Beach except for a rare 1-2 combination from Angeles that scored flush and seemed to stun Beach. At the end of the four rounds, Beach’s hand was raised with a unanimous decision of 39-37 three times. Beach begins his pro career 1-0, while Angeles goes the other way with 0-1.

In a hotly contested four round junior middleweight clash, Sergio De La Torre (11-11-2, 1KO) landed enough power punches and used effective defense to win a unanimous decision over Antonio Sorria (2-4, 2KO) of Blythe, CA, The contest was much closer than the 39-39 twice and 40-36 scorecards reflect.

THE CREEP

"I'm meeting with him tomorrow. Let me know if you want to go to the fights,"said Pat.
The last time I went to the 5 Points Sheraton I saw a good card and the crowd was lively. I took some pictures and sent them to the thread.
"Sure. You say he owns the hotel?"
"He does. I'm meeting with him tomorrow morning to work a deal on my lease for the bar."
"Sounds good to me", I said.

I was glad that boxing had returned to San Diego. Bobby D was trying to rev it up to a card a month. That would be just right. Like I mentioned,his last card was enjoyable and the room was good. All the action was close up.
"My room mate Norm should be over in a minute. He'll go with us ,"said Pat.
I had a falling out with Pat which I should have put behind me long ago. He didn't understand why I was sore. I never told him. Sometimes you say things without knowing. Like I said I should have let it go a long time ago.

Since becoming friends again Pat's wife had showed him the door. 30 years. She was tired of his foolin' around. She'd kicked him out before,but always left the door back open. This time she had a lawyer. I knew Pat didn't like living alone. I'd soon meet Norm.

A truck pulled into the drive way of Pat's trailer space. This guy with styled bleached hair and a whiskey face comes through the door.
"Rog,I want you to meet Norm."
The guy walks right by me with a fist out. I was supposed to acknowlege this.
"Norm writes for a local talk sports radio show,"said Pat.
Norm plopped onto the sofa.Then he proceeded.
"I want you to know I'm an ultra right ring conservative,"he boasted.
"Rog,Norm writes some pretty funny stuff. He's put it on my computer."
With that queue Norm went over to Pat's computer.
"Norm ,play the one I like,"asked Pat.

Well I could see the guy scrolling down a list of things he had put on the computer. Pat said that Norm would do these voices. Set up a situation and do the voices.
"The one about calling up the phone company?"
"That's the one I like",said Pat.

I've got a sense of humor I guess. In fact I can be real funny. I've got a bit of a wit I've been told,but what I heard from that computer was against my grain.
"Hey,"came this Bronx voice from the speaker. "Am I talkin' to a n----r? Or a sp-c? Maybe a zi---r head.If you're a sand n----r,go f youself."
Pat in the meantime is rolling on the floor.

It went on like that for ten minutes. Every bit that this Norm had written was of the same racial ilk. Nothing funny,just the racial slurs. In the mean time Pat's rolling on the floor. Finally the last bit had played out.

I'm sitting there kind of sickened. Eight years since I haven't talked to Pat, and I'm thinking what's going on?
"Rog,"Pat said with this happy face."You call me tomorrow and let me know about getting those tickets. It'll be you ,me,and Norm."

The next day I called Pat. I told him that I forgot that I had to take Amanda to Flamenco practice. He asked me if I couldn't drop it and go to the fights anyway.
"Not a chance,"I said." Her parents are still working at that time.Besides,I enjoy taking her."

Norm should be drowned.

[kikibalt]

Rog, bring that norm dude to L.A. and we'll take him to E.L.A., We'll turn him loose in the barrio...

The vatos will take his chonies off.....

[Rick Farris]

Carlos Palomino, Armando Muniz took boxing rivalry to higher degree


Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times
Carlos Palomino, left, and Armando Muniz joke around in the ring at the Bell Gardens Boxing Club.
Palomino and Muniz became the first -- and only -- fighters to battle for a world title while being college graduates.

Jerry Crowe
February 16, 2009

As young fighters trying to make their way in a brutal, demanding discipline, Carlos Palomino and Armando Muniz often were given the same advice:

If you're serious about boxing, forget about college. And if you're serious about college, forget about boxing.

Neither paid it any mind.

"It was a dream of mine as a kid to be a boxer," Muniz says, "but I also knew that I was going to go to school."

Palomino stayed in school, he says, "because I figured that even if I got lucky and won a world title, athletic careers are pretty short and I'd still have a whole life ahead of me."

So, even while they continued trading punches, the Southern California-bred fighters never stopped hitting the books.

And when they twice met for the World Boxing Council welterweight championship in the 1970s, they made history: never before had college graduates fought for a world title.

Nor have they since, boxing historians believe.

As longtime boxing writer Bert Sugar notes, "You're not getting your recruits for boxing from the graduating line at Harvard."

That's why, before the first Palomino-Muniz fight, at the Olympic Auditorium on Jan. 21, 1977, Times columnist Jim Murray called the matchup "boxing's finest intellectual hour since George Bernard Shaw wrote to Gene Tunney" and noted with tongue in cheek, "If the fight is close, maybe they can decide it by debate."

Palomino, the champion, had only recently earned a degree in recreation administration from Long Beach State.

Muniz, taking his third title shot, had graduated from Cal State Los Angeles, where he majored in Spanish and minored in math, and was working toward a graduate degree in administration.

Neither, however, was a bookworm.

Their first fight, won dramatically by Palomino when he stopped the challenger late in the 15th round, is considered one of the most memorable bouts of 1977.

After 14 rounds, it was even.

In the 15th, "I went out and just threw everything I had for 2 1/2 minutes," says Palomino, who also won the rematch -- by unanimous decision -- in May 1978. "Finally, he went down."

Muniz wept when the bout was stopped, believing he'd squandered his last title shot, and rues its ending still.

"I was tired, but I was totally aware," he says. "I knew Carlos was on top of me and I knew he was trying to knock me down, but I was waiting for one more punch myself. I knew if I threw one more punch straight at him, he was going to go down."

He never got the chance and less than two years later, after tendinitis in his left arm forced him to quit against Sugar Ray Leonard, Muniz retired with a record of 44-14-1.

Later, after his plan to buy a beer distributorship fell through and he discovered he wasn't cut out for selling real estate or insurance, he used his degree and turned to teaching.

Last June, the former boxer retired after 21 years of teaching Spanish and math at Riverside Rubidoux High.

"I never thought I'd be a teacher," says Muniz, who helps run a youth boxing program in Riverside. "I thought, teachers are paid too little. I'll win the world title and go from there."

Like Palomino, Muniz was born in Mexico. Both are from big families -- Palomino was the third of 11 children, Muniz the second of eight -- and both fought in the Army at Ft. Bragg, N.C., before going to college. Muniz boxed for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics. Both fighters say their fathers' hard-knock lives as laborers motivated their pursuit of higher education.

Today, both are grandfathers.

Muniz is 62, Palomino 59.

"I don't think going to school affected my fighting at all," says Muniz, echoing his longtime friend and former rival. "All I needed to be a fighter was time in the morning to jog, time in the afternoon to go to the gym and the dedication to take care of myself."

He laughs, noting, "I don't know how in the world I did it."

Says Palomino, "A lot of people had doubts. My manager told me, 'You're not going to be able to do it.' I said, 'Just give me a year to see where we're at.' In a year, I was 8-0 and carrying 18 units a semester. He said, 'OK, you're doing it,' but I didn't have much of a life. I trained and went to school."

Unlike Muniz, Palomino never had to rely on his degree to find work. He successfully defended his title seven times before losing a split decision to Wilfred Benitez in 1979, then launched a career as an actor and pitchman. Including a brief comeback in the late 1990s, he ended his career with a 31-4-3 record.

These days, Palomino owns a credit-card processing company and works with at-risk teens, pushing education.

It's a subject he and Muniz know well.

"I'm proud to say that Carlos and I were in that fight," says Muniz, who supplements his pension income as a bail bondsman. "I think the Latino community took it as, 'Wow, two of our guys are doing this.' I just wish it would have translated into more kids going into college and getting out of gangs."

Who's to say it didn't?

[email protected]

Thanks for posting that article, Frank. As you know, I've always thought that Muniz is a class act - both as a fighter and as a human being. He's always been my favorite "all-time great to never win a title." I hope someday to meet him and shake his hand. I hope he enjoys his retirement.

Thanks again for the article.

Ray, when you meet Armando, you wont be disappointed .
He is most definitely a class act.I met him at the WBHOF banquet and I was very impressed with him.
With Rick and Mando running things, the WBHOF is in great hands.

Thanks Brian, however, Mando & I aren't alone.
Many people contribute their time and experience to the WBHOF.
The goal is to eliminate the political aspect of boxer's inductions, and focus on valid inductees. Historically correct.
Another goal is establishing a legitimate boxing museum. This is one of Mando's goals, as well as all involved.
Nearly three decades have passed since the WBHOF came to be.
The goal has always been a museum. I believe we can start small, and then expand.
Look for something to happen in this regard, sooner than might be expected.
We are also of one mind when it comes to taking care of our own.
There is much to do in the best interest of retired boxers.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

A piece of noir


My mom, Eulalia Adame-Baltazar, circa-1950
Simons Brickyard

Frank
Beautifull picture of your mom. I notice her name is Eulalia. I always liked the old fashioned Mexican names. I know most Mexican parents today want to name their kids with contemporary names. American names.

It's a little funny to me when I look over my roster of the Mexican kids in my class.
Sean ,Kevin,Tiffany,Ashley,etc. All with last names like Lopez and Gonzalez. My little great grand daughter Cindy Contreras just left with my wife to go to the store. Times are a changin' in Mexico. At least along the border.

[dagosd2000]

Rog, bring that norm dude to L.A. and we'll take him to E.L.A., We'll turn him loose in the barrio...

The vatos will take his chonies off.....

Rick,Frank
Dudes like Norm are cowards. His problem is he thinks life has dealt him a dirty deal. His wife dumped him and now he drowns in self pity because he can't get laid. He sits in Pat's bar and pines over the 21 year old hard bodies that walk in. They see he's an old alky who tries to act sincere,but all he wants is to get laid and get drunk. He's goin' no where. He'll drop dead on the bar stool one day. :x