Guys, any of you remember Lou Blades?
Lou Blades
Country USA
Global Id 63087
Division Welterweight
Career Record © www.boxrec.com
Date Opponent Location Result
1973-06-28 Andy Price Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1972-09-20 Rudy Cruz Fresno, USA L PTS 6
1972-07-10 Rosario Zavala Inglewood, USA W PTS 6
1971-10-07 Dave Oropeza Los Angeles, USA L PTS 10
1971-06-26 Jorge Rodriguez Long Beach, USA W PTS 6
1971-05-20 Marcos Geraldo Los Angeles, USA W KO 3
1971-02-25 Manuel Leal Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1971-02-04 Beto Gonzalez Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1970-10-22 Eltefat Talebi Los Angeles, USA L PTS 5
1970-09-25 Frank Bueno San Diego, USA W KO 2
1970-09-10 Pablo Rueda Los Angeles, USA W KO 1
1970-08-20 Larry Son Los Angeles, USA W KO 2
1970-07-29 David Arellano Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6
1970-07-17 Ricardo Alcarez San Diego, USA W KO 1
1970-06-18 Anselmo Martinez Los Angeles, USA W KO 4
Record to Date
Won 11 (KOs 6) Lost 4 Drawn 0 Total 15
Classic American West Coast Boxing
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Damn, I sure like it everytime I come back and catch up. This is just an enthusiasts dream. Thanks for these ongoing quality and amazing contributions. This is truly a time capsule of West Coast Boxing memorbilia and info sharing.
I just hope this sight is still up and running a hundred years from now for future generations to review. It's like an entire boxing wing of a California Library.
I just hope this sight is still up and running a hundred years from now for future generations to review. It's like an entire boxing wing of a California Library.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
New IBF cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek makes a quick first defence against unbeaten Kronk man Jon Banks in Newark tonight, February 27.
Adamek won the title in December in Newark (where he now lives) with a thrilling and gruelling split decision over Philadelphia's Steve Cunningham. The transplanted Pole was hurt several times and also dished out the hurt and it is surprising to see him back in the ring so soon against a 'live', young challenger like Banks, the Detroiter who was lined up to fight Enzo Maccarinelli in London late last year before he (Banks) pulled out with an ankle injury.
Banks has a marketable 20-0 (14) record, the great Manny Steward in his corner and clearly his choice of 'name' opponents. He must be able to fight, but Adamek can also fight at 36-1 (24). The champion's only defeat came on points to the slick Chad Dawson down at light-heavyweight - and he had Dawson on the floor.
Yes, Banks is six years the younger man at 26 but home advantage for Adamek levels the balance, and his great experience then tilts it his way. While you wonder about Adamek's freshness, he must be favoured to come through another thriller.
Slick Canadian star Lucian Bute defends his IBF super-middleweight title against Colombia's rugged Fulgencio Zuniga at the Bell Centre in Montreal on March 13.
Southpaw Bute, an obvious rival to WBC super-middleweight kingpin Carl Froch, is unbeaten in 23 paid fights and looked like a potential pound-for-pounder when he won the title in 2007 with a chilling 11-round stoppage of another rugged Colombian, Alejandro Berrio, and picked off American veteran William Joppy for 10 rounds in a defence last year. Then came Mexican threat Librado Andrade, who floored Bute in the dying seconds of their 12-rounder in Montreal in October and may even have stopped the champion but for a blatant piece of hometown refereeing from Canadian Marlon Wright. The third man delayed his count, after an exhausted Bute had staggered up, and made a prolonged show of ordering Andrade into a neutral corner. The bell then rang. Bute was a mile ahead on points, so he took a unanimous decision, but the jury will be out on his stamina (and on the standard of refereeing in Canada) for quite a while. Bute had faded alarmingly from the 11th round against Andrade.
Zuniga will know all this and brings strength, aggression, workrate and stamina. The 31-year-old challenger can also whack a bit but was outboxed by Germany's Denis Inkin for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title recently, and Bute is an expert boxer, slippery, controlled and sharp. Zuniga is not dissimilar to that man Berrio, in fact - dangerous but reckless and possibly a little bit past his best. Zuniga looks made for the talented, massively supported Bute.
Adamek won the title in December in Newark (where he now lives) with a thrilling and gruelling split decision over Philadelphia's Steve Cunningham. The transplanted Pole was hurt several times and also dished out the hurt and it is surprising to see him back in the ring so soon against a 'live', young challenger like Banks, the Detroiter who was lined up to fight Enzo Maccarinelli in London late last year before he (Banks) pulled out with an ankle injury.
Banks has a marketable 20-0 (14) record, the great Manny Steward in his corner and clearly his choice of 'name' opponents. He must be able to fight, but Adamek can also fight at 36-1 (24). The champion's only defeat came on points to the slick Chad Dawson down at light-heavyweight - and he had Dawson on the floor.
Yes, Banks is six years the younger man at 26 but home advantage for Adamek levels the balance, and his great experience then tilts it his way. While you wonder about Adamek's freshness, he must be favoured to come through another thriller.
Slick Canadian star Lucian Bute defends his IBF super-middleweight title against Colombia's rugged Fulgencio Zuniga at the Bell Centre in Montreal on March 13.
Southpaw Bute, an obvious rival to WBC super-middleweight kingpin Carl Froch, is unbeaten in 23 paid fights and looked like a potential pound-for-pounder when he won the title in 2007 with a chilling 11-round stoppage of another rugged Colombian, Alejandro Berrio, and picked off American veteran William Joppy for 10 rounds in a defence last year. Then came Mexican threat Librado Andrade, who floored Bute in the dying seconds of their 12-rounder in Montreal in October and may even have stopped the champion but for a blatant piece of hometown refereeing from Canadian Marlon Wright. The third man delayed his count, after an exhausted Bute had staggered up, and made a prolonged show of ordering Andrade into a neutral corner. The bell then rang. Bute was a mile ahead on points, so he took a unanimous decision, but the jury will be out on his stamina (and on the standard of refereeing in Canada) for quite a while. Bute had faded alarmingly from the 11th round against Andrade.
Zuniga will know all this and brings strength, aggression, workrate and stamina. The 31-year-old challenger can also whack a bit but was outboxed by Germany's Denis Inkin for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title recently, and Bute is an expert boxer, slippery, controlled and sharp. Zuniga is not dissimilar to that man Berrio, in fact - dangerous but reckless and possibly a little bit past his best. Zuniga looks made for the talented, massively supported Bute.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Thanks, BB, for sure we have created a very unique thread, though boxing is the core of the thread, we also post personal stories, photos, etc, and that has let to some of the guys become more then cyber-friends, some meeting in person, I have met some but, have more to meet, hopefully soon we will all get together. We welcome all that want to post here about boxing or other wise.BoxBuzz wrote:Damn, I sure like it everytime I come back and catch up. This is just an enthusiasts dream. Thanks for these ongoing quality and amazing contributions. This is truly a time capsule of West Coast Boxing memorbilia and info sharing.
I just hope this sight is still up and running a hundred years from now for future generations to review. It's like an entire boxing wing of a California Library.
For sure its been a fun year, making new friends that are knowledgeable in boxing and life in general and are not afraid to share their life experience.
-
scartissue
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1893
- Joined: 31 Mar 2002, 20:00
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
El Gato, Shin had a better pedigree than Leal. He was the former OPBF & Korean Jr. welterweight champ. Here are the two write-ups on those fights that Boxrec had on file. I noticed in both fights you were weighing in near the Jr. Welterweight limit. I don't know if you are aware of it, but at the time you won the title, You were ranked by Ring magazine as the #2 Jr. Welterweight contender in the world. Right behind the champion Antonio Cervantes (WBA) and their #1 contender Bruno Arcari (who was also the WBC champ). Was this a more comfortable weight for you?El Gato wrote:Rick, Scar and Frank,
In the begining of 1972 my first two fights at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles were with Manny Leal on February 24th and on March 16th I fought Chun-Kyo Shin from Korea. I knocked both of them out in the 7th round. Manny Leal had a much better style than Shin with more combinations. I thought he was going to make it all the way to the top but I never heard of him after that. I never did hear of Chun-Kyo Shin again either. He was fighting as a featherweight and went up to a lightweight. Maybe you heard of them.
El Gato
Scartissue
1972-02-24 : Rodolfo Gonzalez 139½lbs beat Manuel Leal 137½lbs by TKO in round 7 of 10
Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
Referee: Chuck Hassett
"In the semi-main, lightweight Rodolfo Gonzalez kept Mexico's Manny Leal on the ropes for the most of seven rounds. Gonzalez dropped Leal in the 7th with a left to the liver for an eight count. Referee Chuck Hassett stopped the fight after it was apparent Leal could not continue." -Pasadena Star-News
The co-main event on this Olympic Auditorium card was Jimmy Robertson v Masataka Takayama
1972-03-16 : Rodolfo Gonzalez 138lbs beat Chun-Kyo Shin 138lbs by TKO in round 7 of 10
Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
Referee: Dick Young
"Rodolfo Gonzalez, 138, knocked out a game but outclassed Chung Kyo Shin, 139, in seven rounds Thursday night at the Olympic Auditorium. Gonzalez took command after a fourth round knockdown and scored with solid uppercuts. The end came for Shin after Gonzalez connected with a left that sent the Korean champion down. He was counted out with 36 seconds left in the 7th round." -Pasadena Star-News
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Touching Gloves with...Ruben Navarro
by DAN HANLEY
Long before Spuds MacKenzie made the term popular, there was a party going on on the West Coast. And at the center of this hedonistic soiree was the true original party animal who carried the handle of "The Maravilla Kid." But the difference between Spuds and Ruben Navarro was that Ruben could party and fight equally well. And woe to the man who told him he couldn't.
DAN HANLEY: Ruben, tell me about your childhood.
RUBEN NAVARRO: Well, I was born and raised in the Maravilla barrio of East L.A. My parents were
both from Mexico, and from June to December we would travel throughout California, where we would pick fruit. It's funny, when I was little they used to have this black woman watch me while they were in the orchards, and she was dressed just like Aunt Jemima. You know, with the red bandanna, right off the syrup bottle. I was so dark skinned they used to joke that I might really be hers, and they started calling me Jemima. A nickname that's stuck my whole life.
Any history of boxing in the family?
None. When I was about 13, me and some friends of mine were all high on pot, and we wandered into the Eastside Boys Club in the barrio. There were a couple of guys sparring, and we were just laughing and having a good old time, but one of the fighters took offense to it and said, "You think you could do better?" And so, with a little coaxing, I laced up the gloves and got in the ring.
How did you do?
According to my friends, I was dropped 55 times, but got up 55 times before they told us to go on home. I was so mad I went home, got a baseball bat, and went back to the club, but everyone had gone home. However, Marty Denkin, who was running the club, told me to come back for proper instruction. I should mention that the guy who worked me over was Joe Pimental, who went on to fight for the world featherweight title and was the twin brother of "Little Poison" Pimental.
Did boxing just click with you?
Oh, I hated it at first. Marty had a whole bunch of us on floor drills. Hour after hour of slipping and sliding and throwing jabs in the air. No boxing. But Marty was teaching us fundamentals, which seems to be lost today. After a few days of this, everyone dropped out, but I kept coming back. [Laughs] There was nothing else to do.
How did you fare as an amateur?
I was really taking an interest in the sport, comparing different styles, watching it on TV. My boxing hero was Gaspar Ortega. I loved the way he would sit on the ropes and lure his opponent into him. I copied that style and did quite well. Beginning with the Junior Golden Gloves, I won the tournament every year from '59 through '64. And that's when things really heated up.
What happened?
This was the year of the Olympics. Now, I never liked being told I couldn't do something. They'd tell me, "You can't lead with a right hand; it isn't done!" But I'd learn to throw it and not get hit. They told me, "You're never going to get out of the ghetto!" and sure enough, they tried to block me from the Western Regional Trials. They didn't want some kid from the barrio involved. But Marty Denkin wrote to every politician he could. I got the invite and won the Western Regionals.
So you competed in the '64 Olympic Trials?
There I was at the World's Fair in New York, gloving up next to Buster Mathis and Joe Frazier. I may have lost in the Trials, but I made it there.
Did you go pro after the Trials?
No, I came back and won the '65 Golden Gloves and was then drafted into the U.S. Army. I turned pro shortly after my discharge.
Who did you go pro with?
I started out with Marty Denkin and over the years was also managed by Howie Steindler, Johnny Flores, Harry Kabakoff and Rudy Perez. I had to watch my managers. Early in my career I fought in Las Vegas, and after the fight I asked my manager, "Where's my money?" And he said, "I left it on the table." I'm looking around and I say, "What table?" He looks at me with a grin and said, "The craps table." He'd lost the whole purse.
The beginning of your pro career was very strange. Your first 11 or so fights were just preliminary club fights. I think maybe only two were even scheduled for 10. Then, in the beginning of '68, you fought and beat Pete Gonzalez, Ray Adigun, and Hiroshi Kobayashi. All Top 10 fighters. Kobayashi, the reigning 130-pound champion of the world. In the span of three fights, with only 14 pro fights to your credit, you went from club fighter to the No. 1 contender for the junior-lightweight title. I find this uncanny. Tell me about these fights.
Pete and Ray were good, especially Ray, who could really hit. But we accepted the fight in Japan to fight Kobayashi, because they thought I'd be an easy fight. I swear he was managed by Sony, because they had every camera focused on me in the gym at all times. When the sparring partner they gave me began reporting back that I was going to beat Kobayashi, they started playing games with me.
Can you explain?
Well, one night after dinner, I came back to my room and they had a naked blonde waiting there for me in the room. Anything to break me down. Now, this was not business. I was the one who was going to get hit in that ring, and I threw her out. When the blonde didn't work, they said I couldn't use my protective cup. They gave in when we said we were leaving. But you know, I was honored that they thought so highly of me that they would pull these stunts. And they were right, because I beat him good over 10 rounds. As a matter of fact, that last round was about a minute and a half short.
You jumped in weight for your next big fight. Arturo Lomeli was a Top 10 lightweight at the time. Do you think it was a little too much too soon?
Well, I still think I should have got that decision, but I did beat him good in the rematch.
You really had a hectic schedule. A month later you were back in Japan for a 10-rounder with former champ Yoshiaki Numata. Tell me about that fight.
Y'know, we tried to postpone that fight because I was sick, but they wouldn't let us. They actually passed me in the pre-fight exam with a 102-degree fever. I beat him good but they scored it a draw.
Your solid rating, and I suppose your record and appeal in the Orient, earned you a shot at the vacant WBC junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your fight with Rene Barrientos in Manila.
Actually there's not a lot to tell. I was in his hometown and the promoter said to us, "If you want to win, we want half your contract." Johnny Flores said, "No way!" I won 12 out of 15 rounds and they gave him the fight.
You were moving solidly now into the lightweight division and were on a tremendous winning streak including a stoppage win over Jimmy Robertson. However, you were still holding your rating at 130, and in July of '70, you got a chance at a title eliminator for the junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your win over Raul Rojas.
I beat him twice, actually.
Twice?!
I beat him soundly over 10-rounds, dropping him in the ninth round. It was a unanimous decision, but he thought he was robbed and wouldn't let it go. He came up to me later threatening to finish the fight. So...I beat him up in an alley near Mando Ramos' house.
You're kidding?
Nope! He left the alley clutching his eye.
The ironic thing was that he got the title shot anyway.
Danny, the politics of boxing is something else.
Who were you working with in the gym in those days?
Let's see...Jose Napoles, "Indian Red" Lopez, Oscar Albarado, Zovek Barajas, Carlos Palomino...
Ruben, those were all welterweights!
Yeah, they liked using me for speed and because I was slippery. Ernie Lopez hired me before his first fight with Hedgemon Lewis, which he won, but didn't hire me for their second fight, which he lost. He absolutely begged me to work with him for their third fight. I agreed and he won.
What were you making as a sparring partner?
[Laughs] Five bucks a round. But I was staying sharp, too. I'll tell you a story. Roberto Duran came to L.A. for a fight and came into the Main Street Gym one day with four sparring partners who were all bandaged up. He was parading them around like trophies. He pleaded with me to spar four rounds with him, saying that his sparring partners were useless. When the bell rang ending the fourth round, he was raging because he never got to me, never really catching me cleanly.
Aside from your elusiveness, you seemed to have a pretty decent jaw.
I was probably down about....five times my whole career. I'll tell you a funny story. Angelo Dundee brought in Juan Collado from the Dominican Republic to fight me. Collado dropped me in the first round, and the next thing I remembered was the referee saying, "5," and me saying, "Hey, I'm on the floor!" I heard that Jim Healy, the TV commentator, overheard Johnny Flores yelling to me, "Get up at 8!" and me responding, "Well, what time is it now?" [Laughs] But I beat him over 10 rounds.
In February of '71, Mando Ramos was scheduled to fight Ken Buchanan for the lightweight title in Los Angeles. I understand Ramos pulled out with a groin injury?
Uhh....you could say that. He caught the clap!
You accepted the fight on 72 hours' notice. What kind of shape were you in?
I had only just started training for a rematch with Jimmy Robertson when we got the call, but I wasn't going to turn this down. The only thing I did for the next three days was run, and my main concern was what kind of shape I would be in for the later rounds.
Tell me about the fight.
Ken Buchanan was in tremendous shape, but I dropped him in the first round, breaking his eardrum in the process, only for Arthur Mercante to call it a slip. Mercante really seemed to be Buchanan's referee. In the clinches, Mercante would separate us, but he'd bend my arm in a direction it wasn't supposed to go. I actually took a bit of a swipe at him to let him know that he'd better cut it out. Buchanan also brought an English judge with him, and they gave him the fight. But I really believe I earned that decision.
Shortly after that, you took on a couple of your party buddies. Tell me about your fights with Mando Ramos and Frankie Crawford.
Well, to tell you the truth, yeah, we all drank, smoked pot, and did cocaine, but I only did it after a fight, whereas, they were doing it all the time. I was very serious in training. As for the fight with Frankie, we would all hype a fight, but he went a little too far. We'd play around, such as I used to hold up my left hand to a guy's jaw when the press was around and tell him, "This is going to make you sleep!" Then I'd hold up my right and say, "This is going to make you snore!" Y'know, fun stuff. But he went around telling the press that I pulled a knife on him and such. He really angered me for the fight and I gave him a good licking for it. I was even warned by the referee for holding him up.
Your fight with Ramos generated a lot of press and a lot of hype. There was a line attributed to you that stated, "Ahh, Mando's not in shape, he's been training in bars. I know because I was with him!"
[Laughs] Yeah, Mando and I were always going back and forth in the press. Once, I knocked out this club fighter, and Mando tells the press, "Ahh, Ruben only fights hamburgers!" But then he signs to fight the very same guy in his very next fight, so I tell the press, "Hey [Laughing], Mando's stealing my hamburgers!"
Tell me about the fight.
Well, I was really up against it. I mean, Mando was Aileen Eaton's boy, and he had already signed to fight Pedro Carrasco for the title. But there is no way I lost that fight. I did have a measure of satisfaction recently when I was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame last summer. Ray Ramos, Mando's dad, came up to me and said, "Between you and I, you beat the crap out of my son that night."
You were on a nice winning streak and were being discussed as Roberto Duran's possible first title defense when you took on Rodolfo Gonzalez in July of '72. Tell me about this fight.
I was really angry that this fight took place at the Anaheim Convention Center. It couldn't hold what the Forum could, and since we were fighting for a piece of the gate, earnings were a lot less. As for the fight, let me tell you, everyone was afraid of Rodolfo Gonzalez. He was an awesome mechanic and was a great champion but I thought I did enough to win.
After that fight you switched management. You went with Harry Kabakoff. Why was that?
A lot of funny stuff went on in choosing the Anaheim Convention Center over the Forum. I mean, money under the table. I couldn't stay with Johnny Flores anymore. I learned how to read contracts, something my managers didn't like. But I used to tell them, "Hey, you work for me, I don't work for you!"
You began another winning streak, then got the call for your third title shot. Again, against Rodolfo Gonzalez, this time for the WBC lightweight title. What happened in this fight?
Before the fight, Harry Kabakoff told me he was going to make me a "special meal," and Harry never made me a meal of any kind before. Well, he made me a "special meal" all right, and I was food-poisoned. I had nothing at all in that fight.
You retired and made a brief comeback. Was it just that it wasn't there anymore?
I had become a Jehovah's Witness by that time and was reading the Bible. I was a changed man. I had no fire, no aggression to go after my opponent. And unless you have that fire, you aren't going anywhere. So, I packed it in.
Last question. How would you sum up your career?
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to meet my boxing idol, Gaspar Ortega, and I was surprised to discover he knew who I was. I said to him, "Gaspar, I copied the way you would sit on the ropes and lure your opponent into you." He looked at me funny and said, "Lure him in? Ruben....I was tired, I was only resting." So, Danny, to answer your question, [Laughing] it's a wonder I wasn't killed.
On February 22, 2007, Ruben and his wonderful wife, Carol, will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Today, Carol and Ruben donate much of their time to working with the deaf. Ruben is also the owner and operator of the Ruben Navarro Demolition Company. For a man like Ruben, who made a career of dismantling his opponents, what an appropriate field to get into.
See ya next round,
Dan Hanley
by DAN HANLEY
Long before Spuds MacKenzie made the term popular, there was a party going on on the West Coast. And at the center of this hedonistic soiree was the true original party animal who carried the handle of "The Maravilla Kid." But the difference between Spuds and Ruben Navarro was that Ruben could party and fight equally well. And woe to the man who told him he couldn't.
DAN HANLEY: Ruben, tell me about your childhood.
RUBEN NAVARRO: Well, I was born and raised in the Maravilla barrio of East L.A. My parents were
both from Mexico, and from June to December we would travel throughout California, where we would pick fruit. It's funny, when I was little they used to have this black woman watch me while they were in the orchards, and she was dressed just like Aunt Jemima. You know, with the red bandanna, right off the syrup bottle. I was so dark skinned they used to joke that I might really be hers, and they started calling me Jemima. A nickname that's stuck my whole life.
Any history of boxing in the family?
None. When I was about 13, me and some friends of mine were all high on pot, and we wandered into the Eastside Boys Club in the barrio. There were a couple of guys sparring, and we were just laughing and having a good old time, but one of the fighters took offense to it and said, "You think you could do better?" And so, with a little coaxing, I laced up the gloves and got in the ring.
How did you do?
According to my friends, I was dropped 55 times, but got up 55 times before they told us to go on home. I was so mad I went home, got a baseball bat, and went back to the club, but everyone had gone home. However, Marty Denkin, who was running the club, told me to come back for proper instruction. I should mention that the guy who worked me over was Joe Pimental, who went on to fight for the world featherweight title and was the twin brother of "Little Poison" Pimental.
Did boxing just click with you?
Oh, I hated it at first. Marty had a whole bunch of us on floor drills. Hour after hour of slipping and sliding and throwing jabs in the air. No boxing. But Marty was teaching us fundamentals, which seems to be lost today. After a few days of this, everyone dropped out, but I kept coming back. [Laughs] There was nothing else to do.
How did you fare as an amateur?
I was really taking an interest in the sport, comparing different styles, watching it on TV. My boxing hero was Gaspar Ortega. I loved the way he would sit on the ropes and lure his opponent into him. I copied that style and did quite well. Beginning with the Junior Golden Gloves, I won the tournament every year from '59 through '64. And that's when things really heated up.
What happened?
This was the year of the Olympics. Now, I never liked being told I couldn't do something. They'd tell me, "You can't lead with a right hand; it isn't done!" But I'd learn to throw it and not get hit. They told me, "You're never going to get out of the ghetto!" and sure enough, they tried to block me from the Western Regional Trials. They didn't want some kid from the barrio involved. But Marty Denkin wrote to every politician he could. I got the invite and won the Western Regionals.
So you competed in the '64 Olympic Trials?
There I was at the World's Fair in New York, gloving up next to Buster Mathis and Joe Frazier. I may have lost in the Trials, but I made it there.
Did you go pro after the Trials?
No, I came back and won the '65 Golden Gloves and was then drafted into the U.S. Army. I turned pro shortly after my discharge.
Who did you go pro with?
I started out with Marty Denkin and over the years was also managed by Howie Steindler, Johnny Flores, Harry Kabakoff and Rudy Perez. I had to watch my managers. Early in my career I fought in Las Vegas, and after the fight I asked my manager, "Where's my money?" And he said, "I left it on the table." I'm looking around and I say, "What table?" He looks at me with a grin and said, "The craps table." He'd lost the whole purse.
The beginning of your pro career was very strange. Your first 11 or so fights were just preliminary club fights. I think maybe only two were even scheduled for 10. Then, in the beginning of '68, you fought and beat Pete Gonzalez, Ray Adigun, and Hiroshi Kobayashi. All Top 10 fighters. Kobayashi, the reigning 130-pound champion of the world. In the span of three fights, with only 14 pro fights to your credit, you went from club fighter to the No. 1 contender for the junior-lightweight title. I find this uncanny. Tell me about these fights.
Pete and Ray were good, especially Ray, who could really hit. But we accepted the fight in Japan to fight Kobayashi, because they thought I'd be an easy fight. I swear he was managed by Sony, because they had every camera focused on me in the gym at all times. When the sparring partner they gave me began reporting back that I was going to beat Kobayashi, they started playing games with me.
Can you explain?
Well, one night after dinner, I came back to my room and they had a naked blonde waiting there for me in the room. Anything to break me down. Now, this was not business. I was the one who was going to get hit in that ring, and I threw her out. When the blonde didn't work, they said I couldn't use my protective cup. They gave in when we said we were leaving. But you know, I was honored that they thought so highly of me that they would pull these stunts. And they were right, because I beat him good over 10 rounds. As a matter of fact, that last round was about a minute and a half short.
You jumped in weight for your next big fight. Arturo Lomeli was a Top 10 lightweight at the time. Do you think it was a little too much too soon?
Well, I still think I should have got that decision, but I did beat him good in the rematch.
You really had a hectic schedule. A month later you were back in Japan for a 10-rounder with former champ Yoshiaki Numata. Tell me about that fight.
Y'know, we tried to postpone that fight because I was sick, but they wouldn't let us. They actually passed me in the pre-fight exam with a 102-degree fever. I beat him good but they scored it a draw.
Your solid rating, and I suppose your record and appeal in the Orient, earned you a shot at the vacant WBC junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your fight with Rene Barrientos in Manila.
Actually there's not a lot to tell. I was in his hometown and the promoter said to us, "If you want to win, we want half your contract." Johnny Flores said, "No way!" I won 12 out of 15 rounds and they gave him the fight.
You were moving solidly now into the lightweight division and were on a tremendous winning streak including a stoppage win over Jimmy Robertson. However, you were still holding your rating at 130, and in July of '70, you got a chance at a title eliminator for the junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your win over Raul Rojas.
I beat him twice, actually.
Twice?!
I beat him soundly over 10-rounds, dropping him in the ninth round. It was a unanimous decision, but he thought he was robbed and wouldn't let it go. He came up to me later threatening to finish the fight. So...I beat him up in an alley near Mando Ramos' house.
You're kidding?
Nope! He left the alley clutching his eye.
The ironic thing was that he got the title shot anyway.
Danny, the politics of boxing is something else.
Who were you working with in the gym in those days?
Let's see...Jose Napoles, "Indian Red" Lopez, Oscar Albarado, Zovek Barajas, Carlos Palomino...
Ruben, those were all welterweights!
Yeah, they liked using me for speed and because I was slippery. Ernie Lopez hired me before his first fight with Hedgemon Lewis, which he won, but didn't hire me for their second fight, which he lost. He absolutely begged me to work with him for their third fight. I agreed and he won.
What were you making as a sparring partner?
[Laughs] Five bucks a round. But I was staying sharp, too. I'll tell you a story. Roberto Duran came to L.A. for a fight and came into the Main Street Gym one day with four sparring partners who were all bandaged up. He was parading them around like trophies. He pleaded with me to spar four rounds with him, saying that his sparring partners were useless. When the bell rang ending the fourth round, he was raging because he never got to me, never really catching me cleanly.
Aside from your elusiveness, you seemed to have a pretty decent jaw.
I was probably down about....five times my whole career. I'll tell you a funny story. Angelo Dundee brought in Juan Collado from the Dominican Republic to fight me. Collado dropped me in the first round, and the next thing I remembered was the referee saying, "5," and me saying, "Hey, I'm on the floor!" I heard that Jim Healy, the TV commentator, overheard Johnny Flores yelling to me, "Get up at 8!" and me responding, "Well, what time is it now?" [Laughs] But I beat him over 10 rounds.
In February of '71, Mando Ramos was scheduled to fight Ken Buchanan for the lightweight title in Los Angeles. I understand Ramos pulled out with a groin injury?
Uhh....you could say that. He caught the clap!
You accepted the fight on 72 hours' notice. What kind of shape were you in?
I had only just started training for a rematch with Jimmy Robertson when we got the call, but I wasn't going to turn this down. The only thing I did for the next three days was run, and my main concern was what kind of shape I would be in for the later rounds.
Tell me about the fight.
Ken Buchanan was in tremendous shape, but I dropped him in the first round, breaking his eardrum in the process, only for Arthur Mercante to call it a slip. Mercante really seemed to be Buchanan's referee. In the clinches, Mercante would separate us, but he'd bend my arm in a direction it wasn't supposed to go. I actually took a bit of a swipe at him to let him know that he'd better cut it out. Buchanan also brought an English judge with him, and they gave him the fight. But I really believe I earned that decision.
Shortly after that, you took on a couple of your party buddies. Tell me about your fights with Mando Ramos and Frankie Crawford.
Well, to tell you the truth, yeah, we all drank, smoked pot, and did cocaine, but I only did it after a fight, whereas, they were doing it all the time. I was very serious in training. As for the fight with Frankie, we would all hype a fight, but he went a little too far. We'd play around, such as I used to hold up my left hand to a guy's jaw when the press was around and tell him, "This is going to make you sleep!" Then I'd hold up my right and say, "This is going to make you snore!" Y'know, fun stuff. But he went around telling the press that I pulled a knife on him and such. He really angered me for the fight and I gave him a good licking for it. I was even warned by the referee for holding him up.
Your fight with Ramos generated a lot of press and a lot of hype. There was a line attributed to you that stated, "Ahh, Mando's not in shape, he's been training in bars. I know because I was with him!"
[Laughs] Yeah, Mando and I were always going back and forth in the press. Once, I knocked out this club fighter, and Mando tells the press, "Ahh, Ruben only fights hamburgers!" But then he signs to fight the very same guy in his very next fight, so I tell the press, "Hey [Laughing], Mando's stealing my hamburgers!"
Tell me about the fight.
Well, I was really up against it. I mean, Mando was Aileen Eaton's boy, and he had already signed to fight Pedro Carrasco for the title. But there is no way I lost that fight. I did have a measure of satisfaction recently when I was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame last summer. Ray Ramos, Mando's dad, came up to me and said, "Between you and I, you beat the crap out of my son that night."
You were on a nice winning streak and were being discussed as Roberto Duran's possible first title defense when you took on Rodolfo Gonzalez in July of '72. Tell me about this fight.
I was really angry that this fight took place at the Anaheim Convention Center. It couldn't hold what the Forum could, and since we were fighting for a piece of the gate, earnings were a lot less. As for the fight, let me tell you, everyone was afraid of Rodolfo Gonzalez. He was an awesome mechanic and was a great champion but I thought I did enough to win.
After that fight you switched management. You went with Harry Kabakoff. Why was that?
A lot of funny stuff went on in choosing the Anaheim Convention Center over the Forum. I mean, money under the table. I couldn't stay with Johnny Flores anymore. I learned how to read contracts, something my managers didn't like. But I used to tell them, "Hey, you work for me, I don't work for you!"
You began another winning streak, then got the call for your third title shot. Again, against Rodolfo Gonzalez, this time for the WBC lightweight title. What happened in this fight?
Before the fight, Harry Kabakoff told me he was going to make me a "special meal," and Harry never made me a meal of any kind before. Well, he made me a "special meal" all right, and I was food-poisoned. I had nothing at all in that fight.
You retired and made a brief comeback. Was it just that it wasn't there anymore?
I had become a Jehovah's Witness by that time and was reading the Bible. I was a changed man. I had no fire, no aggression to go after my opponent. And unless you have that fire, you aren't going anywhere. So, I packed it in.
Last question. How would you sum up your career?
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to meet my boxing idol, Gaspar Ortega, and I was surprised to discover he knew who I was. I said to him, "Gaspar, I copied the way you would sit on the ropes and lure your opponent into you." He looked at me funny and said, "Lure him in? Ruben....I was tired, I was only resting." So, Danny, to answer your question, [Laughing] it's a wonder I wasn't killed.
On February 22, 2007, Ruben and his wonderful wife, Carol, will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Today, Carol and Ruben donate much of their time to working with the deaf. Ruben is also the owner and operator of the Ruben Navarro Demolition Company. For a man like Ruben, who made a career of dismantling his opponents, what an appropriate field to get into.
See ya next round,
Dan Hanley
-
Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
"Feed Him Beans . . ."
That was a classic Ruben Navarro quote.
I shared many dressing room with Navarro when he was coming up. We were stablemates and I fought on the undercard of a number of his bouts, such as his fights with Raul Rojas, Jimmy Robertson and Ken Buchanan.
How boxers act in the dressing room before a fight varies. Some relax, some stay quiet and, occasinally, you'll see guys who appear to be "dying a thousand deaths" (a Johnny Flores observation). Ruben was one of the latter. Navarro wore his nervousness on his sleeve. He would pace, hit his knees and pray, cross himself. There was a method to Ruben's madness and when he answered the opening bell he was already warmed up, wound up and ready to "fight for his life".
How many times I've see a strong fighter like Jimmy Robertson think he was going to trap Ruben in a corner. Cornering Ruben was like cornering a wildcat. He would find a way to escape, even if it meant crawling right thru his opponents legs. Ruben was very flexible and could bend and weave his way out of trouble and then suddenly be on top of his opponent and dishing out a beating. The "Maravilla Kid" was a master at turning the tables on an opponent. Navarro was a survivor and a conquerer. That was Ruben Navarro.
I'll always remember what Ruben would tell me as I would leave the dressing room to open one of his shows . . .
"Feed him beans, Ricky!"
-Rick Farris
That was a classic Ruben Navarro quote.
I shared many dressing room with Navarro when he was coming up. We were stablemates and I fought on the undercard of a number of his bouts, such as his fights with Raul Rojas, Jimmy Robertson and Ken Buchanan.
How boxers act in the dressing room before a fight varies. Some relax, some stay quiet and, occasinally, you'll see guys who appear to be "dying a thousand deaths" (a Johnny Flores observation). Ruben was one of the latter. Navarro wore his nervousness on his sleeve. He would pace, hit his knees and pray, cross himself. There was a method to Ruben's madness and when he answered the opening bell he was already warmed up, wound up and ready to "fight for his life".
How many times I've see a strong fighter like Jimmy Robertson think he was going to trap Ruben in a corner. Cornering Ruben was like cornering a wildcat. He would find a way to escape, even if it meant crawling right thru his opponents legs. Ruben was very flexible and could bend and weave his way out of trouble and then suddenly be on top of his opponent and dishing out a beating. The "Maravilla Kid" was a master at turning the tables on an opponent. Navarro was a survivor and a conquerer. That was Ruben Navarro.
I'll always remember what Ruben would tell me as I would leave the dressing room to open one of his shows . . .
"Feed him beans, Ricky!"
-Rick Farris
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Great interview, Dan (as ever). Ruben's reasons for his loss to Buchanan are funny (and I mean that in the best sense of the word); every fighter has his reasons for a big loss, has to have them, otherwise they wouldn't make it through the night.kikibalt wrote:Touching Gloves with...Ruben Navarro
by DAN HANLEY
Long before Spuds MacKenzie made the term popular, there was a party going on on the West Coast. And at the center of this hedonistic soiree was the true original party animal who carried the handle of "The Maravilla Kid." But the difference between Spuds and Ruben Navarro was that Ruben could party and fight equally well. And woe to the man who told him he couldn't.
DAN HANLEY: Ruben, tell me about your childhood.
RUBEN NAVARRO: Well, I was born and raised in the Maravilla barrio of East L.A. My parents were
both from Mexico, and from June to December we would travel throughout California, where we would pick fruit. It's funny, when I was little they used to have this black woman watch me while they were in the orchards, and she was dressed just like Aunt Jemima. You know, with the red bandanna, right off the syrup bottle. I was so dark skinned they used to joke that I might really be hers, and they started calling me Jemima. A nickname that's stuck my whole life.
Any history of boxing in the family?
None. When I was about 13, me and some friends of mine were all high on pot, and we wandered into the Eastside Boys Club in the barrio. There were a couple of guys sparring, and we were just laughing and having a good old time, but one of the fighters took offense to it and said, "You think you could do better?" And so, with a little coaxing, I laced up the gloves and got in the ring.
How did you do?
According to my friends, I was dropped 55 times, but got up 55 times before they told us to go on home. I was so mad I went home, got a baseball bat, and went back to the club, but everyone had gone home. However, Marty Denkin, who was running the club, told me to come back for proper instruction. I should mention that the guy who worked me over was Joe Pimental, who went on to fight for the world featherweight title and was the twin brother of "Little Poison" Pimental.
Did boxing just click with you?
Oh, I hated it at first. Marty had a whole bunch of us on floor drills. Hour after hour of slipping and sliding and throwing jabs in the air. No boxing. But Marty was teaching us fundamentals, which seems to be lost today. After a few days of this, everyone dropped out, but I kept coming back. [Laughs] There was nothing else to do.
How did you fare as an amateur?
I was really taking an interest in the sport, comparing different styles, watching it on TV. My boxing hero was Gaspar Ortega. I loved the way he would sit on the ropes and lure his opponent into him. I copied that style and did quite well. Beginning with the Junior Golden Gloves, I won the tournament every year from '59 through '64. And that's when things really heated up.
What happened?
This was the year of the Olympics. Now, I never liked being told I couldn't do something. They'd tell me, "You can't lead with a right hand; it isn't done!" But I'd learn to throw it and not get hit. They told me, "You're never going to get out of the ghetto!" and sure enough, they tried to block me from the Western Regional Trials. They didn't want some kid from the barrio involved. But Marty Denkin wrote to every politician he could. I got the invite and won the Western Regionals.
So you competed in the '64 Olympic Trials?
There I was at the World's Fair in New York, gloving up next to Buster Mathis and Joe Frazier. I may have lost in the Trials, but I made it there.
Did you go pro after the Trials?
No, I came back and won the '65 Golden Gloves and was then drafted into the U.S. Army. I turned pro shortly after my discharge.
Who did you go pro with?
I started out with Marty Denkin and over the years was also managed by Howie Steindler, Johnny Flores, Harry Kabakoff and Rudy Perez. I had to watch my managers. Early in my career I fought in Las Vegas, and after the fight I asked my manager, "Where's my money?" And he said, "I left it on the table." I'm looking around and I say, "What table?" He looks at me with a grin and said, "The craps table." He'd lost the whole purse.
The beginning of your pro career was very strange. Your first 11 or so fights were just preliminary club fights. I think maybe only two were even scheduled for 10. Then, in the beginning of '68, you fought and beat Pete Gonzalez, Ray Adigun, and Hiroshi Kobayashi. All Top 10 fighters. Kobayashi, the reigning 130-pound champion of the world. In the span of three fights, with only 14 pro fights to your credit, you went from club fighter to the No. 1 contender for the junior-lightweight title. I find this uncanny. Tell me about these fights.
Pete and Ray were good, especially Ray, who could really hit. But we accepted the fight in Japan to fight Kobayashi, because they thought I'd be an easy fight. I swear he was managed by Sony, because they had every camera focused on me in the gym at all times. When the sparring partner they gave me began reporting back that I was going to beat Kobayashi, they started playing games with me.
Can you explain?
Well, one night after dinner, I came back to my room and they had a naked blonde waiting there for me in the room. Anything to break me down. Now, this was not business. I was the one who was going to get hit in that ring, and I threw her out. When the blonde didn't work, they said I couldn't use my protective cup. They gave in when we said we were leaving. But you know, I was honored that they thought so highly of me that they would pull these stunts. And they were right, because I beat him good over 10 rounds. As a matter of fact, that last round was about a minute and a half short.
You jumped in weight for your next big fight. Arturo Lomeli was a Top 10 lightweight at the time. Do you think it was a little too much too soon?
Well, I still think I should have got that decision, but I did beat him good in the rematch.
You really had a hectic schedule. A month later you were back in Japan for a 10-rounder with former champ Yoshiaki Numata. Tell me about that fight.
Y'know, we tried to postpone that fight because I was sick, but they wouldn't let us. They actually passed me in the pre-fight exam with a 102-degree fever. I beat him good but they scored it a draw.
Your solid rating, and I suppose your record and appeal in the Orient, earned you a shot at the vacant WBC junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your fight with Rene Barrientos in Manila.
Actually there's not a lot to tell. I was in his hometown and the promoter said to us, "If you want to win, we want half your contract." Johnny Flores said, "No way!" I won 12 out of 15 rounds and they gave him the fight.
You were moving solidly now into the lightweight division and were on a tremendous winning streak including a stoppage win over Jimmy Robertson. However, you were still holding your rating at 130, and in July of '70, you got a chance at a title eliminator for the junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your win over Raul Rojas.
I beat him twice, actually.
Twice?!
I beat him soundly over 10-rounds, dropping him in the ninth round. It was a unanimous decision, but he thought he was robbed and wouldn't let it go. He came up to me later threatening to finish the fight. So...I beat him up in an alley near Mando Ramos' house.
You're kidding?
Nope! He left the alley clutching his eye.
The ironic thing was that he got the title shot anyway.
Danny, the politics of boxing is something else.
Who were you working with in the gym in those days?
Let's see...Jose Napoles, "Indian Red" Lopez, Oscar Albarado, Zovek Barajas, Carlos Palomino...
Ruben, those were all welterweights!
Yeah, they liked using me for speed and because I was slippery. Ernie Lopez hired me before his first fight with Hedgemon Lewis, which he won, but didn't hire me for their second fight, which he lost. He absolutely begged me to work with him for their third fight. I agreed and he won.
What were you making as a sparring partner?
[Laughs] Five bucks a round. But I was staying sharp, too. I'll tell you a story. Roberto Duran came to L.A. for a fight and came into the Main Street Gym one day with four sparring partners who were all bandaged up. He was parading them around like trophies. He pleaded with me to spar four rounds with him, saying that his sparring partners were useless. When the bell rang ending the fourth round, he was raging because he never got to me, never really catching me cleanly.
Aside from your elusiveness, you seemed to have a pretty decent jaw.
I was probably down about....five times my whole career. I'll tell you a funny story. Angelo Dundee brought in Juan Collado from the Dominican Republic to fight me. Collado dropped me in the first round, and the next thing I remembered was the referee saying, "5," and me saying, "Hey, I'm on the floor!" I heard that Jim Healy, the TV commentator, overheard Johnny Flores yelling to me, "Get up at 8!" and me responding, "Well, what time is it now?" [Laughs] But I beat him over 10 rounds.
In February of '71, Mando Ramos was scheduled to fight Ken Buchanan for the lightweight title in Los Angeles. I understand Ramos pulled out with a groin injury?
Uhh....you could say that. He caught the clap!
You accepted the fight on 72 hours' notice. What kind of shape were you in?
I had only just started training for a rematch with Jimmy Robertson when we got the call, but I wasn't going to turn this down. The only thing I did for the next three days was run, and my main concern was what kind of shape I would be in for the later rounds.
Tell me about the fight.
Ken Buchanan was in tremendous shape, but I dropped him in the first round, breaking his eardrum in the process, only for Arthur Mercante to call it a slip. Mercante really seemed to be Buchanan's referee. In the clinches, Mercante would separate us, but he'd bend my arm in a direction it wasn't supposed to go. I actually took a bit of a swipe at him to let him know that he'd better cut it out. Buchanan also brought an English judge with him, and they gave him the fight. But I really believe I earned that decision.
Shortly after that, you took on a couple of your party buddies. Tell me about your fights with Mando Ramos and Frankie Crawford.
Well, to tell you the truth, yeah, we all drank, smoked pot, and did cocaine, but I only did it after a fight, whereas, they were doing it all the time. I was very serious in training. As for the fight with Frankie, we would all hype a fight, but he went a little too far. We'd play around, such as I used to hold up my left hand to a guy's jaw when the press was around and tell him, "This is going to make you sleep!" Then I'd hold up my right and say, "This is going to make you snore!" Y'know, fun stuff. But he went around telling the press that I pulled a knife on him and such. He really angered me for the fight and I gave him a good licking for it. I was even warned by the referee for holding him up.
Your fight with Ramos generated a lot of press and a lot of hype. There was a line attributed to you that stated, "Ahh, Mando's not in shape, he's been training in bars. I know because I was with him!"
[Laughs] Yeah, Mando and I were always going back and forth in the press. Once, I knocked out this club fighter, and Mando tells the press, "Ahh, Ruben only fights hamburgers!" But then he signs to fight the very same guy in his very next fight, so I tell the press, "Hey [Laughing], Mando's stealing my hamburgers!"
Tell me about the fight.
Well, I was really up against it. I mean, Mando was Aileen Eaton's boy, and he had already signed to fight Pedro Carrasco for the title. But there is no way I lost that fight. I did have a measure of satisfaction recently when I was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame last summer. Ray Ramos, Mando's dad, came up to me and said, "Between you and I, you beat the crap out of my son that night."
You were on a nice winning streak and were being discussed as Roberto Duran's possible first title defense when you took on Rodolfo Gonzalez in July of '72. Tell me about this fight.
I was really angry that this fight took place at the Anaheim Convention Center. It couldn't hold what the Forum could, and since we were fighting for a piece of the gate, earnings were a lot less. As for the fight, let me tell you, everyone was afraid of Rodolfo Gonzalez. He was an awesome mechanic and was a great champion but I thought I did enough to win.
After that fight you switched management. You went with Harry Kabakoff. Why was that?
A lot of funny stuff went on in choosing the Anaheim Convention Center over the Forum. I mean, money under the table. I couldn't stay with Johnny Flores anymore. I learned how to read contracts, something my managers didn't like. But I used to tell them, "Hey, you work for me, I don't work for you!"
You began another winning streak, then got the call for your third title shot. Again, against Rodolfo Gonzalez, this time for the WBC lightweight title. What happened in this fight?
Before the fight, Harry Kabakoff told me he was going to make me a "special meal," and Harry never made me a meal of any kind before. Well, he made me a "special meal" all right, and I was food-poisoned. I had nothing at all in that fight.
You retired and made a brief comeback. Was it just that it wasn't there anymore?
I had become a Jehovah's Witness by that time and was reading the Bible. I was a changed man. I had no fire, no aggression to go after my opponent. And unless you have that fire, you aren't going anywhere. So, I packed it in.
Last question. How would you sum up your career?
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to meet my boxing idol, Gaspar Ortega, and I was surprised to discover he knew who I was. I said to him, "Gaspar, I copied the way you would sit on the ropes and lure your opponent into you." He looked at me funny and said, "Lure him in? Ruben....I was tired, I was only resting." So, Danny, to answer your question, [Laughing] it's a wonder I wasn't killed.
On February 22, 2007, Ruben and his wonderful wife, Carol, will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Today, Carol and Ruben donate much of their time to working with the deaf. Ruben is also the owner and operator of the Ruben Navarro Demolition Company. For a man like Ruben, who made a career of dismantling his opponents, what an appropriate field to get into.
See ya next round,
Dan Hanley
Anyway, there is a fighter here called Richie Woodhall who DID admit he had lost a big fight - even though he had just won the verdict. He told TV afterwards that the other guy (Glenn Catley) was the better man on the night and should be wearing the WBC super-middleweight belt.
A few days later, lo and behold, Richie was saying, having watched the fight on tape, he won the fight fairly and squarely, after all.
How is Ruben these days?
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Manny Pacquiao in London
February 27, 2009 by Edgar Gonzalez
Pilipino icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is greeted by bellman at the Grosvenor House hotel as he arrives in downtown London for a mega UK media tour to announce his upcoming World Jr. Welterweight championship fight against Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and Hatton will stop first in Manchester Saturday to hold a press rally at the Trafford Center-Great Hall along with a friendly darts competition later in the day. On Sunday,Pacquiao will tour London followed by a press conference Monday at the Imperial War Museum.
“I am looking forward to the promotional tour that will be held in London and Manchester this weekend as I have received tons of emails from English boxing fans, who are one of the most passionate in the world. Even if it’s going to be hostile territory for me-as Ricky Hatton comes from this boxing-crazy country-I know that I will enjoy every minute of my brief stay there as I have heard a lot of great things about England, its notable people, its amazing culture and its proud history, ” said Pacquiao. ” After my trip to England, I will proceed to Los Angeles so I could kick off my preparation for Ricky Hatton, who is one of the world’s most exciting fighters.”
“Hatton is a very dangerous opponent as I have seen most of his high-caliber fight on video and you cannot take somebody like him lightly. This is going to be a big challenge for me. This early, I am confident in saying that I will train harder for Hatton and I won’t be surprised if I end up in a much better shape than when I fought the legendary Oscar De La Hoya last December. Once I report for training camp at the Wild Card under my very capable trainer Freddie Roach, my sole focus will be training. I will be eating, breathing and living Ricky Hatton from the day I start my training camp. I assure fight fans that when I get into the ring on May 2, I am going to show my best-as always-and ours will be an explosive and exciting fight. And most importantly, I am dedicating this important fight to my beloved countrymen and to all boxing fans from around the world.”
February 27, 2009 by Edgar Gonzalez
Pilipino icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is greeted by bellman at the Grosvenor House hotel as he arrives in downtown London for a mega UK media tour to announce his upcoming World Jr. Welterweight championship fight against Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and Hatton will stop first in Manchester Saturday to hold a press rally at the Trafford Center-Great Hall along with a friendly darts competition later in the day. On Sunday,Pacquiao will tour London followed by a press conference Monday at the Imperial War Museum.
“I am looking forward to the promotional tour that will be held in London and Manchester this weekend as I have received tons of emails from English boxing fans, who are one of the most passionate in the world. Even if it’s going to be hostile territory for me-as Ricky Hatton comes from this boxing-crazy country-I know that I will enjoy every minute of my brief stay there as I have heard a lot of great things about England, its notable people, its amazing culture and its proud history, ” said Pacquiao. ” After my trip to England, I will proceed to Los Angeles so I could kick off my preparation for Ricky Hatton, who is one of the world’s most exciting fighters.”
“Hatton is a very dangerous opponent as I have seen most of his high-caliber fight on video and you cannot take somebody like him lightly. This is going to be a big challenge for me. This early, I am confident in saying that I will train harder for Hatton and I won’t be surprised if I end up in a much better shape than when I fought the legendary Oscar De La Hoya last December. Once I report for training camp at the Wild Card under my very capable trainer Freddie Roach, my sole focus will be training. I will be eating, breathing and living Ricky Hatton from the day I start my training camp. I assure fight fans that when I get into the ring on May 2, I am going to show my best-as always-and ours will be an explosive and exciting fight. And most importantly, I am dedicating this important fight to my beloved countrymen and to all boxing fans from around the world.”
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
SIERRA NEVADA
Mono Lake's picture-perfect waters
Lake's tufa formations and the Eastern Sierra's other scenic wonders draw sightseers along with skiers and ice climbers.
By Dan Blackburn, Reporting from Lee Vining, Calif.
In summer, thousands of visitors converge on Mono Lake to see its tufa formations and enjoy its remarkable scenery. Motels and restaurants are jammed, and the small town of Lee Vining, which sits at the eastern gateway to Yosemite National Park -- bustles.
But in winter, when the area is sugarcoated with fresh snow, the experience is much more serene, a good time to enjoy the beauty of the lake and the near solitude.
Besides, getting to Mono Lake is easy. It takes less than six hours to drive north from Los Angeles to Lee Vining, and most of it is along scenic U.S. Highway 395 as the Sierra's snowcapped summits urge you onward.
Mono Lake was formed about a million years ago, making it one of the oldest lakes in North America. The lake is 6,382 feet above sea level and sprawls across more than 45,000 acres. It's almost three times saltier than the Pacific Ocean. This inland sea contains brine shrimp, algae and alkali flies, which provide food for the thousands of birds that gather here during much of the year.
Mark Twain once said of Mono Lake, "There are no fish in Mono Lake -- no frogs, no snakes, no pollywogs -- nothing, in fact, that goes to make life desirable." But then, Twain was known to be a bit grumpy, and he probably never visited the lake in winter.
My longtime partner, Gloria, and I were undaunted by Twain's comments and decided to explore the wintry aspects of Mono Lake for ourselves in February. After cruising through Lone Pine and Bishop and continuing on past Mammoth Mountain, we arrived in time to see the afternoon sun glinting off the lake's surface.
We stopped first in Lee Vining at the office of the Mono Lake Committee, where an extensive collection of guidebooks, maps and other information is available about the lake and the region. The office is open seven days a week, and visitors are encouraged to ask questions. Geoff McQuilkin, the committee's executive director, told us, "Mono Lake is an exceptional experience any time of year. But, in winter, you get a sense of the lake's entire water cycle and how the system works. And you get the fabulous scenic views, because the lake highlights them."
Indeed, the lake does highlight the surrounding scenery. At sunrise and sunset, the snowy mountains glow red, yellow and orange at their most intense. Those colors also are reflected on the lake's surface and on the multifaceted tufa formations that rise up like otherworldly sentinels.
In fact, this winter setting has become a draw for nature photographers who sign up for special winter tours designed just for them. These increasingly popular photo expeditions are usually headquartered at Murphey's Motel in Lee Vining, where managers Bill and Nancy Boman answer questions and post some of their images on the office walls. We chose to stay there too, because we were told "that's where the photographers all hang out." The fact that the rooms were snugly warm, well-equipped and comfortable didn't hurt either.
However, the biggest draw for most people are the tufa formations. The most often asked question at the Mono Lake Committee's office is, "Where is the South Tufa grove?" Tufa is rock composed of calcium carbonate, or common limestone. It is formed when calcium-rich underwater springs in the lake combine with carbonates, known to cooks as baking soda, in the water. The result is calcium carbonate, which settles around the springs. Decades or even centuries later, these tufa formations slowly grow into towers that may climb to more than 30 feet tall. All this takes place underwater. So, if you had visited here before lake level plummeted following water diversions in 1941, you would not have seen them.
Today, they are a source of visitor amazement. In fact, they are so popular that, in 1981, the California Legislature established the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve to protect these somewhat fragile towers.
The tufa towers are even more striking in winter when snow clings to their rough surfaces. The snow does not last long around the lake because the water is so salty. But while it lasts, it creates a very unusual scene.
Our first morning in Lee Vining, there was almost a foot of fresh snow on the roof of our car. We forgot about breakfast, hurriedly threw on our parkas and headed over snow-covered roadways to the county park on the north side of the lake. There, a boardwalk provides access to one section of the lake. Because of its design, we were able to walk among some tufa towers on our way to the water's edge. Our warm breath hung in the chill air, and the fresh snow squeaked beneath our boots. After a round of picture-taking, I happily stepped into a pair of cross-country skis and glided off to view other parts of the lake.
That ski tour was a reminder that there is more to do at Mono Lake in winter than just sightsee. Opportunities for cross-country skiing are almost endless. For those with the necessary skills, backcountry skiing in the area is outstanding. Nearby June Mountain offers alpine skiing, with a wonderful view of Mono Lake from the top of the ski area. The better-known Mammoth Mountain ski area is not far away, and it is not unusual for skiers there to take a break from the lift lines and spend a day at Mono Lake.
Other activities include snowshoeing, snowmobiling and watching bald eagles from the June Lake loop and along the Walker River near Bridgeport. The famous gold-mining ghost town of Bodie remains open year-round, and winter access on snowmobiles or cross-country skis is a fascinating trip. However, check with the park rangers about rules and restrictions before heading to the old remnant of the region's gold-mining days.
While we were in the area, we learned that efforts have begun to open the U.S. Forest Service visitor center for the winter. At the moment, the center, with its great view of Mono Lake, is closed during the winter months.
As ranger Jon Kazmierski told us, "We have to heat it. This building was designed when energy was less expensive. Since then, technologies have improved. If we can make these changes, . . . we will able to open up and provide services year-round."
Lee Vining also has become a mecca for ice climbers. Frozen waterfalls in Lee Vining Canyon are known worldwide and offer multi-pitch routes ranging from beginner to expert level. Legend has it that it was on these frozen waterfalls that mountaineer and inventor Yvon Chouinard developed the tools that led to the modern ice-climbing revolution.
Veteran ice-climbing, skiing and mountaineering guide Robert S.P. Parker of the Sierra Mountain Center told us, "Lee Vining Canyon overall is a good place to learn ice climbing. Most of the routes can be top-roped, which makes it easier. You can go from the top down rather than the bottom up."
We got to wondering how Lee Vining got its name. Originally the town was named Lakeview, but it turned out that another California town had already claimed the name. So, the town fathers decided to name it after local miner and sawmill operator Leroy Vining. He had traveled from the small town of La Porte, Ind., to California in search of gold. (Coincidentally, La Porte is my hometown.)
Mono Lake also has an interesting winter phenomenon -- the Poconit fog. From time to time, this fog, which consists of ice crystals, rises like a dark cloud from the lake. Sometimes, it even creates "fogbows" -- rainbows in the fog created by sunlight on the ice crystals.
We stood at the South Tufa area on the banks of the lake and watched as the fog slowly rose, providing a dark gray screen through which very little light passed. The snow had fallen recently, and ours were the only footprints. The fog created an almost eerie light that helped inform our photos of the tufa towers. If Mark Twain had been with us, he might have reconsidered his harsh assessment.
[email protected]
Mono Lake's picture-perfect waters
Lake's tufa formations and the Eastern Sierra's other scenic wonders draw sightseers along with skiers and ice climbers.
By Dan Blackburn, Reporting from Lee Vining, Calif.
In summer, thousands of visitors converge on Mono Lake to see its tufa formations and enjoy its remarkable scenery. Motels and restaurants are jammed, and the small town of Lee Vining, which sits at the eastern gateway to Yosemite National Park -- bustles.
But in winter, when the area is sugarcoated with fresh snow, the experience is much more serene, a good time to enjoy the beauty of the lake and the near solitude.
Besides, getting to Mono Lake is easy. It takes less than six hours to drive north from Los Angeles to Lee Vining, and most of it is along scenic U.S. Highway 395 as the Sierra's snowcapped summits urge you onward.
Mono Lake was formed about a million years ago, making it one of the oldest lakes in North America. The lake is 6,382 feet above sea level and sprawls across more than 45,000 acres. It's almost three times saltier than the Pacific Ocean. This inland sea contains brine shrimp, algae and alkali flies, which provide food for the thousands of birds that gather here during much of the year.
Mark Twain once said of Mono Lake, "There are no fish in Mono Lake -- no frogs, no snakes, no pollywogs -- nothing, in fact, that goes to make life desirable." But then, Twain was known to be a bit grumpy, and he probably never visited the lake in winter.
My longtime partner, Gloria, and I were undaunted by Twain's comments and decided to explore the wintry aspects of Mono Lake for ourselves in February. After cruising through Lone Pine and Bishop and continuing on past Mammoth Mountain, we arrived in time to see the afternoon sun glinting off the lake's surface.
We stopped first in Lee Vining at the office of the Mono Lake Committee, where an extensive collection of guidebooks, maps and other information is available about the lake and the region. The office is open seven days a week, and visitors are encouraged to ask questions. Geoff McQuilkin, the committee's executive director, told us, "Mono Lake is an exceptional experience any time of year. But, in winter, you get a sense of the lake's entire water cycle and how the system works. And you get the fabulous scenic views, because the lake highlights them."
Indeed, the lake does highlight the surrounding scenery. At sunrise and sunset, the snowy mountains glow red, yellow and orange at their most intense. Those colors also are reflected on the lake's surface and on the multifaceted tufa formations that rise up like otherworldly sentinels.
In fact, this winter setting has become a draw for nature photographers who sign up for special winter tours designed just for them. These increasingly popular photo expeditions are usually headquartered at Murphey's Motel in Lee Vining, where managers Bill and Nancy Boman answer questions and post some of their images on the office walls. We chose to stay there too, because we were told "that's where the photographers all hang out." The fact that the rooms were snugly warm, well-equipped and comfortable didn't hurt either.
However, the biggest draw for most people are the tufa formations. The most often asked question at the Mono Lake Committee's office is, "Where is the South Tufa grove?" Tufa is rock composed of calcium carbonate, or common limestone. It is formed when calcium-rich underwater springs in the lake combine with carbonates, known to cooks as baking soda, in the water. The result is calcium carbonate, which settles around the springs. Decades or even centuries later, these tufa formations slowly grow into towers that may climb to more than 30 feet tall. All this takes place underwater. So, if you had visited here before lake level plummeted following water diversions in 1941, you would not have seen them.
Today, they are a source of visitor amazement. In fact, they are so popular that, in 1981, the California Legislature established the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve to protect these somewhat fragile towers.
The tufa towers are even more striking in winter when snow clings to their rough surfaces. The snow does not last long around the lake because the water is so salty. But while it lasts, it creates a very unusual scene.
Our first morning in Lee Vining, there was almost a foot of fresh snow on the roof of our car. We forgot about breakfast, hurriedly threw on our parkas and headed over snow-covered roadways to the county park on the north side of the lake. There, a boardwalk provides access to one section of the lake. Because of its design, we were able to walk among some tufa towers on our way to the water's edge. Our warm breath hung in the chill air, and the fresh snow squeaked beneath our boots. After a round of picture-taking, I happily stepped into a pair of cross-country skis and glided off to view other parts of the lake.
That ski tour was a reminder that there is more to do at Mono Lake in winter than just sightsee. Opportunities for cross-country skiing are almost endless. For those with the necessary skills, backcountry skiing in the area is outstanding. Nearby June Mountain offers alpine skiing, with a wonderful view of Mono Lake from the top of the ski area. The better-known Mammoth Mountain ski area is not far away, and it is not unusual for skiers there to take a break from the lift lines and spend a day at Mono Lake.
Other activities include snowshoeing, snowmobiling and watching bald eagles from the June Lake loop and along the Walker River near Bridgeport. The famous gold-mining ghost town of Bodie remains open year-round, and winter access on snowmobiles or cross-country skis is a fascinating trip. However, check with the park rangers about rules and restrictions before heading to the old remnant of the region's gold-mining days.
While we were in the area, we learned that efforts have begun to open the U.S. Forest Service visitor center for the winter. At the moment, the center, with its great view of Mono Lake, is closed during the winter months.
As ranger Jon Kazmierski told us, "We have to heat it. This building was designed when energy was less expensive. Since then, technologies have improved. If we can make these changes, . . . we will able to open up and provide services year-round."
Lee Vining also has become a mecca for ice climbers. Frozen waterfalls in Lee Vining Canyon are known worldwide and offer multi-pitch routes ranging from beginner to expert level. Legend has it that it was on these frozen waterfalls that mountaineer and inventor Yvon Chouinard developed the tools that led to the modern ice-climbing revolution.
Veteran ice-climbing, skiing and mountaineering guide Robert S.P. Parker of the Sierra Mountain Center told us, "Lee Vining Canyon overall is a good place to learn ice climbing. Most of the routes can be top-roped, which makes it easier. You can go from the top down rather than the bottom up."
We got to wondering how Lee Vining got its name. Originally the town was named Lakeview, but it turned out that another California town had already claimed the name. So, the town fathers decided to name it after local miner and sawmill operator Leroy Vining. He had traveled from the small town of La Porte, Ind., to California in search of gold. (Coincidentally, La Porte is my hometown.)
Mono Lake also has an interesting winter phenomenon -- the Poconit fog. From time to time, this fog, which consists of ice crystals, rises like a dark cloud from the lake. Sometimes, it even creates "fogbows" -- rainbows in the fog created by sunlight on the ice crystals.
We stood at the South Tufa area on the banks of the lake and watched as the fog slowly rose, providing a dark gray screen through which very little light passed. The snow had fallen recently, and ours were the only footprints. The fog created an almost eerie light that helped inform our photos of the tufa towers. If Mark Twain had been with us, he might have reconsidered his harsh assessment.
[email protected]
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCDv8Xd4kT8
Mando Muniz vs Thurman Durden
Mando Muniz vs Thurman Durden
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
lightweight prospect Amir Khan
February 26, 2009 by Edgar Gonzalez
The hype surrounding 22-year-old lightweight prospect may not be the same since his stunning first-round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott last September, but the 2004 Olympic silver medallist has the full confidence of his head trainer, Freddie Roach, as they prepare in Los Angeles for Khan’s showdown with multiple world champion “The Baby Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera, Saturday, March 14th at The M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round bouts featured on the “Khan-Barrera” pay-per-view card in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET - 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. Veteran blow-by-blow announcer Ian Darke and color analyst, former WBC lightweight champion Jim Watt, will be calling the action from ringside for Sky Box Office and Integrated Sports PPV.
Khan (19-1, 15 KOs), training at Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym, in preparation for multi-division champion Barrera (65-6, 42 KOs) in the main event. The two other PPV fights will be former WBO cruiserweight title-holder Enzo Maccarinelli (29-2, 22 KOs) against Ola “Kryptonite” Afolabi (13-1-3, 5 KOs) for the WBO cruiserweight championship, while WBO super featherweight champion Nicky “Cookie” Cook (29-1, 16 KOs) defends his title belt against Roman “Rocky” Martinez (21-0-1, 12 KOs).
Khan is coming off of a win by second-round TKO of Oisin Fagan. Shockingly, Roach favourably compares his prospect, Khan, with his ace, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. “Athleticism, speed…..everything,” Roach explained why he believes Amir will emerge victoriously. “Barrera’s best was at 122 and 126; Amir is a big 135-pounder. It’s the perfect time - 22-year-old kid against a 35-year-old veteran. We respect Barrera and there’s a lot we have to lookout from him. Barrera can set-up guys with his experience but we’ve really prepared for that.
“Amir reminds me a lot of Manny Pacquiao. They’re both very athletic and Amir is the only guy who can run with Manny. I remember Manny getting knocked out early in his career (by Rustico Torrecampo in 1996) and everybody writing him off. Amir came in on a bigger stage from the Olympics, but I believe he’ll rebound and become world champion. I brought Amir here (Wild Card) to camp to be with Manny and sparring together built Amir’s confidence. If he can do as well as he did with Manny, he can do as well against anybody. He just made a young man’s mistake against Prescott, going for the knockout, and he got caught. Anybody can get caught and Amir is perfecting his defense. He has come along well since his first fight (vs. Fagan) with me.”
Barrera, who has held world titles in three different weight classes during his 19-year pro career, holds wins against a Who’s Who of contemporary world champions and/or challengers such as Erik Morales (twice), Paulie Ayala, Prince Naseem Hamed, Kevin Kelly, Johnny Tapia, Robbie Peden, Mzonke Fana, and Rocky Juarez (twice).
Maccarinelli defeated Mohamed Azzaoui, Wayne Braithwite, Bobby Gunn, Marcelo Fabian Dominguez and Mark Hobson (twice) during his WBO title reign (2006-2008). The London-born Afolabi, now living in California, stopped previously unbeaten Eric Fields in the 10th round.
Cook won the WBO super featherweight title in his last fight, taking a 12-round unanimous decision from Alex Arthur (26-1) last September in The M.E.N. Arena.
February 26, 2009 by Edgar Gonzalez
The hype surrounding 22-year-old lightweight prospect may not be the same since his stunning first-round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott last September, but the 2004 Olympic silver medallist has the full confidence of his head trainer, Freddie Roach, as they prepare in Los Angeles for Khan’s showdown with multiple world champion “The Baby Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera, Saturday, March 14th at The M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round bouts featured on the “Khan-Barrera” pay-per-view card in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET - 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. Veteran blow-by-blow announcer Ian Darke and color analyst, former WBC lightweight champion Jim Watt, will be calling the action from ringside for Sky Box Office and Integrated Sports PPV.
Khan (19-1, 15 KOs), training at Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym, in preparation for multi-division champion Barrera (65-6, 42 KOs) in the main event. The two other PPV fights will be former WBO cruiserweight title-holder Enzo Maccarinelli (29-2, 22 KOs) against Ola “Kryptonite” Afolabi (13-1-3, 5 KOs) for the WBO cruiserweight championship, while WBO super featherweight champion Nicky “Cookie” Cook (29-1, 16 KOs) defends his title belt against Roman “Rocky” Martinez (21-0-1, 12 KOs).
Khan is coming off of a win by second-round TKO of Oisin Fagan. Shockingly, Roach favourably compares his prospect, Khan, with his ace, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. “Athleticism, speed…..everything,” Roach explained why he believes Amir will emerge victoriously. “Barrera’s best was at 122 and 126; Amir is a big 135-pounder. It’s the perfect time - 22-year-old kid against a 35-year-old veteran. We respect Barrera and there’s a lot we have to lookout from him. Barrera can set-up guys with his experience but we’ve really prepared for that.
“Amir reminds me a lot of Manny Pacquiao. They’re both very athletic and Amir is the only guy who can run with Manny. I remember Manny getting knocked out early in his career (by Rustico Torrecampo in 1996) and everybody writing him off. Amir came in on a bigger stage from the Olympics, but I believe he’ll rebound and become world champion. I brought Amir here (Wild Card) to camp to be with Manny and sparring together built Amir’s confidence. If he can do as well as he did with Manny, he can do as well against anybody. He just made a young man’s mistake against Prescott, going for the knockout, and he got caught. Anybody can get caught and Amir is perfecting his defense. He has come along well since his first fight (vs. Fagan) with me.”
Barrera, who has held world titles in three different weight classes during his 19-year pro career, holds wins against a Who’s Who of contemporary world champions and/or challengers such as Erik Morales (twice), Paulie Ayala, Prince Naseem Hamed, Kevin Kelly, Johnny Tapia, Robbie Peden, Mzonke Fana, and Rocky Juarez (twice).
Maccarinelli defeated Mohamed Azzaoui, Wayne Braithwite, Bobby Gunn, Marcelo Fabian Dominguez and Mark Hobson (twice) during his WBO title reign (2006-2008). The London-born Afolabi, now living in California, stopped previously unbeaten Eric Fields in the 10th round.
Cook won the WBO super featherweight title in his last fight, taking a 12-round unanimous decision from Alex Arthur (26-1) last September in The M.E.N. Arena.
-
dagosd2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 8638
- Joined: 01 Sep 2007, 03:31
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
THE PURPOSE OF A PEBBLE
I'm not myself right now. The anasthetic. No driving for 24 hours. Can't make it to the wive's luncheon tomorrow. Have to be back to the doctor's tomorrow morning for a follow up.
Not supposed to eat anything spicy,so the pizza is out. I'm not supposed to sign any documents for 24 hours. That must mean that I'm not myself. Can't see things clearly mentally or physically. Physically I can tell. The other part I'm not so sure. Maybe they have to tell me if I'm all right upstairs. I'm wearing this shield over this eye I had the surgery on. When I take it off I still might not be seeing clearly. I'm don't give a shit about the mental clarity. That's all a mtter of opinion anyway.
Watched TV waiting for the cataract operation. Saw the HBO documentary on Joe Louis. After the war the Coca Cola Company based in Atlanta makes Schmeling a multi millionaire as their representative in Germany. Joe Louis tries to pay back the IRS because he owes millions by being a wrestler. I remember the last day he was alive. I forget the fight where Joe was sitting ringside. They dressed him in a canary yellow jump suit and he sat there looking all alone with the Joe Louis face where you couldn't tell what was going through his mind. I remember whoever was announcing saying Joe Louis looked pretty good when they announced his name. The camera did a close up of his face. His lips were purple. His eyes rolled from side to side. I didn't think he looked good at all. His heart stopped beating that night.
Put in my video of Fellini's La Strada. Fellini put a lot of circuses in his movies. The Fool tells Gelsomina if a pebble has no purpose neither do the stars. Zampano cries on the beach saying he wants to be alone. So why is he crying?
Marciano was a topic I see. No one talks about his wife. If they do it's only in passing. The Marciano family wants to forget about her. Rocky seemed like he did. Not at home very much. My father didn't like her. I didn't want to pursue that.
So right now I'm not myself. When the drugs wear off I'll be myself. Tomorrow morning,I'll probably go back and delete this post. I bet I don't.
I'm not myself right now. The anasthetic. No driving for 24 hours. Can't make it to the wive's luncheon tomorrow. Have to be back to the doctor's tomorrow morning for a follow up.
Not supposed to eat anything spicy,so the pizza is out. I'm not supposed to sign any documents for 24 hours. That must mean that I'm not myself. Can't see things clearly mentally or physically. Physically I can tell. The other part I'm not so sure. Maybe they have to tell me if I'm all right upstairs. I'm wearing this shield over this eye I had the surgery on. When I take it off I still might not be seeing clearly. I'm don't give a shit about the mental clarity. That's all a mtter of opinion anyway.
Watched TV waiting for the cataract operation. Saw the HBO documentary on Joe Louis. After the war the Coca Cola Company based in Atlanta makes Schmeling a multi millionaire as their representative in Germany. Joe Louis tries to pay back the IRS because he owes millions by being a wrestler. I remember the last day he was alive. I forget the fight where Joe was sitting ringside. They dressed him in a canary yellow jump suit and he sat there looking all alone with the Joe Louis face where you couldn't tell what was going through his mind. I remember whoever was announcing saying Joe Louis looked pretty good when they announced his name. The camera did a close up of his face. His lips were purple. His eyes rolled from side to side. I didn't think he looked good at all. His heart stopped beating that night.
Put in my video of Fellini's La Strada. Fellini put a lot of circuses in his movies. The Fool tells Gelsomina if a pebble has no purpose neither do the stars. Zampano cries on the beach saying he wants to be alone. So why is he crying?
Marciano was a topic I see. No one talks about his wife. If they do it's only in passing. The Marciano family wants to forget about her. Rocky seemed like he did. Not at home very much. My father didn't like her. I didn't want to pursue that.
So right now I'm not myself. When the drugs wear off I'll be myself. Tomorrow morning,I'll probably go back and delete this post. I bet I don't.
-
dagosd2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 8638
- Joined: 01 Sep 2007, 03:31
-
Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
kikibalt wrote:Guys, any of you remember Lou Blades?
Lou Blades
Country USA
Global Id 63087
Division Welterweight
Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com
Date Opponent Location Result
1973-06-28 Andy Price Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1972-09-20 Rudy Cruz Fresno, USA L PTS 6
1972-07-10 Rosario Zavala Inglewood, USA W PTS 6
1971-10-07 Dave Oropeza Los Angeles, USA L PTS 10
1971-06-26 Jorge Rodriguez Long Beach, USA W PTS 6
1971-05-20 Marcos Geraldo Los Angeles, USA W KO 3
1971-02-25 Manuel Leal Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1971-02-04 Beto Gonzalez Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6
1970-10-22 Eltefat Talebi Los Angeles, USA L PTS 5
1970-09-25 Frank Bueno San Diego, USA W KO 2
1970-09-10 Pablo Rueda Los Angeles, USA W KO 1
1970-08-20 Larry Son Los Angeles, USA W KO 2
1970-07-29 David Arellano Las Vegas, USA W PTS 6
1970-07-17 Ricardo Alcarez San Diego, USA W KO 1
1970-06-18 Anselmo Martinez Los Angeles, USA W KO 4
Record to Date
Won 11 (KOs 6) Lost 4 Drawn 0 Total 15
Frank . . . I fought the night of Lou's fourth pro fight, at the Olympic. I remember his career was going pretty good until he fought a very awkward Eltifat Telabi. I remember that Talebi was from Eastern Europe and would overwhelm a lot of boxers with his strength, and lots of blows coming in from every angle. Telabi wasn't great, but Lou didn't know how to deal with the guy and dropped a decision. I lost of track of him after that, and seeing his final record is appreciated.
I can picture Lou Blades perfectly . . . Blue trucks, white shoes, stand up style, good jab, stiff straight puncher, not afraid to mix it up. If he had a guy hurt, he'd jump on them and try to end things early.
-Rick Farris
-
Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Roger, kick back and take it easy manana. We'll miss you, but I'm glad your OK. We'll all hook up soon down your way when Pug comes to town. You won't be missing much. Tomorrow night you got Juan Manuel Marquez on HBO if you're able to watch it. Take care, amigo.dagosd2000 wrote:THE PURPOSE OF A PEBBLE
I'm not myself right now. The anasthetic. No driving for 24 hours. Can't make it to the wive's luncheon tomorrow. Have to be back to the doctor's tomorrow morning for a follow up.
Not supposed to eat anything spicy,so the pizza is out. I'm not supposed to sign any documents for 24 hours. That must mean that I'm not myself. Can't see things clearly mentally or physically. Physically I can tell. The other part I'm not so sure. Maybe they have to tell me if I'm all right upstairs. I'm wearing this shield over this eye I had the surgery on. When I take it off I still might not be seeing clearly. I'm don't give a shit about the mental clarity. That's all a mtter of opinion anyway.
Watched TV waiting for the cataract operation. Saw the HBO documentary on Joe Louis. After the war the Coca Cola Company based in Atlanta makes Schmeling a multi millionaire as their representative in Germany. Joe Louis tries to pay back the IRS because he owes millions by being a wrestler. I remember the last day he was alive. I forget the fight where Joe was sitting ringside. They dressed him in a canary yellow jump suit and he sat there looking all alone with the Joe Louis face where you couldn't tell what was going through his mind. I remember whoever was announcing saying Joe Louis looked pretty good when they announced his name. The camera did a close up of his face. His lips were purple. His eyes rolled from side to side. I didn't think he looked good at all. His heart stopped beating that night.
Put in my video of Fellini's La Strada. Fellini put a lot of circuses in his movies. The Fool tells Gelsomina if a pebble has no purpose neither do the stars. Zampano cries on the beach saying he wants to be alone. So why is he crying?
Marciano was a topic I see. No one talks about his wife. If they do it's only in passing. The Marciano family wants to forget about her. Rocky seemed like he did. Not at home very much. My father didn't like her. I didn't want to pursue that.
So right now I'm not myself. When the drugs wear off I'll be myself. Tomorrow morning,I'll probably go back and delete this post. I bet I don't.
-Rick
-
Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Connie Baltazar . . .
In a story posted above, writer Michele Chong talks about Connie Baltazar, who will be honored tomorrow with other boxing wives and mothers. Although I never knew Connie, I remember a story that Frank told us about their son Tony, after he'd returned from a big Las Vegas fight with a huge wad of cash. What mama did is a story I will never forget.
-Rick
In a story posted above, writer Michele Chong talks about Connie Baltazar, who will be honored tomorrow with other boxing wives and mothers. Although I never knew Connie, I remember a story that Frank told us about their son Tony, after he'd returned from a big Las Vegas fight with a huge wad of cash. What mama did is a story I will never forget.
-Rick
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Frank and Rick, It pains me but I won't be with you guys tomorrow. I will be with you in spirit though. Frank, give my best to your beautiful wife Connie. I'm sorry I can't make it. You and Rick and the wives have a great time.
Rog, I'm glad you're feeling better(if not quite yourself). Get some good rest. You be yourself in no time at all.
I'm looking forward to the photos.
Randy
:(
Rog, I'm glad you're feeling better(if not quite yourself). Get some good rest. You be yourself in no time at all.
I'm looking forward to the photos.
Randy
:(Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Rick, I remember the story. I was touched too. What a great woman. She deserves her honors. Like I said in an earlier post. There is no one quite like mama.Rick Farris wrote:Connie Baltazar . . .
In a story posted above, writer Michele Chong talks about Connie Baltazar, who will be honored tomorrow with other boxing wives and mothers. Although I never knew Connie, I remember a story that Frank told us about their son Tony, after he'd returned from a big Las Vegas fight with a huge wad of cash. What mama did is a story I will never forget.
-Rick
Randy
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
We should all be so lucky to have a career like Ruben. Looking at his record, with very few exceptions, he lost only to the best. No shame in that. You can see he ducked no one. What more can you ask of a fighter.Rick Farris wrote:"Feed Him Beans . . ."
That was a classic Ruben Navarro quote.
I shared many dressing room with Navarro when he was coming up. We were stablemates and I fought on the undercard of a number of his bouts, such as his fights with Raul Rojas, Jimmy Robertson and Ken Buchanan.
How boxers act in the dressing room before a fight varies. Some relax, some stay quiet and, occasinally, you'll see guys who appear to be "dying a thousand deaths" (a Johnny Flores observation). Ruben was one of the latter. Navarro wore his nervousness on his sleeve. He would pace, hit his knees and pray, cross himself. There was a method to Ruben's madness and when he answered the opening bell he was already warmed up, wound up and ready to "fight for his life".
How many times I've see a strong fighter like Jimmy Robertson think he was going to trap Ruben in a corner. Cornering Ruben was like cornering a wildcat. He would find a way to escape, even if it meant crawling right thru his opponents legs. Ruben was very flexible and could bend and weave his way out of trouble and then suddenly be on top of his opponent and dishing out a beating. The "Maravilla Kid" was a master at turning the tables on an opponent. Navarro was a survivor and a conquerer. That was Ruben Navarro.
I'll always remember what Ruben would tell me as I would leave the dressing room to open one of his shows . . .
"Feed him beans, Ricky!"
-Rick Farris
I never saw Ruben fight but my father saw him fight on numerous occasions. He was on of my father's local favorites. It just occurred to me right now that my father probably say you fight as well, especially if you fought on the undercard of Rodolfo "El Gato's" Gonzalez' fights, who was also one of my father's favorites. He saw them all. he was lucky to be a fan in Los Angeles during it's best days. I wonder what he would think of the fighters today?
That saying "Feed him beans" has been around for a long time. The way I heard it was" F*ck'em and feed'em beans".
Have a great time tomorrow.
Randy
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Rog, even when you aren't feeling your best you're still churning them out like Hemingway.dagosd2000 wrote:THE PURPOSE OF A PEBBLE
I'm not myself right now. The anasthetic. No driving for 24 hours. Can't make it to the wive's luncheon tomorrow. Have to be back to the doctor's tomorrow morning for a follow up.
Not supposed to eat anything spicy,so the pizza is out. I'm not supposed to sign any documents for 24 hours. That must mean that I'm not myself. Can't see things clearly mentally or physically. Physically I can tell. The other part I'm not so sure. Maybe they have to tell me if I'm all right upstairs. I'm wearing this shield over this eye I had the surgery on. When I take it off I still might not be seeing clearly. I'm don't give a shit about the mental clarity. That's all a mtter of opinion anyway.
Watched TV waiting for the cataract operation. Saw the HBO documentary on Joe Louis. After the war the Coca Cola Company based in Atlanta makes Schmeling a multi millionaire as their representative in Germany. Joe Louis tries to pay back the IRS because he owes millions by being a wrestler. I remember the last day he was alive. I forget the fight where Joe was sitting ringside. They dressed him in a canary yellow jump suit and he sat there looking all alone with the Joe Louis face where you couldn't tell what was going through his mind. I remember whoever was announcing saying Joe Louis looked pretty good when they announced his name. The camera did a close up of his face. His lips were purple. His eyes rolled from side to side. I didn't think he looked good at all. His heart stopped beating that night.
Put in my video of Fellini's La Strada. Fellini put a lot of circuses in his movies. The Fool tells Gelsomina if a pebble has no purpose neither do the stars. Zampano cries on the beach saying he wants to be alone. So why is he crying?
Marciano was a topic I see. No one talks about his wife. If they do it's only in passing. The Marciano family wants to forget about her. Rocky seemed like he did. Not at home very much. My father didn't like her. I didn't want to pursue that.
So right now I'm not myself. When the drugs wear off I'll be myself. Tomorrow morning,I'll probably go back and delete this post. I bet I don't.
Randy
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Guys, I just found out late this afternoon that a long-time employee in one of my companies has inoperable liver cancer. Her only hope is a liver transplant. I would ask those of you who believe in the power of prayer to lift her up when your knees hit the floor tonight. Her name is Anita.
She has worked for our company since it began and is a much beloved employee and friend. Her daughter Alyssa has grown up in the company. She could use your prayers too.
Thanks guys.
She has worked for our company since it began and is a much beloved employee and friend. Her daughter Alyssa has grown up in the company. She could use your prayers too.
Thanks guys.
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HomicideHenry
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 18722
- Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Anita and her family will be kept in out prayers Tom. I am a believer in the power of prayer.raylawpc wrote:Guys, I just found out late this afternoon that a long-time employee in one of my companies has inoperable liver cancer. Her only hope is a liver transplant. I would ask those of you who believe in the power of prayer to lift her up when your knees hit the floor tonight. Her name is Anita.
She has worked for our company since it began and is a much beloved employee and friend. Her daughter Alyssa has grown up in the company. She could use your prayers too.
Thanks guys.
Randy