The "White Suits" . . .kikibalt wrote:Rick...The time that I spent running the Jr. program was with out a doubt the most rewarding period that I spent in boxing, getting to know all the kids from differed clubs, puting the shows together, my boys fought for the Teamsters Boys Club, as did Frankie Duarte, so I got to know Frankie good back in those days, there were other kids that fought for the Teamsters Boys Club under different trainers, my boys, Frankie Duarte, Johnny Jensen. et al. fought for the Louie J. wing of the club, when Frankie Duarte was getting ready to go pro, Louie talked to me about him and I been co-mangers but, before we could sigh Frankie up Johnny Cabrera stole Frankie & Johnny Jensen from Louie, not long after that my boys out grew the Jrs and we had to move on, which happen just in time, because that about the time when all those guys and some gals too in all white started running all the amateurs....
Frank . . . I hate those phony bastards in their white uniforms, their ridiculous rules, all that head-guard crap that get kids hit more than without it. They really have the attitude too, like this is one area of life "they are in control" so don't look at them wrong. We did have it great
We didn't have everybody registered with the FBI, Immigration Dept., CIA, whatever else you must clear today to be an "acceptable" amateur athlete. Fighters come off the street, not off a college campus. But I won't preach to the choir, you know. I will always have a special respect for my friend, Greg Goossen, for his method of dealing with an arrogant "Official in White". At the time, Greg and I liked to drink a bit and I ran into him at a San Fernando Valley watering hole with our friend, the late actor, Victor French. Somehow, we all ended up at Goossen's North Hollywood home, which was on a big cul-d-sac and had a backyard gym on the lot, the original "Ten Goose Boxing Gym".
Greg was going to show us a video of a recent Frankie Duarte fight where he won the Stroh's $100,000 pro tournement at the Forum. I don't know what happened, but I woke up to the phone ringing on Greg's coffee table. Goossen came out of his room and asked if I wanted to join he and Joe at an amateur card in Ventura. "We're bringing Gabe and Rafael", he said. I was in. I hadn't yet seen the Ruelas brothers box outside the gym and I knew they had styles like professionals. They could both close the show with a single punch.
When we get to the event, we're a little late. The Ruelas brothers and Joe were fresh-faced and ready. Greg and I were hungover, neither of us are known for having patience. We need to find the dressing room and Greg spots an official looking tower, with "white uniforms" milling about. Greg approaches a tall, thin, pasty skinned greying official, his white slacks and shirt neatly pressed. Greg trys to get the guy's attention, but he is not interested in responding to Goossen. Greg finally walks up and taps the man on the shoulder. The man turns with a look of surprise on his face, looks down his nose at Goossen and asks, "yes?"
Greg looks like a bum, unshaven, you can still smell the previous nights booze on him. Greg asks the U.S. Boxing official, "Where's the fighter's dressing room?"
A look of shock comes over the official's face. "You mean the 'boxer's' dressing rooms. They are boxers, not "fighters", the official told Greg. Goossen's face suddenly turned into a smile, "Well I've got two FIGHTERS here, and if your boxers can't fight, then they are in big trouble!"
The snooty official just shook his head, but thought better of challenging Greg. He pointed to the other end of the building, and we walked off, with the two FIGHTERS
-Rick Farris
(And just for the record, Gabe flattened a "boxer" with a brutal left hook to the chin. Out cold in less than 30 seconds. Rafael's bout was also stopped in the first round, when a young "boxer" began to bleed from the nose, and a "white uniform" official stopped the bout. I guess "boxers" aren't supposed to bleed. Imagine that!)
