Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

This is for, Hap.



Today, Monica and I passed by the old Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Today it is a Balley's Fitness Center.

I regret not having a camera with us. Of course, it's nothing like it once was.

I stopped by the Blue Palm, a place that was once the favorite watering hole of Hap Navarro and the Holllwood Legion fight crowd. The stories Hap shared about the Blue Palm are some of my favorite because they take us into the world of boxing that is never seen by the fans.

Today, the Blue Palm is a Micro-Brewery and small event venue. My intention was to get info for the WBHOF relating to booking it for a small event in the future. The place was closed, so I'll check it out inthe future and maybe take a few snap shots of the Legion and the Blue Palms.

Taped to the front door was an event calender which may give an idea what the Blue Palms is doing today. I removed it and now post it here. Looks like a punk band venue-micro brew at the moment.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Frank
There used to be a little Mexican restaurant a few blocks from the Coliseum called The Rancho Grande. That end of town was starting to get filled up with homeless ,winos,and hypes. The area wasn't lighted very well at night,but after a night of drinkin' and watchin' the fights,The Rancho Grande was always on my agenda.

They had this waitress there named Ofelia.You could tell she'd been around the block a few times,but she looked kind of sexy to me especially after getting liquored up. She wasn't shy either about sticking her tits at you and battin' her phony eyelashes . That with her hair stickin' out from all the spray net and her skimpy skirts. The place was a hole in the wall, and to be honest the food was greasy. But when I'm drunk greasy food tastes pretty good. Since I was three sheets to the wind every time I set foot in there,I always opted for the menudo.

Ofelia would always tell me if it was freshly made. Whether it was fit for eatin'. After slopping down a bowl of that stuff,Ofelia would ask me to carry out the trash to the back where the alley was. She'd always follow me out there. Put it this way,I was always happy to empty the trash for Ofelia.

[Wildhawke11]

Rog
Stop posting those photo's of your wife's cooking i did it last night and i am doing it again. Every time i see those pics i have to go to my fridge and get something to eat. Right now i am munching away on a piece of spiced chicken. Thankfully it tastes good.

Tell your loved one to put out another plate on the table Rog be there tomorrow -- I wish
Danny

[dagosd2000]

A SEAT AT THE END OF THE BAR

Keeny Teran has been discussed about his drug problem. Denny Moyer and Ronnie Wilson crossed my path. Booze was their nemesis. Sometimes training was just a way to dry out. Stay away from temptation by going up to the woods and sweat all the poison out. They can test for drugs, and if it comes up they can yank your license. Booze? There's no test for that shellac. But I've seen it eat up careers. Some of the fellas' become more acquainted with it after they retire,but they didn't shy away from it while they were fighting either.

I'll never forget the night I saw Manny Ortiz in one those sailor bars downtown in San Diego. A friend of mine's father owned the place. He had lost his liquor license for serving minors ,but owned the joint sub rosa. In another guy's name. I used to see this old guy come in and talk to the owner at the far end of the bar.He was Mexican. Every bar has its regimented seating for priority guests. In this place it was the far end by the office. The owner and his friends sat there. An unwritten rule. I'd mozy over there too. Finally one night the old guy I was talking about came in and sat with my friends father at the far end of the bar. This time something struck me. It was a face I'd seen before,but I couldn't place it. The old guy walked out so I asked the boss who the guy was. He says Manual Ortiz.

I didn't know what to make of it. To be quite honest, this watering hole was a dive. Low lifes and sailors, and of course me. I didn't want to see Manny Ortiz in an establishment like that. But who was I to give counseling? I had nothoing to say.

I was always in the joint. It was one of the low points of my life. I wanted to see Manny Ortiz again even though I thought the place was beneath his dignity. He never showed up again. I forget how long it was, but I remember picking up the sports section of the paper one day. On the back page in the bottom corner was a sports obituary. About two sentences. Something like Manual Ortiz,ex bantam weight champ(and then they gave the years he held the belt)died in a hospital of liver disease.

It was kind of after that I slowed down going into that bar. Just didn't feel comfortable in there anymore.

Roger . . . I remember Manuel Ortiz's obituary from a major boxing magazine. A photo of Ortiz showed him in a field in El Centro, kind of kneeling on the ground, smiling. It was long after his career had ended. In the photo, I saw a relaxed smile, but a saddness in his eyes. Maybe I am wrong, I didn't know the man, just a feeling I sensed.

-Rick Farris

Rick
I never knew him either. That's why Hap and Frank are so valuable to me. I just shut up and listen.

[dagosd2000]

Rog
Stop posting those photo's of your wife's cooking i did it last night and i am doing it again. Every time i see those pics i have to go to my fridge and get something to eat. Right now i am munching away on a piece of spiced chicken. Thankfully it tastes good.

Tell your loved one to put out another plate on the table Rog be there tomorrow -- I wish
Danny

Danny
This is for you and anyone on the thread. Let me know when you're in town. My wife has always got something on the stove. Rog.

[kikibalt]

A SEAT AT THE END OF THE BAR

Keeny Teran has been discussed about his drug problem. Denny Moyer and Ronnie Wilson crossed my path. Booze was their nemesis. Sometimes training was just a way to dry out. Stay away from temptation by going up to the woods and sweat all the poison out. They can test for drugs, and if it comes up they can yank your license. Booze? There's no test for that shellac. But I've seen it eat up careers. Some of the fellas' become more acquainted with it after they retire,but they didn't shy away from it while they were fighting either.

I'll never forget the night I saw Manny Ortiz in one those sailor bars downtown in San Diego. A friend of mine's father owned the place. He had lost his liquor license for serving minors ,but owned the joint sub rosa. In another guy's name. I used to see this old guy come in and talk to the owner at the far end of the bar.He was Mexican. Every bar has its regimented seating for priority guests. In this place it was the far end by the office. The owner and his friends sat there. An unwritten rule. I'd mozy over there too. Finally one night the old guy I was talking about came in and sat with my friends father at the far end of the bar. This time something struck me. It was a face I'd seen before,but I couldn't place it. The old guy walked out so I asked the boss who the guy was. He says Manual Ortiz.

I didn't know what to make of it. To be quite honest, this watering hole was a dive. Low lifes and sailors, and of course me. I didn't want to see Manny Ortiz in an establishment like that. But who was I to give counseling? I had nothoing to say.

I was always in the joint. It was one of the low points of my life. I wanted to see Manny Ortiz again even though I thought the place was beneath his dignity. He never showed up again. I forget how long it was, but I remember picking up the sports section of the paper one day. On the back page in the bottom corner was a sports obituary. About two sentences. Something like Manual Ortiz,ex bantam weight champ(and then they gave the years he held the belt)died in a hospital of liver disease.

It was kind of after that I slowed down going into that bar. Just didn't feel comfortable in there anymore.

Roger . . . I remember Manuel Ortiz's obituary from a major boxing magazine. A photo of Ortiz showed him in a field in El Centro, kind of kneeling on the ground, smiling. It was long after his career had ended. In the photo, I saw a relaxed smile, but a saddness in his eyes. Maybe I am wrong, I didn't know the man, just a feeling I sensed.

-Rick Farris

Rick
I never knew him either. That's why Hap and Frank are so valuable to me. I just shut up and listen.

I never met the man myself, though I did see him fight live 2-3 time late in his career, Hap would be the man to tell us about Ortiz.

[dagosd2000]

Brian
Isn't St. Paddy's Day coming up? Rick,Frank,you better come up with some Quarry brothers stories. I still have a few Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer yarns I can throw out there. I think I used up all my Bob Murphy stories though.

[dagosd2000]

Frank
I wish I could have seen Manny fight instead of at the Orient Bar. :(

[dagosd2000]

Hap
If you're out there tonight and read about my Bob Murphy stories,they ain't really mine. Bob Murphy was handled in the amateurs by a guy named George Radovich. He ran a bar in Ocean Beach(San Diego) called the Arizona Cafe. Murphy was regular at The Arizona. The old timers told me some stories about Murphy in that place that would split my gut. I can't wait to get a copy of the thread compliments of John Bardelli. I posted some of those stories that were passed along to me. I don't want you to think that I personally knew Murphy. However,I wish that I had. Rog

[Expug]

Brian
Isn't St. Paddy's Day coming up? Rick,Frank,you better come up with some Quarry brothers stories. I still have a few Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer yarns I can throw out there. I think I used up all my Bob Murphy stories though.

March the 17th is Paddys day Rog.
I love all those stories about Moyer and Murphy. They are classics. They dont make em like that anymore I dont think.
These are the types of guys that we enjoy talking about. The characters , the guys that make boxing fun.
I have a few good stories from back many years ago working as a "doorman" in a couple Irish Bars here.
When I see you guys, we will spin a few of these tales over a couple sasparillas.
Stories that might make Frankie Crawford proud.

[kikibalt]

A few pages back, Hap and I were posting about singer Ruben Reyes and today I received this e-mail, which I forward to Hap been that he remember Reyes real well.

Ruben Reyes
Hi. I noticed that you left a message saying you use to go to the boxing matches with your uncle and Ruben Reyes. Ruben is my grandfather and I'm trying to find out his history. Both he and my grandmother past away and the family can't find many of his records or pictures. Would you happen to have any? Or any stories? It would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Terah Stout

[dagosd2000]

Brian
Isn't St. Paddy's Day coming up? Rick,Frank,you better come up with some Quarry brothers stories. I still have a few Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer yarns I can throw out there. I think I used up all my Bob Murphy stories though.

March the 17th is Paddys day Rog.
I love all those stories about Moyer and Murphy. They are classics. They dont make em like that anymore I dont think.
These are the types of guys that we enjoy talking about. The characters , the guys that make boxing fun.
I have a few good stories from back many years ago working as a "doorman" in a couple Irish Bars here.
When I see you guys, we will spin a few of these tales over a couple sasparillas.
Stories that might make Frankie Crawford proud.

Brian
After you wup ass on the competition here in San Diego,I lined up a few Irish bars we can get acqauinted with. Rog

[Rick Farris]

Brian
Isn't St. Paddy's Day coming up? Rick,Frank,you better come up with some Quarry brothers stories. I still have a few Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer yarns I can throw out there. I think I used up all my Bob Murphy stories though.

March the 17th is Paddys day Rog.
I love all those stories about Moyer and Murphy. They are classics. They dont make em like that anymore I dont think.
These are the types of guys that we enjoy talking about. The characters , the guys that make boxing fun.
I have a few good stories from back many years ago working as a "doorman" in a couple Irish Bars here.
When I see you guys, we will spin a few of these tales over a couple sasparillas.
Stories that might make Frankie Crawford proud.

Brian
After you wup ass on the competition here in San Diego,I lined up a few Irish bars we can get acqauinted with. Rog [/q

[Rick Farris]

This is for, Hap.



Today, Monica and I passed by the old Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Today it is a Balley's Fitness Center.

I regret not having a camera with us. Of course, it's nothing like it once was.

I stopped by the Blue Palm, a place that was once the favorite watering hole of Hap Navarro and the Holllwood Legion fight crowd. The stories Hap shared about the Blue Palm are some of my favorite because they take us into the world of boxing that is never seen by the fans.

Today, the Blue Palm is a Micro-Brewery and small event venue. My intention was to get info for the WBHOF relating to booking it for a small event in the future. The place was closed, so I'll check it out inthe future and maybe take a few snap shots of the Legion and the Blue Palms.

Taped to the front door was an event calender which may give an idea what the Blue Palms is doing today. I removed it and now post it here. Looks like a punk band venue-micro brew at the moment.


-Rick Farris

"Hap Navarro . . . I can knock you out in 42 rounds"

-Speedy Dado

[Dongee]

This is for, Hap.



Today, Monica and I passed by the old Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Today it is a Balley's Fitness Center.

I regret not having a camera with us. Of course, it's nothing like it once was.

I stopped by the Blue Palm, a place that was once the favorite watering hole of Hap Navarro and the Holllwood Legion fight crowd. The stories Hap shared about the Blue Palm are some of my favorite because they take us into the world of boxing that is never seen by the fans.

Today, the Blue Palm is a Micro-Brewery and small event venue. My intention was to get info for the WBHOF relating to booking it for a small event in the future. The place was closed, so I'll check it out inthe future and maybe take a few snap shots of the Legion and the Blue Palms.

Taped to the front door was an event calender which may give an idea what the Blue Palms is doing today. I removed it and now post it here. Looks like a punk band venue-micro brew at the moment.


-Rick Farris

"Hap Navarro . . . I can knock you out in 42 rounds"

-Speedy Dado

Memories, Rick, Rog, Kiki, Randy, you all.....You would have enjoyed being at the old Blue Palm on a Legion fight night. There's Jackie McCoy talking up one of his fighters; the LA Times John Hall, never at the bar, always at a booth or table;; fight managers dancing with their wives but only when the media guys would stop listening to their sales pitch. And behind the plank, serving up the drinks two distringuished barkeeps, ex-champ Ceferino Garcia and ex-Dead End Kid Bobby Jordan. If you wanted to drink with me, you did it at the Blue Palm, my office away from my office across the way

hap navarro

[Rick Farris]

This is for, Hap.



Today, Monica and I passed by the old Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Today it is a Balley's Fitness Center.

I regret not having a camera with us. Of course, it's nothing like it once was.

I stopped by the Blue Palm, a place that was once the favorite watering hole of Hap Navarro and the Holllwood Legion fight crowd. The stories Hap shared about the Blue Palm are some of my favorite because they take us into the world of boxing that is never seen by the fans.

Today, the Blue Palm is a Micro-Brewery and small event venue. My intention was to get info for the WBHOF relating to booking it for a small event in the future. The place was closed, so I'll check it out inthe future and maybe take a few snap shots of the Legion and the Blue Palms.

Taped to the front door was an event calender which may give an idea what the Blue Palms is doing today. I removed it and now post it here. Looks like a punk band venue-micro brew at the moment.


-Rick Farris

"Hap Navarro . . . I can knock you out in 42 rounds"

-Speedy Dado

Memories, Rick, Rog, Kiki, Randy, you all.....You would have enjoyed being at the old Blue Palm on a Legion fight night. There's Jackie McCoy talking up one of his fighters; the LA Times John Hall, never at the bar, always at a booth or table; Don Fraser with radio's Hank Weaver at the bar, never at a table; fight managers dancing with their wives but only when the media guys would stop listening to their sales pitch. And behind the plank, serving up the drinks two distringuished barkeeps, ex-champ Ceferino Garcia and ex-Dead End Kid Bobby Jordan. If you wanted to drink with me, you did it at the Blue Palm, my office away from my office across the way

hap navarro

Hap . . . I know that the Blue Palm may have changed during the past half century, as has the building that once housed the highest caliber fight arena in Southern Cal, maybe the world. I know that nobody involved with the WBHOF, aside from myself and the spirit of boxing, will truly understand or respect the reason I seek out the "Blue Palms" for a possible event venue for the future. However, if a WBHOF event should ever be held there, I will take a moment and attempt to share what the Blue Palms was once to the world of boxing. Maybe a few in the audience will acknowledge my message, most, probably not?

However, I know what I will do.
I will order Jackie McCoy's drink, a "boilermaker", and then I'll toast our friend, Hap Navarro.


-Rick Farris

[bennie]

They showed Duarte-Davila II over here (delayed, as ever) and it was a pure drama throughout - an absolute classic. I seem to remember that Davila looked unlucky but you couldn't begrudge Frankie.
Disappointingly, I also seem to remember (from TV) that the crowd was small. There were some great fights in LA in the late 1980s and yet nobody seemed to be there.

Bennie....I remember a good size crowd, I won't put up any numbers, but no it was not a small. crowd.

That's good. The ol' memory, you know.

[kikibalt]

Jerry Quarry vs Floyd Patterson II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dJ8N2Gmgmw

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB4rwS242b0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShjWMk5OWXY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoCm7Ff1zNQ

[dagosd2000]

This is for, Hap.



Today, Monica and I passed by the old Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Today it is a Balley's Fitness Center.

I regret not having a camera with us. Of course, it's nothing like it once was.

I stopped by the Blue Palm, a place that was once the favorite watering hole of Hap Navarro and the Holllwood Legion fight crowd. The stories Hap shared about the Blue Palm are some of my favorite because they take us into the world of boxing that is never seen by the fans.

Today, the Blue Palm is a Micro-Brewery and small event venue. My intention was to get info for the WBHOF relating to booking it for a small event in the future. The place was closed, so I'll check it out inthe future and maybe take a few snap shots of the Legion and the Blue Palms.

Taped to the front door was an event calender which may give an idea what the Blue Palms is doing today. I removed it and now post it here. Looks like a punk band venue-micro brew at the moment.


-Rick Farris

"Hap Navarro . . . I can knock you out in 42 rounds"

-Speedy Dado

Memories, Rick, Rog, Kiki, Randy, you all.....You would have enjoyed being at the old Blue Palm on a Legion fight night. There's Jackie McCoy talking up one of his fighters; the LA Times John Hall, never at the bar, always at a booth or table;; fight managers dancing with their wives but only when the media guys would stop listening to their sales pitch. And behind the plank, serving up the drinks two distringuished barkeeps, ex-champ Ceferino Garcia and ex-Dead End Kid Bobby Jordan. If you wanted to drink with me, you did it at the Blue Palm, my office away from my office across the way

hap navarro

Hap
My dad used to sit back and talk about the Mob in Chcago. Capone,Nitti,Diamond Joe...et al. Your stories are of that style and presence. I'm all ears Rog

[Rick Farris]

Brian
Isn't St. Paddy's Day coming up? Rick,Frank,you better come up with some Quarry brothers stories. I still have a few Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer yarns I can throw out there. I think I used up all my Bob Murphy stories though.

March the 17th is Paddys day Rog.
I love all those stories about Moyer and Murphy. They are classics. They dont make em like that anymore I dont think.
These are the types of guys that we enjoy talking about. The characters , the guys that make boxing fun.
I have a few good stories from back many years ago working as a "doorman" in a couple Irish Bars here.
When I see you guys, we will spin a few of these tales over a couple sasparillas.
Stories that might make Frankie Crawford proud.

Brian
After you wup ass on the competition here in San Diego,I lined up a few Irish bars we can get acqauinted with. Rog

Brian . . . I regret that I will not be able to attend the Judo Championships next month. It's something that I was looking forward too.

-Rick

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Brian
Isn't St. Paddy's Day coming up? Rick,Frank,you better come up with some Quarry brothers stories. I still have a few Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer yarns I can throw out there. I think I used up all my Bob Murphy stories though.

March the 17th is Paddys day Rog.
I love all those stories about Moyer and Murphy. They are classics. They dont make em like that anymore I dont think.
These are the types of guys that we enjoy talking about. The characters , the guys that make boxing fun.
I have a few good stories from back many years ago working as a "doorman" in a couple Irish Bars here.
When I see you guys, we will spin a few of these tales over a couple sasparillas.
Stories that might make Frankie Crawford proud.

Rick,
You can throw in a story or two about the infamous Mike Nixon who was just smart enough to marry into the Quarry family! I crossed paths with Nixon when he was training at Newman's in S.F. and you could tell he was a character then. By the way, what ever became of Mike Nixon?
Bruce

[raylawpc]

Brian
Isn't St. Paddy's Day coming up? Rick,Frank,you better come up with some Quarry brothers stories. I still have a few Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer yarns I can throw out there. I think I used up all my Bob Murphy stories though.

March the 17th is Paddys day Rog.
I love all those stories about Moyer and Murphy. They are classics. They dont make em like that anymore I dont think.
These are the types of guys that we enjoy talking about. The characters , the guys that make boxing fun.
I have a few good stories from back many years ago working as a "doorman" in a couple Irish Bars here.
When I see you guys, we will spin a few of these tales over a couple sasparillas.
Stories that might make Frankie Crawford proud.

Rick,
You can throw in a story or two about the infamous Mike Nixon who was just smart enough to marry into the Quarry family! I crossed paths with Nixon when he was training at Newman's in S.F. and you could tell he was a character then. By the way, what ever became of Mike Nixon?
Bruce

I've always said Mike Nixon was the bravest man who ever lived. Can you imagine dating a Quarry girl and having Jack, Jerry and Mike waiting on the other side of the door if you brought her home late ? ! ? !

[Dongee]

Rog:

I spent the first year of my eight seasons with the Legion Stadium listening to and marveling at the colorful languae, the emphatic gestures and the overly pugnacious attitudes of some of our local fight mob. Damon Runyon would have loved them all, methinks. I was lucky

hap

[Randyman]

I wanted to share this with you guys here on this thread. My son wrote this about me a couple of years ago when he was overseas. I hope you don't mind me posting it here. He wrote it on a website that he knew I visited from time to time. He never said a word. I ran across it not too long after he wrote it. As I was reading it I didn't realize it was my son who wrote it, until I saw his name. His words mean a lot to me. He stayed in Seattle after getting out of the service and I miss him more than I can say but I know I raised a man and I am content with that.


"I don't know where to begin, my father has influenced almost every aspect of my life, not because he overshadows me but because of the lessons he has taught me. Not a day goes by when I don't come across a problem and realize that I have already been taught the answer. All the values that I now hold dear to me honor, respect, loyalty, integrity and hard work stem from simply watching him be himself. I have been all over the world and have broken bread with many different people and I have never met someone with the same character, humbleness and heart as my father. And while he would have you believe he is simply an everyman he is anything but. There was never a time in my life when I didn't have his support or advice at my ready. And like my father and my grandfather I learned a lot of life's lessons the hard way, still I was never judged only advised. Always encouraged with a hand on my back helping to steady me on my rocky path. My father promised early on that he would always be in my corner and he has never faltered. As I write this I am across the world and I can still hear his words ringing in my ear "Son you can do anything you put your mind to, I believe in you with all my heart." I know I never could have become the man I am today if it were not for the man who showed me the way. I love you pop-que paso ese?"

Andrew James De La O
4/26/2005

[Randyman]

Brian
Isn't St. Paddy's Day coming up? Rick,Frank,you better come up with some Quarry brothers stories. I still have a few Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer yarns I can throw out there. I think I used up all my Bob Murphy stories though.

March the 17th is Paddys day Rog.
I love all those stories about Moyer and Murphy. They are classics. They dont make em like that anymore I dont think.
These are the types of guys that we enjoy talking about. The characters , the guys that make boxing fun.
I have a few good stories from back many years ago working as a "doorman" in a couple Irish Bars here.
When I see you guys, we will spin a few of these tales over a couple sasparillas.
Stories that might make Frankie Crawford proud.

Rick,
You can throw in a story or two about the infamous Mike Nixon who was just smart enough to marry into the Quarry family! I crossed paths with Nixon when he was training at Newman's in S.F. and you could tell he was a character then. By the way, what ever became of Mike Nixon?
Bruce

Bruce. I remember Mike Nixon well. Mel was still his manager and trainer for about a year after I joined up with him. Nixon cared a lot about Mel, I know that for a fact but he made a career decision to go with Ralph Gambina. Mel was more bothered by that than he let on. Mike and Mel remained friends to the best of my memory.

I remember Mel never wanted me to spar with Nixon. I was just starting out and I always sparred hard. Mel knew this. I asked him one day "Mel, what's the reason you don't want me sparring with Mike?" His answer was "Because you hit too hard and if you land a good one, you'll piss him off, then he'll kick your ass". I didn't do much for my ego. I have a vague memory of sparring with Mike. It's so vague that it seems like a dream. So I'm not sure if we did or not. It's probably a good thing.

Mike had a temper. That I remember. I know he got in a lot of weekend scuffles. Mike was always very courteous to me. All my memories of him are good ones. I didn't know him as well as Rick did and I have no idea whatever happened to him. Seems I recall that Mel thought the Quarry's had a lot to due with influencing Nixon, in a less than positive way. I could be remembering wrong. Rick would know better.