Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Rick:

That would have to be sometime in the early 1950s. The house you mentioned was also there at the time, and was owned by Paul Matty, as far as we knew.

hap navarro

Hap . . . I'll file this one away for the future. Now I know the start of the Hoover Street Gym, which is still open today. It's changed hands several times, I think Bill Slayton had it for awhile (?), and I believe Jimmy Montoya has it now? Maybe Kevin Morgan, as well? I could be wrong, maybe Frank knows?

-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

THE SIT DOWN

I've alluded on the thread recently about fighters who didn't have it. Spud Murphy was one of the fellas' I talked about. His father wanted him to be a champ. The poor kid couldn't win in the prelims. He would take some awfull beatings. The Commission grabbed his license because he had suffered some brain damage. His father who ran a gym, let him spar with the fighters anyway. Spud died one day in that gym collapsing in the shower.

Remebering Spud Murphy was linking his situation with my grandson Adam. Adam is the nicest boy you'd ever meet. He's sensitive and well behaved. He's kind and loves his parents very much. But his dad wants him to be a rough tough guy. Adam is eight.

His dad has put him in Karate. He goes everyday because his dad wants him to. Adam will try anything that his dad asks him to do without complaining.

Adam is not a very aggresive kid. We saw that in T Ball and Soccer. He doesn't want to mix it. Now dad puts him in Karate. Adam is excellent with his "Katas"(standing alone going through his techniques),but when it comes to combat,he gets smoked. Once he cried. Yet he still goes out there because his dad wants him too. Adam doesn't complain.

Last week Adam was in a tournament in Orange County. He lost his first two matches and was eliminated. I wasn't there. I had picked him up from school. He was wearing his ball cap. I asked him how he did.
"Not so good,"he said.
"Do you like Karate,?"I asked him.
"Yes,I like "Katas",but I don't like fighting that much."
"Does Daddy know how you feel?"
"No"
Time to talk with his dad I figured.

I came home and there was my son in law on the couch.
"I hear Adam lost again,"I said.
"Oh yeh."
"You're not going to enter him in any tournaments in the near future are you,"I said firmly.
"Oh no."
"You know Adam shouldn't be pressured right now. He should practice,but he's not ready to compete."
"Yeh. I know."
"You don't want to destroy his confidence and self esteem."
"Oh no. Wouldn't want to do that."
"Good."
My son in law wasn't going to rationalize out of this one.
"Adam told me that if someone would try to hurt his family,he'd go after them,"I said.
My son in law broke out into a smile of relief.
"Adam said that?"
"Look,sometimes it's not knowing how to fight,but when."
"You're right."
Damn right I'm right I said to myself.

[Rick Farris]

THE SIT DOWN

I've alluded on the thread recently about fighters who didn't have it. Spud Murphy was one of the fellas' I talked about. His father wanted him to be a champ. The poor kid couldn't win in the prelims. He would take some awfull beatings. The Commission grabbed his license because he had suffered some brain damage. His father who ran a gym, let him spar with the fighters anyway. Spud died one day in that gym collapsing in the shower.

Remebering Spud Murphy was linking his situation with my grandson Adam. Adam is the nicest boy you'd ever meet. He's sensitive and well behaved. He's kind and loves his parents very much. But his dad wants him to be a rough tough guy. Adam is eight.

His dad has put him in Karate. He goes everyday because his dad wants him to. Adam will try anything that his dad asks him to do without complaining.

Adam is not a very aggresive kid. We saw that in T Ball and Soccer. He doesn't want to mix it. Now dad puts him in Karate. Adam is excellent with his "Katas"(standing alone going through his techniques),but when it comes to combat,he gets smoked. Once he cried. Yet he still goes out there because his dad wants him too. Adam doesn't complain.

Last week Adam was in a tournament in Orange County. He lost his first two matches and was eliminated. I wasn't there. I had picked him up from school. He was wearing his ball cap. I asked him how he did.
"Not so good,"he said.
"Do you like Karate,?"I asked him.
"Yes,I like "Katas",but I don't like fighting that much."
"Does Daddy know how you feel?"
"No"
Time to talk with his dad I figured.

I came home and there was my son in law on the couch.
"I hear Adam lost again,"I said.
"Oh yeh."
"You're not going to enter him in any tournaments in the near future are you,"I said firmly.
"Oh no."
"You know Adam shouldn't be pressured right now. He should practice,but he's not ready to compete."
"Yeh. I know."
"You don't want to destroy his confidence and self esteem."
"Oh no. Wouldn't want to do that."
"Good."
My son in law wasn't going to rationalize out of this one.
"Adam told me that if someone would try to hurt his family,he'd go after them,"I said.
My son in law broke out into a smile of relief.
"Adam said that?"
"Look,sometimes it's not knowing how to fight,but when."
"You're right."
Damn right I'm right I said to myself.

[dagosd2000]

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

For Frank Baltazar

Red Speaks

Red Prysock

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

Jump Red Jump

Red Prysock

[Expug]

THE SIT DOWN

I've alluded on the thread recently about fighters who didn't have it. Spud Murphy was one of the fellas' I talked about. His father wanted him to be a champ. The poor kid couldn't win in the prelims. He would take some awfull beatings. The Commission grabbed his license because he had suffered some brain damage. His father who ran a gym, let him spar with the fighters anyway. Spud died one day in that gym collapsing in the shower.

Remebering Spud Murphy was linking his situation with my grandson Adam. Adam is the nicest boy you'd ever meet. He's sensitive and well behaved. He's kind and loves his parents very much. But his dad wants him to be a rough tough guy. Adam is eight.

His dad has put him in Karate. He goes everyday because his dad wants him to. Adam will try anything that his dad asks him to do without complaining.

Adam is not a very aggresive kid. We saw that in T Ball and Soccer. He doesn't want to mix it. Now dad puts him in Karate. Adam is excellent with his "Katas"(standing alone going through his techniques),but when it comes to combat,he gets smoked. Once he cried. Yet he still goes out there because his dad wants him too. Adam doesn't complain.

Last week Adam was in a tournament in Orange County. He lost his first two matches and was eliminated. I wasn't there. I had picked him up from school. He was wearing his ball cap. I asked him how he did.
"Not so good,"he said.
"Do you like Karate,?"I asked him.
"Yes,I like "Katas",but I don't like fighting that much."
"Does Daddy know how you feel?"
"No"
Time to talk with his dad I figured.

I came home and there was my son in law on the couch.
"I hear Adam lost again,"I said.
"Oh yeh."
"You're not going to enter him in any tournaments in the near future are you,"I said firmly.
"Oh no."
"You know Adam shouldn't be pressured right now. He should practice,but he's not ready to compete."
"Yeh. I know."
"You don't want to destroy his confidence and self esteem."
"Oh no. Wouldn't want to do that."
"Good."
My son in law wasn't going to rationalize out of this one.
"Adam told me that if someone would try to hurt his family,he'd go after them,"I said.
My son in law broke out into a smile of relief.
"Adam said that?"
"Look,sometimes it's not knowing how to fight,but when."
"You're right."
Damn right I'm right I said to myself.

Well done Rog.
Well done my friend.

[Dongee]

Rick:

Paul Matty was a business man and not about to run a boxing gymnasium. He probably either leased or rented the place to Jake Shugrue even back in those days. I remember he was hoping to have Johnny Francis run it for him.

Did you see my post on the clean, well-equipped Ringside Gym of the mid-1930s? That was a really fine facility that did not last long as their management failed to lure boxers away from Barney Dempsey's Manhattan Gym or Carlo Curtis' Main St. Gym.

The Ringside was upstairs, on the south side of 12th street, midway between Broadway and Hill. I went there sevral times before it closed but it was never busy. Some of the eastern fighters used it, such as Lou Salica and Abe Feldman, both managed at the time by Hymie Caplan.

hap navarro

[Dongee]

Rick:

Paul Matty was a business man and not about to run a boxing gymnasium. He probably either leased or rented the place to Jake Shugrue even back in those days. I remember he was hoping to have Johnny Francis run it for him.

Did you see my post on the clean, well-equipped Ringside Gym of the mid-1930s? That was a really fine facility that did not last long as their management failed to lure boxers away from Barney Dempsey's Manhattan Gym or Carlo Curtis' Main St. Gym.

The Ringside was upstairs, on the south side of 12th street, midway between Broadway and Hill. I went there sevral times before it closed but it was never busy. Some of the eastern fighters used it, such as Lou Salica and Abe Feldman, both managed at the time by Hymie Caplan.

hap navarro

[Rick Farris]

Rick:

Paul Matty was a business man and not about to run a boxing gymnasium. He probably either leased or rented the place to Jake Shugrue even back in those days. I remember he was hoping to have Johnny Francis run it for him.

Did you see my post on the clean, well-equipped Ringside Gym of the mid-1930s? That was a really fine facility that did not last long as their management failed to lure boxers away from Barney Dempsey's Manhattan Gym or Carlo Curtis' Main St. Gym.

The Ringside was upstairs, on the south side of 12th street, midway between Broadway and Hill. I went there sevral times before it closed but it was never busy. Some of the eastern fighters used it, such as Lou Salica and Abe Feldman, both managed at the time by Hymie Caplan.

hap navarro

Hap . . . I remember your mentioning the Ringside Gym a long while back. I am truly interested in all of the L.A. gyms, regardless of their popularity. On a different note, I was talking with Vince Delgado today. I mentioned my asking you about his career, and how he had been a winning fighter at the Legion, not losing until he strayed. He agreed, that things were much different at the Olympic, and sure enough, that's where he soon lost. He appreciated your remembering him, and credits you for having matched him right. He has also enjoyed the memories of yourself and Frank, tales of Gil Cadilli, Carlos Chavez, Bolanos, etc. I share a few things you guys have mentioned here and it brings back some special memories for him. Not many out there who can discuss it today.

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Don Fraser in disguise
3-24-09

[kikibalt]

(l.to.r. Hymie Caplan, Manager of Salica , Salica, Dick Donald, the promoter, and Pablo Dano)
June 11 1935, Weigh-In Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Bantamweight Championship as Recognized by the State of California

[kikibalt]

The gang at the "Golden State Boxers' Association" meeting
3-24-09

[scartissue]

Guys, I don't know if you've seen it, but Raul Macias passed away yesterday. Anyone have any info on him or special memories???

Scartissue

Dan
Two quick ones on Macias. Raton went into the Mexican cinema for a while. He was sort of a heartthrob. My wife was a big fan of his.

I wrote about this way back in the thread. I was close to an old timer who was a friend of Macias. This gentleman was on the Mexican Olympic Team witth Macias in Helsinki in 1952. My friend swam the butterfly. He said the Mexican Olympic team was very badly prepared to compete. He criticized the government for not backing the athletes. My friend said the only medal winner was Raton. I believe he won a Silver.

My friend had suffered a couple of bad strokes. He had a woman caretaker from across the border who was very kind and patient with him. My friend had a daughter who was never around much. She used to be Amanda's Flamenco instructor. She was in Spain with her boyfriend(her guitarist)trying to break into the Flamenco community over there.

I used to visit my friend once a week. I was his only visitor. His mind was very sharp still. We'd talk about the arts,politics,and yes,boxing. He told me that when he was in Helsinki the life of the party was Raton Macias. He tried to keep everyone's spirits up despite the teams' poor showing. My friend would look back with tears in his eyes and exude the companionship he had made with Raton Macias.

My friend was rapidly going downhill. One day I went to visit him and they had said he died the previous night. The neighbors said they heard a window break and that my friend was shouting something. They said it sounded something like "Ramon,Ramon."

When I heard this I wept uncontrollably.

Damn, Rog, I feel like hopping a plane to San Diego just to shake your hand. A very moving story.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

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

For Frank Baltazar

Red Speaks

Red Prysock

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

Jump Red Jump

Red Prysock

Thanks, Roger, you capture the style from my youth.

[kikibalt]

Courtesy of Bruce Smith

[kikibalt]

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=2pquxjt&s=5
El perro de Pedro
"El Escmoso"

[raylawpc]

Courtesy of Bruce Smith

Hillarious!!

I wouldn't be surprised if that was a true story. Those kinds of things actually happen in courts all the time. If and when we are ever at a gathering together, I'll tell you guys about jury selection involving a sodomy case that a friend of mine was involved in.

[Randyman]

Last Rites...

A lawyer was on his deathbed in his bedroom, and he called to his wife.

She rushed in and said, "What is it, honey?"

He told her to run and get the bible as soon as possible. Being a religious woman, she thought this was a good idea.

She ran and got it, prepared to read him his favorite verse or something of the sort. He snatched it from her and began quickly scanning pages, his eyes darting right and left.

The wife was curious, so she asked, "What are you doing, honey?"

He shouted back:

"I'm looking for loopholes!"

[Randyman]

Courtesy of Bruce Smith

Hillarious!!

I wouldn't be surprised if that was a true story. Those kinds of things actually happen in courts all the time. If and when we are ever at a gathering together, I'll tell you guys about jury selection involving a sodomy case that a friend of mine was involved in.

Funny as hell. You just know that judge was serious.

[Rick Farris]

The gang at the "Golden State Boxers' Association" meeting
3-24-09

Danny & Bobby . . .

The two amigos on the right, Danny Valdez and Bobby Chacon, their careers seperated by nearly a decade, would have made one helluva match. Valdez was a favorite of mine toward the end of his career in the mid-60'sand Bobby Chacon, well, we all know Bobby here. These two are truly, "Classic American West Coast Boxers."

-Rick Farris

[Randyman]

THE SIT DOWN

I've alluded on the thread recently about fighters who didn't have it. Spud Murphy was one of the fellas' I talked about. His father wanted him to be a champ. The poor kid couldn't win in the prelims. He would take some awfull beatings. The Commission grabbed his license because he had suffered some brain damage. His father who ran a gym, let him spar with the fighters anyway. Spud died one day in that gym collapsing in the shower.

Remebering Spud Murphy was linking his situation with my grandson Adam. Adam is the nicest boy you'd ever meet. He's sensitive and well behaved. He's kind and loves his parents very much. But his dad wants him to be a rough tough guy. Adam is eight.

His dad has put him in Karate. He goes everyday because his dad wants him to. Adam will try anything that his dad asks him to do without complaining.

Adam is not a very aggresive kid. We saw that in T Ball and Soccer. He doesn't want to mix it. Now dad puts him in Karate. Adam is excellent with his "Katas"(standing alone going through his techniques),but when it comes to combat,he gets smoked. Once he cried. Yet he still goes out there because his dad wants him too. Adam doesn't complain.

Last week Adam was in a tournament in Orange County. He lost his first two matches and was eliminated. I wasn't there. I had picked him up from school. He was wearing his ball cap. I asked him how he did.
"Not so good,"he said.
"Do you like Karate,?"I asked him.
"Yes,I like "Katas",but I don't like fighting that much."
"Does Daddy know how you feel?"
"No"
Time to talk with his dad I figured.

I came home and there was my son in law on the couch.
"I hear Adam lost again,"I said.
"Oh yeh."
"You're not going to enter him in any tournaments in the near future are you,"I said firmly.
"Oh no."
"You know Adam shouldn't be pressured right now. He should practice,but he's not ready to compete."
"Yeh. I know."
"You don't want to destroy his confidence and self esteem."
"Oh no. Wouldn't want to do that."
"Good."
My son in law wasn't going to rationalize out of this one.
"Adam told me that if someone would try to hurt his family,he'd go after them,"I said.
My son in law broke out into a smile of relief.
"Adam said that?"
"Look,sometimes it's not knowing how to fight,but when."
"You're right."
Damn right I'm right I said to myself.

Well done Rog.
Well done my friend.

Adam has one helluva grandfather Rog. You did good. Adam sounds like good kid.

[Randyman]

The gang at the "Golden State Boxers' Association" meeting
3-24-09

Danny & Bobby . . .

The two amigos on the right, Danny Valdez and Bobby Chacon, their careers seperated by nearly a decade, would have made one helluva match. Valdez was a favorite of mine toward the end of his career in the mid-60'sand Bobby Chacon, well, we all know Bobby here. These two are truly, "Classic American West Coast Boxers."

-Rick Farris

Amen to that Rick!

[Randyman]

Guys, I don't know if you've seen it, but Raul Macias passed away yesterday. Anyone have any info on him or special memories???

Scartissue

My condolences to the family and friends of Raul Macias.

[Randyman]

Rick:

That would have to be sometime in the early 1950s. The house you mentioned was also there at the time, and was owned by Paul Matty, as far as we knew.

hap navarro

Hap . . . I'll file this one away for the future. Now I know the start of the Hoover Street Gym, which is still open today. It's changed hands several times, I think Bill Slayton had it for awhile (?), and I believe Jimmy Montoya has it now? Maybe Kevin Morgan, as well? I could be wrong, maybe Frank knows?

-Rick Farris

Rick, I could be wrong but I seem to recall hearing recently that the Hoover Street Gym was closed down. I can't remember where I heard that.

Randy

[Randyman]

The gang at the "Golden State Boxers' Association" meeting
3-24-09

Looking good Frank. There's a lot of "Classic West Coast Boxing" in that photo.

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc40I1_0rjo

For Rog.

"All Night Long"
Joe Houston