Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Rick,

I know the names (Watkins) real good, but that about it, can say that I seen either one fight.

Thanks for posting the record of Kenny Sr. I notice he stopped Billy Mitchell in five rounds in Pasadena, 1945. Of course, we both remember Billy Mitchell, Claude Durden's trainer.

-Rick
Rick,

I don't believe its the same Billy Mitchell, "thee" Billy Mitchell was a small guy, I could be wrong.

Frank . . . I have no idea if it's him, but the trainer Billy was short, but had one of those thick bodies that might have carried the weight? By the way, speaking of Mitchell, I remember that Billy got into a legendary street fight with one of the guys who ran the Hoover St. Gym after Jake Shagrue. I guess the guys took the fight from inside the gym, into the front parking lot and onto Hoover Street. It was a helluva fight, I heard. However, things get kind of distorted from one mouth to the next, so who knows? Did you ever hear of that street fight?

-Rick

No, never did hear about it, do you know who it was he get into the fight with?

[Dongee]

Rick and Frank:

Kenny Watkins was one of those victims of the times, when California had a wealth of fighters weighing from 160 to 175 pounds. He was a member of the Bert Lewis-George Tolson stable along with John Thomas and Bobby Yeager. A master boxer, Kenny simply lacked a respectable punch but when matched properly he would win more often than he lost. His bouts with another classic boxer Jack Chase were aesthetic, to say the least

In an anomaly of sorts, Kenny defeated Chase in a 12 rounder when Jack was recognized as California Lightheavyweight Champion but did not get the title even though they both weighed in below the division limit. Kenny's career was one of those hard luck cases where the man did everthing asked of him but failed to break into the big time. A classic case of being sidetracked.

Kenny was stopped by Bob Murphy, but I believe he also got a points win over the slugging Irishman.

hap navarro

[kikibalt]

Tony Baltazar. in white John Martinez

[kikibalt]

Frankie Baltazar (L) vs Juan Escobar

[Rick Farris]

Johnnie Flores & Jerry Quarry 1967-68 . . .


I was fifteen, when Muhammad Ali was stripped of the Heavyweight title and exiled from boxing for more than three years.
Somebody would have to take his place, and there were ten contenders suddenly eligable to win the title that Cassius Clay had held since stopping Sonny Liston in 1964.

Nobody had come close to beating Ali, not at that point in his career, not at age 25.
But Ali was gone, at least for a few years and there would have to be a tournament to find his successor.

New York quickly declared the winner of a 15-round bout between Joe Frazier and Buster Mathis, as the new heavyweight champ. However, the rest of the world would recognize the winner of the eight man WBA Heavyweight Tournament as the true Successor.
Frazier beat Mathis for the N.Y. version of the title, but he would not be recognized universally as champ until he defeated the winner of the eight man contest.

This was a great time in my life. I had been boxing in the Johnnie Flores boxing stable for nearly three years. Johnnie handled Jerry Quarry.
Johnnie had managed the 22-year-old heavyweight from the time he was a junior boxer, only seven-years-old.
Jerry began his boxing career in the same place I would a dozen years later, at Flores' backyard gym in Pacoima, California.
It was like a second home to me when I was a teenager.

I was within my element at the gym, and when Johnnie Flores walked in later in the evening, after eating his dinner, the place really came alive.
Johnnie was one of the greatest story tellers I'd ever know.
He'd walk thru the door, acknowledge everybody, usually a toothpick in his mouth. He'd then share his day with us.

One night, Johnnie had a big smile on his face. He had good news.
Johnnie's heavyweight, Jerry Quarry, would be among the eight contenders who would meet in a tourney to crown a new WBA Heavyweight Champ.
This was a big deal, and Johnnie Flores would come very close to managing a World Heavyweight Champion before it was over.

In those days, Johnnie had a lot to share, a lot about current state of the heavyweight division.
His boy, Jerry Quarry, was in the mix, seriously so after whipping favored Thad Spencer in Oakland in the semi-final.
This earned Jerry a shot at the title, in the championship match with Jimmy Ellis.
Jerry had just turned 23, and a slight favorite to beat Ellis and take the title. Jerry's power roared in the Spencer match, and Ellis wasn't a "big" heavyweight.
It would later be proven later that Jerry could not beat either Frazier or Ali, however, he was favored to beat Ellis, and rightly so.

Of course, the Jerry Quarry that showed up to fight Ellis in Oakland, forty-one years ago, wasn't the same Jerry that showed up for Scrap Iron Johnson, or Earnie Shavers, or Ron Lyle, or Spencer, or Mac Foster, or even Joe Frazier the following year.
That Jerry Quarry was a dangerous heavyweight, an explosive puncher with great boxing skills.
Jerry's worse opponent was himself, and when he wasn't right, he was a dog with a lot of fleas.
It was all about his mind. He was never predictable, but don't be foolish enough to take Quarry for granted.

I remember Jerry was matched with Floyd Patterson in the quarter-final. Patterson had held Jerry to a draw a few months earlier, but this Jerry was on a mission and Patterson would lose a decision this time.

As the tournament progressed, right thru to the title fight, Johnnie Flores kept us on top of things. And of course, he had a couple other headliners as well, featherweight Dwight Hawkins and the "Maravilla Kid" Ruben Navarro. Ruben was getting a Jr. title fight with Rene Barrientos, the WBA 130lb Champ, in Manila. Ruben also fought in Japan that year. Dwight Hawkins, in 1968, had three back-to-back bouts in Tokyo, in a three month period, KOing Kiniaki Shibata in 7, Rokuro Ishiyama in 2, and dropping a close decision to the great Fighting Harada.

Between Jerry's 1968 heavyweight title elimination bouts, Hawkins and Navarro's overseas bouts, and then his other boxers at home, Johnnie Flores was a busy man. He was one of the hottest managers on the West Coast, and in 1968, a major player in the world of world class professional boxing.

Those were exciting times for all of us. "Our Stable" nearly included the Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Unfortunatly, the "wrong" Jerry showed up for the Jimmy Ellis fight.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Amanda and her Flamenco teacher in San Diego,Rocio Carrera. On the left Amanda's father and her brother Adam wearing the green shirt.

[dagosd2000]

FIGHTS AT A FLEA MARKET

Lately Tijuana promoters have been putting on shows at night clubs in this city. Tijuana's economy,like the rest of the globe's,has suffered a hit. But if there's a venue that's staying the status quo,it's the night club circuit. One of these clubs is named Pulgas(Fleas). Junior Chavez debuted his fisticuff career there and the place was a sellout.

His daddy was there and so were the fans of his daddy hoping to see junior emerge into the fighting machine and legend of his pops. Without any amateur experience,junior fought like an amateur even though he was getting paid that night. Many say he still looks amateurish.

I squeezed my way inside the Pulgas that night and felt squished like a flea being scratched by a dog. The Pulgas is sort of posh. Sort of seedy. Sort of run by the characters that are causing all the problems down there.So you use the expression "sort of" a lot when throwing adjectives around when describing.

I made sure my wallet was inside my front pocket and squeezed my way to the bar. I was by myself and it didn't look like I was going to get chummy with anyone .If you're a lonely heart in a place like that,the only relationships you can make will cost you a C note. To tell the truth I sort of talked myself into going that night.

The fight was horrible with the son swinging punches like he was under water. Daddy was sticking his chest out surrounded by his entourage that I don't think were holding their Salvation Army Cards.

I was glad when it was over finally. I had to park my car six blocks away in downtown and my attention was on if my car was still there when I went back. Well it was still there. I bee lined it to the border. When I got back to the States and people asked me "How Was It?", I said I had a good time,sort of.

[kikibalt]

Amanda and her Flamenco teacher in San Diego,Rocio Carrera. On the left Amanda's father and her brother Adam wearing the green shirt.

Two good lookin' ladies, you got to be proud and rightly so, Rog.

[dagosd2000]

Amanda and her Flamenco teacher in San Diego,Rocio Carrera. On the left Amanda's father and her brother Adam wearing the green shirt.

Two good lookin' ladies, you got to be proud and rightly so, Rog.

Thanks Pal
The highlight of my week is to take Amanda to her Flameco class on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The studio is located above Broadway in the Golden Hill sector. The neighborhood is a lttle Bohemian in flavor. Reminds me of the beatnik era. There's a Starbucks on the corner. I'm not a Starbucks guy,but this is a little place that's a good fit for the surroundings. The workers all know Amanda and sometimes don't take her money(my money). They play blues,jazz,and oldies over the speakers and Amanda sits there and reads waiting for class to start. We don't talk that much anymore. All my direction is putting her on course. Once in a while if I need her to hear something,I'll say it. Not preach it. Sometimes she asks me about history or music.

Frank,'ol pal, she's breaking through to a new level with her dancing.When we first started going to Spain 5 years ago she was 9 dancing with adults. I was very proud of her,but she was treading water. However Paco Fernanndez,the patriarch of the company and a legend in Spain,told me Amanda would become a great Flamenco dancer one day. He had the experience,the eye,to see what was ahead for her. Now it is coming to fruit.

The other night watching her in the small studio, while I was thumbing through a Flamenco book from Spain with black and white photographs,I was blown away by my grand daughter's dancing. She's ,again,the youngest in the company. She was a whirlwind. It was like taking the wraps off a thorobred. Her instructor has choreographed a special number for her to dance in Long Beach at the state Flamenco festival. Amanda is showcased. She's the star.

The other night her instructor was throwing everything in her reportoire at her and Amanda was devouring it with a smile on her face. I don't know who was more happier,Amanda or her teacher.

When class was over,Amanda got back in the car and turned on the light. She wanted to read her book again. I was smiling.

[raylawpc]

Johnnie Flores & Jerry Quarry 1967-68 . . .


I was fifteen, when Muhammad Ali was stripped of the Heavyweight title and exiled from boxing for more than three years.
Somebody would have to take his place, and there were ten contenders suddenly eligable to win the title that Cassius Clay had held since stopping Sonny Liston in 1964.

Nobody had come close to beating Ali, not at that point in his career, not at age 25.
But Ali was gone, at least for a few years and there would have to be a tournament to find his successor.

New York quickly declared the winner of a 15-round bout between Joe Frazier and Buster Mathis, as the new heavyweight champ. However, the rest of the world would recognize the winner of the eight man WBA Heavyweight Tournament as the true Successor.
Frazier beat Mathis for the N.Y. version of the title, but he would not be recognized universally as champ until he defeated the winner of the eight man contest.

This was a great time in my life. I had been boxing in the Johnnie Flores boxing stable for nearly three years. Johnnie handled Jerry Quarry.
Johnnie had managed the 22-year-old heavyweight from the time he was a junior boxer, only seven-years-old.
Jerry began his boxing career in the same place I would a dozen years later, at Flores' backyard gym in Pacoima, California.
It was like a second home to me when I was a teenager.

I was within my element at the gym, and when Johnnie Flores walked in later in the evening, after eating his dinner, the place really came alive.
Johnnie was one of the greatest story tellers I'd ever know.
He'd walk thru the door, acknowledge everybody, usually a toothpick in his mouth. He'd then share his day with us.

One night, Johnnie had a big smile on his face. He had good news.
Johnnie's heavyweight, Jerry Quarry, would be among the eight contenders who would meet in a tourney to crown a new WBA Heavyweight Champ.
This was a big deal, and Johnnie Flores would come very close to managing a World Heavyweight Champion before it was over.

In those days, Johnnie had a lot to share, a lot about current state of the heavyweight division.
His boy, Jerry Quarry, was in the mix, seriously so after whipping favored Thad Spencer in Oakland in the semi-final.
This earned Jerry a shot at the title, in the championship match with Jimmy Ellis.
Jerry had just turned 23, and a slight favorite to beat Ellis and take the title. Jerry's power roared in the Spencer match, and Ellis wasn't a "big" heavyweight.
It would later be proven later that Jerry could not beat either Frazier or Ali, however, he was favored to beat Ellis, and rightly so.

Of course, the Jerry Quarry that showed up to fight Ellis in Oakland, forty-one years ago, wasn't the same Jerry that showed up for Scrap Iron Johnson, or Earnie Shavers, or Ron Lyle, or Spencer, or Mac Foster, or even Joe Frazier the following year.
That Jerry Quarry was a dangerous heavyweight, an explosive puncher with great boxing skills.
Jerry's worse opponent was himself, and when he wasn't right, he was a dog with a lot of fleas.
It was all about his mind. He was never predictable, but don't be foolish enough to take Quarry for granted.

I remember Jerry was matched with Floyd Patterson in the quarter-final. Patterson had held Jerry to a draw a few months earlier, but this Jerry was on a mission and Patterson would lose a decision this time.

As the tournament progressed, right thru to the title fight, Johnnie Flores kept us on top of things. And of course, he had a couple other headliners as well, featherweight Dwight Hawkins and the "Maravilla Kid" Ruben Navarro. Ruben was getting a Jr. title fight with Rene Barrientos, the WBA 130lb Champ, in Manila. Ruben also fought in Japan that year. Dwight Hawkins, in 1968, had three back-to-back bouts in Tokyo, in a three month period, KOing Kiniaki Shibata in 7, Rokuro Ishiyama in 2, and dropping a close decision to the great Fighting Harada.

Between Jerry's 1968 heavyweight title elimination bouts, Hawkins and Navarro's overseas bouts, and then his other boxers at home, Johnnie Flores was a busy man. He was one of the hottest managers on the West Coast, and in 1968, a major player in the world of world class professional boxing.

Those were exciting times for all of us. "Our Stable" nearly included the Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Unfortunatly, the "wrong" Jerry showed up for the Jimmy Ellis fight.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I recall reading that Jerry had suffered a back injury before the Ellis fight but unwisely declined to postpone the bout. His loss had alot to do with the back injury.

Do you have any information about that?

Thanks!

[Rick Farris]

Rick and Frank:

Kenny Watkins was one of those victims of the times, when California had a wealth of fighters weighing from 160 to 175 pounds. He was a member of the Bert Lewis-George Tolson stable along with John Thomas and Bobby Yeager. A master boxer, Kenny simply lacked a respectable punch but when matched properly he would win more often than he lost. His bouts with another classic boxer Jack Chase were aesthetic, to say the least

In an anomaly of sorts, Kenny defeated Chase in a 12 rounder when Jack was recognized as California Lightheavyweight Champion but did not get the title even though they both weighed in below the division limit. Kenny's career was one of those hard luck cases where the man did everthing asked of him but failed to break into the big time. A classic case of being sidetracked.

Kenny was stopped by Bob Murphy, but I believe he also got a points win over the slugging Irishman.

hap navarro

Thank you, Hap.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Johnnie Flores & Jerry Quarry 1967-68 . . .


I was fifteen, when Muhammad Ali was stripped of the Heavyweight title and exiled from boxing for more than three years.
Somebody would have to take his place, and there were ten contenders suddenly eligable to win the title that Cassius Clay had held since stopping Sonny Liston in 1964.

Nobody had come close to beating Ali, not at that point in his career, not at age 25.
But Ali was gone, at least for a few years and there would have to be a tournament to find his successor.

New York quickly declared the winner of a 15-round bout between Joe Frazier and Buster Mathis, as the new heavyweight champ. However, the rest of the world would recognize the winner of the eight man WBA Heavyweight Tournament as the true Successor.
Frazier beat Mathis for the N.Y. version of the title, but he would not be recognized universally as champ until he defeated the winner of the eight man contest.

This was a great time in my life. I had been boxing in the Johnnie Flores boxing stable for nearly three years. Johnnie handled Jerry Quarry.
Johnnie had managed the 22-year-old heavyweight from the time he was a junior boxer, only seven-years-old.
Jerry began his boxing career in the same place I would a dozen years later, at Flores' backyard gym in Pacoima, California.
It was like a second home to me when I was a teenager.

I was within my element at the gym, and when Johnnie Flores walked in later in the evening, after eating his dinner, the place really came alive.
Johnnie was one of the greatest story tellers I'd ever know.
He'd walk thru the door, acknowledge everybody, usually a toothpick in his mouth. He'd then share his day with us.

One night, Johnnie had a big smile on his face. He had good news.
Johnnie's heavyweight, Jerry Quarry, would be among the eight contenders who would meet in a tourney to crown a new WBA Heavyweight Champ.
This was a big deal, and Johnnie Flores would come very close to managing a World Heavyweight Champion before it was over.

In those days, Johnnie had a lot to share, a lot about current state of the heavyweight division.
His boy, Jerry Quarry, was in the mix, seriously so after whipping favored Thad Spencer in Oakland in the semi-final.
This earned Jerry a shot at the title, in the championship match with Jimmy Ellis.
Jerry had just turned 23, and a slight favorite to beat Ellis and take the title. Jerry's power roared in the Spencer match, and Ellis wasn't a "big" heavyweight.
It would later be proven later that Jerry could not beat either Frazier or Ali, however, he was favored to beat Ellis, and rightly so.

Of course, the Jerry Quarry that showed up to fight Ellis in Oakland, forty-one years ago, wasn't the same Jerry that showed up for Scrap Iron Johnson, or Earnie Shavers, or Ron Lyle, or Spencer, or Mac Foster, or even Joe Frazier the following year.
That Jerry Quarry was a dangerous heavyweight, an explosive puncher with great boxing skills.
Jerry's worse opponent was himself, and when he wasn't right, he was a dog with a lot of fleas.
It was all about his mind. He was never predictable, but don't be foolish enough to take Quarry for granted.

I remember Jerry was matched with Floyd Patterson in the quarter-final. Patterson had held Jerry to a draw a few months earlier, but this Jerry was on a mission and Patterson would lose a decision this time.

As the tournament progressed, right thru to the title fight, Johnnie Flores kept us on top of things. And of course, he had a couple other headliners as well, featherweight Dwight Hawkins and the "Maravilla Kid" Ruben Navarro. Ruben was getting a Jr. title fight with Rene Barrientos, the WBA 130lb Champ, in Manila. Ruben also fought in Japan that year. Dwight Hawkins, in 1968, had three back-to-back bouts in Tokyo, in a three month period, KOing Kiniaki Shibata in 7, Rokuro Ishiyama in 2, and dropping a close decision to the great Fighting Harada.

Between Jerry's 1968 heavyweight title elimination bouts, Hawkins and Navarro's overseas bouts, and then his other boxers at home, Johnnie Flores was a busy man. He was one of the hottest managers on the West Coast, and in 1968, a major player in the world of world class professional boxing.

Those were exciting times for all of us. "Our Stable" nearly included the Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Unfortunatly, the "wrong" Jerry showed up for the Jimmy Ellis fight.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I recall reading that Jerry had suffered a back injury before the Ellis fight but unwisely declined to postpone the bout. His loss had alot to do with the back injury.

Do you have any information about that?

Thanks!

Tom . . . Jerry injured his back when he was a teenager diving into a pool. On occasion he would have problems, but nothing major. Jerry was accident prone, stupid things, and I remember Jerry blaming his back for his poor performance, however, those close to Jerry know the problem was not with his back, but his brain. Jerry fought a stupid fight with a guy he should have blown out. In a dramatic exit from the ring, as Jimmy Ellis basked in winning the heavyweight title, Jerry Quarry grabbed the ring microphone and announced his retirement from boxing. He was 23-years-old. After the embarrassing performance, nobody cared.

-Rick Farris

[Trainer Monkey]

Dont know how classic you'd call it
But Leslie Lubaczewski/Demi Ngyuen weigh in from 2 years ago,at the Hard Rock Cafe,before the first ever fights at Raley Field in Sacremento

[kikibalt]

Edwin Valero finally gets (title) fight in U.S.

Edwin Valero (24-0, 24 knockouts) hasn't fought in the U.S. since 2003, but he'll step into a ring in Austin, Texas, on Saturday night in a major return bout, trying to defeat Colombia's Antonio Pitalua (46-3, 40 KOs) for the vacant World Boxing Council lightweight title.

The "Lightweight Lightning" card, which also includes lightweight bouts between Michael Katsidis and Jesus Chavez and California's Vicente Escobedo and respected veteran Carlos Hernandez, is a $39.95 pay-per-view show.

Both Valero and Pitalua weighed in at or just under the 135-pound limit on Friday, the last obstacle Valero needed to clear for his first U.S. fight since an Irvine Marriott card.

Valero, formerly managed by Oscar De La Hoya's father, Joel, was supposed to fight in New York after the Irvine bout but a medical exam revealed a hole in his skull, said former promoter Richard Schaefer. Valero's boxing license was revoked and he fought the next 15 bouts in destinations such as Japan, Venezuela, Panama and Mexico.

"He was in a motorcycle accident as a kid in Venezuela and fractured his skull; the hole is in the back of his head," said Schaefer, who noted that experts like Nevada's Dr. Margaret Goodman objected to Valero fighting.

"He has gone through extensive testing, and now Texas has cleared him," said Schaefer. "Texas obviously feels they've done enough due diligence to keep him safe. I know others in the states feel quite different."

Valero, however, is a devastating puncher, scoring first-round knockouts in his first 18 fights.

He's now fighting for the title vacated by Manny Pacquiao.

-- Lance Pugmire

Just watch one of the best boxing card in years, first fight was Julio Diaz vs Rolando Reyes, for four rounds Reyes didn't do dick, in the fifth he woke up and ko diaz, second fight may well be fight of the year, Vicente Escobedo looked like he was going to ko Carlos Hernandez early, dropping him in the first and second round, only to have Hernandez come on and make it a close fight, Hernandez losing by UD, third fight was also a good fight, Michael Katsidiz stopping Jesus Chavez after the seventh round, Chavez not coming out for the eighth round, the main event was lopsided, Valero ko over Pitalua, Pitalua was never in the fight.

[HomicideHenry]

Brian Paul (left) vs Jermaine White, 2004, Melville, Indiana

White was 5-0-0, Paul was 4-11-0, lost via DQ 3rd

I met Paul in 2007, though, right before he faced Oisin Fagan in Oklahoma.

Thought I'd post this pic up, cus its one of my memories of Brian, cus he wanted to show me what kind of shorts he had custome made for himself, and I couldnt believe how long they were.

[Trainer Monkey]

Brian Paul (left) vs Jermaine White, 2004, Melville, Indiana

White was 5-0-0, Paul was 4-11-0, lost via DQ 3rd

I met Paul in 2007, though, right before he faced Oisin Fagan in Oklahoma.

Thought I'd post this pic up, cus its one of my memories of Brian, cus he wanted to show me what kind of shorts he had custome made for himself, and I couldnt believe how long they were.

Huh,seems Brian used to be a Hammer Skin,recognized the tats

[HomicideHenry]

Most people who been in prison, imo, get affiliated with one group of another. Brian wasnt a racist, though. His "trainer" was Walt Upshaw and he was black and many of Brian's friends were black as well, and most of his idols were as well.

[Trainer Monkey]

Most people who been in prison, imo, get affiliated with one group of another. Brian wasnt a racist, though. His "trainer" was Walt Upshaw and he was black and many of Brian's friends were black as well, and most of his idols were as well.

Being a skin doesnt equate racism,far from it,I used to be a skin,and Im mainly Cherokee and Polish,Im wearing my bomber right now.Alot of skins are just Working Class Pride Skins

[HomicideHenry]

Ahhhhh, I never knew. Sorry for assuming.

[Trainer Monkey]

Ahhhhh, I never knew. Sorry for assuming.

No biggie,alot of people make that assumption. Nowadays Nazi skins are in their own seperate little world.
Who said the media wasnt good for anything,because before Time and Geraldo did pieces on the Nazi skin menace,there werent any damned Nazi skins,and suddenly the rotten bastards were everywhere.
Ive been photographed by the JDL,for a "known skinhead" list they put together
The first drummer of my band The Repressed was Jewish
So look at it this way,your assumption only cost you typing time on the internet,theres cost them film in their camera. DD

[HomicideHenry]

Kinda reminds me of when David Allen Coe did songs involving the 'N' word, and he was called a racist, but the drummer in his band at the time was black.

[Trainer Monkey]

Kinda reminds me of when David Allen Coe did songs involving the 'N' word, and he was called a racist, but the drummer in his band at the time was black.

Another way of looking at it,is,I work in boxing. Almost everybody in this buisness is black,mexican,or Peurto Rican
This is not a buisness that you can survive in if your racist,and Ive made it to high tier,so you can tell how racist I am. DD
Actually me and a Mexican buddy of mine Steve had a mutual bitch fest that we kept getting calls with a rider on it that we had to find a Latino fighter for a couple of fights. Its not that either of us have a problem putting on Latino fighters,far from it,we both do on a regular basis. But the rider that it had to be a Latino,struck both of us as kind of racist going the other way. Our attitude was,"Who cares where there ancestors came from,as long as its a solid fight".
I have no patience for racism,trust me,spend 5 days in this sport you'll have more then enough reasons to hate someones guts,without race being involved at all. DD
Everybody in this sport has someone on their shit list,and race isnt the determining factor at all,money and unprofessionalism usually rank WAY higher

[bennie]

Bennie
Here in the colonies we're always tearing down historical landmarks. They're starting to raze the old Yankee Stadium. This is our most famous out door arena for sporting events. The Yankees with Ruth and Gehrig. The Louis/Schmeling fight. The 'sudden death' playoff between the Colts and the Giants.

My understanding is the old treasure didn't have room to build enough corporate sky boxes. They are building a new Yankee Stadium across the street. There'll be plenty of sky boxes,hotel rooms,shops,and spas in the new one. I've never attended a game with the thought of frequenting a spa. Besides,it's hard to throw beer from inside a sauna.

Over here they get upset if they chop down a tree. We English tend to resist change, especially of famous old sites. They tried to bulldoze the York Hall in Bethnal Green (a stone's thow from where the notorious Kray wins were born and bred) but people power won out and the sweltering little venue continues to house boxing and many other events.

[kikibalt]

Tapia sentenced

By Chris Cozzone: Five-time world champion Johnny Tapia will serve a nine-day stint in jail, then a trip to Hollywood for drug rehab. On Wednesday, the former champ was sentenced for violating probation on felony drug charges. As part of the punishment - between his nine-day jail sentence and six months of intensive rehab at a southern New Mexico facility - Tapia will appear on VH1’s reality show, “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.” Tapia has no problem with the sentence, telling media, “They’re taking me to prison. I did the crime, I’ll do the time.” Tapia had been facing up to a year in jail for violating his probation. In the meantime, Tapia is in training for a May 16 comeback, most likely to take place in New Mexico.

[dagosd2000]

NO DREAMING ALLOWED

With the exception of a sport,just off the top of my head,like distance running there's no lee way for error in training. Boxing is a contact sport. Guys in boxing trunks wear a protecter covering their jewels and a mouthshield to keep what's left of their teeth intact. Fellas' that have laced on boxing gloves know that the concussion of a blow is more powerfull with the mitts on. Gloves are worn to prevent cutting.

So climb into the ring out of shape and there's the probability they'll be carrying you out unless both pugs are washed up. Then the sport is given a black eye.

We read about, and have seen, that many of the warriors had(and have) an affliction for the the polish. As they age that process is accelerated by their drinking. Then in the flower period of the 60's drugs became vogue. Vogue isn't necessarily condusive to boxing.

I've seen guys use amphetimines as a suplement for road work. Cocaine to hone the reflexes. Marijuana to alleviate the anxiety. Then when the battle ensues the illusion is painfull.

Lots of fighters have washed out early with the booze and the drugs. We don't need to list names.

There's no margin for error with boxing. It's a dangerous undertaking. Someone said in a movie that drugs are the things dreams are made of. The fighters who think they can get away from indulging with drugs(and alcohol) are dreaming.