Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

R.I.P. Henry Hank . . .

One of my favorites has just passed away at age 74, Henry Hank.
For some reason, when I think of Detroit boxers, I think of Henry Hank first, before Louis, Robinson or Tommy Herns, etc.

One of my first trainers, Bobby Bell, would talk at great length of Henry Hank.
He spoke of Hanks' incredible strength and cagey tactics.
He was a man I'd hope to meet one day, but never did.

His record reads like a "who's who" of a great era.
Rest in Peace.


-Rick Farris

Rick, Hank died in 2004



Henry Hank

Alias Jusuf Salaam
Birth Name Joseph Harrison
Country USA
Global Id 10851
Birthplace Greenville, Mississippi
Division Light Heavyweight
Born 1935-02-09
Died 2004-07-02
Stance Orthodox
Height 178cm


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1972-08-07 Andy Kendall Milwaukee, USA L UD 10
1972-02-10 Humphrey McBride Ardmore, USA L PTS 10
1970-03-11 Charley Green New York, USA L UD 10
1969-12-16 Hal Carroll Syracuse, USA L PTS 10
1969-08-08 Terry Lee Oakland, USA W UD 10
1969-06-17 Mark Tessman Houston, USA L UD 10
1968-12-04 Mark Tessman Indianapolis, USA W TKO 6
1968-10-24 Willie McMillan Indianapolis, USA W PTS 10
1968-09-11 Manny Quinney Indianapolis, USA W TKO 7
1968-04-16 Mark Tessman Houston, USA L PTS 10
1967-10-16 Eddie Jones Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1967-09-27 Leslie Borden Billings, USA W KO 4
1967-04-15 Roger Rouse Missoula, USA L UD 10
1966-12-12 Herschel Jacobs New Orleans, USA L PTS 10
1966-09-13 Marion Connor Canton, USA L PTS 10
1965-07-26 Bob Foster New Orleans, USA L UD 12
1965-04-05 Roger Rouse Oakland, USA W UD 10
1964-12-11 Bob Foster Norfolk, USA L TKO 9
1964-08-21 Johnny Persol New York, USA D PTS 10
1963-12-06 Harold Johnson Philadelphia, USA L UD 10
1963-10-29 Eddie Cotton Flint, USA L UD 15
1963-07-20 Ed Zaremba Jackson, USA W UD 12
1963-03-25 Dick Young Oakland, USA W TKO 1
1963-02-11 Sixto Rodriguez Oakland, USA W SD 10
1962-11-24 Mauro Mina New York, USA L SD 10
1962-09-01 Jimmy Ellis Louisville, USA W UD 10
1962-06-14 John McCormack Glasgow, United Kingdom L PTS 8
1962-03-31 Dick Tiger New York, USA L UD 10
1962-03-07 Allan Harmon Detroit, USA W TKO 7
1962-01-30 Joey Giardello Philadelphia, USA L MD 10
1962-01-10 Allan Harmon Miami Beach, USA D PTS 10
1961-12-15 Chic Calderwood Detroit, USA W UD 10
1961-10-23 Jerry Luedee New Haven, USA W TKO 7
1961-08-21 Franz Szuzina Detroit, USA W PTS 10
1961-07-10 Joey Giardello Detroit, USA W UD 10
1961-03-29 Clarence Alford New Orleans, USA W TKO 7
1960-11-19 Gene Armstrong New York, USA L UD 10
1960-10-21 Randy Sandy Detroit, USA W UD 10
1960-09-29 Hank Casey San Francisco, USA L UD 10
1960-09-14 Jesse Smith Chicago, USA D PTS 10
1960-08-03 Rudy Ellis Chicago, USA W KO 1
1960-07-11 Hank Casey New Orleans, USA W UD 10
1960-06-30 Victor Zalazar Detroit, USA W KO 4
1960-05-16 Hank Casey New Orleans, USA L UD 10
1960-04-25 Rory Calhoun San Francisco, USA W TKO 2
1960-02-17 Sixto Rodriguez Chicago, USA W TKO 6
1960-01-27 Jesse Bowdry Chicago, USA W TKO 6
1959-12-07 Jesse Bowdry New Orleans, USA W KO 10
1959-10-26 George Benton New Orleans, USA W UD 10
1959-10-12 Holley Mims New Orleans, USA W UD 12
1959-09-07 Neal Rivers New Orleans, USA W KO 4
1959-08-10 Holley Mims New Orleans, USA L SD 10
1959-07-13 Neal Rivers New Orleans, USA W TKO 10
1959-06-15 Willie Vaughn New Orleans, USA W KO 10
1959-04-13 Charley Joseph New Orleans, USA W TKO 6
1959-03-23 Charley Joseph New Orleans, USA L SD 10
1959-03-03 Jimmy Beecham Toledo, USA W SD 10
1959-02-03 George Boddie Toledo, USA W KO 3
1958-12-15 Ernest Burford Toledo, USA W PTS 10
1958-11-25 Ernest Burford Detroit, USA L PTS 10
1958-11-05 Sherman Williams Louisville, USA W KO 8
1958-09-17 Charlie Glover Louisville, USA W KO 1
1958-09-08 Leffie Walker Pontiac, USA W KO 6
1958-08-23 Charley Cotton Detroit, USA W TKO 9
1958-07-12 Joe Fusco Detroit, USA W TKO 3
1958-05-28 Rudy Ellis Chicago, USA W KO 4
1958-04-26 Sherman Williams Windsor, Canada W TKO 1
1958-03-22 George Boddie Detroit, USA W KO 3
1958-02-22 Charley Cotton Detroit, USA W PTS 8
1957-06-15 Leffie Walker Bay City, USA W PTS 8
1956-09-18 Charley Cotton Toledo, USA L PTS 10
1956-07-31 Chuck Craig Windsor, Canada W KO 2
1956-04-28 Leffie Walker Detroit, USA W PTS 8
1956-03-28 Rudy Gwin Cleveland, USA W TKO 4
1955-07-28 Bob Stecher Warren, USA W TKO 3
1955-05-31 Gordon Wallace Detroit, USA L SD 6
1955-03-08 Lloyd Triplett Chicago, USA L PTS 6
1955-03-05 Leffie Walker Saginaw, USA L PTS 6
1955-02-15 Chuck Coleman Detroit, USA W KO 2
1954-10-26 Virgil Akins Detroit, USA L UD 8
1954-10-07 Jesse Gray Saginaw, USA W TKO 3
1954-08-19 Larry Boaz Saginaw, USA W TKO 4
1954-08-03 Gene Poirier Detroit, USA W KO 1
1954-07-20 Larue Harvey Detroit, USA W PTS 6
1954-07-13 Henry Bronko Detroit, USA W KO 5
1954-05-27 Ernest Mosley Muskegon, USA W KO 3
1954-04-26 Larue Harvey Detroit, USA L SD 4
1954-03-18 Larue Harvey Lansing, USA W PTS 6
1954-01-25 Bob Jackson Detroit, USA W KO 3
1954-01-11 Rudy Gwin Detroit, USA D PTS 4
1953-12-31 Tommy Darrough Detroit, USA W PTS 6
1953-12-08 Howard Calloway Kalamazoo, USA W PTS 4
1953-10-20 Howard Calloway Lansing, USA W TKO 3
1953-09-29 Jed Black Grand Rapids, USA L PTS 6
1953-04-02 Bob Wilson Detroit, USA W TKO 3
1953-03-12 Earl Batie Detroit, USA W KO 1
1953-02-26 Del Monroe Detroit, USA W KO 1

Record to Date
Won 62 (KOs 40) Lost 31 Drawn 4 Total 97

[dagosd2000]

Charlie Parker

[dagosd2000]

This one is for Frank.Reminds me of the Boom Boom Club.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp11vxr_pD4

Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On

Big Maybelle

[kikibalt]

This one is for Frank.Reminds me of the Boom Boom Club.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp11vxr_pD4

Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On

Big Maybelle

Thanks, Rog, here is one of my fav Maybelle tunes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZiPXgiev1k
"Don't Pass Me By"

[Rick Farris]

R.I.P. Henry Hank . . .

One of my favorites has just passed away at age 74, Henry Hank.
For some reason, when I think of Detroit boxers, I think of Henry Hank first, before Louis, Robinson or Tommy Herns, etc.

One of my first trainers, Bobby Bell, would talk at great length of Henry Hank.
He spoke of Hanks' incredible strength and cagey tactics.
He was a man I'd hope to meet one day, but never did.

His record reads like a "who's who" of a great era.
Rest in Peace.


-Rick Farris

Rick, Hank died in 2004



Henry Hank

Alias Jusuf Salaam
Birth Name Joseph Harrison
Country USA
Global Id 10851
Birthplace Greenville, Mississippi
Division Light Heavyweight
Born 1935-02-09
Died 2004-07-02
Stance Orthodox
Height 178cm


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1972-08-07 Andy Kendall Milwaukee, USA L UD 10
1972-02-10 Humphrey McBride Ardmore, USA L PTS 10
1970-03-11 Charley Green New York, USA L UD 10
1969-12-16 Hal Carroll Syracuse, USA L PTS 10
1969-08-08 Terry Lee Oakland, USA W UD 10
1969-06-17 Mark Tessman Houston, USA L UD 10
1968-12-04 Mark Tessman Indianapolis, USA W TKO 6
1968-10-24 Willie McMillan Indianapolis, USA W PTS 10
1968-09-11 Manny Quinney Indianapolis, USA W TKO 7
1968-04-16 Mark Tessman Houston, USA L PTS 10
1967-10-16 Eddie Jones Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1967-09-27 Leslie Borden Billings, USA W KO 4
1967-04-15 Roger Rouse Missoula, USA L UD 10
1966-12-12 Herschel Jacobs New Orleans, USA L PTS 10
1966-09-13 Marion Connor Canton, USA L PTS 10
1965-07-26 Bob Foster New Orleans, USA L UD 12
1965-04-05 Roger Rouse Oakland, USA W UD 10
1964-12-11 Bob Foster Norfolk, USA L TKO 9
1964-08-21 Johnny Persol New York, USA D PTS 10
1963-12-06 Harold Johnson Philadelphia, USA L UD 10
1963-10-29 Eddie Cotton Flint, USA L UD 15
1963-07-20 Ed Zaremba Jackson, USA W UD 12
1963-03-25 Dick Young Oakland, USA W TKO 1
1963-02-11 Sixto Rodriguez Oakland, USA W SD 10
1962-11-24 Mauro Mina New York, USA L SD 10
1962-09-01 Jimmy Ellis Louisville, USA W UD 10
1962-06-14 John McCormack Glasgow, United Kingdom L PTS 8
1962-03-31 Dick Tiger New York, USA L UD 10
1962-03-07 Allan Harmon Detroit, USA W TKO 7
1962-01-30 Joey Giardello Philadelphia, USA L MD 10
1962-01-10 Allan Harmon Miami Beach, USA D PTS 10
1961-12-15 Chic Calderwood Detroit, USA W UD 10
1961-10-23 Jerry Luedee New Haven, USA W TKO 7
1961-08-21 Franz Szuzina Detroit, USA W PTS 10
1961-07-10 Joey Giardello Detroit, USA W UD 10
1961-03-29 Clarence Alford New Orleans, USA W TKO 7
1960-11-19 Gene Armstrong New York, USA L UD 10
1960-10-21 Randy Sandy Detroit, USA W UD 10
1960-09-29 Hank Casey San Francisco, USA L UD 10
1960-09-14 Jesse Smith Chicago, USA D PTS 10
1960-08-03 Rudy Ellis Chicago, USA W KO 1
1960-07-11 Hank Casey New Orleans, USA W UD 10
1960-06-30 Victor Zalazar Detroit, USA W KO 4
1960-05-16 Hank Casey New Orleans, USA L UD 10
1960-04-25 Rory Calhoun San Francisco, USA W TKO 2
1960-02-17 Sixto Rodriguez Chicago, USA W TKO 6
1960-01-27 Jesse Bowdry Chicago, USA W TKO 6
1959-12-07 Jesse Bowdry New Orleans, USA W KO 10
1959-10-26 George Benton New Orleans, USA W UD 10
1959-10-12 Holley Mims New Orleans, USA W UD 12
1959-09-07 Neal Rivers New Orleans, USA W KO 4
1959-08-10 Holley Mims New Orleans, USA L SD 10
1959-07-13 Neal Rivers New Orleans, USA W TKO 10
1959-06-15 Willie Vaughn New Orleans, USA W KO 10
1959-04-13 Charley Joseph New Orleans, USA W TKO 6
1959-03-23 Charley Joseph New Orleans, USA L SD 10
1959-03-03 Jimmy Beecham Toledo, USA W SD 10
1959-02-03 George Boddie Toledo, USA W KO 3
1958-12-15 Ernest Burford Toledo, USA W PTS 10
1958-11-25 Ernest Burford Detroit, USA L PTS 10
1958-11-05 Sherman Williams Louisville, USA W KO 8
1958-09-17 Charlie Glover Louisville, USA W KO 1
1958-09-08 Leffie Walker Pontiac, USA W KO 6
1958-08-23 Charley Cotton Detroit, USA W TKO 9
1958-07-12 Joe Fusco Detroit, USA W TKO 3
1958-05-28 Rudy Ellis Chicago, USA W KO 4
1958-04-26 Sherman Williams Windsor, Canada W TKO 1
1958-03-22 George Boddie Detroit, USA W KO 3
1958-02-22 Charley Cotton Detroit, USA W PTS 8
1957-06-15 Leffie Walker Bay City, USA W PTS 8
1956-09-18 Charley Cotton Toledo, USA L PTS 10
1956-07-31 Chuck Craig Windsor, Canada W KO 2
1956-04-28 Leffie Walker Detroit, USA W PTS 8
1956-03-28 Rudy Gwin Cleveland, USA W TKO 4
1955-07-28 Bob Stecher Warren, USA W TKO 3
1955-05-31 Gordon Wallace Detroit, USA L SD 6
1955-03-08 Lloyd Triplett Chicago, USA L PTS 6
1955-03-05 Leffie Walker Saginaw, USA L PTS 6
1955-02-15 Chuck Coleman Detroit, USA W KO 2
1954-10-26 Virgil Akins Detroit, USA L UD 8
1954-10-07 Jesse Gray Saginaw, USA W TKO 3
1954-08-19 Larry Boaz Saginaw, USA W TKO 4
1954-08-03 Gene Poirier Detroit, USA W KO 1
1954-07-20 Larue Harvey Detroit, USA W PTS 6
1954-07-13 Henry Bronko Detroit, USA W KO 5
1954-05-27 Ernest Mosley Muskegon, USA W KO 3
1954-04-26 Larue Harvey Detroit, USA L SD 4
1954-03-18 Larue Harvey Lansing, USA W PTS 6
1954-01-25 Bob Jackson Detroit, USA W KO 3
1954-01-11 Rudy Gwin Detroit, USA D PTS 4
1953-12-31 Tommy Darrough Detroit, USA W PTS 6
1953-12-08 Howard Calloway Kalamazoo, USA W PTS 4
1953-10-20 Howard Calloway Lansing, USA W TKO 3
1953-09-29 Jed Black Grand Rapids, USA L PTS 6
1953-04-02 Bob Wilson Detroit, USA W TKO 3
1953-03-12 Earl Batie Detroit, USA W KO 1
1953-02-26 Del Monroe Detroit, USA W KO 1

Record to Date
Won 62 (KOs 40) Lost 31 Drawn 4 Total 97

Thanks, Frank. The odd thing is I remember when he passed. Somehow I stumbled on an obit, I've been up most of the night studying, researching, doing my boxing homework like I did when I was a kid, when I should have been concentrating on math. I step back into the CBZ and I'll review the Hap Navarro thread and I get lost in it for hours. I'll take a break, cruise thru the CBZ, always a great source. I come across the Henry Hank obit. Before thinking, I reflect on my earliest memory of Henry Hank, and post the old news. It's a good thing you poured the ice water down my trunks, or I might have read Hank's name when I do the "Ten Count" at the HOF banquet. Some in the audience might think, "Did he die again?" Some historian, huh?

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

R.I.P. Henry Hank . . .

One of my favorites has just passed away at age 74, Henry Hank.
For some reason, when I think of Detroit boxers, I think of Henry Hank first, before Louis, Robinson or Tommy Herns, etc.

One of my first trainers, Bobby Bell, would talk at great length of Henry Hank.
He spoke of Hanks' incredible strength and cagey tactics.
He was a man I'd hope to meet one day, but never did.

His record reads like a "who's who" of a great era.
Rest in Peace.


-Rick Farris

Rick, Hank died in 2004



Henry Hank

Alias Jusuf Salaam
Birth Name Joseph Harrison
Country USA
Global Id 10851
Birthplace Greenville, Mississippi
Division Light Heavyweight
Born 1935-02-09
Died 2004-07-02
Stance Orthodox
Height 178cm


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1972-08-07 Andy Kendall Milwaukee, USA L UD 10
1972-02-10 Humphrey McBride Ardmore, USA L PTS 10
1970-03-11 Charley Green New York, USA L UD 10
1969-12-16 Hal Carroll Syracuse, USA L PTS 10
1969-08-08 Terry Lee Oakland, USA W UD 10
1969-06-17 Mark Tessman Houston, USA L UD 10
1968-12-04 Mark Tessman Indianapolis, USA W TKO 6
1968-10-24 Willie McMillan Indianapolis, USA W PTS 10
1968-09-11 Manny Quinney Indianapolis, USA W TKO 7
1968-04-16 Mark Tessman Houston, USA L PTS 10
1967-10-16 Eddie Jones Las Vegas, USA L PTS 10
1967-09-27 Leslie Borden Billings, USA W KO 4
1967-04-15 Roger Rouse Missoula, USA L UD 10
1966-12-12 Herschel Jacobs New Orleans, USA L PTS 10
1966-09-13 Marion Connor Canton, USA L PTS 10
1965-07-26 Bob Foster New Orleans, USA L UD 12
1965-04-05 Roger Rouse Oakland, USA W UD 10
1964-12-11 Bob Foster Norfolk, USA L TKO 9
1964-08-21 Johnny Persol New York, USA D PTS 10
1963-12-06 Harold Johnson Philadelphia, USA L UD 10
1963-10-29 Eddie Cotton Flint, USA L UD 15
1963-07-20 Ed Zaremba Jackson, USA W UD 12
1963-03-25 Dick Young Oakland, USA W TKO 1
1963-02-11 Sixto Rodriguez Oakland, USA W SD 10
1962-11-24 Mauro Mina New York, USA L SD 10
1962-09-01 Jimmy Ellis Louisville, USA W UD 10
1962-06-14 John McCormack Glasgow, United Kingdom L PTS 8
1962-03-31 Dick Tiger New York, USA L UD 10
1962-03-07 Allan Harmon Detroit, USA W TKO 7
1962-01-30 Joey Giardello Philadelphia, USA L MD 10
1962-01-10 Allan Harmon Miami Beach, USA D PTS 10
1961-12-15 Chic Calderwood Detroit, USA W UD 10
1961-10-23 Jerry Luedee New Haven, USA W TKO 7
1961-08-21 Franz Szuzina Detroit, USA W PTS 10
1961-07-10 Joey Giardello Detroit, USA W UD 10
1961-03-29 Clarence Alford New Orleans, USA W TKO 7
1960-11-19 Gene Armstrong New York, USA L UD 10
1960-10-21 Randy Sandy Detroit, USA W UD 10
1960-09-29 Hank Casey San Francisco, USA L UD 10
1960-09-14 Jesse Smith Chicago, USA D PTS 10
1960-08-03 Rudy Ellis Chicago, USA W KO 1
1960-07-11 Hank Casey New Orleans, USA W UD 10
1960-06-30 Victor Zalazar Detroit, USA W KO 4
1960-05-16 Hank Casey New Orleans, USA L UD 10
1960-04-25 Rory Calhoun San Francisco, USA W TKO 2
1960-02-17 Sixto Rodriguez Chicago, USA W TKO 6
1960-01-27 Jesse Bowdry Chicago, USA W TKO 6
1959-12-07 Jesse Bowdry New Orleans, USA W KO 10
1959-10-26 George Benton New Orleans, USA W UD 10
1959-10-12 Holley Mims New Orleans, USA W UD 12
1959-09-07 Neal Rivers New Orleans, USA W KO 4
1959-08-10 Holley Mims New Orleans, USA L SD 10
1959-07-13 Neal Rivers New Orleans, USA W TKO 10
1959-06-15 Willie Vaughn New Orleans, USA W KO 10
1959-04-13 Charley Joseph New Orleans, USA W TKO 6
1959-03-23 Charley Joseph New Orleans, USA L SD 10
1959-03-03 Jimmy Beecham Toledo, USA W SD 10
1959-02-03 George Boddie Toledo, USA W KO 3
1958-12-15 Ernest Burford Toledo, USA W PTS 10
1958-11-25 Ernest Burford Detroit, USA L PTS 10
1958-11-05 Sherman Williams Louisville, USA W KO 8
1958-09-17 Charlie Glover Louisville, USA W KO 1
1958-09-08 Leffie Walker Pontiac, USA W KO 6
1958-08-23 Charley Cotton Detroit, USA W TKO 9
1958-07-12 Joe Fusco Detroit, USA W TKO 3
1958-05-28 Rudy Ellis Chicago, USA W KO 4
1958-04-26 Sherman Williams Windsor, Canada W TKO 1
1958-03-22 George Boddie Detroit, USA W KO 3
1958-02-22 Charley Cotton Detroit, USA W PTS 8
1957-06-15 Leffie Walker Bay City, USA W PTS 8
1956-09-18 Charley Cotton Toledo, USA L PTS 10
1956-07-31 Chuck Craig Windsor, Canada W KO 2
1956-04-28 Leffie Walker Detroit, USA W PTS 8
1956-03-28 Rudy Gwin Cleveland, USA W TKO 4
1955-07-28 Bob Stecher Warren, USA W TKO 3
1955-05-31 Gordon Wallace Detroit, USA L SD 6
1955-03-08 Lloyd Triplett Chicago, USA L PTS 6
1955-03-05 Leffie Walker Saginaw, USA L PTS 6
1955-02-15 Chuck Coleman Detroit, USA W KO 2
1954-10-26 Virgil Akins Detroit, USA L UD 8
1954-10-07 Jesse Gray Saginaw, USA W TKO 3
1954-08-19 Larry Boaz Saginaw, USA W TKO 4
1954-08-03 Gene Poirier Detroit, USA W KO 1
1954-07-20 Larue Harvey Detroit, USA W PTS 6
1954-07-13 Henry Bronko Detroit, USA W KO 5
1954-05-27 Ernest Mosley Muskegon, USA W KO 3
1954-04-26 Larue Harvey Detroit, USA L SD 4
1954-03-18 Larue Harvey Lansing, USA W PTS 6
1954-01-25 Bob Jackson Detroit, USA W KO 3
1954-01-11 Rudy Gwin Detroit, USA D PTS 4
1953-12-31 Tommy Darrough Detroit, USA W PTS 6
1953-12-08 Howard Calloway Kalamazoo, USA W PTS 4
1953-10-20 Howard Calloway Lansing, USA W TKO 3
1953-09-29 Jed Black Grand Rapids, USA L PTS 6
1953-04-02 Bob Wilson Detroit, USA W TKO 3
1953-03-12 Earl Batie Detroit, USA W KO 1
1953-02-26 Del Monroe Detroit, USA W KO 1

Record to Date
Won 62 (KOs 40) Lost 31 Drawn 4 Total 97

Thanks, Frank. The odd thing is I remember when he passed. Somehow I stumbled on an obit, I've been up most of the night studying, researching, doing my boxing homework like I did when I was a kid, when I should have been concentrating on math. I step back into the CBZ and I'll review the Hap Navarro thread and I get lost in it for hours. I'll take a break, cruise thru the CBZ, always a great source. I come across the Henry Hank obit. Before thinking, I reflect on my earliest memory of Henry Hank, and post the old news. It's a good thing you poured the ice water down my trunks, or I might have read Hank's name when I do the "Ten Count" at the HOF banquet. Some in the audience might think, "Did he die again?" Some historian, huh?

-Rick Farris

Rick...I started that obit thread on the CBZ on Hank back in 2007 I believe it was, and he had already been dead for 3 years.

[kikibalt]

Here's what I posted at the CBZ on Henry Hank on 2-3-07

Remembering Henry Hank
By Jim Amato

INSIDE BOXING (July 16, 2004) - The boxing community lost a true warrior when Henry Hank of Detroit recently passed away. He was born in 1935 and began his long professional career in 1953. In less then two years he was fighting the likes of Virgil Akins.

By 1959 Henry was good enough to mix it up with the best middleweights and light heavyweights in the world. Fighting men like Holly Mims, George Benton, Jesse Bowdry, Hank Casey, Randy Sandy and Gene Armstrong.

In 1961 Henry beat Joey Giardello. They met again in 1962 with Joey turning the tables. The rematch was voted the Fight Of The Year by Ring Magazine for 1962.

Other top names on his record are Chic Calderwood, Dick Tiger and Mauro Mina. Henry also defeated future heavyweight titleholder Jimmy Ellis.
On October 23, 1963 Henry met Eddie Cotton for the Michigan version of the light heavyweight title. Henry lost in fifteen rounds.

Henry would go on to meet Harold Johnson and Johnny Persol. The great Bob Foster halted Henry in ten in 1964 and Bob outscored him in a 1965 return match. Henry would also cross gloves with Roger Rouse and Heschel Jacobs.

Henry became the "Man" for young contenders to fight on their way up the ladder. Henry tested tough upstarts like Mark Tessman, Eddie "Bossman" Jones, Hal Carroll and Charlie "Devil" Green.

In one of his last fights Henry went ten rounds with the then unbeaten mammoth heavyweight heavyweight, Claude "Humphrey" McBride.
Henry's last fight was a decision loss to highly ranked Andy Kendall.

In all Henry had 97 fights with 62 wins and 31 losses with 4 draws. He scored forty KO victories. An impressive record considering the quality of opposition he faced in his outstanding career. He was halted only once and that was by the fearsome Foster. No shame there.
Hats off to Henry. May he rest in peace.

[dagosd2000]

Henry Hank

[Rick Farris]

delete

[kikibalt]

“CANDY SLIM” REMEMBER HIM?
By Jim Amato

He began his career in 1964 but it was not until 1973 that he crashed into the heavyweight ratings. In between were periods of inactivity and a multitude of meaningless bouts. He was a murderous, punching prospect that no worthy opponent wanted to chance his career against. By the time he got his “shot” at the big time, he was 21-1 with 16 kayos. He scored seven 1st round kayos and eight 2nd round stoppages. Yet up to this point his claim to fame was being a Muhammad Ali sparring partner. It is a shame that today very few remember Jeff “Candy Slim’ Merritt. True, his tenure as a mainstream contender was less than a year but oh what a reputation he had. Many at that time considered him the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division, bar none.

Although Jeff had one bout in 1964 his career really began in 1968. In 1969 Jeff established himself as a legitimate prospect with decision wins over Ray Williams, Roger Russell and Henry Clark. Finally on September 10th, 1973, Jeff stepped into the ring to face former W.B.A. heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell. “Big” Ernie had held the W.B.A. title from 1965 to 1967 before losing a unification fight with Ali. He then lost to Thad Spencer in the W.B.A. eight-man elimination tourney and followed with a kayo victory over Jose Luis Garcia. Despite a very controversial loss to Chuck Wepner, Ernie was still ranked when he faced Merritt. Less then one round later Ernie was a retired ex-champion as Jeff destroyed him. Jeff followed this with a three round butchering of rugged Ron Stander.

Jeff kept his name in the headlines serving as Earnie Shavers sparring partner while Earnie prepared for his bout with Jerry Quarry. Archie Moore was training Shavers and he allowed Merritt to spar with Earnie. A couple of vicious hooks caused the Quarry bout to be postponed, as Earnie’s jaw was broken. Don King, Earnie’s manager was livid. Archie was dismissed and Quarry’s trainer Gil Clancey said something to the effect that Merritt was the kind of guy you fought for money, not in the gym.

All was going well until March 4th, 1974. Jeff faced old foe Henry Clark. This time Clark abandoned his usual cautious style and took Jeff by surprise. Jeff was now the victim of a one round kayo loss. The defeat put Jeff’s career into a tale spin. It was almost 2 1/2 years before he would fight again. His opponent would be tough fringe contender Stan Ward. For two rounds Jeff out boxed the ponderous Ward, shutting one of his eyes. In round three the half blind Ward connected and again Jeff’s chin betrayed him. The bout was soon stopped and Ward had handed Jeff his ticket to boxing oblivion.

[Rick Farris]

“CANDY SLIM” REMEMBER HIM?
By Jim Amato

He began his career in 1964 but it was not until 1973 that he crashed into the heavyweight ratings. In between were periods of inactivity and a multitude of meaningless bouts. He was a murderous, punching prospect that no worthy opponent wanted to chance his career against. By the time he got his “shot” at the big time, he was 21-1 with 16 kayos. He scored seven 1st round kayos and eight 2nd round stoppages. Yet up to this point his claim to fame was being a Muhammad Ali sparring partner. It is a shame that today very few remember Jeff “Candy Slim’ Merritt. True, his tenure as a mainstream contender was less than a year but oh what a reputation he had. Many at that time considered him the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division, bar none.

Although Jeff had one bout in 1964 his career really began in 1968. In 1969 Jeff established himself as a legitimate prospect with decision wins over Ray Williams, Roger Russell and Henry Clark. Finally on September 10th, 1973, Jeff stepped into the ring to face former W.B.A. heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell. “Big” Ernie had held the W.B.A. title from 1965 to 1967 before losing a unification fight with Ali. He then lost to Thad Spencer in the W.B.A. eight-man elimination tourney and followed with a kayo victory over Jose Luis Garcia. Despite a very controversial loss to Chuck Wepner, Ernie was still ranked when he faced Merritt. Less then one round later Ernie was a retired ex-champion as Jeff destroyed him. Jeff followed this with a three round butchering of rugged Ron Stander.

Jeff kept his name in the headlines serving as Earnie Shavers sparring partner while Earnie prepared for his bout with Jerry Quarry. Archie Moore was training Shavers and he allowed Merritt to spar with Earnie. A couple of vicious hooks caused the Quarry bout to be postponed, as Earnie’s jaw was broken. Don King, Earnie’s manager was livid. Archie was dismissed and Quarry’s trainer Gil Clancey said something to the effect that Merritt was the kind of guy you fought for money, not in the gym.

All was going well until March 4th, 1974. Jeff faced old foe Henry Clark. This time Clark abandoned his usual cautious style and took Jeff by surprise. Jeff was now the victim of a one round kayo loss. The defeat put Jeff’s career into a tale spin. It was almost 2 1/2 years before he would fight again. His opponent would be tough fringe contender Stan Ward. For two rounds Jeff out boxed the ponderous Ward, shutting one of his eyes. In round three the half blind Ward connected and again Jeff’s chin betrayed him. The bout was soon stopped and Ward had handed Jeff his ticket to boxing oblivion.

I remember Jeff Merritt, but where is he today?
Did his life end when he quit boxing?
Is this where his story ends?
Just curious. Seems like something is missing.

For the record, Stan Ward is teaching boxing today at a storefront boxing gym in Burbank.
He works with amateurs and pros, on and off.
He's remained active in boxing as a trainer.


-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Remembering the Teamsters Gym . . .

The 1965 Western Region Golden Gloves Championships were televised on KTLA Channel-5 in Los Angeles.

The Championship round of the tournament was held at the Valley Gardens Arena,
an old venue that would hold it's very last boxing match that night.
The following year, the old brick arena located on Vineland Ave. in North Hollywood, at the end of a Burbank Airport runway, would become a warehouse.
Today it's long gone.

I watched the Golden Gloves on TV from the Valley Gardens Arena.
I was anxious to see a hot young heavyweight I was reading about, a guy from Bellflower named Jerry Quarry.

This was the first time I watched amateur boxing.
I didn't know anything about the boxers, managers, trainers, gyms, promoters who operated out of my hometown.
All I knew about boxing or boxers was the product of the old Friday Night Fights, which generally focused on guys from back east.

I had grown up hearing stories of Art Aragon, Lauro Salas and Keeny Teran from my Uncle Jess.
My uncle was a regular at both the Hollywood Legion and Olympic back in the day, however, the guys he'd tell me about were long gone.

What I would watch on TV this night, would prove to be the start of a new era.
The old one took it's last breath long before Kennedy was shot. The Legion was gone, The Olympic was gasping for air.

However, something new was on the way. Weekly televised boxing from the Olympic, would suddenly pump life into L.A. boxing.
At the same time, a brash young heavyweight champ would pump life into the sport internationally.

On this night, a TV screen would give me a peek into my future.
I would see a man named Johnnie Flores for the first time, working the corner of his heavyweight, Quarry, and few others.

Channel-5 televised the entire show, including the novice division title fights.
From this I would get my first look at guys like Louie Jaureque, Jake Horn, Norm Lockwood, Phil Silvers, Jake Shagrue, Howie Steindler, Gordon Shaw, Jerry Moore & Henry Blouin, and other L.A. handlers.

The tournament featured names like Armando Muniz, Jimmy Robertson, Henry Walker, Quarry, Dub Huntley, Thurman Durden.
They were introduced fighting out of clubs such as the Main Street Gym, Teamsters Gym, the Jake Shagrue Gym, the Johnnie Flores Gym, Stanton A.C., the Seaside Gym in Long Beach, etc.
Ringside announcer Dick Enberg reported that amateur boxing was going strong in Los Angeles.
Gyms were packed and the competition strong. How right he was.

Jimmy Lennon was the ring announcer that night.

In a bantamweight fight, I watch a guy win the title.
His name was Victor "Butch" Contreras and he fought out of the Teamsters Gym.
I had no idea that in a few years, I'd be scheduled to fight this man in a professional bout.
The fight never materialized, he did not show for a morning weigh-in at the Olympic.
However, this was my first introduction to the Teamsters Gym. A Teamsters fighter took the bantam title.
In the next bout, his brother, Davey Contreras would take the featherweight championship.

When I finally started my boxing journey, a few weeks later, I'd soon step thru the doors of the Teamsters Gym for the first time.
This is where I would have my first boxing match.
3-1 minute rounds in a junior amateur bout. My opponent, Armando Cordova. I weighed 75 pounds.

I'd only been training at the Johnnie Flores Gym about three weeks when I stepped into the ring for my first junior amateur fight.
I hadn't been boxing long, but I was ready to fight when Flores asked me if I'd like to box on a junior card at the Teamsters Gym.
I'd meet my trainer, Manny Diaz, and another boxer from our gym at Johnnie's house.
We'd leave from there and meet Johnnie at Teamsters.

I remember the ride downtown that evening.
I was about to have my first fight, but all I could do was try to imagine what the Teamsters Gym would be like.
I remember we traveled down 6th Street in downtown L.A., heading east.
We then jump over to 7th St. and continue on until we come to Stanford Street and turn right.
Looking down the block I could see a crowd filling the sidewalk outside a brightly lit building that looked like some kind of castle.
"That's it", Diaz said. "Now I gotta find a place to park".

We parked on the street around the corner from the gym and walked to the front of the building.
There were a lot of fighters around, old pros with faces laced with scartissue and flattened noses.
They were out front, laughing, talking about the previous nights TV main-event from the Olympic.
There were lots of kids, some wearing gold & blue satin jackets with "Junior Golden gloves Champion" embroidered on the back.

This was the first time I'd laid eyes on the jackets presented to Jr. Golden Gloves Champions.
I wanted one. I was going to have one, some day.

We walked up the steps leading to the corner door of the Teamsters Gym. When I stepped inside, I saw something very familiar.
Have I been here before, is this deja vu?

I looked toward the ring sitting in the middle of an open floor area, surrounded by fold up chairs and benches.
People were claiming their seats, quickly filling those ringside.
There was a balcony walk-way that circled the floor from above.

Where had I seen this? It suddenly hit me!
This was the gym I saw in an old black & white movie, one filmed about the time I was born.
The movie was one of my favorite boxing movies, "The Ring", starring Gerald Mohr and a teenage Rita Moreno.

I wasn't at all nervous, no butterflies, none of what I would later experience before every fight I would have in the future.
I was too green to know that confidence is often ignorance in disguise. I would soon learn the difference between the two.

I hear Johnnie Flores' voice, and turn to see him at the bottom of a stairway leading down to the basement.
Flores was waving to Manny, telling him to bring his two boxers down to weigh-in.
This would be the moment I would see Frank Baltazar for the first time.
Frank was sitting with a few other coaches at a table, they were making matches for the evening.
I step up on the scale and the three matchmakers all looked at my weight. "75 pounds," Louie announces to the others.

Coaches were trying to negotiate their boxer's matches.
"No, he's too heavy for my kid." or "No, he's got too much experience, but he can fight my open class guy, they're about the same size."
Sound familia, Frank?

Frank Baltazar was a young man, not yet thirty. He had jet black hair combed back. His boys were already matched.
I think his oldest son, Frankie Jr. was matched with a kid from Pomona, Armando Davila (?), Albert's younger brother.
Flores is at the table, looking over names, talking with Louie, Frank and Jake.

A moment later he returns to where I am sitting in the seat of an old wooden rowing machine.
"I got you a fight."
"Yeah . . . who am I fighting?"
"That kid in the corner, his name is Armando Cordova.

I look over and see a kid with his trainer. He's pulling on his trunks
Cordova was a Teamsters fighter, about my age, size. He had been boxing for awhile, had some experience.
I didn't care. I was ready to fight, or so I thought.

After the matches were made, and the crowd had settled into their seats, the show began.
As always, the amateurs begin with the lightest boxers and then move up to the heavier boys.
At 75 pounds, I was a good thirty pounds heavier than the Pee-Wees. So my bout would go on somewhere in the middle of the show.
In L.A. by the time you see a 17-year-old in his first official amateur bout, he's likely been fighting in the ring for a decade.

When I finally stepped into the ring for my first fight, my attitude was right. However, three weeks of training wasn't enough to make my conditioning right.
On this night, I would fight the guy hard for two rounds. Holding my own in round one, fighting him in round two but starting to get winded.
Fighting in front of a crowd is different than in the gym. You get more tired in front of people.
In round three, I got my ass kicked. I was out of gas, but hung in and kept punching until the bell.
I took a lot of punches in the last round, didn't land many of my own.
I lost a unanimous decision. I was disappointed, but not discouraged.
I knew exactly what I needed for next time, lots of roadwork.

A month later, I would fight another Teamsters boxer, a black kid who had only one fight, like me.
The bout was held at the Main Street Gym. This time I was very nervous, but I was also in good shape.

I went right to the guy at the bell, caught him with a hard right early, and he went down.
He got up, I went right to him and started landing punches. The fight was stopped and I was awarded a 1st round TKO.

I was now 1-1 against Teamsters boxers.

Over the next five years of my amateur career, I'd fight a lot of boxers representing the Teamsters Gym.
The guys who coached the boxers at Teamsters were all good, guys who created world class boxers in both amateur and pro rings.
They turned out a lot of great boxers over the years, long before and long after my boxing career.

However, the one thing I think of today when I picture the Teamsters Gym, is a scene from the movie, "The Ring".

Filmed in 1952, a young flyweight sensation made a cameo appearance, hitting the heavy bag.
His name was Keeny Teran.

Thanks to my Uncle Jess, I knew who Keeny Teran was.
Today, thanks to Frank Baltazar and Hap Navarro, I really know who Keeny Teran is . . .

A "Classic American West Coast Boxing" legend.


-Rick Farris

[Randyman]

World Boxing Hall of Fame - 2009 Ballot . . .

Two deceased "boxers" will be inducted.
Their names will be listed in the "BOXER" catagory of the WBHOF "Roll Call". They are:

George Dixon
Alphonse Halimi

Dixon and Halimi will be automatically inducted, and are not subject to vote.
_____________________________________________________
Four (4) new names have been added to the ballot in the "BOXER" catagory, replacing those inducted in 2008.

Henry Cooper
Orlando Canizalez
Lucia Rijker
Carlos Hernandez

(these are not "Inductees" - just ballot additions)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In the "Expanded" Catagories, three (3) new names will be added to the ballot. Still under "Selection Commitee" consideration.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A new award will be added to the WBHOF "Banquet of Champions" in 2009, recognizing those who have contributed to the development of youth thru boxing. People who have created champions both in and outside of the ring.

The first annual "WBHOF Johnnie Flores Youth Development Award" will go to: FRANK BALTAZAR SR.

Congratulations Kiki, and thank you.
The World Boxing Hall of Fame recognizes and appreciates your contributions to boxing.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The ballot is nearly complete. The "Expanded" catagory is still under consideration. Everybody that was on the ballot last year, minus those inducted, will be on this year's ballot.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To all the Regular "Classic American West Coast Boxing" posters. You know who you are, we've discussed this in the past, please E-Mail your contact information:

Name
Mailing address
E-Mail address

Frank, Roger, Randy, Brian, Bruce, Bennie, Danny, Tom, Rob . . .

You will all become "Voting Members" of the World Boxing Hall of Fame. If you wish to participate, to have a voice in the future HOF induction of boxing personalities, E-mail me the necessary information, and you will become a permanent voting member of the WBHOF.


Rick Farris
WBHOF Exec. Director/Historian

Frank, congratulations to you. It is well deserved. I wouldn't miss this one for the world.
You done good Rick!

Randy

[Randyman]

Happy Easter Guys. I hope it has been a good one. I spent yesterday and today in the High Desert with my mother. She was feeling much better. We drove over to my daughter Deedee's house for dinner. She lives a hop and a skip away, in Apple Valley. They live on a small farm/ranch. It was a good day. I'm posting a few photos.


Me and Champ


My granddaughter McKayla and her chickens


Son in Law Richard, Deedee, McKayla and Jeri


Me, my mother Anita, Jeri and McKayla

Randy

[Randyman]

The following was sent to me by my friend Bill O'Neill via email.

To: SELECT FRIENDS & RELATIVES

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO OUR LOCAL BOXING WRITER EARLIER THIS WEEK:
bon


Two questions will be answered Saturday:
1) Is Chris Arreola the best of the current heavyweights in the U.S.?
2) Is he the best Mexican heavyweight ever?

In my humble, slightly biased opinion, the answer to those questions is YES, and PROBABLY.

Having seen all of the Mexican heavyweights of the past sixty years (before that, there apparently were none) in action, I would place Arreola at the top of the list. Briefly, in chronological order:

Francisco De La Cruz, 1940s, was a sawed-off brawler who never took a backward step, but did a lot of fighting with his face. At about five-foot-seven, 200 pounds, he looked overweight and sloppy--but had a big heart, and a big punch.

Abel Fernandez, 1950s, was a tall, very handsome guy, and a real crowd-pleaser--a kill-or-be-killed slugger, with a glass jaw. He gave up boxing for an acting career in the mid-Fifties, was a regular as a member of Robert Stack's crew in the "Untouchables" TV series, and has a long list of film credits.

Manuel Ramos, 1960s, was a tall, rangy, free-swinging journeyman who beat several good heavyweights and once fought to a draw with Joey Orbillo. He earned a title shot against Joe Frazier in 1968, but was stopped in two rounds.

Joey Orbillo, 1960s, was in my opinion the best and most disciplined of the pre-Arreola Mexican heavies. Undersized for a heavyweight at five-ten, 185, he came along at a time when there was no cruiserweight division. He made a brief appearance in the Top Ten, but military service and losses to Jerry Quarry and Amos "Big Train" Lincoln put a damper on his career. Had he campaigned as a lightheavyweight at 175 pounds, he might have become champ.

Eddie "The Animal" Lopez, 1970s, was a rough, tough, heavily tattooed street fighter from East L.A. Not especially gifted with speed or a big punch, and noted for doing much of his "training" in nightclubs and bars, he nonetheless brawled his way to the Top Ten in the world, beating some very good fighters when he was in shape.

Alex Garcia, 1980s & 90s, appeared for a time to be the real article. Big and strong, packing a good punch, he was on the cusp of a title shot against Riddick Bowe when he was kayoed by a journeyman named Mike Dixon in a "tuneup" match. After that, it was all downhill, as his fragile jaw betrayed him and he was knocked out by guys he should have beaten with ease.

Javier "The Monster" Mora, 2000s: Whatever has happened to this guy? Carefully matched early in his career, physically imposing at six-foot-two, 250, he appeared to have it all going for him at one time. But now his career appears to have lost direction, as evidenced by his one-round kayo loss to Russia's Sultan Ibragimov two years ago.

So now, the mantle is passed to Chris Arreola. Let's see how he handles it. If success doesn't spoil him, he could go all the way--knocking out both of the powerful but robotic Klitschko brothers, and becoming the most celebrated athlete in the world.

bon

[Randyman]

Remembering the Teamsters Gym . . .

The 1965 Western Region Golden Gloves Championships were televised on KTLA Channel-5 in Los Angeles.

The Championship round of the tournament was held at the Valley Gardens Arena,
an old venue that would hold it's very last boxing match that night.
The following year, the old brick arena located on Vineland Ave. in North Hollywood, at the end of a Burbank Airport runway, would become a warehouse.
Today it's long gone.

I watched the Golden Gloves on TV from the Valley Gardens Arena.
I was anxious to see a hot young heavyweight I was reading about, a guy from Bellflower named Jerry Quarry.

This was the first time I watched amateur boxing.
I didn't know anything about the boxers, managers, trainers, gyms, promoters who operated out of my hometown.
All I knew about boxing or boxers was the product of the old Friday Night Fights, which generally focused on guys from back east.

I had grown up hearing stories of Art Aragon, Lauro Salas and Keeny Teran from my Uncle Jess.
My uncle was a regular at both the Hollywood Legion and Olympic back in the day, however, the guys he'd tell me about were long gone.

What I would watch on TV this night, would prove to be the start of a new era.
The old one took it's last breath long before Kennedy was shot. The Legion was gone, The Olympic was gasping for air.

However, something new was on the way. Weekly televised boxing from the Olympic, would suddenly pump life into L.A. boxing.
At the same time, a brash young heavyweight champ would pump life into the sport internationally.

On this night, a TV screen would give me a peek into my future.
I would see a man named Johnnie Flores for the first time, working the corner of his heavyweight, Quarry, and few others.

Channel-5 televised the entire show, including the novice division title fights.
From this I would get my first look at guys like Louie Jaureque, Jake Horn, Norm Lockwood, Phil Silvers, Jake Shagrue, Howie Steindler, Gordon Shaw, Jerry Moore & Henry Blouin, and other L.A. handlers.

The tournament featured names like Armando Muniz, Jimmy Robertson, Henry Walker, Quarry, Dub Huntley, Thurman Durden.
They were introduced fighting out of clubs such as the Main Street Gym, Teamsters Gym, the Jake Shagrue Gym, the Johnnie Flores Gym, Stanton A.C., the Seaside Gym in Long Beach, etc.
Ringside announcer Dick Enberg reported that amateur boxing was going strong in Los Angeles.
Gyms were packed and the competition strong. How right he was.

Jimmy Lennon was the ring announcer that night.

In a bantamweight fight, I watch a guy win the title.
His name was Victor "Butch" Contreras and he fought out of the Teamsters Gym.
I had no idea that in a few years, I'd be scheduled to fight this man in a professional bout.
The fight never materialized, he did not show for a morning weigh-in at the Olympic.
However, this was my first introduction to the Teamsters Gym. A Teamsters fighter took the bantam title.
In the next bout, his brother, Davey Contreras would take the featherweight championship.

When I finally started my boxing journey, a few weeks later, I'd soon step thru the doors of the Teamsters Gym for the first time.
This is where I would have my first boxing match.
3-1 minute rounds in a junior amateur bout. My opponent, Armando Cordova. I weighed 75 pounds.

I'd only been training at the Johnnie Flores Gym about three weeks when I stepped into the ring for my first junior amateur fight.
I hadn't been boxing long, but I was ready to fight when Flores asked me if I'd like to box on a junior card at the Teamsters Gym.
I'd meet my trainer, Manny Diaz, and another boxer from our gym at Johnnie's house.
We'd leave from there and meet Johnnie at Teamsters.

I remember the ride downtown that evening.
I was about to have my first fight, but all I could do was try to imagine what the Teamsters Gym would be like.
I remember we traveled down 6th Street in downtown L.A., heading east.
We then jump over to 7th St. and continue on until we come to Stanford Street and turn right.
Looking down the block I could see a crowd filling the sidewalk outside a brightly lit building that looked like some kind of castle.
"That's it", Diaz said. "Now I gotta find a place to park".

We parked on the street around the corner from the gym and walked to the front of the building.
There were a lot of fighters around, old pros with faces laced with scartissue and flattened noses.
They were out front, laughing, talking about the previous nights TV main-event from the Olympic.
There were lots of kids, some wearing gold & blue satin jackets with "Junior Golden gloves Champion" embroidered on the back.

This was the first time I'd laid eyes on the jackets presented to Jr. Golden Gloves Champions.
I wanted one. I was going to have one, some day.

We walked up the steps leading to the corner door of the Teamsters Gym. When I stepped inside, I saw something very familiar.
Have I been here before, is this deja vu?

I looked toward the ring sitting in the middle of an open floor area, surrounded by fold up chairs and benches.
People were claiming their seats, quickly filling those ringside.
There was a balcony walk-way that circled the floor from above.

Where had I seen this? It suddenly hit me!
This was the gym I saw in an old black & white movie, one filmed about the time I was born.
The movie was one of my favorite boxing movies, "The Ring", starring Gerald Mohr and a teenage Rita Moreno.

I wasn't at all nervous, no butterflies, none of what I would later experience before every fight I would have in the future.
I was too green to know that confidence is often ignorance in disguise. I would soon learn the difference between the two.

I hear Johnnie Flores' voice, and turn to see him at the bottom of a stairway leading down to the basement.
Flores was waving to Manny, telling him to bring his two boxers down to weigh-in.
This would be the moment I would see Frank Baltazar for the first time.
Frank was sitting with a few other coaches at a table, they were making matches for the evening.
I step up on the scale and the three matchmakers all looked at my weight. "75 pounds," Louie announces to the others.

Coaches were trying to negotiate their boxer's matches.
"No, he's too heavy for my kid." or "No, he's got too much experience, but he can fight my open class guy, they're about the same size."
Sound familia, Frank?

Frank Baltazar was a young man, not yet thirty. He had jet black hair combed back. His boys were already matched.
I think his oldest son, Frankie Jr. was matched with a kid from Pomona, Armando Davila (?), Albert's younger brother.
Flores is at the table, looking over names, talking with Louie, Frank and Jake.

A moment later he returns to where I am sitting in the seat of an old wooden rowing machine.
"I got you a fight."
"Yeah . . . who am I fighting?"
"That kid in the corner, his name is Armando Cordova.

I look over and see a kid with his trainer. He's pulling on his trunks
Cordova was a Teamsters fighter, about my age, size. He had been boxing for awhile, had some experience.
I didn't care. I was ready to fight, or so I thought.

After the matches were made, and the crowd had settled into their seats, the show began.
As always, the amateurs begin with the lightest boxers and then move up to the heavier boys.
At 75 pounds, I was a good thirty pounds heavier than the Pee-Wees. So my bout would go on somewhere in the middle of the show.
In L.A. by the time you see a 17-year-old in his first official amateur bout, he's likely been fighting in the ring for a decade.

When I finally stepped into the ring for my first fight, my attitude was right. However, three weeks of training wasn't enough to make my conditioning right.
On this night, I would fight the guy hard for two rounds. Holding my own in round one, fighting him in round two but starting to get winded.
Fighting in front of a crowd is different than in the gym. You get more tired in front of people.
In round three, I got my ass kicked. I was out of gas, but hung in and kept punching until the bell.
I took a lot of punches in the last round, didn't land many of my own.
I lost a unanimous decision. I was disappointed, but not discouraged.
I knew exactly what I needed for next time, lots of roadwork.

A month later, I would fight another Teamsters boxer, a black kid who had only one fight, like me.
The bout was held at the Main Street Gym. This time I was very nervous, but I was also in good shape.

I went right to the guy at the bell, caught him with a hard right early, and he went down.
He got up, I went right to him and started landing punches. The fight was stopped and I was awarded a 1st round TKO.

I was now 1-1 against Teamsters boxers.

Over the next five years of my amateur career, I'd fight a lot of boxers representing the Teamsters Gym.
The guys who coached the boxers at Teamsters were all good, guys who created world class boxers in both amateur and pro rings.
They turned out a lot of great boxers over the years, long before and long after my boxing career.

However, the one thing I think of today when I picture the Teamsters Gym, is a scene from the movie, "The Ring".

Filmed in 1952, a young flyweight sensation made a cameo appearance, hitting the heavy bag.
His name was Keeny Teran.

Thanks to my Uncle Jess, I knew who Keeny Teran was.
Today, thanks to Frank Baltazar and Hap Navarro, I really know who Keeny Teran is . . .

A "Classic American West Coast Boxing" legend.


-Rick Farris

Rick, you continue spin out these great articles and stories like a Pulitzer level writer. The same goes for Rog, you guys are really finding yourselves here. Great reading. It's an education.

Regarding your statement:
"I lost a unanimous decision. I was disappointed, but not discouraged.
I knew exactly what I needed for next time, lots of roadwork."

This is the real difference between a real winner and a loser. That is the thinking of a man that will never be anything but a winner in life!!

Randy

[Randyman]

“I’m hot,” Paul Williams said. “Somebody is going to have to step up to the plate if they want to eat. All of those guys, they’ve got to call me out now. I’m tired of calling people out.”

It's pretty hard to argue with Williams after his one sided beat down of Ronald "Winky" Wright. He was too sharp, too big, and too busy for Wright, who had no answer for Williams in last night's fight.

Factoring in the Antonio Margarito cheating factor: Most of the controversy goes to the Antonio Margarito vs Miguel Cotto fight. Were Margarito's gloves loaded. We'll never really know and the fight will almost assuredly have an asterisk next to it in the record books. But maybe a bigger and more telling question might be Were Margarito's gloves loaded when he fought Williams? If they were, it says a lot more about the Williams fight that the Cotto fight. You have to ask Just how good is Williams really?

Randy

[dagosd2000]

Happy Easter Guys. I hope it has been a good one. I spent yesterday and today in the High Desert with my mother. She was feeling much better. We drove over to my daughter Deedee's house for dinner. She lives a hop and a skip away, in Apple Valley. They live on a small farm/ranch. It was a good day. I'm posting a few photos.


Me and Champ


My granddaughter McKayla and her chickens


Son in Law Richard, Deedee, McKayla and Jeri


Me, my mother Anita, Jeri and McKayla

Randy

Randy
Real nice shots of the family.Looks like you guys had a good time.Hope your mom feels better. Rog

[dagosd2000]

“I’m hot,” Paul Williams said. “Somebody is going to have to step up to the plate if they want to eat. All of those guys, they’ve got to call me out now. I’m tired of calling people out.”

It's pretty hard to argue with Williams after his one sided beat down of Ronald "Winky" Wright. He was too sharp, too big, and too busy for Wright, who had no answer for Williams in last night's fight.

Factoring in the Antonio Margarito cheating factor: Most of the controversy goes to the Antonio Margarito vs Miguel Cotto fight. Were Margarito's gloves loaded. We'll never really know and the fight will almost assuredly have an asterisk next to it in the record books. But maybe a bigger and more telling question might be Were Margarito's gloves loaded when he fought Williams? If they were, it says a lot more about the Williams fight that the Cotto fight. You have to ask Just how good is Williams really?

Randy

Yeah,Williams is the hot guy now. Not much for him to fight. Calzaghe? Hopkins? Those fights could be put together and the money would be out there. Something will happen for Williams.

[dagosd2000]

IF YOU WANT TO BE A CHAMP YOU FIGHT A NOBODY.

The argument seems to be ,quite often, was the winner that good or the other guy that bad? Take a look at the heavyweights to narrow this hypothosis down. Corbett beat a out of shape Sullivan. Fitzsimmons accomplished a monumental feat beating a heavier Corbett. Jeff simply over powered Ruby Robert. Jeff retires and then Jack Johnson toys with Burns in Australia. Willard conquers a fat old Johnson. Dempsey wipes out a dull Willard. Tunney has his way with a stale Manassa Mauler. Schmeling,Baer,and Carnera aren't on anyone's list of great heavyweight champs. Sharkey's in that category too. A Cinderella Man loses to a Brown Bomber. A Brown Bomber flying on one engine is trimmed by Charles. Walcott,pushing 40, loses to Ezzard twice before winning. The Rock puts an old Jersey Joe to sleep. Floyd beats an aging Archie for what's up for grabs. Patterson shows a weak chin against the Swede. Rewins the title for a first. Lasts 4 minutes with Sonny Liston. Sonny then sits on his stool against Clay. After 3 1/2 years Joe Frazier is the undisputed champ. Comes in 10 poumnds heavier for Big George and is deatroyed. Big bad George runs out of gas against an Ali past his prime. Holmes narrowly outpoints Norton. A light heavy wins the title from Holmes. Tyson bursts his bubble. Douglas bursts Tyson's bubble. Now it's Evanders turn to stick a pin in the ballon. Bowe comes along. Moorer is around. Here comes Big George again. Lennox comes out on top. There are champions all over the place now. So who accomplished the greatest feat according to my calculations? Bob Fitzsimmons ,a middle weight,winning the title from Corbett.

Please no one respond to this. I just drank a half bottle of tequila with a friend. In the morning I'll read this and I'll plead the 5th.,of Jose Cuervo.

[Counter-puncher]

I remember Jeff Merritt, but where is he today?
Did his life end when he quit boxing?
Is this where his story ends?
Just curious. Seems like something is missing.

-Rick

from my understanding, after boxing Merritt's time was split either committing, or being incarcerated for, crime.

I think he summed himself up quite well with the line 'man, all I need is a hit of heroin, a couple of bitches out on the street for me, and a can of tuna'

[hurlock]

The following was sent to me by my friend Bill O'Neill via email.

To: SELECT FRIENDS & RELATIVES

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO OUR LOCAL BOXING WRITER EARLIER THIS WEEK:
bon


Two questions will be answered Saturday:
1) Is Chris Arreola the best of the current heavyweights in the U.S.?
2) Is he the best Mexican heavyweight ever?

In my humble, slightly biased opinion, the answer to those questions is YES, and PROBABLY.

Having seen all of the Mexican heavyweights of the past sixty years (before that, there apparently were none) in action, I would place Arreola at the top of the list. Briefly, in chronological order:

Francisco De La Cruz, 1940s, was a sawed-off brawler who never took a backward step, but did a lot of fighting with his face. At about five-foot-seven, 200 pounds, he looked overweight and sloppy--but had a big heart, and a big punch.

Abel Fernandez, 1950s, was a tall, very handsome guy, and a real crowd-pleaser--a kill-or-be-killed slugger, with a glass jaw. He gave up boxing for an acting career in the mid-Fifties, was a regular as a member of Robert Stack's crew in the "Untouchables" TV series, and has a long list of film credits.

Manuel Ramos, 1960s, was a tall, rangy, free-swinging journeyman who beat several good heavyweights and once fought to a draw with Joey Orbillo. He earned a title shot against Joe Frazier in 1968, but was stopped in two rounds.

Joey Orbillo, 1960s, was in my opinion the best and most disciplined of the pre-Arreola Mexican heavies. Undersized for a heavyweight at five-ten, 185, he came along at a time when there was no cruiserweight division. He made a brief appearance in the Top Ten, but military service and losses to Jerry Quarry and Amos "Big Train" Lincoln put a damper on his career. Had he campaigned as a lightheavyweight at 175 pounds, he might have become champ.

Eddie "The Animal" Lopez, 1970s, was a rough, tough, heavily tattooed street fighter from East L.A. Not especially gifted with speed or a big punch, and noted for doing much of his "training" in nightclubs and bars, he nonetheless brawled his way to the Top Ten in the world, beating some very good fighters when he was in shape.

Alex Garcia, 1980s & 90s, appeared for a time to be the real article. Big and strong, packing a good punch, he was on the cusp of a title shot against Riddick Bowe when he was kayoed by a journeyman named Mike Dixon in a "tuneup" match. After that, it was all downhill, as his fragile jaw betrayed him and he was knocked out by guys he should have beaten with ease.

Javier "The Monster" Mora, 2000s: Whatever has happened to this guy? Carefully matched early in his career, physically imposing at six-foot-two, 250, he appeared to have it all going for him at one time. But now his career appears to have lost direction, as evidenced by his one-round kayo loss to Russia's Sultan Ibragimov two years ago.

So now, the mantle is passed to Chris Arreola. Let's see how he handles it. If success doesn't spoil him, he could go all the way--knocking out both of the powerful but robotic Klitschko brothers, and becoming the most celebrated athlete in the world.

bon

who's arreola beat???

he's small aswell as out of shape.

where's ruiz in your tally up then.

[kikibalt]

Remembering the Teamsters Gym . . .

The 1965 Western Region Golden Gloves Championships were televised on KTLA Channel-5 in Los Angeles.

The Championship round of the tournament was held at the Valley Gardens Arena,
an old venue that would hold it's very last boxing match that night.
The following year, the old brick arena located on Vineland Ave. in North Hollywood, at the end of a Burbank Airport runway, would become a warehouse.
Today it's long gone.

I watched the Golden Gloves on TV from the Valley Gardens Arena.
I was anxious to see a hot young heavyweight I was reading about, a guy from Bellflower named Jerry Quarry.

This was the first time I watched amateur boxing.
I didn't know anything about the boxers, managers, trainers, gyms, promoters who operated out of my hometown.
All I knew about boxing or boxers was the product of the old Friday Night Fights, which generally focused on guys from back east.

I had grown up hearing stories of Art Aragon, Lauro Salas and Keeny Teran from my Uncle Jess.
My uncle was a regular at both the Hollywood Legion and Olympic back in the day, however, the guys he'd tell me about were long gone.

What I would watch on TV this night, would prove to be the start of a new era.
The old one took it's last breath long before Kennedy was shot. The Legion was gone, The Olympic was gasping for air.

However, something new was on the way. Weekly televised boxing from the Olympic, would suddenly pump life into L.A. boxing.
At the same time, a brash young heavyweight champ would pump life into the sport internationally.

On this night, a TV screen would give me a peek into my future.
I would see a man named Johnnie Flores for the first time, working the corner of his heavyweight, Quarry, and few others.

Channel-5 televised the entire show, including the novice division title fights.
From this I would get my first look at guys like Louie Jaureque, Jake Horn, Norm Lockwood, Phil Silvers, Jake Shagrue, Howie Steindler, Gordon Shaw, Jerry Moore & Henry Blouin, and other L.A. handlers.

The tournament featured names like Armando Muniz, Jimmy Robertson, Henry Walker, Quarry, Dub Huntley, Thurman Durden.
They were introduced fighting out of clubs such as the Main Street Gym, Teamsters Gym, the Jake Shagrue Gym, the Johnnie Flores Gym, Stanton A.C., the Seaside Gym in Long Beach, etc.
Ringside announcer Dick Enberg reported that amateur boxing was going strong in Los Angeles.
Gyms were packed and the competition strong. How right he was.

Jimmy Lennon was the ring announcer that night.

In a bantamweight fight, I watch a guy win the title.
His name was Victor "Butch" Contreras and he fought out of the Teamsters Gym.
I had no idea that in a few years, I'd be scheduled to fight this man in a professional bout.
The fight never materialized, he did not show for a morning weigh-in at the Olympic.
However, this was my first introduction to the Teamsters Gym. A Teamsters fighter took the bantam title.
In the next bout, his brother, Davey Contreras would take the featherweight championship.

When I finally started my boxing journey, a few weeks later, I'd soon step thru the doors of the Teamsters Gym for the first time.
This is where I would have my first boxing match.
3-1 minute rounds in a junior amateur bout. My opponent, Armando Cordova. I weighed 75 pounds.

I'd only been training at the Johnnie Flores Gym about three weeks when I stepped into the ring for my first junior amateur fight.
I hadn't been boxing long, but I was ready to fight when Flores asked me if I'd like to box on a junior card at the Teamsters Gym.
I'd meet my trainer, Manny Diaz, and another boxer from our gym at Johnnie's house.
We'd leave from there and meet Johnnie at Teamsters.

I remember the ride downtown that evening.
I was about to have my first fight, but all I could do was try to imagine what the Teamsters Gym would be like.
I remember we traveled down 6th Street in downtown L.A., heading east.
We then jump over to 7th St. and continue on until we come to Stanford Street and turn right.
Looking down the block I could see a crowd filling the sidewalk outside a brightly lit building that looked like some kind of castle.
"That's it", Diaz said. "Now I gotta find a place to park".

We parked on the street around the corner from the gym and walked to the front of the building.
There were a lot of fighters around, old pros with faces laced with scartissue and flattened noses.
They were out front, laughing, talking about the previous nights TV main-event from the Olympic.
There were lots of kids, some wearing gold & blue satin jackets with "Junior Golden gloves Champion" embroidered on the back.

This was the first time I'd laid eyes on the jackets presented to Jr. Golden Gloves Champions.
I wanted one. I was going to have one, some day.

We walked up the steps leading to the corner door of the Teamsters Gym. When I stepped inside, I saw something very familiar.
Have I been here before, is this deja vu?

I looked toward the ring sitting in the middle of an open floor area, surrounded by fold up chairs and benches.
People were claiming their seats, quickly filling those ringside.
There was a balcony walk-way that circled the floor from above.

Where had I seen this? It suddenly hit me!
This was the gym I saw in an old black & white movie, one filmed about the time I was born.
The movie was one of my favorite boxing movies, "The Ring", starring Gerald Mohr and a teenage Rita Moreno.

I wasn't at all nervous, no butterflies, none of what I would later experience before every fight I would have in the future.
I was too green to know that confidence is often ignorance in disguise. I would soon learn the difference between the two.

I hear Johnnie Flores' voice, and turn to see him at the bottom of a stairway leading down to the basement.
Flores was waving to Manny, telling him to bring his two boxers down to weigh-in.
This would be the moment I would see Frank Baltazar for the first time.
Frank was sitting with a few other coaches at a table, they were making matches for the evening.
I step up on the scale and the three matchmakers all looked at my weight. "75 pounds," Louie announces to the others.

Coaches were trying to negotiate their boxer's matches.
"No, he's too heavy for my kid." or "No, he's got too much experience, but he can fight my open class guy, they're about the same size."
Sound familia, Frank?

Frank Baltazar was a young man, not yet thirty. He had jet black hair combed back. His boys were already matched.
I think his oldest son, Frankie Jr. was matched with a kid from Pomona, Armando Davila (?), Albert's younger brother.
Flores is at the table, looking over names, talking with Louie, Frank and Jake.

A moment later he returns to where I am sitting in the seat of an old wooden rowing machine.
"I got you a fight."
"Yeah . . . who am I fighting?"
"That kid in the corner, his name is Armando Cordova.

I look over and see a kid with his trainer. He's pulling on his trunks
Cordova was a Teamsters fighter, about my age, size. He had been boxing for awhile, had some experience.
I didn't care. I was ready to fight, or so I thought.

After the matches were made, and the crowd had settled into their seats, the show began.
As always, the amateurs begin with the lightest boxers and then move up to the heavier boys.
At 75 pounds, I was a good thirty pounds heavier than the Pee-Wees. So my bout would go on somewhere in the middle of the show.
In L.A. by the time you see a 17-year-old in his first official amateur bout, he's likely been fighting in the ring for a decade.

When I finally stepped into the ring for my first fight, my attitude was right. However, three weeks of training wasn't enough to make my conditioning right.
On this night, I would fight the guy hard for two rounds. Holding my own in round one, fighting him in round two but starting to get winded.
Fighting in front of a crowd is different than in the gym. You get more tired in front of people.
In round three, I got my ass kicked. I was out of gas, but hung in and kept punching until the bell.
I took a lot of punches in the last round, didn't land many of my own.
I lost a unanimous decision. I was disappointed, but not discouraged.
I knew exactly what I needed for next time, lots of roadwork.

A month later, I would fight another Teamsters boxer, a black kid who had only one fight, like me.
The bout was held at the Main Street Gym. This time I was very nervous, but I was also in good shape.

I went right to the guy at the bell, caught him with a hard right early, and he went down.
He got up, I went right to him and started landing punches. The fight was stopped and I was awarded a 1st round TKO.

I was now 1-1 against Teamsters boxers.

Over the next five years of my amateur career, I'd fight a lot of boxers representing the Teamsters Gym.
The guys who coached the boxers at Teamsters were all good, guys who created world class boxers in both amateur and pro rings.
They turned out a lot of great boxers over the years, long before and long after my boxing career.

However, the one thing I think of today when I picture the Teamsters Gym, is a scene from the movie, "The Ring".

Filmed in 1952, a young flyweight sensation made a cameo appearance, hitting the heavy bag.
His name was Keeny Teran.

Thanks to my Uncle Jess, I knew who Keeny Teran was.
Today, thanks to Frank Baltazar and Hap Navarro, I really know who Keeny Teran is . . .

A "Classic American West Coast Boxing" legend.


-Rick Farris

Rick...What a great story on the Teamsters Gym. and what memories it brings back, I don't remember this night in paticular, but if it was in 1965 we might have had 18 fights on the card, as 1965 was a big year in Jr. boxing in L.A., the shows at the Teamsters were once a month, youth boxing clubs from all of SoCal would show up, once we had weighted all the fighters, I would start to make the matches, I would have friendly arguments with trainers and coaches, as they all were looking for an edge for their fighters... . we would use ex-fighters as referees and judges, The teamsters doorman, Joe Kelly would be selling hot dogs and soft drinks, Connie would be helping out with the hot dogs, also helping would be Poncho Velazquez mom, whom name escape me at this moment. Frankie couldn't have been fighting one of Davilas that night in 1965 as Tony Cerda and the Pomona boys did not come on the boxing scene until 1968, most likely it Bobby Valenzuela who fought out of Canto Robledo's "Crown City Stable". Great time to be alive and be involved in the Jr. boxing program in SoCal....

Thanks for the memories.

Btw, I was asleep after taking a shot of "Medicinal Whiskey" when you called last nite....

[Randyman]

The following was sent to me by my friend Bill O'Neill via email.

To: SELECT FRIENDS & RELATIVES

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO OUR LOCAL BOXING WRITER EARLIER THIS WEEK:
bon


Two questions will be answered Saturday:
1) Is Chris Arreola the best of the current heavyweights in the U.S.?
2) Is he the best Mexican heavyweight ever?

In my humble, slightly biased opinion, the answer to those questions is YES, and PROBABLY.

Having seen all of the Mexican heavyweights of the past sixty years (before that, there apparently were none) in action, I would place Arreola at the top of the list. Briefly, in chronological order:

Francisco De La Cruz, 1940s, was a sawed-off brawler who never took a backward step, but did a lot of fighting with his face. At about five-foot-seven, 200 pounds, he looked overweight and sloppy--but had a big heart, and a big punch.

Abel Fernandez, 1950s, was a tall, very handsome guy, and a real crowd-pleaser--a kill-or-be-killed slugger, with a glass jaw. He gave up boxing for an acting career in the mid-Fifties, was a regular as a member of Robert Stack's crew in the "Untouchables" TV series, and has a long list of film credits.

Manuel Ramos, 1960s, was a tall, rangy, free-swinging journeyman who beat several good heavyweights and once fought to a draw with Joey Orbillo. He earned a title shot against Joe Frazier in 1968, but was stopped in two rounds.

Joey Orbillo, 1960s, was in my opinion the best and most disciplined of the pre-Arreola Mexican heavies. Undersized for a heavyweight at five-ten, 185, he came along at a time when there was no cruiserweight division. He made a brief appearance in the Top Ten, but military service and losses to Jerry Quarry and Amos "Big Train" Lincoln put a damper on his career. Had he campaigned as a lightheavyweight at 175 pounds, he might have become champ.

Eddie "The Animal" Lopez, 1970s, was a rough, tough, heavily tattooed street fighter from East L.A. Not especially gifted with speed or a big punch, and noted for doing much of his "training" in nightclubs and bars, he nonetheless brawled his way to the Top Ten in the world, beating some very good fighters when he was in shape.

Alex Garcia, 1980s & 90s, appeared for a time to be the real article. Big and strong, packing a good punch, he was on the cusp of a title shot against Riddick Bowe when he was kayoed by a journeyman named Mike Dixon in a "tuneup" match. After that, it was all downhill, as his fragile jaw betrayed him and he was knocked out by guys he should have beaten with ease.

Javier "The Monster" Mora, 2000s: Whatever has happened to this guy? Carefully matched early in his career, physically imposing at six-foot-two, 250, he appeared to have it all going for him at one time. But now his career appears to have lost direction, as evidenced by his one-round kayo loss to Russia's Sultan Ibragimov two years ago.

So now, the mantle is passed to Chris Arreola. Let's see how he handles it. If success doesn't spoil him, he could go all the way--knocking out both of the powerful but robotic Klitschko brothers, and becoming the most celebrated athlete in the world.

bon

who's arreola beat???

he's small aswell as out of shape.

where's ruiz in your tally up then.

Who's Arreola beat??? As far as I am concerened, no one of any real substance. Hopefully that will change soon.

He's small as well as out of shape. Wouldn't be the first "small" heavyweight to fight for a title. I can't tell if he's out of shape or if that's his physical makeup. Looks to me like he might need some roadwork.

Where's Ruiz in your tally up then? If we're talking about John Ruiz, just about everyone on the planet knows that Ruiz is Puerto Rican and not Mexican or Mexican American.

[Randyman]

Happy Easter Guys. I hope it has been a good one. I spent yesterday and today in the High Desert with my mother. She was feeling much better. We drove over to my daughter Deedee's house for dinner. She lives a hop and a skip away, in Apple Valley. They live on a small farm/ranch. It was a good day. I'm posting a few photos.


Me and Champ


My granddaughter McKayla and her chickens


Son in Law Richard, Deedee, McKayla and Jeri


Me, my mother Anita, Jeri and McKayla

Randy

Randy
Real nice shots of the family.Looks like you guys had a good time.Hope your mom feels better. Rog

Rog, my mother was feeling pretty good this weekend. I think just being around family picked up her spirits.

Yeah, it was a great weekend Rog, we had a really good time.

Randy