Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Frank,

This looks like Art Aragon but I am not sure. Do you know who the guy in the right is? The guy on the right is my father Robert Arango Bolanos


Robert Bolanos Jr

Yes Robert, it is Art Aragon with your dad.

[RBolanos]

This is my uncle Enrique against Williams. Enrique told me that her got thumbed in the third fight. In the picture, his right eye seems to be closing. I assume this is the third fight against Williams. What you do think Frank. Can you add any of your insight?

Robert Bolanos

Robert....No way for me to tell which of the three fights it is, but if I had to guess, I would say its the second one, because Enrique looks like he has been in a long and tough fight, which the second one was.

That insight is what I like about you Frank. I think your are right. It has to be the second fight. I have more pictures for you. I'll send them tomorrow.

Rick, thanks for the kind words about my uncle. I have been showing your comments to my 80 year father and he enjoys your, Frank's and Hap's comments. My dad and I are very proud of my uncle's accomplishments and almost never get a chance to share our photos with people that know about boxing. My uncle lives at a rest home. He has a little bit of dementia but his long term memory is very good. He remembers people he fought and still has a sharp wit; I visited my uncle last year and he noticed that I had gained some weight and said "Your a heavyweight, were'nt you a middleweight (poking fun at my weight gain)? We keep in touch with him. I have told him that people still remember him and talk about his boxing career. It make him happy that people still remember him. I explained to him that a new generation of boxing fans are getting to know about him because of people like Frank, Hap and youself that keep his memory alive. In behave of my uncle, father and our family, I would like to thank everbody on this website that contribute to the preservation of California Boxing history.

Robert Enrique Bolanos Jr

[Randyman]

Yesterday we lost a good friend, Norm Cote died Saturday after a lengthy illness at age 74.
Norm was past president of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and was a member of the California Boxing hall of Fame.

Norm was all army champ at Fort Dix, N.J

Frank, sorry to hear about Norm Cote. My condolences to his family and friends.

Randy

[kikibalt]

Yesterday we lost a good friend, Norm Cote died Saturday after a lengthy illness at age 74.
Norm was past president of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and was a member of the California Boxing hall of Fame.

Norm was all army champ at Fort Dix, N.J

Frank, sorry to hear about Norm Cote. My condolences to his family and friends.

Randy

Thanks Randy.

[Randyman]

Lasagna made with Ricotta. This is more interesting than the Tarver/Dawson fight.

Damn that looks good Rog!!!

Randy

[Randyman]

Amanda dancing at Cafe Sevilla ,Gaslamp Downtown San Diego. Mother's Day




My daughter Patty(Amanda's mother),Amanda,Rocio Carerra(Amanda's teacher),and my wife Maria. Cafe Sevilla

Outstanding photos. Thanks for sharing Rog!

By the way, Dean Martin is one of my favorites. I like "Ain't that a kick in the head", always have, but your comment on another post caused me to look up the lyrics. It has a new meaning to me now and I thank you for that. The future, the family and everything that goes with it makes the "Kick in the head" worth it. Below are the lyrics.

Ain't That A Kick in the Head

How lucky can one guy be;
I kissed her and she kissed me
Like the fella once said,
Ain't that a kick in the head?
The room was completely black
I hugged her and she hugged back.
Like the sailor said, quote,
"Ain't that a hole in the boat?"
My head keeps spinning;
I go to sleep and keep grinning;
If this is just the beginning,
My life's gonna be beautiful.
I've sun- shine enough to spread;
It's like the fella said,
"Tell me quick
Ain't love like a kick in the head?"

Like the fella once said,
Ain't that a kick in the head?

Like the sailor said, quote,
"Ain't that a hole in the boat?"
My head keeps spinning;
I go to sleep and keep grinning;
If this is just the beginning,
My life's gonna be beautiful.
She's telling me we'll be wed;
She's picked out a king size bed.
I couldn't feel any better or I'd be sick;
Tell me quick, oh ain't love a kick?
Tell me quick, ain't love a kick in the head?

[Randyman]

Frank,

This looks like Art Aragon but I am not sure. Do you know who the guy in the right is? The guy on the right is my father Robert Arango Bolanos


Robert Bolanos Jr

Yes Robert, it is Art Aragon with your dad.

Robert, thanks for sharing all your historical photos with us.

Randy

[kikibalt]

This is Lauro Salas, my uncle Enrique and my dad Roberto.

My dad was also a fighter although not as talented as my uncle. My dad told me the he got in a bar room fight with Lauro Salas. My dad told me that Lauro had a reputation in getting into Bar room fights. Can you confirm of Lauros reputation for fighting outside the ring.

Robert
The only bar fight that I know that Lauro Salas got into was with Art Aragon, which got big play in the local press, so much so that it sold out the Olympic soon after when they fought.

[dagosd2000]

Dedicated to Roger and Maria Esty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugNQ5uIN09Q
Volver Volver

Vicente Fernandez

Just logged on. Thanks pal. Vicente is my wife's favorite.

CINELANDIA

The movie theater was taken out of the mercado across the street from the Guadalupe Church. Los Piojitos is what they call the mercado.At least that's what my wife had always referred to it. I've never seen a sign anywhere with a name of the mercado. Mexico is a little funny that way. Not a lot of street signs. Spelling the same word differently. Ask somone for an address and he doesn't know. But ask him the name of the place and he'll tell you. But he won't give you an address.
"Go to the parque Morelos and it's in back the big palma next to the taco stand."

Cinelandia was the name of the all night movie theater inside the mercado they call Piojitos.It was in the corner next to the carneceria Jalisco across from the banos where you pay the guy at the door.

When me and the wife would go there,it was in the day when Mexico was still cranking out movies. Vicente Fernandez was beginning to gather a following. His tremendous voice and ranchera style of singing was taking the place of the bygone stars of yesteryear. The Tres Immortales:Pedro Infante,Javier Solis,and Jorge Negrete. Jose Alfredo and Antonio Aguilar could still pack 'em in,but Vicente was in command. He was also becoming a big movie star.

I remember watching the movie La Ley Del Monte starring Vicente inside Cinelandia one evening with my wife. For a quarter you could sit in a seat with most of the stuffing out of it. Marijuana smoke would drift into your nostrils and the sounds of a cacaphony of different snoring would sound an odd rhythm in that dark little hole.

An old woman at a stand in the front of the ticket booth sold ham sandwiches for 50 cents,bags of potato chips,and assorted fruit in paper cups. Bottles of hot sauce and sliced jalapenos in a dish provided the garnishes. Two jugs one containing lemonade,the other jamaica, were the liquids of choice.

Vicente ,Tony Aguilar,El Santo,(for action and drama),La India Maria,Resortes and Cantinflas (that made all the poor people in that theater laugh) were the staples of entertainment. Throw in Lucha Villa,Silvia Pinal,Andres Garces,Sasha Montenegro...oh how I was fond of those stars. Most of the films were in black and white,but that was apropos for the time and the place.

Cinelandia was where I proposed to Maria. She said "si". We bought a couple of ham sandwiches and some lemonade and watched the movie. A comedy with Tin Tan. Funny man.

After the movie we drove back to Canyon Johnson to our little shack with the one bed,no windows,and the light bulb hanging from the ceiling. We were very happy.

[dagosd2000]

Robert
Great photos. Thanks for sharing. I could look at them forever.

[kikibalt]

This is my dad Robert and my uncle Enrique training for the Jose Luis Cotero fight

RB

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59o_9Yme2F4

Resortes

[kikibalt]

This is the legenday George Parnassus training my dad Robert Bolanos for the Jose Luis Cotero fight.

Robert

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkiUzz6BwqU

Que Te Ha Dado Esa Mujer

Angelica Maria and Beto Vasquez(rock and roll stars in Mexico singing together again in 1996). They still had it

[kikibalt]

Newpaper article before the Cotero fight.

[dagosd2000]

Between the old photos of Aragon,the Bolanoses,the music, the movies,the stars and singers. If you don't feel that ,you don't feel nothin'.

[kikibalt]

Wedding picture of Enrique and Ruby. They were both very good lookin'

"Beautiful couple"

It doesn't get any better then this.

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ne4_2oK8NQ

Beto Vasquez singing rock n' roll

[dagosd2000]

Wedding picture of Enrique and Ruby. They were both very good lookin'

"Beautiful couple"

It doesn't get any better then this.

Absolutely Frank. I feel old and wonderfull.

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzPAxiUWafs
Ike Williams/Enrique Bolanos II

[dagosd2000]

Amanda dancing at Cafe Sevilla ,Gaslamp Downtown San Diego. Mother's Day




My daughter Patty(Amanda's mother),Amanda,Rocio Carerra(Amanda's teacher),and my wife Maria. Cafe Sevilla

Outstanding photos. Thanks for sharing Rog!

By the way, Dean Martin is one of my favorites. I like "Ain't that a kick in the head", always have, but your comment on another post caused me to look up the lyrics. It has a new meaning to me now and I thank you for that. The future, the family and everything that goes with it makes the "Kick in the head" worth it. Below are the lyrics.

Ain't That A Kick in the Head

How lucky can one guy be;
I kissed her and she kissed me
Like the fella once said,
Ain't that a kick in the head?
The room was completely black
I hugged her and she hugged back.
Like the sailor said, quote,
"Ain't that a hole in the boat?"
My head keeps spinning;
I go to sleep and keep grinning;
If this is just the beginning,
My life's gonna be beautiful.
I've sun- shine enough to spread;
It's like the fella said,
"Tell me quick
Ain't love like a kick in the head?"

Like the fella once said,
Ain't that a kick in the head?

Like the sailor said, quote,
"Ain't that a hole in the boat?"
My head keeps spinning;
I go to sleep and keep grinning;
If this is just the beginning,
My life's gonna be beautiful.
She's telling me we'll be wed;
She's picked out a king size bed.
I couldn't feel any better or I'd be sick;
Tell me quick, oh ain't love a kick?
Tell me quick, ain't love a kick in the head?

Thanks Randy
I was hoping you got the meaning of what I said. BTW. I just got done with a plate of spaghetti with shrimp. I think I hurt myself.

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzPAxiUWafs
Ike Williams/Enrique Bolanos II

I was a 12 year old kid at that fight.
Btw that fight on you tube is mine, John from N.J. uploaded it for me.

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzPAxiUWafs
Ike Williams/Enrique Bolanos II

I was a 12 year old kid at that fight.
Btw that fight on you tube is mine, John from N.J. uploaded it for me.

Good Boy

[Chuck1052]

In his recent article about Juan Diaz being close to graduating from college, Steve Kim was trying to list other well-known boxers who were college graduates or attended college. He listed Carlos Palomino, Chuck Davey, James "Bonecrusher" Smith, Ken Norton (a junior college graduate?) and Steve Hamas.

When it comes to college graduates, George Latka and Armando Muniz could be added to the list. As I recall, Bobby Chacon and Randy Shields went to college for a short period of time. Ellsworth "Spider" Webb was on the boxing teams at Compton Jr. College and a four-year college in Idaho before become a top professional boxer. In fact, I think that Webb was the best jr. college boxer in history.

- Chuck Johnston

[Rick Farris]

This is my uncle Enrique against Williams. Enrique told me that her got thumbed in the third fight. In the picture, his right eye seems to be closing. I assume this is the third fight against Williams. What you do think Frank. Can you add any of your insight?

Robert Bolanos

Robert....No way for me to tell which of the three fights it is, but if I had to guess, I would say its the second one, because Enrique looks like he has been in a long and tough fight, which the second one was.

That insight is what I like about you Frank. I think your are right. It has to be the second fight. I have more pictures for you. I'll send them tomorrow.

Rick, thanks for the kind words about my uncle. I have been showing your comments to my 80 year father and he enjoys your, Frank's and Hap's comments. My dad and I are very proud of my uncle's accomplishments and almost never get a chance to share our photos with people that know about boxing. My uncle lives at a rest home. He has a little bit of dementia but his long term memory is very good. He remembers people he fought and still has a sharp wit; I visited my uncle last year and he noticed that I had gained some weight and said "Your a heavyweight, were'nt you a middleweight (poking fun at my weight gain)? We keep in touch with him. I have told him that people still remember him and talk about his boxing career. It make him happy that people still remember him. I explained to him that a new generation of boxing fans are getting to know about him because of people like Frank, Hap and youself that keep his memory alive. In behave of my uncle, father and our family, I would like to thank everbody on this website that contribute to the preservation of California Boxing history.

Robert Enrique Bolanos Jr

Shaking the hand of Enrique Bolanos . . .

Robert . . . I had the great honor of shaking your uncle's hand in 1971. At the time, I was a 19-year-old sparring partner for Ruben Olivares, who was training for a title fight at the Forum. George Parnassus was the promoter, and without question, your Uncle Enrique was George's greatest fighter. In fact, Ike Williams was actually a guest at the same lucheon being held in Parnassus' office in the Elks bldg. I was surprised, since George Parnassus did not care much for the guy that seperated his great fighter from the world championship.

There were many greats in Mr. Parnassus' office that day. Besides your uncle, there was Lou Nova (who twice KOed Max Baer), former welter king Jimmy McLarnin, Mushy Calahan, former middleweight champ Gorilla Jones, the great Henry Armstrong, and a few other legends. Still, despite the caliber of those in attendence, Enrique Bolanos was the main event that day. More people were more interested in Mr. Bolanos than anybody else. This was the legend that I used to hear about, the guy that they were trying to compare a young Mando Ramos with. Mando did become the youngest lightweight champ in history, but he never quite equaled the great respect that true L.A. boxing afficianados had for Enrique Bolanos.

My grandfather was a fan of Bolanos, and when I started boxing, he would talk to my manager Johnnie Flores about him. However, I didn't really get to know the true history of this fighter until I came in contact with another L.A. legend, Hap Navarro. To me, Hap's word ends the conversation. However, another legend from my own era punctuates the facts regarding Enrique Bolanos, and that's our friend Frank Baltazar. We are lucky here, Robert, we have both Hap and Frank in one place. I'm glad to hear Enrique Bolanos is still alive. I assure you of this, as long as I am alive, his name will be at the forefront of Los Angeles boxing history.


-Rick Farris
WBHOF Director/Historian