kikibalt wrote:Hey guys, its nice out here right now, not yet 100 degrees, but its getting there, sorry Rog, no rain.
Phoenix memories . . .
Frank, I'm curious if Carbajal's 16th Street Gym is still open?
The building was once a central Phoenix church, located in the barrio, right across the street from the home where Michael Carbajal grew up.
A couple months ago I spoke with my friend Ricky, and he said Danny Carbajal was in prison.
I know that Danny ran the gym.
About ten years ago, I stopped by the gym with a couple of boxers from our club who would spar with Michael.
At the time, Carbajal was training for his last bout in Mexico, against Jorge Arce.
I liked Michael Carbajal, a good little fighter. Sadly, there was a lot of trouble in the family.
I remember Michael getting arrested for fighting with a cop.
Then his younger brother Angel, who actually took care of the gym, was murdered in a Phoenix bar.
Then all the trouble with brother Danny.
Although I didn't care for 100+ degree weather five months each year, I liked the boxing people in Arizona.
I became close with the Rodriguez family, who ran the Madison Gym.
Ricky Ricardo's mother knew that my mother loved Menudo, and would always bring some to the gym for me to take to my mom.
Lots of boxers would show up at the gym who'd come across the border from the state of Sinaloa, J.C. Chavez territory.
I have good memories of Phoenix, but the heat gets to you after a few months of it.
By the way, I remember a manager I met while in Phoenix. His name was Al Fenn.
Fenn once managed Zora Folley, Stevie Espinosa, Manny Elias and many of the best boxers from Arizona.
Ricky told me that Fenn passed away recently.
Another guy I liked was the boxing commissioner, former boxer Tony Montano, who fought a lot of top fighters.
-Rick Farris
