Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Hunter Jr. inherits later father's love for boxing
|
By Pat Graham, AP Sports Writer

DENVER — Gwen Hunter squirmed in her seat in the stands, sidestepping punches herself whenever one was thrown at her son in the ring below.
She's been here before, ducking and dodging from the crowd when her husband, Michael "The Bounty" Hunter, was a professional boxer.

This, though, was way more stressful. Watching her son, Michael Hunter Jr., fight at the USA national championships Wednesday night was a jittery ordeal.

"It's hard to sit there and watch your child get hit," she said.

Not that he gets hit that often.

Just like his father, Hunter Jr. can punch and dance with the best of them. The resemblance between the two is uncanny, even from up in the stands.

"Fights exactly like his dad," Gwen Hunter said.

That's with good reason. Before a big bout, the son will pull up footage of his father, studying his punching prowess and ring presence.

"He could really box," Hunter Jr. said.

The son isn't bad, either. And he's only been fighting for a little more than three years. His father didn't want him to follow in his shadow, pushing him toward football and basketball -- something that didn't involve getting smacked in the face.

But boxing's in his blood. Hunter Jr. grew up in the gym, watching his dad spar with the likes of Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe.

So when he announced at 17 he was pursuing boxing, no one was really surprised.

They were stunned at how easily he picked it up. A super heavyweight, he glides around the ring, waiting for his chance to pounce.

Hunter Jr. won the national championship in 2007 and followed that up by earning a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. However, he missed out on going to Beijing after falling in international qualifying.

"It was definitely crushing," said Hunter Jr., who turns 21 in July. "Who doesn't want to go to the Olympics and see the opening ceremonies? My mom sat down with me and we looked at the big picture -- I've only been boxing for a little while. I actually went far. I was a little ahead of my time. I still have a lot to grow and learn."

Sadly, his father was never in his corner for a big fight. The elder Hunter died in 2006 under circumstances the son has yet to fully piece together.

All Hunter Jr. knows is that his dad was killed during an altercation with police officers on a hotel roof in Los Angeles.

He doesn't know anymore.

Someday, he wants to ask more questions of his mom. Just not now.

"It's not a pretty picture and I want to spare them of all of that," said Gwen Hunter, who had three children with Hunter Sr. "I want them to remember him for the good things -- he was good provider, good husband, excellent dad."

For as tough as it was to view her son's fight from the stands, she found something even more agonizing -- watching her son get a win taken away.

Hunter Jr. beat Lenroy Thompson 8-7 in a quarterfinal match, earning the decisive final point on a punch with 2 seconds remaining in the final round.

However, a protest was filed over how much gauze Hunter Jr. used to wrap his hands.

For two agonizing hours, the family waited for the verdict as the grievance committee deliberated. When he was disqualified, Gwen Hunter broke into tears.

Her son quickly came over and placed a hand on her shoulder, reassuring her.

"I'm just going to roll with the punches like I always do," said Hunter Jr., shrugging his shoulders at the decision.

Still, this could be the final straw for his amateur career.

Could the disqualification lead him to turn pro?

His uncle and trainer, Kevin Henry, is pushing for it.

"I would suggest we leave it alone and go ahead and turn pro, get on with his career and his life," Henry said. "We don't want to be the top amateur. He wants to be heavyweight champion of the world."

Hunter Jr. said that decision is better left until later.

For now, he's content training with his uncle and good friend Hasim Rahman Jr. -- the 17-year-old son of the former heavyweight champion of the world -- in Las Vegas.

"Sparring with Mike, I know for a fact, there will no fight as tough," said Rahman Jr., who lost Tuesday in his match. "He gives you that confidence. He's been to the top."

Hunter Jr.'s one regret? That his father wasn't around to see his development.

"I wish that would've happened," he said.

His mom knows his dad would be proud.

"Elated," she said. "He'd be more proud of his son than he was of himself."

[Rick Farris]

Bennie
The rational I've heard from athletes wanting a fee for their signatures is that "you're going to make a profit and sell it on EBAY." Like I'm going on a round the world cruise with my wife selling Joe Frazier's autograph on the Internet.

That's so true, Rog. The true greats should rise above it and sign. They are hurting the more innocent out there.

A number of years ago, I met a flight attendant who used to work the LA to NY run for Delta airlines. He said that his favorite movie celebrity on those flights was Elizabeth Taylor, who would sign anyone's autograph who asked. When somebody would thank her for signing the autograph, she would always reply either, "Its my privilege," or "I'm just honored that you would ask for it." I always thought that showed real class.

The A-Holes . . .

In 1980, I worked on a film with Gene Hackman and Barbra Streisand. Hackman is a great guy, well liked. One of the sound men wanted Streisand's autograph for his mother who lived back east. Streisand is a legendary pain-in-the-ass to work with and when the soundman asked her to sign a script for his mother he had the script and pen in hand. She told him he'd have to make a formal request thru her personal assistant. The soundman would have scrapped the idea but he'd already promised his mother the signature so he went thru the actresses "people". More than two months later, after the production had ended, the soundman receives a an 8x10 of the actress in the mail with her signature "stamped" on the photo. "Best wishes, Barbar Streisand." He tossed it in the trash.

Streisand has a beautiful voice, but is a wretched woman. Helen Hunt is worse, a real witch with mental problems. But then again, for every witch that rides their broom to the studios, you have a Charlize Theron, or the late Anne Baxter, or a Whoopi Goldberg who are the greatest people you could ever want to meet. You have your good and bad among celebrities, sadly, what these guys don't realize their signatures have 0 monetary value to their fans, and the more they charge, the less it's worth.

I believe that boxers involved with Hall of Fame events deserve something for sitting for hours and signing endless photos, posters, etc. Some people will walk up to their table with a box full of memorabelia that they hope to sell later. They will rudely expect the champ to spend his entire day signing crap for him. Today, when boxers sit for the purpose of signing autographs, they must be paid something by somebody. Not a huge amount, but something fair to the boxer and the fan. Generally speaking, boxers are known for their kindness to fans, it should be a two way street.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Halls of Fame . . .

It should be about the boxers. History, recognition, honor, rememberence.
An official "Thank You" from the fans, put together by a few "friends."
A time to rekindle a roaring fire, one that touched our spirits, warmed our hearts.

We still wanted to touch Mando Ramos, as he touched us.
Who better to give you the lowdown on Sugar Ray Robinson, than Gene Fullmer?
Shake the hand that broke the jaw of Muhammad Ali. If he's healthy, Ken Norton will be there to offer you that hand.

Ali? Maybe Laila, but Muhammad is a long-shot these days. When "The Greatest" was healthy, he was usually present at the banquet.

Frazier? Smokin' Joe is always willing to show up, but he comes with a price tag of about $10,000 + expenses.
A little steep for a non-profit organization. We offered him a booth to showcase and market his new book, travel & lodging expenses, lots of PR op's. He declined.

Larry Holmes was immediatly inducted into the WBHOF upon becoming eligable in '07.
Next to Joe Louis, Holmes defended the heavyweight title more times than any other champ in history. So he certainly deserves the honor.
Holmes wanted a huge paycheck to attend the event, plus first class travel and lodging for a dozen Easton, Pa. freeloaders.
We said, "No way. You will be inducted, if you want your bronze statue, you must attend the event sometime in the future."
Larry did show up in Canestoga when the IBHOF inducted him the following year.
The fans in Canestoga were put off by the former champ, who demanded $50 for every autograph he signed. He didn't sell one signature.

Then you have a rarity in the world of boxing today, a class act.
He was a three-time heavyweight champ, only lost a couple times and KOed those who beat him in rematches.
He's smart, successful and respecful. His name is Lennox Lewis

Too bad our American heavyweight reps of recent history weren't a product of such class.
The principles of prizefighter class among the Yank big boys was buried along with Dempsey, Louis and the Rock.
A Brit has picked up the slack left by his ignorant Yank comrads.

When we informed Lennox Lewis that he was being inducted into the WBHOF, he was honored.
He was scheduled to work his HBO gig on the date of our banquet, but we worked the date to fit his schedule.
We offered him travel and lodging for two, all expenses. Like everybody else.
Lewis was grateful for the honor and our rescheduling the event. He refused transportation or lodging expenses, just requested four tickets to the banquet.
The former champs entourage included his wife, mother an attorney.

Something tells me Dempsey would have done the same thing?
The Rock? Nah, Marciano was tight as a dead heat. But you can bet he'd have shown up for his induction had he been alive.
Joe Louis? Well, you can pretty much believe that we'd happily pay just about anything to secure the attendence of the "Brown Bomber".
No offense Larry, but you must understand, you were heavyweight champ, but you weren't Joe Louis. Nobody was.

I prefer the old timers, they aren't so complicated.


-Rick Farris

I just re-read Rick's posting and noticed that Lennox sought a ticket to his WBHOF induction for his attorney. Lennox Lewis just became my all-time favorite world heavyweight champion. (Sorry Jeff . . .)

Tom . . .

Lennox referred to his attorney as his "Solicitor".
In this country, I think of a "Solicitor" as a guy who sells Fuller Brush prodcts door-to-door.


-Rick

[kikibalt]

[Rick Farris]

I see the name Willie Ketcham listed as manager for Jimmy Carter.
It's my undestanding that after featherweight champ Davey Moore died following his loss to Sugar Ramos, Ketcham took all of purse, leaving Moore's widow and six children with nothing. I used to see Willie at the Main Street Gym, where he managed Jose Luis Garcia and Renato Garcia. Mel Epstein couldn't stand Ketcham.


-Rick Farris

[raylawpc]

Halls of Fame . . .

It should be about the boxers. History, recognition, honor, rememberence.
An official "Thank You" from the fans, put together by a few "friends."
A time to rekindle a roaring fire, one that touched our spirits, warmed our hearts.

We still wanted to touch Mando Ramos, as he touched us.
Who better to give you the lowdown on Sugar Ray Robinson, than Gene Fullmer?
Shake the hand that broke the jaw of Muhammad Ali. If he's healthy, Ken Norton will be there to offer you that hand.

Ali? Maybe Laila, but Muhammad is a long-shot these days. When "The Greatest" was healthy, he was usually present at the banquet.

Frazier? Smokin' Joe is always willing to show up, but he comes with a price tag of about $10,000 + expenses.
A little steep for a non-profit organization. We offered him a booth to showcase and market his new book, travel & lodging expenses, lots of PR op's. He declined.

Larry Holmes was immediatly inducted into the WBHOF upon becoming eligable in '07.
Next to Joe Louis, Holmes defended the heavyweight title more times than any other champ in history. So he certainly deserves the honor.
Holmes wanted a huge paycheck to attend the event, plus first class travel and lodging for a dozen Easton, Pa. freeloaders.
We said, "No way. You will be inducted, if you want your bronze statue, you must attend the event sometime in the future."
Larry did show up in Canestoga when the IBHOF inducted him the following year.
The fans in Canestoga were put off by the former champ, who demanded $50 for every autograph he signed. He didn't sell one signature.

Then you have a rarity in the world of boxing today, a class act.
He was a three-time heavyweight champ, only lost a couple times and KOed those who beat him in rematches.
He's smart, successful and respecful. His name is Lennox Lewis

Too bad our American heavyweight reps of recent history weren't a product of such class.
The principles of prizefighter class among the Yank big boys was buried along with Dempsey, Louis and the Rock.
A Brit has picked up the slack left by his ignorant Yank comrads.

When we informed Lennox Lewis that he was being inducted into the WBHOF, he was honored.
He was scheduled to work his HBO gig on the date of our banquet, but we worked the date to fit his schedule.
We offered him travel and lodging for two, all expenses. Like everybody else.
Lewis was grateful for the honor and our rescheduling the event. He refused transportation or lodging expenses, just requested four tickets to the banquet.
The former champs entourage included his wife, mother an attorney.

Something tells me Dempsey would have done the same thing?
The Rock? Nah, Marciano was tight as a dead heat. But you can bet he'd have shown up for his induction had he been alive.
Joe Louis? Well, you can pretty much believe that we'd happily pay just about anything to secure the attendence of the "Brown Bomber".
No offense Larry, but you must understand, you were heavyweight champ, but you weren't Joe Louis. Nobody was.

I prefer the old timers, they aren't so complicated.


-Rick Farris

I just re-read Rick's posting and noticed that Lennox sought a ticket to his WBHOF induction for his attorney. Lennox Lewis just became my all-time favorite world heavyweight champion. (Sorry Jeff . . .)

Tom . . .

Lennox referred to his attorney as his "Solicitor".
In this country, I think of a "Solicitor" as a guy who sells Fuller Brush prodcts door-to-door.


-Rick

The Brits have a bifurcated legal profession. There are two classes of lawyers: Barristers and Solicitors. Barristers are what we refer to in the US as trial lawyers. They handle criminal and civil litigation. In the old days, they received all of their cases through referrals from solictors.

Speaking of which, solicitors are what we in the US refer to as transactional lawyers. They do contract, wills, trusts, negotiate deals, etc. They occasionally go to court in probate and other similar types of cases.

If I were a Brit, I'd be a solicitor. From 1980-1986, however, I would have been a Barrister. Some folks in the US do both. In England, a lawyer is either one or the other. I like their system and prefer it to ours.

[Rick Farris]

Tom . . .

Lennox referred to his attorney as his "Solicitor".
In this country, I think of a "Solicitor" as a guy who sells Fuller Brush prodcts door-to-door.


-Rick[/quote]

The Brits have a bifurcated legal profession. There are two classes of lawyers: Barristers and Solicitors. Barristers are what we refer to in the US as trial lawyers. They handle criminal and civil litigation. In the old days, they received all of their cases through referrals from solictors.

Speaking of which, solicitors are what we in the US refer to as transactional lawyers. They do contract, wills, trusts, negotiate deals, etc. They occasionally go to court in probate and other similar types of cases.

If I were a Brit, I'd be a solicitor. From 1980-1986, however, I would have been a Barrister. Some folks in the US do both. In England, a lawyer is either one or the other. I like their system and prefer it to ours.[/quote]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Tom- Thanks for the explanation.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Just for the record we are closing in on 20,000 posts. Is this the largest thread ever of the Boxrec Forum?
Just curious, maybe Rob would know?

-Rick

[kikibalt]

[Rick Farris]

Whoopie . . .

Just got a call from an old friend. Her name is Mandy Chamberlain.
For more than two decades Mandy has been Whoppie Goldberg's wardrobe designer.
Whenever Whoopie works, Mandy works, it's in the actress' contract. Same is true for hair stylist, Julia Walker.
Even when Whoopi made occasional appearances on the "Star Trek-Next Generation series", Mandy and Julia came in with the actress.
Whoopie takes care of her people. People who are loyal to each other, and friends.

I'd meet Mandy in 1993, when we both worked on Whoopie's film "Sister Act-2".
We worked long hours and the crew became close. You get to know people you spend 16 hours a day with.
It can be like a family, and Whoopie was everybody's "big sister". She is a very good person, kind and we all laughed a lot.

I once mentioned my daughters names to Whoopie one day after lunch, something about taking them horseback riding.
A week later my daughters, who were ages 9 & 7 at the time, visit the set.
After stepping off the set, Whoopie sees the girl's watching just off camera. She smiles and approaches them.
"Hello girls. You must be Kimberly & Kirsten?" I was impressed. So were my kids.

I asked Mandy how Whoopie was doing?
Mandy still works with Whoopie Goldberg when the entertainer does a film, awards show, stage, etc.
However, she declined an offer to move to N.Y. and work with Goldberg on "The View".
"I love Whoopie but the other women on the show are insane" she said.

I remember getting a call from Mandy back in the mid 90's, when she worked with Whoopie on her nightly TV talk show of the time.
The costume supervisor was excited about meeting her favorite rock guitarist, Carlos Santana.
Whoopie knew that Chamberlain liked Santana, and didn't tell her friend that Santana would be a guest star.
When the guitarist was introduced to the audience and took his seat next to Whoopie, she insisted that Mandy come out and meet him on camera.
"I was never more shocked in my life, and she pulls me right on stage," she told me. "It'll be on later tonight, if you get a chance watch it."

Later that night I caught Whoopie's talk show and saw Mandy called on stage to meet Carlos Santana.
The wardrobe supervisor was speechless, the musician amused, and Goldberg laughing hysterically at Mandy's red face.

It was good talking with Mandy again.
She's gearing up to fly to New York to help Whoopie with some sort of project.
"I saw your number in an old book and took a chance I'd reach you", she said. "We had some good times, didn't we?"

Yes, we did have some good times and worked with some great people. None better than Whoopie Goldberg.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Keeny Bares Facts on Fight With Kid H.

Paul V. Coates -- Confidential File, June 10, 1959

Keeny Teran's back home.

The former boy wonder of boxing who went sour on narcotics is, at the age of 28, going to give life another try.

This week, he finished a three-year stretch at Soledad State Prison. The crime that sent him there -- peddling heroin -- was just one of the hundreds of stories that kept Keeny in the headlines here for a decade.

In his glorious, notorious life, boxing's most publicized bad boy was jailed for burglary and dope, crowned as California's and NorthAmerican's bantam weight champion, and credited, in 1952, for the most courageous comeback in the history of the ring.

Yesterday, Keeny Teran sat down with me only hours after he walked through the prison gates, to discuss the next chapter in his life.

And he admitted that it might be a pretty dull one, so far as newspaper headlines are concerned.

"I'm going to try to do things right," he told me. "When I was at Soledad, I didn't serve time. I made it serve me. I read everything I could get my hands on."

"What kind of books?" I asked.

"Well, like one on the life of Teddy Roosevelt. I really picked up on him."

In prison Keeny became editor of the paper. He also went to school for three and a half hours a days until he made up enough credits to get his high school diploma.

"On the outside I was always too busy with boxing," he explained, adding softly, "and other things."

"Other things" included a taste for marijuana at the age of 11 and a side career as an addict which started with his first fix of heroin the day before his 15th birthday.

With no trace of false pride or tough guy in his voice, Keeny talked about those days.

"Nobody forced me. Nobody offered it to me. I just took it," he said. "Dope is its own agent. I just thought it won't happen to me. I'mKeeny."

Just about all through my boxing career I was hooked," he added. "That's something most people don't realize."

In June of 1952, after 17 straight wins, the kid lost to Tommy Umeda. "Before that, I was just using mildly," he said. "But when I lost that fight, it broke my heart. I figured I was indestructible. I couldn't lose.

"After that is when I stated using heavy."

By the end of that year Keeny was back on top of the world. He'd reversed the Umeda decision and for five weeks "beaten" the habit long enough to have everybody in Hollywood begging to do his life story.

"I had everything to live for," he said. But his habit was bigger than he was. He fought some more, won some good fights, lost a few -- and all the time he was fooling the State Athletic Commission doctors.

"Say we'd weigh in at 12 o'clock. I'd take my fix at 1 o'clock. then I'd wait until after 8 o'clock examination at the arena to fix again. I'd spread them around all over my body. No tracks that way."

I asked Keeny if some more boxing might be in his future.

"Right now," he said, "I just don't know. I feel fine. I worked out all the time up there. I've never been in better shape.

"But who knows what the boxing commission is thinking of me now?"

Today's Today and That's for Me

"What I'd like to do," Keeny added, "is get a job in an office. I'd like to be sports writer, but I know I'm not ready. I learned a lot up there, but I still sweat blood getting one little column done.

"Another thing," the grown-up kid went on, "I'm no crusader. I'm not going to go around telling what a bad guy I was and how wrong I was. Right now I'm going to take each day one by one, and make it my job to take care ofKeeny."

I hope he does a helluva good job.

[Rick Farris]

Keeny Bares Facts on Fight With Kid H.

Paul V. Coates -- Confidential File, June 10, 1959

Keeny Teran's back home.

The former boy wonder of boxing who went sour on narcotics is, at the age of 28, going to give life another try.

This week, he finished a three-year stretch at Soledad State Prison. The crime that sent him there -- peddling heroin -- was just one of the hundreds of stories that kept Keeny in the headlines here for a decade.

In his glorious, notorious life, boxing's most publicized bad boy was jailed for burglary and dope, crowned as California's and NorthAmerican's bantam weight champion, and credited, in 1952, for the most courageous comeback in the history of the ring.

Yesterday, Keeny Teran sat down with me only hours after he walked through the prison gates, to discuss the next chapter in his life.

And he admitted that it might be a pretty dull one, so far as newspaper headlines are concerned.

"I'm going to try to do things right," he told me. "When I was at Soledad, I didn't serve time. I made it serve me. I read everything I could get my hands on."

"What kind of books?" I asked.

"Well, like one on the life of Teddy Roosevelt. I really picked up on him."

In prison Keeny became editor of the paper. He also went to school for three and a half hours a days until he made up enough credits to get his high school diploma.

"On the outside I was always too busy with boxing," he explained, adding softly, "and other things."

"Other things" included a taste for marijuana at the age of 11 and a side career as an addict which started with his first fix of heroin the day before his 15th birthday.

With no trace of false pride or tough guy in his voice, Keeny talked about those days.

"Nobody forced me. Nobody offered it to me. I just took it," he said. "Dope is its own agent. I just thought it won't happen to me. I'mKeeny."

Just about all through my boxing career I was hooked," he added. "That's something most people don't realize."

In June of 1952, after 17 straight wins, the kid lost to Tommy Umeda. "Before that, I was just using mildly," he said. "But when I lost that fight, it broke my heart. I figured I was indestructible. I couldn't lose.

"After that is when I stated using heavy."

By the end of that year Keeny was back on top of the world. He'd reversed the Umeda decision and for five weeks "beaten" the habit long enough to have everybody in Hollywood begging to do his life story.

"I had everything to live for," he said. But his habit was bigger than he was. He fought some more, won some good fights, lost a few -- and all the time he was fooling the State Athletic Commission doctors.

"Say we'd weigh in at 12 o'clock. I'd take my fix at 1 o'clock. then I'd wait until after 8 o'clock examination at the arena to fix again. I'd spread them around all over my body. No tracks that way."

I asked Keeny if some more boxing might be in his future.

"Right now," he said, "I just don't know. I feel fine. I worked out all the time up there. I've never been in better shape.

"But who knows what the boxing commission is thinking of me now?"

Today's Today and That's for Me

"What I'd like to do," Keeny added, "is get a job in an office. I'd like to be sports writer, but I know I'm not ready. I learned a lot up there, but I still sweat blood getting one little column done.

"Another thing," the grown-up kid went on, "I'm no crusader. I'm not going to go around telling what a bad guy I was and how wrong I was. Right now I'm going to take each day one by one, and make it my job to take care ofKeeny."

I hope he does a helluva good job.

Great story, Frank. Thanks for posting it.


-Rick

[kikibalt]

Rick....If not for the dope, who knows how far Keeny would have gone in the boxing game, far I think, he could have been a champion in a tough era, times when a belt meant something.
I'm proud to have met and boxed with Keeny at the Teamsters Gym.

[kikibalt]

Tony Baltazar vs Miguel Dominguez
Dominguez name is Miguel and not Marcelo as my friend John who uploads for me on YouTube wrote.


This was Tony's first fight after leaving the "Country Club"

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY3i_bniVtY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5U6caPM0tw

[Rick Farris]

Rick....If not for the dope, who knows how far Keeny would have gone in the boxing game, far I think, he could have been a champion in a tough era, times when a belt meant something.
I'm proud to have met and boxed with Keeny at the Teamsters Gym.

He was a lot like Mando Ramos, with regard to the age in which he began with dope. It was a part of his life so long before he impressed so many in the pro ring. When I have sat with Mando and he let me in on things he did the night before fights in which I saw him, I was amazed he was even able to show up, let alone fight, win and impress.

Just what I've seen of Teran (thanks to you) validates what you and Hap have said here. I notice that he and Cadilli were really pretty boxers and could bang, I loved the way Teran held his hands, and head. I have to say that was something that must have been burned into you guys from that era. It was burnt into my mind, as well, but it is particularly evident if you watch Tony & Frankie Jr. when they are in the ring. Even as kid they were technically solid in that regard. You came up with guys like Teran and the Johnny Forbes boys, you learned your lessons.

Vince Delgado has talked a lot with me about Johnny Forbes, Teran, Cadilli, Chavez, Northrup, and the others.
I am definitly putting Johnny Forbes up for Posthumous induction into the WBHOF next year.


-Rick Farris

[Randyman]

Keeny Bares Facts on Fight With Kid H.

Paul V. Coates -- Confidential File, June 10, 1959

Keeny Teran's back home.

The former boy wonder of boxing who went sour on narcotics is, at the age of 28, going to give life another try.

This week, he finished a three-year stretch at Soledad State Prison. The crime that sent him there -- peddling heroin -- was just one of the hundreds of stories that kept Keeny in the headlines here for a decade.

In his glorious, notorious life, boxing's most publicized bad boy was jailed for burglary and dope, crowned as California's and NorthAmerican's bantam weight champion, and credited, in 1952, for the most courageous comeback in the history of the ring.

Yesterday, Keeny Teran sat down with me only hours after he walked through the prison gates, to discuss the next chapter in his life.

And he admitted that it might be a pretty dull one, so far as newspaper headlines are concerned.

"I'm going to try to do things right," he told me. "When I was at Soledad, I didn't serve time. I made it serve me. I read everything I could get my hands on."

"What kind of books?" I asked.

"Well, like one on the life of Teddy Roosevelt. I really picked up on him."

In prison Keeny became editor of the paper. He also went to school for three and a half hours a days until he made up enough credits to get his high school diploma.

"On the outside I was always too busy with boxing," he explained, adding softly, "and other things."

"Other things" included a taste for marijuana at the age of 11 and a side career as an addict which started with his first fix of heroin the day before his 15th birthday.

With no trace of false pride or tough guy in his voice, Keeny talked about those days.

"Nobody forced me. Nobody offered it to me. I just took it," he said. "Dope is its own agent. I just thought it won't happen to me. I'mKeeny."

Just about all through my boxing career I was hooked," he added. "That's something most people don't realize."

In June of 1952, after 17 straight wins, the kid lost to Tommy Umeda. "Before that, I was just using mildly," he said. "But when I lost that fight, it broke my heart. I figured I was indestructible. I couldn't lose.

"After that is when I stated using heavy."

By the end of that year Keeny was back on top of the world. He'd reversed the Umeda decision and for five weeks "beaten" the habit long enough to have everybody in Hollywood begging to do his life story.

"I had everything to live for," he said. But his habit was bigger than he was. He fought some more, won some good fights, lost a few -- and all the time he was fooling the State Athletic Commission doctors.

"Say we'd weigh in at 12 o'clock. I'd take my fix at 1 o'clock. then I'd wait until after 8 o'clock examination at the arena to fix again. I'd spread them around all over my body. No tracks that way."

I asked Keeny if some more boxing might be in his future.

"Right now," he said, "I just don't know. I feel fine. I worked out all the time up there. I've never been in better shape.

"But who knows what the boxing commission is thinking of me now?"

Today's Today and That's for Me

"What I'd like to do," Keeny added, "is get a job in an office. I'd like to be sports writer, but I know I'm not ready. I learned a lot up there, but I still sweat blood getting one little column done.

"Another thing," the grown-up kid went on, "I'm no crusader. I'm not going to go around telling what a bad guy I was and how wrong I was. Right now I'm going to take each day one by one, and make it my job to take care ofKeeny."

I hope he does a helluva good job.

Good stuff, Frank. I'm always happy to see you post articles on Keeny. I actually had my hands on Keeny's manuscript, read a bit of it too. Mike Teran and I painted the interior of his home in Highland Park. He paid us well.

We might never really know how good Keeny might have been but we can speculate. Going by what we do know about Keeny, it's not too hard to imagine that he might have won and defended a world title.

I know for a fact that the Teran family believes Keeny would have been a world champ. Who am I to say otherwise.

Good stuff!
Randy

[kikibalt]

Rick....If not for the dope, who knows how far Keeny would have gone in the boxing game, far I think, he could have been a champion in a tough era, times when a belt meant something.
I'm proud to have met and boxed with Keeny at the Teamsters Gym.

He was a lot like Mando Ramos, with regard to the age in which he began with dope. It was a part of his life so long before he impressed so many in the pro ring. When I have sat with Mando and he let me in on things he did the night before fights in which I saw him, I was amazed he was even able to show up, let alone fight, win and impress.

Just what I've seen of Teran (thanks to you) validates what you and Hap have said here. I notice that he and Cadilli were really pretty boxers and could bang, I loved the way Teran held his hands, and head. I have to say that was something that must have been burned into you guys from that era. It was burnt into my mind, as well, but it is particularly evident if you watch Tony & Frankie Jr. when they are in the ring. Even as kid they were technically solid in that regard. You came up with guys like Teran and the Johnny Forbes boys, you learned your lessons.

Vince Delgado has talked a lot with me about Johnny Forbes, Teran, Cadilli, Chavez, Northrup, and the others.
I am definitly putting Johnny Forbes up for Posthumous induction into the WBHOF next year.


-Rick Farris

Rick....Though I never trained with Johnny Forbes, the guys that I trained with were all from the same school as Forbes, Louie J. Hoyt Porter, Bob De La Fuentes, et. al.
I agree that Johnny Forbes should be inducted into the WBHOF and CBHOF.

As for Frankie, Tony and Bobby, I taught them what I learned from those great trainers.

[Randyman]

Going through some old boxes in the garage I found these two programs from the Forum. I would pit the Forum Ring Card girls against any. The Forum left no stone unturned in finding and hiring the best.

Check out Barrera's hair. Mel Epstein would turn over in his grave. Barrera won his fight against Eduardo Ramirz via a 12 round decision. Paul Banke won by majority decision against Antonio Ramirez. Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez won by UD in his fight with Pablo Tiznado and Gabe Ruelas stopped Ben Lopez in five. I was there that night but I can't remember one fight from that night.

Randy

Randy . . .
I too was at this fight. And I forget what happened, except for Gabe Ruelas.
I'd come to see Gabe and he busted up Ben Lopez pretty good.
Of course, Barrera and Chiquita were always great, but I don't remember what happened on this night.

I always thought Mel would have considered Marco Antonio Barrera "his kind of fighter".
However, I forgot Barrera's hair in the early 90's.
Can you hear Mel's voice, his opinion of Barrera's "Do"?

"Look at the silly bastid, all that hair, you know he's got the Cwabs (crabs). It makes people crazy, too much hair, his head can't breathe. That's what's wrong with women. It's that f__king Ed Sullivan's fault. He brought the Beatles over here and they ruined the country. They all got screw woims in their brains, they walk around barefoot and don't bath. Dirty Bastids."

Of course, a few years later when the great little fighter kicked Princess Nasim's ass, Mel would have pointed out, "That Barrera is one helluva fighter. And he's gotta fighta's haircut!"


-Rick Farris

Rick, you are so right about the reference to Ed Sullivan. Mel would go on and on about Sullivan, the Beatles and Elvis. he held all three responsible for the downfall of American ideals. That was pretty hard to take considering I liked all three.

I agree, Mel would have liked Barrera. A good solid fighter, with skills and the wherewithal to stand his ground (see Barrera v Kennedy McKinney) when pressured.

Randy

[kikibalt]

Keeny Bares Facts on Fight With Kid H.

Paul V. Coates -- Confidential File, June 10, 1959

Keeny Teran's back home.

The former boy wonder of boxing who went sour on narcotics is, at the age of 28, going to give life another try.

This week, he finished a three-year stretch at Soledad State Prison. The crime that sent him there -- peddling heroin -- was just one of the hundreds of stories that kept Keeny in the headlines here for a decade.

In his glorious, notorious life, boxing's most publicized bad boy was jailed for burglary and dope, crowned as California's and NorthAmerican's bantam weight champion, and credited, in 1952, for the most courageous comeback in the history of the ring.

Yesterday, Keeny Teran sat down with me only hours after he walked through the prison gates, to discuss the next chapter in his life.

And he admitted that it might be a pretty dull one, so far as newspaper headlines are concerned.

"I'm going to try to do things right," he told me. "When I was at Soledad, I didn't serve time. I made it serve me. I read everything I could get my hands on."

"What kind of books?" I asked.

"Well, like one on the life of Teddy Roosevelt. I really picked up on him."

In prison Keeny became editor of the paper. He also went to school for three and a half hours a days until he made up enough credits to get his high school diploma.

"On the outside I was always too busy with boxing," he explained, adding softly, "and other things."

"Other things" included a taste for marijuana at the age of 11 and a side career as an addict which started with his first fix of heroin the day before his 15th birthday.

With no trace of false pride or tough guy in his voice, Keeny talked about those days.

"Nobody forced me. Nobody offered it to me. I just took it," he said. "Dope is its own agent. I just thought it won't happen to me. I'mKeeny."

Just about all through my boxing career I was hooked," he added. "That's something most people don't realize."

In June of 1952, after 17 straight wins, the kid lost to Tommy Umeda. "Before that, I was just using mildly," he said. "But when I lost that fight, it broke my heart. I figured I was indestructible. I couldn't lose.

"After that is when I stated using heavy."

By the end of that year Keeny was back on top of the world. He'd reversed the Umeda decision and for five weeks "beaten" the habit long enough to have everybody in Hollywood begging to do his life story.

"I had everything to live for," he said. But his habit was bigger than he was. He fought some more, won some good fights, lost a few -- and all the time he was fooling the State Athletic Commission doctors.

"Say we'd weigh in at 12 o'clock. I'd take my fix at 1 o'clock. then I'd wait until after 8 o'clock examination at the arena to fix again. I'd spread them around all over my body. No tracks that way."

I asked Keeny if some more boxing might be in his future.

"Right now," he said, "I just don't know. I feel fine. I worked out all the time up there. I've never been in better shape.

"But who knows what the boxing commission is thinking of me now?"

Today's Today and That's for Me

"What I'd like to do," Keeny added, "is get a job in an office. I'd like to be sports writer, but I know I'm not ready. I learned a lot up there, but I still sweat blood getting one little column done.

"Another thing," the grown-up kid went on, "I'm no crusader. I'm not going to go around telling what a bad guy I was and how wrong I was. Right now I'm going to take each day one by one, and make it my job to take care ofKeeny."

I hope he does a helluva good job.

Good stuff, Frank. I'm always happy to see you post articles on Keeny. I actually had my hands on Keeny's manuscript, read a bit of it too. Mike Teran and I painted the interior of his home in Highland Park. He paid us well.

We might never really know how good Keeny might have been but we can speculate. Going by what we do know about Keeny, it's not too hard to imagine that he might have won and defended a world title.

I know for a fact that the Teran family believes Keeny would have been a world champ. Who am I to say otherwise.

Good stuff!
Randy

Randy, I do believe that keeny would have been a champion, even in that tough era of the early 1950's. Knowing Keeny the way I did, whatching him train and fight, and sparring a bit with him, I think I can safely say that.

[kikibalt]

Anybody for pancakes?

[dagosd2000]

Frank
Way back on the thread I asked you if you remembered an actress from the 50's named Mary Castle. You said you did. I thought she was the most stunning creature in Hollywood. They compared her to looking like Rita Hayworth,but even Rita said that Mary Castle looked more like her than she did herself. Here's a clip of Mary Castle from YOUTUBE. Belle Starr is played by Marie Windsor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uPbudDdCvk

[kikibalt]

Frank
Way back on the thread I asked you if you remembered an actress from the 50's named Mary Castle. You said you did. I thought she was the most stunning creature in Hollywood. They compared her to looking like Rita Hayworth,but even Rita said that Mary Castle looked more like her than she did herself. Here's a clip of Mary Castle from YOUTUBE. Belle Starr is played by Marie Windsor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uPbudDdCvk

Roger...I remember Mary Castle from seeing her in western movie, which she made a few off.

[Rick Farris]

Rick....If not for the dope, who knows how far Keeny would have gone in the boxing game, far I think, he could have been a champion in a tough era, times when a belt meant something.
I'm proud to have met and boxed with Keeny at the Teamsters Gym.

He was a lot like Mando Ramos, with regard to the age in which he began with dope. It was a part of his life so long before he impressed so many in the pro ring. When I have sat with Mando and he let me in on things he did the night before fights in which I saw him, I was amazed he was even able to show up, let alone fight, win and impress.

Just what I've seen of Teran (thanks to you) validates what you and Hap have said here. I notice that he and Cadilli were really pretty boxers and could bang, I loved the way Teran held his hands, and head. I have to say that was something that must have been burned into you guys from that era. It was burnt into my mind, as well, but it is particularly evident if you watch Tony & Frankie Jr. when they are in the ring. Even as kid they were technically solid in that regard. You came up with guys like Teran and the Johnny Forbes boys, you learned your lessons.

Vince Delgado has talked a lot with me about Johnny Forbes, Teran, Cadilli, Chavez, Northrup, and the others.
I am definitly putting Johnny Forbes up for Posthumous induction into the WBHOF next year.


-Rick Farris

Rick....Though I never trained with Johnny Forbes, the guys that I trained with were all from the same school as Forbes, Louie J. Hoyt Porter, Bob De La Fuentes, et. al.
I agree that Johnny Forbes should be inducted into the WBHOF and CBHOF.

As for Frankie, Tony and Bobby, I taught them what I learned from those great trainers.

Johnny Forbes . . .

It's important we take this opportunity to put Forbes in both the WBHOF & CBHOF. He's unknown in today's world.
He was a tremendous teacher and his stable validates it.
Particularly interesting how he took these kids from childhood (see photo of Forbes w/Cadilli & Teran as kids in the gym posted earlier).

This thread is doing boxing history justice. It's bringing to light an era that has fallen off in darkness.
Frank, when you and I are gone (with our HOF connections) who is going to remember Johnny Forbes? He was before my time, and I'm 57.
After all, in due course Joe Goossen will be inducted. I think Forbes deserves to be there first.

It's too late for 2009, but I'll have the same position in 2010, and I will have no opposition in nominating Forbes for Posthumous induction.
The great thing about this, the Posthumous catatgory is not subject to vote or voter ignorance.
It will be an automatic induction, along with a couple of others.

I know that you weren't part of the Forbes stable, but you boxed with those guys.
Trainers were taught correctly, and so were boxers.
Think back, those junior matches on Friday nights, these kids boxed pretty nice.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Going through some old boxes in the garage I found these two programs from the Forum. I would pit the Forum Ring Card girls against any. The Forum left no stone unturned in finding and hiring the best.

Check out Barrera's hair. Mel Epstein would turn over in his grave. Barrera won his fight against Eduardo Ramirz via a 12 round decision. Paul Banke won by majority decision against Antonio Ramirez. Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez won by UD in his fight with Pablo Tiznado and Gabe Ruelas stopped Ben Lopez in five. I was there that night but I can't remember one fight from that night.

Randy

Randy . . .
I too was at this fight. And I forget what happened, except for Gabe Ruelas.
I'd come to see Gabe and he busted up Ben Lopez pretty good.
Of course, Barrera and Chiquita were always great, but I don't remember what happened on this night.

I always thought Mel would have considered Marco Antonio Barrera "his kind of fighter".
However, I forgot Barrera's hair in the early 90's.
Can you hear Mel's voice, his opinion of Barrera's "Do"?

"Look at the silly bastid, all that hair, you know he's got the Cwabs (crabs). It makes people crazy, too much hair, his head can't breathe. That's what's wrong with women. It's that f__king Ed Sullivan's fault. He brought the Beatles over here and they ruined the country. They all got screw woims in their brains, they walk around barefoot and don't bath. Dirty Bastids."

Of course, a few years later when the great little fighter kicked Princess Nasim's ass, Mel would have pointed out, "That Barrera is one helluva fighter. And he's gotta fighta's haircut!"


-Rick Farris

Rick, you are so right about the reference to Ed Sullivan. Mel would go on and on about Sullivan, the Beatles and Elvis. he held all three responsible for the downfall of American ideals. That was pretty hard to take considering I liked all three.

I agree, Mel would have liked Barrera. A good solid fighter, with skills and the wherewithal to stand his ground (see Barrera v Kennedy McKinney) when pressured.

Randy

REFLECTIONS

The more i read about Mel Epstein from you guys,the more I think Mel and my father would have become fast friends. My father always believed Elvis Presley was part of communist conspiracy to undermine American youth.

The Beatles were even a worse scurge. A homosexual band of dope addicts that purposely infected the culture of America. It was England's revenge for losing their empire. Ed Sullivan had sold out for money, so he had lost face with my father.

My father also handled a few fighters in Chicago and in Tijuana. I was too young to remember the fighters in Chi Town,but my mother told me they were Mexican boys. I do remember my father buying a robe for one of these fighters. On the back was the inscription"Kid Coco". I never knew what became of them,but maybe the way he handled the boys South Of The Border was an indication of what became of those fighters in The Windy City.. The two fellas' he managed in TJ didn't get very far. I can't remenber who trained them. I saw one of them fight a pre lim fight on the same card with Olivares in the downtown bullring. This kid was stopped in 4 rounds. On the way home my father told me he was going to let the kid go.
"Fighting is a dangerous business,"he said. "You've got to have the desire to go along with the talent."
"So that's why you're letting them go?" I asked.
"Son when a fighter at that level loses two in a row and takes a beating,I don't want anymore to do with him.I don't want to see him get hurt on my watch."
I remember the kid that night took a pretty good pounding.
"Son I don't want to see anyone get hurt in a sport where they have little or no future.Boxing is a sport where too many guys should have got out a long time ago."

So my father never had a champion. Never a contender. Not even a decent pre lim fighter. But I think he had a clear mind when he looked back on his interests in the fight game. He knew he had done the right thing.

[Rick Farris]

REFLECTIONS

The more i read about Mel Epstein from you guys,the more I think Mel and my father would have become fast friends. My father always believed Elvis Presley was part of communist conspiracy to undermine American youth.

The Beatles were even a worse scurge. A homosexual band of dope addicts that purposely infected the culture of America. It was England's revenge for losing their empire. Ed Sullivan had sold out for money, so he had lost face with my father.

My father also handled a few fighters in Chicago and in Tijuana. I was too young to remember the fighters in Chi Town,but my mother told me they were Mexican boys. I do remember my father buying a robe for one of these fighters. On the back was the inscription"Kid Coco". I never knew what became of them,but maybe the way he handled the boys South Of The Border was an indication of what became of those fighters in The Windy City.. The two fellas' he managed in TJ didn't get very far. I can't remenber who trained them. I saw one of them fight a pre lim fight on the same card with Olivares in the downtown bullring. This kid was stopped in 4 rounds. On the way home my father told me he was going to let the kid go.
"Fighting is a dangerous business,"he said. "You've got to have the desire to go along with the talent."
"So that's why you're letting them go?" I asked.
"Son when a fighter at that level loses two in a row and takes a beating,I don't want anymore to do with him.I don't want to see him get hurt on my watch."
I remember the kid that night took a pretty good pounding.
"Son I don't want to see anyone get hurt in a sport where they have little or no future.Boxing is a sport where too many guys should have got out a long time ago."

So my father never had a champion. Never a contender. Not even a decent pre lim fighter. But I think he had a clear mind when he looked back on his interests in the fight game. He knew he had done the right thing.[/quote]
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"A homosexual band of dope addicts . . ."
Yeah Rog, Mel and your old man woulda hit if off.


-Rick