...or walk it off. England is rather pleasant this time of year.
Classic American West Coast Boxing
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
...or walk it off. England is rather pleasant this time of year.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
No, it ain't so Rick, just thinking about you guys that do work, like I feel your pain....Rick Farris wrote:Keeping Kept . . .kikibalt wrote:Got to hit the hay, tomorrow is a work day....
Work? Wait a minute Frank, you're a "kept man".
Kept men don't work, not real work.
I think it breaks some kind of code, or something like that?
Keep in mind, I've been enjoying the thought of being "kept" like you one day.
Now your working? Tell me it ain't so.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Just like our poppy fields we have in the Mojave.bennie wrote:
...or walk it off. England is rather pleasant this time of year.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Wildflower reserve concerned about proposed racetrack
Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times
Visitor Matt Browning and a friend photograph the blooming flowers in April.
Each year, thousands of people behold the state flower at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. A proposed motor sports park nearby has environmentalists, visitors, residents and parks officials nervous.
By Ann M. Simmons
July 27, 2009
During peak seasons, the hardened landscape in the desert beyond Lancaster turns into a golden welcome mat for the thousands who come to see the poppy fields.
It's a dizzying spectacle that the state estimates draws upward of 100,000 visitors a year to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. There's a trail, an interpretive center and not much else -- except the sensory experience of viewing the state flower in full bloom.
But the nieghborhood could be changing
An Orange County man who owns 320 acres of Mojave Desert land next to the poppy fields wants to carve out a 3.6-mile course for racing, driving and testing cars. The proposed Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park would be used primarily for events sponsored by car clubs and racing organizations.
But the fact that the track would be only a mile from the state-protected reserve has alarmed environmentalists, residents, visitors and state parks officials, who fear the loss of serenity and vast stretches of land where wildflowers frequently grow.
"It's a terribly inappropriate business for that area," said Milt Stark, president of the Poppy Reserve/Mojave Desert Interpretive Assn., a volunteer group that gives tours and talks at the wildflower sanctuary.
"Visitors who come to see the poppies come out there to have peace and quiet."
Tom Malloy sees it differently. For the last seven years he has been trying to win approval to develop a motor sports park on his land, which is near the tiny community of Fairmont. The land is vacant, used primarily by trespassers who are looking for a place to race motorcycles or shoot guns.
"I feel the racetrack, run the way I want it run, would be an asset to the area," said Malloy, who owns a Los Angeles-based shoring equipment firm.
The racetrack would operate only during the daytime, Malloy said, and there would be no grandstand or large seating area, allowing for only a few spectators. He doesn't anticipate a throng of racing enthusiasts pouring into the area.
But according to a draft environmental impact report filed with Los Angeles County earlier this month, the park could expose nearby residents to dust during construction and excessive noise once it is up and running. It could also adversely affect the area's wildlife, which includes lizards, badgers and burrowing owls.
Most upsetting for flora and fauna lovers, the proposed racetrack would result in the loss of almost 140 acres within the project site, where seasonal wildflowers such as poppies, California buckwheat scrub and purple needle grass typically grow.
Though mitigation measures have been suggested to help reduce the dust, muffle the noise and decrease the risk of harm to wildlife, "no feasible measures exist" to prevent to loss of the wildflower fields, according to the impact report. The effects would be "significant and unavoidable."
Kathy Weatherman, a state parks superintendent in the Tehachapi area, said that in 2005 her agency sent a notice to the county's planning department outlining concerns about the proximity of the proposed track to the 1,800-acre reserve.
The southern portion of the project site falls within the boundaries of a county-designated "significant ecological area," a designation meant to protect the habitat of rare, endangered or threatened plants or animals.
Malloy contends that his venture will actually help the area. If given the go-ahead, he said, he would clean up the spent bullet casings that now litter much of the site, along with the trash and used household items that have been dumped there.
Trespassing motorcycle enthusiasts, whose bootleg racing sessions have transformed vegetation-ripe soil into bare dirt, would have to "go someplace else," he said.
Stark and others said the racetrack probably would attract more bikers and "people who are interested in that kind of thing."
Dean Webb, a local environmental activist and an Antelope Valley resident since 1960, said people driving on California 138 will be drawn to the track, bringing traffic and a stream of off-roaders.
"I hate to put it this way, but it would be, 'There goes the neighborhood,' " Stark said.
Not only the neighborhood, but the entire ambience of the community, said Mike Powell, who volunteers at the reserve. He worries that if Malloy gets approval, other enterprises will ask to set up shop nearby.
"That project represents the start of a significant threat to the kind of lifestyle and environment that many people moved out here for," Powell said.
The tranquillity and stark landscape are what compelled Northridge resident Linda Wang to visit the poppy reserve one recent season. She couldn't envision having a motor sports park nearby.
"I think it would be a little weird," she said.
During peak seasons, the desert landscape beyond Lancaster turns into a lush welcome mat.
(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
[email protected]
Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times
Visitor Matt Browning and a friend photograph the blooming flowers in April.
Each year, thousands of people behold the state flower at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. A proposed motor sports park nearby has environmentalists, visitors, residents and parks officials nervous.
By Ann M. Simmons
July 27, 2009
During peak seasons, the hardened landscape in the desert beyond Lancaster turns into a golden welcome mat for the thousands who come to see the poppy fields.
It's a dizzying spectacle that the state estimates draws upward of 100,000 visitors a year to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. There's a trail, an interpretive center and not much else -- except the sensory experience of viewing the state flower in full bloom.
But the nieghborhood could be changing
An Orange County man who owns 320 acres of Mojave Desert land next to the poppy fields wants to carve out a 3.6-mile course for racing, driving and testing cars. The proposed Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park would be used primarily for events sponsored by car clubs and racing organizations.
But the fact that the track would be only a mile from the state-protected reserve has alarmed environmentalists, residents, visitors and state parks officials, who fear the loss of serenity and vast stretches of land where wildflowers frequently grow.
"It's a terribly inappropriate business for that area," said Milt Stark, president of the Poppy Reserve/Mojave Desert Interpretive Assn., a volunteer group that gives tours and talks at the wildflower sanctuary.
"Visitors who come to see the poppies come out there to have peace and quiet."
Tom Malloy sees it differently. For the last seven years he has been trying to win approval to develop a motor sports park on his land, which is near the tiny community of Fairmont. The land is vacant, used primarily by trespassers who are looking for a place to race motorcycles or shoot guns.
"I feel the racetrack, run the way I want it run, would be an asset to the area," said Malloy, who owns a Los Angeles-based shoring equipment firm.
The racetrack would operate only during the daytime, Malloy said, and there would be no grandstand or large seating area, allowing for only a few spectators. He doesn't anticipate a throng of racing enthusiasts pouring into the area.
But according to a draft environmental impact report filed with Los Angeles County earlier this month, the park could expose nearby residents to dust during construction and excessive noise once it is up and running. It could also adversely affect the area's wildlife, which includes lizards, badgers and burrowing owls.
Most upsetting for flora and fauna lovers, the proposed racetrack would result in the loss of almost 140 acres within the project site, where seasonal wildflowers such as poppies, California buckwheat scrub and purple needle grass typically grow.
Though mitigation measures have been suggested to help reduce the dust, muffle the noise and decrease the risk of harm to wildlife, "no feasible measures exist" to prevent to loss of the wildflower fields, according to the impact report. The effects would be "significant and unavoidable."
Kathy Weatherman, a state parks superintendent in the Tehachapi area, said that in 2005 her agency sent a notice to the county's planning department outlining concerns about the proximity of the proposed track to the 1,800-acre reserve.
The southern portion of the project site falls within the boundaries of a county-designated "significant ecological area," a designation meant to protect the habitat of rare, endangered or threatened plants or animals.
Malloy contends that his venture will actually help the area. If given the go-ahead, he said, he would clean up the spent bullet casings that now litter much of the site, along with the trash and used household items that have been dumped there.
Trespassing motorcycle enthusiasts, whose bootleg racing sessions have transformed vegetation-ripe soil into bare dirt, would have to "go someplace else," he said.
Stark and others said the racetrack probably would attract more bikers and "people who are interested in that kind of thing."
Dean Webb, a local environmental activist and an Antelope Valley resident since 1960, said people driving on California 138 will be drawn to the track, bringing traffic and a stream of off-roaders.
"I hate to put it this way, but it would be, 'There goes the neighborhood,' " Stark said.
Not only the neighborhood, but the entire ambience of the community, said Mike Powell, who volunteers at the reserve. He worries that if Malloy gets approval, other enterprises will ask to set up shop nearby.
"That project represents the start of a significant threat to the kind of lifestyle and environment that many people moved out here for," Powell said.
The tranquillity and stark landscape are what compelled Northridge resident Linda Wang to visit the poppy reserve one recent season. She couldn't envision having a motor sports park nearby.
"I think it would be a little weird," she said.
During peak seasons, the desert landscape beyond Lancaster turns into a lush welcome mat.
(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
[email protected]
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Bennie, there are some foods that just come across better when they are somewhat bland, or at least not overly seasoned; a chicken pot pie, roast beef (always better underseasoned), roast chicken, mashed potatoes, for example.bennie wrote:
Over here we like it bland (call it an 'island' mentality): meat, veg and potato, and a prawn cocktail starter, if one is lucky (note the empty plate). The cute old pubs and the beer make some amends.
A pot of Menudo? It should be hot and spicy, and red. Shrimp or prawn cocktail should be hot, from the horseradish and chili sauce. Italian and Mexican food are noted for being spicy but both have bland foods as well. If I'm drinking some good cold beer I want some good, hot Mexican food.
Randy
Last edited by Randyman on 27 Jul 2009, 09:12, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
It looks like the kind of watering hole that Jeri and would enjoy!bennie wrote:
The oldest pub in Loughborough (back to 1759).
Randy :)
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Poppy fields in the Mojave
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Wow, thanks for posting that Frank. I've never seen it quite that beautiful!kikibalt wrote:Poppy fields in the Mojave
-
dagosd2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 8638
- Joined: 01 Sep 2007, 03:31
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Here's my flower contribution. Those yellow flowers(don't know the name)are unique to the Bavarian Alps. Below ,I'm drinking a tea made from those flowers. The pretzel tasted better with a beer, as you can tell from my expression.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Yeah Randy, that is a thing of beauty, you know that I have never been to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, but even though I just seen the fields in photos, I can see the beauty of them...
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Damn!, Roger, you sure know how to enjoy life, I want to be like you when I grow up....dagosd2000 wrote:
Here's my flower contribution. Those yellow flowers(don't know the name)are unique to the Bavarian Alps. Below ,I'm drinking a tea made from those flowers. The pretzel tasted better with a beer, as you can tell from my expression.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Frank, I'm glad you mentioned that. I have never heard of the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. I found a website : http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=627kikibalt wrote:Yeah Randy, that is a thing of beauty, you know that I have never been to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, but even though I just seen the fields in photos, I can see the beauty of them...
I'm going to make it a place to go to this fall.
Randy
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
kikibalt wrote:Damn!, Roger, you sure know how to enjoy life, I want to be like you when I grow up....dagosd2000 wrote:
Here's my flower contribution. Those yellow flowers(don't know the name)are unique to the Bavarian Alps. Below ,I'm drinking a tea made from those flowers. The pretzel tasted better with a beer, as you can tell from my expression.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Randyman wrote:Frank, I'm glad you mentioned that. I have never heard of the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. I found a website : http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=627kikibalt wrote:Yeah Randy, that is a thing of beauty, you know that I have never been to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, but even though I just seen the fields in photos, I can see the beauty of them...
I'm going to make it a place to go to this fall.
Randy
-
Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
bennie wrote:
Bev is bladdered.
Cheers to Bev and Bennie.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Vernon Forrest.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Bennie and his lady...Lookin' good....bennie wrote:
Bev is bladdered.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Great photos you posted Bennie, Thanks!
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Vernon with Dan Hanley Senior in October 2002.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
You would, Randy. I like the oldey world pubs the best, those with framed pictures, carvings, oak beams, great beer - the works.Randyman wrote:It looks like the kind of watering hole that Jeri and would enjoy!bennie wrote:
The oldest pub in Loughborough (back to 1759).
Randy :)
Glad to hear that Lori is OK, Randy.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Rog is already relaxing there while two others struggle to the top. This is like Scott making it to the South Pole only to find Amundsen already there.dagosd2000 wrote:
Here's my flower contribution. Those yellow flowers(don't know the name)are unique to the Bavarian Alps. Below ,I'm drinking a tea made from those flowers. The pretzel tasted better with a beer, as you can tell from my expression.
-
scartissue
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1893
- Joined: 31 Mar 2002, 20:00
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Bennie, thanks for posting this. This was the incident I was referring to at the top of page 826. You can't see it but the roped stancheons are between Pops and Vernon. Vernon just leaned over and pulled Pops toward him for a great photo. If you look just to the left you can see the green blazered secret service wannabe who was just pissed off that Vernon made him look like an a**hole, which is exactly what he was. I mean, the event was breaking up, nobody was asking for autographs anymore and everyone was just sitting around talking. The guy needed to drink a gallon of lighten-up. I'll always remember Vernon Forrest for being accomodating, not to mention being a damn good fighter.bennie wrote:
Vernon with Dan Hanley Senior in October 2002.
Scartissue
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
And yet another boxer dies.......
From fight News
Boxers dies after Mississippi bout
21-year-old heavyweight Francisco “Pancho” Moncivais passed away on Saturday night due to injuries suffered in a bout the previous night in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Moncivais (1-1) was taken to Gulfport Memorial Hospital after engaging in an all out slugfest with Bobby O’Bannon (6-2). Sadly he died from his injuries 24 hours later.
From fight News
Boxers dies after Mississippi bout
21-year-old heavyweight Francisco “Pancho” Moncivais passed away on Saturday night due to injuries suffered in a bout the previous night in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Moncivais (1-1) was taken to Gulfport Memorial Hospital after engaging in an all out slugfest with Bobby O’Bannon (6-2). Sadly he died from his injuries 24 hours later.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Mayweather-Marquez Raffle, Golf and Banquet in the works!
Just like the blazing July weather in Southern California, the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) is sizzling with exciting events planned in the upcoming months.
At a gathering in L.A. this past weekend, the nonprofit organization–led by President and former fighter Armando Muñiz–had a lot on the agenda as new announcements were made about future fundraisers that will be open to the public.
The second half of the year is full of plans galore, all in the name of honoring past and current boxers.
The Board of Directors just held a successful fundraising effort and is now gearing up for not one, but two golf tournaments in September and the jewel in their crown–the Banquet of Champions held in October.
First up at the luncheon was choosing the lucky Grand Prize winner in a raffle organized by board member Frank Martinez. “I had this idea to generate funds for our upcoming banquet,” the corrections officer explains. “And the great thing is…is that someone’s gonna win the tickets today!”
And what were the coveted tickets for?
The chosen one receives two tickets to the September bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez, $200 in cash and complimentary hotel accommodations at the Las Vegas Hilton. Beating the odds, the winner will see the fight (broadcast on HBO PPV) in person.
The raffle tickets turned out brisk sales with the return of “Money” Mayweather and a great undercard on schedule. The postponed and still highly-anticipated Rocky Juarez-Chris John bout will now take place on this night, along with a matchup between Zab Judah and Matthew Hatton. Word on the street is that the return of Victor Ortiz may also happen on this card. With all this action planned, the MGM Grand will be the place to be on September 19 (originally slated for July 18).
President Muñiz got a with a helpful assist from board member Richard Perry’s daughter, Rickie, who helped the former Olympian pick out the winning entry from a whopping field of 500 drawing tickets. Another board member, Alex Cornejo, videotaped the procession while the packed room waited anxiously for the name to be announced.
After a dramatic pause, Marcus Andrews is the lucky guy who will be heading to Vegas for the big fight. At the function, President Muñiz personally called this fortunate winner with the good news.
The WBHF will also be holding two golf events in the near future. On tap will be their evening golf tournament in the San Jacinto area, helmed by board members Paul Ritchie and Richard Perry. “I’m working on our golf tournament which will be on September 4,” Ritchie says. “It’s rollin’ now, and will be a great nighttime event on the Friday before Labor Day. It will be a lot of fun!”
Perry adds, “We just held our Cops4Kids night golf tournament with glow-in-the-dark golf balls. It was great! It’s all different colors of balls: blue, yellow, green, all different colors flying all over!” All ages are welcome to participate in the September 4 evening event.
On September 12, duffers will also be able to play in the 8th Annual Tournament of Champions, which will take place in the Coachella Valley. This year’s celebrity tourney will be a Pro-Am event being planned by fighter Ruben Castillo.
And mark your calendars now with the date of October 24 for the 30th Annual Banquet of Champions.
This is their main fundraiser of the year with the awards dinner to be held at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Muñiz, his Executive Committee and the Board of Directors have turned in their ballots and the Class of 2009 honorees were revealed.
Joining the roster of ring immortals will be 2009 Boxer Inductees: Bantamweight champ Orlando Canizales, WBC, NABF, and WBA titlist Rafael Herrera, “The Dutch Destroyer” Lucia Rijker and South African featherweight champ Brian Mitchell.
Voted in as Expanded Category Inductees is Showtime’s and IBN Sports’ Al Bernstein, referee/judge Dr. James Jen Kim and Argentinean trainer Amilcar Brusa.
Special posthumous awards will be presented at the fall ceremony too.
Muñiz just arrived back from a trip to Mexico where he met with WBC officials and Alberto Reyes of the famed Cleto-Reyes gloves. “Jose Sulaiman and Mauricio Sulaiman really gave us a lot of support. They held a press conference to announce our banquet,” said Muñiz. “A lot of fighters and champs came out and it was held in the tallest building in Mexico City! They are very excited about Rafael Herrera’s induction this year.
“It was held on the 51st floor of the Torre Mayor building and 15 ex-champs who live in the area came out, along with the sports press in Mexico.”
The WBHF president, who began his new term in January, is also proud to induct the first female fighter into the hall. There have been other ladies inducted, but Lucia Rijker will be the first female in the boxer category. “We’re getting a lot of interest about Lucia,” states Muñiz. “A lot of people from around the world are planning to come out to see her.”
The West Coast organization is made up of individuals who have contributed to the sport and must be voted in as a board member.
Many are current working members in the boxing industry like referees and judges Lou Filippo, Marty Denkin, Jack Reiss, and Gwen Adair, former pro fighters Muñiz and Rick Farris, boxing trainer and WBHF Treasurer Josie Arrey-Mejia (Bell Gardens Police Dept. Youth Boxing), trainer and award-winning artist Steve Harpst (Burbank Boxing Club), Richard Perry and Paul Ritchie, who help plan charity boxing shows benefiting at-risk kids, cutman “Indian” Willie Schunke, and current fighter 51-year-old Hassan Chitsaz (Iranian-American heavyweight champ).
Notable attendees at the Saturday function were former WBHF Presidents Filippo, Dr. Joe Noriega, and Adolfo Perez and Executive Vice President Julian Eget.
Founded in 1979 by Everett L. Sanders, their motto is “Where Champions Live Forever…” and plans are to build a museum to pay tribute to past and current legends of the ring.
President Muñiz has been on the board since 1980 and previously held presidency in 2005-2006. He has seen a lot of changes through the decades and the Internet and technology push is just one new way for fans to be able to follow the organization. The WBHF is now part of the Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook nation and soon you will have the opportunity to view their latest happenings.
The WBHF plans to offer live streaming videos from a few of their upcoming events. The group also announced their brand new website recently launched. Fans worldwide can now check on event and news updates at www.newwbhf.com
Stay tuned to this column for more exciting announcements as the WBHF continues to host events for fighters, champs, and boxing fans around the world.
Photos by Michele Chong:
Just like the blazing July weather in Southern California, the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) is sizzling with exciting events planned in the upcoming months.
At a gathering in L.A. this past weekend, the nonprofit organization–led by President and former fighter Armando Muñiz–had a lot on the agenda as new announcements were made about future fundraisers that will be open to the public.
The second half of the year is full of plans galore, all in the name of honoring past and current boxers.
The Board of Directors just held a successful fundraising effort and is now gearing up for not one, but two golf tournaments in September and the jewel in their crown–the Banquet of Champions held in October.
First up at the luncheon was choosing the lucky Grand Prize winner in a raffle organized by board member Frank Martinez. “I had this idea to generate funds for our upcoming banquet,” the corrections officer explains. “And the great thing is…is that someone’s gonna win the tickets today!”
And what were the coveted tickets for?
The chosen one receives two tickets to the September bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez, $200 in cash and complimentary hotel accommodations at the Las Vegas Hilton. Beating the odds, the winner will see the fight (broadcast on HBO PPV) in person.
The raffle tickets turned out brisk sales with the return of “Money” Mayweather and a great undercard on schedule. The postponed and still highly-anticipated Rocky Juarez-Chris John bout will now take place on this night, along with a matchup between Zab Judah and Matthew Hatton. Word on the street is that the return of Victor Ortiz may also happen on this card. With all this action planned, the MGM Grand will be the place to be on September 19 (originally slated for July 18).
President Muñiz got a with a helpful assist from board member Richard Perry’s daughter, Rickie, who helped the former Olympian pick out the winning entry from a whopping field of 500 drawing tickets. Another board member, Alex Cornejo, videotaped the procession while the packed room waited anxiously for the name to be announced.
After a dramatic pause, Marcus Andrews is the lucky guy who will be heading to Vegas for the big fight. At the function, President Muñiz personally called this fortunate winner with the good news.
The WBHF will also be holding two golf events in the near future. On tap will be their evening golf tournament in the San Jacinto area, helmed by board members Paul Ritchie and Richard Perry. “I’m working on our golf tournament which will be on September 4,” Ritchie says. “It’s rollin’ now, and will be a great nighttime event on the Friday before Labor Day. It will be a lot of fun!”
Perry adds, “We just held our Cops4Kids night golf tournament with glow-in-the-dark golf balls. It was great! It’s all different colors of balls: blue, yellow, green, all different colors flying all over!” All ages are welcome to participate in the September 4 evening event.
On September 12, duffers will also be able to play in the 8th Annual Tournament of Champions, which will take place in the Coachella Valley. This year’s celebrity tourney will be a Pro-Am event being planned by fighter Ruben Castillo.
And mark your calendars now with the date of October 24 for the 30th Annual Banquet of Champions.
This is their main fundraiser of the year with the awards dinner to be held at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Muñiz, his Executive Committee and the Board of Directors have turned in their ballots and the Class of 2009 honorees were revealed.
Joining the roster of ring immortals will be 2009 Boxer Inductees: Bantamweight champ Orlando Canizales, WBC, NABF, and WBA titlist Rafael Herrera, “The Dutch Destroyer” Lucia Rijker and South African featherweight champ Brian Mitchell.
Voted in as Expanded Category Inductees is Showtime’s and IBN Sports’ Al Bernstein, referee/judge Dr. James Jen Kim and Argentinean trainer Amilcar Brusa.
Special posthumous awards will be presented at the fall ceremony too.
Muñiz just arrived back from a trip to Mexico where he met with WBC officials and Alberto Reyes of the famed Cleto-Reyes gloves. “Jose Sulaiman and Mauricio Sulaiman really gave us a lot of support. They held a press conference to announce our banquet,” said Muñiz. “A lot of fighters and champs came out and it was held in the tallest building in Mexico City! They are very excited about Rafael Herrera’s induction this year.
“It was held on the 51st floor of the Torre Mayor building and 15 ex-champs who live in the area came out, along with the sports press in Mexico.”
The WBHF president, who began his new term in January, is also proud to induct the first female fighter into the hall. There have been other ladies inducted, but Lucia Rijker will be the first female in the boxer category. “We’re getting a lot of interest about Lucia,” states Muñiz. “A lot of people from around the world are planning to come out to see her.”
The West Coast organization is made up of individuals who have contributed to the sport and must be voted in as a board member.
Many are current working members in the boxing industry like referees and judges Lou Filippo, Marty Denkin, Jack Reiss, and Gwen Adair, former pro fighters Muñiz and Rick Farris, boxing trainer and WBHF Treasurer Josie Arrey-Mejia (Bell Gardens Police Dept. Youth Boxing), trainer and award-winning artist Steve Harpst (Burbank Boxing Club), Richard Perry and Paul Ritchie, who help plan charity boxing shows benefiting at-risk kids, cutman “Indian” Willie Schunke, and current fighter 51-year-old Hassan Chitsaz (Iranian-American heavyweight champ).
Notable attendees at the Saturday function were former WBHF Presidents Filippo, Dr. Joe Noriega, and Adolfo Perez and Executive Vice President Julian Eget.
Founded in 1979 by Everett L. Sanders, their motto is “Where Champions Live Forever…” and plans are to build a museum to pay tribute to past and current legends of the ring.
President Muñiz has been on the board since 1980 and previously held presidency in 2005-2006. He has seen a lot of changes through the decades and the Internet and technology push is just one new way for fans to be able to follow the organization. The WBHF is now part of the Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook nation and soon you will have the opportunity to view their latest happenings.
The WBHF plans to offer live streaming videos from a few of their upcoming events. The group also announced their brand new website recently launched. Fans worldwide can now check on event and news updates at www.newwbhf.com
Stay tuned to this column for more exciting announcements as the WBHF continues to host events for fighters, champs, and boxing fans around the world.
Photos by Michele Chong: