Classic American West Coast Boxing

[scartissue]

Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez's last ring appearance . . .

At the age of 29, Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez called it quits after being stopped by John Stracey in England.
Prior to losing to Stracey, Ernie had been KOed by Armando Muniz at the Olympic, a year earlier.

Ernie Lopez had a variety of odd jobs after retiring from boxing.
He'd work as a laborer, and for awhile he lived in a small trailer behind a scrap yard in the San Gabriel Valley where he'd help the owner.
Former lightweight boxer, Billy Coleman, was a general contractor and would hire both Red and brother Lennie for day jobs, mixing cement, laying bricks.

Ernie got a job a driving truck and passed thru Memphis, Tennessee on a run.
While in Memphis he visited with an old friend, former lightweight contender, Jimmy Heair.
Jimmy Heair had a friend in town that was promoting boxing, Red Fortner.
Fortner needed an opponent for an up & coming prospect he was trying to build up, and he offered Red a chance tomake a few extra bucks.

Heair and Fortner talked Ernie into taking the fight. He was 42-years-old and had not fought in thirteen years.
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez was KOed in one round by Kenny Louis. Kenny Louis couldn't have carried Ernie's gym bag back in the day.

After the loss Ernie Lopez seemd to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Years later his family would find him in a homeless shelter in Texas.
Don Fraser helped bring him to Los Angeles, dressed him up and honored him by inducting the legend into the California Boxing Hall of Fame.
Don Fraser isn't the stereotype boxing promoter, he's not a Red Fortner.

For just one day a couple years back, Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez was honored and respected for all the great battles he waged on the West Coast in years gone by.
His family could look at him in a proper light, once again.
Had it not been for Don Fraser, it's doubtful that Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez would have ever been seen again by the fans who loved him so during his career.
It connected Ernie with his family once again, and perhaps set right a few things that had gone so wrong.
Ernie was lost, Don helped find him and brought him back home. Of course, Ernie was not meant to stay, he was a restless spirit.
If nothing else, it provided a little closure to us in L.A. who had wondered so long what had become of him.

Today, Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez is gone. However, this thread is living proof that he is not forgotten. He'll always be in our hearts.


-Rick Farris

Rick, forgotten fact (I never knew it until I interviewed Muniz) was that Lopez was scheduled for one more fight. He and Muniz were scheduled for a rematch in early '75 at the Forum. Muniz pulled out when he got the call for the first Napoles fight for the title. Strange how, Lopez had to have been in training, yet never fought again (barring that horrible 'comeback' fight). I would have thought he would at least want to go out a winner after having got himself in some shape already. Know what I mean? Also, reading about Lopez' first fight with Napoles, the media was making a very big deal out of the unheard of sum of $40,000 that Lopez was making as a challenger (Napoles was getting $100,000). But I'm sure Parnassus knew that this was going to be a box-office bonanza and that Lopez had a little something to do with the gate as well.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Frankie, got a couple of Ernie Lopez pics for you. The one is me flanked by Danny and Ernie, which is one cool pic and the other is Ernie with Gil King. This was from the 2004 HOF. Hard to believe that's 5 years already.

Dan

[dagosd2000]

Sonny Liston

[dagosd2000]

Frankie, got a couple of Ernie Lopez pics for you. The one is me flanked by Danny and Ernie, which is one cool pic and the other is Ernie with Gil King. This was from the 2004 HOF. Hard to believe that's 5 years already.

Dan

Dan
That bottom shot...well you could write a lot about that one.

[dagosd2000]

OUT OF MIND

"I remember him fighting a lot across the border and at the Coliseum,"I said to Burke.
First time I saw Burke behind the bar since he bought the joint. Said he wanted to know what it was like to tend bar again.
"Oh,he had a lot of matches in LA. and in Vegas too,"he came back with as he was wiping the couinter with a towel.

The fighter we were talking about was sitting at the back end of the bar. Burke said that he'd come in to say hello that's all.
"He took a beating by Hafey,"I said.
"Yes.He was downhill after that,"said Burke.
"I think I saw him the last time he was out at the Coliseum."
"They shouldn't have let him fight anymore."
We were both looking at him while discussing his career. Burke was still wiping the counter. It was dry,but he was still wiping the counter anyway.
"They never know when to stop,"said Burke. "I had over 80 fights.I'd had enough."
Any guy that's had over 80 fights has a face that validates that record. Burke was no exception. Why go into it. Every feature was dented and misshapen.80 fights worth.

The ex fighter at the end of the bar was watching the television. The baseball playoffs were on. There was a little beer left in the glass.
"I knew his manager ,"said Burke."As long as he could make money with him,he kept him in the ring."
Burke finally stopped wiping the bar.
"Want another refill?"
"No.One is good enough."
I looked at fighter at the end of the bar. He wasn't watching the TV anymore. I couldn't tell what he was looking at.
"Well ,I've got to get going,"I said. "Go ahead and set him up one on me."
As I put the money on the bar,the old guy at the end got off his stool and walked with his head down to the juke box. His arms were resting on the juke box as he looked at what was on there. He didn't put any money in.
"Good night Burke."
"Good night,"said Burke."I'll see you again."
As I walked out to my car,I still didn't hear any music coming from the juke box.

[Rick Farris]

A Mini Frank Baltazar Fight Film Festival . . .

That's what the members of the Golden State Boxers Association are treated to at their weekly Tuesday lunch meetings.
Today, I'm going to show some studio friends a few DVD's that Frank was so kind as to share with me.

On today's menu:

Davey Moore vs Pajarito Moreno, Hogan "Kid" Bassey vs. Moreno,Willie Pep vs. Fabela Chavez, Jose Napoles vs. Curtis Cokes I & II, Ike Williams vs. Enrique Bolanos I,
Mando Ramos vs. Frankie Crawford I, and MAndo Ramos vs. Sugar Ramos. We'll get thru as many as we can, and then finish the rest manana, and the next day.
I was wondering which I should start with? I know, it has to be Williams vs. Bolanos (the first bout Frank ever saw live).


-Rick Farris

We started with Williams-Bolanos I and then went to the Ramos-Ramos match.
The guys who watched were amazed and have a little better understanding of what I mean when I say guys like Mayweather, etc. are not worth watching.
They key to enjoying boxing, real professional prizefighting, is to grab a DVD, and then step back in time.

Today you have one spectacular World title fight out of every several thousand that take place. Yeah, several thousand so-so matches seperate the good ones we were brought up on. And the guys who are fighting, although willing as can be, just don't do it quite as well.

Now I'll need Frank's input on this, because we know Frank knows what he is seeing, and will speak with honestly.

The Bolanos-Williams fight took place in the mid-40's, the Ramos-Ramos fight, nearly 25 years later. One was part of a "Golden Era" and the other a part of the next era.
Both eras were special, and perhaps only a fine line seperated each in those days, but I feel the era of Bolanos in L.A. was better thanthat of Ramos.
I love Roberto Duran, he's the best I ever saw live, or in the gym, or on TV during my era. I feel that Ike Williams would have defeated Roberto. Maybe if they fought three times, I'd bet Williams takes two? All great fights, close, but I think Williams might be the better man? As for Bolanos & Ramos, it's unfair to compare a prime Bolanos with a guy who never reached his prime, but what he accomplished was still amazing. Bolanos proved much more over a longer period. He was not a flash-in-the-pan. I don't see MAndo at any point in his career defeating Enrique Bolanos. He'd fight him tough, and they'd be wars, but Bolanos would own him. I don't think Bolanos had a problem with showing up in the gym clean & sober?

Just my thoughts at the moment. Who knows or cares? They all brought us a lot of excitement. Something we will never see again. Of course, there are the DVD's.


-Rick Farris

[scartissue]

Frankie, got a couple of Ernie Lopez pics for you. The one is me flanked by Danny and Ernie, which is one cool pic and the other is Ernie with Gil King. This was from the 2004 HOF. Hard to believe that's 5 years already.

Dan

Dan
That bottom shot...well you could write a lot about that one.

Rog, actually the real conversation betwen the two was pretty funny. Just before I snapped this pic the discussion went like this:

Gil King: "Ernie, do you remember me?"
Ernie Lopez: "No!"

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

We started with Williams-Bolanos I and then went to the Ramos-Ramos match.
The guys who watched were amazed and have a little better understanding of what I mean when I say guys like Mayweather, etc. are not worth watching.
They key to enjoying boxing, real professional prizefighting, is to grab a DVD, and then step back in time.

Today you have one spectacular World title fight out of every several thousand that take place. Yeah, several thousand so-so matches seperate the good ones we were brought up on.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I just loved the way Williams would glide across the ring, a very smooth way he had of moving in the ring, Williams was a great fighter, and only he kept Bolanos from been champion...

[Rick Farris]

Frankie, got a couple of Ernie Lopez pics for you. The one is me flanked by Danny and Ernie, which is one cool pic and the other is Ernie with Gil King. This was from the 2004 HOF. Hard to believe that's 5 years already.

Dan

Dan
That bottom shot...well you could write a lot about that one.

Rog, actually the real conversation betwen the two was pretty funny. Just before I snapped this pic the discussion went like this:

Gil King: "Ernie, do you remember me?"
Ernie Lopez: "No!"

Scartissue

I understand!

[raylawpc]

Hey Roger, I'm thinking of you while enjoying my Starbucks croissant waiting for my flight at the St Louis airport!

Tom
Now you need to try their new instant coffee

No thanks! I'll stick with the croissant!

[Rick Farris]

Hey Roger, I'm thinking of you while enjoying my Starbucks croissant waiting for my flight at the St Louis airport!

Tom
Now you need to try their new instant coffee

No thanks! I'll stick with the croissant!

Coffee . . .

Ironic. I don't drink coffee everyday but my wife well drink it more than once during the day.
Monica will order a whole milk latte at Starbuck's when we're out, but I'll just order a bottle fruit juice.
Monica's thing is making coffee at home, which she'll grind herself at the store.
It's always great coffee, but Monica likes to combine a variety of coffee beans in a special formula. At times it will be great, and other times it's not so good .
It's kinda like opening a box of "Cracker Jacks", you never know what your surprise is going to be. She can never remember what she put in any particular blend.
A cup of Folgers works fine for me, it's always the same. If you want it a little different, you add less water and it'll be stronger, etc.
As we speak, I'm drinking a cup of Monica's afternoon mystry brew. She hit a home run with this blend .
I can see she has about a half pound left, so I'm going to pick-up a can of Folgers. If her next batch is a loser, I'll have a back-up on deck.

[kikibalt]

Rick,

I was ten years old at the time of the first Williams/Bolanos fight, a little older in '48-'49, at that time I was to young to remember and today I'm to old to remember...

Williams vs Duran?
I think that Duran would prove to be too strong for Williams, maybe Williams could out-box Duran in one out of three fights...

Bolanos vs Ramos?
I go with Bolanos all the way, I think that Bolanos would've cut Mando to ribbons. I seen Mando all through his career and Bolanos since the first Williams fight till his third fight with Manny Madrid, after the last Madrid fight Bolanos finish his career on the road.
I have to say Bolanos beats Mando three out of three fights, mostly on cuts.

Btw, Bolanos was known to have come into the ring with a hang-over more then once, he was a drinker... , no drugs that I know off....

[kikibalt]

Coffee . . .

Ironic. I don't drink coffee everyday but my wife well drink it more than once during the day.
Monica will order a whole milk latte at Starbuck's when we're out, but I'll just order a bottle fruit juice.
Monica's thing is making coffee at home, which she'll grind herself at the store.
It's always great coffee, but Monica likes to combine a variety of coffee beans in a special formula. At times it will be great, and other times it's not so good .
It's kinda like opening a box of "Cracker Jacks", you never know what your surprise is going to be. She can never remember what she put in any particular blend.
A cup of Folgers works fine for me, it's always the same. If you want it a little different, you add less water and it'll be stronger, etc.
As we speak, I'm drinking a cup of Monica's afternoon mystry brew. She hit a home run with this blend .
I can see she has about a half pound left, so I'm going to pick-up a can of Folgers. If her next batch is a loser, I'll have a back-up on deck.

I drink two cups of coffee in the early morning, if by any chance I drink any in the afternoon, I'll put in a shot of brandy.....

[Rick Farris]

We started with Williams-Bolanos I and then went to the Ramos-Ramos match.
The guys who watched were amazed and have a little better understanding of what I mean when I say guys like Mayweather, etc. are not worth watching.
They key to enjoying boxing, real professional prizefighting, is to grab a DVD, and then step back in time.

Today you have one spectacular World title fight out of every several thousand that take place. Yeah, several thousand so-so matches seperate the good ones we were brought up on.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I just loved the way Williams would glide across the ring, a very smooth way he had of moving in the ring, Williams was a great fighter, and only he kept Bolanos from been champion...

Frank . . .

Many years ago, 1971 to be exact, I met Enrique Bolanos in the office of George Parnassus at the Elks Bldg.
I knew of Bolanos and Ike Williams, they were still fresh in the minds of the mature L.A. boxing population, and I'd hear stories.
However, I have learned so much more in the years since.
Hap Navarro provided a treasure trove of Bolanos hisory, photos, and memorabelia in addition to your own.

After meeting Bolanos, Suey Welch told me a bit about his fights with Ike Williams, and his history.
Suey told me what you just mentioned, "that only Williams kept Bolanos from a world title."
He also told me that Parnassus had hard feelings about this, and wasn't warm toward Ike Williams. Williams was a good man, but he stood between Parnassus and his dream.

I was surprised, after hearing this, to see Williams and Bolanos both guests of Parnassus in one of his in-office lunchs. Lot's of boxing greats were there, and Allan Malamud.
Pictures were taken, smiles, no obvious hard feelings. Parnassus was not a silly man. He didn't laugh foolishly or smile for no good reason. He was truly a man of power.
He had personal power, political power, and was well equipped to deal with all the elements that controlled boxing during this turbulent era, or any era.

I agree with you, Williams moved so beautifully. I like him better than Robinson.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

SMOKED

I read where the city of San Francisco is going to fine Michael Jordan 200 dollars for smoking a cigar on a public golf course. I don't think you can smoke anywhere in Laguna Beach.Here in San Diego you can go to a bar and get plastered ,but you can't smoke inside the place. I guess you can sacrafice your liver,but you need to draw a good last breath when you die from cirrohsis.

I'm not a cigarrette smoker,but I like a cigar once in a while. I wrote last week about going into a cigar shop in Tijuana while I was waiting to get some pictures framed. A nice Cuban Monte Cristo and a double espresso while listening to Salsa music. Also the senoritas working there kept my eyes occupied.

Went again yesterday. Did the same thing as before,but this time I also went across the street to the Hotel Nelson and had me a "Special"(shot of light Bacardi,Coca Cola,7 Up,Sweet and Sour,and club soda in a pina colada glass rimmed with margarita salt). Sat there alone watching the soccer game. Finished the Monte Cristo and the "Special " and then went to pick up my paintings.

San Francisco is supposed to be so liberated. Can't smoke a cigar on a golf course? Next time I go to Tijuana to get some paintings framed,I'll see if Michael Jordan wants to come along.

[Rick Farris]

SMOKED

I read where the city of San Francisco is going to fine Michael Jordan 200 dollars for smoking a cigar on a public golf course. I don't think you can smoke anywhere in Laguna Beach.Here in San Diego you can go to a bar and get plastered ,but you can't smoke inside the place. I guess you can sacrafice your liver,but you need to draw a good last breath when you die from cirrohsis.

I'm not a cigarrette smoker,but I like a cigar once in a while. I wrote last week about going into a cigar shop in Tijuana while I was waiting to get some pictures framed. A nice Cuban Monte Cristo and a double espresso while listening to Salsa music. Also the senoritas working there kept my eyes occupied.

Went again yesterday. Did the same thing as before,but this time I also went across the street to the Hotel Nelson and had me a "Special"(shot of light Bacardi,Coca Cola,7 Up,Sweet and Sour,and club soda in a pina colada glass rimmed with margarita salt). Sat there alone watching the soccer game. Finished the Monte Cristo and the "Special " and then went to pick up my paintings.

San Francisco is supposed to be so liberated. Can't smoke a cigar on a golf course? Next time I go to Tijuana to get some paintings framed,I'll see if Michael Jordan wants to come along.

Roger . . .

Yesterday I was visiting a film business friend on mine who lives on the Marina Del Rey Penninsula, about a block from the Venice Pier.
Ralph and I take a walk down the beach to the pier, and stroll out to the end. We are standing looking out over the ocean and discussing a film project.
A guy walks up next to us, about six feet away, and is smoking a cigarette. I didn't even notice he was smoking.
A minute later, two LAPD officers ride up on bicycles. I didn't even hear them ride up, but I saw them talking to the guy smoking the cigarette.
They told him he wasn't allowed to smoke on the pier, or the beach, or in the parking lot, or the Bike paths, boardwalk, etc.
One officer pulled out a citation book to write the guy up, but was interupted by a call on his radio. The two cops sped off on their bikes, leaving the smoker with a warning.
Now when you are standing out on the pier, the wind blows in from the ocean and you can feel it pretty good.
Is it really necessary to stop people from lighting up several hundred feet out from the shorleline?
I'm not a smoker, and I like clean lungs, but they really aren't hurting me when they smoke on the pier, or anywhere outside.
The worst thing about today's society is that we insult each other's intelligence. Have people always been so stupid? I guess so, but we aren't learning, it's getting worse!
A moment after the officers rode away. The smoker reached into the pocket of his flannel shirt and pulled out his pack of Marlboros.
"Do you guys mind if I smoke?" he asked.
"Hell no, enjoy yourself."

[kikibalt]

We started with Williams-Bolanos I and then went to the Ramos-Ramos match.
The guys who watched were amazed and have a little better understanding of what I mean when I say guys like Mayweather, etc. are not worth watching.
They key to enjoying boxing, real professional prizefighting, is to grab a DVD, and then step back in time.

Today you have one spectacular World title fight out of every several thousand that take place. Yeah, several thousand so-so matches seperate the good ones we were brought up on.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I just loved the way Williams would glide across the ring, a very smooth way he had of moving in the ring, Williams was a great fighter, and only he kept Bolanos from been champion...

Frank . . .

Many years ago, 1971 to be exact, I met Enrique Bolanos in the office of George Parnassus at the Elks Bldg.
I knew of Bolanos and Ike Williams, they were still fresh in the minds of the mature L.A. boxing population, and I'd hear stories.
However, I have learned so much more in the years since.
Hap Navarro provided a treasure trove of Bolanos hisory, photos, and memorabelia in addition to your own.

After meeting Bolanos, Suey Welch told me a bit about his fights with Ike Williams, and his history.
Suey told me what you just mentioned, "that only Williams kept Bolanos from a world title."
He also told me that Parnassus had hard feelings about this, and wasn't warm toward Ike Williams. Williams was a good man, but he stood between Parnassus and his dream.

I was surprised, after hearing this, to see Williams and Bolanos both guests of Parnassus in one of his in-office lunchs. Lot's of boxing greats were there, and Allan Malamud.
Pictures were taken, smiles, no obvious hard feelings. Parnassus was not a silly man. He didn't laugh foolishly or smile for no good reason. He was truly a man of power.
He had personal power, political power, and was well equipped to deal with all the elements that controlled boxing during this turbulent era, or any era.

I agree with you, Williams moved so beautifully. I like him better than Robinson.


-Rick Farris

Rick, in 1964-'65 Bolanos worked with Frankie and Tony at the Teamsters, when we had a chance we would go get some thing to eat, we would sit and talk, but he wouldn't talk about his career, he would just talk about what he wanted to teach Frankie and Tony, I wanted to talk about his career, no luck....

[dagosd2000]

SMOKED

I read where the city of San Francisco is going to fine Michael Jordan 200 dollars for smoking a cigar on a public golf course. I don't think you can smoke anywhere in Laguna Beach.Here in San Diego you can go to a bar and get plastered ,but you can't smoke inside the place. I guess you can sacrafice your liver,but you need to draw a good last breath when you die from cirrohsis.

I'm not a cigarrette smoker,but I like a cigar once in a while. I wrote last week about going into a cigar shop in Tijuana while I was waiting to get some pictures framed. A nice Cuban Monte Cristo and a double espresso while listening to Salsa music. Also the senoritas working there kept my eyes occupied.

Went again yesterday. Did the same thing as before,but this time I also went across the street to the Hotel Nelson and had me a "Special"(shot of light Bacardi,Coca Cola,7 Up,Sweet and Sour,and club soda in a pina colada glass rimmed with margarita salt). Sat there alone watching the soccer game. Finished the Monte Cristo and the "Special " and then went to pick up my paintings.

San Francisco is supposed to be so liberated. Can't smoke a cigar on a golf course? Next time I go to Tijuana to get some paintings framed,I'll see if Michael Jordan wants to come along.

Roger . . .

Yesterday I was visiting a film business friend on mine who lives on the Marina Del Rey Penninsula, about a block from the Venice Pier.
Ralph and I take a walk down the beach to the pier, and stroll out to the end. We are standing looking out over the ocean and discussing a film project.
A guy walks up next to us, about six feet away, and is smoking a cigarette. I didn't even notice he was smoking.
A minute later, two LAPD officers ride up on bicycles. I didn't even hear them ride up, but I saw them talking to the guy smoking the cigarette.
They told him he wasn't allowed to smoke on the pier, or the beach, or in the parking lot, or the Bike paths, boardwalk, etc.
Now when you are standing out on the pier, the wind blows in from the ocean and you can feel it pretty good.
Is it really necessary to stop people from lighting up several hundred feet out from the shorleline?
I'm not a smoker, and I like clean lungs, but they really aren't hurting me when they smoke on the pier, or anywhere outside.
The worst thing about today's society is that we insult each other's intelligence. Have people always been so stupid? I guess so, but we aren't learning, it's getting worse!

Rick and the rest of the Gang
Talk about what is allowed and not. A friend of mine told me to go to Youtube and type in "Arab Child Marriages". 5 year old girls getting married. Little girls crying about being abused by their husbands.

Compare that to smoking on a pier. I guess we're pretty stupid here at times. Maybe some of the real bad things we do go deeper,but after watching some of those videos makes me wonder why oil is so important to keep some of those countries as our friends.

Frank
Tomorrow ,I'm going to work on a nice Enrique Bolanos. Help get my mind off things I don't want to be thinking about.

[Rick Farris]

Rick, in 1964-'65 Bolanos worked with Frankie and Tony at the Teamsters, when we had a chance we would go get some thing to eat, we would sit and talk, but he wouldn't talk about his career, he would just talk about what he wanted to teach Frankie and Tony, I wanted to talk about his career, no luck....
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


What a guy to help coach Frankie & Tony! Like you, I'd have loved to have heard some personal stories.
I have aphoto of Hap and Luis Magana that was taken to publicize a Hollywood LEgion event.
Enrique Bolanos stepped into the shot just before the photographer snapped the picture.
Hap sent it to me, and I believe he did the same for you. It was a great photo of three L.A. legends.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

SMOKED

I read where the city of San Francisco is going to fine Michael Jordan 200 dollars for smoking a cigar on a public golf course. I don't think you can smoke anywhere in Laguna Beach.Here in San Diego you can go to a bar and get plastered ,but you can't smoke inside the place. I guess you can sacrafice your liver,but you need to draw a good last breath when you die from cirrohsis.

I'm not a cigarrette smoker,but I like a cigar once in a while. I wrote last week about going into a cigar shop in Tijuana while I was waiting to get some pictures framed. A nice Cuban Monte Cristo and a double espresso while listening to Salsa music. Also the senoritas working there kept my eyes occupied.

Went again yesterday. Did the same thing as before,but this time I also went across the street to the Hotel Nelson and had me a "Special"(shot of light Bacardi,Coca Cola,7 Up,Sweet and Sour,and club soda in a pina colada glass rimmed with margarita salt). Sat there alone watching the soccer game. Finished the Monte Cristo and the "Special " and then went to pick up my paintings.

San Francisco is supposed to be so liberated. Can't smoke a cigar on a golf course? Next time I go to Tijuana to get some paintings framed,I'll see if Michael Jordan wants to come along.

Roger . . .

Yesterday I was visiting a film business friend on mine who lives on the Marina Del Rey Penninsula, about a block from the Venice Pier.
Ralph and I take a walk down the beach to the pier, and stroll out to the end. We are standing looking out over the ocean and discussing a film project.
A guy walks up next to us, about six feet away, and is smoking a cigarette. I didn't even notice he was smoking.
A minute later, two LAPD officers ride up on bicycles. I didn't even hear them ride up, but I saw them talking to the guy smoking the cigarette.
They told him he wasn't allowed to smoke on the pier, or the beach, or in the parking lot, or the Bike paths, boardwalk, etc.
Now when you are standing out on the pier, the wind blows in from the ocean and you can feel it pretty good.
Is it really necessary to stop people from lighting up several hundred feet out from the shorleline?
I'm not a smoker, and I like clean lungs, but they really aren't hurting me when they smoke on the pier, or anywhere outside.
The worst thing about today's society is that we insult each other's intelligence. Have people always been so stupid? I guess so, but we aren't learning, it's getting worse!

Rick and the rest of the Gang
Talk about what is allowed and not. A friend of mine told me to go to Youtube and type in "Arab Child Marriages". 5 year old girls getting married. Little girls crying about being abused by their husbands.

Compare that to smoking on a pier. I guess we're pretty stupid here at times. Maybe some of the real bad things we do go deeper,but after watching some of those videos makes me wonder why oil is so important to keep some of those countries as our friends.

Frank
Tomorrow ,I'm going to work on a nice Enrique Bolanos. Help get my mind off things I don't want to be thinking about.

I have a coupe of good photos of Bolanos in case you need them to work with, I think I posted'em here on the thread...

[kikibalt]

Rick, in 1964-'65 Bolanos worked with Frankie and Tony at the Teamsters, when we had a chance we would go get some thing to eat, we would sit and talk, but he wouldn't talk about his career, he would just talk about what he wanted to teach Frankie and Tony, I wanted to talk about his career, no luck....
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


What a guy to help coach Frankie & Tony! Like you, I'd have loved to have heard some personal stories.
I have aphoto of Hap and Luis Magana that was taken to publicize a Hollywood LEgion event.
Enrique Bolanos stepped into the shot just before the photographer snapped the picture.
Hap sent it to me, and I believe he did the same for you. It was a great photo of three L.A. legends.


-Rick Farris

Yes, I do have that photo, plus all the ones that Robert Bolanos send me....

[dagosd2000]

Frank
I have a nice shot of him in his stance. He's turned to the side a little. I can see his features pretty good.Good facial expression.

[Rick Farris]

Frank . . .

Many years ago, 1971 to be exact, I met Enrique Bolanos in the office of George Parnassus at the Elks Bldg.
I knew of Bolanos and Ike Williams, they were still fresh in the minds of the mature L.A. boxing population, and I'd hear stories.
However, I have learned so much more in the years since.
Hap Navarro provided a treasure trove of Bolanos hisory, photos, and memorabelia in addition to your own.

After meeting Bolanos, Suey Welch told me a bit about his fights with Ike Williams, and his history.
Suey told me what you just mentioned, "that only Williams kept Bolanos from a world title."
He also told me that Parnassus had hard feelings about this, and wasn't warm toward Ike Williams. Williams was a good man, but he stood between Parnassus and his dream.

I was surprised, after hearing this, to see Williams and Bolanos both guests of Parnassus in one of his in-office lunchs. Lot's of boxing greats were there, and Allan Malamud.
Pictures were taken, smiles, no obvious hard feelings. Parnassus was not a silly man. He didn't laugh foolishly or smile for no good reason. He was truly a man of power.
He had personal power, political power, and was well equipped to deal with all the elements that controlled boxing during this turbulent era, or any era.

I agree with you, Williams moved so beautifully. I like him better than Robinson.


-Rick Farris[/quote]
Rick, in 1964-'65 Bolanos worked with Frankie and Tony at the Teamsters, when we had a chance we would go get some thing to eat, we would sit and talk, but he wouldn't talk about his career, he would just talk about what he wanted to teach Frankie and Tony, I wanted to talk about his career, no luck.... :witzend
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Frank . . . At the end of the Bolanos-Williams broadcast they run screen credits. The name Suey Welch is seen. He was a part of the promotion, as was Babe McCoy and other legendary names. A great fight and a great examp;e of the best of Los Angeles.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Rick,

I was ten years old at the time of the first Williams/Bolanos fight, a little older in '48-'49, at that time I was to young to remember and today I'm to old to remember...

Williams vs Duran?
I think that Duran would prove to be too strong for Williams, maybe Williams could out-box Duran in one out of three fights...

Bolanos vs Ramos?
I go with Bolanos all the way, I think that Bolanos would've cut Mando to ribbons. I seen Mando all through his career and Bolanos since the first Williams fight till his third fight with Manny Madrid, after the last Madrid fight Bolanos finish his career on the road.
I have to say Bolanos beats Mando three out of three fights, mostly on cuts.

Btw, Bolanos was known to have come into the ring with a hang-over more then once, he was a drinker... , no drugs that I know off....

Thanks, Frank. Good to know your thought on Duran-Williams. And it's good to know about Bolanos and the hangovers.
I heard Manuel Ortiz had a few himself.

[kikibalt]

Rick,

I was ten years old at the time of the first Williams/Bolanos fight, a little older in '48-'49, at that time I was to young to remember and today I'm to old to remember...

Williams vs Duran?
I think that Duran would prove to be too strong for Williams, maybe Williams could out-box Duran in one out of three fights...

Bolanos vs Ramos?
I go with Bolanos all the way, I think that Bolanos would've cut Mando to ribbons. I seen Mando all through his career and Bolanos since the first Williams fight till his third fight with Manny Madrid, after the last Madrid fight Bolanos finish his career on the road.
I have to say Bolanos beats Mando three out of three fights, mostly on cuts.

Btw, Bolanos was known to have come into the ring with a hang-over more then once, he was a drinker... , no drugs that I know off....

Thanks, Frank. Good to know your thought on Duran-Williams. And it's good to know about Bolanos and the hangovers.
I heard Manuel Ortiz had a few himself.

Manuel Ortiz drank himself to death....