Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Fabela Chavez turned pro at the age of 16 years.

[Rick Farris]

Thanks Rick
Talking to people in South East San Diego ,who knew Archie , all have an "Archie Moore Story." Every story is a gem.

Maybe the memories should come together in a book?
You could write it best.

[Rick Farris]

revised

[dagosd2000]

Thanks Rick
Talking to people in South East San Diego ,who knew Archie , all have an "Archie Moore Story." Every story is a gem.

Maybe the memories should come together in a book?
You could write it best.

Rick
I've posted about a half dozen on the thread. We could put a section in the book. Maybe title it,"Memories Of The Mongoose." We'll have a potpouri of interesting stuff.Stories,art,photographs. First time stuff from personal experiences.

Frank
We're counting on you to contribute.Any suggestions? Your old fight programs would be priceless.Again this would be a first. Everything in the book would be stuff nobody has seen or read before. Enlightening

[Rick Farris]

I've posted about a half dozen on the thread. We could put a section in the book. Maybe title it,"Memories Of The Mongoose." We'll have a potpouri of interesting stuff.Stories,art,photographs. First time stuff from personal experiences.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rog, I've enjoyed those stories. I think a Archie Moore chapter would be great.

[Rick Farris]

Fabela Chavez turned pro at the age of 16 years.

Frank . . . What are your memories of Fabela Chavez?
I know we've discussed Fabela before, it's important that I know him as best I can.
I remember one afternoon a few years back, I was riding with Mando Ramos as he drove thru Long Beach.
We passed a motel, I think it was on a corner, Cherry St.(?)
Ramos told me that Fabela and his wife used to manage the place.
Mando said when he and Sylvia were down and out, prior to his getting clean, Fabela would allow he and his wife to stay in a vacant room.
When I thnk of Fabela, my mind jumps to Hap Navarro's recollection of his match with Jackie McCoy.
Not a good night for Jackie who was halted in the 2nd round, after struggling to rise at the count of nine from a brutal knockdown. Ref Jack Dempsey stopped the fight.


-Rick Farris

Fabela Chavez

birth date 1929-10-15
death date 2003-10-01
division featherweight
nationality United States
alias Fabulous Fabela
residence Hollywood, California, United States
birth place Albuquerque, NM, USA
birth name Alexander Chavez
stance orthodox
won 44 (KO 14) + lost 24 (KO 8) + drawn 5 = 73
rounds boxed 573 KO% 19.18




1955-09-29 131 Julian Velasquez 132½ 6-5-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L UD 10 10
~ referee: Jimmy Wilson 52½-57½ | judge: John Thomas 52½-57½ | judge: Tommy Herman 51-59 ~

1955-08-04 133½ Tommy Manaois 134 24-20-5
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TD 4 10
~ referee: Jimmy Wilson ~
Chavez was cut over the left eye, by a headbutt. He led on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

1955-07-14 133 Tommy Manaois 133½ 23-20-5
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L SD 10 10
~ referee: Charley Randolph 53-57 | judge: Mushy Callahan 54-56 | judge: Reggie Gilmore 56-54 ~

1954-03-06 Juan Luis Campos 10-4-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L PTS 10 10
1953-12-19 128½ Juan Luis Campos 129½ 10-4-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States D PTS 10 10
1953-11-14 Gil Cadilli 16-1-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L PTS 10 10
1953-07-27 132 Armand Savoie 134 45-13-5
Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States L KO 8 10
~ time: 2:35 ~

1953-06-26 135 Bobby Woods 133½ 32-15-7
Ferris Field, Spokane, Washington, United States L UD 10 10
~ referee: Joey August 88-99 | judge: Carl Maxey 88-98 | judge: Hal Denny ~

1953-03-07 132½ Tommy Collins 131 57-9-0
Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, United States L TKO 5 10
1953-01-02 131¾ Teddy Davis 131¾ 51-48-5
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States L UD 10 10
~ referee: Al Berl 4-5 | judge: Harold Barnes 3-6 | judge: Bill Recht 1-7 ~

1952-11-19 129 Willie Pep 129 169-5-1
Oakland Avenue Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States L UD 10 10
1952-10-25 126 Baby Neff Ortiz 127 24-8-3
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico L PTS 10 10
1952-09-24 128 Charley Riley 130 61-22-1
Uline Arena, Washington, District of Columbia, United States L MD 10 10
1952-09-15 129 Jimmy Savala 131½ 34-5-4
Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, United States W SD 10 10
~ referee: Jack Silver | judge: Toby Irwin | judge: Ray Flores ~
Chavez was knocked down in the 2nd round.

1952-08-12 125½ Javier Gutierrez 124 20-11-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W SD 12 12
~ referee: Reggie Gilmore 67½-64½ | judge: Frank Holborow 68½-63½ | judge: Jimmy Wallace 65-67 ~
California State Featherweight Title Eliminator

1952-07-05 Memo Valero 16-11-0
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico L DQ ?
1952-05-22 128¼ Tommy Collins 129¼ 52-9-0
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States L TKO 10 10
~ time: 1:15 | referee: Eddie Curley ~

1952-04-23 127½ Gene Smith 129 30-0-0
Uline Arena, Washington, District of Columbia, United States L SD 10 10
1952-03-29 Eddie Chavez 35-5-3
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States W TKO 6 10
~ referee: Jack Silver ~
Eddie Chavez was stopped on a cut left eye. Fabela Chvez was knocked down in the 1st and 2nd round.

1952-03-15 130 Mario Chico Morales 130 59-38-8
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Mushy Callahan 62-48 | judge: Dynamite Jackson 63½-46½ | judge: Tommy Herman 60½-48½ ~
Morales was knocked down for an eight-count in the 1st round.

1952-02-26 130 Chico Rosa 128 31-13-2
Sacramento, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1952-01-18 130¾ Lavert Smith 128½ 14-4-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Mushy Callahan 58-52 | judge: Dynamite Jackson 57½-52½ | judge: Jack McDonald 57-53 ~

1951-12-20 128 Jimmy Dunn 129 25-19-3
Bakersfield, California, United States W PTS 10 10
Date approx

1951-09-28 126 Lauro Salas 125½ 42-18-7
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L TKO 12 12
~ time: 1:25 | referee: Charley Randolph 61-60 | judge: Jack McDonald 61-60 | judge: Joe Stone 60-61 ~
~ USA California State featherweight title ~
Chavez's manager George Parnassus requested for the fight to be stopped, after Chavez took a nine-count.

1951-08-17 126 Javier Gutierrez 125 18-7-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TD 9 10
~ referee: Charley Randolph ~
Chavez who was well ahead on the scorecards, sustained a cut over his right eye, which forced a technical decision.

1951-07-27 124 Lauro Salas 126 41-17-7
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W MD 12 12
~ referee: Abe Roth 67-65 | judge: Joe Stone 67-65 | judge: Jimmy Wilson 66-66 ~
~ USA California State featherweight title ~
Salas lost two points in the 10th for a low blow.

1951-06-29 125 Lauro Salas 126 41-17-6
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States D PTS 12 12
~ referee: Johnny Indrisano 65-66½ | judge: Jack McDonald 68-64 | judge: Joe Stone 66-66 ~
~ USA California State featherweight title ~
According to the Los Angeles Times, Salas appeared a clear loser until he battered Chavez to a near stoppage in the 12th round, which included a no-count knockdown of Chavez.

1951-06-01 125½ Harold Dade 127 38-25-6
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W SD 10 10
~ referee: Charley Randolph 53½-56½ | judge: Tommy Hart 56½-53½ | judge: Frank Holborow 56-54 ~

1951-04-20 127 Bobby Bell 126 30-19-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Joe Stone 58-52 | judge: Jack McDonald 57½-52½ | judge: Tommy Hart 56½-53½ ~

1951-03-30 125 Javier Gutierrez 123 16-6-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Johnny Indrisano 57½-52½ | judge: Lee Grossman 58½-51½ | judge: Frank Holborow 57-53 ~
Gutierrez was knocked down in the 4th for a one-count.

1951-03-16 127½ Felix Ramirez 130 30-12-8
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W KO 1 10
~ time: 1:58 | referee: Frankie Van ~

1950-10-09 127¼ George Araujo 130¾ 24-1-0
Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States L UD 10 10
1950-09-08 125 Tommy Collins 125 48-6-0
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States W TKO 6 8
Collins was unable to continue due to swelling on his left eye. He had appeared to win every round at the time of the stoppage.

1950-08-16 Lenny Alvarez 28-3-2
Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States W PTS 10 10
1950-08-01 127 Bobby Bell 126 25-17-2
Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States D PTS 10 10
1950-07-18 Jose Aponte Torres 34-68-13
Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, United States W PTS 8 8
1950-07-11 129 Bobby Fenty 130 0-1-0
Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States W TKO 2 6
1950-05-19 129½ Harry LaSane 130½ 58-15-3
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States D PTS 8 8
1950-04-28 Billy Lima 37-20-5
Tampa, Florida, United States W PTS 10 10
1950-03-30 Johnny Wolgast 32-21-7
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States W PTS 8 8
1950-03-27 Jose Colon Garcia 12-30-3
Tampa, Florida, United States W PTS 10 10
1950-03-24 Santiago Kid 0-1-0
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States W KO 4
1948-11-23 138 Tote Martinez 136 11-1-3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L RTD 5 10
~ referee: Abe Roth ~
Chavez's manager stopped the bout between the 5th and 6th round.

1948-07-13 135½ Robert Takeshita 136½ 29-0-1
Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States L TKO 6 10
1948-06-15 134¾ Mario Trigo 135¾ 30-12-3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L UD 10 10
~ referee: Mushy Callahan 54-56 | judge: Frankie Van 54-56 | judge: Lee Grossman 53-57 ~

1948-02-10 131 Buddy Jacklich 130 19-3-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L TKO 9 10
~ referee: Frankie Van ~
Chavez's manager threw in the towel, shortly after he got up from a knockdown.

1947-11-14 131½ Lou Bernal 133½ 15-17-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 4 10
~ time: 1:30 | referee: Charley Randolph ~
A cut over Bernal's left eye, led to the stoppage.

1947-05-24 130¼ Alfredo Escobar 132 24-7-6
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L TKO 7 10
1947-04-08 133 Alfredo Escobar 131 23-7-6
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L UD 10 10
~ referee: Billy Kershner 51-59 | judge: Steve Nyland 50-60 | judge: Mushy Callahan 52½-57½ ~

1947-03-07 133 Sammy Anders 128½ 16-7-5
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W KO 4 10
~ time: 2:05 | referee: Benny Whitman ~

1947-02-11 132 Bobby Jackson 130 18-6-2
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 10 10
~ referee: Billy Kershner 58-52 | judge: Mushy Callahan 55-55 | judge: Dynamite Jackson 55-55 ~

1947-01-31 134¾ Mario Trigo 133 16-9-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W MD 10 10
~ referee: Charley Randolph 55-55 | judge: Steve Nyland 56-54 | judge: Billy Kershner 58-52 ~

1946-12-10 132½ Bobby Jackson 130 18-5-2
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W MD 10 10
~ referee: Benny Whitman 58-52 | judge: Dynamite Jackson 55½-54½ | judge: Reggie Gilmore 57½-52½ ~
Jackson scored the bout a draw, as he could do under California rules.

1946-11-22 131 Dave Hernandez 130 21-16-6
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 3 10
~ time: 1:50 | referee: Billy Kershner ~
Hernandez was knocked down four times in the 2nd round, and once in the 3rd round.

1946-11-01 131 Lorenzo Safora 131½ 28-19-5
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Mushy Callahan 64-46 ~

1946-10-04 132 Roscoe Scally 132 10-3-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W KO 2 10
~ time: 2:00 | referee: Reggie Gilmore ~

1946-09-10 130½ Mario Trigo 130½ 11-6-2
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Frankie Van 61-49 | judge: Reggie Gilmore 59½-50½ | judge: Herb Greene 62-48 ~

1946-08-23 130 Lou Bernal 127 15-12-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Johnny Indrisano 62-48 | judge: Jimmy Wallace 60-50 | judge: Frankie Van 61½-48½ ~

1946-07-19 132 Alfredo Escobar 129½ 18-6-5
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 10 10
~ referee: Abe Roth 60-50 ~
Escobar was knocked down for a five-count in the 8th round.

1946-06-07 129 Freddie Taylor 130 17-11-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 8 10
~ referee: Billy Kershner ~
A cut above Taylor's left eye, forced the stoppage

1946-04-30 128½ Jackie McCoy 125¼ 19-1-2
Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 2 4
~ referee: Jack Dempsey ~
The bout was stopped after McCoy rose unsteady from a nine-count knockdown.

1946-03-27 Alfredo Escobar 17-5-4
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States L PTS 8 8
1946-03-05 129½ Sammy Anders 129½ 13-4-2
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 6 6
1946-02-26 130 Pete Pacheco 128 9-10-7
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 3 6
A bad cut over Pacheco's left eye, led to the stoppage.

1946-01-29 127 Alfredo Escobar 127 14-4-3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W SD 6 6
1946-01-15 129½ Eddie Sangster 130 11-6-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W MD 6 6
~ referee: Frank Holborow | judge: Mushy Callahan | judge: Tommy Herman ~
Sangster was knocked down in the 1st round.

1946-01-04 129 Bert White 130 25-19-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 6 6
1945-11-23 127 Bert White 130 24-17-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 6 6
White was knocked down in the 2nd round.

1945-11-13 129 Pee Wee Lewis 128 12-38-3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 6 6
Lewis was knocked down in the 2nd round.

1945-10-17 Art Aragon 12-2-0
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 8 8
1945-10-03 Art Aragon 11-2-0
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States L PTS 6 6
1945-09-20 Bert White 22-15-3
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W KO 3
1945-09-03 Johnny Verdusco 8-34-10
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W KO 2 4

[kikibalt]

Fabela Chavez turned pro at the age of 16 years.

Frank . . . What are your memories of Fabela Chavez?
I know we've discussed Fabela before, it's important that I know him as best I can.
I remember one afternoon a few years back, I was riding with Mando Ramos as he drove thru Long Beach.
We passed a motel, I think it was on a corner, Cherry St.(?)
Ramos told me that Fabela and his wife used to manage the place.
Mando said when he and Sylvia were down and out, prior to his getting clean, Fabela would allow he and his wife to stay in a vacant room.
When I thnk of Fabela, my mind jumps to Hap Navarro's recollection of his match with Jackie McCoy.
Not a good night for Jackie who was halted in the 2nd round, after struggling to rise at the count of nine from a brutal knockdown. Ref Jack Dempsey stopped the fight.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I don't remember much of Fabela Chavez's early career, though I was there the night he Fought Jackie McCoy, that was on the Williams/Bolanos 1946 title fight, I remember his fights with Lauro Salas, Javier "Baby Face" Gutierrez and Harold Dade, et al, better.
I got to know Fabela well when we both worked at Oscar Mayer's in 1960-'62, we would have lunch and talk boxing, I found him to be easy to talk too, Later on when he was runnig a boxing program for the city of Carson he would call me to see if I had any fighters to take to his shows.

[Rick Farris]

Frank . . . Was this guy related to the Johnny Forbes stable. Seems they had a Campos or Campo? Vince Delgado talks of them.
I should know this after talking with Vince. However, I'm getting a bit foggy . . .

Juan Luis Campos 129½ 10-4-0

Wonder if he fought for Hap Navarro?


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Fabela Chavez turned pro at the age of 16 years.

Frank . . . What are your memories of Fabela Chavez?
I know we've discussed Fabela before, it's important that I know him as best I can.
I remember one afternoon a few years back, I was riding with Mando Ramos as he drove thru Long Beach.
We passed a motel, I think it was on a corner, Cherry St.(?)
Ramos told me that Fabela and his wife used to manage the place.
Mando said when he and Sylvia were down and out, prior to his getting clean, Fabela would allow he and his wife to stay in a vacant room.
When I thnk of Fabela, my mind jumps to Hap Navarro's recollection of his match with Jackie McCoy.
Not a good night for Jackie who was halted in the 2nd round, after struggling to rise at the count of nine from a brutal knockdown. Ref Jack Dempsey stopped the fight.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I don't remember much of Fabela Chavez's early career, though I was there the night he Fought Jackie McCoy, that was on the Williams/Bolanos 1946 title fight, I remember his fights with Lauro Salas, Javier "Baby Face" Gutierrez and Harold Dade, et al, better.
I got to know Fabela well when we both worked at Oscar Mayer's in 1960-'62, we would have lunch and talk boxing, I found him to be easy to talk too, Later on when he was runnig a boxing program for the city of Carson he would call me to see if I had any fighters to take to his shows.

Thanks. I know you'd posted that before, but I needed a reminder.
We are close to 900 pages. I know that Fabela was still living when I passed the motel in late '02.
I forget if he and his wife still had the place? I doubt it? Mando would have parked the car and we'd have stopped.
Mando had grown up with these guys. He and the fighters always had a great time.
I remember seeing that he had been involved a bit with the WBHOF years back, Chavez, that is..
People still remember Fabela, but those who knew him best are gone, except for Hap Navarro.
Hap's portrait will be in the book, and I'll run my story by him before I put it in ink. It's a special part of L.A. boxing history. The Hollywood Legion. What we know today thanks to Hap!
It's part of a history of L.A. boxing, that's the key to my contribution to our book. My era, and I can expand, but the contributions of some select KO pages, photos, I really want L.A. history well represented. It must go far deeper than my stories, or your art. We need not limit the contents to L.A. or the West Coast. We have more to offer.
A virtual potpourri of pugilism

-Rick

[kikibalt]

Frank . . . Was this guy related to the Johnny Forbes stable. Seems they had a Campos or Campo? Vince Delgado talks of them.
I should know this after talking with Vince. However, I'm getting a bit foggy . . .

Juan Luis Campos 129½ 10-4-0

Wonder if he fought for Hap Navarro?


-Rick Farris

Juan Luis Campos and his brother Frankie were Johnny Forbes fighters about the same time as Vince Delgado. They were good, good fighters, but as was the case back in that era, good fighters fought good fighters right of at bat, so it was that good fighters had losses on their records early on in their careers, in this day and age the Campos brothers would have been top ten fighters.

[kikibalt]

Juan Luis Campos

division featherweight
nationality United States
residence Holllywood CA
won 12 (KO 6) + lost 7 (KO 5) + drawn 1 = 20
rounds boxed 117 KO% 30


1955-04-12 136½ Gilberto Muniz 137½ 23-11-5
Arena, Ocean Park, California, United States L TKO 7 10
~ time: 2:51 | referee: Dynamite Jackson ~

1954-11-15 135¼ Art Ramponi 135 14-4-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L TKO 6 10
~ time: 2:22 | referee: Tommy Hart ~

1954-10-12 135 Ray Castro 134½ 10-2-0
Arena, Ocean Park, California, United States W PTS 10 10
Castro was knocked down in the 9th round.

1954-04-06 133 Buddy Evatt 132½ 13-0-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L KO 3 10
~ time: 1:11 | referee: Joe Stone ~

1954-03-06 Fabela Chavez 43-21-5
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1953-12-19 129½ Fabela Chavez 128½ 43-21-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States D PTS 10 10

1953-06-27 Kenny Davis 5-1-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L KO 6 10

1953-04-18 Chico Rosa 31-16-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L PTS 10 10

1953-03-14 127 Javier Gutierrez 123½ 20-12-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Mushy Callahan 57-53 | judge: Joe Stone 57-53 | judge: Tommy Hart 56-54 ~

1952-12-27 126 Hector Rios 126 7-7-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 1 6
~ time: 1:42 ~

1952-08-02 130 Freddy Bravo 130 3-5-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W SD 6 6

1952-07-05 130 Bobby Garza 126 29-22-16
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L SD 6 6

1952-05-24 Bobby Romo 16-10-8
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 6 6

1952-04-19 132 John Richards 132¼ 5-14-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 6 6

1952-03-22 129 Chucho Mendoza 123½ 0-3-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W KO 3 6
~ referee: Jimmy Wallace ~

1952-02-08 129 Jimmy Dunn 130 25-22-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 5 6

1952-01-11 127½ Johnny Malloy 129 13-7-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L TKO 6 6

1952-01-04 128 Jimmy Dunn 129 25-20-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 3 6

1951-07-20 126 Al Montalvo 126 0-1-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 1 4

1951-06-29 128¼ Pete Aguirre 128¼ 1-0-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W KO 2 4


verified unverified unsanctioned

[kikibalt]

I always thought that Frankie Campos was the better fighter of the two brothers

Frankie Campos

division bantamweight
nationality United States
alias The Fighting Barber
residence Los Angeles, California, United States
won 19 (KO 10) + lost 9 (KO 4) + drawn 0 = 28
rounds boxed 192 KO% 35.71

1958-11-09 Pimi Barajas 16-7-1
Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico L KO 8

1958-10-31 Kildo Martinez 6-20-6
Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico W PTS 10 10

1958-10-04 Roque Fernandez 12-15-3
Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico W KO 9 10

1958-09-23 Raul Leanos 35-8-2
Torreon, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico W KO 6

1957-12-07 118 Billy Peacock 117¾ 36-16-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L TKO 8 12
~ time: 2:36 | referee: Jimmy Wilson 63-68 ~
~ vacant USA California State bantamweight title ~
A cut over Campos's right eye, led to the stoppage.

1957-09-14 Pat Supple 29-1-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1957-08-31 118 Jose Luis Mora 118 12-6-0
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico W KO 3 10

1957-05-01 122 Jose Toluco Lopez 124 34-6-2
Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico L PTS 10 10

1956-12-13 Beto Couray 24-24-2
Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico W PTS 10 10

1956-09-29 Ernesto Parra 121 16-6-1
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico L PTS 10 10

1956-06-23 118 Ricardo Moreno 122 21-2-1
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico L KO 4 10

1956-05-18 117½ Pimi Barajas 119¾ 7-2-0
Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, United States L SD 10 10

1956-03-19 118½ Joey Benson 123 4-5-0
San Francisco Gardens, San Francisco, California, United States L PTS 10 10
~ referee: Frankie Brown 54½-55½ ~

1956-03-09 Jorge Gabino Gomez 2-6-2
Piedras Negras, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico W PTS 10 10

1956-02-22 121 Luke Sandoval 123 6-8-2
San Francisco Gardens, San Francisco, California, United States W TKO 5 6

1955-12-06 121 Joey Benson 121 4-2-0
Auditorium, Richmond, California, United States W PTS 10 10
~ referee: Ray Flores 59-51 ~

1955-11-09 122 Vic Eisen 122 22-12-3
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States W KO 2 10

1955-05-12 119 Pimi Barajas 116½
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
Barajas was knocked down in the 3rd round.

1955-02-10 118 Baby Moe Mario 118½ 20-6-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 3 10
Reported as first time Mario had ever been floored or stopped and as his first loss since 1953

1954-10-30 117 Jackie Spurgeon 113 4-1-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Tommy Hart 60-50 | judge: Frankie Van 61-49 | judge: Russ Bradford 59-51 ~

1954-05-08 116½ Jesse Mongia 119¾ 26-6-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10
~ referee: Charley Randolph 50-60 | judge: Dynamite Jackson 49½-60½ | judge: Reggie Gilmore 51-59 ~

1954-02-20 117 Jimmy Quinn 118 8-4-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 7 10
~ time: 1:22 | referee: Frankie Van ~

1953-12-26 115 Johnny Gonzalez 118
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 2 6
Gonzalez was knocked down twice.

1953-06-13 116½ Alex Fimbres 119½ 30-21-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L TKO 2 6

1953-05-09 116½ Jimmy Quinn 118 4-1-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 3 4

1953-04-18 George Jacquet 2-3-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 4 4

1953-04-04 115 Alonso Aviles 116 0-3-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 2 4

1953-02-14 115½ George Jacquet 116 2-0-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
Pro debut for Campos, according to the Los Angeles Tribune

[kikibalt]

Thanks Rick
Talking to people in South East San Diego ,who knew Archie , all have an "Archie Moore Story." Every story is a gem.

Maybe the memories should come together in a book?
You could write it best.

Rick
I've posted about a half dozen on the thread. We could put a section in the book. Maybe title it,"Memories Of The Mongoose." We'll have a potpouri of interesting stuff.Stories,art,photographs. First time stuff from personal experiences.

Frank
We're counting on you to contribute.Any suggestions? Your old fight programs would be priceless.Again this would be a first. Everything in the book would be stuff nobody has seen or read before. Enlightening

Anything I can do to help, I will be more then glad to do so....

[Rick Farris]

GUGLIERMO PAPALEO

Willie Pep, born Gugliermo Papaleo, and known as the "Will-o'-the-Wisp", born September 19, 1922, ranks as not only one of the greatest featherweights to ever step into the ring, but one of the greatest fighters of any division and any era to have crushed resin. Pep began his ring career in 1940 and, by the time he retired for good in 1966, twenty six years spent in the ring, he had fought some 241 times. winning 229 by decision, registering 65 knockouts, 1 draw, and 11 losses including Pep being stopped 6 times himself.

Pep won his first 62 fights, an amazing streak considering the plethora of great fighters in the era. Within that streak, he won the Featherweight title from Chalky Wright. Pep's victory string was burst when he took on a lightweight, Sammy Angott, who decisioned Pep over 10 rounds in fight number 63.

Undaunted, Pep started another consecutive string of victories amassing 73 additional consecutive victories without a loss! By this time in his career, Pep had engaged in 134 fights, sustained 1 loss and 1 draw. This took Pep up to the eve of his first fight with the rugged knockout artist, Sandy Saddler, on October 29, 1948.

But let's go back to January of 1947 and factor into the equation of the Pep-Saddler contest, indeed, factor into the balance of Pep's ring career, a relatively unknown fact about Willie Pep. During that time frame, Willie Pep was involved in an airplane crash which snuffed out the lives of 3 occupants of the plane. The injuries sustained by Pep, thought to have been serious enough to end his ring career, consisted of a leg fracture and a fractured back.

Pep was in a leg cast and body cast and brace from January into the month of May of 1947 at which time his cast was taken off and Pep resumed fighting. Remarkably, he beat all comers until he met and until faced with the challenge posed by Sandy Saddler, who was 5 years younger than Pep, and a devastating ring slugger. Saddler knocked out Willie Pep in the 4th round and took the featherweight title, in the process.

Although Pep beat Saddler in a rematch for the crown over 15 rounds, in February of 1949, Pep and Saddler engaged in a 4 bout series and Saddler proved Pep's master winning 3 of the 4 contests. As a tribute to Willie Pep, he never offered the injuries he sustained in the collision as an explanation why he lost to Sandy Saddler and rarely discussed the episode in public. Willie Pep lived to fight another day while 3 of the plane passengers ended up in caskets.

By his own admission, Pep felt that the only fighter in his career that he "lost his cool" with was Sandy Saddler. In response to Saddler's roughhouse tactics, Pep attempted to avenge himself by resorting to Saddler's game by trying, himself, to get rough with Saddler --- heeling, thumbing, tripping, lacing, spinning --- it became a no holds barred when they fought. Saddler, it must be remembered, is one of boxing all-time knockout artists whose record reflects 103 knockouts in 144 fights and was a reputedly rough and tough brawler not the least bit abash about roughing up an opponent --- by hook or crook --- fair or foul.

Three of the total 6 knockout victories registered over Willie Pep, during his career, were at the hands of Saddler, the last two being scored as technical knockouts, Pep having dislocated a shoulder in their third encounter and then, in their finale, when Pep suffered a severe eye cut and swelling reminiscent of the eye injury sustained by Carmen Basilio in his match with Sugar Ray Robinson necessitated stoppage of the Pep-Saddler bout.

Pep's forte was blinding speed, counter punching, and footwork that would have dazzled the greatest fighters to have entered the ring before and after Pep. His footwork was not a bounding style to keep out of harm's way. For example, Pep could move inside a fighter, circle the fighter and suddenly he would appear behind his opponent, leaving not only the opposition baffled but the fight crowd spellbound. He would allow himself to become "trapped" in a corner, and with minimal effort he would spin or slide out with minimal effort without being caught and instantly reverse the roles.

In a 1947 contest against Jackie Graves, Pep announced to a reporter that he would not throw a single punch in a given round against Graves. Pep kept his word and was in and out, bobbing, weaving, with speed and feints that left Graves bewildered and unable to touch Pep. Pep was given the round on all scorecards without having thrown a single punch.

Inevitably, a fight fan emerges who saw Willie Pep in ring action who will, to this day, offer an opinion that Pep was the greatest fighter ever to grace the ring. Sugar Ray Robinson, himself, offered the same opinion, an accolade and tribute that makes one sit up and take notice when offered by one so respected and acclaimed as Robinson is and was. Certainly, when one is trying to determine who was the greatest featherweight of all time, the names of Willie Pep, Sandy Saddler, Alexis Arguello, Davey Moore, Salvador Sanchez, Vincente Saldivar, Terry McGovern, Eusebio Pedroza, Danny Lopez, Naseem Hamed, Henry Armstrong, Jim Driscoll, Abe Attell, George Dixon, Johnny Dundee, Kid Chocolate, Johnny Kilbane, Eder Jofre, Wilfredo Gomez, Tony Canzoneri, Azumah Nelson, Battling Battalino, Young Griffo, and Jeff Fenech will all be offered by fans, fighters, and historians, alike, as deserving of being ranked within the elite of this great division.

This highlight film captures Willie Pep revealing his wares --- in blinding speed, with moves that leave the viewer aghast and in disbelief that a fighter with his talent ever lived. Then again, truly, you are watching a ghost in action as so many of his opponents likened him to as seasoned veterans and young novitiates, alike, sought to trap the Will of the Wisp, all to no avail. YouTube - Willie Pep Highlights credits to zoneman99.

Although the rankings will vary, as is the case when trying to rank fighters in any division, it is safe to assume that the name Willie Pep will be within somewhere within the top 5 of anyone's list because so great and memorable are not only his boxing record, but his persona, his personality and humor outside the ring, his style, his savvy, his generalship, his control and his dominating presence. To have seen him even once is to never have forgotten him. To have seen him more than once was the bestowing of God's blessing upon those eyes and mind. Thank you Willie
Pep!


(Courtesy of John Bardelli)

[Rick Farris]

Juan Luis Campos and his brother Frankie were Johnny Forbes fighters about the same time as Vince Delgado. They were good, good fighters, but as was the case back in that era, good fighters fought good fighters right of at bat, so it was that good fighters had losses on their records early on in their careers, in this day and age the Campos brothers would have been top ten fighters.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks, Frank.
I was on the right track. Thanks also for your evaluation of their talent.
I know one thing, both the Campos boys WERE promoted by Hap Navarro. After giving some thought, I recall Hap posting about the Campos brothers.
I believe they were active during the time that Hap served as both Hollywood Legion matchmaker and promoter.
What a talent pool of prizefighters for promoters to chose from. Enough to keep several clubs busy weekly.
Somethings DON'T get better in life. Listen, I'm sorry for the negative comment. But it's not about negativity, it's about reality.
Now I can accept this truth better than most, I have help. I have DVD's, YouTube, a visual reminder that I'm not believeing in a fantasy . . . the best has past.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Floyd Patterson

[Rick Farris]

From the "Maravilla Kid":
__________________


Hi Rick,

This is Ruben and just wanted to thank you for the article and portrait. It seems to be accurate.
Thank you for taking Carol and me down memory lane. I forwarded it to my kids and am waiting for their responses.
How are you doing?
Thanks again, the article is Fantastic. I really appreciate all your memories.
Thanks for keeping in touch and hope to see you again.
Friends and stable mates forever,

Ruben

[Rick Farris]

From the "Maravilla Kid":
__________________


Hi Rick,

This is Ruben and just wanted to thank you for the article and portrait. It seems to be accurate.
Thank you for taking Carol and me down memory lane. I forwarded it to my kids and am waiting for their responses.
How are you doing?
Thanks again, the article is Fantastic. I really appreciate all your memories.
Thanks for keeping in touch and hope to see you again.
Friends and stable mates forever,

Ruben

This is what makes it worthwhile.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Willie Pep

[Rick Farris]

Willie Pep

[Rick Farris]

Thinking things over . . .

We are pushing two years, and a thousand pages on this thread.
Friendships have been made and renewed, a family of sorts has been formed.
We give, we receive. We laugh here, we care about each other.

We have all been a part of boxing, and boxing is a part of us.
We know the value of what we have here, it's priceless.

In a sense, we are a true Hall of Fame. We celebrate the fighters by sharing their history.
We don't look too far ahead, or too far back. We keep the legends close to us so we don't lose them.
We don't lock them away in a dark closet, only to brush them off once a year and parade them around a banquet.
I think we have the right idea?


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Thinking things over . . .

We are pushing two years, and a thousand pages on this thread.
Friendships have been made and renewed, a family of sorts has been formed.
We give, we receive. We laugh here, we care about each other.

We have all been a part of boxing, and boxing is a part of us.
We know the value of what we have here, it's priceless.

In a sense, we are a true Hall of Fame. We celebrate the fighters by sharing their history.
We don't look too far ahead, or too far back. We keep the legends close to us so we don't lose them.
We don't lock them away in a dark closet, only to brush them off once a year and parade them around a banquet.
I think we have the right idea?


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Started work on the 2010 CBHOF....

[dagosd2000]

Emile Griffith

[raylawpc]

Hey guys, I'm back from a business trip to Oklahoma City. I finally got to catch up with Sean O'Grady. If I can do the technology (Apparently, Bennie gave up waiting on my New Zealand pixs), I'll post a photo tomorrow. We had a great time, told lots of stories, and consoled one another about the sorry shape of the sport today.

And, Randy, he hopes you're not mad at him for almost stealing your towel . . . (He got a kick out of that story.)