Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Randy . . . When I was a kid we had a dog named pepper. I was maybe ten-yrs-old when we got her from the pound.
I was in my 20's when I stopped by my parents house a couple days before my last pro fight.
Pepper was an old dog, my mother had remarried and her husband had this huge German Sheppard.
Pepper was a small dog, had some beagle in her.
The german sheppard protected this little dog like it was his mother.
The sheppard would stand between pepper and any human that tried to touch her, including me.
I brought pepper inside and sat with the dog for a few minutes. She climbed in my lap and I petted her.
A few days later I fought and lost, then stopped by my mom's place.
She told me that the day before Lad (the sheppard) and pepper had gotten out and were caught by the dog catcher (just like Frank's "Charley")
They bailed the two dogs out and it was said that the sheppard was so protective of Pepper, that it took four dog catchers to corral the two dogs.
A few weeks later, the two got out again and were never seen again. Pepper would have been pushing 100 in dog years.
She was a great dog, but I pity the person who tried to seperate her from Lad, that was one mean german sheppard when it came to protecting Pepper.


-Rick Farris

A Tale of Two Peppers

Rick, we had two Peppers at two different times. The first Pepper was given to Jeri by my mother in 1975 or 1976. In 1978 she was taken by the Dog Pound and lost by the driver (it's a long story). Jeri took it real hard. That dog had prevented a burglary in 1977 at her apartment.

In 1981 I was watching my brother's dog while he and my mother were out of town. The dog got loose and I had to go to the pound to pick him up. After I had found the dog and was getting ready to leave, I heard another dog barking. Actually there were hundreds of dogs barking but I could sense that this bark was calling out to me. I followed the barking to the other side of the kennel and I saw a small white and black dog jumping up and down. I said "Pepper?" She was ecstatic. I could see that the markings were a little different and this dog was slightly larger but it was the dog's character that seemed so much like Pepper. I said out loud "I don't know if you're Pepper or not but you're coming with me." When I got home I parked in the street and the dog ran straight for my front porch. Jeri and the kids came running out screaming "Pepper". I tried to tell them it wasn't Pepper but I never could make anyone believe me. We had the second Pepper until her death in 1992.

Pepper # 1


Pepper # 2

Randy, the 2nd "Pepper" on the bottom looks just like ours except the coat was shorter on our pepper. Same coloring.
Great story, by the way.

Was Pepper #1 drinking a Bud?.....

[Rick Farris]

Was Pepper #1 drinking a Bud?...
_________________________________

Must have run out of Corona

[Rick Farris]

My friend Karl . . .

Karl was not only my father-in-law, he was one of my best friends.
Karl passed in 1995, he was 76.

He was at all of my fights, he'd often ride downtown with me when I'd weigh-in.
In the late 40's, he was buddies with former light-heavy, Fitzie Fitzpatrick.
His daughter was sixteen when I turned pro, and we have been friends thruout our lives, although no longer a couple.

I often think of Karl, and how much fun he was. Her was also very smart & successful. He taught me a lot.
One day, we were driving past an elementary school in Monterey Park.
Karl told me how much he hated school when he was a kid, and how he was always in trouble.
He began to laugh at how much trouble he got in for a poem he recited in his third grade class.
He said the assignment was to find a poem and read it in class.
Karl said he got his poem from his drunken uncle John (not Pug's "Uncle John").

Here is the poem: "Charlotte"

"Charlotte the harlot, queen of the whores . . .
pride of the eastside, all covered in sores."

The third grade teacher was not amused . Another trip to the principals office.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

My friend Karl . . .

Karl was not only my father-in-law, he was one of my best friends.
Karl passed in 1995, he was 76.

He was at all of my fights, he'd often ride downtown with me when I'd weigh-in.
In the late 40's, he was buddies with former light-heavy, Fitzie Fitzpatrick.
His daughter was sixteen when I turned pro, and we have been friends thruout our lives, although no longer a couple.

I often think of Karl, and how much fun he was. Her was also very smart & successful. He taught me a lot.
One day, we were driving past an elementary school in Monterey Park.
Karl told me how much he hated school when he was a kid, and how he was always in trouble.
He began to laugh at how much trouble he got in for a poem he recited in his third grade class.
He said the assignment was to find a poem and read it in class.
Karl said he got his poem from his drunken uncle John (not Pug's "Uncle John").

Here is the poem: "Charlotte"

"Charlotte the harlot, queen of the whores . . .
pride of the eastside, all covered in sores."

The third grade teacher was not amused . Another trip to the principals office.


-Rick Farris

Rick, Thanks for your story on your friend/father-in-law, Karl. With all the shit going on now days, we need a good up-lift story now and then....

[Randyman]

Was Pepper #1 drinking a Bud?.....

Pepper was a closet drinker but on the day of this photo I remember her saying to no one in particular "I'll drink anywhere I damn well please". She was that way when she was drinking.

Randy

[Randyman]

My friend Karl . . .

Karl was not only my father-in-law, he was one of my best friends.
Karl passed in 1995, he was 76.

He was at all of my fights, he'd often ride downtown with me when I'd weigh-in.
In the late 40's, he was buddies with former light-heavy, Fitzie Fitzpatrick.
His daughter was sixteen when I turned pro, and we have been friends thruout our lives, although no longer a couple.

I often think of Karl, and how much fun he was. Her was also very smart & successful. He taught me a lot.
One day, we were driving past an elementary school in Monterey Park.
Karl told me how much he hated school when he was a kid, and how he was always in trouble.
He began to laugh at how much trouble he got in for a poem he recited in his third grade class.
He said the assignment was to find a poem and read it in class.
Karl said he got his poem from his drunken uncle John (not Pug's "Uncle John").

Here is the poem: "Charlotte"

"Charlotte the harlot, queen of the whores . . .
pride of the eastside, all covered in sores."

The third grade teacher was not amused . Another trip to the principals office.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I met Karl only once but I still remember him after all these years. He was a very nice man. Mel thought well of him. I still remember his den. It had a western/outdoorsy motif. He had a beautiful coffee table that was made from a slab of a tree trunk. He struck me as a unique individual. You were lucky to have such a friend.

That poem had me rolling.

Randy

[Randyman]

Tendjewberrymud...

It's amazing, you will understand the above word by the end of the conversation...

Read aloud for best results. Be warned, you're going to find yourself talking "funny" for a while after reading this.

The following is a telephone exchange between a hotel guest and room-service at a hotel in Asia, which was recorded and published in the FarEast Economic Review...

Room Service (RS): "Morny. Ruin sorbees"

Guest (G): "Sorry, I thought I dialled room-service"

RS: "Rye..Ruin sorbees..morny! Djewish to odor sunteen??"

G: "Uh..yes..I'd like some bacon and eggs"

RS: "Ow July den?"

G: "What??"

RS: "Ow July den?...pry, boy, pooch?

G : "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry, scrambled please."

RS: "Ow July dee bayhcem...crease?"

G: "Crisp will be fine."

RS : "Hokay. An San tos?"

G: "What?"

RS: "San tos. July San tos?"

G: "I don't think so"

RS: "No? Judo one toes??"

G: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo one toes' means."

RS: "Toes! toes!...why djew Don Juan toes? Ow bow singlish mopping we bother?"

G: "English muffin!! I've got it! You were saying 'Toast.' Fine. Yes,an English muffin will be fine."

RS: "We bother?"

G: "No..just put the bother on the side."

RS: "Wad?"

G: "I mean butter...just put it on the side."

RS: "Copy?"

G: "Sorry?"

RS: "Copy...tea...mill?"

G: "Yes. Coffee please, and that's all."

RS: "One Minnie. Ass ruin torino fee, strangle ache, crease baychem, tossy singlish mopping we bother honey sigh, and copy....rye??"

G: "Whatever you say"

RS: "Tendjewberrymud"

G : "You're welcome."

[kikibalt]

I remember seeing 1960's actor Nicky Adams at the concession stand at the Olympic (The one above the dressing rooms) with a hotdog in one hand and a beer in the other one, he was there just about every week, he was a big boxing fan....

[raylawpc]

My life just isn't complete unless I post something from time-to-time to irriate my West Coast liberal friends:



A man was washed up on a beach after a terrible shipwreck. Only a sheep and a sheepdog were washed up with him. After looking around, he realized that they were stranded on a deserted island. After being there awhile, he got into the habit of taking his two animal companions to the beach every evening to watch the sunset.

One particular evening, the sky was a fiery red with beautiful cirrus clouds, the breeze was warm and gentle - a perfect night for romance. As they sat there, the sheep started looking better and better to the lonely man. Soon, he leaned over to the sheep and put his arm around it.

But the sheepdog, ever protective of the sheep, growled fiercely until the man took his arm from around the sheep. After that, the three of them continued to enjoy the sunsets together, but there was no more cuddling.

A few weeks passed by and lo and behold, there was another shipwreck. The only survivor was Nancy Pelosi.

That evening, the man brought Nancy to the evening beach ritual. It was another beautiful evening - red sky, cirrus clouds, a warm and gentle breeze - perfect for a night of romance. Pretty soon, the man started to get 'those feelings' again. He fought the urges as long as he could, but he finally gave in and leaned over to Nancy and told her he hadn't had sex for months.

Nancy batted her eyelashes and asked if there was anything she could do for him.

He said, "Would you mind taking the dog for a walk?"

[kikibalt]

My life just isn't complete unless I post something from time-to-time to irriate my West Coast liberal friends:



A man was washed up on a beach after a terrible shipwreck. Only a sheep and a sheepdog were washed up with him. After looking around, he realized that they were stranded on a deserted island. After being there awhile, he got into the habit of taking his two animal companions to the beach every evening to watch the sunset.

One particular evening, the sky was a fiery red with beautiful cirrus clouds, the breeze was warm and gentle - a perfect night for romance. As they sat there, the sheep started looking better and better to the lonely man. Soon, he leaned over to the sheep and put his arm around it.

But the sheepdog, ever protective of the sheep, growled fiercely until the man took his arm from around the sheep. After that, the three of them continued to enjoy the sunsets together, but there was no more cuddling.

A few weeks passed by and lo and behold, there was another shipwreck. The only survivor was Nancy Pelosi.

That evening, the man brought Nancy to the evening beach ritual. It was another beautiful evening - red sky, cirrus clouds, a warm and gentle breeze - perfect for a night of romance. Pretty soon, the man started to get 'those feelings' again. He fought the urges as long as he could, but he finally gave in and leaned over to Nancy and told her he hadn't had sex for months.

Nancy batted her eyelashes and asked if there was anything she could do for him.

He said, "Would you mind taking the dog for a walk?"

Better, Nancy Pelosi than virginia foxx (R-S.C)....

[raylawpc]

But what Democratic gals do you have to compete with this?



You betcha!

[kikibalt]

But what Democratic gals do you have to compete with this?



You betcha!

The bitch wish she had tits like that...

[kikibalt]

A look back at the banquet

http://myboxingfans.com/2009/11/a-look- ... e-banquet/

[Rick Farris]

But what Democratic gals do you have to compete with this?



You betcha!

You know, Tom, I don't know of any hot Dem babes, at least not in office. I thought Jackie Kennedy was a pretty hot first lady when I was a kid.
However, anytime you wish, I could take you onto a studio lot, and you'll see some of the hottest women on earth. Women from everywhere, some are just stunning.
I know this because I light them. I can also tell you that it's no secret that 9-of-10 helped put our President in office. Sarah who?

I will say this, Tom. Nice picture, but don't remember much of the face

[Rick Farris]

d

[kikibalt]

Rocky Castellani
Circa 1955

[Rick Farris]

Ironic . . .


A few years back, a beautiful young woman was introduced to me by a mutual friend.
Our friend knew we had something in common, she was soon to become a professional boxer.

The female boxer's name was Katarina De La Cruz, and we'd often talk about boxing when we'd cross paths.
She had a trainer, but on a couple occasions she and I worked out together at the LAYAC boxing gym at the old Lincoln Heights Jail.
She wasn't being taught well, she'd often jump from trainer-to-trainer. Nobody had much time for a girl who wanted to box.

We pretty much kept our talk to boxing, I wasn't trying to hustle her. I respected what she was attempting in her early 30's.
She was a mother of three kids, 2 teenage sons and a daughter. She was fit, looked ten years younger than her age, had a great energy, positive.
She was studying holistic medicine. She worked as a massage therapist (a legit one) at a Finnish Sauna where I'd gone for years for saunas.
Kat had a tough life, growing up in South L.A. as a young teen, she was jumped into a gang, and fought both guys and girls tooth & nail.
I tried to talk realistically to her about her plans, but I didn't wish to step on her dreams. People should build people, not tear them down.

We talked about women boxers, and I knew she had an idol. I was well aware of her hero, and shared Kat's respect for her.
This was four years ago.

Last Saturday, Katarina's idol, Lucia Rijker, became the first woman boxer ever inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame. I had the honor of handing her the bronze statue.
As Lucia gave her acceptance speech, I stood behind her and looked over to a table beside the stage. I saw a familiar face. It was my friend, Katarina. How ironic, I thought.
Katarina's eyes met mine, we both smiled and waved to each other. I remembered our conversations about Lucia, and how she told me Lucia had once given her encouraging words.
I had a copy of Lucia's documentary video, "Shadow Boxers", and loaned it to Kat. Now Lucia, Kat & I are all in the same room, four years later, and history is being made.

I'm glad I got to be a part of it. I'm also glad that Katarina De La Cruz was a part of it.
Like Lucia, Kat has had her challeneges in life, and like her idol, she is a positive, good energy person, with a great spirit.

Katarina is pictured standing with Lucia Rijker in Michele Chong's story on the banquet:
http://myboxingfans.com/2009/11/a-look- ... e-banquet/



-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Jerry Quarry training for his then up-coming bout with Muhammad Ali.
Circa 1970

[Rick Farris]

An e-mail I received today from Lucia Rijker, commenting on our friend, Katarina De La Cruz . . .



Katarina is an amazing women herself!!
Please send her my love.
xxx
Lucia

May you love yourself just as you are- May you sense your worthiness and well-being- May you trust this world-May you hold yourself in compassion-May you meet the suffering and ignorance of others with compassion, always and may I do the same!


RijkerStriker Inc.
President, Lucia Rijker
P.O.Box 36539
Los Angeles CA,
90036 U.S.A
(1)310-226-7014
[email protected]
www.RijkerStriker.com/www.LuciaRijker.net

[kikibalt]

Jerry Quarry & Wayne Kindred, June 22 1972

Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

[kikibalt]

Congresswoman (D), Loretta Sanchez

[Rick Farris]

Jerry Quarry training for his then up-coming bout with Muhammad Ali.
Circa 1970

Jerry Quarry had split with long time manager/trainer, Johnny Flores, prior to this bout.
After that, I'd not see as much of Quarry aside from the gym.
Flores still had half of a 1/3 cut of all Jerry's purses thru June of 1972.
This didn't sit well with Jerry, or a few others the fighter was involved with.
All are long dead, today.
However, somebody wanted Johnny out of the picture in 1971, more than twenty years prior to his tragic "accidental death" in the elevator shaft of his gym, a fall?
Johnny had been set up, he was nearly shot by two off-duty LAPD officers. Supposedly it was a "case of mistaken identity". Johnny knew better.
Flores sued the City of L.A. They settled out of court.
Johnny opened the LAYAC, a fully equipped boxing gym that took over the entire 5th floor of the abandoned Lincoln Heights Jail in North-East L.A.
In December, 1994, Flores body was found at the bottom of the elevator shaft leading to his gym. He had died of blunt force head trauma. The fall?
Lots of years seperated Flores fall from the incident involving the LAPD officers. Accidents due happen, but one can't help but think . . .


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Jerry Quarry & Wayne Kindred, June 22 1972

Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Wayne Kindred . . .

I remember Wayne Kindred very well. He was one of Canto Robledo's boys out of Pasadena.
I fought the night he was KOed by Jose Luis Garcia at the Olympic.
He worked a lot with Quarry off & on from the late 60's.

Notice Kindred's foul-proof cup. It was custom made at the Main St. Gym by former boxer, Tony Marino.
Marino was very old, had been a flyweight at one time. He'd custom design head gear and cups for boxers.
He would always emboss the cups with whatever name or wording the fighter might desire.
This is one of those memories that was so unique to the legendary Main Street Gym.
I still have my cup that Tony made for me. I'll photograph it one day and post the picture. It was a part of that special time in boxing, our time!


-Rick Farris

[raylawpc]

But what Democratic gals do you have to compete with this?



You betcha!

You know, Tom, I don't know of any hot Dem babes, at least not in office. I thought Jackie Kennedy was a pretty hot first lady when I was a kid.
However, anytime you wish, I could take you onto a studio lot, and you'll see some of the hottest women on earth. Women from everywhere, some are just stunning.
I know this because I light them. I can also tell you that it's no secret that 9-of-10 helped put our President in office. Sarah who?

I will say this, Tom. Nice picture, but don't remember much of the face

What face?

[Rick Farris]

More about Wayne Kindred (Quarry's sparring partner) . . .
___________________________________________
Name: Wayne Kindred
Hometown: Los Angeles, California, USA
Manager: Johnny Flores

His wife, Vickie, once appeared on an episode of THE HOLLYWOOD SQUARES television show. That episode is often repeated on THE GAME SHOW television network to this day. (Guest celebrities were Tony Randall, Rose Marie, Marty Allen, Sandy Duncan, Jonathan Winters, George Gobel, Connie Stevens, Danny Thomas, and, of course, Paul Lynde in the center square.) They even had a Rocky Graciano question during this episode. By the way, she scored more points than her opponent, Ed Rains (name uncertain, but he apparently had become famous for some ordeal or other event right before he appeared on the show), and thus she won the grand prize of a Pontiac Astre car.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wayne Kindred . . . won 5 (KO 2) + lost 6 (KO 6) + drawn 0 = 11


1970-08-20 208½ Jose Luis Garcia 191 13-2-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L TKO 2 10
~ time: 2:18 | referee: Dick Young ~

1969-05-01 202 Cornell Nolan 236 3-2-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L KO 2 10
~ time: 2:29 ~

1969-02-20 198 Ken Norton 214 7-0-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L TKO 9 10
~ referee: Joey Olmos ~

1968-07-23 196 Ken Norton 204 4-0-0
Circle Arts Theater, San Diego, California, United States L TKO 6 10
~ referee: Hal Rickard ~

1967-09-18 190 Zora Folley 217 74-8-4
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States L TKO 8 10
~ time: 2:50 | referee: Davey Pearl ~
Kindred down twice in the 8th.

1967-07-27 193 Dave Centi 239 11-12-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: John Thomas 9-2 | judge: Larry Rozadilla 10-2 | judge: Lee Grossman 10-2 ~
Kindred was knocked down in the 2nd round.

1967-06-09 195 Wendell Newton 216 12-7-3
Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 6 6
1967-04-06 195 Matt Blow 203 5-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: John Thomas 4-3 | judge: Lee Grossman 6-4 | judge: Larry Rozadilla 6-4 ~

1967-02-17 191 Don Koontz 194 13-3-0
Bakersfield, California, United States W KO 10 10
1966-11-21 195 Cornell Nolan 220 1-0-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L KO 3 6
1966-10-20 190½ L J Wheeler 260 2-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 6 6
~ time: 2:13 ~
___________________________________________________________________

Kindred's last fight card 8/20/70 . . .

Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States

Jose Luis Garcia W Wayne Kindred TKO 2 10
Armando Muniz W Jose Valencia KO 2 6
Lou Blades W Larry Son KO 2 4
Rick Farris L Benny Rodriguez PTS 4 4

__________________________________________________________________

Just a little slice of L.A. Boxing history. We really go deep in this thread.


-Rick Farris