Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Shadow Boxing

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/ ... myRobinson

[Rick Farris]

Question for Tony Baltazar . . . (For saturday at the appropriate time)

Tony, on Friday June 24th, 1966, the Junior Golden Gloves held their 14th annual tournament at the Olympic Auditorium.
On thursday, the night before the event, the Olympic had sold out for a major heavyweight match between unbeaten Joey Orbillo of Wilmington, vs. Eddie Machen.

To publicize the Jr. Golden Gloves event the following night, promoter Aileen Eaton agreed to allow a junior glover to put on a professional-like shadow boxing exhibition. The junior glover who'd do the shadow boxing before a live television audience was you. Like you, I was scheduled to fight the next night in the '66 finals, but I was also in the house because my dad had tickets.

An upcoming lightweight, Mando Ramos, was featured in the televised prelim, KOing Davey White in the 2nd round of a six-rounder.
Then during the intermission between the semi-main and main event, we see you enter the ring in a robe made of zarape. You then put on an exhibition that brought the crowd to their feet. You received a well deserved standing ovation.

You were just five years old on that night more than 43 years ago. I've other questions about your pro and amateur career, but I never forgot that shadow boxing show you put on. It was a long time ago, do you remember that night?


-Rick Farris

Mr Farris, Hi its me Tony The Tiger Baltazar. Sir, yes I vaguely remember that night in 1966. I remember being thrilled to be in front of such a big crowd of people. As you should know by now, I always love being in front of people and demonstrating my talent. I'm so inpressed with your memory, I thank you for your question, and I wish you a very merry Xmas. If you have any more questions for me post them and I would be more than happy to reply to them. God bless you, your friend Tony The Tiger Baltazar.

Tony, thank you for your answer. I'm sorry I was unable to ask more today, but I would like to one day write about you.
I watched you, and your brothers grow up in the Jr. GG's. You were an amazing talent. I fought on many of those junior shows with you, and I have to tell you that when my mother would attend the fights with my family, she was a fan of yours. Before you were old enough to attend school, you boxed like a little pro. I tell people, when you were barely 40 ponds, you were flooring your opponents. That left hook was one of the best, and it really served you well in the pros.
I last saw you fight live at the Country Club in the mid-80's, when you whipped Roger Mayweather. I won't continue on here, but I look forward to speaking with you in person one day. You and your family represent the best of Classic American West Coast Boxing. I have the greatest respect for your dad. By the way, I lived in Phoenix beyween 1999-2003. I worked with boxers at The Madison Gym, when it was run by Richard Rodriguez and Ricky Ricardo, his son. I believe we have a few mutual friends in Az. Take care, Tony. God bless you!

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Sorry to be a day late and a dollar short, but I hope all my friends had a happy holiday.

Frank, what a treat to hear from and see the your boys.

Maybe you guys can hit a 1000 pages by New Years.

KI

Happy Holidays to you too Kevin....

1000 page by the new year? don't think so, maybe in a month or so....

Frank, maybe by mid-February? The thread's second anniversary. Two years-1000 pages.

[Expug]

Right on Rick.
Thousand pages right around the corner.
Man its been a great ride. Best part is, friendships have been formed.
And that is not something that anyone here myself included takes lightly.
You cant just find that anywhere. But, we found it here. Someday my kids will get married. I want you guys there.

[Rick Farris]

Right on Rick.
Thousand pages right around the corner.
Man its been a great ride. Best part is, friendships have been formed.
And that is not something that anyone here myself included takes lightly.
You cant just find that anywhere. But, we found it here. Someday my kids will get married. I want you guys there.

Brian, there has been a lot of great boxing posted here, and as you said, solid friendships formed.
Brian, you are right. We don't take our friendships lightly.
But how rare for a group of quality people to all fall on the same page.
We have a couple WBHOF banquets behind us, a couple more CBHOF events.
Rog did an incredible cover painting for this year's WBHOF program.
Many of us were a part of that, the program reflected the influence our thread.
Players from this thread were responsible for the art, historical corrections, biographies, historical contributions, a major award recipient. Beautifully produced video footage provided by Randy can be found on YouTube. Randy's "Classic American West Coast Boxing" Productions are like a historical family album. Our family, the best in boxing.
I sent a YouTube link to Lucia Rijker. It was a video produced by Randy of the banquet, and dedicated to Lucia.
She thought it was beautiful. She sent me a message by text message or I'd have shared it with Randy. She was flattered by the dedication, and sends her thanks to Randy.
Brian, you started something that just keeps growing. I have much more to contribute. Rather than dump it all in one big pile, it'll slowly flow in. Pictures, programs, 85% boxing, and some unrelated stories. I miss Rog! Great to see Bennie again. Bruce, Kevin. And it was great to have Tony B. here today. Such class, damn he was a good one! Frankie, too.



-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Question for Tony Baltazar . . . (For saturday at the appropriate time)

Tony, on Friday June 24th, 1966, the Junior Golden Gloves held their 14th annual tournament at the Olympic Auditorium.
On thursday, the night before the event, the Olympic had sold out for a major heavyweight match between unbeaten Joey Orbillo of Wilmington, vs. Eddie Machen.

To publicize the Jr. Golden Gloves event the following night, promoter Aileen Eaton agreed to allow a junior glover to put on a professional-like shadow boxing exhibition. The junior glover who'd do the shadow boxing before a live television audience was you. Like you, I was scheduled to fight the next night in the '66 finals, but I was also in the house because my dad had tickets.

An upcoming lightweight, Mando Ramos, was featured in the televised prelim, KOing Davey White in the 2nd round of a six-rounder.
Then during the intermission between the semi-main and main event, we see you enter the ring in a robe made of zarape. You then put on an exhibition that brought the crowd to their feet. You received a well deserved standing ovation.

You were just five years old on that night more than 43 years ago. I've other questions about your pro and amateur career, but I never forgot that shadow boxing show you put on. It was a long time ago, do you remember that night?


-Rick Farris

Mr Farris, Hi its me Tony The Tiger Baltazar. Sir, yes I vaguely remember that night in 1966. I remember being thrilled to be in front of such a big crowd of people. As you should know by now, I always love being in front of people and demonstrating my talent. I'm so inpressed with your memory, I thank you for your question, and I wish you a very merry Xmas. If you have any more questions for me post them and I would be more than happy to reply to them. God bless you, your friend Tony The Tiger Baltazar.

Tony, thank you for your answer. I'm sorry I was unable to ask more today, but I would like to one day write about you.
I watched you, and your brothers grow up in the Jr. GG's. You were an amazing talent. I fought on many of those junior shows with you, and I have to tell you that when my mother would attend the fights with my family, she was a fan of yours. Before you were old enough to attend school, you boxed like a little pro. I tell people, when you were barely 40 ponds, you were flooring your opponents. That left hook was one of the best, and it really served you well in the pros.
I last saw you fight live at the Country Club in the mid-80's, when you whipped Roger Mayweather. I won't continue on here, but I look forward to speaking with you in person one day. You and your family represent the best of Classic American West Coast Boxing. I have the greatest respect for your dad. By the way, I lived in Phoenix beyween 1999-2003. I worked with boxers at The Madison Gym, when it was run by Richard Rodriguez and Ricky Ricardo, his son. I believe we have a few mutual friends in Az. Take care, Tony. God bless you!

-Rick Farris

Rick...thank you so much, It was a pleasure for me to be able to share my war stories with you. I hope in the future we're able to do it again. God Bless you and the family, Your friend Tony The Tiger Baltazar

[Rick Farris]

L.A. Boxing's Precocious Youth Talent . . .

Frank . . . Monica and I are down with the flu. I called Don and told him I would be unable to attend his party today.
I really want to do that project we discussed relating to the Jr. Golden Gloves boxers from our era. We read a lot of good boxing stories, however, I think this story would be a great human interest story. I think the best place for me to start is when I started, in 1965. My most vivid impression of precocious youth boxing talent was the product of watching both Frankie and Tony in the ring. Frankie was barely old enough to attend school. Tony must have just stepped out of diapers and into boxing trunks. Precocious youth boxing talent, L.A. style. Think back to Gil Cadilli, Keeny Teran, Mando Ramos and the Baltazar boys, Albert Davila, Bobby Rizo, Tony Cerda, etc. Today just faded memories to some, but I see them in high definition, crystal clear, just as they were. My goal is to paint a clear picture using my words. To recapture the excitment and energy that lived within the walls of the Teamsters Gym on those Friday nights back in the 60's.

I hope to track the lives of some of these special L.A. boxers. Some went to the pros, some to Viet Nam, others went to college and a few to Prison. Some are dead. Their stories will no doubt be intersting, good reading, hopefully. This will not be an overnight project. It will take months, and I'll have to do it a little at a time. Rog and I are also focusing on something. Should be a good year for Classic American West Coast Boxing.

A project for the new year.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Courtesy Rick Farris



Rick Farris & Kit Boursse' - The Main St. Gym, May 2, 1970


I remember this day pretty well. It was a Saturday, just a few weeks before my pro debut.

I would box with Felipe Torres and Cesar Sinda that day.

Kit was my heavyweight stablemate and best friend. He was Jerry Quarry's sparring partner.

On this day Kit would have a gym war with Venezuelan heavyweight, Jose Luis Garcia.

Twenty years later Kit would be killed in a heroic act. That was twenty years ago. Where does the time go?

I will share the story of Kit Boursse' soon. To put his personality in perspective, think of our pal, Pug.

[kikibalt]

Bobby Baltazar (R) vs Anthony Chavez

Las Vegas, Nevada

[kikibalt]

For my friend Tom Ray

[kikibalt]

For Rick Farris, a good friend

[kikibalt]

Pipino Cuevas v. Randy Shields 30 July 1979 Chicago Stadium Chicago, Illinois W.B.A. Welterweight Championship of the World, Referee Luis Salbaran 71-70, Judge Albert Tremari 73-67 and Judge Marco Antonio Rodriguez 71-70 Unanimous Decision for Pipino Cuevas

[El Gato]

Christmas Greetings and Best Wishes for a very Happy New Year to all of my friends and readers of "West Coast Boxing"----------.

Also thank you Rick and Frank for my Happy Birthday wishes. I finally reached the medicare old timers on Dec.16th.

However, a month earlier November 12-14, I traveled to my hometown of Guadalajara to a celebration where 19 Champions were honored who came out of the state of Jalisco. They have a beautiful museum there for all of us champions where they have a long wall and placed each of our photographs-(6 feet tall x 4 feet wide) on it. Also under each photo was a large gold star with our names and the year that we became a champion. It is a first class museum and we were treated to an outstanding banquet. The coverage of the event by the media, televisa network and the press was huge. The following day I was given a private tour of the Arena Coliseo where I grew up fighting and then I was taken to the gym where I first started training with my cousin, Jose Becerra and Alacran Torres when I was only 13 years old. What a wonderful trip it was for me.

This is the list of 19 champions from my state---

Juan Zurita (deceased), Jose Becerra, Efren "Alacran" Torres, Rafael Herrera,
Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez, Pedro Flores, Antonio Avelar, Jorge Vaca, Alejandro Gonzalez, Rafael Ruelas, Gabriel Ruelas, Oscar Larios, Javier Jauregui, Ulises Solis, Omar Nino, Manuel Vargas, Irma Sanchez, Saul Alvarez, Juan Jose Montes.

Another memorable event and a "one of a kind" that will be recorded in the history of Mexico.

El Gato

[bennie]

Pipino Cuevas v. Randy Shields 30 July 1979 Chicago Stadium Chicago, Illinois W.B.A. Welterweight Championship of the World, Referee Luis Salbaran 71-70, Judge Albert Tremari 73-67 and Judge Marco Antonio Rodriguez 71-70 Unanimous Decision for Pipino Cuevas

I watched Cuevas against Harold Weston the other day. It is easy to forget that Cuevas was a monster for a few years. On the evidence he showed against Weston, he would have 'done' Palomino, I'm sure.

[kikibalt]

I watched Cuevas against Harold Weston the other day. It is easy to forget that Cuevas was a monster for a few years. On the evidence he showed against Weston, he would have 'done' Palomino, I'm sure.

Bennie....I never thought much of Cuevas, even in his best days he was imo just a wild, crude, open fighter without much of a chin, the best I can say about him is that he could punch. we seen lots of fighters like that come out of Mexico. we know that Harold Weston was a finish fighter when he fought Cuevas. Palomino was not a great fighter by no means, Jackie mcCoy told me once that Carlos got as far as he did because of his work ethics, the man was aways in GREAT, GREAT shape.

[bennie]

I watched Cuevas against Harold Weston the other day. It is easy to forget that Cuevas was a monster for a few years. On the evidence he showed against Weston, he would have 'done' Palomino, I'm sure.

Bennie....I never thought much of Cuevas, even in his best days he was imo just a wild, crude, open fighter without much of a chin, the best I can say about him is that he could punch. we seen lots of fighters like that come out of Mexico. we know that Harold Weston was a finish fighter when he fought Cuevas. Palomino was not a great fighter by no means, Jackie mcCoy told me once that Carlos got as far as he did because of his work ethics, the man was aways in GREAT, GREAT shape.

It was a undoubtedly a battle of left hands. At their peaks, and after serious reconsideration (because I always fancied the more steady Palomino), I now feel that Cuevas would have had the workrate and the 15-round strength to beat Palomino.

[bennie]

Audley Harrison, written off after a surprise loss to Belfast’s technically inferior but braver and more aggressive Martin Rogan, steps into Last Chance Saloon at the ripe old age of 38 when he challenges muscled Albert Sosnowski for the European heavyweight title in the New Year.
Southpaw Harrison, a former Olympic gold medalist who has flopped time and time again in the pro ranks despite all the tools at his disposal, dropped a 10-round decision to part-time cabbie Rogan in 2008 in a fight everyone expected him to win but then got lucky earlier this year when he found himself immersed in an old amateur format in the ghastly Prizefighter event sweeping through British mainstream boxing, and predictably won through.
The event – three three-rounders in one night for the winner - was his for the cherry picking after a ‘shot’ Danny Williams, the reigning British heavyweight champion, failed to make it past blubbery Sheffield trier Carl Baker on the night in a real battle of “Fridges”, and Michael Sprott, a man who had flattened Harrison for ‘real’ with a corking left hook back in 2007, pulled out before the very first bell of the tournament following the tragic death of his sister, Ginnette.
Rogan, elsewhere, lost a couple to unheralded Norwich man Sam Sexton.
Now everyone thinks Audley is ‘The Man’ again, but Sosnowski is the man who ‘finished’ Williams with an eight-round knockout in London in November 2008 and won his European title with a clubbing 12-round decision over Italy’s Paolo Vidoz earlier this month in London. Before that, the burly Pole held the unbeaten Francesco Pianeta to an excellent 12-round draw in Germany - and Pianeta is a strapping southpaw like Audley.
Sosnowski must have been robbed.
Sosnpowski ‘wants it’, and looks like a man right at the peak of his career at 30, a seasoned 45-2-1 (27) to match. Yes, he concedes height and reach, speed and boxing ability to big Audley but we've heard it all before and it is heart and fitness which will inevitably prove the deciding factors. Sosnowski, based in London, has the determination, strength and workrate to expose the reluctant Harrison yet again, particularly over the long 12-round championship haul - to retire him.




Harrison with his naff Prizefighter trophy.

[kikibalt]

Terry Downes & Trainer Tom Ryder New Garden Gym Boston, Massachusetts, January 4, 1961 Preparing for the then up-coming bout with Paul Pender.

[kikibalt]

Gil Cadilli vs Migeul Barrios

January 16, 1957

[wsbuf]

Anyone have 1930's photos?

[telboy66]

I can't agree with your opinion Bennie that the prizefighter format is so ghastly the fans that fill the arenas certainly do not agree with you & as for Harrison now being "The Man" you obviously don't visit many forums Harrison is & has always been thought of by the fast British boxing fans as a bum & no amount of wins over inexperienced fighters will change that

[telboy66]

Terry Downes & Trainer Tom Ryder New Garden Gym Boston, Massachusetts, January 4, 1961 Preparing for the then up-coming bout with Paul Pender.

I bow to you guys greater knowledge than mine but I thought the American Johnnie Dunn was Terry's trainer for the three Pender fights

[kikibalt]

Anyone have 1930's photos?

(l.to r. Jimmy Doughtery, Jack Dempsey, Vince Dundee, Doctor W.B. Terry, Robert Nelson
Pennsylvania Boxing Commission and Tom Rios)

Vince Dundee vsTom Rios
August 9, 1934, Leiperville, Pennsylvania

[kikibalt]

Jimmy McLarnin vs Sammy Mandell
November 4, 1929

Ring Announcer Al Smith raises Jimmy McLarnin's hand in victory
following a ten decision win by decision.

[kikibalt]

Terry Downes & Trainer Tom Ryder New Garden Gym Boston, Massachusetts, January 4, 1961 Preparing for the then up-coming bout with Paul Pender.

I bow to you guys greater knowledge than mine but I thought the American Johnnie Dunn was Terry's trainer for the three Pender fights

Maybe he did and this Ryder dude was just helping....