Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

I apologize for so many photos but I have my uncle on my mind.....

If you have more post 'em. What I miss in these times are "characters" .Guys that were made by breaking the molds

[THEHAMMER321]

Frank I was thinking of two brothers who fought at the same time as Tony and Frankie although much smaller one brother was a big banger like Tony while the other brother was a good boxer like Frankie one hint they were Hispanic

The Sandoval's?

you and randy are so close these brothers aren't from California though

[dagosd2000]

THE ENFORCER

I remember when Sid Flaherty brought Denny Moyer to San Diego to keep Ronnie Wilson in check. Ronnie's night life was counteracting what he was doing in the gym. It was less time in the gym and later and later hours in the saloons. Well, Moyer just threw more fuel on the fire.

Maybe I haven't seen enough Irishmen,but when they're sober they are the politest of human beings I've ever associated with. Put them on a bar stool and you better wear protective head gear. I've told the stories that were passed along to me about Bob Murphy in the Arizona Cafe in San Diego. Well Murphy mostly acted alone. Moyer and Wilson were double trouble.

They both had baby faces,but when they got liquored up,it didn't matter with them. I always was a bit carefull around them when they got oiled up. I never knew. I didn't want to know. I once saw Moyer lay some guy out because he rang Moyer's doorbell. There was a party going on at his place and I guess that was Denny's way to say that guy wasn't on the invite list.

So you could say Denny Moyer really didn't set a good example for Ronnie Wilson. At the end of their careers they fought only for a paycheck. A fight at the Coliseum or the Silver Slipper in Vegas would put a grand in their pockets. They'd spend it on booze and broads ,and then blow the rest. Then they'd climb through the ropes again so they could spend their take the same way.

I never saw Denny Moyer when he fought the Robinsons, Griffiths,Rodriguezes. On TV,but never live. I saw him fight the likes of the Jose Luis Rodriguezes at the Coliseum on 14th Street in the shady area near upper Broadway.

Funny though,I could still see the moves once in a while. He could still be pretty slick in there at times. But when he was brought in to keep Ronnie Wilson in line,he just stumbled.

[Rick Farris]

Lincoln Heights Jail story . . .

http://www.thenativelatourist.com/?p=77

Guys, check this one out. This is where I workout. The gym was founded by Johnny Flores in the early 70's.
It is HAUNTED!

No surprise to me. Check out this great story, it refers to Flores and his death, etc.
And the ghosts . . .

A good read!


-Rick Farris

[THEHAMMER321]

Frank I was thinking of two brothers who fought at the same time as Tony and Frankie although much smaller one brother was a big banger like Tony while the other brother was a good boxer like Frankie one hint they were Hispanic

The Sandoval's?

you and randy are so close these brothers aren't from California though

They have two things in common with the Curry brothers

[THEHAMMER321]

Lincoln Heights Jail story . . .

http://www.thenativelatourist.com/?p=77

Guys, check this one out. This is where I workout. The gym was founded by Johnny Flores in the early 70's.
It is HAUNTED!

No surprise to me. Check out this great story, it refers to Flores and his death, etc.
And the ghosts . . .

A good read!


-Rick Farris

I read the article but I was a little confused about the dates of when it stopped being a jail

[Rick Farris]

Remembering Johnny Flores . . .

--------------------------------------------
Ex-Boxing Figure Flores Dies in Fall

December 02, 1994
CHRIS DUFRESNE, TIMES STAFF WRITER


Johnnie Flores, a prominent figure on the Los Angeles boxing scene and a decorated World War II soldier, is dead at 78.

Daryl Streicher, his son-in-law, said Flores' body was discovered Wednesday at the bottom of an elevator shaft at the Lincoln Heights gymnasium where Flores had been employed and coaching boxers since 1974.

The fifth-floor of the building, which once was a jail, was converted into the Los Angeles Youth Athletic Club.

Streicher said the building is old and in poor condition, and he suspects Flores might have stepped into an empty shaft on the first floor.

"It could have well been an accident," Streicher said. "It seems as though the elevator was stuck between the second and third floors. He may have opened the door on the first floor and fell to the bottom. It's a 12-foot drop, but he hit his head. He was killed instantly."

A coroner's report had yet to be filed on Flores as of Thursday.

Flores, who trained such fighters as Jerry Quarry, Dwight Hawkins and Ruben Navarro, was known as "Mr. Amateur Boxing." He is credited with luring countless wayward youths into gymnasiums.

At the old Lincoln Heights jail, Flores converted holding tanks into boxing rings and cells into changing rooms. He was inducted into the Golden Gloves Hall of Fame in 1989 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.

During World World II, as an Army infantryman, Flores earned the silver and bronze stars, as well as a purple heart.

Streicher said his father-in-law once captured 15 German soldiers. In 1944, Flores was seriously injured when a round of artillery fire exploded above an abandoned farmhouse in which Flores and five others had sought refuge. All five of his comrades were killed. Flores was struck with 33 pieces of shrapnel and spent years recovering from his wounds. He was never able to resume what had been a promising boxing career.

Flores, who lived in Castaic, is survived by Rose, his wife of 52 years, and three children. Funeral arrangements are pending.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Johnny's wake was held at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills and I saw a "who's who" of boxing attending.
The following day, he was buried with full Military honors at the National Cemetary in Westwood, California.

Five years later, he would be joined by his beloved Rose.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Lincoln Heights Jail story . . .

http://www.thenativelatourist.com/?p=77

Guys, check this one out. This is where I workout. The gym was founded by Johnny Flores in the early 70's.
It is HAUNTED!

No surprise to me. Check out this great story, it refers to Flores and his death, etc.
And the ghosts . . .

A good read!


-Rick Farris

I read the article but I was a little confused about the dates of when it stopped being a jail

1965, it was reopened briefly to house extra prisoners arrested during the Watts riots. Then closed for good as a jail.

[bennie]

Kevin Mitchell reaps the reward for his dazzling win over Colombian dangerman Breidis Prescott when he tops the bill at Wembley in a 12-rounder against another Colombian, Ignacio Mendoza, on February 13.
Mitchell boxed superbly to outcore Prescott over 12 rounds in December - the same Prescott who had shocked Amir Khan in 54 seconds on a stunning night in Manchester in September 2008. Unlike Khan, "Mighty" Mitchell fought the perfect fight as he resisted his usual 'tear-up' and picked off the rangy Prescott with classy counters, showing new-found movement and defensive ability. At 25 and with a record of 30-0 (22), Mitchell looks set for a big future. The Prescott fight, by the way, was a WBO title eliminator at lightweight.
To Mendoza, a 26-year-old who fights out of Spain and gave reigning British lightweight champion John Murray a hard tussle in Nottingham back in 2005 before dropping an eight-round technical decision due to a huge swelling on his forehead (clearly from a clash of heads). Since then, Mendoza, 27-5-2 (18), has stayed largely on Spanish soil, though he did venture to Russia in 2008, where he knocked out local man Sherzod Nazarov in six rounds. He can obviously bang a bit and was not too far behind on the cards against Murray. Other recognisable names on his record include fellow countryman Livinson Ruiz, whom he licked twice (and who went to war here with Stephen Foster), and pending Scott Lawton opponent, Leva Kirakosyan, who stopped him in three. Mendoza can dish it out but is not impervious to a big shot himself (stopped twice to date), although Murray never looked like budging him.
All in all he looks the perfect opponent for Mitchell to showcase his speed, sharpness and snap, and you can be sure Kevin will want to stop Mendoza before the eighth round. In my opinion, Mitchell deserves a fight like this after Prescott.

[bennie]

The Sandoval's?

you and randy are so close these brothers aren't from California though

They have two things in common with the Curry brothers

Gaby and Orlando Canizales?

[kikibalt]

you and randy are so close these brothers aren't from California though

They have two things in common with the Curry brothers

Gaby and Orlando Canizales?

You got It! Bennie....Both champions

[Rick Farris]

Frank I was thinking of two brothers who fought at the same time as Tony and Frankie although much smaller one brother was a big banger like Tony while the other brother was a good boxer like Frankie one hint they were Hispanic

Brother Acts . . .

Hammer, your post got me thinking about boxing brothers.
Although not Hispanic, two brothers that fit the "big banger", "good boxer" description would be Jerry & Mike Quarry.

[bennie]

Bizarrely, even though Orlando made a record 16 straight defences of his world bantamweight title, I preferred watching the less successful Gaby.

[Rick Farris]

Bizarrely, even though Orlando made a record 16 straight defences of his world bantamweight title, I preferred watching the less successful Gaby.

Bennie . . . The first time I saw Gaby Canizalez was the night he KOed Richie Sandoval on the undercard of the Hagler-Mugabi title fight.
Gaby reminded me of a miniature Roberto Duran. His title reign didn't last long, however. We inducted Orlando into the WBHOF this past year.

[THEHAMMER321]

You guys got it right Orlando and Gaby,I think of Tony like Gaby big left hook and Orlando like Frankie good boxer and the two things in common with curry brothers are both Texans and both champions when you guys come out to Vegas I owe you both dinner

[Rick Farris]

Amir Khan in Los Angeles?

I read he is relocating to Los Angeles. I know Freddie Roach is training him.
I'll make it down to Wildcard Gym when I have a chance and check him out.

I won't hold Khan's KO loss to Prescott against him.
A guy can get bombed out early if caught cold. Hurricane Carter caught Emile Griffith in the first.

Los Angeles is no longer the fight town I remember.
There was a time when a guy like Kahn might not want to venture too deep into West Coast waters.
With 140 pounders such as L.C. Morgan, Adolph Pruitt, Paulie Armstead, etc. around during the day, a guy like Amir Khan might be a little uncomfortable.
Today I can't think of too many intimidating 140 pounders in L.A.

Timothy Bradley? Well, he doesn't exactly inspire fear into the hearts of men, not like Napoles did when he was in town.
Today's American West Coast Boxers just aren't as "Classic" as those I remember. I'm getting old.


-Rick Farris

[THEHAMMER321]

Amir Khan in Los Angeles?

I read he is relocating to Los Angeles. I know Freddie Roach is training him.
I'll make it down to Wildcard Gym when I have a chance and check him out.

I won't hold Khan's KO loss to Prescott against him.
A guy can get bombed out early if caught cold. Hurricane Carter caught Emile Griffith in the first.

Los Angeles is no longer the fight town I remember.
There was a time when a guy like Kahn might not want to venture too deep into West Coast waters.
With 140 pounders such as L.C. Morgan, Adolph Pruitt, Paulie Armstead, etc. around during the day, a guy like Amir Khan might be a little uncomfortable.
Today I can't think of too many intimidating 140 pounders in L.A.

Timothy Bradley? Well, he doesn't exactly inspire fear into the hearts of men, not like Napoles did when he was in town.
Today's American West Coast Boxers just aren't as "Classic" as those I remember. I'm getting old.


-Rick Farris

Rick maybe you know there was a journeyman fighter who trained here in Vegas back in the 1980s Kevin Morgan I used to see him in the golden gloves gym here working out along with Bruce Curry AND Roger mayweather they talked about Kevins dad,do you think his dad is L.C Morgan

[Expug]

THE ENFORCER

I remember when Sid Flaherty brought Denny Moyer to San Diego to keep Ronnie Wilson in check. Ronnie's night life was counteracting what he was doing in the gym. It was less time in the gym and later and later hours in the saloons. Well, Moyer just threw more fuel on the fire.

Maybe I haven't seen enough Irishmen,but when they're sober they are the politest of human beings I've ever associated with. Put them on a bar stool and you better wear protective head gear. I've told the stories that were passed along to me about Bob Murphy in the Arizona Cafe in San Diego. Well Murphy mostly acted alone. Moyer and Wilson were double trouble.

They both had baby faces,but when they got liquored up,it didn't matter with them. I always was a bit carefull around them when they got oiled up. I never knew. I didn't want to know. I once saw Moyer lay some guy out because he rang Moyer's doorbell. There was a party going on at his place and I guess that was Denny's way to say that guy wasn't on the invite list.

So you could say Denny Moyer really didn't set a good example for Ronnie Wilson. At the end of their careers they fought only for a paycheck. A fight at the Coliseum or the Silver Slipper in Vegas would put a grand in their pockets. They'd spend it on booze and broads ,and then blow the rest. Then they'd climb through the ropes again so they could spend their take the same way.

I never saw Denny Moyer when he fought the Robinsons, Griffiths,Rodriguezes. On TV,but never live. I saw him fight the likes of the Jose Luis Rodriguezes at the Coliseum on 14th Street in the shady area near upper Broadway.

Funny though,I could still see the moves once in a while. He could still be pretty slick in there at times. But when he was brought in to keep Ronnie Wilson in line,he just stumbled.

Rog, I love these stories about Moyer and Wilson.
The more I hear them, the more it occurs to me that , I KNOW THOSE TWO.
You are spot on about most Irishmen and their drinking.
My uncle used to say,"some guys like to write poetry when they drink. Some guys like to tear up saloons. I dont write poetry".

[kikibalt]

Amir Khan in Los Angeles?

I read he is relocating to Los Angeles. I know Freddie Roach is training him.
I'll make it down to Wildcard Gym when I have a chance and check him out.

I won't hold Khan's KO loss to Prescott against him.
A guy can get bombed out early if caught cold. Hurricane Carter caught Emile Griffith in the first.

Los Angeles is no longer the fight town I remember.
There was a time when a guy like Kahn might not want to venture too deep into West Coast waters.
With 140 pounders such as L.C. Morgan, Adolph Pruitt, Paulie Armstead, etc. around during the day, a guy like Amir Khan might be a little uncomfortable.
Today I can't think of too many intimidating 140 pounders in L.A.

Timothy Bradley? Well, he doesn't exactly inspire fear into the hearts of men, not like Napoles did when he was in town.
Today's American West Coast Boxers just aren't as "Classic" as those I remember. I'm getting old.


-Rick Farris

Rick maybe you know there was a journeyman fighter who trained here in Vegas back in the 1980s Kevin Morgan I used to see him in the golden gloves gym here working out along with Bruce Curry AND Roger mayweather they talked about Kevins dad,do you think his dad is L.C Morgan

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Frankie Baltazar and L.C. Morgan's son, Kevin Morgan

[kikibalt]

Hammer, Kevin Morgan is here in L.A. training fighters

[THEHAMMER321]

Amir Khan in Los Angeles?

I read he is relocating to Los Angeles. I know Freddie Roach is training him.
I'll make it down to Wildcard Gym when I have a chance and check him out.

I won't hold Khan's KO loss to Prescott against him.
A guy can get bombed out early if caught cold. Hurricane Carter caught Emile Griffith in the first.

Los Angeles is no longer the fight town I remember.
There was a time when a guy like Kahn might not want to venture too deep into West Coast waters.
With 140 pounders such as L.C. Morgan, Adolph Pruitt, Paulie Armstead, etc. around during the day, a guy like Amir Khan might be a little uncomfortable.
Today I can't think of too many intimidating 140 pounders in L.A.

Timothy Bradley? Well, he doesn't exactly inspire fear into the hearts of men, not like Napoles did when he was in town.
Today's American West Coast Boxers just aren't as "Classic" as those I remember. I'm getting old.


-Rick Farris

Rick maybe you know there was a journeyman fighter who trained here in Vegas back in the 1980s Kevin Morgan I used to see him in the golden gloves gym here working out along with Bruce Curry AND Roger mayweather they talked about Kevins dad,do you think his dad is L.C Morgan

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Frankie Baltazar and L.C. Morgan's son, Kevin Morgan

thanx Frank so my hunch was right

[dagosd2000]

Amir Khan in Los Angeles?

I read he is relocating to Los Angeles. I know Freddie Roach is training him.
I'll make it down to Wildcard Gym when I have a chance and check him out.

I won't hold Khan's KO loss to Prescott against him.
A guy can get bombed out early if caught cold. Hurricane Carter caught Emile Griffith in the first.

Los Angeles is no longer the fight town I remember.
There was a time when a guy like Kahn might not want to venture too deep into West Coast waters.
With 140 pounders such as L.C. Morgan, Adolph Pruitt, Paulie Armstead, etc. around during the day, a guy like Amir Khan might be a little uncomfortable.
Today I can't think of too many intimidating 140 pounders in L.A.

Timothy Bradley? Well, he doesn't exactly inspire fear into the hearts of men, not like Napoles did when he was in town.
Today's American West Coast Boxers just aren't as "Classic" as those I remember. I'm getting old.


-Rick Farris

Rick maybe you know there was a journeyman fighter who trained here in Vegas back in the 1980s Kevin Morgan I used to see him in the golden gloves gym here working out along with Bruce Curry AND Roger mayweather they talked about Kevins dad,do you think his dad is L.C Morgan

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Frankie Baltazar and L.C. Morgan's son, Kevin Morgan

One of the things I have always been curious about is the life of L.C. Morgan. I can't think of an African American fighter who had such an extensive boxing career in Mexico. That includes the boxing histories of Henry Armstrong and Chalky Wright.If you look at Morgan's record,he fought in many of the small arenas in those far away towns in Mexico. Morgan was the fighter that opened up Jose Napoles's eye in Reynosa ,Mexico. One of these days I would like to talk to his son and discuss his Dad. A Black fighter from Mississippi who left his mark South Of The Border.

[THEHAMMER321]

Rick maybe you know there was a journeyman fighter who trained here in Vegas back in the 1980s Kevin Morgan I used to see him in the golden gloves gym here working out along with Bruce Curry AND Roger mayweather they talked about Kevins dad,do you think his dad is L.C Morgan

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Frankie Baltazar and L.C. Morgan's son, Kevin Morgan

thanx Frank so my hunch was right

I can remember those days like yesterday Jesse Burnett is another guy who I was freindly with at the golden gloves gym Jesse Reid who was training a lot of the guys at the time also showed me respect for a kid who just hung around there and wasn't a fighter

[Expug]

Rog, I have wondered that also about Morgan.
Im also reminded of the outstanding Chicago lightweight Freddie Dawson who had so many of his fights in Australia.
He even fought a couple times in French Polynesia.

I dunno where the hell French Polynesia is, but it sounds good about now.
Chicago in the twenties and teens. Snow, wind, fuggedaboddit.

[Rick Farris]

Amir Khan in Los Angeles?

I read he is relocating to Los Angeles. I know Freddie Roach is training him.
I'll make it down to Wildcard Gym when I have a chance and check him out.

I won't hold Khan's KO loss to Prescott against him.
A guy can get bombed out early if caught cold. Hurricane Carter caught Emile Griffith in the first.

Los Angeles is no longer the fight town I remember.
There was a time when a guy like Kahn might not want to venture too deep into West Coast waters.
With 140 pounders such as L.C. Morgan, Adolph Pruitt, Paulie Armstead, etc. around during the day, a guy like Amir Khan might be a little uncomfortable.
Today I can't think of too many intimidating 140 pounders in L.A.

Timothy Bradley? Well, he doesn't exactly inspire fear into the hearts of men, not like Napoles did when he was in town.
Today's American West Coast Boxers just aren't as "Classic" as those I remember. I'm getting old.


-Rick Farris

Rick maybe you know there was a journeyman fighter who trained here in Vegas back in the 1980s Kevin Morgan I used to see him in the golden gloves gym here working out along with Bruce Curry AND Roger mayweather they talked about Kevins dad,do you think his dad is L.C Morgan

Hammer . . . Kevin is L.C.'s son. In a previous post, you'll see a Junior Golden Gloves program from the 60's.
On one page it lists the fights for the evening and you'll see Kevin's name, along with mine, the Baltazar brothers, etc.
Frank knows Kevin Morgan.


-Rick Farris