Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

As ‘little’ David Haye nears his inevitable showdowns with the ‘big’ Klitschkos, Vitali and Wladimir, the idiotic internet view of today’s heavyweights rears its ugly head again on seemingly every boxing forum, on seemingly every heavyweight thread. Filibusters tell you today’s heavyweights are better than yesterday’s because they are so much bigger - and so much bigger is surely so much better.
What are they saying!
Jack Dempsey dished out the worst beating in the entire history of boxing to a giant of a man who could fight by the name of Jess Willard (the gigantic Luis Firpo also has good cause to remember Dempsey); Haye, quick and hungry, if not as ferocious as Dempsey, toyed with the biggest and heaviest ‘world’ heavyweight champion of all time just two months ago; Chris Byrd, a stinking, non-punching southpaw beaten by Joe Calzaghe in the amateurs, made millions courtesy of a dire modern heavyweight scene and then dropped back down again - to middleweight. John L. Gardner, no bigger than Haye, refused to take a backward step and came desperately close to a shot at Muhammad Ali; Danny McAlinden knocked out Richard Dunn in one round, who did get a shot at Ali.
Some posters, on other forums, actually believe that because someone like Eric “Butterbean” Esch scales 300 pounds he must be better than Haye, Byrd, Gardner, McAlinden, Tommy Burns, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier and even Dempsey – smaller, lighter heavies - although they usually spare Mike Tyson in their ludicrous comparisons. “Butterbean”, coincidentally, was taken apart in under a round by a half-blind bloke from Walthamstow on these shores recently. (On that note, Dempsey flattened two would-be muggers at the age of 78).
At least old-school boxing men, who do know their boxing, know heavyweight boxing has sadly regressed through the decades. Size and strength fail to compensate for lack of technical skill or natural power amongst today’s big men. Ask yourself this, do the huge Klitschkos possess natural power, real ‘snap’ in their work, or do they just possess outstanding fitness as they poke away at fat, puffing barrels until those barrels run dry? Vitali certainly jabbed the life out of Sam Peter and Danny Williams before the corner, the doctor, did their respective jobs. Wladimir is probably more aggressive, more in the face of his opponents, but seemingly needs to drop men several times before his arm is raised. His power appears to be that of the ‘clumping’ variety.
Think of Primo Carnera.
However, Haye can naturally ‘crack’ as he showed when he dropped New York’s Monte Barrett five times on a heady night in London in November 2008 in his heavyweight debut, winning in the fifth round, and when he flattened French bull Jean-Marc Mormeck in Paris before that to wrest the undisputed world cruiserweight title. Moreover, Haye is the ideal size for a heavyweight at 6ft 3ins, in my opinion, the ideal weight at 215 pounds.
Think of Muhammad Ali.
The charismatic, self-assured, smart-talking Londoner poses the biggest threat to to Vitali since Lennox Lewis, another British fighter, stopped Klitschko on cuts back in 2003 - and Vitali is the better of the two brothers (and the braver, so he will fight Haye first). Like Haye, he seems a likeable fella’ but acted disgracefully when pulled out of the Lewis fight due to two horrendous cuts (caused by punches), jumping off his stool in a manner which petrified even his cutsman, the gentlemanly Joe Souza, as he tried to get at Lewis in front of a crowd of 16,000, only just held back by Wladimir, who probably prevented a riot.
Vitali was out of control, totally, and I believe his actions resulted in the millionaire Lewis, after making Klitschko wait and wait and wait (ha ha!), walking out of the sport, something which has bugged Vitali ever since. You reap what you sow, Vitali. (Souza, incidentally, agreed with the stoppage and said so to the press a day later, Klitschko firmly out of earshot.)
Nevertheless, Vitali’s boxing record of 39-2 (37) is excellent. He has lost only to Lewis and to that little man Byrd, on another injury stoppage, and while he comes off a terrible fight with Kevin “Queenpin” Johnson (a drab points win), he is better than he showed that night as he showed when he emerged from a retirement lasting FOUR years in 2008 to drub Nigeria’s Peter for the WBC heavyweight title. It were almost like he had never been away.
Once upon a boxing time, nobody could emerge from a hiatus of four years and waltz their way to a world title - nobody - but boxing foundations are horribly debunked, these days, with fighters winning world titles like dog treats, jumping up and down divisions like Georges Carpentier, switching promoters, managers and trainers like condoms, and pulling out of big fights at the last minute because they have locked themselves “in” (a famous excuse once uttered by Birmingham’s Lloyd Hibbert).
Man, the sport has changed!
Nevertheless, the still-improving Haye, nine years younger than Vitali at 29 and with a record of 23-1 (21), can bring back the days when fighters, heavyweight fighters, knew about balance, skill and power, about the kind of power sorely lacking in those lumbering arm-puncher Klitschkos, who make Frank Bruno look supple. Class always tells, not weight.
Haye is a different man from the one who punched himself out spectacularly against Bolton’s Carl Thompson at cruiserweight back in 2004 for his only setback. Haye still punches up from his toes but mixes up his heavy shots nowadays with jabs and sharp left hooks. He has a longer reach than one would imagine at 78 inches - just two inches shorter than the 6ft 7½ins Vitali’s. His right hand is thunderous.
Oh yes, he will reach Vitali all right, just as he reached the Jurassic Valuev - all seven foot of the Russian - although Vitali has never been down as a fighter (Birmingham’s Pele Reid once knocked him out with a kick, apparently). For me, this gives Haye a golden opportunity to make a real statement as he floors the WBC champion on the way to a stoppage, on the way to undisputed status in the heavyweight ranks (at last), on the way to superstardom.
First, he must defend the WBA heavyweight title he won from Valuev against America’s John Ruiz in Manchester on April 3. Pave the way, David, blow Ruiz away.

Cheers Bennie!

Bennie, what a great post! If you don't mind, I'd like to copy it an post it on a few other forums.
As far as David Haye is concerned, he need not win one more fight in his career and I will still respect him for eliminating the biggest of the big Eastern European bums. I fully expect him to do likewise to the dreadful K brothers.
He is not intimidated by size, and size alone is never enough to handle a decent fighter with balls.
We know that the K Bros, when in trouble, will quickly fly (or fall) south.
I hope David keeps his head on straight because he has what it takes to bring all of the titles back to Great Britain.
I don't think Haye is the best I've ever seen, but he certainly has the best chance of stripping the weak chinned, and faint hearted Lurch brothers of their place in boxing.

John Ruiz? A good tune-up, nothing more.
You know that Haye is going to play Hell getting either one of the "Weakheart" boys into the ring.
And when (or if) he does, the fight will surely be held in Germany (today's "Land of the Giants").
No problem with that, in fact, it might be a nice touch for Davey to execute Goliath on his home turf.

Today, America has nothing to offer the heavyweight division. We are simply spectators in the overall scope of heavyweight boxing. Sad, but true.


-Rick Farris

Help yourself, Rick. Thanks for the 'heads up'.

[THEHAMMER321]

Look alikes:

Jack Mosely - Judge Joe Brown

Act alikes Don King -''reverand'' Al Sharpton who is the bigger con man

[Rick Farris]

Look alikes:

Jack Mosely - Judge Joe Brown

Act alikes Don King -''reverand'' Al Sharpton who is the bigger con man

[Randyman]

Frank another guy who I remember well from the 1980s was Tommy Cordova from New Mexico he fought many times here in vegas I remember his fights with Freddie Roach,Rocky Garcia he was a limited guy but he was entertaining because he threw a million punches except the punches couldn't break an egg,last I heard he got in trouble with the law

I remember Tommy Cordova's fights with Rocky Garcia. Both of the fights were on ESPN, and if my memory serves me right, at least one of their fights was the ESPN fight of the year but I could be wrong. Tommy was a gutsy fighter that fought going forward and throwing a lot of punches. Hadn't thought about him in years. Next time I talk to my cousin Louie Burke I ask about Cordova.

Randy

[Randyman]

The feeling of East Los Angeles . . .

Perhaps I'm not the best person to write about East L.A. as I did not grow up there. My father grew up in Lincoln Heights.
I don't know every single barrio, and have never lived there. I've lived in Monterey Park, which is close, but not in ELA proper.
Randy and Frank know ELA, but as a guy who visited the area often as I grew up in boxing, I'll share my feelings.

East LA always felt warm to me, still does. I relate it to good people I met thru boxing. Strong family's in a trying time.
The streets were tough, but their was an honor. People watch out for their barrio, they keep an eye on things.
They protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors. All that makes news is a bad element, not the beautifully strong and proud that dominate the population of ELA. I've known both.

Here's a perfect example. In the 80's, we had a seriel killer/rapist named Richard Ramirez (not from ELA).
Ramirez had raped and killed his way thru the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. People were terrified and would run for dear life had they known the man might be nearby.
After assaulting a woman near East LA, he made the mistake of passing thru an ELA barrio and was spotted by a couple of the residents. The two men didn't go inside and call the police, they chased the killer down and kicked his ass, ELA style!
Then they called the police.

The gangs, the drive-bys, etc. make ELA a tough place, for sure. But strolling thru some of neighborhoods will take you back in time. There are beautiful Victorian era homes, some revitalized to their better days, most just faded relics of an era long gone by. There is graffiti, but also a beautiful art that is part of the ELA culture.

East LA isn't flat, it's rolling hills and valleys, and from many parts, such as City Terrace, a view of the downtown Los Angeles skyline is quite a site.

Frank,, maybe you or Randy can tell me about the area known as "the Flats". I've enjoyed learning of Montebello and Simons Brick Yard. These neighborhoods have been a breeding ground for boxing greatness, and some great LA people in general.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I was born in Boyle Heights, which is a part of east Los Angeles. I grew up for the most part in Pico Rivera but spent a lot of time in east L.A. and had lots of family and friends that lived there. Some still do. The Flats is not a barrio (chicanos pronounce it "varrio" that I am too familiar with. This site might have some good info for you.

http://laeastside.com/2008/06/random-fl ... the-flats/

Randy

[Rick Farris]

The feeling of East Los Angeles . . .

Perhaps I'm not the best person to write about East L.A. as I did not grow up there. My father grew up in Lincoln Heights.
I don't know every single barrio, and have never lived there. I've lived in Monterey Park, which is close, but not in ELA proper.
Randy and Frank know ELA, but as a guy who visited the area often as I grew up in boxing, I'll share my feelings.

East LA always felt warm to me, still does. I relate it to good people I met thru boxing. Strong family's in a trying time.
The streets were tough, but their was an honor. People watch out for their barrio, they keep an eye on things.
They protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors. All that makes news is a bad element, not the beautifully strong and proud that dominate the population of ELA. I've known both.

Here's a perfect example. In the 80's, we had a seriel killer/rapist named Richard Ramirez (not from ELA).
Ramirez had raped and killed his way thru the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. People were terrified and would run for dear life had they known the man might be nearby.
After assaulting a woman near East LA, he made the mistake of passing thru an ELA barrio and was spotted by a couple of the residents. The two men didn't go inside and call the police, they chased the killer down and kicked his ass, ELA style!
Then they called the police.

The gangs, the drive-bys, etc. make ELA a tough place, for sure. But strolling thru some of neighborhoods will take you back in time. There are beautiful Victorian era homes, some revitalized to their better days, most just faded relics of an era long gone by. There is graffiti, but also a beautiful art that is part of the ELA culture.

East LA isn't flat, it's rolling hills and valleys, and from many parts, such as City Terrace, a view of the downtown Los Angeles skyline is quite a site.

Frank,, maybe you or Randy can tell me about the area known as "the Flats". I've enjoyed learning of Montebello and Simons Brick Yard. These neighborhoods have been a breeding ground for boxing greatness, and some great LA people in general.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I was born in Boyle Heights, which is a part of east Los Angeles. I grew up for the most part in Pico Rivera but spent a lot of time in east L.A. and had lots of family and friends that lived there. Some still do. The Flats is not a barrio (chicanos pronounce it "varrio" that I am too familiar with. This site might have some good info for you.

http://laeastside.com/2008/06/random-fl ... the-flats/

Randy

Thanks, Randy.
Excellent tour thru the Flats. Now I know exactly where it's located. We used to shoot episodes of "The Shield" in that area.
The perfect answer to my question. Great ELA history.

[Randyman]

El Tepeyac, small, informal and always busy. (That's Jeri at the extreme left).

Speaking of East Los Angeles and the barrios. Jeri and I drove over to El Tepeyac, an east L.A. institution,otherwise known as Manuels. It's on Evergreen Street just north of Chavez Ave (formerly Brooklyn Ave), in Boyle Heights. There is always a line in front, especially at peak hours but the wait is worth it. East Los Angeles has changed over the years but it's still old East L.A. at Tepeyac. The owner, Manuel Rojas is a big part of the restaurant's success. He's a small man with a big personality. He opened the restaurant in the mid 50's. The place is known for it's burritos. The king of burritos here and anywhere else for that matter, is the Manuel's special. You will need pallbearers to carry it to the table and a pitchfork and shovel to eat it. The "smaller" burrito, the Hollenbeck, is still bigger than most other places. This is what I had on Saturday. Jeri had the chicken enchiladas.

Tepeyacs is very communal and informal and you will find yourself talking with someone sitting in next table. You will also find all kinds of people here, people from outside of east L.A, and sometime from out of state. Tepeyacs has been featured on several television shows, especially those showcasing large portions.


The Hollenbeck Burrito. The "little burrito" That large object protruding from the bottom of the photo is my stomach.

Bon Appetit
Randy

[Randyman]

The feeling of East Los Angeles . . .

Perhaps I'm not the best person to write about East L.A. as I did not grow up there. My father grew up in Lincoln Heights.
I don't know every single barrio, and have never lived there. I've lived in Monterey Park, which is close, but not in ELA proper.
Randy and Frank know ELA, but as a guy who visited the area often as I grew up in boxing, I'll share my feelings.

East LA always felt warm to me, still does. I relate it to good people I met thru boxing. Strong family's in a trying time.
The streets were tough, but their was an honor. People watch out for their barrio, they keep an eye on things.
They protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors. All that makes news is a bad element, not the beautifully strong and proud that dominate the population of ELA. I've known both.

Here's a perfect example. In the 80's, we had a seriel killer/rapist named Richard Ramirez (not from ELA).
Ramirez had raped and killed his way thru the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. People were terrified and would run for dear life had they known the man might be nearby.
After assaulting a woman near East LA, he made the mistake of passing thru an ELA barrio and was spotted by a couple of the residents. The two men didn't go inside and call the police, they chased the killer down and kicked his ass, ELA style!
Then they called the police.

The gangs, the drive-bys, etc. make ELA a tough place, for sure. But strolling thru some of neighborhoods will take you back in time. There are beautiful Victorian era homes, some revitalized to their better days, most just faded relics of an era long gone by. There is graffiti, but also a beautiful art that is part of the ELA culture.

East LA isn't flat, it's rolling hills and valleys, and from many parts, such as City Terrace, a view of the downtown Los Angeles skyline is quite a site.

Frank,, maybe you or Randy can tell me about the area known as "the Flats". I've enjoyed learning of Montebello and Simons Brick Yard. These neighborhoods have been a breeding ground for boxing greatness, and some great LA people in general.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I was born in Boyle Heights, which is a part of east Los Angeles. I grew up for the most part in Pico Rivera but spent a lot of time in east L.A. and had lots of family and friends that lived there. Some still do. The Flats is not a barrio (chicanos pronounce it "varrio" that I am too familiar with. This site might have some good info for you.

http://laeastside.com/2008/06/random-fl ... the-flats/

Randy

Thanks, Randy.
Excellent tour thru the Flats. Now I know exactly where it's located. We used to shoot episodes of "The Shield" in that area.
The perfect answer to my question. Great ELA history.

[kikibalt]

First St. Flats and than there was Fouth St. Flats

[Rick Farris]

El Tepeyac, small, informal and always busy. (That's Jeri at the extreme left).

Speaking of East Los Angeles and the barrios. Jeri and I drove over to El Tepeyac, an east L.A. institution,otherwise known as Manuels. It's on Evergreen Street just north of Chavez Ave (formerly Brooklyn Ave), in Boyle Heights. There is always a line in front, especially at peak hours but the wait is worth it. East Los Angeles has changed over the years but it's still old East L.A. at Tepeyac. The owner, Manuel Rojas is a big part of the restaurant's success. He's a small man with a big personality. He opened the restaurant in the mid 50's. The place is known for it's burritos. The king of burritos here and anywhere else for that matter, is the Manuel's special. You will need pallbearers to carry it to the table and a pitchfork and shovel to eat it. The "smaller" burrito, the Hollenbeck, is still bigger than most other places. This is what I had on Saturday. Jeri had the chicken enchiladas.

Tepeyacs is very communal and informal and you will find yourself talking with someone sitting in next table. You will also find all kinds of people here, people from outside of east L.A, and sometime from out of state. Tepeyacs has been featured on several television shows, especially those showcasing large portions.


The Hollenbeck Burrito. The "little burrito" That large object protruding from the bottom of the photo is my stomach.

Bon Appetit
Randy

I'm going. Seriously. I'll get there sometime this week.

Rick

[kikibalt]

Keeny Teran was from one of the Flats and Gil Cadilli was from the other one, I just don't remember who was from which one, but that where the cross-town rivalery came from.

[BoxBuzz]

When are they going to perfect the art of e-mailing food? Damn your description made me long for the days of great mexican food in Phoenix and L.A. I used to literally live at La Cucaracha's (not sure of spelling) on around 7th street and Thomas I think in Phoenix. Man it was addicting. My friends that food is the real deal. You can't find anything like that in New England. That was cruel of you to post that. Now I have to fly back there sometime soon and indulge myself in genuine mexican cuisine sometime soon.

There is no better food on god's earth.

[Rick Farris]

First St. Flats and than there was Fouth St. Flats

The last time we filmed The Shield in ELA, we were at Mexican Cafe on the northside of 1st. Street just east of Soto. Across the street from a sporting goods store that sold Reyes equipment. That night, we filmed down closer to the river, between bridges, in the 1st-to-4th St. area. Aliso Village. I remember that. Thanks guys for the info.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Keeny Teran was from one of the Flats and Gil Cadilli was from the other one, I just don't remember who was from which one, but that where the cross-town rivalery came from.

Thanks, Frank. I want to know this type info about the fighters. What part of ELA they are from?

[kikibalt]

Ever heard of White Fence? El Hoyo Soto?

El Hoyo was on the south/east corner of whittier Blvd and Soto St.

Not sure where White Fence really was

Happy Valley was on Third St. in Boyle Heights

[Randyman]

Keeny Teran was from one of the Flats and Gil Cadilli was from the other one, I just don't remember who was from which one, but that where the cross-town rivalery came from.

Thanks, Frank. I want to know this type info about the fighters. What part of ELA they are from?

Gil Cadilli lived across the street from my grandmother's house on Pecan Street.

[Randyman]

When are they going to perfect the art of e-mailing food? Damn your description made me long for the days of great mexican food in Phoenix and L.A. I used to literally live at La Cucaracha's (not sure of spelling) on around 7th street and Thomas I think in Phoenix. Man it was addicting. My friends that food is the real deal. You can't find anything like that in New England. That was cruel of you to post that. Now I have to fly back there sometime soon and indulge myself in genuine mexican cuisine sometime soon.

There is no better food on god's earth.

If I could email you some good Mexican food I would...Alas..

[Rick Farris]

2010 WBHOF Ballot additions . . .
-------------------------------------

Boxer Catagory:

Mike Tyson
Julio Cesar Chavez
Bennie Briscoe
Gil Turner
Ellsworth "Spider" Webb
Jesus "ChuCho" Castillo
Betulio Gonzalez

Expanded Catagory:

Joe Goossen (Trainer)
Jimmy Montoya (Trainer)
Murad Muhammad (Promoter)


Posthumous Catagory: (Automatic Induction)

Zora Folley
Bernard Docusen
Tiger Jack Fox

[Rick Farris]

Ever heard of White Fence? El Hoyo Soto?

El Hoyo was on the south/east corner of whittier Blvd and Soto St.

Not sure where White Fence really was

Happy Valley was on Third St. in Boyle Heights

[Randyman]

El Tepeyac, small, informal and always busy. (That's Jeri at the extreme left).

Speaking of East Los Angeles and the barrios. Jeri and I drove over to El Tepeyac, an east L.A. institution,otherwise known as Manuels. It's on Evergreen Street just north of Chavez Ave (formerly Brooklyn Ave), in Boyle Heights. There is always a line in front, especially at peak hours but the wait is worth it. East Los Angeles has changed over the years but it's still old East L.A. at Tepeyac. The owner, Manuel Rojas is a big part of the restaurant's success. He's a small man with a big personality. He opened the restaurant in the mid 50's. The place is known for it's burritos. The king of burritos here and anywhere else for that matter, is the Manuel's special. You will need pallbearers to carry it to the table and a pitchfork and shovel to eat it. The "smaller" burrito, the Hollenbeck, is still bigger than most other places. This is what I had on Saturday. Jeri had the chicken enchiladas.

Tepeyacs is very communal and informal and you will find yourself talking with someone sitting in next table. You will also find all kinds of people here, people from outside of east L.A, and sometime from out of state. Tepeyacs has been featured on several television shows, especially those showcasing large portions.


The Hollenbeck Burrito. The "little burrito" That large object protruding from the bottom of the photo is my stomach.

Bon Appetit
Randy

I'm going. Seriously. I'll get there sometime this week.

Rick

Rick, the owners name is Manuel "Manny" Rojas. There is a panting on the wall with Manny in his cooking clothes and a white apron. he is in a boxing pose. There is also a tee shirt on the wall with him in a similar pose. I can't remember exactly what the caption on the tee shirt said bit It went something like "125 pound so of pure.... I can't remember the rest. I'm guessing he was a fighter. He left before I had the chance to ask him. I looked in boxrec but couldn't find a featherweight with that name. Maybe he fought amateur. You might want to ask him. If anyone can give you info on east L.A. it would probably be him. His home is in the back of the restaurant and he opened the restaurant in the mid 50's, so he has been there at least that long but more than likely, his whole life. You'll enjoy talking to him. He's one of those characters that are slowly disappearing from the scene.

Randy

Address and map:
http://local.yahoo.com/info-20407917-el ... os-angeles

[Rick Farris]

El Tepeyac, small, informal and always busy. (That's Jeri at the extreme left).

Speaking of East Los Angeles and the barrios. Jeri and I drove over to El Tepeyac, an east L.A. institution,otherwise known as Manuels. It's on Evergreen Street just north of Chavez Ave (formerly Brooklyn Ave), in Boyle Heights. There is always a line in front, especially at peak hours but the wait is worth it. East Los Angeles has changed over the years but it's still old East L.A. at Tepeyac. The owner, Manuel Rojas is a big part of the restaurant's success. He's a small man with a big personality. He opened the restaurant in the mid 50's. The place is known for it's burritos. The king of burritos here and anywhere else for that matter, is the Manuel's special. You will need pallbearers to carry it to the table and a pitchfork and shovel to eat it. The "smaller" burrito, the Hollenbeck, is still bigger than most other places. This is what I had on Saturday. Jeri had the chicken enchiladas.

Tepeyacs is very communal and informal and you will find yourself talking with someone sitting in next table. You will also find all kinds of people here, people from outside of east L.A, and sometime from out of state. Tepeyacs has been featured on several television shows, especially those showcasing large portions.


The Hollenbeck Burrito. The "little burrito" That large object protruding from the bottom of the photo is my stomach.

Bon Appetit
Randy

I'm going. Seriously. I'll get there sometime this week.

Rick

Rick, the owners name is Manuel "Manny" Rojas. There is a panting on the wall with Manny in his cooking clothes and a white apron. he is in a boxing pose. There is also a tee shirt on the wall with him in a similar pose. I can't remember exactly what the caption on the tee shirt said bit It went something like "125 pound so of pure.... I can't remember the rest. I'm guessing he was a fighter. He left before I had the chance to ask him. I looked in boxrec but couldn't find a featherweight with that name. Maybe he fought amateur. You might want to ask him. If anyone can give you info on east L.A. it would probably be him. His home is in the back of the restaurant and he opened the restaurant in the mid 50's, so he has been there at least that long but more than likely, his whole life. You'll enjoy talking to him. He's one of those characters that are slowly disappearing from the scene.

Randy

Address and map:
http://local.yahoo.com/info-20407917-el ... os-angeles

Randy,
I'll definitly try to talk with him. Might require several visits.
Thanks for the map.

[dagosd2000]

I'm going. Seriously. I'll get there sometime this week.

Rick

Rick, the owners name is Manuel "Manny" Rojas. There is a panting on the wall with Manny in his cooking clothes and a white apron. he is in a boxing pose. There is also a tee shirt on the wall with him in a similar pose. I can't remember exactly what the caption on the tee shirt said bit It went something like "125 pound so of pure.... I can't remember the rest. I'm guessing he was a fighter. He left before I had the chance to ask him. I looked in boxrec but couldn't find a featherweight with that name. Maybe he fought amateur. You might want to ask him. If anyone can give you info on east L.A. it would probably be him. His home is in the back of the restaurant and he opened the restaurant in the mid 50's, so he has been there at least that long but more than likely, his whole life. You'll enjoy talking to him. He's one of those characters that are slowly disappearing from the scene.

Randy

Address and map:
http://local.yahoo.com/info-20407917-el ... os-angeles

Randy,
I'll definitly try to talk with him. Might require several visits.
Thanks for the map.

That restaurant looks damn good. If the owner lives in the back that's a good sign. Same in the dago neighborhood. If the owner and his wife live upstairs or in the back it's like a part of their home. They'll take pride. It's funny. A tourist will come to LA. and want to find good Mexican food. He'll read a Fedor's tourist magazine and they'll tell him to go to some fancy joint out in Newport Beach. He'll pay through the ass and get a stomach full of thawed out gringo tamales on a plate that was put in a blast furnace. He'll go back home to Iowa and show movies to his relatives and give them a lecture of what authentic Mexican food is like.

[dagosd2000]

THE ORANGE TREE

After the war my father worked under Frankie LaPorte who worked under Sam Giancana who took his orders from the head of the Outfit,Tony Acccardo. My father's job was to collect for the Outfit. Technically,my father worked for the Illinois State Liquor Commission who worked under Frankie LaPorte who worked under so on and so forth. The Outfit and the Daly Machine had a nice thing going after the war. It was like in that Goodfellas movies. Made men were everywhere and J Edgar went after the Commies.

My father like I said was a collector. Working for the state liquor commission aka. Outfit,he had a circuit that led off in Cicero shaking down the bars so they could cut their booze and keep the fallen flowers on their bar stools. Then he'd go the South Side of the City and shake down the juke joints so they could have reefer madness in bathrooms.My father would then end his journey in Calumet City, along the Indiana line,and pocket a chunk of change from the slot machines in the backrooms of those Archie Bunker type bars.Those parts of town were pretty rough. Ward and June Cleaver ,you could bet,didn't live there. But my father was a Marine in those big battyles and so the Outfit thought he could deal with pimps and loan sharks.

The Outfit guys cut my dad into a pretty good piece of the action. So good that my father had to be reminded by my mother to once in a while cash his state checks. My dad would be out at Washington Park bettng on all the races that were fixed,eating prime rib dinners in the Persian Room,and even had box deats at the Chicago Opera House. At the ball games he was either on the 50 yard line or behind homeplate at Wrigley Field. At the fights he'd sit behind the press corps. Since the Outfit controlled the arenas and the Commision, a bet was a sure thing. It must have been the glory days.

Then came Bobby Kennedy. They tried to make a big score in Vegas and things got complicated. Vegas was too far away and people started getting greedy.Then J Edgar died and the mobs' protector was gone. Big money was to be made in drugs,but the old Chicago guys didn't want to mess with it. Besides,it was something they never felt comfortable with.

My father came out to the west coast in the mid 50's. There was very little out here compared to what was going on in Chicago. The LA. and San Diego cops hated Italians and were going to make sure they were never going to run anything big. Besides,the west coast was too far away from Chicago.Vegas had gambling.That meant millions to be had. California had millions of oranges.

But looking back,it was a good move that my dad came out here. All those guys he ran around with in the Windy City wound up with slugs in the back of their heads. My dad died of natural causes in the house.

The thing was though, my dad always lamented for those golden days of Chicago after the war. There was never the kind of action out here that there was back there. But he did have an orange tree planted in the back yard.

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Antonio Margarito hopes to fight in March

Ex-welterweight champion could face Carson Jones in the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey undercard in Dallas after serving a suspension for a year for breaking a rule.



Antonio Margarito is eligible Thursday for a boxing license in the U.S. after he and his trainer had their licenses revoked for a year by the California State Athletic Commission. (Will Hart / HBO)

By Lance Pugmire

February 11, 2010

Forgiving and forgetting helps sustain boxing.

Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito hopes that idea holds true now that he has applied for a boxing license for a comeback in Texas. Promoter Bob Arum has scheduled Margarito to fight Carson Jones on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey main event at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on March 13.

Thursday is the first day Margarito, 31, is eligible for a boxing license in the U.S. after he and his trainer had their licenses revoked for a year by the California State Athletic Commission for having illegal plaster-like substances inside Margarito's hand wraps before his title defense last year against Shane Mosley.

"That was a black eye for boxing, it really hurt all of us," said Nazim Richardson, Mosley's trainer, who pointed out to California inspectors Margarito's hand wraps before the January 2009 bout at Staples Center. Officials confiscated the plaster, Margarito's hands were re-wrapped, then he was knocked out by Mosley.

"If they let [Margarito] back now, trying to slip those things into the ring was worth the gamble," Richardson said.

Margarito, with a record of 37-6 and 27 knockouts, is a popular Mexican fighter and his promoter already has big plans for him.

Arum told The Times recently that Margarito is free to regain his license because he has served his disciplinary period.

"If [Margarito] looks good on the Texas card, a major match at the same stadium later would be Pacquiao-Margarito," Arum said. "We've received no assurances from Texas, but we hope there's no reason to deny him the license."

At a state hearing last year, Margarito said he only held his hands up to be wrapped before the Mosley fight, with no intention to cheat. His trainer, Javier Capetillo, testified that the hardened inserts must have been tossed inside his gym training bag by accident and were unintentionally placed inside Margarito's wraps.

Skepticism reigned about the explanation.

Once Margarito was suspended, federal boxing bylaws prevented him from fighting in other states for a year. Now, Margarito's comeback is prompting considerable talk within boxing circles.

Karen Chappelle, the supervising deputy attorney general in California who argued to have Margarito suspended, said "our position" is that California must first reinstate Margarito before he can fight in Texas.

But two weeks ago, the Assn. of Boxing Commissions (ABC), a national body that interprets rules for state commissions, said Texas can make its own decision on Margarito's license. But ABC's board of directors urge in a letter to Texas officials "that Mr. Margarito should not be licensed at this time due to the seriousness of the violations."

Daniel Petrocelli, Margarito's attorney, disagrees.

"The most severe discipline possible is revocation for one year, so now that the year is up, he's reapplying," Petrocelli said. "Aside from this incident, Antonio has been an exemplary boxing citizen. He did not . . . even know of these gauze inserts. He was disciplined for hiring this trainer who broke the rules. Antonio has accepted his punishment."

Margarito has fired Capetillo, Petrocelli said

Timothy Lueckenhoff, president of ABC, said in an e-mail that he expects Margarito to get licensed in Texas.

"Every state is looking at ways to increase revenues," Lueckenhoff wrote. "This fight will be a huge draw and millions of dollars will be placed in the economy in Texas. Again it is unfortunate that it may come to this, but there are some real heavy hitters who are backing this fight."

Margarito declined to comment.

A Texas spokeswoman said Margarito's license application is under review, with a decision likely this month.

Mosley is training for his bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 1. He believes Margarito deserves to fight again.

"The trainer is the one who should be suspended for life," Mosley said. "He's the one who put that stuff in there."

Richardson isn't so sure.

"[Margarito] hurt all of us in the boxing fraternity with that nonsense, like when [Mike] Tyson bit off [Evander] Holyfield's ear," Richardson said.

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Keeny Teran was from one of the Flats and Gil Cadilli was from the other one, I just don't remember who was from which one, but that where the cross-town rivalery came from.

Thanks, Frank. I want to know this type info about the fighters. What part of ELA they are from?

Gil Cadilli lived across the street from my grandmother's house on Pecan Street.

On the Gil Cadilli dvd that I have, the house that he grew up in is shown, and also guys showing their "Los Flats" tattoos on their arms.