Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

Christ, is everyone poorly! I have been unwell (and still am) for several days, hence my sporadic appearances. Health is everything.

[THEHAMMER321]

Good morning all CAWCB regulars I wish everyone back to wellness so we can get back to posting

[Randyman]

Billie Holiday(Lady Day)

Billie Holiday - Fine and Mellow (1957)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tNSp7MaADM

The caption on the Youtube side panel reads:

Reunited after many years with tenor saxophonist Lester Young, Billie's visual reaction to his moving solo remains as eloquent as anything she ever sang; a touching finale to their historic musical partnership. Introduced by Robert Herridge (producer/host of CBS' "The Sound of Jazz"), this is perhaps the single most famous "live jazz" performance in TV history. Other members of the all-star band seen here: Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan, Roy Eldridge, Doc Cheatham, Vic Dickenson, Danny Barker, Milt Hinton, Mal Waldron..."We shall not see their likes again."


It's nine minutes long but well worth the watch.

Amazing Rog!

[Rick Farris]

ONE FOR MY BABY

If I had a nickel for all the broads that have passed through the ropes with all the fighters who laced on the gloves,I'd make Rockefeller look like a homeless guy standing on the corner with a sign. Maybe I ain't the expert ,but I'm sure if you asked the typical gal of conjuring up a fantasy of who she'd like to go a few rounds with,the champ or the President...well Monica Lewinsky might have been thinking she got sloppy seconds if she ever saw a fighter going toe to toe in the center of the ring.

I've seen women literally make all the clinches with fighters. There ain't a ref alive who could seperate them. In most cases the fighters never wanted the interference anyhow.

In the old days they said sex before a fight took away a fighters legs. With some of those boys sex took away more than their pins.Penicillin was the best medicine ever invented for those gloved combatants.

Redd Foxx had an old line if he didn't like you.
"I hope your daughter marries a jazz musician."
Well Redd could just have substituted "jazz musician" for "fighter."

Whether the pug had a "clean" image and behaved himself in front of the public like a Louis or a Marciano. Or had a chip on his shoulder like Ali or Pretty Boy,their testosterone driven libidos devoured their estrogen laden counterparts like sharks in a feeding frenzy.If those boys ate food like they ate below those gals' belt lines,they would have never made weight.

After it was over. After those boys couldn't raise a glove no more. After they threw in the sponge and put on their pants for the last time,they could consider themselves the luckiest ex pugs in the world if they still had the wives in their corners.

So like Sinatra sang it in that song.
"Set 'em up Joe.I got a story you should know..."
I know Frank.It's one for your baby.

Rog, you call'em broads, Mel Epstein called'em f*cken b*tches but the idea was the same. Women can and have ruined a boxer's career. it's true, and as much as I hate to go against Mel's philosophy on the dames (he hated all of them), the truth is it's the wrong kind of woman that can ruin a fighters career. The right one can push you to succeed, ask Marvin Johnson he'll tell you.

Boxing is rife with stories about the wrong kind of woman but if you look closer at some fighters you'll find a certain weakness. With some it's women, with others it booze, drugs or gambling and still with others it's all of the above. The wrong kind of broad senses that and goes in for the kill, or is that too cynical?

Funny thing about Mel, Rick probably remembers this, Mel kept an old photo of his mother in his bedroom. The photo was probably around late 1890's or early 1900's. It was old. He spoke of her reverently as if she were a saint. No other woman ever measured up. The rest of them were f*cken b*tches.

"This is a man's world" by James Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_M2tp-ZHnM

Nice writing Rog!
Randy

Mel's mother . . .

Ditto, Rog. Great post.
And yes, Randy, I remember that photo. I'm sure Mel told you that his mother had once been an opera singer.
He said that she taught him a trick, how to breathe. Mel called it "sistolic breathing" or something like that?
He said singers take in oxygen not just to the lungs, but deep into the stomach, which allows them to hold a note longer.
He would then have me practice this breathing to increase my wind and endurance. You know, I think it worked.
How ironic you mention Mel's mother, as just last week I thought about how he told of her teaching him this breathing exercise.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Billie Holiday(Lady Day)

Billie Holiday - Fine and Mellow (1957)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tNSp7MaADM

The caption on the Youtube side panel reads:

Reunited after many years with tenor saxophonist Lester Young, Billie's visual reaction to his moving solo remains as eloquent as anything she ever sang; a touching finale to their historic musical partnership. Introduced by Robert Herridge (producer/host of CBS' "The Sound of Jazz"), this is perhaps the single most famous "live jazz" performance in TV history. Other members of the all-star band seen here: Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan, Roy Eldridge, Doc Cheatham, Vic Dickenson, Danny Barker, Milt Hinton, Mal Waldron..."We shall not see their likes again."


It's nine minutes long but well worth the watch.

Amazing Rog!

Randy
Thanks for putting that up there. I think she died the following year or two later. Lester Young ,she was especially fond of. He lived a terrible life. Was drafted into the Army and was broken. Words really can't describe that music. Too bad they can't put that video in the dictionary under the definition of the blues.

[dagosd2000]

ONE FOR MY BABY

If I had a nickel for all the broads that have passed through the ropes with all the fighters who laced on the gloves,I'd make Rockefeller look like a homeless guy standing on the corner with a sign. Maybe I ain't the expert ,but I'm sure if you asked the typical gal of conjuring up a fantasy of who she'd like to go a few rounds with,the champ or the President...well Monica Lewinsky might have been thinking she got sloppy seconds if she ever saw a fighter going toe to toe in the center of the ring.

I've seen women literally make all the clinches with fighters. There ain't a ref alive who could seperate them. In most cases the fighters never wanted the interference anyhow.

In the old days they said sex before a fight took away a fighters legs. With some of those boys sex took away more than their pins.Penicillin was the best medicine ever invented for those gloved combatants.

Redd Foxx had an old line if he didn't like you.
"I hope your daughter marries a jazz musician."
Well Redd could just have substituted "jazz musician" for "fighter."

Whether the pug had a "clean" image and behaved himself in front of the public like a Louis or a Marciano. Or had a chip on his shoulder like Ali or Pretty Boy,their testosterone driven libidos devoured their estrogen laden counterparts like sharks in a feeding frenzy.If those boys ate food like they ate below those gals' belt lines,they would have never made weight.

After it was over. After those boys couldn't raise a glove no more. After they threw in the sponge and put on their pants for the last time,they could consider themselves the luckiest ex pugs in the world if they still had the wives in their corners.

So like Sinatra sang it in that song.
"Set 'em up Joe.I got a story you should know..."
I know Frank.It's one for your baby.

Rog, you call'em broads, Mel Epstein called'em f*cken b*tches but the idea was the same. Women can and have ruined a boxer's career. it's true, and as much as I hate to go against Mel's philosophy on the dames (he hated all of them), the truth is it's the wrong kind of woman that can ruin a fighters career. The right one can push you to succeed, ask Marvin Johnson he'll tell you.

Boxing is rife with stories about the wrong kind of woman but if you look closer at some fighters you'll find a certain weakness. With some it's women, with others it booze, drugs or gambling and still with others it's all of the above. The wrong kind of broad senses that and goes in for the kill, or is that too cynical?

Funny thing about Mel, Rick probably remembers this, Mel kept an old photo of his mother in his bedroom. The photo was probably around late 1890's or early 1900's. It was old. He spoke of her reverently as if she were a saint. No other woman ever measured up. The rest of them were f*cken b*tches.

"This is a man's world" by James Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_M2tp-ZHnM

Nice writing Rog!
Randy

Mel's mother . . .

Ditto, Rog. Great post.
And yes, Randy, I remember that photo. I'm sure Mel told you that his mother had once been an opera singer.
He said that she taught him a trick, how to breathe. Mel called it "sistolic breathing" or something like that?
He said singers take in oxygen not just to the lungs, but deep into the stomach, which allows them to hold a note longer.
He would then have me practice this breathing to increase my wind and endurance. You know, I think it worked.
How ironic you mention Mel's mother, as just last week I thought about how he told of her teaching him this breathing exercise.


-Rick Farris

Rick
That's an interesting story about the breathing,and it's true. You look at a guy like the great alto player Charlie Parker. He used that type of breathing when he played. With all the drugs,cigarettes,booze,and lack of exercise,he could sustain a breath better than anyone. Yep,opera singers need to develop that also.

Hey Rick. How would you like to have taught Frankie Crawford opera?

[dagosd2000]

I was telling you guys I just broke a head cold. Three days like my head wanted to bust open. I'm downing Alka Sltzer Plus like M an M's. I'm so loaded on anti histimines,I feel like hitch hiking to Haight Ashbury. Today I'm over the head cold,but feel weak and tired.

Maria came down with the same thing last night. She made herself some homemade vegetable soup with her chiles. Right now she's doing the laundry. She said she feels fine.

I bet there aren't any doctors out there that can prescribe her homemade vegetable soup for what ails you.

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOyZEAcoumM

High Hopes

Frank Sinatra(this is for all the West Coast Boxing posters that feel a little under the weather)

[dagosd2000]

Preventative Medicine:Maria'a homemade vegetable soup. Should have went with this three days ago when I started to feel lousy.

[Rick Farris]

Rog, you call'em broads, Mel Epstein called'em f*cken b*tches but the idea was the same. Women can and have ruined a boxer's career. it's true, and as much as I hate to go against Mel's philosophy on the dames (he hated all of them), the truth is it's the wrong kind of woman that can ruin a fighters career. The right one can push you to succeed, ask Marvin Johnson he'll tell you.

Boxing is rife with stories about the wrong kind of woman but if you look closer at some fighters you'll find a certain weakness. With some it's women, with others it booze, drugs or gambling and still with others it's all of the above. The wrong kind of broad senses that and goes in for the kill, or is that too cynical?

Funny thing about Mel, Rick probably remembers this, Mel kept an old photo of his mother in his bedroom. The photo was probably around late 1890's or early 1900's. It was old. He spoke of her reverently as if she were a saint. No other woman ever measured up. The rest of them were f*cken b*tches.

"This is a man's world" by James Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_M2tp-ZHnM

Nice writing Rog!
Randy

Mel's mother . . .

Ditto, Rog. Great post.
And yes, Randy, I remember that photo. I'm sure Mel told you that his mother had once been an opera singer.
He said that she taught him a trick, how to breathe. Mel called it "sistolic breathing" or something like that?
He said singers take in oxygen not just to the lungs, but deep into the stomach, which allows them to hold a note longer.
He would then have me practice this breathing to increase my wind and endurance. You know, I think it worked.
How ironic you mention Mel's mother, as just last week I thought about how he told of her teaching him this breathing exercise.


-Rick Farris

Rick
That's an interesting story about the breathing,and it's true. You look at a guy like the great alto player Charlie Parker. He used that type of breathing when he played. With all the drugs,cigarettes,booze,and lack of exercise,he could sustain a breath better than anyone. Yep,opera singers need to develop that also.

Hey Rick. How would you like to have taught Frankie Crawford opera?

Well Rog. How would you like to have taught Gil King to paint?

[kikibalt]

Mel's mother . . .

Ditto, Rog. Great post.
And yes, Randy, I remember that photo. I'm sure Mel told you that his mother had once been an opera singer.
He said that she taught him a trick, how to breathe. Mel called it "sistolic breathing" or something like that?
He said singers take in oxygen not just to the lungs, but deep into the stomach, which allows them to hold a note longer.
He would then have me practice this breathing to increase my wind and endurance. You know, I think it worked.
How ironic you mention Mel's mother, as just last week I thought about how he told of her teaching him this breathing exercise.


-Rick Farris

Rick
That's an interesting story about the breathing,and it's true. You look at a guy like the great alto player Charlie Parker. He used that type of breathing when he played. With all the drugs,cigarettes,booze,and lack of exercise,he could sustain a breath better than anyone. Yep,opera singers need to develop that also.

Hey Rick. How would you like to have taught Frankie Crawford opera?

Well Rog. How would you like to have taught Gil King to paint?

Gil "I was robbed" King....LOL!

[Rick Farris]

Rick
That's an interesting story about the breathing,and it's true. You look at a guy like the great alto player Charlie Parker. He used that type of breathing when he played. With all the drugs,cigarettes,booze,and lack of exercise,he could sustain a breath better than anyone. Yep,opera singers need to develop that also.

Hey Rick. How would you like to have taught Frankie Crawford opera?

Well Rog. How would you like to have taught Gil King to paint?

Gil "I was robbed" King....LOL!

[dagosd2000]

I WAS ROBBED

"So Burke,did you hear that Jose Torres passed away?"
I went over to Burke's bar to break the news to him about Torres,who Burke had fought in 1958 in Madison Square Garden.
"Really?"
Burke was sitting in front of that dart machine pitching darts at the bull's eye. His mark was away from the center.I never saw him hit a bull's eye while I was talking to him.
"I thought I'd pass that along to you,"I said trying to evoke more of a response.
Burke didn't look over at me. He continued throwing the darts.

I remember as a kid watching Burke fight Torres on TV.Burke was stopped in 5 rounds. I didn't know Burke then. Torres was on his way up.Undefeated.He was Puerto Rican and at the time was to become the most popular fighter in the biggest fight town in the world.There were a load of Puerto Ricans filling New York and they had their baby,Jose Torres.

Burke ran out of darts and turned his head at me. None of the darts were close to the center.
"Did you know I fought Chick Calderwood in Scotland?"
"Yes,I knew you had fought him."
Burke put a smirk on his face.
"That Scotch referee stopped that fight because my eye was cut."
I waited for him to go on.
"Imagine stopping the fight in the 2nd round because my eye was cut?"
I didn't know how to respond.
"If that fight hadn't been in his back yard that wouldn't have happened."
"I guess not."
I looked at the old fighter's face. Both his eyelids were hanging down. They were marked up with cut lines. I know Burke didn't like anyone talking about his scars.
"I was robbed in Scotland."
"Sure Burke. They robbed you."

Burke got up off his stool and grabbed up the darts he had just tossed at the board.
"Rog,you going to enter the tournament tonight?",asked Burke smiling.
"I don't think so Burke. I'm not very good."
"But it's a lot of fun,"he said.
"Maybe next time. I just wanted to stop by and tell you about Jose Torres."
Burke didn't say anything. He began pitching the darts again at the bull's eye. When I got up to leave I don't think he noticed.

[THEHAMMER321]

Rog you find me a fighter that didn't say he got robbed in a fight I'll wake you up in you're dreams

[Rick Farris]

Rog you find me a fighter that didn't say he got robbed in a fight I'll wake you up in you're dreams

Hammer . . . You're 100% right, however, Gil takes it to another level.
Just ask Scartissue, Rog, Randy. King says he was robbed when Mando Muniz flattened him.

[dagosd2000]

Rog you find me a fighter that didn't say he got robbed in a fight I'll wake you up in you're dreams

Paul
Sometimes I hear it the other way. Not often,but sometimes a fighter will not look for an excuse.
Example:When Curtis Cokes lost for the second time against Napoles,he was quoted.
"Yes Napoles is a very good fighter...a heck of a better fighter than Curtis Cokes."

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlpZ5-bw_GI


Mantequilla Napoles /Curtis Cokes

Paul,here is an example of those Mexican TV broadcasts from the 60's.

[Rick Farris]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlpZ5-bw_GI


Mantequilla Napoles /Curtis Cokes

Paul,here is an example of those Mexican TV broadcasts from the 60's.

Defining the Art . . .

Gracias, Rog. I always enjoy looking back at the best of Napoles.
I didn't see that one live, neither did his future nemisis Mando Muniz. We were both down your way for an amateur tourney.
But a few years later, Mando and the great Mantequilla would both define themselves in two great fights.
I'm not telling you anything new, but watching that smooth Cuban dominate the ring defines the art.

-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlpZ5-bw_GI


Mantequilla Napoles /Curtis Cokes

Paul,here is an example of those Mexican TV broadcasts from the 60's.

Defining the Art . . .

Gracias, Rog. I always enjoy looking back at the best of Napoles.
I didn't see that one live, neither did his future nemisis Mando Muniz. We were both down your way for an amateur tourney.
But a few years later, Mando and the great Mantequilla would both define themselves in two great fights.
I'm not telling you anything new, but watching that smooth Cuban dominate the ring defines the art.

-Rick Farris

Rick
The first time I saw Napoles fight live was in TJ at the Auditorio against a journeyman fighter,Herbie Lee.Jose came in under 140 pounds. I found out later he couldn't get a fight with Carlos Ortiz nor Laguna. He almost gave up fighting. Parnassus came to his rescue,but Jose had to move up with the weight. He should have gotten a shot at the light weight title somewhere in the mid 60's. I think he would have even been even more dominating because he would have been younger. Oh well. He was one hell of a fighter. What amazed me was the way he positioned his feet. He never wasted a shot because his feet were always in position to get full leverage on his shots. Joe louis was like that. Guys who didn't run with their punches.

[Randyman]

Jeri and I just came back from La Luna Negra, A Spanish restaurant in old Pasadena. Today is our anniversary and I wanted something a little different. It was one of the best restaurants I have been to in a while. It was a little on the pricey side but well worth the money. The portions are better than average and the service was right on the mark. We didn't have to ask for anything. They were keeping their eyes on us, without intruding on us.


Paella Valeciana with seafood, chicken and Spanish chorizo.


Paella con Pollo, Paella with chicken, smothered in vegetables.

I ordered the Paella Valeciana and Jeri ordered the Paella con Pollo. Both were outstanding. They also brought a Tapenade - which is more French than Spanish- with some good bread and because it is a Spanish restaurant we ordered some Tapas as well.

There is also Flamenco dancing in the evening but we left before it started. This was our first time there so were weren't quite sure what to expect. Next time we go we'll make sure to catch the show. You can tell La Luna Negra is a popular eating spot. As we were leaving the crowd was just coming in.



http://www.lalunanegrarestaurant.com/

[Rick Farris]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlpZ5-bw_GI


Mantequilla Napoles /Curtis Cokes

Paul,here is an example of those Mexican TV broadcasts from the 60's.

Defining the Art . . .

Gracias, Rog. I always enjoy looking back at the best of Napoles.
I didn't see that one live, neither did his future nemisis Mando Muniz. We were both down your way for an amateur tourney.
But a few years later, Mando and the great Mantequilla would both define themselves in two great fights.
I'm not telling you anything new, but watching that smooth Cuban dominate the ring defines the art.

-Rick Farris

Rick
The first time I saw Napoles fight live was in TJ at the Auditorio against a journeyman fighter,Herbie Lee.Jose came in under 140 pounds. I found out later he couldn't get a fight with Carlos Ortiz nor Laguna. He almost gave up fighting. Parnassus came to his rescue,but Jose had to move up with the weight. He should have gotten a shot at the light weight title somewhere in the mid 60's. I think he would have even been even more dominating because he would have been younger. Oh well. He was one hell of a fighter. What amazed me was the way he positioned his feet. He never wasted a shot because his feet were always in position to get full leverage on his shots. Joe louis was like that. Guys who didn't run with their punches.

You won't get lucky twice . . .

Rog, Johnny Flores was the man to introduce me to Napoles, not personally, but thru his words. Johnny would say, "He's a blown up lightweight fighting at 140-147 just to stay busy." He was destroying everything in sight. There was a brilliant Mexican lightweight who was never a world champ, Alfredo Urbina. Urbina got the best of Mantequilla during his early days in Mexico, but like anybody who dare give Napoles a rematch, was destroyed. Look what Jose did to guys like Morgan, Backus, Urbina, Muniz, Lewis, etc. etc.

You may get lucky once, if you are truly good and the champ is on a drunk. But it's a guarantee that if you got lucky once, you'd pay a painful price in the rematch. Ernie Lopez found out, so did Lewis and Muniz. I knew these guys, they all agree, Napoles was the best.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Defining the Art . . .

Gracias, Rog. I always enjoy looking back at the best of Napoles.
I didn't see that one live, neither did his future nemisis Mando Muniz. We were both down your way for an amateur tourney.
But a few years later, Mando and the great Mantequilla would both define themselves in two great fights.
I'm not telling you anything new, but watching that smooth Cuban dominate the ring defines the art.

-Rick Farris

Rick
The first time I saw Napoles fight live was in TJ at the Auditorio against a journeyman fighter,Herbie Lee.Jose came in under 140 pounds. I found out later he couldn't get a fight with Carlos Ortiz nor Laguna. He almost gave up fighting. Parnassus came to his rescue,but Jose had to move up with the weight. He should have gotten a shot at the light weight title somewhere in the mid 60's. I think he would have even been even more dominating because he would have been younger. Oh well. He was one hell of a fighter. What amazed me was the way he positioned his feet. He never wasted a shot because his feet were always in position to get full leverage on his shots. Joe louis was like that. Guys who didn't run with their punches.

You won't get lucky twice . . .

Rog, Johnny Flores was the man to introduce me to Napoles, not personally, but thru his words. Johnny would say, "He's a blown up lightweight fighting at 140-147 just to stay busy." He was destroying everything in sight. There was a brilliant Mexican lightweight who was never a world champ, Alfredo Urbina. Urbina got the best of Mantequilla during his early days in Mexico, but like anybody who dare give Napoles a rematch, was destroyed. Look what Jose did to guys like Morgan, Backus, Urbina, Muniz, Lewis, etc. etc.

You may get lucky once, if you are truly good and the champ is on a drunk. But it's a guarantee that if you got lucky once, you'd pay a painful price in the rematch. Ernie Lopez found out, so did Lewis and Muniz. I knew these guys, they all agree, Napoles was the best.


-Rick Farris

A la Joe Louis.....

[dagosd2000]

Jeri and I just came back from La Luna Negra, A Spanish restaurant in old Pasadena. Today is our anniversary and I wanted something a little different. It was one of the best restaurants I have been to in a while. It was a little on the pricey side but well worth the money. The portions are better than average and the service was right on the mark. We didn't have to ask for anything. They were keeping their eyes on us, without intruding on us.


Paella Valeciana with seafood, chicken and Spanish chorizo.


Paella con Pollo, Paella with chicken, smothered in vegetables.

I ordered the Paella Valeciana and Jeri ordered the Paella con Pollo. Both were outstanding. They also brought a Tapenade - which is more French than Spanish- with some good bread and because it is a Spanish restaurant we ordered some Tapas as well.

There is also Flamenco dancing in the evening but we left before it started. This was our first time there so were weren't quite sure what to expect. Next time we go we'll make sure to catch the show. You can tell La Luna Negra is a popular eating spot. As we were leaving the crowd was just coming in.



http://www.lalunanegrarestaurant.com/

Randy and Jeri
Happy anniversary. Sounds like you had a great time. Felicidades!Rog

[bennie]

Paul Palomino, brother of Carlos Palomino was also on the flight with Junior Roble and Byron Lindsay, all three will be inducted, posthumous, into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on June 26 2010.

2 streets named for coach, boxer

By David Berlin
February 21, 2008

NATIONAL CITY – After decades of red tape zoning loopholes and a little finesse two streets this week were named this week after for National City boxing coach Yrenio "Junior" Robles and boxer Byron Lindsay who died in a plane crash in Poland 28 years ago.

National City Councilman Luis Natividad and consultant Augie Baréño, longtime friends of Robles, spearheaded the effort.

“A street is forever,” Baréño said. “It's a symbol. Junior and Byron gave their all to the community and their legacy lives on forever.”

Robles and Lindsay were part of a U.S. amateur boxing team that was traveling to Poland for bouts with the Polish team. Their plane, with 87 people aboard, crashed on March 14, 1980, as it approached Warsaw's Okecie airport. All 87 people aboard, including the 14 boxers and eight officials of the U.S. team, were killed.

Tuesday, Robles' and Lindsay's families and friends, National City Mayor Ron Morrison and other city officials and dignitaries gathered at the new Pacific Scene Homes housing development near Rachael Avenue and Blueridge Street in National City to unveil the new signs.

“This is a blessing,” said Lindsay's mother, Venoria Lindsay, when the street signs reading Junior Robles Road and Byron Lindsay Way were revealed. The honor was long overdue, said Baréño, 60.

“Every time we had a new city councilman we brought up the idea,” he said. “We've probably had 10 of them in the last 30 years and each one would try and then get turned down.”

Almost everyone in attendance had a story about Robles and Lindsay.

“Everybody knew Junior,” said Natividad, 65. In addition to being a professional boxer, Robles founded or was involved in many athletic events in South County during the 1970s.

“The only running in the barrio used to be gangs running from police,” Natividad joked. “Then Robles founded the Barrio Run (which went across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge), and all of a sudden, people from all over San Diego were coming just to run in the race.”

Robles and Natividad founded a Sunday softball league in which gang members and police officers played each other. Robles frequently visited high school principals, rounding up troubled students to bring to boxing gyms, Baréño said.

“He used the gyms to get kids out of trouble and put their energy into more positive things,” Natividad said.

David Soliven, a district attorney investigator, was one of those youths.

“I was about 12 at the time and I could have gone either way, towards a gang or the good side. Junior introduced me to boxing and I got so into it and that was it,” Soliven said. “Junior used to make us breakfast and drive us to school. He was really like a second father.”

Lindsay might have been Robles' greatest protege, but Robles never told him how great he was going to be, Natividad said.

“He would only concentrate on the next fight,” he said.

“Lindsay was the real symbol for all the youth,” Baréño added. “Kids can still look at the success Lindsay had as a boxer and look up to that.”

A photo of Robles and Lindsay hangs prominently at the Community Youth Athletic Center on National City Boulevard, watching over a new generation of boxing students.

Baréño said Robles was the first person to convince high schools to open up their gyms to the community.

“Nobody would say no to him,” he said. “People responded to Junior. He had a way of capturing all the existing energy of the community back then.”

“Everyone knew who he was,” Natividad said. “So if you were acting up, you saw him and nobody would do anything if Junior was there.”

But Natividad said he hated to be around Robles when he was boxing.

“He was so focused he didn't pay any attention to me,” he said. “We went out and had all this fun, but when he started boxing he was so serious.”

The deaths of Robles and Lindsay were a tremendous loss for the community, Natividad said.

“I remember seeing it on TV and I sat down in the kitchen with my wife and we just cried. It was very tough,” he said. “Doing this will hopefully make things right.”

This is a wonderful honour.

[Expug]

Happy anniversary Randy and Jeri!
Frank, I hope you are feeling better.
Bennie, good to hear from you.
Rick, have you ever worked with Vince Vaughn? Great guy, I have met and talked to him a few times lately.
Hes a fun guy, real down to earth.

Been real busy gents, but now Im getting a little break so I will be talking to my pals here more.