Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

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.

Brian . . . Yes, I worked with Vince Vaughn on the "Wedding Crashers".
I was lighting pick-up shots for the feature, and Vince was cool, helped make for a fun production.
He's a big dude, 6'5" or something like that?

[Chuck1052]

I saw Jaime Nava fight Ruben Castillo at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood. Although putting on a less than stellar performance, Castillo won easily against a far inferior opponent.

During the early 1980s, both Jimmy Montoya and Blackie Ramon had large stables of inferior fighters who had alot of bouts against far superior opposition. As a result, the vast majority of Montoya's and Ramon's fighters lost an astounding number of bouts, often by stoppage in an early round. Whatever the merits of such fighters, they were in great demand. As a result, one should take many of the early 1980s fighters with terrific records in terms of wins and losses with a grain of salt.

- Chuck Johnston

[THEHAMMER321]

I saw Jaime Nava fight Ruben Castillo at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood. Although putting on a less than stellar performance, Castillo won easily against a far inferior opponent.

During the early 1980s, both Jimmy Montoya and Blackie Ramon had large stables of inferior fighters who had alot of bouts against far superior opposition. As a result, the vast majority of Montoya's and Ramon's fighters lost an astounding number of bouts, often by stoppage in an early round. Whatever the merits of such fighters, they were in great demand. As a result, one should take many of the early 1980s fighters with terrific records in terms of wins and losses with a grain of salt.

- Chuck Johnston

I am glad there is BOXREC.COM because before the internet you would see a 20-0 fighter and you would assume he was a good up and coming fighter when in actuality he never beat a fighter with a winning record,There is an old saying find me a 20-0 fighter I'll find you a 10-10 fighter who can beat him

[kikibalt]

I saw Jaime Nava fight Ruben Castillo at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood. Although putting on a less than stellar performance, Castillo won easily against a far inferior opponent.

During the early 1980s, both Jimmy Montoya and Blackie Ramon had large stables of inferior fighters who had alot of bouts against far superior opposition. As a result, the vast majority of Montoya's and Ramon's fighters lost an astounding number of bouts, often by stoppage in an early round. Whatever the merits of such fighters, they were in great demand. As a result, one should take many of the early 1980s fighters with terrific records in terms of wins and losses with a grain of salt.

- Chuck Johnston

Everybody want to fight a loser

Both Jimmy Montoya and Blackie Ramon used to drive meat wagons, what they were selling was in big demand, and that was losers. Through out the history of boxing, not only in the 1980's have loser's been in demand, that how manager's built a good prospect's record as he climbs up the ladder to a title shot. thats why fighters like Jaime Nava can get all the work they want, "everybody want to fight a loser". My boys fought their share of losers as all good prospects do, the thing is for the prospects to beat those losers, if they don't than they become "losers" too.

[kikibalt]

Danny Valdez once said to a fighter, "Don't tell how many fights and wins you have, tell me who you fought and I'll tell you what kind of fighter you are"

[dagosd2000]

Robert DeNiro as Jake LaMotta

[THEHAMMER321]

Danny Valdez once said to a fighter, "Don't tell how many fights and wins you have, tell me who you fought and I'll tell you what kind of fighter you are"

I think the biggest example of a padded record belongs to Lamar Clark who holds a very phony record in my opinion of most kos in a row he got every single one of those kos were against opponents right out of the fridge

[dagosd2000]

Speaking of a padded record.J.C.Chavez Jr. One of these days he thinks he's going to get in there with another "stiff" and the "stiif"is going to stiffen him.

[kikibalt]

Danny Valdez once said to a fighter, "Don't tell how many fights and wins you have, tell me who you fought and I'll tell you what kind of fighter you are"

I think the biggest example of a padded record belongs to Lamar Clark who holds a very phony record in my opinion of most kos in a row he got every single one of those kos were against opponents right out of the fridge

Lamar Clark shouldn't even be talk about in any boxing thread....

[kikibalt]

Speaking of a padded record.J.C.Chavez Jr. One of these days he thinks he's going to get in there with another "stiff" and the "stiif"is going to stiffen him.

You're right about JCC Jr. Roger...

[THEHAMMER321]

Danny Valdez once said to a fighter, "Don't tell how many fights and wins you have, tell me who you fought and I'll tell you what kind of fighter you are"

I think the biggest example of a padded record belongs to Lamar Clark who holds a very phony record in my opinion of most kos in a row he got every single one of those kos were against opponents right out of the fridge

Lamar Clark shouldn't even be talk about in any boxing thread....

Next time I will only talk about real fighters like Butterbean

[dagosd2000]

A TALK IN THE YARD

"I don't like the way they handle Ronnie,"he said leaning against the side panel of the truck.
I was talking to Ronnie Wilson's father in law in the yard in back of Juvenile Hall.My shift was over doing my teaching thing. On my way to my car I'd talk to Wilson's father in law. He was part of the maintainance crew.
"Who's Ronnie going to fight next?" I asked.
"Polo Corona."
"He's fought him before didn't he?"
"Three times before. He beat him all three times."
The old guy was sore. He was sore at Ronnie for his drinking. He was sore at Flaherty for the way he was handling his son in law. He was sore about working at Juvenile Hall having to pick up after the kids who made a habit of breaking things in their spare time.He was also sore that Ronnie and his daughter weren't getting along.
"Flaherty has him fighting too much. Why Ronnie was right back in their after Rouse broke his jaw."
"I remember that fight."
"Ronnie should have stopped after that. Flaherty should have told him to do something else for a living."
"When he lost against Mike Quarry,I thought Ronnie should have packed it in."
"You're right,but Flaherty has him fighting Polo Corona. You either move up ,but don't stay around fighting nobodies."
I know the old guy would work Ronnie's corner once in a while. I'd see him at the Coliseum with Flaherty and Danny Rodriguez.
"I had to get away from it. Ronnie getting busted up. His cuts wouldn't heal enough and they'd send him out there too soon and Ronnie would be bleeding all over the place. And I just couldn't take Sid and Danny. That life style turns me off."
The old guy reached inside the cab of the truck and grabbed a flashlight.
"Well,I've got to get back inside. One of the kids stuffed a towel down the toilet again."
"I'll probably see you tomorrow,"I said.
"I'll be here."
"When is Ronnie going to fight Corona?"
"I don't know,"said the old man as he turned on the flashlight."I don't want to have anything to do with it."

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORFo8JGHK50

Raging Bull(final monologue)

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0waNRaz6wU

On The Waterfront

Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger

[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.

Brian . . . Yes, I worked with Vince Vaughn on the "Wedding Crashers".
I was lighting pick-up shots for the feature, and Vince was cool, helped make for a fun production.
He's a big dude, 6'5" or something like that?

Rick, yep Vince is a sizeable guy.
Gotta be about 6-5. 250 or so.He is a big Blackhawk fan.Comes to alot of games. Last night he came to a Bulls game so I escorted him and his new bride around. She is very nice also. They are cool people.Fun to be around.
It had to be a good time working on Wedding crashers with Vince Rick.That movie was also very funny.

[Chuck1052]

I will say this about Jaime Nava.......he often went the distance in his bouts, giving his opponents some rounds.

- Chuck Johnston

[THEHAMMER321]

Blaine Dickson, Tony Baltazar, 1975-Miss San Gabriel Valley,
(forgot her name) and Arron Moura.
The boys're at LAX, on their way to Rapid City, South Dakota for the
1975 National AAU Jr. Olympic Ttournament.

Frank I remember Blaine Dickson well he fought many of his fights here in Vegas last I saw him was in the 1990s he got a job in one of the casinos,did you work with him in the amateurs

[bennie]

Thanks Hammer.

I really don't know too much about Geraldo other than the fact that he was willing. Anyone that was willing to step in the ring with Leonard, Hagler and Hearns deserves some credit. I don't think he had that great a chin and his record will attest to that, he was KO'ed 21 times. I see he knocked out Renato Garcia in 9 rounds. I mention that not because Garcia was great but because he has been the topic of discussion here in the past, primarily because he was a Main Street Gym regular. For the record, Garcia was a decent boxer.

Thomas Hearns vs. Marcos Geraldo - February, 1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqi2rUc29kg

I seen Geraldo beat Muniz live, the Muniz we all knew did not show up that night. Marco was tough, but not so tough that the top guys wouldn't fight him, they would because he was very beat-able....Good opponent

I saw Geraldo fight here in Chicago against Caveman Lee. He was riding a real crest having gone the distance against Hagler. Man, they made such a fuss here, what with the Mexican population here in Chicago. They brought in a mariachi band before the fight (in the ring) bedecked in all their splendor. The lead vocal was a dude who entered the ring in a walker. The mexican crowd was in a frenzy, only to see him get KO'd in the very 1st round. In fact, I counted 8 1st round KO's against him in his record. Was he a slow starter or was he just going in the tank? I always wondered how a guy who can go 10 rounds with Hagler, Leonard and Muniz fold up like a deck of cards in other bouts. And for the record, I agree with Frank, that was not the Muniz we knew in that bout. I would see these bouts about 3 months after they took place and recall seeing Muniz with a real spare tire around the midriff. He definitely didn't take Geraldo very seriously.

Scartissue

In the Hearns fight, Geraldo goes down for the count without even taking Tommy's final right hand. They showed it over here at the time and I remember scratching my head at the slow motion. The punch does not even connect.

[THEHAMMER321]

I seen Geraldo beat Muniz live, the Muniz we all knew did not show up that night. Marco was tough, but not so tough that the top guys wouldn't fight him, they would because he was very beat-able....Good opponent

I saw Geraldo fight here in Chicago against Caveman Lee. He was riding a real crest having gone the distance against Hagler. Man, they made such a fuss here, what with the Mexican population here in Chicago. They brought in a mariachi band before the fight (in the ring) bedecked in all their splendor. The lead vocal was a dude who entered the ring in a walker. The mexican crowd was in a frenzy, only to see him get KO'd in the very 1st round. In fact, I counted 8 1st round KO's against him in his record. Was he a slow starter or was he just going in the tank? I always wondered how a guy who can go 10 rounds with Hagler, Leonard and Muniz fold up like a deck of cards in other bouts. And for the record, I agree with Frank, that was not the Muniz we knew in that bout. I would see these bouts about 3 months after they took place and recall seeing Muniz with a real spare tire around the midriff. He definitely didn't take Geraldo very seriously.

Scartissue

In the Hearns fight, Geraldo goes down for the count without even taking Tommy's final right hand. They showed it over here at the time and I remember scratching my head at the slow motion. The punch does not even connect.

I REMEMBER what the people were saying about the Hearns fight and many say he took a dive

[bennie]

I saw Geraldo fight here in Chicago against Caveman Lee. He was riding a real crest having gone the distance against Hagler. Man, they made such a fuss here, what with the Mexican population here in Chicago. They brought in a mariachi band before the fight (in the ring) bedecked in all their splendor. The lead vocal was a dude who entered the ring in a walker. The mexican crowd was in a frenzy, only to see him get KO'd in the very 1st round. In fact, I counted 8 1st round KO's against him in his record. Was he a slow starter or was he just going in the tank? I always wondered how a guy who can go 10 rounds with Hagler, Leonard and Muniz fold up like a deck of cards in other bouts. And for the record, I agree with Frank, that was not the Muniz we knew in that bout. I would see these bouts about 3 months after they took place and recall seeing Muniz with a real spare tire around the midriff. He definitely didn't take Geraldo very seriously.

Scartissue

In the Hearns fight, Geraldo goes down for the count without even taking Tommy's final right hand. They showed it over here at the time and I remember scratching my head at the slow motion. The punch does not even connect.

I REMEMBER what the people were saying about the Hearns fight and many say he took a dive

Leonard talked about seeing 'three Geraldos' when they went 10 hard rounds, so it was bitterly disappointing to see the Mexican fold like a pack of cards against Hearns.

[THEHAMMER321]

Guys, meet my youngest son James

James looks like some athlete did he ever try boxing

[kikibalt]

Blaine Dickson, Tony Baltazar, 1975-Miss San Gabriel Valley,
(forgot her name) and Arron Moura.
The boys're at LAX, on their way to Rapid City, South Dakota for the
1975 National AAU Jr. Olympic Ttournament.

Frank I remember Blaine Dickson well he fought many of his fights here in Vegas last I saw him was in the 1990s he got a job in one of the casinos,did you work with him in the amateurs

Paulino....Blaine was my boxing partner, John Martinez, fighter from a young age, some how he lost him, I don't know the particular's

[THEHAMMER321]

Baby Arizmendi vs Henry Armstrong

Too bad HBO couldn't get this match, Armstrong vs. Arizmendi. Imagine, this same fight, only held in today's HBO ring, minus the usual HBO crew of Lampley, Merchant, Letterman, Buffer, etc.

From ringside Don Dunphy & Dick Enberg, and instead of the stale, "Let's get ready to rumble . . ." crap, we have a silver haired Jimmy Lennon Sr.'s, "All right fans, here we go . . .!"

Today's hi-def cams and inovative production techniques would show us so much more of how great these guys really were.

Only in my dreams . . .


-Rick Farris

Rick trying to catch up to you guys need another 900 pages to do so it is amazing everytime I read stuff you write it reminds me of the way I think one guy in particular who in my opinion from the first time I heard him back in the 1980s is a total phony is Michael Buffer to me he is so insincere as for Lampley they can keep him also,what I saw him say after Chris Arreola showed tremendous heart in losing to Klitchko shows me he has no class

[kikibalt]

Guys, meet my youngest son James

James looks like some athlete did he ever try boxing

Paulino…James was without a doubt the most gifted athlete of all our boys, he was an outstanding little leaguer, same in high school football and baseball.

Boxing? He was good, but he suffer a brain injury in 1994 (20 years old) while sparring one time, a blood clot, he had surgery, while in surgery he suffer a stroke and the doctors didn't think he was going to make it, after the surgery the doctor told my wife and I that James had a 20% chance of surviving, he did survive and after spending a month in the hospital, with therapy and the good care of his doctors James has made about a 90% recovery, he got married, that didn’t last, but he did get two beautiful daughters out of the marriage, he has a good job that he been on for over ten years.

James lives with us, goes to work comes home, about twice a week plus the weekends he picks his girls up to spent time with’em, all in all he is a good son and father.

[THEHAMMER321]

Guys, meet my youngest son James

James looks like some athlete did he ever try boxing

Paulino…James was without a doubt the most gifted athlete of all our boys, he was an outstanding little leaguer, same in high school football and baseball.

Boxing? He was good, but he suffer a brain injury in 1994 (20 years old) while sparring one time, a blood clot, he had surgery, while in surgery he suffer a stroke and the doctors didn't think he was going to make it, after the surgery the doctor told my wife and I that James had a 20% chance of surviving, he did survive and after spending a month in the hospital, with therapy and the good care of his doctors James has made about a 90% recovery, he got married, that didn’t last, but he did get two beautiful daughters out of the marriage, he has a good job that he been on for over ten years.

James lives with us, goes to work comes home, about twice a week plus the weekends he picks his girls up to spent time with’em, all in all he is a good son and father.

Very unfortunate things like that occur but glad to see he is ok my wife had a stroke at age 30 but she recovered pretty well except sometimes she get flustered when trying to explain things she is 44 now thank god she hasn't had another stroke