Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Born In East L.A.

Frank, Randy, I'm going to need your help here. I'm going to name a few fighters that were either born or grew up in East Los Angeles.
I know of more, but these are what come to mind quickly. Who else?
I want to name every ELA boxer who fought pro that we can think of, even prelim fighters. I want to dig deep.


Gil Cadilli
Keeny Teran
Danny Valdez
The Pimentel brothers (Jesus/Jose)
Ruben Navarro
Mando Ramos (born ELA, raised Long Beach)
Oscar De La Hoya
Paul Gonzalez

(I could add the Baltazar brothers? Fought out of Eastside B.C. as kids/La Puente is East of LA, but not ELA?)

[kikibalt]

How far back do you want to go Rick?, I can take you back to the late '40's

[Randyman]

Born In East L.A.

Frank, Randy, I'm going to need your help here. I'm going to name a few fighters that were either born or grew up in East Los Angeles.
I know of more, but these are what come to mind quickly. Who else?
I want to name every ELA boxer who fought pro that we can think of, even prelim fighters. I want to dig deep.


Gil Cadilli
Keeny Teran
Danny Valdez
The Pimentel brothers (Jesus/Jose)
Ruben Navarro
Mando Ramos (born ELA, raised Long Beach)
Oscar De La Hoya
Paul Gonzalez

(I could add the Baltazar brothers? Fought out of Eastside B.C. as kids/La Puente is East of LA, but not ELA?)

It's funny how a simple question like that can make your mind go blank.

Sergio Mora
The Gonzalez brothers, Zefferino and Chris - Zeffie fought Duran in 1978. Duran won the fight of course but Zeffie was still standing at the end of the 15th. This is when Duran was still Duran. I sparred a few times with Chris. We had a fight scheduled on the under card of Lopez v Hafey that was cancelled at the last minute. Zeffie and Chris were actually from Pico Rivera. I knew Zeffie from school. We hung around with the same crowd.

Brothers Herman and John Montes

Randy

[Rick Farris]

Born In East L.A.

Frank, Randy, I'm going to need your help here. I'm going to name a few fighters that were either born or grew up in East Los Angeles.
I know of more, but these are what come to mind quickly. Who else?
I want to name every ELA boxer who fought pro that we can think of, even prelim fighters. I want to dig deep.


Gil Cadilli
Keeny Teran
Danny Valdez
The Pimentel brothers (Jesus/Jose)
Ruben Navarro
Mando Ramos (born ELA, raised Long Beach)
Oscar De La Hoya
Paul Gonzalez

(I could add the Baltazar brothers? Fought out of Eastside B.C. as kids/La Puente is East of LA, but not ELA?)

It's funny how a simple question like that can make your mind go blank.

Sergio Mora
The Gonzalez brothers, Zefferino and Chris - Zeffie fought Duran in 1978. Duran won the fight of course but Zeffie was still standing at the end of the 15th. This is when Duran was still Duran. I sparred a few times with Chris. We had a fight scheduled on the under card of Lopez v Hafey that was cancelled at the last minute. Zeffie and Chris were actually from Pico Rivera. I knew Zeffie from school. We hung around with the same crowd.

Brothers Herman and John Montes

Randy

Thanks, Randy! Interesting that you were scheduled to fight Chris Gonzalez on the undercard of Lopez-Hafey. I was in the house that night. I remember that Bazooka Limon made his US debut that night, KOing one my opponents Ruben Coria on the undercard.

[Rick Farris]

How far back do you want to go Rick?, I can take you back to the late '40's

Frank . . . 40's would be perfect! It's 40's to 90's, about a half century that I'm targeting.

I'm attempting to conceive an ELA story. One that covers the best that ELA produced. I don't want to ignore or eliminate the newer guys just because they came after the era and fighters I know best. However, it's the fighters who are the "Heart & Soul" of ELA's impact on boxing during the past century, the guys we discuss here, whom I wish to capture. It's the one's who are gone, like Teran & Cadilli, that I want to reveal while we still have experts here to share their story. I would bet my home that there is not one boxing historian or "expert" that can equal Frank's knowledge & experience of ELA boxers. More to be revealed, and if we're lucky, captured and preserved in boxing history.

[Chuck1052]

Rick, the housing in Colonia is quite a bit better now than it was ten or twenty years ago. Much of the housing in the area has been remodelled. Moreover, there is quite a bit of new housing which was built north of Colonia.

In regards to the housing built for farmworkers in agricultural areas of Ventura County during the first half of the Twentieth Century, much of it was located in the vicinity of Santa Paula and Fillmore, expecially on the Limoneira and Sespe Ranches. Limoneira is still in business.

- Chuck Johnston

[Expug]

Randy, I remember Zeffie Gonzalez' fight with Duran.It was on national tv on a weekend eve.
I thought Zeffie gave Manos de piedra a real good go. That was a very close fight I thought.
I watched it with a gal I was dating at the time named Zoe. Good memories.

[kikibalt]

Police: boxer Edwin Valero kills self in jail

By FABIOLA SANCHEZ, Associated Press Writer Fabiola Sanchez, Associated Press Writer –
CARACAS, Venezuela – Former boxing champ Edwin Valero committed suicide in his jail cell on Monday just hours after he was arrested in his wife's killing, police said.

The former lightweight champion used his own clothes to hang himself in his cell early Monday, Venezuelan Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores told reporters. He said Valero tied his clothes to a cell bar to hang himself.

He said Valero was found by another inmate, who alerted authorities in the police lockup in north-central Carabobo state. Valero still showed signs of life, but they were unable to save him, Flores said.

The 28-year-old was detained Sunday on suspicion of killing his wife, the gravest in a string of problems that had threatened to derail his career. Prosecutors said Sunday night that they had planned to charge Valero after they found the body of his 24-year-old wife in a hotel in Valencia.

The boxer left the hotel room around dawn Sunday and allegedly told security he had killed Jennifer Viera, Flores said.

The fighter was a household name in Venezuela and had a huge image of President Hugo Chavez tattooed on his chest, along with the country's yellow, blue and red flag.

His all-action style and 27-0 record — all by knockouts — earned him a reputation as a tough, explosive crowd-pleaser. Venezuelans called him "Inca," alluding to an Indian warrior, while elsewhere he was called "Dinamita," or dynamite.

The former WBA super featherweight and WBC lightweight champion had been in trouble with the law before.

Last month, Valero was charged with harassing his wife and threatening medical personnel who treated her at a hospital in the western city of Merida. Police arrested Valero following an argument with a doctor and nurse at the hospital, where his wife was being treated for a series of injuries, including a punctured lung and broken ribs.

The Attorney General's Office said in a statement that Valero was detained March 25 on suspicion of assaulting his wife, but his wife told a police officer her injuries were due to a fall. When the boxer arrived moments later, he forbade Viera from speaking to the police officer, and spoke threateningly to the officer, prosecutors said in a statement.

The Attorney General's Office said a prosecutor had asked a court to order Valero jailed but that the judge instead placed him under a restraining order that barred him from going near his wife, a condition he repeatedly violated.

____

Associated Press Writer Jorge Rueda contributed to this report.

[raylawpc]

Congarts to Sergio Martinez for making Kelly Pavlik look like a bum in the park.
I only watched the first half of the fight. If Pavlik did anything better in the later rounds, it wasn't enough to retain his title.

Rick, I watched the fight. Pavlik did better after you turned off the TV. I thought he won the sixth, seventh and eighth rounds. However, in the 9th round he sustained a cut over his right eye and his corner couldn't control the bleeding. He said in the post fight interview that he couldn't see after that and maybe he couldn't, because he sure looked bad in the last three rounds.

Pavlik's biggest problem was that his so-called "cut man" apparently had never heard of q-tip swabs. He tried to close Pavlik's cuts using a rolled-up piece of gauze. Who knows what he put on that gauze - but I can't imagine trying to apply adrenalin chloride that way and applying the pressure you need deep in the cut to stop the bleeding. As my youngest son would say: Unfrekkinbelievable. It kind of reminded me of Tyson's fight against Buster Douglas when Tyson's corner tried to stop his eye from swelling by applying a water balloon. Pavlik might have lot anyway, but the incompetence of his cutman sure didn't help his cause.

[raylawpc]

How far back do you want to go Rick?, I can take you back to the late '40's

Jim Jeffries wasn't born in East LA, but he had a home there for a time when he was champion. Now, whether the East LA of the 1900s is the same as the current East LA is another question . . .

[raylawpc]

Frank, I sure have enjoyed reading your brickyard stories! Thanks for positng those memories.

[Rick Farris]

How far back do you want to go Rick?, I can take you back to the late '40's

Jim Jeffries wasn't born in East LA, but he had a home there for a time when he was champion. Now, whether the East LA of the 1900s is the same as the current East LA is another question . . .

Tom . . . I know that Jeffries parent's home (which he bought for them) was located on Mount Washington, which is near ELA, I think closer to Lincoln Heights, which is north-east LA. I believe the home was on the market just a couple years ago. I'd like to get the address and take a photo of the place for the thread. My father lived in Lincoln Heights as a boy, and attended Lincoln High School beore quitting to join the Navy when WW2 broke out. Speaking of Jeffries, you have provided alot of great info here on the former world champ. Growing up in Burbank with a grandfather who would see the former champ around town, I would hear stories from old timers about things that Jeffries did relating to his barn, the weekly boxing matches, and how it served as a gym. The city of Burbank should have some sort of recognition of this legendary athlete. To my knowledge, Jeff's barn (which had a "historical" designation and forbidden from being razed) has been torn down and is no longer at Knott's Berry Farm?

[kikibalt]

Frank, I sure have enjoyed reading your brickyard stories! Thanks for positng those memories.

Thanks Tom, it was fun going down memory lane, still have a couple more to do, but I have to get back to work on the CBHOF stuff for now. Than I also want to put a list of fighters that fought out of ELA/Boyle Heights, not necessarily born there but who fought out of there.

[Rick Farris]

Congarts to Sergio Martinez for making Kelly Pavlik look like a bum in the park.
I only watched the first half of the fight. If Pavlik did anything better in the later rounds, it wasn't enough to retain his title.

Rick, I watched the fight. Pavlik did better after you turned off the TV. I thought he won the sixth, seventh and eighth rounds. However, in the 9th round he sustained a cut over his right eye and his corner couldn't control the bleeding. He said in the post fight interview that he couldn't see after that and maybe he couldn't, because he sure looked bad in the last three rounds.

Pavlik's biggest problem was that his so-called "cut man" apparently had never heard of q-tip swabs. He tried to close Pavlik's cuts using a rolled-up piece of gauze. Who knows what he put on that gauze - but I can't imagine trying to apply adrenalin chloride that way and applying the pressure you need deep in the cut to stop the bleeding. As my youngest son would say: Unfrekkinbelievable. It kind of reminded me of Tyson's fight against Buster Douglas when Tyson's corner tried to stop his eye from swelling by applying a water balloon. Pavlik might have lot anyway, but the incompetence of his cutman sure didn't help his cause.

Tom . . . I watched the entire fight which was replayed again last night and agree Pavlik did better in the later rounds. I am amazed how many boxers involved in high profile fights with millions of dollars involved enter the ring with inexperienced cornermen & trainers. Look at the guy Chris Arreola has training him, and Miguel Cotto? These guys have a dozen cornermen and none can patch a cut. In the old days, one guy did everything, just needed somebody to handle the water bottle and stool.

[raylawpc]

How far back do you want to go Rick?, I can take you back to the late '40's

Jim Jeffries wasn't born in East LA, but he had a home there for a time when he was champion. Now, whether the East LA of the 1900s is the same as the current East LA is another question . . .

Tom . . . I know that Jeffries parent's home (which he bought for them) was located on Mount Washington, which is near ELA, I think closer to Lincoln Heights, which is north-east LA. I believe the home was on the market just a couple years ago. I'd like to get the address and take a photo of the place for the thread. My father lived in Lincoln Heights as a boy, and attended Lincoln High School beore quitting to join the Navy when WW2 broke out. Speaking of Jeffries, you have provided alot of great info here on the former world champ. Growing up in Burbank with a grandfather who would see the former champ around town, I would hear stories from old timers about things that Jeffries did relating to his barn, the weekly boxing matches, and how it served as a gym. The city of Burbank should have some sort of recognition of this legendary athlete. To my knowledge, Jeff's barn (which had a "historical" designation and forbidden from being razed) has been torn down and is no longer at Knott's Berry Farm?

This was a different place. He bought it as an adult for himself. The old Jeffries homestead owned by his parents was torn down decades ago. Jeffries did not buy his parent's home for them - his father was wealthy, and the home he owned was built by him after the family moved to LA from Ohio when Jeff was 8 or nine years old. His father's home was a beautiful Victorian structure - two or three stories high. I used to have a digital photo of it, but I'll be darned if I can find it now. I'll look again this evening, and I'll post it if I can find it.

Burbank used to have a plaque in the sidewalk in front of Jeff's home. It was installed to commemorate his birthday in 1950. It is not there anymore.

Here is the plaque:

[Rick Farris]

The Baltazar Boys corner . . .

I know for a fact that Frank could handle any fighter's corner on his own. However, when his boys reached the pros he brought in the best to assist. When Frankie Jr. and Tony entered the ring, Frank was joined by guys like Johnny Flores or Jackie McCoy. In my opinion, there could not be a stronger corner than what Frank provided for his boys. I consider Jackie McCoy one of the greatest trainers ever, and having Johnny Flores in my corner always gave me an edge. When Suey Welch and Mel Epstein were in my corner, despite their experience, it wasn't as good. Flores wrapped my hands better than anybody, even Eddie Futch (who wrapped my hands for one fight as a favor to Mel) didn't wrap my hands better than Johnny. Flores also had this great cut medicine (although I never cut in a fight when handled by Johnny). Johnny's formula came from a surgeon who performed stomach surgeries, and would stop the blood flow in a few seconds.

[Rick Farris]

Jim Jeffries wasn't born in East LA, but he had a home there for a time when he was champion. Now, whether the East LA of the 1900s is the same as the current East LA is another question . . .

Tom . . . I know that Jeffries parent's home (which he bought for them) was located on Mount Washington, which is near ELA, I think closer to Lincoln Heights, which is north-east LA. I believe the home was on the market just a couple years ago. I'd like to get the address and take a photo of the place for the thread. My father lived in Lincoln Heights as a boy, and attended Lincoln High School beore quitting to join the Navy when WW2 broke out. Speaking of Jeffries, you have provided alot of great info here on the former world champ. Growing up in Burbank with a grandfather who would see the former champ around town, I would hear stories from old timers about things that Jeffries did relating to his barn, the weekly boxing matches, and how it served as a gym. The city of Burbank should have some sort of recognition of this legendary athlete. To my knowledge, Jeff's barn (which had a "historical" designation and forbidden from being razed) has been torn down and is no longer at Knott's Berry Farm?

This was a different place. He bought it as an adult for himself. The old Jeffries homestead owned by his parents was torn down decades ago. Jeffries did not buy his parent's home for them - his father was wealthy, and the home he owned was built by him after the family moved to LA from Ohio when Jeff was 8 or nine years old. His father's home was a beautiful Victorian structure - two or three stories high. I used to have a digital photo of it, but I'll be darned if I can find it now. I'll look again this evening, and I'll post it if I can find it.

Burbank used to have a plaque in the sidewalk in front of Jeff's home. It was installed to commemorate his birthday in 1950. It is not there anymore.

Here is the plaque:

Thanks, Tom This is one piece of history I need to know accuratly. I appreciate your clarifying the facts for me. Wouldn't it be great to have that plaque? It should be set in the side walk on the S/W corner of Buena Vista & Victory Blvd. The corner of the parcel where is barn had stood. And as you pointed out, his house was located across the street on the S/W corner. You mention Jeff's parents wealth. Another heavyweight of that era, maybe a few years later was Tom Kennedy, whose parents were also wealthy. I won't go into Kennedy's story right now, but he would become the Hollywood Legion Stadium's first promoter. I know the Kennedy family very well. Tom's grandson and I broke into the film industry together and have been friends since the 70's. Tom Kennedy passed away in 1965.

[Expug]

Congarts to Sergio Martinez for making Kelly Pavlik look like a bum in the park.
I only watched the first half of the fight. If Pavlik did anything better in the later rounds, it wasn't enough to retain his title.

Rick, I watched the fight. Pavlik did better after you turned off the TV. I thought he won the sixth, seventh and eighth rounds. However, in the 9th round he sustained a cut over his right eye and his corner couldn't control the bleeding. He said in the post fight interview that he couldn't see after that and maybe he couldn't, because he sure looked bad in the last three rounds.

Pavlik's biggest problem was that his so-called "cut man" apparently had never heard of q-tip swabs. He tried to close Pavlik's cuts using a rolled-up piece of gauze. Who knows what he put on that gauze - but I can't imagine trying to apply adrenalin chloride that way and applying the pressure you need deep in the cut to stop the bleeding. As my youngest son would say: Unfrekkinbelievable. It kind of reminded me of Tyson's fight against Buster Douglas when Tyson's corner tried to stop his eye from swelling by applying a water balloon. Pavlik might have lot anyway, but the incompetence of his cutman sure didn't help his cause.

Tom . . . I watched the entire fight which was replayed again last night and agree Pavlik did better in the later rounds. I am amazed how many boxers involved in high profile fights with millions of dollars involved enter the ring with inexperienced cornermen & trainers. Look at the guy Chris Arreola has training him, and Miguel Cotto? These guys have a dozen cornermen and none can patch a cut. In the old days, one guy did everything, just needed somebody to handle the water bottle and stool.

Yep, no question, Moe, Larry and Curley have been working corners in the last couple decades or so.
Tom, I will never forget The Three Stooges working Tysons corner vs Douglas. Applying what looked like a prophalatyc full of ice water to The Heavyweight Champs eye.
"Hey man, you got the endswel?"Nah man,I forgot,hey, I got a freakin Trojan in my wallet. This will work. Take it over to the drinking fountain and fill that thing up."
Stoonads.

[raylawpc]

Rick, I watched the fight. Pavlik did better after you turned off the TV. I thought he won the sixth, seventh and eighth rounds. However, in the 9th round he sustained a cut over his right eye and his corner couldn't control the bleeding. He said in the post fight interview that he couldn't see after that and maybe he couldn't, because he sure looked bad in the last three rounds.

Pavlik's biggest problem was that his so-called "cut man" apparently had never heard of q-tip swabs. He tried to close Pavlik's cuts using a rolled-up piece of gauze. Who knows what he put on that gauze - but I can't imagine trying to apply adrenalin chloride that way and applying the pressure you need deep in the cut to stop the bleeding. As my youngest son would say: Unfrekkinbelievable. It kind of reminded me of Tyson's fight against Buster Douglas when Tyson's corner tried to stop his eye from swelling by applying a water balloon. Pavlik might have lot anyway, but the incompetence of his cutman sure didn't help his cause.

Tom . . . I watched the entire fight which was replayed again last night and agree Pavlik did better in the later rounds. I am amazed how many boxers involved in high profile fights with millions of dollars involved enter the ring with inexperienced cornermen & trainers. Look at the guy Chris Arreola has training him, and Miguel Cotto? These guys have a dozen cornermen and none can patch a cut. In the old days, one guy did everything, just needed somebody to handle the water bottle and stool.

Yep, no question, Moe, Larry and Curley have been working corners in the last couple decades or so.
Tom, I will never forget The Three Stooges working Tysons corner vs Douglas. Applying what looked like a prophalatyc full of ice water to The Heavyweight Champs eye.
"Hey man, you got the endswel?"Nah man,I forgot,hey, I got a freakin Trojan in my wallet. This will work. Take it over to the drinking fountain and fill that thing up."
Stoonads.

[kikibalt]

Born In East L.A.

Frank, Randy, I'm going to need your help here. I'm going to name a few fighters that were either born or grew up in East Los Angeles.
I know of more, but these are what come to mind quickly. Who else?
I want to name every ELA boxer who fought pro that we can think of, even prelim fighters. I want to dig deep.


Gil Cadilli
Keeny Teran
Danny Valdez
The Pimentel brothers (Jesus/Jose)
Ruben Navarro
Mando Ramos (born ELA, raised Long Beach)
Oscar De La Hoya
Paul Gonzalez

(I could add the Baltazar brothers? Fought out of Eastside B.C. as kids/La Puente is East of LA, but not ELA?)

Rick, here a is a list of some of the fighters that I remember fighting out of East LA and Boyle Heights as pros. some were just prelim fighters, other were main eventers, I don't include guys like my boys who fought out of La Puente or the Montes's who were from Montebello or the Gonzalez's who as Randy said were from Pico-Rivera.
There are many, many more that fought out of that area.

Manny Madrid

Freddie "Babe" Herman

Art Aragon

Davey Gallardo

Mickey Northrup

Al Galindo

Rudy Cruz

Oscar Reyes

Ramon Fuentes

Jess Fuentes

Orlando De La Fuente

Al Cruz

Abel Fernandez

Rudy Jordan

Don Jordon

Manny Renteria

Frankie Campos

Juan Luis Campos

Rudy Garcia

Candy Lopez

Keeny Teran

Gil Cadilli

Gil Valarde

Pete Servin

Wicho Morales

Rudy Mendoza

Hank Aceves

[Rick Farris]

Too Many Chef's Spoil The Soup . . .


In 2003, a friend of mine, Matt Butkus (son of football great Dick Butkus) calls to tell me that he has bought a piece of an unbeaten Jr. Welterweight, Franciso "Paunchito" Bojado. I was aware of Bojado, who was born in Mexico, raised in ELA, and went back to Mexico to become a member of their '2000 Olympic boxing team. Bojado won an Olympic medal that year, and then turned professional at age 17.

I was impressed by Bojado, who had punching power and a lot of potential. I had seen him fight, and Butkus asked if I might write a story on him. At the time, Bojado was training for a match Jesse James Leija, an over-the-hill ex-champ who was supposed to be a stepping stone on the boxer's journey to a world title. I told Matt I'd be like to write about his boxer and the next day he picked me up on his way to the gym.

The fighter was training at the old Lincoln Heights Jail Gym, which Johnny Flores had opened in the early 1970's. When Matt and I arrived at the gym, we found the boxer in his dressing room, which had once been a jail cell. He wasn't alone. Also in the dressing room was his trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr. Wrapping his hands was his "cut man", Joe Chavez (whom I'd known for years). I was then introduced to a guy named Rob, who was the fighters "conditioning coach" and cook. I was then introduced to another who was his lawyer. And another who was Internet manager. And another who was his PR man. And then I was introduced to the boxer's father, who was also on the payroll. Also involved was Shelly Finkle, who was the boxer's "manager/advisor", however, Finkle wasn't present.

As Chavez wrapped the fighter's hands I visited with Mayweather, and it occured to me that "Team Bojado" consisted of the same players that were a part of "Team De La Hoya". Oscar was already a well established World Champ and generating $millions. Bojado had only a handful of matches, he'd won all fairly easily.

I became confused watching the team play their rolls as the boxer warmed up. Rob would "stretch out" the boxer, before Chavez would attend to his gloves, and then Mayweather would work the pads with him, and then . . . Hell, I forget. There were so many men buzzing around this 18-year-old prospect, I lost tract who was who. Whenever the bell would ring ending a sparring or bag punching session, two team members would wipe down the fighter, one on each side. The fighter was very relaxed, a nice kid, but Butkus told me they were having a few "problems".

My friend told me that the fighter was getting very cocky, and had started to skip roadwork on occasion. The fighter was also telling the"team" what he wanted to do, and he was going to do it regardless of they wanted. My mind flashed immediatly to the men who managed my modest career, Mel Epstein & Johnny Flores. I thought to myself, if Mel is looking down from the big gym in the sky he must be laughing, or more than likely, cursing. A know nothing teenager telling his handlers what he did and didn't want to do.

Butkus couldn't understand why this kid was becoming so difficult, putting his career at risk. I laughed and told him that the problem was obvious. "Everybody is so busy kissing this kid's ass he doesn't respect or believe in any of you." He's a fighter, not Barbra Streisand." Butkus was startled, "But this is how a top boxing prospect needs to be treated. We've got Oscar's team, these are the guys that make Oscar great, and we want the same thing for Paunchito." I told him that Oscar is doing well inspite of all this attention. This ruins a fighter, it takes away the hunger element, it assures a man of success that is anything but certain, etc. etc." I went on a roll that would have made old Mel proud. "You are responsible for ruining this kid and now that you have started you'll never be able to go back and do things right." Matt looked at me like I was crazy.

I wrote a nice story on Bojado, as he prepared to face Leija, a battle-scarred vet who would hand him his first loss, breaking his all important winning streak, thus breaking the bubble of invincibility, which is all HBO cares about. Bojado kinda disappeared after that. Next time I would hear of him he was working as one of Oscar's sparring partners.

The kid had peaked early, got cocky before he had a right to be, and now was finished as a serious contender.
I wonder who is kissing his ass today? What a waste of a great talent. Don't give a kid too much, too soon. Make them work for what they get. This is something that has been lost since I was a boxer.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Born In East L.A.

Frank, Randy, I'm going to need your help here. I'm going to name a few fighters that were either born or grew up in East Los Angeles.
I know of more, but these are what come to mind quickly. Who else?
I want to name every ELA boxer who fought pro that we can think of, even prelim fighters. I want to dig deep.


Gil Cadilli
Keeny Teran
Danny Valdez
The Pimentel brothers (Jesus/Jose)
Ruben Navarro
Mando Ramos (born ELA, raised Long Beach)
Oscar De La Hoya
Paul Gonzalez

(I could add the Baltazar brothers? Fought out of Eastside B.C. as kids/La Puente is East of LA, but not ELA?)

Rick, here a is a list of some of the fighters that I remember fighting out of East LA and Boyle Heights as pros. some were just prelim fighters, other were main eventers, I don't include guys like my boys who fought out of La Puente or the Montes's who were from Montebello or the Gonzalez's who as Randy said were from Pico-Rivera.
There are many, many more that fought out of that area.

Manny Madrid

Freddie "Babe" Herman

Art Aragon

Davey Gallardo

Mickey Northrup

Al Galindo

Rudy Cruz

Oscar Reyes

Ramon Fuentes

Jess Fuentes

Orlando De La Fuente

Al Cruz

Abel Fernandez

Rudy Jordan

Don Jordon

Manny Renteria

Frankie Campos

Juan Luis Campos

Rudy Garcia

Candy Lopez

Keeny Teran

Gil Cadilli

Gil Valarde

Pete Servin

Wicho Morales

Rudy Mendoza

Hank Aceves

Frank, thanks for taking the time to put this list together. I recall two of my Johnny Flores stablemates, Johnny Quintella and Ronnie Cisneros, as well. I wasn't sure if Art Aragon fought out of the Eastside, now I know. In due course I'm going to attempt an ELA story and I want to include everybody possible, including the trainers. If any other names come to mind, please let me know.

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Rick, Aragon went to Roosevelt High, yeah, he grew up in ELA..

[Rick Farris]

Rick, Aragon went to Roosevelt High, yeah, he grew up in ELA..

[raylawpc]

Congarts to Sergio Martinez for making Kelly Pavlik look like a bum in the park.
I only watched the first half of the fight. If Pavlik did anything better in the later rounds, it wasn't enough to retain his title.

Rick, I watched the fight. Pavlik did better after you turned off the TV. I thought he won the sixth, seventh and eighth rounds. However, in the 9th round he sustained a cut over his right eye and his corner couldn't control the bleeding. He said in the post fight interview that he couldn't see after that and maybe he couldn't, because he sure looked bad in the last three rounds.

Pavlik's biggest problem was that his so-called "cut man" apparently had never heard of q-tip swabs. He tried to close Pavlik's cuts using a rolled-up piece of gauze. Who knows what he put on that gauze - but I can't imagine trying to apply adrenalin chloride that way and applying the pressure you need deep in the cut to stop the bleeding. As my youngest son would say: Unfrekkinbelievable. It kind of reminded me of Tyson's fight against Buster Douglas when Tyson's corner tried to stop his eye from swelling by applying a water balloon. Pavlik might have lost anyway, but the incompetence of his cutman sure didn't help his cause.

Tom . . . I watched the entire fight which was replayed again last night and agree Pavlik did better in the later rounds. I am amazed how many boxers involved in high profile fights with millions of dollars involved enter the ring with inexperienced cornermen & trainers. Look at the guy Chris Arreola has training him, and Miguel Cotto? These guys have a dozen cornermen and none can patch a cut. In the old days, one guy did everything, just needed somebody to handle the water bottle and stool.

I'll brag on myself: I took a fighter to West Little Rock Arkansas to fight a main event. Just me and him. This guy was a real bleeder. By the end of the fourth round, he was cut over and under the left eye, over the right eye, and under his chin. That's four cuts. I stopped all four cuts, kept the cuts closed throughout the rest of the fight, and took care of everything else. My guy won a unanimous 10-round decision. I worked my butt off that night - I think I was as tired as the fighter when it was over.

One thing I am proud of is that NONE of my fighters ever lost on a cut, and I never heard any of them complain, if they lost, that it was because they couldn't see for the blood.

I take real pride in that, and I am especially proud of the work I did that night in West Little Rock, Arkansas.

I'll stop bragging and revert to my typical, humble self now.