Classic American West Coast Boxing

[scartissue]

The Best from Ringside . . .


I've seen some great lightweights during my life, but only a few great ringside boxing announcers, and Sean O'Grady is one of them.
The cable TV executives (Who aren't yet 30 years old) would rather strangle their audience with idiots like Larry Merchant & Jim Lampley.
They could entertain us with real boxing words coming from the mouth of a true former world champ.
The thing is, he isn't just a former boxing champ, but better speaking, more knowledgable, experienced, has the looks, knows how to talk to a fighter.

Here is an example of what I'm referring to. As a boxer, I was taught early the deadly results of a left hook to the liver.
My stablemate, Dwight Hawkins, taught me what it felt like, and how to throw it.
But it was Sean, who explained on his TV broadcast (Long after I retired in 1976), the physiological effect the punch had on the body.
Why a fighter freezes a moment before he collapses to the canvas. Sean was taught by his old man, Pat.
When Sean explained it on camera, he did so like a doctor talking in lamen's terms.
Only a real pro could do that, but don't expect that from Lennox Lewis, Foreman, Leonard, Jones or anybody else.
Sometimes I think I know a lot about boxing. I learned a few things I didn't know watching Sean O'Grady, when he did the USA Tuesday Night Fights.

One thing I did learn from Mel Epstein was what to do when you can't stand a boxing announcer . . . TURN OFF THE SOUND!
That is what Mel would do when Howard Cosell was at the mike, or Jim Healy (our local LA broadcaster).
Healy took over the Thursday night spot when the Thursday Night Fights shifted from Channel-5 to channel-13.
Mel disliked Jim Healy as much as he did Cosell, and would refer to him as "Fish Eyes"

We had the best ringside boxing duo I've ever seen between 1965-67.
That was a young sportscaster named Dick Enberg (who was 30-years-old) and Olympic matchmaker, Mickey Davies.
In 1967, Enberg moved on to bigger and better things, and Davies left the Olympic to promote on his own.
To replace Davies, Aileen Eaton brought in a new matchmaker, Don Chargin.
Calling the fights from ringside after Enberg-Davies, was Tom Harmon & my dad's drinking buddy, Tom Kelley.



-Rick Farris

Rick, when did Mickey Davies replace Kelley at the Mike? When we began receiving the 'Boxing from the Forum' telecasts here in Chicago in the early '70s, it was always Tom Harmon and Mickey Davies and I believe Davies was also the Forum matchmaker, was he not? I used to love the way Davies would grab some boxing celebrity from the audience and do an impromptu interview with them. I recall him touching base with Billy Conn, Joey Bishop, a real good one with Ruben Navarro (Navarro in a big Panama hat, the guy reeked celeb status) and a funny one with Oscar Bonavena with Fernando Lamas interpreting. Man, those were fun days.

Scartissue

[bennie]

Looks like the meds are helping Lucky a little. Yesterday she wanted to go outside for a while. She walked around the yard and then went back in the house. She's also eating again. Neither she nor I are ready to throw the towel in just yet.

I understand what the humane thing is and if things turn I'll do what's right but I don't think it's time yet.

Randy

This is great news, Randy.

[bennie]

It's funny how all the old timers knew each other. Someone would come into town, wander into the gym and Mel knew him. Fighters would come into the gym from all over the country or from mexico, and Mel knew them. Pops O'Grady must have been the same way. This was before the internet. back then Mel would correspond by mail and news clippings with people across the country.

There is a picture floating around that was originally published in the Los Angeles Times that shows Sean with a towel slung over his shoulder. That was my mother's towel. Tell Sean I know it wasn't on purpose. It was the first day in town. It must have been hectic. Sean got whooped pretty good by Danny but showed tremendous heart going into that fight and in every fight that I ever saw him in. I was rooting for him against both Watt and Kenty. I hope to shake his hand again someday.

Randy

Unfortunately the only time I saw Sean fight was his final fight vs John Verdarosa, I remember Pat and Sean being interviewed after the fight, Pat said ''thats the end of the green machine'', I never heard him called that before, Tom do you know

That was his ring name from day one, actually. Look at the logo on his trunks from the Danny Lopez fight. The logo says "Green Machine" He even had the logo painted on the side of a Mustang that he owned. (Sounds hokey, I know, but the way the body shop guy did it made it look pretty cool.)

I remember seeing Sean and Jim Watt at the Honeyghan-Curry show in Atlantic City in 1986. They were the coolest dudes in the joint.

[THEHAMMER321]

Frank remember Jimmy Montoya's heavyweight Tony FUlillangi from Tonga, one day he was fighting on ESPN back in about 1983, after he knocks out some stiff, Al Bernstein is interviewing him and Montoya and says we will fight anybody in the top ten, Fullilangi in his next fight for Pat O'Grady's WAA heavyweight championship against O'Grady's son in law Monte Masters and gets knocked out in the 14 round, as I think back about Montoya he was a likable guy but he talked a lot of B.S

Jimmy will go into the WBHOF this coming November, in the expanded catagory along with Joe Goossen and Graham Houston.
When a WBHOF Museum is built, Jimmy's "Meat Wagon" will be cast in bronze by Steve Harpst and parked in the street in front of the building.

Rick but Frank says the ''Meat Wagon'' wouldn't be complete unless they can make a statue of big Jess driving the bus.

[raylawpc]

Unfortunately the only time I saw Sean fight was his final fight vs John Verdarosa, I remember Pat and Sean being interviewed after the fight, Pat said ''thats the end of the green machine'', I never heard him called that before, Tom do you know

That was his ring name from day one, actually. Look at the logo on his trunks from the Danny Lopez fight. The logo says "Green Machine" He even had the logo painted on the side of a Mustang that he owned. (Sounds hokey, I know, but the way the body shop guy did it made it look pretty cool.)

I remember seeing Sean and Jim Watt at the Honeyghan-Curry show in Atlantic City in 1986. They were the coolest dudes in the joint.

Bennie, the last time I saw Sean, he told me a funny story about him and Jim Watt. Its my understanding that Jim Watt is now whiteheaded (or at least pronouncedly gray). Sean and Jim Watt were at a sports event a few years back, and Sean brought along his son whose name, I think, is Chase. Sean introduced Chase to Watt, and the three had a nice conversation. After Watt left, Chase turned to Sean and said, "Did that guy really beat you?" When Sean responded affirmatively, Chase exclaimed, "Geez, Dad, how could you lose to a white-haired old man like that?"

[kikibalt]

Bennie, the last time I saw Sean, he told me a funny story about him and Jim Watt. Its my understanding that Jim Watt is now whiteheaded (or at least pronouncedly gray). Sean and Jim Watt were at a sports event a few years back, and Sean brought along his son whose name, I think, is Chase. Sean introduced Chase to Watt, and the three had a nice conversation. After Watt left, Chase turned to Sean and said, "Did that guy really beat you?" When Sean responded affirmatively, Chase exclaimed, "Geez, Dad, how could you lose to a white-haired old man like that?"

[kikibalt]

Frank remember Jimmy Montoya's heavyweight Tony FUlillangi from Tonga, one day he was fighting on ESPN back in about 1983, after he knocks out some stiff, Al Bernstein is interviewing him and Montoya and says we will fight anybody in the top ten, Fullilangi in his next fight for Pat O'Grady's WAA heavyweight championship against O'Grady's son in law Monte Masters and gets knocked out in the 14 round, as I think back about Montoya he was a likable guy but he talked a lot of B.S

Jimmy will go into the WBHOF this coming November, in the expanded catagory along with Joe Goossen and Graham Houston.
When a WBHOF Museum is built, Jimmy's "Meat Wagon" will be cast in bronze by Steve Harpst and parked in the street in front of the building.

Rick but Frank says the ''Meat Wagon'' wouldn't be complete unless they can make a statue of big Jess driving the bus.

Its not complete without Big Jess.....

[THEHAMMER321]

Rick saw a live video of Pepper roach yesterday, man he has changed since I last saw him over 25 years ago,it was a video where they were interviewing Jesse Reid and Pepper pops up, I can't tell if he is punchy or like you were saying before just a character.

[Rick Farris]

The Best from Ringside . . .


I've seen some great lightweights during my life, but only a few great ringside boxing announcers, and Sean O'Grady is one of them.
The cable TV executives (Who aren't yet 30 years old) would rather strangle their audience with idiots like Larry Merchant & Jim Lampley.
They could entertain us with real boxing words coming from the mouth of a true former world champ.
The thing is, he isn't just a former boxing champ, but better speaking, more knowledgable, experienced, has the looks, knows how to talk to a fighter.

Here is an example of what I'm referring to. As a boxer, I was taught early the deadly results of a left hook to the liver.
My stablemate, Dwight Hawkins, taught me what it felt like, and how to throw it.
But it was Sean, who explained on his TV broadcast (Long after I retired in 1976), the physiological effect the punch had on the body.
Why a fighter freezes a moment before he collapses to the canvas. Sean was taught by his old man, Pat.
When Sean explained it on camera, he did so like a doctor talking in lamen's terms.
Only a real pro could do that, but don't expect that from Lennox Lewis, Foreman, Leonard, Jones or anybody else.
Sometimes I think I know a lot about boxing. I learned a few things I didn't know watching Sean O'Grady, when he did the USA Tuesday Night Fights.

One thing I did learn from Mel Epstein was what to do when you can't stand a boxing announcer . . . TURN OFF THE SOUND!
That is what Mel would do when Howard Cosell was at the mike, or Jim Healy (our local LA broadcaster).
Healy took over the Thursday night spot when the Thursday Night Fights shifted from Channel-5 to channel-13.
Mel disliked Jim Healy as much as he did Cosell, and would refer to him as "Fish Eyes"

We had the best ringside boxing duo I've ever seen between 1965-67.
That was a young sportscaster named Dick Enberg (who was 30-years-old) and Olympic matchmaker, Mickey Davies.
In 1967, Enberg moved on to bigger and better things, and Davies left the Olympic to promote on his own.
To replace Davies, Aileen Eaton brought in a new matchmaker, Don Chargin.
Calling the fights from ringside after Enberg-Davies, was Tom Harmon & my dad's drinking buddy, Tom Kelley.



-Rick Farris

Rick, when did Mickey Davies replace Kelley at the Mike? When we began receiving the 'Boxing from the Forum' telecasts here in Chicago in the early '70s, it was always Tom Harmon and Mickey Davies and I believe Davies was also the Forum matchmaker, was he not? I used to love the way Davies would grab some boxing celebrity from the audience and do an impromptu interview with them. I recall him touching base with Billy Conn, Joey Bishop, a real good one with Ruben Navarro (Navarro in a big Panama hat, the guy reeked celeb status) and a funny one with Oscar Bonavena with Fernando Lamas interpreting. Man, those were fun days.

Scartissue

Dan . . . That was in early 1971 when Mickey was matchmaking for Don Fraser's weekly FORUM cards (which were held in Long Beach, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Anaheim, and the Forum in 1972).
This was a few years after Mickey had left the Olympic. Harmon was Enberg's replacement. When Channel 5 left the Olympic, so did Harmon and Kelly. This is when Fish Eyes took over on Channel-13. The Forum Club then was broadcast on Ch.-5.

[Rick Farris]

Rick saw a live video of Pepper roach yesterday, man he has changed since I last saw him over 25 years ago,it was a video where they were interviewing Jesse Reid and Pepper pops up, I can't tell if he is punchy or like you were saying before just a character.

Pep is a charactor, as are all of Freddie's crew.
Classic boxing gym charactors, kind of a living boxing history. These men are throwbacks to a better era in boxing.
They have my respect. Pep is a lot of fun, in an Art Aragon kinda way, and he's also a good teacher & coach.
Like his brothers, Pep grew up in the ring. I also remember his fights televised from L.V. Showboat.

[Rick Farris]

Frank remember Jimmy Montoya's heavyweight Tony FUlillangi from Tonga, one day he was fighting on ESPN back in about 1983, after he knocks out some stiff, Al Bernstein is interviewing him and Montoya and says we will fight anybody in the top ten, Fullilangi in his next fight for Pat O'Grady's WAA heavyweight championship against O'Grady's son in law Monte Masters and gets knocked out in the 14 round, as I think back about Montoya he was a likable guy but he talked a lot of B.S

Jimmy will go into the WBHOF this coming November, in the expanded catagory along with Joe Goossen and Graham Houston.
When a WBHOF Museum is built, Jimmy's "Meat Wagon" will be cast in bronze by Steve Harpst and parked in the street in front of the building.

Rick but Frank says the ''Meat Wagon'' wouldn't be complete unless they can make a statue of big Jess driving the bus.

Of course, Big Jess!

[THEHAMMER321]

Rick you ever work with an actor Charles Dierkop, he had a regular role on police women in the 1970s, I always thought he must have been at least an amateur boxer, had about the flattest nose I have ever seen.

[Rick Farris]

Tony Baltazar vs. Howard Davis/ Examination of bad scoring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s7XFMzy ... re=related

[THEHAMMER321]

Tony Baltazar vs. Howard Davis/ Examination of bad scoring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s7XFMzy ... re=related

saw this fight live, was impressed by Tony's left hook, not by Howard's fast feet, but the incompetent judges were fans of Carl Lewis the only thing I could think of.

[Rick Farris]

Rick you ever work with an actor Charles Dierkop, he had a regular role on police women in the 1970s, I always thought he must have been at least an amateur boxer, had about the flattest nose I have ever seen.

I can't recall working with this actor, however, I've seen him on TV many times.
He's done a lot of westerns, as well.
He might have boxed, but I have no clue.
One thing I've discovered in Hollywood is that there used to be a number of boxing personalities working in front of and behind the camera.
Today that's not true. Both the film industry and boxing have changed.

[Rick Farris]

d

[Rick Farris]

More on Mickey Davies days at the Olympic . . .


Mickey had been brought in as matchmaker by Cal & Aileen Eaton in 1965, after George Parnassus moved on to promote.
With heavyweight headliners such as Amos "Big Train" Lincoln, Jimmy Harriman, Dave Centi, Scrap Iron Johnson, Jerry Quarry, Joey Orbillo, Manuel Ramos and others, the Olympic became known as the "Home of the Heavyweights".

However, the little guys were plentiful, and so was the action featured on weekly thursday night fight cards.
The legend of Mando Ramos was born at the Olympic, and it was Davies who matched him in his pro debut against Berlin Roberts. Ramos won a four rounder, and in a rematch, flattened Roberts in 18 seconds. A star was born.

Quarry was too good for the other big boys in town, and it wasn't long before he'd be in contention for the heavyweight title.
Mickey made those early matches, and Jerry didn't always shine, but when all was said and done, he was the best L.A. heavyweight in decades.

He matched two journeyman featherweights in Dwight Hawkins and Bobby Valdez. Hawkins was too good for his own good, and couldn't get Eaton's "House Fighter" Raul Rojas in the ring. So they matched him with a game Bobby Valdez. One of the greatest bouts I would ever see.

What I remember about Mickey Davies was his pipe. He and Dick Enberg ringside, a great team.
Like Scar, I recall his intermission interviews.

Just a few random thoughts of Mickey Davies. I fought for Mickey, he was a great guy, I thought.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Frank . . . What are your memories of Mando Ramos from the juniors? Also, Jerry Quarry in the junior gloves?
We know Jerry fought as an amateur after his junior days, even won a Nat'l GG's title.
Ramos, however, jumped from the juniors to the pro's, making his pro debut 3 days after his 17th birthday.

[bennie]

Bennie, the last time I saw Sean, he told me a funny story about him and Jim Watt. Its my understanding that Jim Watt is now whiteheaded (or at least pronouncedly gray). Sean and Jim Watt were at a sports event a few years back, and Sean brought along his son whose name, I think, is Chase. Sean introduced Chase to Watt, and the three had a nice conversation. After Watt left, Chase turned to Sean and said, "Did that guy really beat you?" When Sean responded affirmatively, Chase exclaimed, "Geez, Dad, how could you lose to a white-haired old man like that?"

A group of us went to watch Tony Sibson against Dwight Davison in Birmingham in 1982 and were stuck in traffic close to the arena. Lo and behold, Jim Watt was stuck in the very next lane in a flash Mercedes. We had all sunk a few, as they say, so what do you do? We reconstructed the infamous butt on O'Grady, much to his amusement.
It was good that O'Grady came back to win the WBA title.

[THEHAMMER321]

Good morning all, did not watch the fight last night did anybody on here see it

[Rick Farris]

Good morning all, did not watch the fight last night did anybody on here see it

Hi Paul . . . I watched both fights. The first one (Mares-Perez) was close and very good, to real fighters putting on a war.
The second bout started out like the first three, but as expected, it was a blood bath within a couple minutes. Vasquez was stopped on two huge cuts, the one over his left eye was as bad as anything I've seen. Vasquez needs to retire. Marquez may fight Vic Darchinian?

If there is one good thing that can be said for Israel's cuts, it's that they ended the fight early. An early out was best for both boxers on this night.

[kikibalt]

Good morning all, did not watch the fight last night did anybody on here see it

Hi Paul . . . I watched both fights. The first one (Mares-Perez) was close and very good, to real fighters putting on a war.
The second bout started out like the first three, but as expected, it was a blood bath within a couple minutes. Vasquez was stopped on two huge cuts, the one over his left eye was as bad as anything I've seen. Vasquez needs to retire. Marquez may fight Vic Darchinian?

If there is one good thing that can be said for Israel's cuts, it's that they ended the fight early. An early out was best for both boxers on this night.

I too watch both fight and I agree, Rick, Vasquez needs to retire, if not the commish should pull his license. The other? well, yes there was action, but, harm-less action, neither was throwing hard punches, Perez, throws nothing but arm punches and Mares did in the the middle rounds a bit of running....Marquez, I think is going to be in time call an all time great.

[Rick Farris]

Good morning all, did not watch the fight last night did anybody on here see it

Hi Paul . . . I watched both fights. The first one (Mares-Perez) was close and very good, to real fighters putting on a war.
The second bout started out like the first three, but as expected, it was a blood bath within a couple minutes. Vasquez was stopped on two huge cuts, the one over his left eye was as bad as anything I've seen. Vasquez needs to retire. Marquez may fight Vic Darchinian?

If there is one good thing that can be said for Israel's cuts, it's that they ended the fight early. An early out was best for both boxers on this night.

I too watch both fight and I agree, Rick, Vasquez needs to retire, if not the commish should pull his license. The other? well, yes there was action, but, harm-less action, neither was throwing hard punches, Perez, throws nothing but arm punches and Mares did in the the middle rounds a bit of running....Marquez, I think is going to be in time call an all time great.

The Great Mr. Marquez and Ms. Gwen Adair . . .

Frank, I agree with you on Marquez. I see him laying a whipping on Darchinian, and taking his heart.
Harmless action is true in bout one. I told my friend, "Lots of action, but it'll go the distance.
'Marquez is a classy fighter, so is his brother.
I noticed in bout #1, Marty Denkin was over-ruled by Gwen Adair and the other female official. They both voted a draw.
Al Bernstein then incorrectly stated that Gwen was the first woman to ever ref a pro match. Belle Martell did it in the 40's.
However, Gwen is the first female to ever ref a world title fight, and the only woman to do so.

[Rick Farris]

Running . . .

Frank, you are right about Mares, he ran thruout the fight. He'd pop in and fight a bit, then back on his bike.
Victor Ortiz does the same thing, of course, Ortiz has already branded himself a coward in the ring.
I guess this is how some define "defensive fighting"? However, "No fighting" would be more accurate.

[kikibalt]

Running . . .

Frank, you are right about Mares, he ran thruout the fight. He'd pop in and fight a bit, then back on his bike.
Victor Ortiz does the same thing, of course, Ortiz has already branded himself a coward in the ring.
I guess this is how some define "defensive fighting"? However, "No fighting" would be more accurate.