Classic American West Coast Boxing

[telboy66]

We play you tomorrow in the World Cup. I hope the USA turn up. 8)

I guess the USA showed up, huh, bennie?

Hand on heart, Tom, I'm always quite pleased when we struggle. The pre-game hype here is pathetic, particularly when everyone says we are going to win the event. We will never win the world cup again.

You never said a truer word Bennie Football in UK is now over hyped over priced & played by over paid prima dona's who's weekly highlight is getting pissed & shagging their best mates girl

[kikibalt]

Les Richter dies at 79; ex-Ram guided auto racing's growth in Southern California

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/ ... 6805.story

[bennie]

I guess the USA showed up, huh, bennie?

Hand on heart, Tom, I'm always quite pleased when we struggle. The pre-game hype here is pathetic, particularly when everyone says we are going to win the event. We will never win the world cup again.

You never said a truer word Bennie Football in UK is now over hyped over priced & played by over paid prima dona's who's weekly highlight is getting pissed & shagging their best mates girl

Aye, the lack of sportsmanship in football today is what really grates with me. Money has turned football into a mega-business in which winning is everything, even if players cheat to get the win, and 'fans' have accepted such an indecent, classless state of affairs. I chatted to a few today who all said the same thing: England were shite. Anyone with even half a brain could see the USA deserved a draw but nobody had the foresight to mention that. All you get are the fickle responses of the brainwashed.

[Randyman]

At the Main Street Gym


Danny Lopez vs Raul Cruz (Lopez by 6 round K.O).
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
July 26, 1975

Congratulations to former featherweight champ Danny “Little Red” Lopez for his long overdue induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, this past weekend.

Originally from Utah, Lopez made his home in Los Angeles after following his older brother, Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez. to Southern California. West Coast boxing fans took to his exciting, take no prisoners style of boxing. In 1974, despite his loss by 9th round knockout, his fight with cross town rival and equally popular Bobby Chacon at Los Angeles’ famed Olympic Auditorium made him one of Los Angeles favorite fighter.

His career seemed in jeopardy for a short time following his loss to Chacon. He had two back to back losses, the first was to Shig Fukuyama in September of 1974 when he was stopped in the 9th round .The following year, in January of 1975 he dropped a decision to Octavio Gomez in their ten round bout. He would rebound from those losses and run up a string of victories, including a K.O. win over Gomez in a rematch at the Forum in 1976.

Lopez was never in a dull fight and the saying was that Lopez wasn’t happy until he was knocked down. If you knocked Lopez down you knew you were in for the fight of your life. “Little Red” was a warrior and left nothing in the ring.

With K.O. wins over Chucho Castillo (2nd round ), Ruben Olivares (7th round), Sean O’Grady (4th round), Octavio Gomez (3rd round) and Art Hafey (7th round) Lopez was ready to fight for the title, going to Accra, Ghana, Africa to fight for the WBC Featherweight Championship. The fight took place at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 6, 1976. Danny didn’t disappoint. He won a 15round decision, Kotey was knocked down in the 11th round. In their rematch in 1978 Lopez made quick work of Kotey by stopping him in the 6th round.

Danny made several exciting defenses of his title, including an exciting 1979 Ring magazine "Fight of the Year" with Mike Ayala of San Antonio, Texas. On February 2, 1980 Danny was matched against a relatively unknown fighter from Mexico by the name of Salvador Sanchez. Though fighting valiantly against a fighter who would prove to be an all time great, Danny was fighting an uphill battle. Danny was stopped in the 13th round. For Lopez’ fan this was hard to accept. It was even harder for Danny and a rematch was set for June of that year. This time Danny made it to the14th round but the end result was the same.

Danny retired after the second Sanchez fight. He came back in 1992 getting stopped in 2 by Jorge Rodriguez in Irvine, California. Danny “Little Red” Lopez had a great career and whenever Los Angeles boxing fans speak of L.A,’s favorite warriors his name is always at the top of the list. He gave his fans the best he had and no one could ask for more.

[Randyman]

Our own Brian Higgins hoists Stanley Cup right on the ice where the Chicago Black Hawks won the
it a few minutes earlier. Great shot Brian! Amazing.

Rick Farris

Brian, what a great photo. Jeri and I were both in awe. You must be very well thought of to get a shot like that!! Classic.

Randy

[raylawpc]

Celtics

[Chuck1052]

Congratulations to Danny "Little Red" Lopez for his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

With tonight's loss to the Boston Celtics, The Los Angeles Lakers have to win two games in order to win the NBA Championship for the second time in a row. It can be done, but the task is a very tough one. In the finals over the last fifty years, the Celtics seem to find a way to win over the Lakers much of the time.

- Chuck Johnston

[kikibalt]

dddd

[raylawpc]

THIS JUST IN FROM THE GULF!!

BP has announced that the leaking well has stopped altogether . . .

One of the techs put a wedding band around the leaking wellhead and it immediately stopped putting out!!!

[kikibalt]

THIS JUST IN FROM THE GULF!!

BP has announced that the leaking well has stopped altogether . . .

One of the techs put a wedding band around the leaking wellhead and it immediately stopped putting out!!!

[kikibalt]

THE OLYMPIC AUDITORIUM AND OTHER GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN BOXING ARENAS

BY DAN HERNANDEZ

The day started simply, my wife and I were traveling west on the 10 freeway from our home in the San Gabriel Valley, our destination was a visit to the ocean in Santa Monica, California. Both areas are suburbs of Los Angeles County. It was an unusually clear day by Los Angeles standards and each building was defined beautifully in the early morning light. Every nook and cranny of the old buildings gleamed, adding character and flavor to the journey.

I normally travel directly to my intended location; however, such a terrific day motivated me to take a detour through Downtown, Los Angeles. So from the 10 west, we headed north on the 110 Freeway, right through the middle of town. Stopping at a favorite restaurant, The Original Pantry Café, on Ninth and Figueroa, to eat a large farm style breakfast. On completion of our meal, it was still only eight AM and it was easy to negotiate through all the one-way streets now highlighting the area and visit some of the old haunts without feeling rushed.

We had a great time driving and reminiscing. Movie theatres we had attended and buildings we had shopped at, had either changed drastically or were missing altogether. Heading back toward our original destination, we passed by the corner of 18th and Grand, and there in its majestic, dilapidated glory, stood The Olympic Auditorium. I was overcome with memories of many spectacular and always memorable times shared with my father and friends at this location. While the building is still erect, there have been no boxing or wrestling shows since early 2005. We eventually got to the beach, but I was eager to get home and try to recall some of the history experienced at this grand old arena.

On August 5, 1925, the Olympic Auditorium opened. In the days before mini-malls and major freeway systems, this was the hub, the heart of Los Angeles. According to an article in the Times Newspaper, “The Auditorium blazed with glory on its opening night.”… “The light of many electric lights surpassed only by the sparkling jewels that adorned the persons of several of our well-known citizens and citizenesses. Hollywood and the moving picture colony slipped into their tuxedos and formal apparel and blessed the ringside by their presence.”

By the1950‘s, there were fights on Tuesdays at Ocean Park Arena in Santa Monica, The Olympic on Thursdays and Hollywood Legion Stadium on Saturdays. If you were a fight fan, these were the glory years. There was also a 7,000sf arena built in Vernon, California (another L.A. Suburb) whose popularity was usurped just two years after its opening. My Dad said he took me to the Hollywood Legion and El Monte Legion Stadiums, I do not recall being there. I do remember viewing outstanding fights at Wrigley Field, The Sports Arena and even Dodger Stadium, however, the Olympic, was Los Angeles boxing.

There were always champions, past champions, and top caliber fighters milling about. Many would be introduced before the main events. These guys were dressed to the hilt, wearing the most fashionable suits and making each occasion special. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, actors such as Ray Danton and Robert Conrad, among others, would frequent the matches and mix in with the rest of us fans. Promoters, George Parnassus, Cal & Aileen Eaton, Don Fraser, Mickey Davies, Rogelio Robles, and Don Chargin were more like friends, walking down the aisles, shaking people’s hands and conversing with everyone. In this venue, all were approachable. We were united in our joy of boxing.

The mood was always electric but there were times we became overzealous.

On April 30, 1964, Japans, Hiroyuki Ebihara, 65-5-1 (33 KO’s) fought Mexico’s, Efren “El Alacran” Torres, 52-9-3 (34 KO’s), in a 12 round elimination bout, both men later held versions of the World Flyweight title. The fight was a war from start to finish. The audience was going crazy and no one could understand how the boxers stood up to such punishment. The fight was almost a blur, the speed and power of each fighter was evident. To this day, I believe Torres won the contest in a very close decision. The judges gave a split decision victory to Ebihara. The crowd disagreed, and then they erupted! First paper cups, then cans, chairs and other items went hurling through the air. Those of us not throwing items were busy ducking and trying to avoid harm. We had a full-scale riot on our hands. My Dad, much tougher, stronger, and streetwise than I, grabbed a fire extinguisher and told me to get underneath as he swung the make shift weapon in the air telling everybody to “Get out of the way!” They did, and we got out.

The arena was closed a bit for major repairs. Once re-opened, we returned. Just like a family squabble, albeit a volatile family, we forgave, forgot, and went back to normal. The good times far outnumbered the bad. Catcalls and boos would suffice a questionable decision and an excellent and safe environment was generally experienced. The “Golden Boys” who united a city, Art Aragon, Jerry Quarry, and Bobby Chacon developed their skills in this environment, as did many a young man looking to improve their lives fortunes. Then a few years ago, we stopped attending the little fights and opted for the extravaganzas at the nicer, newer arenas. The boxing days of The Olympic were numbered and it died an inglorious death

Other locations across the country have suffered the same fate. St. Nicholas Arena in Manhattan, New York. Located on the northeast corner of 66th street and Columbus Avenue was a boxing venue from 1906 until May 28, 1962. Upon its demise, it was reported more than 30 thousand fights had been staged there.

Opened in 1926, Sunnyside Gardens was built as a fancy tennis club by millionaire Jay Goulds. Sunnyside highlighted such activities as; wrestling, karate, arm wrestling, bingo and eventually boxing when it was sold in 1945. Prior to Sunnyside, you would have to go to the Queensboro Arena next to the Queens Plaza station. When this arena was torn down Sunnyside became the main fight club and gathering place. Outstanding bouts were fought and countless stories developed, however, the final show had only 400 patrons. Without notice, Sunnyside finally closed its doors in the mid-1970’s. New York lost a part of history that should have been treasured when a wrecking ball demolished the famous arena in December of 1977. Replaced by a fast-food franchise.

The Olympic was purchased by a Korean-American church Group in 2005, and the Hollywood Legion Stadium was replaced by a bowling alley. In addition, long gone too are most local clubs throughout the nation. These clubs were proving grounds for many future champions and stalwart contenders. They were also a melting pot of people from all lifestyles, nationalities, and social status. Tremendous battles took place inside their battered walls and the memories are endless.

[CNorkusJr]

Thank You Frank on this nice history and rememberance. Much the same here on the East Coast- Most of the old clubs torn down or made over, just the same.

[kikibalt]

Hollister Ca., 1973
By Frank Baltazar

On the Memorial Day weekend of 1973 we took a trip to Hollister, Ca. to visit some friends of Mom & Dad’s. we packed my camper with over 18 people, mostly small kids, the adults were my sister Annie, Willie, Mom, Pops, my brother Mando, my daughter’s boyfriend Mike and Connie and I. We left our house early Saturday morning and we headed north on State Highway 99 to State Highway 152, at State Highway 152 we turned west and drove over the Pacheco Pass and dropped into Hollister. It was about 7:00 PM when we arrived at my parents friend’s in Hollister. We all met and said hello to the friends, then Mom, Pops and their friends started talking about the old times, so I said to Mando and Willie.
“Lets walk around town and find a place to have a beer”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask” said Willie

Hollister is a very small town, but they might have more bars than downtown L.A.. We hit a few of the bars, had a beer here and there, then we found the “The One”, don’t remember the name of the bar, but this bar is where you’ll find all the action you can hope to find in a town like Hollister, it on the main drag, which is only about ten blocks long. We walked in and seen that they had pool tables in the back, after ordering some beers we walked to the back, I leaned against a shuffleboard table to watch two guys shoot pool, as I’m leaning against the shuffleboard table a lady, and here I used the word “lady” loosely, walked up to me and gave me a shove causing me to spill some of my beer.
“Out of the way” she yelled at me
“Lady, if you want to use the table, just say so and I’ll move, no need to shove me” I said.
She then gets in my face and said.
“Get out of the way”
She then proceed to spit on my cordovan's, I had just shined my shoes the night before, and the “Lady” spat on them!, I got piss! I looked at her face and I looked at my cordovan's, next thing I knew my beer is running down her face.
“Call the cops” she yells at the bartender
“You guys better leave, she will call the cops, and she about runs this town too” said another lady to me.
We proceed to walk out with Mando in front of me and Willie walking backwards watching my back, as we walked out the door, the cops had just arrived and are getting out of their car, one of them said to me.
“Trouble in there?”
“Yeah, some ass-hole raising hell” said Willie
As the cops ran inside the bar, we ran like hell down a side street and found another bar. We’re sitting at the bar having a beer when Pops walked in.
“Where the hell have you guys been?”
“Don’t ask Pops, you don’t want to know” I said
“I being looking all over town for you guys, you know what time it is!? It past midnight, and them people want to go to bed”
We left the bar and walk back to house, everybody is in the camper waiting for us, Mom and Pops said good by to their friends and we drove off. By this time everybody is piss at us.

We drove seven miles south on State Route 25 to Tres Pinos, now Tres Pinos is so small there isn’t a stop light or stop sign in town, nor do they have sidewalks, we found a place to park and sleep for the night, some of us roll out sleeping bags, Willie set up a two men tent and sleeping bag, close by was a bar, Mando and I went in for a beer, Willie went to sleep inside his tent, as we’re coming back from the bar I could hear Annie yelling at the top of her lungs.
Damn! Willie, where are you!?”
At the same time she is poking Willie’s tent with a boom stick.
“What?” said Willie as he poked his head out of the tent

In the morning after we cleaned up we drove five miles south to Paicines General Store to buy some provisions, (beer), afterward we drove back to Hollister and took Route 25 west to the San Juan Bautista Mission, Mom wanted to see the mission, Mando and I wanted to see the wine tasting room. We tasted just about every kind of wine they had, finally the wine server ask us.
“Are you guys buying or just drinking?”
“We haven’t found a good one to buy yet” said Mando
“Well, you’re not tasting any more wines”
We bought a bottle, went outside and sat under a tree with our bottle of wine.

After Mom had seen the mission and Mando and I, (Willie didn’t drink wine, he was a beer guy), drank the wine, we headed south on California 101. It was getting late on us so we pulled into a rest area for the night, we roll out our sleeping bags on the lawn, dang! just as we were going to sleep the automatic sprinklers want on, we had to move to the bathrooms to sleep. The ladies and the kids slept in the camper, Pops slept in the cab of the truck.

Next day after cleaning up as best as we could in the bathrooms of the rest area, we headed south on 101 again, but not before Pops told me.
“Mijo, no more drinking, okay?”
I was driving and Mando and Willie, were riding in the cab with me, Willie had ran out of beer and wanted to stop to buy some, but Pops had said “No more drinking”. I could see that ahead of us were some stores, I said to Willie.
“Willie, I’m going to stop up ahead and pull into the parking lot of those stores, I’m going to pull up the hood of the truck, so if Pops wants to know why we stopped, I’ll tell him the truck is running hot, in the meantime you run to the store and buy your beer”
Pops gets off from the back of the camper.
What’s wrong mijo?’ said Pops
“Nothing much Pops, the truck just running a little hot”
Pops goes back to the back of the camper just as Willie is coming back with his beer.
We get back on 101 and from there it’s a straight drive home without any more stops.
I can say that not everybody was a happy camper by the time we arrived back home.

[THEHAMMER321]

Frank just reading that story jogged my memory, when I turned 16 I went down and signed up at our local culinary union, in those days I worked as a busboy in the restaurants of the casinos, those are the best jobs in town for a kid, it beats working in a fast food place, but sometimes the busboys were not just kids like ''old man Lupe'' he was a Mexican immigrant in his 50s he called all us young guys who worked with him Mijo, sometimes he called me Pablito he was a good man a simple man who just felt lucky to be in America.

[kikibalt]

Frank just reading that story jogged my memory, when I turned 16 I went down and signed up at our local culinary union, in those days I worked as a busboy in the restaurants of the casinos, those are the best jobs in town for a kid, it beats working in a fast food place, but sometimes the busboys were not just kids like ''old man Lupe'' he was a Mexican immigrant in his 50s he called all us young guys who worked with him Mijo, sometimes he called me Pablito he was a good man a simple man who just felt lucky to be in America.

He called you Mijo & Pablito, because he cared for you as a person....

[THEHAMMER321]

Hollister Ca., 1973
By Frank Baltazar

On the Memorial Day weekend of 1973 we took a trip to Hollister, Ca. to visit some friends of Mom & Dad’s. we packed my camper with over 18 people, mostly small kids, the adults were my sister Annie, Willie, Mom, Pops, my brother Mando, my daughter’s boyfriend Mike and Connie and I. We left our house early Saturday morning and we headed north on State Highway 99 to State Highway 152, at State Highway 152 we turned west and drove over the Pacheco Pass and dropped into Hollister. It was about 7:00 PM when we arrived at my parents friend’s in Hollister. We all met and said hello to the friends, then Mom, Pops and their friends started talking about the old times, so I said to Mando and Willie.
“Lets walk around town and find a place to have a beer”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask” said Willie

Hollister is a very small town, but they might have more bars than downtown L.A.. We hit a few of the bars, had a beer here and there, then we found the “The One”, don’t remember the name of the bar, but this bar is where you’ll find all the action you can hope to find in a town like Hollister, it on the main drag, which is only about ten blocks long. We walked in and seen that they had pool tables in the back, after ordering some beers we walked to the back, I leaned against a shuffleboard table to watch two guys shoot pool, as I’m leaning against the shuffleboard table a lady, and here I used the word “lady” loosely, walked up to me and gave me a shove causing me to spill some of my beer.
“Out of the way” she yelled at me
“Lady, if you want to use the table, just say so and I’ll move, no need to shove me” I said.
She then gets in my face and said.
“Get out of the way”
She then proceed to spit on my cordovan's, I had just shined my shoes the night before, and the “Lady” spat on them!, I got piss! I looked at her face and I looked at my cordovan's, next thing I knew my beer is running down her face.
“Call the cops” she yells at the bartender
“You guys better leave, she will call the cops, and she about runs this town too” said another lady to me.
We proceed to walk out with Mando in front of me and Willie walking backwards watching my back, as we walked out the door, the cops had just arrived and are getting out of their car, one of them said to me.
“Trouble in there?”
“Yeah, some ass-hole raising hell” said Willie
As the cops ran inside the bar, we ran like hell down a side street and found another bar. We’re sitting at the bar having a beer when Pops walked in.
“Where the hell have you guys been?”
“Don’t ask Pops, you don’t want to know” I said
“I being looking all over town for you guys, you know what time it is!? It past midnight, and them people want to go to bed”
We left the bar and walk back to house, everybody is in the camper waiting for us, Mom and Pops said good by to their friends and we drove off. By this time everybody is piss at us.

We drove seven miles south on State Route 25 to Tres Pinos, now Tres Pinos is so small there isn’t a stop light or stop sign in town, nor do they have sidewalks, we found a place to park and sleep for the night, some of us roll out sleeping bags, Willie set up a two men tent and sleeping bag, close by was a bar, Mando and I went in for a beer, Willie went to sleep inside his tent, as we’re coming back from the bar I could hear Annie yelling at the top of her lungs.
Damn! Willie, where are you!?”
At the same time she is poking Willie’s tent with a boom stick.
“What?” said Willie as he poked his head out of the tent

In the morning after we cleaned up we drove five miles south to Paicines General Store to buy some provisions, (beer), afterward we drove back to Hollister and took Route 25 west to the San Juan Bautista Mission, Mom wanted to see the mission, Mando and I wanted to see the wine tasting room. We tasted just about every kind of wine they had, finally the wine server ask us.
“Are you guys buying or just drinking?”
“We haven’t found a good one to buy yet” said Mando
“Well, you’re not tasting any more wines”
We bought a bottle, went outside and sat under a tree with our bottle of wine.

After Mom had seen the mission and Mando and I, (Willie didn’t drink wine, he was a beer guy), drank the wine, we headed south on California 101. It was getting late on us so we pulled into a rest area for the night, we roll out our sleeping bags on the lawn, dang! just as we were going to sleep the automatic sprinklers want on, we had to move to the bathrooms to sleep. The ladies and the kids slept in the camper, Pops slept in the cab of the truck.

Next day after cleaning up as best as we could in the bathrooms of the rest area, we headed south on 101 again, but not before Pops told me.
“Mijo, no more drinking, okay?”
I was driving and Mando and Willie, were riding in the cab with me, Willie had ran out of beer and wanted to stop to buy some, but Pops had said “No more drinking”. I could see that ahead of us were some stores, I said to Willie.
“Willie, I’m going to stop up ahead and pull into the parking lot of those stores, I’m going to pull up the hood of the truck, so if Pops wants to know why we stopped, I’ll tell him the truck is running hot, in the meantime you run to the store and buy your beer”
Pops gets off from the back of the camper.
What’s wrong mijo?’ said Pops
“Nothing much Pops, the truck just running a little hot”
Pops goes back to the back of the camper just as Willie is coming back with his beer.
We get back on 101 and from there it’s a straight drive home without any more stops.
I can say that not everybody was a happy camper by the time we arrived back home.

The ''Lady'' in the bar is an example of how easy it is to get in trouble just by being in the wrong place, if the cops would have stopped you guys even though the ''broad'' that sounds better for her lol, would have said you started it they might have bought her story, that's a good reason to drink at home.

[CNorkusJr]

Whats with the "moved or deleted photos" ?

[Boxingnut]

RIP "Tiger" Ted Lowry, a true warrior, may he rest in peace.

[Rick Farris]

Lakers

[Rick Farris]

RIP "Tiger" Ted Lowry, a true warrior, may he rest in peace.

Ted Lowry . . .

John Bardelli interviewed Ted Lowry by telephone a few years back. I remember him living in the New England area.
This was a heavyweight who did something nobody else could, and that was go the distance with Rocky Marciano, twice!
In 49 fights, unbeaten Rocky was taken the distance six times, twice by Tiger Ted Lowry.

He was in his 80's when Bardelli spoke with him for nearly an hour, a recorded conversation that reflects a very sharp, enthusiatic and healthy former fighter. Lowry trained boxers for decades, amateurs, he was a teacher. After listening to Lowry speak with John, I was very impressed with the man.

Rob, thanks for informing us of his passing. Boxing has lost a special man, one who gave much of himself, and won in the end.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Tiger Ted Lowry

Born: 1919-10-27
Birthplace: North Haven, Connecticut, USA
Hometown: New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
Height: 5′ 10″ / 178cm

Ted Lowry was born in New Haven, CT on February 27, 1919. Lowry is the only fighter to twice last the ten-round distance with undefeated heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano. His boxing career began in 1940 at age 18 (he reportedly knocked out three opponents in one night), and ended in 1955, interrupted by World War II. He was a member of the all-black 555th Parachute Battalion--which came to be known as the "Triple Nickles"--during the war.

As of 2006, he was living in Norwalk, Connecticut, with his second wife, Alice, to whom he has been married for 40 years.

2008 Inductee into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame

[Rick Farris]

Legends of Longevity . . .

Willie Pep boxed 1,956 rounds during his long pro boxing career. Nearly 2000 rounds, 6000 minutes, 100 hours, the equivalent of more than four days of continuous fighting. Think of it, boxing ten rounds nearly 200 times.
Sugar Ray Leonard was burnt out after less than 300 rounds (the equivalent of 30 ten-rounders.)
I realize time has changed boxing practices, however, longevity must play a role in the rating of true greatness.

My opinion.

[CNorkusJr]

This was posted and sent to members of Ring 8 and NJBoxing HOF by Henry Hascup, Pres of New Jersey Boxing HOF

TIGER” TED LOWRY PASSES
Obituary written by Mike Silver

It is with sadness that I report the passing of my friend, the great Ted Lowry on Monday June 14th. Ted’s heart gave out. He was 90 years old. I use the word great in describing him not so much for his extraordinary boxing career but for the type of man he was and the quality of his character. Any of us who were fortunate enough to have had the pleasure of meeting Ted and getting to know him will agree. He was an intelligent, kind and generous individual, who treated everyone he met with genuine warmth and respect.
Ted was a member of what is referred to today as America’s greatest generation. He was born October 27, 1919 in New Haven, Connecticut, but grew up in Portland, Maine. In high school he excelled in every sport he ever tried, winning letters in track, football, basketball and baseball. He was even the state agate marbles champion and runner-up in the national tournament.
Ted Lowry began boxing professionally in 1939, at the age of 19, to help support his mother and siblings. Even though he had a limited amateur career Ted was such a natural he was fighting main events by his eighth pro fight. He never had another preliminary fight for the rest of his 144 bout career. Ted was fortunate to have an excellent trainer in Panama Roy Brooks, a former New England featherweight champion in the 1920s who was trained by the great Jack Johnson. Brooks taught Lowry many of the defensive maneuvers that Johnson had used to keep himself virtually untouched during his 25 year ring career. Lowry learned the lesson well. He never took a beating and was mentally sharp and active into his late 80s. When Ted was 86 years old I interviewed him for my book and if I had never met him could not have guessed that he had ever been a pro fighter, let alone one with 144 pro bouts to his credit. His speech was articulate and crisp and his memory of his fights astounding. He looked and acted like someone 30 years younger.
Lowry was a well muscled light heavyweight of stocky build who stood 5’ 10” and tipped the beam between 165 and 180 pounds. In the first four years of his career (1939-1943) he kept up a schedule that is hard to believe today but was standard operating procedure for many fighters of his era. In the 45 months before he joined the Army he engaged in 68 professional fights, winning 42, losing 22 with 4 draws. A heavy puncher, Lowry flattened 31 opponents and was never stopped or even knocked down during this time. He lost to the more experienced Coley Welch, Vince Pimpinella, Eddie Pierce (twice) and the feared heavyweight Lee Q. Murray (who outweighed him by 20 pounds).
Ted was often thrown in against heavyweights although he rarely scaled more than 175 pounds. In 1943 he drew with heavyweight contender Eddie Blunt. Outweighed by 30 pounds, Lowry still managed to drop his 6’ 3” opponent.
In examining Ted’s record one cannot help but notice a curious pattern. He would knock out an opponent and then in the rematch drop the decision. Or he would lose a decision to an ordinary fighter and then flatten the same opponent easily when they fought again. This could have several explanations; he was always available and sometimes would be called to substitute for another fighter on a days notice. He always kept in shape but the extremely busy schedule he kept would be hard for any fighter to maintain a consistency of performance. The other explanation is that as a black fighter trying to make a living and often fighting in an opponent’s backyard he was robbed dozens of times, or perhaps promised more bouts if he cooperated and tried not to knock out the local favorite. Ted once told me that of his 67 losses in 144 fights, he believed he actually lost only 23. I have come across a number of Ring magazine accounts of his fights which decry unfair decisions against him. I have no doubt what he said was true.
Like millions of other patriotic Americans Ted answered the call to arms during World War II. When he heard that the Army was starting its first all black paratrooper unit Ted was quick to volunteer. After a thorough vetting process he was admitted to the elite 555th parachute battalion, nicknamed “The Triple Nickels”.
Extensive training at Fort Bragg followed and included over 30 practice jumps. While in the Army Ted was asked to box an exhibition with heavyweight champion Joe Louis who was touring with a USO troupe. He always considered that exhibition with “Big Red” (as Louis was called by fellow Black soldiers) the top highlight of his entire boxing career. After the three round bout Louis told him he had the potential of a champion and could go all the way in boxing. Those words spoken by the great Joe Louis inspired and motivated him to continue boxing if he survived the war.
Ted (now a sergeant) and his fellow soldiers were eager to join the fight and be shipped over to Europe. To their disappointment the battalion was never shipped overseas. Instead they were used on a stateside secret mission that only recently became public knowledge. During the last year of the war Japan launched hundreds of balloons carrying high explosive incendiary bombs and aimed them at the U.S. The balloons were intended to follow the Pacific Ocean jet stream to the west coast of the United States and spread terror and destruction when they hit the ground and exploded. Dozens of these balloons actually made it to the west coast and beyond. Fortunately they landed in unpopulated areas but the explosions started massive forest fires. One family picnicking in an Oregon forest was killed by one of these explosions.
The government did not want to start a panic or let the Japanese warlords know that some balloons had gotten through, so the public never knew about the fires. The 555th was given a quick course in fire fighting and was parachuted into the forests to try and stop the fires from spreading. They soon acquired a new nickname “Smoke Jumpers”. Their success in accomplishing the mission was not revealed until the 1970s. A documentary called “Smoke Jumpers”, made in the 1990s and hosted by General Colin Powell, tells the story of the 555th all black parachute battalion.
Upon his discharge Ted picked up where he had left off in his boxing career. His problem was that he had all the talent in the world but not the right managerial connections to maneuver him up the ladder. But what he did have was Sam Silverman, New England’s premier boxing promoter, who used him constantly. At least Ted could be guaranteed to have a steady income fighting every two or three weeks. His record reads like a who’s who of top heavyweights and light heavyweight of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Ted crossed gloves with the legendary “Tiger” Jack Fox (L-10), Aaron “Tiger” Wade (W-10), Lee Savold (D-10), Lee Oma (D-10, L-10), Roland La Starza (L-10), Jimmy Bivins (L-10), Jimmy Slade (L-10), Ceasar Brion (L-10), Billy Fox (D-10,W-10).
In October 1949, in Providence, R.I. Lowry met a young Rocky Marciano. The Rock was undefeated, having knocked out 19 of 20 opponents. In the fourth round Rocky was staggered several times by Lowry’s right uppercuts. At the end of 10 rounds Marciano was awarded the decision but most spectators, including the reporter covering the fight for the Providence Rhode Island Journal thought Lowry deserved to win.
Eight months later Ted got one of his frequent calls to substitute for another fighter on short notice. The opponent was Rocky Marciano. Although Ted would have wanted more time to prepare for the re-match he couldn’t help but notice the tremendous improvement in the Rock’s technique. Ted lost the unanimous ten round decision but won Marciano’s everlasting respect. After the fight Rocky said, “I think Lowry would have gone the distance if we had fought a hundred times. I could never get use to his style of fighting.”
Ted’s style was mostly defensive, as he could not afford to get beat up or take too many chances if he was to continue his busy schedule of fighting once or twice every month. But there were times when he knew opportunity was knocking and he gave it his all. It was at these times that we saw what could have been and what Ted Lowry was capable of. In 1948 he fought future light heavyweight champion Archie Moore in Baltimore. After sampling a Moore left hook that nearly floored him in the first round, Ted proceeded to give the great fighter a hard fought battle. He lost a unanimous decision but won at least 3 rounds. In the write-up on the fight that appeared the next day in “The Baltimore Sun” the reporter wrote that the rounds that Moore won were closely contested and the scoring did not reflect how tough a fight it was for Moore whose eye was closed tight at the end.
In 1950 Ted, took the New England heavyweight title from Bernie Reynolds in 12 rounds. And in one of his best performances, in 1952 in St. Paul, Minnesota, he fought light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim in a non-title bout and was robbed of a decision he clearly deserved to win. The fix was in for this one as Maxim’s next fight was against the great Sugar Ray Robinson. There was no way Ted was going to get the decision.
Ted was 35 years old when he decided to retire in 1955. His final stats were 66 wins (43 by KO), 67 losses (KO by 3), 10 draws and 1 no decision for a total of 144 professional fights. Only two fighters were able to stop him. He lost to the power punching heavyweight contender Lee Q. Murray in a bout that Ted thought was stopped prematurely. And he was knocked out by the always dangerous Rusty Payne in the 7th round. Ted had twice gone the distance with both of these murderous bangers in previous fights. There is one other KO loss on his record, to Harry Kid Mathews, that occurred late in Ted’s career. Let’s just say the fight was of dubious veracity and that questions still remain about that “knockout”.
Ted did not get the breaks he deserved during his lengthy career. The fact that he never fought in Madison Square Garden says it all. But he was never bitter. The only time I ever saw him come close to an expression of anger was when he recalled an experience in the Army while assigned to a base in the Southwest that also housed German prisoners of war. The busses that ferried soldiers and prisoners around the base required black soldiers to sit in the back but allowed the German POWs to sit up front.
After his ring career ended Ted operated his own construction business in Norwalk, Connecticut for many years. For the past 40 years he has had the love and support of his wife, Alice. She was fond of saying that in all that time they never had an argument.
Ted believed in contributing to the community. He coached boxing at a local Norwalk gym where he was a father figure to many young men who otherwise would have gone in the wrong direction. He received many civic awards for his work in combating juvenile delinquency. Work was always very important to Ted. He could not sit still and always wanted to remain active. In his late 80s he was working as a bus monitor for a local elementary school.
In 2007 Ted published his autobiography, titled “God’s In My Corner: A Portrait of An American Boxer” in which he describes, in his own words, his fascinating life story.
During his boxing career Ted was considered a reliable journeyman fighter, always in shape, and always counted on to go the distance. 144 fights! I considered him to be a boxing treasure—one of the last links to boxing’s great golden age of talent, activity and popularity. I was proud to call him my friend and proud and honored to have interviewed him for my book to which he added so much.
Ted is survived by his lovely Alice, children and grandchildren. Rest in peace my friend.

[bennie]

Norm Lockwood was a good cut-man, so was Jackie McCoy, of the old timers that come to mind, Johnny Villaflor, I know that Hoyt Porter was also a good one.

Danny Holland was one of our greatest ever cutsmen. He worked the corner of Henry Cooper.

bennie, could you remind me, who was the guy who looked after Buchanan? he did a tremendous job on his swelling in the 2nd Laguna fight..........

Eddie Thomas. Kenny left him after Laguna in a dispute over, what else, money, and linked up with Gil Clancy. Kenny admits in his autobiography that it was a mistake leaving Thomas, a former outstanding boxer and an outstanding trainer who also steered Howard Winstone and Colin Jones.

[bennie]

Danny Holland was one of our greatest ever cutsmen. He worked the corner of Henry Cooper.

bennie, could you remind me, who was the guy who looked after Buchanan? he did a tremendous job on his swelling in the 2nd Laguna fight..........

Bennie, wasn't Buchanan's manager, Eddie Thomas, also his cutman in the corner? One story I heard about that fight was that Thomas cut Buchanan's eye to relieve the swelling. True?

It's true. Thomas knew what he was doing and 'won' the fight for Buchanan. Stallone later used the same manoeuvre in one of the Rocky movies.