Classic American West Coast Boxing

[BoxBuzz]

This thread continues to be an absolute platinum mine of great boxing information, reflections, analysis and historical perspective. Such a pleasure to visit and read on a regular basis. Continued thanks to all who contribute. For what it's worth there are some of us out here who rarely miss a page.......

[Rick Farris]

CBHOF-2010



Tom Ray, Rick Farris & Randy De La O

Perhaps I shouldn't ask, but was there any attempt at a reconcilliation with Roger at this event?

Bennie, I invited Roger to join us at the CBHOF lunch.
He accepted, and drove all the way up to L.A. from San Diego.
We were all happy to see Roger.
A couple days ago, I informed him of Denny Moyer's passing in e-mail, and told him we would appreciate his thoughts on Moyer's career and passing.

If in a couple days if Roger hasn't responded, I'll still consider him a friend, but one that wants no part of us on this thread.
Although we all share a common bond here, we're all different people. Words carry a lot of power, and they effect people differently, sometimes a compliment to one person, can be an insult to another. I'm not aware of anybody insulting Roger, but I'm not Rog, so I have no clue how he feels or why he had decided to walk away. Maybe he just got burnt out, got tired of reading the same old thing from the same old people? Personally, I think we keep things pretty diverse here. We have been going strong for 2 1/2 years with no sign of a let up. We have all showed our concern for Roger, I think it's time to forget about it. If he doesn't want to a part of us, that's his right. Time to move on.

[Rick Farris]

Detroit or Hawaii? Luck of the Draw . . .

Yesterday I was working out with my friend John. John Doyle and I have been training together every Sunday morning for several years.
John is a top wardrobe man (costumer) in the film industry and became interested in boxing while working with Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson in the boxing movie, "Play It To The Bone".

Yesterday, John and I both told one another that we'd be leaving for six month film locations, so the boxing would have to be put on hold again, until we return.
I told John I'd be in Detroit thru Christmas, on a gritty police murder series titled, "Detroit 187", starring Michael Imperioli, who was in the Sopranos.
I mentioned to John I wasn't excited about spending six months in a Detroit, but what the hell, it was work. Nothing going on in L.A.

John told me he would also be doing a Police show, about homicides. I said, "well, I bet your location won't be any tougher than Detroit."
John laughed, "I'm doing 'Hawaii Five-0', I'll be in Honolulu."
Hawaii? I shook my head, "Damn, you get Hawaii and I get Detroit!"

Im not complaining, I've had my share of great locations during the past thirty years. You take the bad with the good.
I'm going to see what I can find relating to boxing in the Motor City.
Maybe I'll find something to write about because I sure as hell won't be spending my free time on a tropical beach sipping on umbrella drinks.
No Polynesian cuties to distract me in Detroit, so I'll bring my lap top, and enjoy the people of Michigan.

[THEHAMMER321]

A Fool's Image of Invincibility . . .


I suppose in absence of a strong talent pool, comtemporary boxing promoters have to rely on creating an image of invincibility to assist marketing today's moderate quality prizefighters. Don't get me wrong, we do have one throwback type champ which can be credited for reminding boxing fans of what true talent really is, however, Manny Pac is a lone wolf, unique in an era that pales in comaparison to days gone by. But the Filippino super champ is pretty close to the end of the line. Nothing more to prove aside from a questionable title match with a reluctant Floyd Mayweather Jr. I'd love to see if the charismatic Pac Man can put together one last super fight against Mayweather, which would likely lead to two more because nobody will lose this one big, or even get hurt. They could cruise thru three great fights and make nine figures each.

Today we need to pull out all the tricks to hype a promotion, even if it means dropping to cheap wrestling type tactics.
The sneering and scowling I see on some boxer's faces today at press conferences, etc. really makes watching the fight difficult for me.
They are already pumping the drama outside the ring, which tends to eliminate the drama that is supposed to take place later, inside the ring.

Danny Lopez and Bobby Chacon didn't have act like they hated each other, the fact is, although cross-town rivals, they were friends.
Same was true a more than a quarter-century earlier, when Gil Cadilli and Keeny Teran were matched in six-rounder at the Legion.
Teran and Cadilli were both ELA guys, who grew up together in the Forbes stable. They were neighborhood rivals, friends but foes as pros.
Friendship is respectfully set aside in the ring. Fight a respectful fight and try to knock the guy out.
When friends fight friends, or brothers fight brothers, sometimes the closeness fuels a fire, leading to a deadly match.

Today we gotta watch tip-tap punching, point-oriented escape artisits, and listen to guys like team HBO tell us these guys are great.
An Armenian champ recently told the press he hoped he kills his challenger. Of course, the tough little Mexican he stepped into the ring with didn't understand English or Armenian, only that he would have things easier in life if he could win. So that's what he did, he thrashed the guy who hoped to kill him. I guess that's one thing I love so much about the great Mexican fighters, they don't need rap music, trash talk or forced drug testing to make their point. The Mexicans make their statement in the ring, and they come to take your title.

The key today is not to let your fighter lose. Losing they don't understand today, the kids who run the networks. If they didn't grow up in front of Play Stations and computor screens, they might have lived a little life and realize that somedays people lose. Even the truly best wake up on the wrong side of the bed at times. The champs of my era stayed sharp by staying busy in ten round non-title fights. Sometimes they'd use these as tune-ups, and they lost occasionally. But that didn't challenge their true greatness, it just gave us a clearer view of what happens when boxers are matched competitivly. You see better boxing, and the fighters become better boxers, they continue to grow and muture in the ring. A loss can be good. It will only challenge a guy who's heart may not be in it as once believed. An ass-whipping gets a fighter's attention. A real fighter wants to turn things around.

Parnassus knew this, and of course, so did Aileen Eaton, Don Fraser and Don Chargin.
As time marches on, people are becoming stupider by the day. As Mel Epstein would say, "dumb bastids!"


-Rick Farris

Good point here Rick, it doesn't mean the end of a career just because you lose a fight, most of the time I don't think it is the fighters fault the reason he isn't fighting more often and against better fighters, the managers sometimes are trying to insure a big future payday by looking good vs guys who don't have a chance and keeping that '' 0 '' on the end of there record so the T.V clowns can sell the people payperview garbage.

[bennie]

CBHOF-2010



Tom Ray, Rick Farris & Randy De La O

Perhaps I shouldn't ask, but was there any attempt at a reconcilliation with Roger at this event?

Bennie, I invited Roger to join us at the CBHOF lunch.
He accepted, and drove all the way up to L.A. from San Diego.
We were all happy to see Roger.
A couple days ago, I informed him of Denny Moyer's passing in e-mail, and told him we would appreciate his thoughts on Moyer's career and passing.

If in a couple days if Roger hasn't responded, I'll still consider him a friend, but one that wants no part of us on this thread.
Although we all share a common bond here, we're all different people. Words carry a lot of power, and they effect people differently, sometimes a compliment to one person, can be an insult to another. I'm not aware of anybody insulting Roger, but I'm not Rog, so I have no clue how he feels or why he had decided to walk away. Maybe he just got burnt out, got tired of reading the same old thing from the same old people? Personally, I think we keep things pretty diverse here. We have been going strong for 2 1/2 years with no sign of a let up. We have all showed our concern for Roger, I think it's time to forget about it. If he doesn't want to a part of us, that's his right. Time to move on.

Thanks, Rick

[bennie]

Rick maybe you know there was a journeyman fighter who trained here in Vegas back in the 1980s Kevin Morgan I used to see him in the golden gloves gym here working out along with Bruce Curry AND Roger mayweather they talked about Kevins dad,do you think his dad is L.C Morgan

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Frankie Baltazar and L.C. Morgan's son, Kevin Morgan

One of the things I have always been curious about is the life of L.C. Morgan. I can't think of an African American fighter who had such an extensive boxing career in Mexico. That includes the boxing histories of Henry Armstrong and Chalky Wright.If you look at Morgan's record,he fought in many of the small arenas in those far away towns in Mexico. Morgan was the fighter that opened up Jose Napoles's eye in Reynosa ,Mexico. One of these days I would like to talk to his son and discuss his Dad. A Black fighter from Mississippi who left his mark South Of The Border.

It sounds like L.C. enjoyed tequila. He died of a liver complaint at 52.

[kikibalt]

Damn computers!, have a desk top in my patio and two months ago it crash, had to wait for my computer geek grandson, Ryan, to come to Calif. from AZ. to fix it, he did, now its working great, no longer do I have to be coop-up in my main computer room or have to use the lap-top, which I hate.

[Rick Farris]

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Frankie Baltazar and L.C. Morgan's son, Kevin Morgan

One of the things I have always been curious about is the life of L.C. Morgan. I can't think of an African American fighter who had such an extensive boxing career in Mexico. That includes the boxing histories of Henry Armstrong and Chalky Wright.If you look at Morgan's record,he fought in many of the small arenas in those far away towns in Mexico. Morgan was the fighter that opened up Jose Napoles's eye in Reynosa ,Mexico. One of these days I would like to talk to his son and discuss his Dad. A Black fighter from Mississippi who left his mark South Of The Border.

It sounds like L.C. enjoyed tequila. He died of a liver complaint at 52.

L.C. Morgan . . .


He fought the great Jose Napoles four times.
However, there was a reason for four fights. Although Mantequilla won three times, nothing was easy facing the cagey L.C. Morgan.
This guy fought everyone, what a story his must be, the little things that people just don't know or see when they think of a boxer.

I remember seeing him at Teamsters Gym, during junior matches when I was a kid. L.C. Morgan coached kids, including his son Kevin.
I first heard of L.C. when I listened to a conversation between Dwight Hawkins, and our manager, Johnny Flores.
It was in 1967, and we were in the dressing area for a Jr. show held in Santa Ana, at a Union Hall.
As Flores wrapped my hands, Hawkins sat beside us on a fold up chair.
He asked Flores if they could ride together down to T.J., the following Sunday, to watch Mantequilla Napoles fight L.C. Morgan a fourth time.
Flores acknowledged Hawkins, who would meet at the manager's home early Sunday morning.

The conversation went right to Jose Napoles, and both the Hawk and Johnny were somewhat in awe of the great Cuban contender.
"A blown-up lightweight", Flores said of the guy they called "Mantequilla". He was truly as smooth as butter in the ring, and deadly.

Again, L.C. Morgan, what a life he must have lived.
The liver complaint? Sometimes a man needs something to ease the pain, who knows?
I believe that L.C. Morgan knew about pain.


-Rick Farris

[raylawpc]

L C Morgan's record:

1953
-- Youngstown, OH & Cleveland Golden Glove Champ, Featherweight

1954
--- Youngstown, OH & Cleveland Golden Glove Champ, Featherweight
Jun 28 Armand Bush Brooklyn W 4
Aug 24 Elmer Lakatos Youngstown, OH KO by 4
Oct 14 Elmer Lakatos Pittsburgh KO 1
Dec 11 Ray Powell Pittsburgh KO 1

1955
Jan 11 Chuck Adkins Chicago KO 2
Feb 1 Ron Stribling Chicago KO 1
Mar 8 Benny Meeks Chicago W 10
Mar 29 Carl Stafford Chicago KO 4
Apr 22 Tommy Salem Chicago KO 7
May 5 John Barnes Youngstown, OH KO 4
Jun 28 Louis Carr Chicago KO 6
Jul 27 Bobby Bickle Chicago W 10
Sep 23 Ludwig Lightburn Cleveland L 8
Dec 15 Glen Flanagan Troy, NY W 10

1956
Jan 26 Noel Humphhreys Troy, NY KO 3
Mar 28 Ludwig Lightburn Cleveland W 10
Aug 8 Henry Brown Chicago KO by 1
Dec 3 Wayman Dawson Pittsburgh L 10

1957
Feb 28 Willie Stevenson Revere, MA L 10
Apr 5 Nate "Killer" Jackson New Orleans KO 4
Jun 15 Don Jordan Hollywood, CA W 10
Sep 9 Cesar "Chivo" Orta Caracas L 10
Sep 20 Vicente Rivas Caracas KO by 4
Dec 4 Bonnie Espinosa Honolulu W 10
Dec 16 Stan Harrington Honolulu KO by 3

1958
Jan 10 Ray Greco San Diego W 10
Jan 16 Alvaro Gutierrez Los Angeles KO by 5
Feb 17 Jimmy Feaster Las Vegas KO 1
Feb 23 Dave "Mota" Cervantes Juarez, Mexico KO 5
Mar 28 Julian Valdez San Diego W 10
Jun 17 Dave "Mota" Cervantes Juarez, Mexico KO 4
Aug 7 Augustin Rosales Los Angeles KO 10
Aug 19 Armando Muniz Juarez, Mexico KO 2
Sep 13 Arnoldo Gil Monterrey, Mexico KO 8
Sep 27 Juan "Bombon" Padilla Monterrey, Mexico W 10
Oct 18 Arnoldo Gil Obregon, Mexico W 10
Oct 23 Pinky Peralta Hermosillo, Mexico KO 2
Oct 25 Baby Felix Guaymas, Mexico KO 2
Nov 24 Ludwig Lightburn El Paso, TX L 10
Dec 16 Benny Montoya Lubbock, TX KO 3
Dec 30 Arnoldo Gil Hermosillo, Mexico L 10

1959
Jan 10 Alfredo "Molote" Cota Obregon, Mexico L 10
Feb 10 Joe Miceli Phoenix W 10
Mar 24 Arnoldo Gil Phoenix KO 4
Apr 7 Manuel Maldonado Albuquerque KO 2
Sep 5 Roberto "Chango" Garcia Guadalajara KO 7
Sep 25 Roberto "Chango" Garcia Mexico City KO 7
Nov 14 Damasco Collazo Monterrey, Mexico KO 10

1960
Jan 16 Alfredo "Molote" Cota Guadalajara L 10
Jan 30 Chilango Rosales Guadalajara KO 9
Feb 12 Ludwig Lightburn Monterrey, Mexico TL 9
Mar 5 Alfredo "Molote" Cota Guadalajara KO by 8
May 24 Bobby Brown Phoenix W 10
Oct 25 Charley "Tombstone" Smith Los Angeles W 10
Dec 13 Frank Ramirez Los Angeles KO 3

1961
Jan 12 Eddie Perkins Los Angeles W 10
Feb 9 Willie Morton Los Angeles W 12
Apr 13 Joey Parks Los Angeles KO 1
May 9 Blitz Najaar Honolulu KO 3
Jun 24 Rocky Kalingo Manila KO 2
Aug 5 Manuel Alvarez Monterrey, Mexico L 10
Sep 20 Giordano Campari Rome W 10
Oct 27 Bruno Visintin Rome L 10
Nov 27 Dave Charnley Manchester, England KO by 2

1962
Jan 26 Tony Perez Hermosillo, Mexico L 10
Mar 9 Rocky Kalingo Honolulu D 10
Apr 10 Rocky Kalingo Honolulu W 10
May 3 Stan Harrington Honolulu L 10
Aug 21 Jorge "Baby" Gutierrez Juarez, Mexico KO by 7
Aug 27 Dave Johnson San Francisco W 10
Dec 5 Tony Montano Phoenix L 10
Dec 12 Tony Montano Phoenix L 10

1963
Jan 12 Mauro Vasquez Monterrey, Mexico KO 8
Feb 1 Marcelo Vargas Monterrey, Mexico KO by 10
Apr 5 Ted Wright Rome KO by 4
Apr 19 Marcelo Vargas Monterrey, Mexico KO 1
May 19 Beto Gerardo Culiacan, Mexico KO 10
Jun 9 Alvaro Gutierrez Guadalajara KO 4
Jul 13 Alfredo Cota La Paz, Mexico KO 4
Jul 20 Polo Corona Guaymas, Mexico KO 5
Jul 27 Texas Hurtado Obregon, Mexico KO 4
Aug 24 Alfredo Urbina Guadalajara KO by 8
Sep 7 Jesse Armenta Obregon, Mexico KO 6
Sep 21 Aristeo Chavarin Los Mochis, Mexico KO 4
Oct 5 Sergio Rodriguez Guadalajara KO 2
Nov 30 Jose Napoles Caracas KO by 7
Dec 14 Alfredo Cota Mexicali, Mexico KO 4
Dec 17 Charley Austin Phoenix KO 6

1964
Jan 19 Hilario Morales Mexicali, Mexico KO 9
Jan 28 Charley Austin Phoenix W 10
Feb 29 Alfredo Cota Culican, Mexico KO 5
Mar 13 Beto Gerardo Monterrey, Mexico KO 4
Mar 23 Pichon Reyes Monclova, Mexico KO 5
Apr 16 Beto Martinez Gomez-Palacio, Mexico KO 3
May 9 Ruben Rivera Nuevo Laredo, Mexico KO 6
May 20 Rudy Garcia Saltillo, Mexico KO 3
Jun 13 Francisco Canico Mazatlan, Mexico KO 2
Jun 19 Alvaro Gutierrez Monterrey, Mexico D 10
Jul 3 Rudy Garcia Matamoros, Mexico KO 3
Jul 24 Arturo Macias Tampico, Mexico KO 3
Aug 8 Everardo Armenta Los Mochis, Mexico KO 7
Sep 5 Ruben Arocha Monterrey, Mexico KO 3
Oct 7 Gasoline Lopez Hermosillo, Mexico KO 8
Nov 14 Luis Rodriguez Mexico City KO by 2

1965
Oct 2 Uben Arocha Mexico City W 10
Nov 20 Battling Torres Monterrey, Mexico KO 2
Dec 18 Jorge Morales Guadalajara KO by 4

1966
Aug 22 Jose Napoles Reynosa, Mexico TKO 4
Oct 1 Battling Torres Reynosa, Mexico KO by 6
Nov 22 Carlos Hernandez Maracaibo, Venezuela KO by 2
Dec 13 Carlos Hernandez Maracaibo, Venezuela KO 4

1967
Mar 18 Ramon LaCruz Mar del Plata, Arg. L 10
Apr 15 Ramon LaCruz Buenos Aires L 10
May 13 Nicolino Loche Buenos Aires L 10
Aug 23 Chucho Garcia Matamoros, Mexico W 10
Jul 10 Jose Napoles Tijuana KO by 2
Sep 13 Jorge Rosales Matamoros, Mexico KO by 7

1968
Mar 22 Angel "Robinson" Garcia Rome D 10
Apr 19 Angel "Robinson" Garcia Rome KO by 9
May 19 Raul "Chato" Soriano Mexicali, Mexico KO by 6
Jul 2 Carl Moore Phoenix L 10

1969
Feb 9 Rafael Gutierrez Mexicali, Mexico KO by 8
May 2 Raul "Chato" Soriano Laredo, TX KO by 2
Oct 7 Oscar Albarado San Antonio LDQ 5
Oct 28 Oscar Albarado San Antonio KO by 5

Look at some of the names on his record: Glen Flanagan, Ludwig Lightburn, Don Jordan, Joe Miceli, Stan Harrington, Eddie Perkins, Battling Torres, Nicolino Loche, and Shotgun Albarado. And he beat Jose Napoles (cut eye) ,and KOed Carlos Hernandez. He fought Napoles 4 times.

[Rick Farris]

L.C.'s real record?

L.C. Morgan claims to have had more than 240 bouts, many unlisted by record books and magazines.
He fought in Mexico. Makes sense to me that he had many unrecorded matches.
Maybe Chuck Johnston has some info?

[kikibalt]

Saw L.C. fight live a few time at the Olympic, his fight with Alvaro Gutierrez was a pier six brawl, seen him beat Tombstone Smith, seen him fight Eddie Perkins, but I don't remember who won the fight....

Just saw his record, he beat Eddie at the Olympic.

[BoxBuzz]

Purely for laughs, (and a bit of trivia)

Anyone remember this pug's mug?

[BoxBuzz]

For anyone who does not know.....it was a twilight zone episode. Here is Rod Serling's opening remarks. (This episode was made in the 50's and is depicting a "future glimpse into 1974.....according to the story boxing was banned in 1968......so Serling was not exactly nostradamus I suppose.

Rod Serling Speaks.....
Sports item, circa 1974: Battling Maxo, B2, heavyweight, accompanied by his manager and handler, arrives in Maynard, Kansas, for a scheduled six-round bout. Battling Maxo is a robot, or, to be exact, an android — definition: 'an automaton resembling a human being.' Only these automatons have been permitted in the ring since prizefighting was legally abolished in 1968. This is the story of that scheduled six-round bout — more specifically, the story of two men shortly to face that remorseless truth: that no law can be passed which will abolish cruelty or desperate need — nor, for that matter, blind animal courage. Location for the facing of said truth: a small, smoke-filled arena just this side of the Twilight Zone. ”


Synopsis of the Twilight Zone episode....

In a future where any boxing involving human fighters has been criminalized, the sport is now dominated by fighting robots. Former boxer Steel Kelly manages a B2-model robot called "Battling Maxo." Maxo is an older fighting robot and we learn that due to his age, he is not in demand. Kelly and his partner have used the last of their money to get to the fight venue. He is being given this chance due to the fact that one of the scheduled fighters was damaged in transport. Kelly has to assure the fight promoter that Maxo will be able to fight. After the fight promoter leaves Kelly and his partner and mechanic, Pole, argue about Maxo's condition and that he needs new parts. Kelly feels that Maxo should be able to go through with the fight despite Maxo's age and condition. While Pole tests Maxo's functions, an arm spring lets go and they don't have the parts or the money to fix him. Kelly decides that since they are from out of town, he would disguise himself as Maxo in order to collect the money necessary for repairs. Steel enters the fight disguised as Maxo. However, despite a valiant effort, he is unable to damage the B7 robot he is fighting, even when he lands an unblocked punch directly in the back of its head. He is nearly killed after lasting a little under three minutes. The crowd jeers and boos at Maxo's performance, not knowing that it is a human doing the fighting. Afterwards, the fight promoter will only give them half the prize money because of "Maxo's" poor performance. The episode ends with Kelly, bruised but stubborn as ever, telling Pole that with the money they will get the parts to fix Maxo.


Closing narration by Rod Serling.....
“ Portrait of a losing side, proof positive that you can't outpunch machinery. Proof also of something else: that no matter what the future brings, man's capacity to rise to the occasion will remain unaltered. His potential for tenacity and optimism continues, as always, to outfight, outpoint and outlive any and all changes made by his society, for which three cheers and a unanimous decision rendered from the Twilight Zone.



Now here comes the disappointment. I had uploaded this episode to youtube for your viewing , but it did not take for some reason......I did try though!

[kikibalt]

[Rick Farris]

Saw L.C. fight live a few time at the Olympic, his fight with Alvaro Gutierrez was a pier six brawl, seen him beat Tombstone Smith, seen him fight Eddie Perkins, but I don't remember who won the fight....

Just saw his record, he beat Eddie at the Olympic.

Frank, his 1961 win over Eddie Perkins that you saw at the Olympic, would be L.C.'s last fight in Los Angeles.
He'd fight on another eight years, but not in L.A. Too bad, we really missed out on something.
Too good for his own good? That's often the case.

[Rick Farris]

For anyone who does not know.....it was a twilight zone episode. Here is Rod Serling's opening remarks. (This episode was made in the 50's and is depicting a "future glimpse into 1974.....according to the story boxing was banned in 1968......so Serling was not exactly nostradamus I suppose.

Rod Serling Speaks.....
Sports item, circa 1974: Battling Maxo, B2, heavyweight, accompanied by his manager and handler, arrives in Maynard, Kansas, for a scheduled six-round bout. Battling Maxo is a robot, or, to be exact, an android — definition: 'an automaton resembling a human being.' Only these automatons have been permitted in the ring since prizefighting was legally abolished in 1968. This is the story of that scheduled six-round bout — more specifically, the story of two men shortly to face that remorseless truth: that no law can be passed which will abolish cruelty or desperate need — nor, for that matter, blind animal courage. Location for the facing of said truth: a small, smoke-filled arena just this side of the Twilight Zone. ”


Synopsis of the Twilight Zone episode....

In a future where any boxing involving human fighters has been criminalized, the sport is now dominated by fighting robots. Former boxer Steel Kelly manages a B2-model robot called "Battling Maxo." Maxo is an older fighting robot and we learn that due to his age, he is not in demand. Kelly and his partner have used the last of their money to get to the fight venue. He is being given this chance due to the fact that one of the scheduled fighters was damaged in transport. Kelly has to assure the fight promoter that Maxo will be able to fight. After the fight promoter leaves Kelly and his partner and mechanic, Pole, argue about Maxo's condition and that he needs new parts. Kelly feels that Maxo should be able to go through with the fight despite Maxo's age and condition. While Pole tests Maxo's functions, an arm spring lets go and they don't have the parts or the money to fix him. Kelly decides that since they are from out of town, he would disguise himself as Maxo in order to collect the money necessary for repairs. Steel enters the fight disguised as Maxo. However, despite a valiant effort, he is unable to damage the B7 robot he is fighting, even when he lands an unblocked punch directly in the back of its head. He is nearly killed after lasting a little under three minutes. The crowd jeers and boos at Maxo's performance, not knowing that it is a human doing the fighting. Afterwards, the fight promoter will only give them half the prize money because of "Maxo's" poor performance. The episode ends with Kelly, bruised but stubborn as ever, telling Pole that with the money they will get the parts to fix Maxo.


Closing narration by Rod Serling.....
“ Portrait of a losing side, proof positive that you can't outpunch machinery. Proof also of something else: that no matter what the future brings, man's capacity to rise to the occasion will remain unaltered. His potential for tenacity and optimism continues, as always, to outfight, outpoint and outlive any and all changes made by his society, for which three cheers and a unanimous decision rendered from the Twilight Zone.



Now here comes the disappointment. I had uploaded this episode to youtube for your viewing , but it did not take for some reason......I did try though!

Thanks, Rob! I clearly remember that episode and have watched it dozens of times.
I believe it was Lee Marvin, portraying the human who fought the robot. Classic MGM-TV!

[BoxBuzz]

Yep, it was Lee Marvin in that classic Battling Maxo episode.....

Here is a pic of the Maxo "upgrade" that takes Lee out in about one round.

[kikibalt]

Lee Marvin in Steel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb6U938auvg
Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRCpmMe0_OU
Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDgMRcns53g
Part 3

[Rick Farris]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Denny Moyer, Former Junior Middle Weight Boxing Champion Passed Away Last Week From Complications Caused By Pugilistic Dementia Sustained By Ring Injuries

Moyer, a member of Oregon’s most prestigious boxing family died this past week as a result from complications from chronic brain injuries Pugilistic Dementia. During his career Moyer fought and beat the likes of former world champions Sugar Ray Robinson, Emile Griffith, and Benny ‘Kid’ Paret.

Portland, Oregon -- July 6, 2010 -- Denny Moyer passed away Thursday July 1st in Gresham, Oregon at age 70. Sports writers around the world called Denny Moyer a technically masterful fighter with movie star good looks. Denny, the former Junior Middle Weight Boxing Champion and the youngest member of Oregon’s most famous boxing family was regarded by Oregon sports fans as one of the greatest boxers to ever come out of the state.

Boxing Historian David Martinez (dmboxing.com) said of Denny (who died of complications from Pugilistic Dementia) “The baby boom generation will always remember Denny fighting regularly on the nationally televised “Friday Night Fights” from Madison Square Garden. Denny Moyer who represented Oregon defeated the likes of world champions Sugar Ray Robinson, Emile Griffith, and Benny ‘Kid’ Paret.”

While still at Central Catholic High School, Denny won the National AAU Welterweight Championship. He turned professional right out of high school, and just two years later after winning 21 professional bouts Denny suffered his first loss in a close decision during a World Welterweight Title Fight with Don Jordan on July 10, 1960. The fight was a nationally televised from the Portland Meadows.

Denny went on for a total of 135 professional fights retiring in 1975, but not before becoming the World Junior Middle Weight Boxing Champion in 1962 out slugging Joy Gimbra in a grueling 15 round ring war at the Memorial Coliseum. Denny was inducted into Oregon’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.

Denny came from a prestigious boxing family. His father Harry (96) resides in Milwaukie, Oregon and was the West Coast Golden Glove Champion in 1937. His uncle Tommy (92) resides in Portland and was the National AAU Champion in 1941. His older brother Phil (72) resides in Gresham and had a professional career that was cut short after just 37 fights from a detached retina during a bout with Terry Downes in London, England.

Denny was recently featured in a documentary about the boxing industry, both amateur and professional, including the risks of boxing, and how it affects families. The film will open in Los Angles this fall with a premiere to benefit the Retired Boxers Association and raise the awareness of Pugilistic Dementia.

[Rick Farris]

Lee Marvin in Steel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb6U938auvg
Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRCpmMe0_OU
Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDgMRcns53g
Part 3

Thank you, Frank. That was beautifully photographed in rich B&W, and perfectly lit.
I love those hard shadows on the wall, the window blind patterns. The back light and beautiful classic balance.
There ain't a lighting man in all of Hollywood today that could reproduce that look using today's technology.
These B&W artists had nothing but shades of grey to create balance & depth, color creates it's own seperation.
The old timers had very slow film, that required mega lighting with lots of hot lighting equip used to create light & shadows.
But they did it easy, and had fun doing it.
1963 this was filmed, a few months after Davey Moore died in the ring at L.A.'s Dodger Stadium.
Don't think it a coincidence that Serling's script and the death of Moore (not to mention Paret the previous year) was timely.

[BoxBuzz]

Excellent! Glad that is out there for public consumption! I agree about the timing not being a coincidence. Thanks for posting that Frank!

[CNorkusJr]

Sounds like "Maxo" and "Mountain Rivera" could be brothers in a way.

Rick, thats some lighting info you gave; and to think that all my lighting comes down to is whether its a 65 watt or 75 watt or 3-way bulb. LOL

[Rick Farris]

Sounds like "Maxo" and "Mountain Rivera" could be brothers in a way.

Rick, thats some lighting info you gave; and to think that all my lighting comes down to is whether its a 65 watt or 75 watt or 3-way bulb. LOL

Thanks, Charlie. I'll be leaving for Detroit on Sunday morning. I'll be there for the rest of the year, filming a new TV series titled "Detroit 187". It's a Jerry Bruckheimer production, the guy who does the CSI series. They seem to be putting a lot into this series as they have brought the entire production company from L.A. Right now this all I have on my mind, I'll be calling the Motown Casino home for the next six months, so I'm having to make a lot of personal adjustments at the moment. I'll bring my lap top, and will stay plugged into this forum.

[raylawpc]

For anyone who does not know.....it was a twilight zone episode. .....according to the story boxing was banned in 1968......so Serling was not exactly nostradamus I suppose

Actually, his prediction was pretty close, just the wrong country. Professional boxing has been banned in Sweden since 1970.

[Rick Farris]

More on Moyer . . .

I spoke with boxing historian, David Martinez, today.
David is in touch with Denny Moyer's daughter.
More stories on Denny should be coming. -Rick Farris
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Hi David. I just spoke with Tommy Moyer, This is Denny Moyer's youngest daughter Cindy. I know we met at the Hall of fame induction. I am so releived to see you doing something for my dad. I would like to help out in any way that I can. I have talked to some who are very upset there was no infoabout dads passing...Please do not hesitate to ask me for anything.

Cindy Moyer.