Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

A Rita Moreno memory . . .

In 1979 I worked on the TV series, "The Rockford Files"
We had a lot of interesting guest stars in the show's final season.
We had Lauren Bacall in one, and in another, Rita Moreno.
I remember when I worked with Rita Moreno, I had to mention seeing her in the "The Ring".
She made a comment about being a teenager in that one, at the time she was in her late 40's.
The Ring was Rita Moreno's first feature film, not a big one, but in a few years she'd win an Oscar for the "Westside Story".
She's the only actress to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, a Tony and a Cleo, for her work in feature films, TV, music, stage and commercials.

Today I believe Rita Moreno is 79, my mother's age.

[kikibalt]

I hope they do. I am sure some of the old timers have seen it, we'll see. Can you make it Rick?

Frank, I'm working at Paramount Studio tomorrow, which is just a few blocks from the lunch, but I won't be able to stop by.
I talked with Don Fraser and as soon as I have a tuesday free I'd like to show the interviews that Dan & I did awhile back.
I'll do so when I can everybody a little notice. I know some of those interviewed might want to be there.
I think the The Ring is a classic, as it shows the L.A. skyline as it was when the only skyscraper was the City Hall.
The cameos and the buildings really give this the feeling of L.A. boxing at the time.
Of course, how would I know about that? I was born the year the movie came out, 1952.
However, I saw it in the sixties, and enjoyed those little shots of Art Aragon, Keeny Teran, etc.
I remember the first time I watched I recognized the Teamsters Gym, where I had just had my first fight.
And Jimmy Lennon Sr. still had dark hair in those days.
And Rita Moreno was just a teenager back then.

Frank, I think you & I are the movies biggest fans.

I wish I was going to be out there. I've never seen "The Ring."

Didn't I send you a copy, Tom?

[kikibalt]

Tony Baltazar with the late Henry Blouin

[raylawpc]

Frank, I'm working at Paramount Studio tomorrow, which is just a few blocks from the lunch, but I won't be able to stop by.
I talked with Don Fraser and as soon as I have a tuesday free I'd like to show the interviews that Dan & I did awhile back.
I'll do so when I can everybody a little notice. I know some of those interviewed might want to be there.
I think the The Ring is a classic, as it shows the L.A. skyline as it was when the only skyscraper was the City Hall.
The cameos and the buildings really give this the feeling of L.A. boxing at the time.
Of course, how would I know about that? I was born the year the movie came out, 1952.
However, I saw it in the sixties, and enjoyed those little shots of Art Aragon, Keeny Teran, etc.
I remember the first time I watched I recognized the Teamsters Gym, where I had just had my first fight.
And Jimmy Lennon Sr. still had dark hair in those days.
And Rita Moreno was just a teenager back then.

Frank, I think you & I are the movies biggest fans.

I wish I was going to be out there. I've never seen "The Ring."

Didn't I send you a copy, Tom?

No, I've never seen it.

[kikibalt]

I wish I was going to be out there. I've never seen "The Ring."

Didn't I send you a copy, Tom?

No, I've never seen it.

Well, we have to do something about that....

[Rick Farris]

Well, we have to do something about that....
--------------------------------------------------

Tom . . . Sounds like Kiki is taking care of this.
You will enjoy it, and it really is a part of Classic American West Coast Boxing.
In addition to the Teamster Gym, etc., you'll see the inside of the Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Ironically, I just passed the building less than an hour ago.
It's now a Balley's Fitness Center.

[Rick Farris]

Tony Baltazar with the late Henry Blouin

Two solid Los Angeles boxing legends.
Two world class men.

[bennie]

You know, I attended a small hall show in London in 1989 and, down the bill, an American heavyweight lost easily to a home fighter in a couple of rounds. After the show, I was making my way home on the tube and the fat, scruffy American was in the same carriage, asking people for the best night spots. His name is Timmy Morrison, brother of the Aids-ridden Tommy.

[kikibalt]

Well, we have to do something about that....
--------------------------------------------------

Tom . . . Sounds like Kiki is taking care of this.
You will enjoy it, and it really is a part of Classic American West Coast Boxing.
In addition to the Teamster Gym, etc., you'll see the inside of the Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Ironically, I just passed the building less than an hour ago.
It's now a Balley's Fitness Center.

You also see the old Valley Garden Arena. To be honest "The Ring" is a low budget B&W film that would never win any kind of awards, but I love the film, it takes me back to the years when boxing was big in L.A., when fighters like Bolanos, Aragon, Teran, Cadilli ,et al, were stars. I remember hanging around the Teamsters Gym during the shoot, we were not allowed inside while the film was been shot. It also shows L.A. and its people the way they really were in the early '50's. The scene where it shows Aragon entering the ring is a real clip of him entering the ring at the Olympic for his title fight against Jimmy Carter, I was there for that fight. Living in the past? yes, but then again, the past is all I have, the future is yet to be recorded.......

[Rick Farris]

Well, we have to do something about that....
--------------------------------------------------

Tom . . . Sounds like Kiki is taking care of this.
You will enjoy it, and it really is a part of Classic American West Coast Boxing.
In addition to the Teamster Gym, etc., you'll see the inside of the Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Ironically, I just passed the building less than an hour ago.
It's now a Balley's Fitness Center.

You also see the old Valley Garden Arena. To be honest "The Ring" is a low budget B&W film that would never win any kind of awards, but I love the film, it takes me back to the years when boxing was big in L.A., when fighters like Bolanos, Aragon, Teran, Cadilli ,et al, were stars. I remember hanging around the Teamsters Gym during the shoot, we were not allowed inside while the film was been shot. It also shows L.A. and its people the way they really were in the early '50's. The scene where it shows Aragon entering the ring is a real clip of him entering the ring at the Olympic for his title fight against Jimmy Carter, I was there for that fight. Living in the past? yes, but then again, the past is all I have, the future is yet to be recorded.......

I feel the same, Frank. Maybe it's the Valley Garden arena, not the Hollywood Legion that I saw in the film? Regardless, it's a favorite of mine also.

[raylawpc]

Well, we have to do something about that....
--------------------------------------------------

Tom . . . Sounds like Kiki is taking care of this.
You will enjoy it, and it really is a part of Classic American West Coast Boxing.
In addition to the Teamster Gym, etc., you'll see the inside of the Hollywood Legion Stadium.
Ironically, I just passed the building less than an hour ago.
It's now a Balley's Fitness Center.

You also see the old Valley Garden Arena. To be honest "The Ring" is a low budget B&W film that would never win any kind of awards, but I love the film, it takes me back to the years when boxing was big in L.A., when fighters like Bolanos, Aragon, Teran, Cadilli ,et al, were stars. I remember hanging around the Teamsters Gym during the shoot, we were not allowed inside while the film was been shot. It also shows L.A. and its people the way they really were in the early '50's. The scene where it shows Aragon entering the ring is a real clip of him entering the ring at the Olympic for his title fight against Jimmy Carter, I was there for that fight. Living in the past? yes, but then again, the past is all I have, the future is yet to be recorded.......

I feel the same, Frank. Maybe it's the Valley Garden arena, not the Hollywood Legion that I saw in the film? Regardless, it's a favorite of mine also.

I am looking forward to seeing the film. I just wish you and Frank could be sitting next to me pointing out all the LA boxing subtleties that only insiders like you would recognize.

[Randyman]

They should enjoy this movie, Frank.

I hope they do. I am sure some of the old timers have seen it, we'll see. Can you make it Rick?

Frank, I'm working at Paramount Studio tomorrow, which is just a few blocks from the lunch, but I won't be able to stop by.
I talked with Don Fraser and as soon as I have a tuesday free I'd like to show the interviews that Dan & I did awhile back.
I'll do so when I can everybody a little notice. I know some of those interviewed might want to be there.
I think the The Ring is a classic, as it shows the L.A. skyline as it was when the only skyscraper was the City Hall.
The cameos and the buildings really give this the feeling of L.A. boxing at the time.
Of course, how would I know about that? I was born the year the movie came out, 1952.
However, I saw it in the sixties, and enjoyed those little shots of Art Aragon, Keeny Teran, etc.
I remember the first time I watched I recognized the Teamsters Gym, where I had just had my first fight.
And Jimmy Lennon Sr. still had dark hair in those days.
And Rita Moreno was just a teenager back then.

Frank, I think you & I are the movies biggest fans.

you can count me as one of the Ring"s biggest fans as well, and for all the same reasons. One of my personal favorite.

Randy

[Randyman]

Tony Baltazar with the late Henry Blouin

Two solid Los Angeles boxing legends.
Two world class men.

[Randyman]

Had a busy weekend with Tony and his girlfriend Donna visiting. Donna lives in North Carolina, she went to visit Tony in Arizona and then both drove to visit us, they returned to Arizona this morning.



Tony & Donna





And of course the home made menudo that Connie had to make for them.

Frank, great photo of the pot of menudo, oh and Tony and Donna too.

[Rick Farris]

I hope they do. I am sure some of the old timers have seen it, we'll see. Can you make it Rick?

Frank, I'm working at Paramount Studio tomorrow, which is just a few blocks from the lunch, but I won't be able to stop by.
I talked with Don Fraser and as soon as I have a tuesday free I'd like to show the interviews that Dan & I did awhile back.
I'll do so when I can everybody a little notice. I know some of those interviewed might want to be there.
I think the The Ring is a classic, as it shows the L.A. skyline as it was when the only skyscraper was the City Hall.
The cameos and the buildings really give this the feeling of L.A. boxing at the time.
Of course, how would I know about that? I was born the year the movie came out, 1952.
However, I saw it in the sixties, and enjoyed those little shots of Art Aragon, Keeny Teran, etc.
I remember the first time I watched I recognized the Teamsters Gym, where I had just had my first fight.
And Jimmy Lennon Sr. still had dark hair in those days.
And Rita Moreno was just a teenager back then.

Frank, I think you & I are the movies biggest fans.

you can count me as one of the Ring"s biggest fans as well, and for all the same reasons. One of my personal favorite.

Randy

Randy, I know that you are also a fan of the movie, in fact, wasn't it you that first mentioned it on this thread?
Maybe it was Frank? I don't remember, but it immediatly brought back my fond memories of the film and how I always wished I had a copy of it.
Frank made that happen and I've already watched it a couple of times with friends.
Some people are "Rocky Horror Picture Show" fanatics, etc. I guess this is our cult favorite. We're the cult.

[Rick Farris]

You know, I attended a small hall show in London in 1989 and, down the bill, an American heavyweight lost easily to a home fighter in a couple of rounds. After the show, I was making my way home on the tube and the fat, scruffy American was in the same carriage, asking people for the best night spots. His name is Timmy Morrison, brother of the Aids-ridden Tommy.

Interesting, Bennie.
You painted a picture with your words, for some reason it really made me think.
Like a scene out of an old movie. I wouldn't be surprised if he lit a cigarette after leaving the carriage.

[bennie]

Shane Mosley continues to defy father time when he takes on Los Angeles rival Sergio Mora at the Staples Center in the city this Saturday night, scheduled for 12 rounds.
The 39-year-old Mosley, 10 years older than Mora, picks only the biggest fights for himself these days, and of course the biggest paydays, and has fought Floyd Mayweather, Antonio Margarito and Ricardo Mayorga in his last three outings, winning two of them, which isn’t bad. Mora picked up a nice payday himself of a million dollars in Contender a few years back and then went and became champ by outscoring a lackadaisical Vernon Forrest for the WBC light-middleweight title in the summer of 2008 but lost a quick rematch and has fought only once since: a seven-round stoppage of Calvin Green earlier this year.
It was a rare stoppage win for Mora, who is always stick and move, a rangy, slippery boxer with a good chin. Mosley, more muscled, also has a good chin and can also box but enjoys coming forward to whip in the hard shots. He hits much the harder of the two and has fought much the better men, although Forrest proved his real bugbear. Mosley holds the edge in speed, too.
Nevertheless, his years do not do him any favours and welterweight Shane moves up to light-middleweight for this one, where he has looked a bit small in the past. Mora will not enjoy getting down to 154 pounds but is probably young enough to get away with it and we can expect the full 12 rounds on Saturday as Mosley, looking his age at times, looking ragged, chases Mora all round the ring. Unless Mosley runs into too many counters, or grows too old on the night, we can expect his aggression and workrate to sway the crowd and the judges.

[Rick Farris]

Shane Mosley continues to defy father time when he takes on Los Angeles rival Sergio Mora at the Staples Center in the city this Saturday night, scheduled for 12 rounds.
The 39-year-old Mosley, 10 years older than Mora, picks only the biggest fights for himself these days, and of course the biggest paydays, and has fought Floyd Mayweather, Antonio Margarito and Ricardo Mayorga in his last three outings, winning two of them, which isn’t bad. Mora picked up a nice payday himself of a million dollars in Contender a few years back and then went and became champ by outscoring a lackadaisical Vernon Forrest for the WBC light-middleweight title in the summer of 2008 but lost a quick rematch and has fought only once since: a seven-round stoppage of Calvin Green earlier this year.
It was a rare stoppage win for Mora, who is always stick and move, a rangy, slippery boxer with a good chin. Mosley, more muscled, also has a good chin and can also box but enjoys coming forward to whip in the hard shots. He hits much the harder of the two and has fought much the better men, although Forrest proved his real bugbear. Mosley holds the edge in speed, too.
Nevertheless, his years do not do him any favours and welterweight Shane moves up to light-middleweight for this one, where he has looked a bit small in the past. Mora will not enjoy getting down to 154 pounds but is probably young enough to get away with it and we can expect the full 12 rounds on Saturday as Mosley, looking his age at times, looking ragged, chases Mora all round the ring. Unless Mosley runs into too many counters, or grows too old on the night, we can expect his aggression and workrate to sway the crowd and the judges.

I agree, Bennie. I think you pretty much summed it up.
Mosely is definitly not the fighter he once was, but I believe Mora is the right opponent for him to bow out with.
I was never impressed with Mora, and I know the Shane we'll see is a shadow.
I'll take the shadow in this one.

[bennie]

Barry McGuigan in the 'lost' years after his disastrous loss to Steve Cruz in the summer of 1986. He tried his hand at motor racing, released a single but eventually fell back into what he did best as he returned to the ring in 1988.

[Rick Farris]

Barry McGuigan in the 'lost' years after his disastrous loss to Steve Cruz in the summer of 1986. He tried his hand at motor racing, released a single but eventually fell back into what he did best as he returned to the ring in 1988.

It seemed Barry was great when he fought at home, but I think the heat of Las Vegas, the loss of his father and a tough, motivated Stevie Cruz got the best of him when he came here to defend his title. A great fighter will come back, but it seems if he was broken in that fight, and never worth much afterwards. In Ireland or the UK, he had a great following and they would chant as he entered the ring. His father would sing "Danny Boy" and this seemed to energize him. However, without all the emotional edges, he couldn't hang on to the title, or even attempt to win it back. After wins over Esubio Pedroza and Bernard Taylor, I believed that Barry was something special. I was wrong.

[kikibalt]

Randy, I know that you are also a fan of the movie, in fact, wasn't it you that first mentioned it on this thread?
Maybe it was Frank? I don't remember, but it immediatly brought back my fond memories of the film and how I always wished I had a copy of it.
Frank made that happen and I've already watched it a couple of times with friends.
Some people are "Rocky Horror Picture Show" fanatics, etc. I guess this is our cult favorite. We're the cult.

Cult? As long as our cult don't ended-up like Jim Jones's, I'm okay with been part of this cult....

[kikibalt]

Showed the movie at the GSBA meeting yesterday, we had a small group, 10-12 at the most. With the exception of one, everybody seem to enjoy the movie. That one, was Ray Ramos, Mando Ramos father, who kept asking Larry Montalvo to start the meeting while the movie was playing, Larry didn't pay him no mind and we seen the movie without an intermission. I think he was disappointed that Mando was not in the movie....

[Rick Farris]

Showed the movie at the GSBA meeting yesterday, we had a small group, 10-12 at the most. With the exception of one, everybody seem to enjoy the movie. That one, was Ray Ramos, Mando Ramos father, who kept asking Larry Montalvo to start the meeting while the movie was playing, Larry didn't pay him no mind and we seen the movie without an intermission. I think he was disappointed that Mando was not in the movie....

Mando was 3-years-old when the movie came out, which means he was about two when it was filmed.

[kikibalt]

Showed the movie at the GSBA meeting yesterday, we had a small group, 10-12 at the most. With the exception of one, everybody seem to enjoy the movie. That one, was Ray Ramos, Mando Ramos father, who kept asking Larry Montalvo to start the meeting while the movie was playing, Larry didn't pay him no mind and we seen the movie without an intermission. I think he was disappointed that Mando was not in the movie....

Mando was 3-years-old when the movie came out, which means he was about two when it was filmed.

True, but what I meant was that here we were putting Art Aragon and Keeny Teran in the spotlight and not Mando.....and I think he was disappointed in that ....I can't think of any other reason for him to interrupt, he did at least a couple of times, with "Larry let get the meeting going" while the movie was playing. I thought it was rude of him....

[Rick Farris]

Showed the movie at the GSBA meeting yesterday, we had a small group, 10-12 at the most. With the exception of one, everybody seem to enjoy the movie. That one, was Ray Ramos, Mando Ramos father, who kept asking Larry Montalvo to start the meeting while the movie was playing, Larry didn't pay him no mind and we seen the movie without an intermission. I think he was disappointed that Mando was not in the movie....

Mando was 3-years-old when the movie came out, which means he was about two when it was filmed.

True, but what I meant was that here we were putting Art Aragon and Keeny Teran in the spotlight and not Mando.....and I think he was disappointed in that ....I can't think of any other reason for him to interrupt, he did at least a couple of times, with "Larry let get the meeting going" while the movie was playing. I thought it was rude of him....

I knew what you meant, Frank. And I agree, it was rude of him.