Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Expug]

Luckily someone else allready did it for us, a google search reminded me where i got it...



http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/zivic-dirty.pdf

If you missed it Brian heres a link to the article

Rick, Fritzie Zivic is one of those fighters i would be most eager to train with in a gym for a long period of time. The fact that SRR and several other talked about it as going to boxing college after fighting ''old'' Zivic speaks volumes

Thanks Remy,great stuff!

[Expug]

By the way, Remy, thanks for the Fritizie Zivic story. A true classic.
Our friend, Brian ("ExPug"), is a fan of Fritzie Zivic. He'll appreciate this.

Yes,indeed I am and I sure would.
Fritzie and Lew Jenkins are two fighters from that era that had fascinating careers and lives.
I always grab any info on those two!

In the story, Zivic talks about his fights with Lew Jenkins. It's really a great read, like sitting down with the fighter and listening to a few of his personal memories. Like Brian, I really like the guy. Wouldn't it be great if we could go to an old arena and watch guys like Zivic, Ace Hudkins, etc.?

Indeed it would Rick.
A wild event involving Zivic was his first fight with Al "Bummy" Davis.
Davis was a tough street fighting left hook artist with a rough reputation from Carnaise in Brooklyn.
He had a helluva temper and when he fought Zivic in The Garden,in the first round Fritzie roughed him up with a couple thumbs and butts in the clinch. Fritzie was just doing his thing. In the second round, Davis went berserk and hit Zivic low about twenty times in a row. He really lost it and the ref dq'd him. For awhile Davis lost his liscence in N.Y.,but he eventually got it back. They fought again and Fritzie punched the hell out of him and stopped him.

[Rick Farris]

"The Thrill Is Gone" - B.B. King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrFChQUQihE

[Rick Farris]

On Margarito Hand Wraps- You heard almost the same script from Luis Resto in the documentary on his fight with Billy Collins. The guy makes a living with his hands and he has no idea that his wraps are tampered with, only with Resto it was his gloves.
Not all boxers are geniuses but you got to consider that you are responsible for your overall conditioning and the equipment you use in a fight. Putting full trust into your handlers and their ways is one thing but to not realize your hands are not wrapped the same as previous fights, c'mon really.
Maybe he was taking a nap when his hands were wrapped.
Though I never fought in the ring, I asked my father on two occaisions if he could wrap my hands and put them in a gloves to see what the feel was like.
They were wrapped modestly, they were not doctored in any way but you have a sense of what they feel like, am I correct you guys ? Do you guys think he could claim he did not know ? Many of you fought many times- I would like to know your thoughts. I would have a easier time of understanding that you did not know the gloves were tampered with if you were un-suspecting boxer, but the wraps are different.
And he's pissed off that his reputation took a hit. He had to fire somebody so that he can claim innocense. He's lucky he didnt get banned from the sport. He's lucky anyone wants to fight him at all. $$$$$$$$

Charlie . . . I don't wish bad on boxers, but I don't like Margarito, and I don't like him being paid big money boxing after attempting to load is hands before taking on a 38-year-old, 5-to-1 underdog. The underdog was no dog, and took the title impressivley. So there was a happy ending, I guess. Now this guy gets big money again? I hope he also takes away from Texas Stadium a career ending injury, something to make his chances of earning more money unlikely, something to put him on the fast track to Palookaville. It's reported that Manny POac has been distracted training in the Phillippines, so who knows what will happen in this fight?

[Panzerfaust]

Yes,indeed I am and I sure would.
Fritzie and Lew Jenkins are two fighters from that era that had fascinating careers and lives.
I always grab any info on those two!

In the story, Zivic talks about his fights with Lew Jenkins. It's really a great read, like sitting down with the fighter and listening to a few of his personal memories. Like Brian, I really like the guy. Wouldn't it be great if we could go to an old arena and watch guys like Zivic, Ace Hudkins, etc.?

Indeed it would Rick.
A wild event involving Zivic was his first fight with Al "Bummy" Davis.
Davis was a tough street fighting left hook artist with a rough reputation from Carnaise in Brooklyn.
He had a helluva temper and when he fought Zivic in The Garden,in the first round Fritzie roughed him up with a couple thumbs and butts in the clinch. Fritzie was just doing his thing. In the second round, Davis went berserk and hit Zivic low about twenty times in a row. He really lost it and the ref dq'd him. For awhile Davis lost his liscence in N.Y.,but he eventually got it back. They fought again and Fritzie punched the hell out of him and stopped him.

Funny thing is Zivic witnessed for the NYSAC to help Bummy get his license back

[raylawpc]

On Margarito Hand Wraps- You heard almost the same script from Luis Resto in the documentary on his fight with Billy Collins. The guy makes a living with his hands and he has no idea that his wraps are tampered with, only with Resto it was his gloves.
Not all boxers are geniuses but you got to consider that you are responsible for your overall conditioning and the equipment you use in a fight. Putting full trust into your handlers and their ways is one thing but to not realize your hands are not wrapped the same as previous fights, c'mon really.
Maybe he was taking a nap when his hands were wrapped.
Though I never fought in the ring, I asked my father on two occaisions if he could wrap my hands and put them in a gloves to see what the feel was like.
They were wrapped modestly, they were not doctored in any way but you have a sense of what they feel like, am I correct you guys ? Do you guys think he could claim he did not know ? Many of you fought many times- I would like to know your thoughts. I would have a easier time of understanding that you did not know the gloves were tampered with if you were un-suspecting boxer, but the wraps are different.
And he's pissed off that his reputation took a hit. He had to fire somebody so that he can claim innocense. He's lucky he didnt get banned from the sport. He's lucky anyone wants to fight him at all. $$$$$$$$

As a guy who fought and had his hands wrapped, and who wrapped other guys hands numerous times, I can tell you that there is no way Margarito could have NOT known the trainer tampered with the wraps. It is just not possible. Margarito is a liar, which explains why NOBODY who has ever fought and/or trained fighters believes his story. Now if he had said, "Yeah, I saw him put something in the wraps, but when I asked him, he told me it was legal," that would have been more believable than he didn't know anything.

[Rick Farris]

The Pacman has landed


Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach just entered the terminal at Los Angeles International Airprort, thrilling hundreds of Pacman fans who had waited hours to catch a glimpse of their hero.

“Now it’s time to get focused,” said Roach, “we’re in L.A.

“Today he weighed 146. This fight will not go past eight rounds. It’ll be a clean KO. I have three new sparring partners coming in Monday.”

Pacquiao will continue training at Roach’s famed WIld Card Gym in Hollywood for his upcoming mega fight against Antonio Margarito.
He takes on three-time world champion Margarito on November 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Pacquiao vs Margarito is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Cowboys Stadium. The Pacquiao vs Margarito telecast will be available live on HBO Pay Per View.

[kikibalt]

The Pacman has landed


Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach just entered the terminal at Los Angeles International Airprort, thrilling hundreds of Pacman fans who had waited hours to catch a glimpse of their hero.

“Now it’s time to get focused,” said Roach, “we’re in L.A.

“Today he weighed 146. This fight will not go past eight rounds. It’ll be a clean KO. I have three new sparring partners coming in Monday.”

Pacquiao will continue training at Roach’s famed WIld Card Gym in Hollywood for his upcoming mega fight against Antonio Margarito.
He takes on three-time world champion Margarito on November 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Pacquiao vs Margarito is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Cowboys Stadium. The Pacquiao vs Margarito telecast will be available live on HBO Pay Per View.

I hate to put money in A.Marg pockets, but this fight I will buy, here's hoping the Pac Man whips Marg ass.

[kikibalt]

On Margarito Hand Wraps- You heard almost the same script from Luis Resto in the documentary on his fight with Billy Collins. The guy makes a living with his hands and he has no idea that his wraps are tampered with, only with Resto it was his gloves.
Not all boxers are geniuses but you got to consider that you are responsible for your overall conditioning and the equipment you use in a fight. Putting full trust into your handlers and their ways is one thing but to not realize your hands are not wrapped the same as previous fights, c'mon really.
Maybe he was taking a nap when his hands were wrapped.
Though I never fought in the ring, I asked my father on two occaisions if he could wrap my hands and put them in a gloves to see what the feel was like.
They were wrapped modestly, they were not doctored in any way but you have a sense of what they feel like, am I correct you guys ? Do you guys think he could claim he did not know ? Many of you fought many times- I would like to know your thoughts. I would have a easier time of understanding that you did not know the gloves were tampered with if you were un-suspecting boxer, but the wraps are different.
And he's pissed off that his reputation took a hit. He had to fire somebody so that he can claim innocense. He's lucky he didnt get banned from the sport. He's lucky anyone wants to fight him at all. $$$$$$$$

As a guy who fought and had his hands wrapped, and who wrapped other guys hands numerous times, I can tell you that there is no way Margarito could have NOT known the trainer tampered with the wraps. It is just not possible. Margarito is a liar, which explains why NOBODY who has ever fought and/or trained fighters believes his story. Now if he had said, "Yeah, I saw him put something in the wraps, but when I asked him, he told me it was legal," that would have been more believable than he didn't know anything.

I agree Tom, I just can't see the fighter and wrapper not working as one when the hands are been wrapped...He lying and he knows it.....

[Rick Farris]

This is the Mando Ramos that L.A. fell in love with in the mid-60's.
Just a teen, 17-18yrs old in these clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTw3y2A_ ... re=related

This is some of the best of Classic American West Coast Boxing!

[Rick Farris]

Davey Moore vs. Pajarito Moreno - 1958 (Los Angeles)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef2XB8pS ... re=related

[bennie]

Zivic's California boxing history . . .

Fritzie Zivic boxed a dozen fights in a row in California, early in his career, between 1933-34.
He never lost here.
Here is the Boxrec accounting of these bouts:
-----------------------------------------------------



1934-05-29 Luis Carranza 1-2-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
Carranza was knocked down in the 1st and 3rd round.

1934-05-08 142 Lloyd Smith 141 31-18-12
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
referee: Frankie Van

1934-03-06 142 Lloyd Smith 141 30-17-9
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
1934-02-06 141 Perfecto Lopez 139 15-4-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 6 6
1934-01-23 143 Baby Sal Sorio 145 69-25-16
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 2 6
Sorio was knocked down twice in the 2nd round.

1933-12-27 142 Rudy Ayon 139½ 10-2-4
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-15 140 Vincent Martinez 140 19-9-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-11 Nick Raya 149 10-9-8
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 3
1933-12-04 Homer Foster 2-1-1
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 4 4
1933-11-23 141 Don Miller 147 0-3-0
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States W KO 3 4
1933-11-03 138½ Gus Vargas 131 2-2-2
Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States W KO 2 4
1933-10-12 Joe Pimenthal 49-31-14
Pasadena Arena, Pasadena, California, United States W KO 4

Zivic was never disqualified his entire career, which shows you how smart he was.

[bennie]

Roger Mayweather will never be someone to make any bones about the person he is or the life he has lived. A former two-time world champion and current day trainer to his nephew Floyd, one of this generation’s finest talents, Roger's unique nature comes from his brazen mentality and unwillingness to conform to anything other than his own morals.
The 49-year old trainer is scheduled for criminal trial tomorrow for felony charges that he physically assaulted his former female fighter Melissa St. Vil in a Las Vegas condominium in August of last year. After the altercation Mayweather was arrested and charged with a single count of coercion and a follow up charge of battery with strangulation. If convicted, Mayweather could face up to ten years in prison.
While those unsettling facts would present a heavy cloud over most people’s heads, Mayweather seemed completely care free as he spoke about his life earlier this month inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club five minutes west of the strip in Las Vegas. Getting deep on several topics, Roger and I discussed his latest pupil Tim Coleman, working with Floyd over the years, his personal career as a fighter, the influence of money, and whether or not he has any fears whatsoever in his life with such a daunting task in front of him.
Candidly as always, this is what Roger had to say…

What’s next for Tim Coleman…
“I think he is going to fight the guy who used to be the WBO champion at 140 pounds. Kendall Holt. It’s a good fight for him actually. Tim has four knockouts but he’s a better puncher than he knows. Because whoever trains him, they don’t know how to get the best out of a fighter. That’s what makes a fighter; how you train. It’s how you train. That’s all there is to it.”

A slew of champions…
“I trained Vernon Forrest to go to the Olympics. I trained Laila Ali. I loved Muhammad Ali and when I trained Laila she won four championships with me. Obviously I’ve trained my nephew. I worked with Joan Guzman. It was no big thing to me. I can work with anybody. I’ve worked with Hasim Rahman. It aint nothing for me to work with a fighter anyways.”

Why Floyd is different…
“What makes Floyd different than the fighters I trained before him? First off, Floyd is my nephew so Floyd is my blood. Of course, since he’s my nephew I want the best for him more than I want the best for anybody. Because the best that he is going to be, the more it is going to benefit me.”

Floyd’s future…
“I’ve seen Floyd everyday. He’s doing OK. I can’t see why [he wouldn’t fight again]. He’s still young. No matter what people say, they want to see Floyd fight Pacquiao. They don’t want to see Floyd fight Martinez or those other guys because those guys don’t bring anything to the table.”

An interesting take on Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams II…
“It’s about making money. Whatever makes money, makes sense. And neither one of them dudes are popular. Because neither guy is popular and that’s what makes money. That’s what you are in the sport for. You aren’t in the sport to fight a fight that doesn’t make sense.”

Shane Mosley’s issues with weight in his draw with Sergio Mora…
“Shane Mosley fought way out of his weight class. That’s the only reason he didn’t perform the way he would have performed. He was fighting a due who was a 157 pounds; that’s too far from his weight class. Three of the last great fighters to ever transition out of their weight class and win titles. Number one is Sugar Ray Leonard. Number two is Robert Duran. Number three is Tommy Hearns. And before them it was Henry Armstrong. Well my nephew too. Skills pay the bills when you start talking about fighting in different weight classes. It aint just power, you need skills.”

The transition to training…
“I knew all about boxing when I was an itty bitty kid. I trained boxers when I was a kid myself. I was thirteen years old and I knew how to hold mitts then. I was doing that shit when I was thirteen years old. That’s when I knew when my career in boxing was over what I would be doing. I knew how to train anyways. That was natural to me. I was doing it since I was a kid and it was basically easy for me to make a transition from boxing to a trainer. I knew I wasn’t going to be no doctor.”

Early professional career…
“By the time I had won the world championship, do you know how many world rated guys I had beat? I fought dudes with way more fights than me. The thing about it, I beat four world rated top fighters in the world. I didn’t even have ten fights yet. Then my first fight that I fought for a title was an ESPN Nevada State championship against Carlton Sparrow. He was 18-1 and I was 8-0. Then I came back fought Ruben Munoz. He was number two in the world. I fought him at lightweight even though I was a junior lightweight.

Conquering Las Vegas…
“Understand this about boxing. Here’s what I came out here to do. I came out here because I was born to fight. I came out here because I wanted to fight. I came out here because aint nobody tell me I wasn’t going to be champion of the world. I knew I was going to be a champion. That’s why I came out here. In the first year I started boxing, I won about three titles before I ever won the world championship. I would never come this far, come way over and have no belief in myself. The reason why I came to Las Vegas was because I was going to do what I already told you I was going to do from the beginning.

Seeing the city change…
“It’s changed. When I came to box here there weren’t so many fighters coming to Las Vegas that I knew from pretty much the Midwest and places like that. Once I got out here I started seeing changes. I started seeing more people come here from Midwest to box. I see more of that now as opposed to when I came out here.”

No regrets…
“I could have done some things different. As I got older I played around more. I didn’t it as serious as I could have. When you get fame and success, everything comes with fame and success. Certain things happen. That’s because you believe you are better than what you really are. But I don’t look back and say I have regrets about what I have done because what I have done, most people in a lifetime are never going to do. I don’t back and say ‘I could have done this’. I fought damn near twenty of the best fighters in the world. Even if I never won a world championship I still would be blessed because when I walked out of the ring I walked out unhurt. I aint got no brain injury. I know my name. I can take care of my own business. I don’t need nobody to help me walk or help me talk. These are the greatest things to me that I’ve benefited from through being in boxing. I did what I was supposed to do. I came out here to be a world champion and that’s what I became.”
Wasting money…
“I did all of that. I had seventeen cars in my front yard. Who is going to drive seventeen cars? You don’t realize that when you are younger. As you get older you realize what you are doing. You buy the car because you had the money. My manager told me, he said ‘Do you see how many cars I have in my front yard?’. My manager was a millionaire. People damn near couldn’t park in my yard, there was no room. He asked me what I was going to do with all those cars, because I could only drive one at time. I was just young. You know what they say? When you’re young, you’re dumb. As I moved on I realized that there was a lot of money that was wasted.”

What it’s all about…
“I don’t fear life because I already know that life has its certain ways. You’re going to live and you’re doing to die. My main thing in life, what I’ve contributed to life, is my kids. Because whatever I had, my kids are going to inherit. I hope I made great decisions as to what I wanted in life so when I leave that my child will not look back and say ‘Oh, my daddy didn’t do this’ or ‘My daddy didn’t do that’. I believe I have done the right things for my children. And I believe I’ve done the ring things in putting things away from them to be happy when I was gone. That’s what is important to me. It’s not about no titles, it’s about life. Remember, when you’re fighting it’s one thing. When you’re not fighting it’s another thing. You live life like anybody else and you have to look out and see what plans did you have for your child? I’m not going to worry about that because I know what they are going to have when I leave. I put it there for them to have. Not to spend, to have. That’s what it’s about.”

[kikibalt]

Great write-up om Roger M, Bennie. It will be going on my blog.

[raylawpc]

Zivic's California boxing history . . .

Fritzie Zivic boxed a dozen fights in a row in California, early in his career, between 1933-34.
He never lost here.
Here is the Boxrec accounting of these bouts:
-----------------------------------------------------



1934-05-29 Luis Carranza 1-2-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
Carranza was knocked down in the 1st and 3rd round.

1934-05-08 142 Lloyd Smith 141 31-18-12
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
referee: Frankie Van

1934-03-06 142 Lloyd Smith 141 30-17-9
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
1934-02-06 141 Perfecto Lopez 139 15-4-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 6 6
1934-01-23 143 Baby Sal Sorio 145 69-25-16
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 2 6
Sorio was knocked down twice in the 2nd round.

1933-12-27 142 Rudy Ayon 139½ 10-2-4
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-15 140 Vincent Martinez 140 19-9-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-11 Nick Raya 149 10-9-8
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 3
1933-12-04 Homer Foster 2-1-1
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 4 4
1933-11-23 141 Don Miller 147 0-3-0
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States W KO 3 4
1933-11-03 138½ Gus Vargas 131 2-2-2
Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States W KO 2 4
1933-10-12 Joe Pimenthal 49-31-14
Pasadena Arena, Pasadena, California, United States W KO 4

Zivic was never disqualified his entire career, which shows you how smart he was.

If you have a copy of Pete Heller's book, In This Corner . . ., it contains an interview of Fritzie Zivic. It is a very interesting interview. He admits that he always fought dirty, but denies that he ever thumbed anyone deliberately. Interesting, too, he makes the same point as you that he was never disqualified. If you don't have Heller's book, you should try to get it. It has interviews with champs going back to the days of Willie Ritchie and Gunboat Smith. Very interesting reading. I have the old edition from the 1970s, but I understand Heller updated it a few years back and it now includes interviews woth Arguello and Duran.

[Rick Farris]

Zivic's California boxing history . . .

Fritzie Zivic boxed a dozen fights in a row in California, early in his career, between 1933-34.
He never lost here.
Here is the Boxrec accounting of these bouts:
-----------------------------------------------------



1934-05-29 Luis Carranza 1-2-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
Carranza was knocked down in the 1st and 3rd round.

1934-05-08 142 Lloyd Smith 141 31-18-12
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
referee: Frankie Van

1934-03-06 142 Lloyd Smith 141 30-17-9
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
1934-02-06 141 Perfecto Lopez 139 15-4-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 6 6
1934-01-23 143 Baby Sal Sorio 145 69-25-16
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 2 6
Sorio was knocked down twice in the 2nd round.

1933-12-27 142 Rudy Ayon 139½ 10-2-4
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-15 140 Vincent Martinez 140 19-9-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-11 Nick Raya 149 10-9-8
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 3
1933-12-04 Homer Foster 2-1-1
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 4 4
1933-11-23 141 Don Miller 147 0-3-0
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States W KO 3 4
1933-11-03 138½ Gus Vargas 131 2-2-2
Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States W KO 2 4
1933-10-12 Joe Pimenthal 49-31-14
Pasadena Arena, Pasadena, California, United States W KO 4

Zivic was never disqualified his entire career, which shows you how smart he was.

If you have a copy of Pete Heller's book, In This Corner . . ., it contains an interview of Fritzie Zivic. It is a very interesting interview. He admits that he always fought dirty, but denies that he ever thumbed anyone deliberately. Interesting, too, he makes the same point as you that he was never disqualified. If you don't have Heller's book, you should try to get it. It has interviews with champs going back to the days of Willie Ritchie and Gunboat Smith. Very interesting reading. I have the old edition from the 1970s, but I understand Heller updated it a few years back and it now includes interviews woth Arguello and Duran.

Tom, I have the book , but forgot the story. Thanks for the reminder, I'll read it again today.

[Rick Farris]

Zivic's California boxing history . . .

Fritzie Zivic boxed a dozen fights in a row in California, early in his career, between 1933-34.
He never lost here.
Here is the Boxrec accounting of these bouts:
-----------------------------------------------------



1934-05-29 Luis Carranza 1-2-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
Carranza was knocked down in the 1st and 3rd round.

1934-05-08 142 Lloyd Smith 141 31-18-12
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
referee: Frankie Van

1934-03-06 142 Lloyd Smith 141 30-17-9
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
1934-02-06 141 Perfecto Lopez 139 15-4-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 6 6
1934-01-23 143 Baby Sal Sorio 145 69-25-16
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 2 6
Sorio was knocked down twice in the 2nd round.

1933-12-27 142 Rudy Ayon 139½ 10-2-4
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-15 140 Vincent Martinez 140 19-9-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-11 Nick Raya 149 10-9-8
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 3
1933-12-04 Homer Foster 2-1-1
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 4 4
1933-11-23 141 Don Miller 147 0-3-0
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States W KO 3 4
1933-11-03 138½ Gus Vargas 131 2-2-2
Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States W KO 2 4
1933-10-12 Joe Pimenthal 49-31-14
Pasadena Arena, Pasadena, California, United States W KO 4

Zivic was never disqualified his entire career, which shows you how smart he was.

Thanks, Benny. Very interesting fact, says a lot.

[Rick Farris]

George Parnassus . . .


George Parnassus was one of the top promoters in boxing history. He expanded the range of boxing venues and saw the value in promoting fighters in the smaller weight classes. Born in Methone, Greece in 1897, Parnassus followed his brother to the United States in 1916 and first found work as a waiter and dishwasher. Eventually, he and his brother saved enough money to purchase a restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona. The restaurant happened to be located across the street from a fight gym. Legend has it that the fighters began running up unpaid bills at the restaurant, and Parnassus began managing them to settle the debts.

As a manager, Parnassus had great success with Mexican boxers, such as lightweight champ Juan Zurita, Enrique Bolanos, bantamweight champ Raton Macias, and Jose Beccera. In the late 1950s, Parnassus moved from managing to matchmaking and promoting. In 1957 he became the matchmaker for the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Parnassus's shrewd matchmaking ability helped save the Olympic from financial ruin.

Parnassus believed that good boxing matches would draw fans and make money. Therefore, he excelled in matching fighters in smaller weight classes when his rivals were concentrating on the heavyweights. He promoted a bantamweight title bout between Jose Beccera and Alphonse Halimi and a junior welterweight championship match between Carlos Ortiz and Battling Torres on the same card at the massive Los Angeles Coliseum, which had not previously been used for boxing. The event was a huge success and gave Parnassus a well-deserved reputation as one of the greatest promoters in the world.

In the 1960s, Parnassus staged fights in such diverse locales as Wales, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Argentina, Italy, and England. During this period, Parnassus helped establish and finance the World Boxing Council (WBC), which became a top international sanctioning body. Starting in 1966, Parnassus staged successful bouts in Jack Kent Cooke's new venue, The Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles. Ruben Olivares and Jose Napoles were his top draws during this period.

Throughout his career, Parnassus always aimed for top quality shows. He declared, "The thing is not to be the richest promoter in the world, but to be the best." His honesty and fairness were highly valued in professional boxing. Parnassus died of a heart attack in 1975.

[kikibalt]

Great story on George P, Rick. Its going on my blog.

[Rick Farris]

Great story on George P, Rick. Its going on my blog.

I actually copied this off the 1993 International Boxing Hall of Fame web site, the year Parnassus was inducted.
We speak of George and others as if old friends and associates, which is true for some of us.
This was the bio the IBHOF provided for this L.A. and world boxing legend. It's a bit generic, but also provides a clear picture into the career of "L.A.'s Golden Greek".

[telboy66]

Zivic's California boxing history . . .

Fritzie Zivic boxed a dozen fights in a row in California, early in his career, between 1933-34.
He never lost here.
Here is the Boxrec accounting of these bouts:
-----------------------------------------------------



1934-05-29 Luis Carranza 1-2-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
Carranza was knocked down in the 1st and 3rd round.

1934-05-08 142 Lloyd Smith 141 31-18-12
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
referee: Frankie Van

1934-03-06 142 Lloyd Smith 141 30-17-9
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 6 6
1934-02-06 141 Perfecto Lopez 139 15-4-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 6 6
1934-01-23 143 Baby Sal Sorio 145 69-25-16
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 2 6
Sorio was knocked down twice in the 2nd round.

1933-12-27 142 Rudy Ayon 139½ 10-2-4
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-15 140 Vincent Martinez 140 19-9-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1933-12-11 Nick Raya 149 10-9-8
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 3
1933-12-04 Homer Foster 2-1-1
Pico Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 4 4
1933-11-23 141 Don Miller 147 0-3-0
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States W KO 3 4
1933-11-03 138½ Gus Vargas 131 2-2-2
Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States W KO 2 4
1933-10-12 Joe Pimenthal 49-31-14
Pasadena Arena, Pasadena, California, United States W KO 4

Zivic was never disqualified his entire career, which shows you how smart he was.

Thanks, Benny. Very interesting fact, says a lot.

May be Just maybe his lack of disqualifications shows how well he was "connected"

[bennie]

Zivic was never disqualified his entire career, which shows you how smart he was.

If you have a copy of Pete Heller's book, In This Corner . . ., it contains an interview of Fritzie Zivic. It is a very interesting interview. He admits that he always fought dirty, but denies that he ever thumbed anyone deliberately. Interesting, too, he makes the same point as you that he was never disqualified. If you don't have Heller's book, you should try to get it. It has interviews with champs going back to the days of Willie Ritchie and Gunboat Smith. Very interesting reading. I have the old edition from the 1970s, but I understand Heller updated it a few years back and it now includes interviews woth Arguello and Duran.

Tom, I have the book , but forgot the story. Thanks for the reminder, I'll read it again today.

Heller asks Zivic for his opinion on the newest crop of fighters in the book.
"These young kids are so inexperienced," says Zivic, glumly. "They think the laces are for tying up the gloves."

[kikibalt]

Great story on George P, Rick. Its going on my blog.

I actually copied this off the 1993 International Boxing Hall of Fame web site, the year Parnassus was inducted.
We speak of George and others as if old friends and associates, which is true for some of us.
This was the bio the IBHOF provided for this L.A. and world boxing legend. It's a bit generic, but also provides a clear picture into the career of "L.A.'s Golden Greek".

Well, it reads like some thing you would write, so I'll just leave it on my blog under your by-line...

[CNorkusJr]

The Pacman has landed


Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach just entered the terminal at Los Angeles International Airprort, thrilling hundreds of Pacman fans who had waited hours to catch a glimpse of their hero.

“Now it’s time to get focused,” said Roach, “we’re in L.A.

“Today he weighed 146. This fight will not go past eight rounds. It’ll be a clean KO. I have three new sparring partners coming in Monday.”

Pacquiao will continue training at Roach’s famed WIld Card Gym in Hollywood for his upcoming mega fight against Antonio Margarito.
He takes on three-time world champion Margarito on November 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Pacquiao vs Margarito is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Cowboys Stadium. The Pacquiao vs Margarito telecast will be available live on HBO Pay Per View.

Wow, what a great time to be in LA. I envy the opportunity you guys get with Roach and the Wild Card. Some of my best boxing memories are going with my father to handful of gyms that NY had to watch the bigger named fighters train for upcoming top contender or title fights. I saw some of the great ones train for various garden bouts- Duran,J.Quarry,Antuefermo.Cooney,Foreman,Breland just to name a few.
When I was younger my father let me stay home from school on occaision
to go see a weigh-in or train session. With NY almost being non-existant in getting bigger fights now-a-days, or boxers using bigger facilities; those days are just about done here. Every now and then I go to Gleason's in Brooklyn to see new kids working hoping to catch a rising star, or some of the small clubs training GG's. I hope you guys use the opportunity to go see the sessions with Pac-man (if open). I thought it would never end here.

Tom, Thanks for your viewpoint above. A fighter could easily be conned by his handlers if they loaded up his gloves and told him it was a legal wrap-probably a young fighter not knowing any better and putting full trust in his people. Down the road he probably be broke with the same guys too.

[Rick Farris]

What once was . . .

Charlie . . . We get a few shows in L.A. during a year, but nothing like we are used to.
The Staples Center will get a show on occasion, but the feeling and atmosphere of "Fight Night" is dead.
I can recall reading of all the NYC clubs when I was a kid, Eastern Parkway Arena, Sunnyside Gardens, etc. and of course you had the Garden for the big ones.
It was once possible to attend a fight card in L.A. several nights a week.
As I grew up, the Olympic was a Thursday night institution in L.A. and if we couldn't make it to the 18th & Grand arena, we could watch on TV.
I do like Wildcard Gym, as it is the only gym around that has that real fight gym feeling.
Freddie Roach has an "old school" nature and personality, and his gym reflects that.
The only thing that would have irritated Randy's and my old trainer, Mel Epstein, was all the women hanging around. DD
Epstein would have bitched to Freddie, "You gotta get rid of the broads!"
I haven't got the interest to get in my car and drive a couple hours into the desert to watch a card at some Indian Casino.
The Native American casinos are able to provide tax breaks for fight promoters that are normally not possible.
Let the promoters get their break, but I won't be inconvenienced.
I got used to the atmosphere of a true fight arena thanks to the Olympic Auditorium.
Now that the legendary Olympic has been transformed into a Korean Church, arena boxing is dead in L.A.
Boxing as we know it, is pretty much nonexistant.
By the way, it must have been great visiting those gyms with your dad.