Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

I think he did want to fight one or two more fights like you say. There was nothing in the works for that moment. Coming off a victory over Waban Thomas in North Carolina, my father did know ,as he told me, that his best days were behind him. One thing that was making him stay in the ring then was the money purses were growing larger as TV was now also taking on Theatre crowds for championships.A pre-lim was getting big money also on those cards. What was once $5,000 payout for a TV appearance main event plus gate pct. during the mid 1950's was now getting bigger paydays. My father was sparring with Jose Torres regularly and though he never mentioned it, might have given him a shot for a money night. He sparred with Johannson too, along with Henry, but that ended in a bad way at that time.Floyd Patterson was a good friend and that might give him a payday also. Of,course none of these would have been title shots-far from it. But paydays for the new era were coming in and I think my father would have been interested in one or two more. He still had many supporters at that time in NY.
My father fought on the undercard of the Marciano-Kid Matthews fight at Yankee Stadium in 1952. My father said that night was one of the most exhilarating nights of his career coming out of the tunnel in the old Stadium.He lost on points that night.He told me he sold close to 3,000 tickets for the fight to his supporters that night.
Earlier in 1949,my father Ko'd his opponent in the stadium on the undercard to Lesnevich-Ezzard Charles fight.

Why did the Johansson thing end in a bad way, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank You for asking Bennie, but I rather have you refer to my fathers thread "Charley Norkus..Friend and Foes" site for that story.It can be found on page 3 of his thread.
I posted recent stuff there as well.
I posted a story there on page 5 about my fathers fight with Tommy Harrison as well. Tommy Harrison was a top Los Angeles heavy who was a chief sparmate for Rocky Marciano at the time.
This site is for California and West Coast stuff primarily and with all respect to my good friends here, and the availabilty of learning about my fathers career on a nearby source, I would refer you over to there to see.I have no problem listing stories on my dad and his California fights or McMurty fight in Tacoma,WA as well, but I rather leave it to West Coast or short questions on his career.With all due respect my friend.

Cheers, Charley. Ingo should have learnt from that left hook.

[THEHAMMER321]

Hi everyone, been missing in action last few days, don't tell anybody, but I have been doing yard work don't want anyone finding out, it might blow my membership in the ''kept man'' club.

[THEHAMMER321]

For Paul

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-sup ... 7070.story

Great Post, Frank. Thanks.

Lets see- $100 on the 2011 season being played without losing any games to lockout.
$300 on Jets to WIN Super Bowl.
$100 on Sanchez throwing over 300 yds in Super Bowl.
$200 on Vlad losing titles in 2011 to anyone.

Paul has just been voted the resident odd-maker....

Frank being an odds maker is a tough job, you have to be able to put up a number that will get a lot of 2 way action and you can never let sentiment get in the way of good judgement,like if Mayweather were to fight PACMAN as an oddsmaker I would have to install Mayweather as a slight favorite even though I can't stand him, hard to be a fan and an oddsmaker, the 2 don't mix.

[Ric]

Can anyone identify the young boxer 5th from the left, wearing the Olympic Games or AAU coat, standing between Joe Salas and George Blake, in this photo? (He appears to be one of the 8 boxers Blake took to the Paris Olympics in 1924. It ain't Jackie Fields, is it?)

[Rick Farris]

Jerry Moore

Jerry Moore . . .

Most of us in L.A. boxing remember Jerry Moore as a top manager/trainer who worked with top rated pros, amateurs and juniors.
Frank knew him well, not to mention his partner, Henry Blouin.
They worked out of the Hoover Street Gym and developed former welter contender Andy "The Hawk" Price, as well as Jimmy Heair and dozens of others.
I always considered Moore an L.A. guy, having seen he and Blouin at Jr. Golden Gloves events and on TV in the corners of many L.A. boxers at the Olympic and other local venues. However, Jerry Moore actually began his boxing career in his home state of New York.
During his pro career he fought the great Ike Williams twice, Juan Zurita, Willie Joyce and Tippy Larkin, to name a few.
I know he passed a few years back, and not that long ago his partner, Henry Blouin also died.
It was nice to see Jerry as he looked in his fighting days. Great pictures, Frank!

[Rick Farris]

Hi everyone, been missing in action last few days, don't tell anybody, but I have been doing yard work don't want anyone finding out, it might blow my membership in the ''kept man'' club.

Yard work? Not a "Kept Man" activity. However, you might fool some Paul.
After all, both Tom Cruise and John Travolta have millions believing that they are lady's men. NOT!

[THEHAMMER321]

Hi everyone, been missing in action last few days, don't tell anybody, but I have been doing yard work don't want anyone finding out, it might blow my membership in the ''kept man'' club.

Yard work? Not a "Kept Man" activity. However, you might fool some Paul.
After all, both Tom Cruise and John Travolta have millions believing that they are lady's men. NOT!

Rick are you implying they are both ''three dollar bills''.

[Rick Farris]

Hi everyone, been missing in action last few days, don't tell anybody, but I have been doing yard work don't want anyone finding out, it might blow my membership in the ''kept man'' club.

Yard work? Not a "Kept Man" activity. However, you might fool some Paul.
After all, both Tom Cruise and John Travolta have millions believing that they are lady's men. NOT!

Rick are you implying they are both ''three dollar bills''.

It's a fact.

[bennie]

Yard work? Not a "Kept Man" activity. However, you might fool some Paul.
After all, both Tom Cruise and John Travolta have millions believing that they are lady's men. NOT!

Rick are you implying they are both ''three dollar bills''.

It's a fact.

I've never liked either. To me, they are (they really are) a couple of Jessies.

[bennie]

Nathan Cleverly is due a good day in the office after labouring to outscore a slippery Frenchman in his last outing and he gets the chance when he challenges Juergen Braehmer for the WBO light-heavyweight title at Wembley on April 2.
Of course, bad day after bad also springs to mind against one of the most dangerous and unstable characters in world boxing. Braehmer, a big-punching southpaw with a great chin, keeps punching even when shots are coming back (and when anyone of any age needles him on Germany's busy roads). The champion's shots really are destructive. The man who sparked Ricky Hatton in the first minute as amateurs has sparked 29 opponents on the way to 36-2 as a pro, and both his defeats came on points in 12-rounders.
In the ring at least, Braehmer has done little wrong, although the men to beat him were rangy, classy types in the mould of the talented, intelligent Cleverly, who has done little wrong himself at 21-0 (10) and is nine years the younger man at 23.
Nathan can box, make no mistake about it, and promoter F rank Warren has pulled off a coup by luring Braehmer out of Germany for only the second time in his 12-year career; however, Braehmer came through the first one against the unbeaten (like Cleverly) Aleksy Kuziemski in Hungary in 2009 in 11 rounds, and one feels he will also prove too much for Cleverly in the end.

[bennie]

Archie, Larry, Lee, Sugar and Bobby.

[bennie]

Ali and an ageing, wigless Rocky.

[Rick Farris]

Rick are you implying they are both ''three dollar bills''.

It's a fact.

I've never liked either. To me, they are (they really are) a couple of Jessies.

Bennie, let me see if I've got my Cockney right: Jessie James- "Dames"?

[bennie]

It's a fact.

I've never liked either. To me, they are (they really are) a couple of Jessies.

Bennie, let me see if I've got my Cockney right: Jessie James- "Dames"?

I don't think it's Cockney rhyming slang, Rick, it's just a British thing for softie. Usually we say he's a "big Jessie".

[kikibalt]

Can anyone identify the young boxer 5th from the left, wearing the Olympic Games or AAU coat, standing between Joe Salas and George Blake, in this photo? (He appears to be one of the 8 boxers Blake took to the Paris Olympics in 1924. It ain't Jackie Fields, is it?)

He does look like a young Jackie Fields, but I couldn't say for sure....

[kikibalt]

Hi everyone, been missing in action last few days, don't tell anybody, but I have been doing yard work don't want anyone finding out, it might blow my membership in the ''kept man'' club.

Yard work? Not a "Kept Man" activity. However, you might fool some Paul.
After all, both Tom Cruise and John Travolta have millions believing that they are lady's men. NOT!

Doing yard work??, Paul, we're going to have to call you in front of the "Kept Men commish....

[kikibalt]

Jerry Moore

Jerry Moore . . .

Most of us in L.A. boxing remember Jerry Moore as a top manager/trainer who worked with top rated pros, amateurs and juniors.
Frank knew him well, not to mention his partner, Henry Blouin.
They worked out of the Hoover Street Gym and developed former welter contender Andy "The Hawk" Price, as well as Jimmy Heair and dozens of others.
I always considered Moore an L.A. guy, having seen he and Blouin at Jr. Golden Gloves events and on TV in the corners of many L.A. boxers at the Olympic and other local venues. However, Jerry Moore actually began his boxing career in his home state of New York.
During his pro career he fought the great Ike Williams twice, Juan Zurita, Willie Joyce and Tippy Larkin, to name a few.
I know he passed a few years back, and not that long ago his partner, Henry Blouin also died.
It was nice to see Jerry as he looked in his fighting days. Great pictures, Frank!

I indeed knew Jerry well. At the time I was Vice-President (early '70's) of the Coaches & Managers Association, Jerry was President. We traveled together for some amateur tournaments. In '82 as we were in New York for a meet with Don King, Jerry offered to show me the Nite Spots in Harlem, Harlem was like been back in L.A.'s early '50's Central Ave. Great memories of Jerry, and Henry Blouin too....

[THEHAMMER321]

Hi everyone, been missing in action last few days, don't tell anybody, but I have been doing yard work don't want anyone finding out, it might blow my membership in the ''kept man'' club.

Yard work? Not a "Kept Man" activity. However, you might fool some Paul.
After all, both Tom Cruise and John Travolta have millions believing that they are lady's men. NOT!

Doing yard work??, Paul, we're going to have to call you in front of the "Kept Men commish....

Frank, was called before the ''kept man'' commissioner, I got away with a warning this time, next time I might not be so lucky.

[CNorkusJr]

Jerry Moore

Jerry Moore . . .

Most of us in L.A. boxing remember Jerry Moore as a top manager/trainer who worked with top rated pros, amateurs and juniors.
Frank knew him well, not to mention his partner, Henry Blouin.
They worked out of the Hoover Street Gym and developed former welter contender Andy "The Hawk" Price, as well as Jimmy Heair and dozens of others.
I always considered Moore an L.A. guy, having seen he and Blouin at Jr. Golden Gloves events and on TV in the corners of many L.A. boxers at the Olympic and other local venues. However, Jerry Moore actually began his boxing career in his home state of New York.
During his pro career he fought the great Ike Williams twice, Juan Zurita, Willie Joyce and Tippy Larkin, to name a few.
I know he passed a few years back, and not that long ago his partner, Henry Blouin also died.
It was nice to see Jerry as he looked in his fighting days. Great pictures, Frank!

I indeed knew Jerry well. At the time I was Vice-President (early '70's) of the Coaches & Managers Association, Jerry was President. We traveled together for some amateur tournaments. In '82 as we were in New York for a meet with Don King he offered to show me the Nite Spots in Harlem, Harlem was like been back in L.A.'s early '50's Central Ave. Great memories of Jerry, and Henry Blouin too....

Holy crap Frank. Harlem in early 80's. Of all the places to go to in the city to meet.
The mid to late 70's in Harlem and Brooklyn were one of the most NYC civil unrest periods ever. Besides police beatings on minorities, alot of housing in Harlem and Bronx fell under section 8. (city supplied housing). Drugs,gangs,crime were rampant. God forbid a white cop shot a black youth for any reason,good or bad. The city lit up like a bon fire.Fire companies were doing astronomical number of alarms. The eighties cooled things down but, alot of burnt out businesses and apt. structures and such were prevalent. There was still a bad element preying upon anyone who might have anything to offer in their wallets.If you were with Don King,then I'm sure all was pretty good, but still things were very tough in that time period.
Harlem today is rebuilt and has come a long ways back. Yuppies have claimed a good part of the old turf and crime,though still more present than other parts of the city, has brought their numbers down too.
There were very good boxing cards taking place in the Garden back then, with many good fighters coming out of Harlem,Bronx and a few in Brooklyn.

[THEHAMMER321]

You guys have your coffee already ? , I got to get my coffee started just woke up.

[THEHAMMER321]

Jerry Moore . . .

Most of us in L.A. boxing remember Jerry Moore as a top manager/trainer who worked with top rated pros, amateurs and juniors.
Frank knew him well, not to mention his partner, Henry Blouin.
They worked out of the Hoover Street Gym and developed former welter contender Andy "The Hawk" Price, as well as Jimmy Heair and dozens of others.
I always considered Moore an L.A. guy, having seen he and Blouin at Jr. Golden Gloves events and on TV in the corners of many L.A. boxers at the Olympic and other local venues. However, Jerry Moore actually began his boxing career in his home state of New York.
During his pro career he fought the great Ike Williams twice, Juan Zurita, Willie Joyce and Tippy Larkin, to name a few.
I know he passed a few years back, and not that long ago his partner, Henry Blouin also died.
It was nice to see Jerry as he looked in his fighting days. Great pictures, Frank!

I indeed knew Jerry well. At the time I was Vice-President (early '70's) of the Coaches & Managers Association, Jerry was President. We traveled together for some amateur tournaments. In '82 as we were in New York for a meet with Don King he offered to show me the Nite Spots in Harlem, Harlem was like been back in L.A.'s early '50's Central Ave. Great memories of Jerry, and Henry Blouin too....

Holy crap Frank. Harlem in early 80's. Of all the places to go to in the city to meet.
The mid to late 70's in Harlem and Brooklyn were one of the most NYC civil unrest periods ever. Besides police beatings on minorities, alot of housing in Harlem and Bronx fell under section 8. (city supplied housing). Drugs,gangs,crime were rampant. God forbid a white cop shot a black youth for any reason,good or bad. The city lit up like a bon fire.Fire companies were doing astronomical number of alarms. The eighties cooled things down but, alot of burnt out businesses and apt. structures and such were prevalent. There was still a bad element preying upon anyone who might have anything to offer in their wallets.If you were with Don King,then I'm sure all was pretty good, but still things were very tough in that time period.
Harlem today is rebuilt and has come a long ways back. Yuppies have claimed a good part of the old turf and crime,though still more present than other parts of the city, has brought their numbers down too.
There were very good boxing cards taking place in the Garden back then, with many good fighters coming out of Harlem,Bronx and a few in Brooklyn.

Charlie, I had cable in the early 1980s with a madison square garden channel, I remember Randy Gordon was on most of the broadcasts of fights, and I remember John Conden was the ring announcer I believe.

[kikibalt]

Jerry Moore . . .

Most of us in L.A. boxing remember Jerry Moore as a top manager/trainer who worked with top rated pros, amateurs and juniors.
Frank knew him well, not to mention his partner, Henry Blouin.
They worked out of the Hoover Street Gym and developed former welter contender Andy "The Hawk" Price, as well as Jimmy Heair and dozens of others.
I always considered Moore an L.A. guy, having seen he and Blouin at Jr. Golden Gloves events and on TV in the corners of many L.A. boxers at the Olympic and other local venues. However, Jerry Moore actually began his boxing career in his home state of New York.
During his pro career he fought the great Ike Williams twice, Juan Zurita, Willie Joyce and Tippy Larkin, to name a few.
I know he passed a few years back, and not that long ago his partner, Henry Blouin also died.
It was nice to see Jerry as he looked in his fighting days. Great pictures, Frank!

I indeed knew Jerry well. At the time I was Vice-President (early '70's) of the Coaches & Managers Association, Jerry was President. We traveled together for some amateur tournaments. In '82 as we were in New York for a meet with Don King he offered to show me the Nite Spots in Harlem, Harlem was like been back in L.A.'s early '50's Central Ave. Great memories of Jerry, and Henry Blouin too....

Holy crap Frank. Harlem in early 80's. Of all the places to go to in the city to meet.
The mid to late 70's in Harlem and Brooklyn were one of the most NYC civil unrest periods ever. Besides police beatings on minorities, alot of housing in Harlem and Bronx fell under section 8. (city supplied housing). Drugs,gangs,crime were rampant. God forbid a white cop shot a black youth for any reason,good or bad. The city lit up like a bon fire.Fire companies were doing astronomical number of alarms. The eighties cooled things down but, alot of burnt out businesses and apt. structures and such were prevalent. There was still a bad element preying upon anyone who might have anything to offer in their wallets.If you were with Don King,then I'm sure all was pretty good, but still things were very tough in that time period.
Harlem today is rebuilt and has come a long ways back. Yuppies have claimed a good part of the old turf and crime,though still more present than other parts of the city, has brought their numbers down too.
There were very good boxing cards taking place in the Garden back then, with many good fighters coming out of Harlem,Bronx and a few in Brooklyn.

Just Like L.A., Charlie, just like L.A.!!...

[kikibalt]

You guys have your coffee already ? , I got to get my coffee started just woke up.

You're getting later and later with that coffee. Paul....

[THEHAMMER321]

Frank, you gonna make your menudo run today ? .

[kikibalt]

Frank, you gonna make your menudo run today ? .

No, I'm going to skip my manudo run for a few weeks, I think!!!