Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Randyman]

Frank, you gonna make your menudo run today ? .

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

That makes me suspicious Frank. Is everything okay?

[Randyman]

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.!!...

Ain't that the truth!

[kikibalt]

Frank, you gonna make your menudo run today ? .

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

That makes me suspicious Frank. Is everything okay?

Things are fine Randy, thanks for asking, its just that I need a change in routine, same mo, same mo, gets boring after a while...

[Randyman]

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, it's always a treat to read your thoughts on upcoming fights. Succinct, informative, to the point and in a style that can only be described as uniquely British, if I may say that. Your love and knowledge of boxing shines through. I say this with a little embarrassment too, but it seems that boxing fans on your side of the pond have a better grasp of boxing here than we have of boxers on British and European soil. I don't know why that is. Lack of media coverage?
Whatever the reason, you have become a great source of fight news for us. Keep them coming. It's appreciated.

Randy

[Randyman]

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

That makes me suspicious Frank. Is everything okay?

Things are fine Randy, thanks for asking, its just that I need a change in routine, same mo, same mo, gets boring after a while...

Glad to hear that Frank. I know what you mean too, I feel the same way. In a rut. I stayed home today. I don't like going to work anymore. I'm tired and want a change. Something new.

[Randyman]

Randy, where exactly is that in LA? If Linda comes out to the CBHOF with me, I'd like to take her there. She loves harbor areas like that. It looks very scenic! (Maybe you and Jeri will go with us! )

Tom, Shoreline Village is located in Long Beach, while it is still within Los Angeles County, it is about 20 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles. Within walking distance is Pine Ave, where restaurants and pubs are located, also within walking distance is The Pike, (not to be confused with the original Pike) which also has restaurants and pubs, a ferris wheel and other rides as well as arcades.

I put some websites up for you, including an interesting website on the original Pike which was more or less, the Coney Island of California back in the day. It was an interesting place. I'm sure Frank remembers it. The whole area with the new Pike and Shoreline Village was the location of the original Pike.

Tom, it would be great to spend some time with you and Linda but this year our time will be committed to my cousins Louie and Rocky Burke and other family members during that weekend.

I'm also posting a photo of The Hyatt Hotel which overlooks Shoreline Village.

http://www.shorelinevillage.com/

http://www.thepikeatlongbeach.com/

http://downtownlongbeach.org/residents/Home

http://www.millikanalumni.com/Pike/PikeHistory.html


http://longbeach.hyatt.com

I remember the Long Beach Pike real well, Randy, it use to be our summer weekends hang out in the early '50's.
Below is a picture of me (L) and my late uncle, Max, at the Pike's jail around summer of '53.

Frank, even behind bars you are the epitome of cool!

I figured you were familiar with the Pike, Frank. In it's hay day it was pretty big. Another popular spot was P.O.P. (Pacific Ocean Park), I'm sure you and Rick remember that too. Both were big in the days before Disneyland. Once Disneyland took off it was just a matter of time. Just like everything else, I miss the way things used to be.

[kikibalt]

Tom, Shoreline Village is located in Long Beach, while it is still within Los Angeles County, it is about 20 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles. Within walking distance is Pine Ave, where restaurants and pubs are located, also within walking distance is The Pike, (not to be confused with the original Pike) which also has restaurants and pubs, a ferris wheel and other rides as well as arcades.

I put some websites up for you, including an interesting website on the original Pike which was more or less, the Coney Island of California back in the day. It was an interesting place. I'm sure Frank remembers it. The whole area with the new Pike and Shoreline Village was the location of the original Pike.

Tom, it would be great to spend some time with you and Linda but this year our time will be committed to my cousins Louie and Rocky Burke and other family members during that weekend.

I'm also posting a photo of The Hyatt Hotel which overlooks Shoreline Village.

http://www.shorelinevillage.com/

http://www.thepikeatlongbeach.com/

http://downtownlongbeach.org/residents/Home

http://www.millikanalumni.com/Pike/PikeHistory.html


http://longbeach.hyatt.com

I remember the Long Beach Pike real well, Randy, it use to be our summer weekends hang out in the early '50's.
Below is a picture of me (L) and my late uncle, Max, at the Pike's jail around summer of '53.

Frank, even behind bars you are the epitome of cool!

I figured you were familiar with the Pike, Frank. In it's hay day it was pretty big. Another popular spot was P.O.P. (Pacific Ocean Park), I'm sure you and Rick remember that too. Both were big in the days before Disneyland. Once Disneyland took off it was just a matter of time. Just like everything else, I miss the way things used to be.

Randy, there was a few times I was behind bars where I didn't feel so cool!!!...

[THEHAMMER321]

He must have been born in the 90's.
They have no memory or knowledge of what happened before they took their first breath.
You don't hear such nonsense from the mouths of those who have something to remember.

I was born in 1977, I know my boxing and am entitled to an opinion.

If Lennox Lewis is not in the top 2/3 British fighters of all time then I'm afraid you're stuck in the past. Feel free to come and debate it on the thread rather than joining Bennie in throwing insults around.

In 2009, as Chariman of the World Boxing Hall of Fame Selection Committee and the organization's historian, I put Lennox Lewis's name up for Hall of Fame induction.
He was a total gentleman, and I agree he's one of the greatest British boxers of recent times. Not one of three best of all-time.
Prince Naseem Hamed is an embarrassment in the overall scope of boxing history, and weak selection in comparison to any British champ of the past, mate.

I haven't time to throw insults, and we don't do that on this thread. You certainly have a right to your opinion and your favorites. If you wish to learn more about greatness in boxing please let me welcome you to this thread.

Rick, I think you should be commended for the way you handled yourself here, and by responding without vengeance we also found out ''captain hook'' was not a bad guy as reflected when he replied to this post.

[bennie]

I was born in 1977, I know my boxing and am entitled to an opinion.

If Lennox Lewis is not in the top 2/3 British fighters of all time then I'm afraid you're stuck in the past. Feel free to come and debate it on the thread rather than joining Bennie in throwing insults around.

In 2009, as Chariman of the World Boxing Hall of Fame Selection Committee and the organization's historian, I put Lennox Lewis's name up for Hall of Fame induction.
He was a total gentleman, and I agree he's one of the greatest British boxers of recent times. Not one of three best of all-time.
Prince Naseem Hamed is an embarrassment in the overall scope of boxing history, and weak selection in comparison to any British champ of the past, mate.

I haven't time to throw insults, and we don't do that on this thread. You certainly have a right to your opinion and your favorites. If you wish to learn more about greatness in boxing please let me welcome you to this thread.

Rick, I think you should be commended for the way you handled yourself here, and by responding without vengeance we also found out ''captain hook'' was not a bad guy as reflected when he replied to this post.

Rick is no fan of Naz but the Sheffield boy could whack and is definitely one of our greatest all-time fighters. However, you would never see any of his corner hug him after his wins. A pat on the back was as good as it got. That said a lot for the man's personality.

[THEHAMMER321]

Bennie, I think Naz could have really been a great fighter, but I think his big ego held him back as it does many potentially great fighters, having the attitude ''I just have to show up to win'' forgetting all the hard work and not wanting to listen to the people he should have, he certainly had the talent to go much further than he did.

[kikibalt]

Bennie, I think Naz could have really been a great fighter, but I think his big ego held him back as it does many potentially great fighters, having the attitude ''I just have to show up to win'' forgetting all the hard work and not wanting to listen to the people he should have, he certainly had the talent to go much further than he did.

The thing with Naz is that he never learned how to fight, I had amateur fighters that had more boxing skills then Naz. Hard to see him beat most of the top fighters from the past, guys like Davey Moore, Hogan Kid Bassey, Gil Cadilli, Danny Valez and Dwight Hawkins, Sugar Ramos, et al, would had walked over Naz......

[Panzerfaust]

Bennie, I think Naz could have really been a great fighter, but I think his big ego held him back as it does many potentially great fighters, having the attitude ''I just have to show up to win'' forgetting all the hard work and not wanting to listen to the people he should have, he certainly had the talent to go much further than he did.

The thing with Naz is that he never learned how to fight, I had amateur fighters that had more boxing skills then Naz. Hard see him beat most of the top fighters from the past, guys like Davey Moore, Hogan Kid Bassey, Gil Cadilli, Danny Valez and Dwight Hawkins, et al, would had walked over Naz......

Probably why he avoided JMM for what? 22 months?

[Randyman]

On Naseem Hamed……….

To be honest, I was never a big fan of the “Prince”. Still, it’s hard to be too critical of anyone that lost only once in thirty-seven fights , with 31 KO’s to his record, the lone loss coming at the hands of the great Mexican warrior, Marco Antonio Barrera, no shame there. That night, almost ten years ago, Barrera would have beaten any featherweight in the world. He was on a mission that night.

Hamed, like Roy Jones and Muhammad Ali had a style all his own. It was a style that left him open to criticism. Hamed never so much slipped a punch but bent over backwards, almost at the knees to avoid a punch. His style, again, like Ali and Jones was instinctive and not so much a learned true boxing style. Just my opinion. If styles make fights than Barrera has the right stuff and style to beat him and would probably beat him every time, much the way Junior Jones had Barrera’s number. That’s boxing.

What made the Prince hard to handle for me was his personality. The supreme arrogance was more than I could stand. I felt the same way about Roy Jones and Hector Camacho. There is a difference in say, Ali, who did it with a wink. Again, just my opinion. However, I’ll give Naseem Hamed his due as a fighter.

[Rick Farris]

Bennie, I think Naz could have really been a great fighter, but I think his big ego held him back as it does many potentially great fighters, having the attitude ''I just have to show up to win'' forgetting all the hard work and not wanting to listen to the people he should have, he certainly had the talent to go much further than he did.

I never saw the talent. His lack of courage was proven. This is OK with Brits today? Sad.

[Rick Farris]

Churchill must be rolling in his grave.

[Randyman]

At best, in my opinion was good fighter but certainly not an all time great. I don't see it.

MARCO BARRERA V. NASEEM HAMED HIGHLIGHTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ISwivnhMpI

Naseem Hamed vs Augie Sanchez Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSgmLP2Qbpg

Funny Naseem Hamed Interview(Post Auggie Sanchez)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G_vmGU-ooA

[Randyman]

It was this behavior more than anything else that turned me off to Hamed, I'm old school, just get in there and fight.

Prince Naseem Hamed 'Thriller' ring entrance vs Wayne Mccullough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZvBDYS6hsY

[THEHAMMER321]

Augie Sanchez, I never saw him fight as a pro but I did see him as a kid of 7 or 8 training at the golden gloves gym in about 83 or 84 along with his older brother Juan who also turned pro but had much less success than Augie.

[Randyman]

Churchill must be rolling in his grave.

Churchill said it all here.

[Randyman]

Augie Sanchez, I never saw him fight as a pro but I did see him as a kid of 7 or 8 training at the golden gloves gym in about 83 or 84 along with his older brother Juan who also turned pro but had much less success than Augie.

Sanchez was a reasonably good fighter. He had a good amateur career and started off nicely as a pro. I think everyone really had high hopes for him. Along with his stoppage by Naseem Hamed, he was also stopped by Edgar Garcia in the 1st round and in the last fight of his career he was KO'ed by John Michael Johnson, again in the 1st round. I'm just guessing but I'm sure his management advised him to hang them up.

[THEHAMMER321]

P.T Barnum quote, ''There's a sucker born every minute'' , that's what King and Bob Arum must be thinking every time they put on a PPV show.

[kikibalt]

Rudy Garcia
Former California Featherweight Champion
In this day and age Rudy would have been be a super star...

[kikibalt]

Rudy Garcia was one of the hardest punching featherweights developed in California. He was managed by Lee Boren, who also stareted Artie Aragon. The buckle he is wearing here was awarded to him at the Hollywood Legion Stadium where he won the state title. The gold plated piece was fashioned by Tom Ogilvie, who later became Post #43 Commander and had a musical instrument repair shop in the Legion building to the right of the main entrance on El Centro sreet.

Hap Navarro

[kikibalt]

John Thomas
John refereed my last amateur fight, I never fought pro.





John Thomas with??

[kikibalt]

Charlie Powell