Classic American West Coast Boxing

[CNorkusJr]

Ron Lyle is 70 today.

A Ron Lyle memory . . .

I first saw Ron Lyle in the 1970 National Golden Gloves "Tourament of Champions", held in Las Vegas at the Convention Center.
This was my second trip to the Golden Gloves Nationals, having been a member of the Los Angeles team that competed in Kansas City in 1969.
Only this time, in 1970, Los Angeles was not allowed to send a team to the Golden Gloves Nationals. Most of us had fought for Aileen Eaton, who was putting on amateur bouts on the undercard of the Thursday night professional cards at the Olympic Auditorium. The AAU said it would be OK for Mrs. Eaton to do so, provided she "kick back" a thousand bucks to the organization from her weekly proceeds. Eaton refused to accomodate the corrupt amateur organization, so they took it out on the boxers.

The Managers & Coaches Association got together and came up with a plan to make it possible for the L.A. boys to compete in the Golden Gloves. We staged our own tournament and called it the "Diamond Belt Championships". It was conducted the same as the annual Western Regional GG's tourney was, and the finals held at the Olympic. The winners of the open class titles (I won the bantam title) would travel to Las Vegas and compete in the Nevada tourney in Las Vegas, which also included boxers from Arizona and New Mexico. We were all listed as residents of Henderson, Nevada, where an L.A. rep had a home. There were ten weight divisions to rep Nevada in the Nationals, which just so happened to be held in Las Vegas that year. The Los Angeles amateurs were superior to those from Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, and all but one of the Nevada GG's titles were won by L.A. fighters. My close friend and stablemate, Al "Kit" Boursse' would be the heavyweight rep on the Nevada team, and I would go as the 118lb. rep.

I won my first two bouts, but lost in the quarter finals of eliminations after a close fight with a boxer from Texas.
My buddy Al also made it to the quarter finals, where he faced a guy from Colorado, named Ron Lyle.
Lyle had flattened his first two opponents and was rumored to be the "next Sonny Liston."
Boursse' had been working as a sparring partner for Jerry Quarry, and the previous year had traveled with Quarry to N.Y. where he had worked with Jerry at Grossinger's for his title bout against Joe Frazier in Madison Square Garden. This was going to be an interesting match, I expected.

Boursse' was able to keep himself from getting hurt when sparring with Quarry by boxing Jerry, and I expected him to do the same with Lyle. To my surprise, Boursse' went toe-to-toe with the Denver heavyweight and as the bell rang ending the first round, the crowd at the L.V. Convention Center was on it's feet. Both had landed solid blows and both had been rocked. In round two, the war resumed but I could see the Boursse's left eye was closing. He began taking solid shots from Lyle and I saw a leg buckle after catching one on the chin. Boursse' grabbed Lyle and held, attempting to clear his head. The ref broke the clinch and stopped the action. He looked closely at Boursse' and then allowed the action to resume. Lyle then landed another shot which made Al reel across the ring backwards. The bout was stopped and Lyle was awarded a second round TKO victory. After the fight, Al was quiet. He'd never before been stopped, and he'd never be stopped again in his career, as an amateur or professional. He later admitted that he'd never felt such a strong punch, not even from Jerry.

Of course, it would be Jerry Quarry who would hand Ron Lyle his first professional defeat, and Jerry did so easily.
I recall watching the Quarry-Lyle bout with Boursse', and I could see by the strange smile on my buddy's face that he was happy that Quarry had avenged his only TKO loss.

By the way, my late friend Alan "Kit" Boursee' would have turned 61 last July.
R.I.P. Kit.

Those were some good times, great days.


-Rick Farris

Great recollection Rick. You have been part of some really memorable moments during your boxing career.Your enthusiasm for boxing comes through in you experienced writings. Thanks for sharing.

[Rick Farris]

Another superior Brit world champ. The list just goes on & on, and I haven't gotten to the Ken Buchanan's, Walter McGowen's, etc. There is only so much time in a day when it comes listing those superior to Lennox Lewis and The Prince.
As for Lewis, let's keep in mind that he and guys like Evander Holyfield are nothing more than the benefactors of Mike Tyson's self-destruction. Tyson would have died with the title had he not lost himself. Of course, this is all speculation, however, Mike's talent was not. Mike's name should be right up there with Johnson, Dempsey, Louis, Marciano & Ali. The name Lennox Lewis, despite his class and talent, will never be. In the ring, on his best day, he could not carry Larry Holmes jock strap.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Benny Lynch


birth date 1913-04-02
death date 1946-08-06
division flyweight
stance orthodox
country United Kingdom
residence Gorbals, Scotland, United Kingdom
birth place Gorbals, Glasgow
won 81 (KO 34) + lost 12 (KO 1) + drawn 15 = 108
rounds boxed 878

[raylawpc]

Ron Lyle is 70 today.

A Ron Lyle memory . . .

I first saw Ron Lyle in the 1970 National Golden Gloves "Tourament of Champions", held in Las Vegas at the Convention Center.
This was my second trip to the Golden Gloves Nationals, having been a member of the Los Angeles team that competed in Kansas City in 1969.
Only this time, in 1970, Los Angeles was not allowed to send a team to the Golden Gloves Nationals. Most of us had fought for Aileen Eaton, who was putting on amateur bouts on the undercard of the Thursday night professional cards at the Olympic Auditorium. The AAU said it would be OK for Mrs. Eaton to do so, provided she "kick back" a thousand bucks to the organization from her weekly proceeds. Eaton refused to accomodate the corrupt amateur organization, so they took it out on the boxers.

The Managers & Coaches Association got together and came up with a plan to make it possible for the L.A. boys to compete in the Golden Gloves. We staged our own tournament and called it the "Diamond Belt Championships". It was conducted the same as the annual Western Regional GG's tourney was, and the finals held at the Olympic. The winners of the open class titles (I won the bantam title) would travel to Las Vegas and compete in the Nevada tourney in Las Vegas, which also included boxers from Arizona and New Mexico. We were all listed as residents of Henderson, Nevada, where an L.A. rep had a home. There were ten weight divisions to rep Nevada in the Nationals, which just so happened to be held in Las Vegas that year. The Los Angeles amateurs were superior to those from Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, and all but one of the Nevada GG's titles were won by L.A. fighters. My close friend and stablemate, Al "Kit" Boursse' would be the heavyweight rep on the Nevada team, and I would go as the 118lb. rep.

I won my first two bouts, but lost in the quarter finals of eliminations after a close fight with a boxer from Texas.
My buddy Al also made it to the quarter finals, where he faced a guy from Colorado, named Ron Lyle.
Lyle had flattened his first two opponents and was rumored to be the "next Sonny Liston."
Boursse' had been working as a sparring partner for Jerry Quarry, and the previous year had traveled with Quarry to N.Y. where he had worked with Jerry at Grossinger's for his title bout against Joe Frazier in Madison Square Garden. This was going to be an interesting match, I expected.

Boursse' was able to keep himself from getting hurt when sparring with Quarry by boxing Jerry, and I expected him to do the same with Lyle. To my surprise, Boursse' went toe-to-toe with the Denver heavyweight and as the bell rang ending the first round, the crowd at the L.V. Convention Center was on it's feet. Both had landed solid blows and both had been rocked. In round two, the war resumed but I could see the Boursse's left eye was closing. He began taking solid shots from Lyle and I saw a leg buckle after catching one on the chin. Boursse' grabbed Lyle and held, attempting to clear his head. The ref broke the clinch and stopped the action. He looked closely at Boursse' and then allowed the action to resume. Lyle then landed another shot which made Al reel across the ring backwards. The bout was stopped and Lyle was awarded a second round TKO victory. After the fight, Al was quiet. He'd never before been stopped, and he'd never be stopped again in his career, as an amateur or professional. He later admitted that he'd never felt such a strong punch, not even from Jerry.

Of course, it would be Jerry Quarry who would hand Ron Lyle his first professional defeat, and Jerry did so easily.
I recall watching the Quarry-Lyle bout with Boursse', and I could see by the strange smile on my buddy's face that he was happy that Quarry had avenged his only TKO loss.

By the way, my late friend Alan "Kit" Boursee' would have turned 61 last July.
R.I.P. Kit.

Those were some good times, great days.


-Rick Farris

Great recollection Rick. You have been part of some really memorable moments during your boxing career.Your enthusiasm for boxing comes through in you experienced writings. Thanks for sharing.

Ron Lyle - the only fighter I wanted Muhammad Ali to beat . . .

[bennie]

One of my favourite all-time British fighters is West Ham's Mark Kaylor, a 1980s middleweight who climbed up from a heavy knockodwn against Roy Gumbs at the Alexandra Palace in London, the old home of the BBC. Gumbs then came in for the kill, and Kaylor, who really was badly hurt, pulled out a big right hand which drained all the fight out of Gumbs.
It was the first promotional confrontation between Mickey Duff and an emerging F rank Warren and the atmosphere - and the fight - was electric.

[bennie]

You know, we are discussing the magical Lonsdale Belt on the British forum and how it shines even brighter in today's boxing world of plastic, throwaway, trouser belts.
One respected poster called Carlos revealed that you can pick up a genuine WBA title belt on ebay for - forty quid!

Here is the difference between Lonsdale (on the left and right) and plastic.

[telboy66]

Ron Lyle is 70 today.

So was I, happy birthday Ron

[bennie]

Ron Lyle is 70 today.

So was I, happy birthday Ron

A very, very Happy Birthday, Tel.

[bennie]

Another of my favourites.

[telboy66]

Another of my favourites.

Sibbo A gutsy boxer if ever there was

[telboy66]

ignorant young Brits is Rick meaning me

[telboy66]

I have to agree with you Bennie the "Lonsdale" it is by far the greatest,I got to hold one of money mayweather's belts in the 90s it was just a cheap toy shop piece of plastic, no wonder Bowe threw one in a bin they are absolutely worthless. thanks for the BD wishes

[bennie]

[Expug]

Speaking of British fighters, its nice to see Tony Sibson pictured here. I remember when John Collins fought him. I felt at the time that Johnny wasnt ready for Sibo. It turned out that way,but Tony could really fight. A tough tough guy. Dan remembers this I am sure. I was a little surprised when Don Lee who I think I fought on the same card with once beat him.
I figured Tony to win that one.

[bennie]

ignorant young Brits is Rick meaning me

Naz always sends Rick to a bad place, Tel, but he means the English kids who sadly frequent all boxing forums and know nothing prior to the days of Chris Eubank.

[bennie]

Speaking of British fighters, its nice to see Tony Sibson pictured here. I remember when John Collins fought him. I felt at the time that Johnny wasnt ready for Sibo. It turned out that way,but Tony could really fight. A tough tough guy. Dan remembers this I am sure. I was a little surprised when Don Lee who I think I fought on the same card with once beat him.
I figured Tony to win that one.

Tony said in a piece after his retirement that if he felt the stomach muscles tightening, the throat drying and the mind casting doubts as he awaited the opening bell, he knew he was going to be explosive (think of his Minter destruction).
He was never going to beat Hagler, of course, no matter how he felt.

[JC]

This is what I consider a true all-time British great.
Am I wrong? How does Hamed compare with the likes of this, and others I will mention in due course?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jackie (Kid) Berg


Hall of Fame -Class of 1994
Modern Category
World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee
Alias: The Whitechapel Whirlwind
Birth Name: Judah Bergman
Born: 1909-06-28
Birthplace: Whitechapel, London, United Kingdom
Died: 1991-04-22 (Age:81)
Nationality: United Kingdom
Hometown: Whitechapel, London, United Kingdom
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 9″ / 175cm

Bouts- 192.
157-26-9 (61KO's)

Trainer: Ray Arcel
Managers: Harry Levine - Sol Gold

The wags on the British forum are obviously lost balls in high grass.

This is where Berg grew up, Fieldgate Mansions in Romford Street, Whitechapel I think the black and white ones are from the 90s.





Here they are today looking a bit cleaned up.

[bennie]

This is what I consider a true all-time British great.
Am I wrong? How does Hamed compare with the likes of this, and others I will mention in due course?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jackie (Kid) Berg


Hall of Fame -Class of 1994
Modern Category
World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee
Alias: The Whitechapel Whirlwind
Birth Name: Judah Bergman
Born: 1909-06-28
Birthplace: Whitechapel, London, United Kingdom
Died: 1991-04-22 (Age:81)
Nationality: United Kingdom
Hometown: Whitechapel, London, United Kingdom
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 9″ / 175cm

Bouts- 192.
157-26-9 (61KO's)

Trainer: Ray Arcel
Managers: Harry Levine - Sol Gold

The wags on the British forum are obviously lost balls in high grass.

This is where Berg grew up, Fieldgate Mansions in Romford Street, Whitechapel I think the black and white ones are from the 90s.





Here they are today looking a bit cleaned up.

Great shots, J-C. Thanks for posting.

[JC]

Cheers bennie. If you're ever in Whitechapel it's worth going to have a look at the Fieldgate street area, it has definitely retained an atmosphere.

[scartissue]

Speaking of British fighters, its nice to see Tony Sibson pictured here. I remember when John Collins fought him. I felt at the time that Johnny wasnt ready for Sibo. It turned out that way,but Tony could really fight. A tough tough guy. Dan remembers this I am sure. I was a little surprised when Don Lee who I think I fought on the same card with once beat him.
I figured Tony to win that one.

Brian, I remember the Sibbo-Collins fight very well. Collins fought out of the same gym I was training at, so I got to know him. But, man, Sibbo was not to be denied that night. He was truly a wrecking ball and Collins was the debris. As for the Don Lee fight, yeah, I was stunned as well. Sibson started so well, dropping Lee in the 1st or 2nd, but then Lee turned southpaw and Tony couldn't figure him out. After getting thumped on early, Sibson was slowly coming back into the picture and it actually looked like Tony might pull it out, but Lee upped it another gear and stopped him in 8. A really good fight to watch when you just want to see a good, action bout.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

East Los Angeles movie theatres of yesteryear..

http://sites.google.com/site/losangeles ... ed-Artists

http://laeastside.com/2008/06/memories- ... ment-26729

[CNorkusJr]

This is what I consider a true all-time British great.
Am I wrong? How does Hamed compare with the likes of this, and others I will mention in due course?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jackie (Kid) Berg


Hall of Fame -Class of 1994
Modern Category
World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee
Alias: The Whitechapel Whirlwind
Birth Name: Judah Bergman
Born: 1909-06-28
Birthplace: Whitechapel, London, United Kingdom
Died: 1991-04-22 (Age:81)
Nationality: United Kingdom
Hometown: Whitechapel, London, United Kingdom
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 9″ / 175cm

Bouts- 192.
157-26-9 (61KO's)

Trainer: Ray Arcel
Managers: Harry Levine - Sol Gold

The wags on the British forum are obviously lost balls in high grass.

This is where Berg grew up, Fieldgate Mansions in Romford Street, Whitechapel I think the black and white ones are from the 90s.





Here they are today looking a bit cleaned up.

Great shots, J-C. Thanks for posting.

The black and white photos are reminiscent of the lower eastside tenements that Rocky Graziano grew up in lower Manhattan. The color picture looks like they have been tastefully rehabbed into a more suitable housing project, unlike the lower eastside of today,which is not too much unchanged from Graziano's time there.
Rocky, during and after his success in life in the ring, television books etc etc lived on the swanky upper eastside on Sutton Place,overlooking the east river in one of Manhattans highest real estate areas and is still today.

[kikibalt]

Whittier Blvd, E.L.A

Memories of A Lost Boulevard; Ghosts of the Eastside



By Aidesmadre

The character of the E.L.A. that I knew growing up is long gone. Everything changes, evolves.
Those who lived there before me surely must have cherished their own “good old days” as much as I do mine. And twenty years from now, others will do the same.
We are beings that exist in that sliver of time between our past and future. Yet, if we were to somehow erase every memory from the past out of our minds, who would we be? The sum of our experiences, the memories of what we have lived before, are essentially the totality of who we are at this moment. So have my experiences and present memories of growing up in E.L.A. formed this person that I am today. E.L.A. is in my DNA.
It now brings me joy to reminisce, because I can relive those times. Many thanks to all of you out there who join me on these little journeys to memoryland. So let’s take another trip….

[bennie]

Cheers bennie. If you're ever in Whitechapel it's worth going to have a look at the Fieldgate street area, it has definitely retained an atmosphere.

Excuse my horrendous 'in the sticks' ignorance, but when I think of Whitechapel I think of Jack the Ripper.

[JC]

Cheers bennie. If you're ever in Whitechapel it's worth going to have a look at the Fieldgate street area, it has definitely retained an atmosphere.

Excuse my horrendous 'in the sticks' ignorance, but when I think of Whitechapel I think of Jack the Ripper.

I think everyone does, although to be fair he's been pretty quiet of late. I'm no expert on the whole thing but I believe one of the victims was found in Batty Street which is literally at the end of the road in the first picture I posted, very eerie.

Incidentally Jack Spot the gangster grew up in those buildings too, him and Berg were pals.

[Rick Farris]

You know, we are discussing the magical Lonsdale Belt on the British forum and how it shines even brighter in today's boxing world of plastic, throwaway, trouser belts.
One respected poster called Carlos revealed that you can pick up a genuine WBA title belt on ebay for - forty quid!

Here is the difference between Lonsdale (on the left and right) and plastic.

The Lonsdale Belt is brilliant. In my opinion it has no equal.
Today's belts aren't worth the leather (or vinyl) they're made of.

Mando Ramos was the last boxer to receieve The Ring magazine's beautiful belt in the early 70's.
The belt is on the wall of Mando & Sylvia Ramos' home in San Pedro, and he proudly displays it in the interview Dan Hanley and I did with him in 2007.