Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson walks arm-in-arm with former light heavyweight champ
Jose Torres at the funeral for Jimmy Jacobs, Tyson's co-manager, at Hillside Memorial Park.
Jacobs was remembered by Torres as a man "with an iron will to win." Photo dated: March 26, 1988.

I'm surprised Don King isn't already hovering in the background.

He was, Bennie. Tyson left in King's limo.
This day marked the beginning of the end of the Mike Tyson era.
Everybody credits Cus D'Amato's death as Tyson's greatest loss, however, the death of Jimmy Jacobs was when Mike was most vulnerable.
Jacobs is the man that held the group together.

[kikibalt]

3:30 in the A.M.....time for coffee.....

3:52am . . . Have a good day, Frank.

Back to you Rick.....

[bennie]

Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson walks arm-in-arm with former light heavyweight champ
Jose Torres at the funeral for Jimmy Jacobs, Tyson's co-manager, at Hillside Memorial Park.
Jacobs was remembered by Torres as a man "with an iron will to win." Photo dated: March 26, 1988.

I'm surprised Don King isn't already hovering in the background.

He was, Bennie. Tyson left in King's limo.
This day marked the beginning of the end of the Mike Tyson era.
Everybody credits Cus D'Amato's death as Tyson's greatest loss, however, the death of Jimmy Jacobs was when Mike was most vulnerable.
Jacobs is the man that held the group together.

That's right. This was the beginning of the end for Tyson and a more disciplined approach to life, although the Spinks night was still to come, along with King, Givens and the night he went nuts in a boxing ring as writer Harry Mullan predicted he would years before Holyfield II.

[bennie]

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/15/134531533 ... ugh-martin

[CNorkusJr]

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/15/134531533 ... ugh-martin

Nice Post Bennie. Its ashame that of all versions of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" They chose Twisted Sisters "Twisted" version. Takes away from from article,I think.

The Palace Theatre that is talked about in the article still exists today. Probably one of the most talked about theatres of all-time on Broadway, New York.
You were a nobody unless you played The Palace back in the day.
And in keeping with the times of today, pencil pushing corporate geeks with $$$$ swimming in their heads ruined the Palace experience back in the 80's.
Back then, The Nederlander org. that runs the theatre decided to sell the "Air" rights over the theatre. There was a lengthy battle between old theatre lovers(conservationists) vs. the new kids, with the kids beating out the old money.
Within a year a towering Window laden Hotel now stands over the decorative exterior of the Old Palace.A clash of designs.
Well, if you come to New York today, the hotel chain and the theatre doesnt want you to experience the old grandeur of the theatre exterior clashing with the hotel so, they decided to cover-up the ENTIRE front of the Palace with neon bill-boards hawking everything from Broadweay Shows to Designer Clothes. The interior of the theatre remains basically in its original format,but of course over time, seats and wallpapers had to be re-done but the famed balconies still exists. The 2nd balcony seating virtually offers nothing but obstructed views of the stage and unsuspecting ticket buyers,because of its angles to the stage. Personally I dont know how they get away with it.
I was glad to get to see the Old Theatres of New York before they went the way of "Progressive" re-modeling. Nothing lasts forever.

[kikibalt]

Mike Tyson & Frank Bruno



Mike Tyson





Mike Tyson & Don King

[Rick Farris]

Some great West Coast boxing history, about one of it's legends, as told by another legend.
A Hap Navarro memory of a young Art Aragon, the real "Golden Boy" . . .



Rick:

Artie told me more than once about his early days in Las Cruces, New Mexico, when he decided to join a boys' club that was big on athletics. It was run by a gentleman named Tom Hansen and it was supposedly there that he first learned to box. Three years before I even met Artie, a fellow who had been in school with him at Roosevelt High asked me if I knew Art Aragon. I told him I did not, but that I had heard about him in boxing. The fellow, Ray Estrada told me Artie had gotten into a fight with another student and the result was a bit scary as Artie busted the kid up somewhat. I do not think he was totally into the fight game at the time and when I got to know him, I asked him about that skirmish in high school. I recall that he smiled and held up his index finger to indicate that he had one fight and only one, outside of the ring and that was in high school.

As I have told you before, my first assignment at the Legion Stadium was to publicize Artie Aragon. He had been winning fights for us with ease, quick kayo wins that did not set well with him. One morning we met at the Stadium and he complained to me in perfect Spanish, "Hap, they are feeding me nothing but hams, bums". He was right but I had to be diplomatic so I told him that he was still in the developing stage as a headliner and that the tougher foes would come soon enough. Lord, was I right! Because Art Aragon faced some real roughhouse opponents in his prime, no mistake there. Vince Martinez, Fuentes, Basilio, ugh.
Aragon may well be one of the few boxers to train in a Beverly Hills mansion when Irving Berman, who owned the very popular men's clothing store "House of Style" in downtown LA invited him to do so at his plush home in BH. There are a number of photos in existence of a press party we enjoyed for one of his training sessions there. Berman even installed a full size ring for the occasion. Artie's celebrity was responsible for allof that Rick.

hap navarro

[kikibalt]

Nate Collins

[CNorkusJr]

Checking my emails one last time tonite. Winging my way to Florida with Rosie in about 8 hours from now. A longtime friends Wedding on the Beach near Port St Lucie.I was hoping to find time for an overnite trip to Tampa to see Angelo Dundee on this trip, but need to stay put for various Wedding things going on. Next time. Be back Monday nite.
Happy St Patricks Day to all those in celebration tommorrow. Charlie n

[raylawpc]

An Oklahoma Senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of a General Motors dealership in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. "Amazing," he thought as he flew down Interstate 40, pushing the pedal even more.

Looking in his rear-view mirror, he saw an Oklahoma State Trooper, lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing, I'm too old for this," and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.

Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

"If you can give me a new reason for speeding, a reason I've never heard before, I'll let you go."

The old gentleman paused then said: "Three years ago, my wife ran off with an Oklahoma State trooper. I thought you were bringing her back."

"Have a good day, sir," replied the trooper.

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Nate Collins

Nate Collins was my boyhood hero, he was the nicest guy in the gym, (Newman's in San Francisco) and treated my brother and I like friends long before we were. I saw some of his better fights, Jimmy Lester, Andy Heilman, when he knocked Andy down for the first time in his career, gave him a major concussion on top of a slash across his face and still had to fight for his life to decision Heilman, and Emile Griffith among others. The fight i didn't see was against Eugene Hart in Philadelphia, Hart had something like 25 KOs in a row with no losses and knocked Nate down in the second, Nate said he was hurt bad,enough to stay down but Hart laughed at him and called him a "not so polite" name...he woke the sleeping lion, Nate got up and stopped him in the later rounds and had to get a police escort out of the place. To this day he is very popular among the bay area boxing faternity. At the end of his career my father got Nate into the glaziers union and he worked as a glazier until his retirement, every couple of weeks or so Nate gives my 80 year old dad a call to see if he's doing okay, he's still my hero...thanks for posting that picture Frank.
Bruce

[bennie]

An Oklahoma Senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of a General Motors dealership in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. "Amazing," he thought as he flew down Interstate 40, pushing the pedal even more.

Looking in his rear-view mirror, he saw an Oklahoma State Trooper, lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing, I'm too old for this," and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.

Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

"If you can give me a new reason for speeding, a reason I've never heard before, I'll let you go."

The old gentleman paused then said: "Three years ago, my wife ran off with an Oklahoma State trooper. I thought you were bringing her back."

"Have a good day, sir," replied the trooper.

[Rick Farris]

An update form Hap Navarro on Art Aragon . . .
------------------------------------------------


Rick, the reason Artie hated to box mediocre opponents early in his Legion career was because he had no control over the choice of opposition he was matched with. A group of LA managers had refused to box main events for the Legion matchmaker, claiming they could not work with the man, who should remain nameless for the purposeof this email. Said matchmaker had to scamble to find opponents for Artie, who was bercoming a hot drawing card at Hollywood.

In a series of three quick kayo wins, two of those opponents were totally unknown to southland fans, while the other was a ten round fighter in Mexico. It was not planned that way....... it was a case of necessity. Please clear this up for young Audie.......and for the fellows on the forum.....it is important that we do that, my good friend.


hap navarro

[Rick Farris]

Nate Collins

Nate Collins was my boyhood hero, he was the nicest guy in the gym, (Newman's in San Francisco) and treated my brother and I like friends long before we were. I saw some of his better fights, Jimmy Lester, Andy Heilman, when he knocked Andy down for the first time in his career, gave him a major concussion on top of a slash across his face and still had to fight for his life to decision Heilman, and Emile Griffith among others. The fight i didn't see was against Eugene Hart in Philadelphia, Hart had something like 25 KOs in a row with no losses and knocked Nate down in the second, Nate said he was hurt bad,enough to stay down but Hart laughed at him and called him a "not so polite" name...he woke the sleeping lion, Nate got up and stopped him in the later rounds and had to get a police escort out of the place. To this day he is very popular among the bay area boxing faternity. At the end of his career my father got Nate into the glaziers union and he worked as a glazier until his retirement, every couple of weeks or so Nate gives my 80 year old dad a call to see if he's doing okay, he's still my hero...thanks for posting that picture Frank.
Bruce

Bruce, I was hoping you'd comment on Nate Collins. Thanks for the info on him.
He was a helluva middleweight.

[kikibalt]

An Oklahoma Senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of a General Motors dealership in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. "Amazing," he thought as he flew down Interstate 40, pushing the pedal even more.

Looking in his rear-view mirror, he saw an Oklahoma State Trooper, lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing, I'm too old for this," and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.

Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

"If you can give me a new reason for speeding, a reason I've never heard before, I'll let you go."

The old gentleman paused then said: "Three years ago, my wife ran off with an Oklahoma State trooper. I thought you were bringing her back."

"Have a good day, sir," replied the trooper.

Tom stays away from the thread for a while; then he come back with a doozie of a joke....

[kikibalt]

Checking my emails one last time tonite. Winging my way to Florida with Rosie in about 8 hours from now. A longtime friends Wedding on the Beach near Port St Lucie.I was hoping to find time for an overnite trip to Tampa to see Angelo Dundee on this trip, but need to stay put for various Wedding things going on. Next time. Be back Monday nite.
Happy St Patricks Day to all those in celebration tommorrow. Charlie n

Enjoy the Florida sunshine Charlie. You and yours be safe....

[kikibalt]

Nate Collins

Nate Collins was my boyhood hero, he was the nicest guy in the gym, (Newman's in San Francisco) and treated my brother and I like friends long before we were. I saw some of his better fights, Jimmy Lester, Andy Heilman, when he knocked Andy down for the first time in his career, gave him a major concussion on top of a slash across his face and still had to fight for his life to decision Heilman, and Emile Griffith among others. The fight i didn't see was against Eugene Hart in Philadelphia, Hart had something like 25 KOs in a row with no losses and knocked Nate down in the second, Nate said he was hurt bad,enough to stay down but Hart laughed at him and called him a "not so polite" name...he woke the sleeping lion, Nate got up and stopped him in the later rounds and had to get a police escort out of the place. To this day he is very popular among the bay area boxing faternity. At the end of his career my father got Nate into the glaziers union and he worked as a glazier until his retirement, every couple of weeks or so Nate gives my 80 year old dad a call to see if he's doing okay, he's still my hero...thanks for posting that picture Frank.
Bruce

Bruce, I was hoping you'd comment on Nate Collins. Thanks for the info on him.
He was a helluva middleweight.

Bruce, thanks for your comments on Nate Collins....

[raylawpc]

An Oklahoma Senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of a General Motors dealership in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. "Amazing," he thought as he flew down Interstate 40, pushing the pedal even more.

Looking in his rear-view mirror, he saw an Oklahoma State Trooper, lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing, I'm too old for this," and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.

Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

"If you can give me a new reason for speeding, a reason I've never heard before, I'll let you go."

The old gentleman paused then said: "Three years ago, my wife ran off with an Oklahoma State trooper. I thought you were bringing her back."

"Have a good day, sir," replied the trooper.

Tom stays away from the thread for a while; then he come back with a doozie of a joke....

I'm not staying away on purpose. I've had four relatives die since January (all out-of-town), plus three out-of-town trips on business.

You won't see much of me in April or May either. I've got six out-of-town trips on business coming up in April and May. I'll be glad when the day comes that I can take the "semi-" off my "retired" status.

[Rick Farris]

Checking my emails one last time tonite. Winging my way to Florida with Rosie in about 8 hours from now. A longtime friends Wedding on the Beach near Port St Lucie.I was hoping to find time for an overnite trip to Tampa to see Angelo Dundee on this trip, but need to stay put for various Wedding things going on. Next time. Be back Monday nite.
Happy St Patricks Day to all those in celebration tommorrow. Charlie n

Enjoy the Florida sunshine Charlie. You and yours be safe....

Have a great trip, Charlie!

[kikibalt]

An Oklahoma Senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of a General Motors dealership in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. "Amazing," he thought as he flew down Interstate 40, pushing the pedal even more.

Looking in his rear-view mirror, he saw an Oklahoma State Trooper, lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing, I'm too old for this," and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.

Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

"If you can give me a new reason for speeding, a reason I've never heard before, I'll let you go."

The old gentleman paused then said: "Three years ago, my wife ran off with an Oklahoma State trooper. I thought you were bringing her back."

"Have a good day, sir," replied the trooper.

Tom stays away from the thread for a while; then he come back with a doozie of a joke....

I'm not staying away on purpose. I've had four relatives die since January (all out-of-town), plus three out-of-town trips on business.

You won't see much of me in April or May either. I've got six out-of-town trips on business coming up in April and May. I'll be glad when the day comes that I can take the "semi-" off my "retired" status.

Don't forget your June trip....the CBHOF....

[Ric]

Nate Collins

Nate Collins was my boyhood hero, he was the nicest guy in the gym, (Newman's in San Francisco) and treated my brother and I like friends long before we were. I saw some of his better fights, Jimmy Lester, Andy Heilman, when he knocked Andy down for the first time in his career, gave him a major concussion on top of a slash across his face and still had to fight for his life to decision Heilman, and Emile Griffith among others. The fight i didn't see was against Eugene Hart in Philadelphia, Hart had something like 25 KOs in a row with no losses and knocked Nate down in the second, Nate said he was hurt bad,enough to stay down but Hart laughed at him and called him a "not so polite" name...he woke the sleeping lion, Nate got up and stopped him in the later rounds and had to get a police escort out of the place. To this day he is very popular among the bay area boxing faternity. At the end of his career my father got Nate into the glaziers union and he worked as a glazier until his retirement, every couple of weeks or so Nate gives my 80 year old dad a call to see if he's doing okay, he's still my hero...thanks for posting that picture Frank.
Bruce

1966 photo of boxers Joey Giardello (top right) and Nate Collins (top left) stepping in between Benny Ford and Lefty O'Doul.

[kikibalt]

Jimtown

http://articles.latimes.com/1998/aug/30/local/me-17980

[kikibalt]

Nonito Donaire Leaves Top Rank Over Golden Boy

March 16, 2011 by Edgar Gonzalez

The rivalry between Bob Arum’s promotional company Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions will never end. The hate will continue to grow especially now that two-division world champion Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs) dumped Top Rank and signed with Golden Boy.

“The Filipino Flash” has signed an exclusive, multi-year agreement with Golden Boy Promotions.

The 28-year-old native of the Philippines is coming off of a spectacular second round stoppage of Fernando Montiel last month which earned him the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles fighting under the banner of promotional rival Top Rank which earn Donaire his highest purse of $350,000.

According to an inside source, Donaire’s contract with Top Rank doesn’t end until 2012. Top Rank’s lawyers have contacted Donaire’s attorney Jerry Bailey. Golden Boy’s lawyer Judd Burstein is also getting involved and it’s not going to be a pretty picture and as before, Arum will accumulate those legal fees just to prove his point.

The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and that is why Golden Boy will do anything to get the right fighters.

Let the battle begin and don’t be surprised if Golden Boy’s Juan Manuel Marquez inks with Top Rank soon in a way of saying checkmate!

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Nate Collins

Nate Collins was my boyhood hero, he was the nicest guy in the gym, (Newman's in San Francisco) and treated my brother and I like friends long before we were. I saw some of his better fights, Jimmy Lester, Andy Heilman, when he knocked Andy down for the first time in his career, gave him a major concussion on top of a slash across his face and still had to fight for his life to decision Heilman, and Emile Griffith among others. The fight i didn't see was against Eugene Hart in Philadelphia, Hart had something like 25 KOs in a row with no losses and knocked Nate down in the second, Nate said he was hurt bad,enough to stay down but Hart laughed at him and called him a "not so polite" name...he woke the sleeping lion, Nate got up and stopped him in the later rounds and had to get a police escort out of the place. To this day he is very popular among the bay area boxing faternity. At the end of his career my father got Nate into the glaziers union and he worked as a glazier until his retirement, every couple of weeks or so Nate gives my 80 year old dad a call to see if he's doing okay, he's still my hero...thanks for posting that picture Frank.
Bruce

1966 photo of boxers Joey Giardello (top right) and Nate Collins (top left) stepping in between Benny Ford and Lefty O'Doul.

Now that's a picture i don't remember ever seeing; I called Nate when I heard Giardello passed away and he told me that Giardello was so mad after the fight was stopped that he tried to pick a fight with him later when the were picking up their checks in the promotors office. He said it took everyone in the place to stop Giardello...
Great picture thanks for posting it.
Bruce

[Randyman]

I haven't been feeling to well. I went to the doctor yesterday.It was a follow up visit to a diabetic specialist. My numbers were bad. Diabetes has been kicking my arse lately. They wanted to put me on insulin but I'm just not ready for that. I insisted I could beat it with out having to start injecting myself. I can't quite accept that just yet.

Food is my Kryptonite, so I'm going to have to make changes. Jeri and the kids gave me hell about it today, No more pastramis and corned beef sandwiches, burritos with the works, potatoes, pasta, etc..... what else is there? Woe is me.