Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Its 3:26 in the AM and I am sitting up in bed drinking coffee and working the laptop, what is wrong with this picture??

[bennie]

Its 3:26 in the AM and I am sitting up in bed drinking coffee and working the laptop, what is wrong with this picture??

Are you sure that's only coffee you're drinking, Frankie? :P

[kikibalt]

Its 3:26 in the AM and I am sitting up in bed drinking coffee and working the laptop, what is wrong with this picture??

Are you sure that's only coffee you're drinking, Frankie? :P

Damn! Bennie, I never thought about that, maybe its not just coffee, you think maybe Connie is messing with my coffee??....

[bennie]

I think you're popping a few of the Absoluts in there.

[bennie]

Manchester's unbeaten Denton Vassell defends his Commonwealth welterweight title against Namibia's unbeaten Bethuel Uushona in an excellent match at Wigan this weekend (March 26).
The stocky, aggressive, body punching Vassell, 16-0 (9), won the title with a unanimous if hard-earned decision over Colchester's Lee Purdy in Wigan last year, outlasting the useful Purdy after a slow start, and Uushona looks another lively opponent, having outscored the previously unbeaten Ali Nuumbembe in a 10-rounder in Namibia in 2004, since when Uushona has also won in South Africa and in the States to build up a record of 23-0 (8).
Uushona is clearly coming to win but does not rank as a puncher which looks crucial because there are some doubts about Vassell's chin. Nevertheless, Uushona has done the full 12 rounds five times and we can expect a long, hard, testing fight for both men. Ultimately, Vassell showed he could grind out a win against Purdy and does something similar against Uushona.

[kikibalt]

I think you're popping a few of the Absoluts in there.

[Rick Farris]

Excuse my English, but Randy Gordon comes across as a right pretentious twat.

[CNorkusJr]

Excuse my English, but Randy Gordon comes across as a right pretentious twat.

I dont think I would go to that degree to call him that,maybe lately it shows in his writings and on-line live chats though.I really dont follow him much on those programs,but I heard a few.
I do remember him well as the Comm in NYS though.He was a young non-boxer type administrator at that time. (His one fight,I do not consider him a boxer). His political connections (They all have to have them) coupled with his career boxing writings had put him in the forefront for the position. In the past you had former boxers (Patterson,Torres etc etc) or big-money(Norris,Pendergast,Christenberry etc etc) types who contributed to the guv. and in return received a political position. All of these men would hand out patronage jobs in the Comm. and handed out various fight assignments to those favored most.
Randy was brought in because of new ideas that he thought up,better pre-fight medical tests for less money,sweeped the counter clean of long time officials on the dole and brought in new blood. Things like that. Most previous commissioners were puppets to the gov. machine. Randy changed that.
Now we have Melvina Lathan. Her husband a famed doctor at ringside for many years.There is an acute awareness to boxers health here now because of that,and its good. Just read up on the demise of Greg Page,and see whats out there in other states.
The past govs. threw their two cents in,but it seems that Melvina beats to her own drum.
She is sticking fast to her "No MMA in NYS" position, but it still remains to be seen if thats going to fly with our new Gov. and the states desparate need for money.MMA is too violent and appears un-controlled is the opinion.Maybe thats why the crowd of 20 somethings enjoy it immensely.
Randy can come across as pretentious like you say, but he does understand the boxings current and past status and much to his credit has not let Arum,King and such dictate their rules in NYS. We may not get many championship fights here because of that, but the alternative to sell your soul to the devils is wisely not chosen either.

[raylawpc]

For awhile, Flash Gordon called Don King, "Dung King."

By the way, it may be that Flash use to say "stiffs teach you nothing" rather than "stiffs don't teach you nothing," but you get the idea either way.

I think that Flash started in producing a boxing publication which he sold at boxing venues located in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In his prime, he must've an incrediable amount of energy to produce his weekly boxing publication by himself. But he appeared to burn out in the middle 1960s.

I use to subscribe to Flash's publication because it was very informative and entertaining. He also did not hesitate to state his opinion.

At the time, I also use to subscribe to the weekly British publication, Boxing News. Jack Fiske's great boxing column in the San Francisco Chronicle also was something I tried read on a regular basis. For coverage about Los Angeles boxing, the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner was the best for English speaking fans.

- Chuck Johnston

I remember "Flash" roaming the ringsides here in NY arenas in the 70's & 80's. He was a man on a mission and was considered quite "quirky" in his mannerisms.He did however get his interviews and published timely articles when in downstate NY -fight nites were weekly or every two weeks.I thought he wrote good stuff, but I saw numerous "officials" avoid him if a controversial decision was made.He didn't quite have that reputation as a "made" newspaperman like Mike Waters,Bill Gallo or Mike Katz,or media men like Art Rusk Jr and Bert Sugar here.
I remember he handed out one or two page briefs to the other writers and photogs on hand before the card started of his previous writings and insights.
He was very up on the news and I thought more on the ball than Lew Eskine's rigged "Ring" reports.

Back in the 50's. Eddie Borden wrote "Boxing Weekly" covering New Jersey & New York and could be had at arenas for 25 cents. It was not an official program-but gave you fight updates and a few articles on the big news.You could contact Eddie at the old Forrest Hotel on 47th St in NYC. The same place where Carbo & Palermo set up shop with the IBC and Jim Norris. I wasnt around then,but if the shoe fits.
It was my observation and inside info that all writers for any periodicals could be bought for a certain price to help soften the blow to losers, and go into great details to the winners.
Magrs paid a nice price for "features" that would attract more at the gate (hence a bigger slice of the pie).
If anything-Flash Gordon didnt get paid(take) a red cent. Hence his true honesty.
Also I remember, Before & During his Chairmanship of the NYS Boxing Comm.,Randy Gordon despised being mistaken for Flash Gordon. I remember him being set-up a few times by "officials" in telling out of state fighters/trainers and whoever,that Randy was "Flash" pointing him out,and them going over to him in hopes of getting into print. It was pretty funny to watch everyone's faces involved.

I think Flash burnt out in the late 80's here as boxing cards became more rare than the norm,with many of the smaller arenas shuttering forever.

Great post.

[raylawpc]

Excuse my English, but Randy Gordon comes across as a right pretentious twat.

I dont think I would go to that degree to call him that,maybe lately it shows in his writings and on-line live chats though.I really dont follow him much on those programs,but I heard a few.
I do remember him well as the Comm in NYS though.He was a young non-boxer type administrator at that time. (His one fight,I do not consider him a boxer). His political connections (They all have to have them) coupled with his career boxing writings had put him in the forefront for the position. In the past you had former boxers (Patterson,Torres etc etc) or big-money(Norris,Pendergast,Christenberry etc etc) types who contributed to the guv. and in return received a political position. All of these men would hand out patronage jobs in the Comm. and handed out various fight assignments to those favored most.
Randy was brought in because of new ideas that he thought up,better pre-fight medical tests for less money,sweeped the counter clean of long time officials on the dole and brought in new blood. Things like that. Most previous commissioners were puppets to the gov. machine. Randy changed that.
Now we have Melvina Lathan. Her husband a famed doctor at ringside for many years.There is an acute awareness to boxers health here now because of that,and its good. Just read up on the demise of Greg Page,and see whats out there in other states.
The past govs. threw their two cents in,but it seems that Melvina beats to her own drum.
She is sticking fast to her "No MMA in NYS" position, but it still remains to be seen if thats going to fly with our new Gov. and the states desparate need for money.MMA is too violent and appears un-controlled is the opinion.Maybe thats why the crowd of 20 somethings enjoy it immensely.
Randy can come across as pretentious like you say, but he does understand the boxings current and past status and much to his credit has not let Arum,King and such dictate their rules in NYS. We may not get many championship fights here because of that, but the alternative to sell your soul to the devils is wisely not chosen either.

Both of my boys are big-time MMA fans. Because I like spending time with them, I watch MMA matches with them. (And they watch boxing with me - both are big PacMan fans.) IMHO, MMA - at least as practiced in the UFC - is no more violent than boxing. (In many ways less violent as far as head trauma is concerned because most of these MMA guys are arm punchers and can't break a freakin' egg. . . .)

[kikibalt]

John Liechty and Eddie 'Animal' Lopez
Circa..1980

[Randyman]

John Liechty and Eddie 'Animal' Lopez
Circa..1980

Frank, great photo, if only "Animal" had stayed away from the bars and bar fights, his career might have been different.... Maybe. Still, I always liked him. His last fight was with Tony Tucker.He was stopped in the 9th round. He fought to a draw with Leon Spinks. He had the same mentality as Tex Cobb. Do you know whatever happened to him?

Randy

[Randyman]

Excuse my English, but Randy Gordon comes across as a right pretentious twat.

I dont think I would go to that degree to call him that,maybe lately it shows in his writings and on-line live chats though.I really dont follow him much on those programs,but I heard a few.
I do remember him well as the Comm in NYS though.He was a young non-boxer type administrator at that time. (His one fight,I do not consider him a boxer). His political connections (They all have to have them) coupled with his career boxing writings had put him in the forefront for the position. In the past you had former boxers (Patterson,Torres etc etc) or big-money(Norris,Pendergast,Christenberry etc etc) types who contributed to the guv. and in return received a political position. All of these men would hand out patronage jobs in the Comm. and handed out various fight assignments to those favored most.
Randy was brought in because of new ideas that he thought up,better pre-fight medical tests for less money,sweeped the counter clean of long time officials on the dole and brought in new blood. Things like that. Most previous commissioners were puppets to the gov. machine. Randy changed that.
Now we have Melvina Lathan. Her husband a famed doctor at ringside for many years.There is an acute awareness to boxers health here now because of that,and its good. Just read up on the demise of Greg Page,and see whats out there in other states.
The past govs. threw their two cents in,but it seems that Melvina beats to her own drum.
She is sticking fast to her "No MMA in NYS" position, but it still remains to be seen if thats going to fly with our new Gov. and the states desparate need for money.MMA is too violent and appears un-controlled is the opinion.Maybe thats why the crowd of 20 somethings enjoy it immensely.
Randy can come across as pretentious like you say, but he does understand the boxings current and past status and much to his credit has not let Arum,King and such dictate their rules in NYS. We may not get many championship fights here because of that, but the alternative to sell your soul to the devils is wisely not chosen either.

Both of my boys are big-time MMA fans. Because I like spending time with them, I watch MMA matches with them. (And they watch boxing with me - both are big PacMan fans.) IMHO, MMA - at least as practiced in the UFC - is no more violent than boxing. (In many ways less violent as far as head trauma is concerned because most of these MMA guys are arm punchers and can't break a freakin' egg. . . .)

Tom, both my brother and my son watch MMA/UFC though they don't follow it 100%, but both of them enjoy boxing too. I'm a boxing purist so that's my sport of choice.

[Randyman]

Manchester's unbeaten Denton Vassell defends his Commonwealth welterweight title against Namibia's unbeaten Bethuel Uushona in an excellent match at Wigan this weekend (March 26).
The stocky, aggressive, body punching Vassell, 16-0 (9), won the title with a unanimous if hard-earned decision over Colchester's Lee Purdy in Wigan last year, outlasting the useful Purdy after a slow start, and Uushona looks another lively opponent, having outscored the previously unbeaten Ali Nuumbembe in a 10-rounder in Namibia in 2004, since when Uushona has also won in South Africa and in the States to build up a record of 23-0 (8).
Uushona is clearly coming to win but does not rank as a puncher which looks crucial because there are some doubts about Vassell's chin. Nevertheless, Uushona has done the full 12 rounds five times and we can expect a long, hard, testing fight for both men. Ultimately, Vassell showed he could grind out a win against Purdy and does something similar against Uushona.

Bennie, since Vassell is undefeated and has never been stopped, I'm wondering why the doubts about his chin. He must have been rocked pretty good a few times but if so, that would indicate a stout heart, since he has yet to lose. With 9 KO's in 16 fights vs 8 KO's in 23 fights, Vassell is clearly the better puncher. Will this fight be shown outside the UK?

[CNorkusJr]

Tom-read your post above. I think that is wonderful that you watch your son's interest in the MMa and he in turn looks to you on talking about boxing. I am sure you are relaying some great info on the history of the sport to them. Here in NY you can order the MMA PPV matches or you can get whatever highlights ESPN offers on their new recaps.
I dont order MMA matches, I really dont have an interest at all in the sport, right or wrong.
I was brought up on boxing and like randy pretty much a purist in that sense.
It doesnt bother me one bit that MMA exists either. If it succeeds and shows it does no more long-term damage than another sport-so be it.
There is talk here that if it ever gets the OK in New York, that it is very much possible of putting on mixed cards shows. Thinking it would draw both MMA types mixed with boxing fans. A few polls were taken on this and as you can imagine, MMA fans overwhelming said "Yes" they would attend. (They want any opening they can to get MMA here).
Boxing fans said they would walk away from the sport all together was the 95% opinion of them.I think polls like those taken have influenced the Athletic Comm. thought pattern to date.
A clip of some MMA championship was shown after the Klitschko fight clip HL the other night on ESPN. I watched as the MMA Champ continued to knee his opponent in the head consecutively while he was defenseless on the ground and against the cage.It could have been UFC-I really dont know the difference between the two.
They might be weak punchers-but kneeing to the head on a guy not defending himself until stopped by the ref I think is bad. I have no interest in the sport.

[Rick Farris]

Dancing With The Stars . . . Leonard on "Hands of Stone"

Dan Hanley and I have a partner in our boxing interview productions and that's cinematographer Greg Patterson, who's camera work helps define our work.
For the last couple of weeks, Greg has been the Lighting Director on the "Dancing With The Stars" series, and one of this season's dancers is Sugar Ray Leonard.
Greg didn't pass up an opportunity to speak with the former world champ and asked him just one question about his career, "Who hit harder, Duran or Hearns?"
Greg was surprised by Leonard's candor, "Duran hit harder than Hearns, and he hit harder than Hagler too. Duran was the hardest puncher I faced."

Greg is always behind the camera when we record interviews, but I wish he'd have got Leonard's response when cameras were rolling.
That was a keeper!

[raylawpc]

Tom-read your post above. I think that is wonderful that you watch your son's interest in the MMa and he in turn looks to you on talking about boxing. I am sure you are relaying some great info on the history of the sport to them. Here in NY you can order the MMA PPV matches or you can get whatever highlights ESPN offers on their new recaps.
I dont order MMA matches, I really dont have an interest at all in the sport, right or wrong.
I was brought up on boxing and like randy pretty much a purist in that sense.
It doesnt bother me one bit that MMA exists either. If it succeeds and shows it does no more long-term damage than another sport-so be it.
There is talk here that if it ever gets the OK in New York, that it is very much possible of putting on mixed cards shows. Thinking it would draw both MMA types mixed with boxing fans. A few polls were taken on this and as you can imagine, MMA fans overwhelming said "Yes" they would attend. (They want any opening they can to get MMA here).
Boxing fans said they would walk away from the sport all together was the 95% opinion of them.I think polls like those taken have influenced the Athletic Comm. thought pattern to date.
A clip of some MMA championship was shown after the Klitschko fight clip HL the other night on ESPN. I watched as the MMA Champ continued to knee his opponent in the head consecutively while he was defenseless on the ground and against the cage.It could have been UFC-I really dont know the difference between the two.
They might be weak punchers-but kneeing to the head on a guy not defending himself until stopped by the ref I think is bad. I have no interest in the sport.

First, I want to stress that I AM NOT AN MMA FAN. I watch MMA because it gives me a chance to hang out with my sons. They both have busy lives, and this is a chance to hang out, have a beer together, and share a few laughs. Because they know I’m not into MMA, they watch the fights with me so that we can do something together that they know I will enjoy.

Your post surprised me because I’ve never seen anyone get kneed to the head in any MMA fights that I’ve watched. So I went to one of the experts: My son says kneeing a downed opponent is illegal in the UFC, but legal in Pride Fighting and Japanese MMA. Since I’ve only seen UFC, that explains why I’ve never seen it in any MMA fight I’ve watched.

Again, I AM NOT AN MMA FAN!

[bennie]

Manchester's unbeaten Denton Vassell defends his Commonwealth welterweight title against Namibia's unbeaten Bethuel Uushona in an excellent match at Wigan this weekend (March 26).
The stocky, aggressive, body punching Vassell, 16-0 (9), won the title with a unanimous if hard-earned decision over Colchester's Lee Purdy in Wigan last year, outlasting the useful Purdy after a slow start, and Uushona looks another lively opponent, having outscored the previously unbeaten Ali Nuumbembe in a 10-rounder in Namibia in 2004, since when Uushona has also won in South Africa and in the States to build up a record of 23-0 (8).
Uushona is clearly coming to win but does not rank as a puncher which looks crucial because there are some doubts about Vassell's chin. Nevertheless, Uushona has done the full 12 rounds five times and we can expect a long, hard, testing fight for both men. Ultimately, Vassell showed he could grind out a win against Purdy and does something similar against Uushona.

Bennie, since Vassell is undefeated and has never been stopped, I'm wondering why the doubts about his chin. He must have been rocked pretty good a few times but if so, that would indicate a stout heart, since he has yet to lose. With 9 KO's in 16 fights vs 8 KO's in 23 fights, Vassell is clearly the better puncher. Will this fight be shown outside the UK?

There have been rumours flying around about his chin from the gym, Randy, much like there were about Khan's long before he was stopped by an unknown Colombian. Vassell was also rocked in the middle rounds of his last fight. You are right, though, Vassell has done nothing wrong and it's hard to knock an undefeated fighter. His fight won't be televised outside the UK, I'm afraid, and I won't even see it because I do not subscribe to Sky-TV which is airing it.
Vassell is very Tysonesque in style, if not as dynamic.

[bennie]

Excuse my English, but Randy Gordon comes across as a right pretentious twat.

I dont think I would go to that degree to call him that,maybe lately it shows in his writings and on-line live chats though.I really dont follow him much on those programs,but I heard a few.
I do remember him well as the Comm in NYS though.He was a young non-boxer type administrator at that time. (His one fight,I do not consider him a boxer). His political connections (They all have to have them) coupled with his career boxing writings had put him in the forefront for the position. In the past you had former boxers (Patterson,Torres etc etc) or big-money(Norris,Pendergast,Christenberry etc etc) types who contributed to the guv. and in return received a political position. All of these men would hand out patronage jobs in the Comm. and handed out various fight assignments to those favored most.
Randy was brought in because of new ideas that he thought up,better pre-fight medical tests for less money,sweeped the counter clean of long time officials on the dole and brought in new blood. Things like that. Most previous commissioners were puppets to the gov. machine. Randy changed that.
Now we have Melvina Lathan. Her husband a famed doctor at ringside for many years.There is an acute awareness to boxers health here now because of that,and its good. Just read up on the demise of Greg Page,and see whats out there in other states.
The past govs. threw their two cents in,but it seems that Melvina beats to her own drum.
She is sticking fast to her "No MMA in NYS" position, but it still remains to be seen if thats going to fly with our new Gov. and the states desparate need for money.MMA is too violent and appears un-controlled is the opinion.Maybe thats why the crowd of 20 somethings enjoy it immensely.
Randy can come across as pretentious like you say, but he does understand the boxings current and past status and much to his credit has not let Arum,King and such dictate their rules in NYS. We may not get many championship fights here because of that, but the alternative to sell your soul to the devils is wisely not chosen either.

Good post, Charley.

[kikibalt]

The Boxing Loft:
By Ted Sares:

Welcome to the first edition of the Boxing Loft where we will visit different global locations from time to time and talk boxing with the intent to make it a more participative session. I’m delighted to initiate the concept on ESB where the Scotch and Cigar Club became a staple for many visitors to check in. Of course cigars and drinks are still welcome, but due to the recession, you will need to BYO. I will be spinning the music, but you can add any music you wish. Remember, New Age and Fusion are verboten.

In a nod to our first location, the Windy City, the music tonight features the legendary Miles Davis who was a fight fan extraordinaire and also the great Chess Records performers Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Willie Dixon, and Howlin' Wolf. This was the embodiment of Chicago's South and West Side "juke-joint” music that I grew up on.
Chicago

Chicago, once a boxing hub, is experiencing a minor resurgence that may make it a required stop between New York, Las Vegas, and LA. In 1949, boxing promoter James Norris and Chicago Stadium owner Arthur Wirtz formed the International Boxing Club, which controlled pro boxing competition, but it was eventually broken up by the federal government as a monopoly in 1957. During that time, the Chicago Stadium played host to many of the biggest fights in the country. In 1961, Wirtz ended boxing matches at the Stadium, and thereafter Chicago declined as a boxing town.

Since the early 1960's, Chicago boxing has basically been a club sport, with fight cards featuring local boxers being held in hotels with many of the cards promoted by former heavyweight champion and Chicago native Ernie Terrell. Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions also is promoting a number of fights. But Cicero Stadium is now hosting regular boxing matches and resurgence, however slow, appears underway. Still, the fact that Chicago-born Michael “Big” Grant never fought there kind of tells the story.

Chicago boxing history is sprinkled with names like Leo Rodak, Holman Williams, Nate Bolden, Eddie Perkins, Milt Aron, Gene Spencer, Tony Zale, Willie Joyce, Eddie Perkins, Pate Lello, Johnny “Honey Boy” Bratton, Tony Musto, Freddie Dawson, Bob Satterfield, John Holman, Bob Foxworth, Anton Raadick, Luther Rawlings, Spider Webb, Pete Podgorski, Harold Dade, Terrell, Alfonzo Ratliff, Irish John Collins, Luke Capuano, Lenny Lapaglia, John Lira, the late Tony LaRosa, Joey DeGrandis, Freddy Cuevas, Kendall Gil, Anthony Ivory, Rocky Martinez, Louie Lomeli, Miguel Hernandez, Alonzo Ratliff, Craig Bodzianowski, Kenny Gould, Angel Manfredy, Andrew Golota, and LeeRoy Murphy may soon be complimented by newcomers like Kendall Gill, Mike Mollo and regrouping KO artist Donavan “Da Bomb” George, but sadly not by the promising Francisco "Paco" Rodriguez who died from injuries suffered in his bout with Teon Kennedy on November 20, 2009. The tragedy stunned the Chicago boxing community.

Of course, former world champion, David Diaz (35-3-1) fights on in the lightweight division. Another Illinois fighter, the great Gerald “The G-Man” McClellan (31-3), was also involved in a tragic bout when he was stopped by Nigel Benn in 1995, but that one has been fully vetted. Granite-jaw Oliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall was raised on the tough South Side of Chicago and won two Golden Gloves titles. The late Leotis Martin was great Golden Gloves fighter back in the day.

[Rick Farris]

Good morning, Frank!

[kikibalt]

John Liechty and Eddie 'Animal' Lopez
Circa..1980

Frank, great photo, if only "Animal" had stayed away from the bars and bar fights, his career might have been different.... Maybe. Still, I always liked him. His last fight was with Tony Tucker.He was stopped in the 9th round. He fought to a draw with Leon Spinks. He had the same mentality as Tex Cobb. Do you know whatever happened to him?

Randy

Randy, I kept hearing that Eddie was in and out of jail, but then I heard from his niece about two years ago and she said he was doing fine and that he was staying out of trouble. In 1973 we took a team of amateurs down to Baja to fight, we camped at the beach during our stay there, which was about three nights, one night Eddie and Frankie came riding into camp on horseback, somehow, somewhere they found some horses, I told them to get rid of the horses, I also told them: "don't you guys know that they still hang horse thieves in Mexico?", they jump off the horses as fast as they could, with a sign of relief they hit the horses in the ass and watch them run off, we didn't have a hanging party that night....

[bennie]

Liz Taylor has died, aged 79. She did good for a girl born in North London.

[kikibalt]

Liz Taylor has died, aged 79. She did good for a girl born in North London.

One of the most beautiful women of all time.....RIP

[Rick Farris]

She started out as a child star, and just kept going. I never worked with her but my grandfather did on his last film, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf." Here is some irony, today I'm working on stage-27 at Sony Studios. Sony was MGM until the late 80's, and this was one of the stages used for "National Velvet", Ms. Taylor's first big film. She is Hollywood Royalty, rest in peace.