raylawpc wrote:CNorkusJr wrote:Ric, I loved your rememberance of going to The Olympic. Sometimes I find myself out of town and in another city where my father fought. It happened in 1988 when I was in San Francisco to go to my then sister-in-laws graduation from nursing college. a trip to the SF Civic Auditorium turned out to be a pleasant suprise.
Another recent trip to Miami-to see the NY Jets vs. Miami Dolphins also included a trip to the old Miami Beach Auditorium. The Main front doors were open and my friend and I went in. We were met by a 25-30 yr old security guard who asked our business.
I told him my father fought battles there in the 1950's and would like to look inside.
He said the place has long been renovated into a concert hall with a stage at one end and permanent seating on floors and balconies and does not resemble the old Aud. from years ago.
I said okay but if I can peek through the doors it would do my heart well.
He said he cant do that as some European Pink Floyd Tribute Band was on stage doing sound checks and might interfere with it.(We all know better though).
Just then, a theatre stage manager just happened to appear and heard my conversation.
He said come with me and he took me to an upper balcony level and went inside the theatre area. Though renovated I could picture the way it was from my fathers video tapes of the Nardico and Pastrano fights he had there. It was a wonderful moment that I will forever remember.Please note that this is NOT the Miami Beach Convention Center that had great fights in its history.The Convention Center still exists and is literally just a few blocks away from Auditorium.
I'll be in Miami Beach at the end of next month, and I'll have to check it out. A few years ago, I went to the site of the the Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach. All that was there was a plaque. However, I understand the gym is making a comeback at or near its old location.
http://www.5thstgym.com/index.html I plan to check that out too.
A couple of weeks ago,Angelo Dundee was doing a live online chat and was discussing the new "made-over" 5th St Gym. It sounded like he had nothing to do with the new management,but whole heartly endorses it. He also discussed the plaque dedication for the "old" 5th St gym by local politicians who had to have their grubby hands into something they know nothing about. Ferdie Pacheco on hand as well as a few oldtimers. No Ali though.
The dedication of the plaque was longtime coming-but the disgrace of it all is the fact that Chris Dundee's name is nowhere to be found on it. It caught Angelo by complete surprise and he sounds mighty down about it. Terrible oversight. Chris Dundee ran boxing and its promotions in Miami- Angelo was key as to the Champs he trained.Angelo lives in Tampa now.
Miami also had another famous gym used by boxers. The Allie Ridgeway gym. Not sure of location or if it still exists.It might have been on Mainland Miami. Maxim trained there for the Moore fight I believe. I think my father was there also for the Pastrano fight,but was in 5th St for the Nardico fights.
As of this writing there was no plans to correct that-but hopefully they did some how.
Also, Florida started a Florida Boxing Hall of Fame 2 years ago. I think there is no museum site-but I could be wrong. They do have a website.
Just got back from West Palm Beach- Bring your shorts-its beautiful there now.Enjoy Tom.
And if they pay him enough, he'll put up with stupidity for hours on end . . .
) youre absolutely right...
