Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Jackie Leonard vs. The Mob . . .


Boxing's No. 1 hood is natty Frankie ("Mr. Grey") Carbo, 55, among whose brushes with the law is a conviction for manslaughter. Boxing's leading intellectual is a suave, light-skinned Negro lawyer named Truman K. Gibson Jr., 47, who had remained unsullied by the fight game's messier side while supplying the brainpower for Jim Norris' monopolistic International Boxing Club (dissolved by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in January). Last week, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles handed down an indictment that lumped together Gibson and Carbo, plus a dull-eyed Philadelphia thug named Blinky Palermo and two lesser Los Angeles musclemen. Main charges: extortion and conspiracy to extort.

The indictment stemmed from hearings last spring by the California state athletic commission (TIME, June 15), during which L.A. Fight Promoter Jackie Leonard testified that Palermo had demanded a piece of the earnings of Welterweight Don Jordan shortly before he became champion in December. Leonard said that Palermo's demands were later backed up by Carbo himself, added that he began getting phone calls threatening bodily harm ("It'll be with a pipe wrapped in a paper sack"). But Manager Don Nesseth, 33, had flatly refused to knuckle under, and, according to the indictment, Leonard had handed over only $1,725. After the hearings, Leonard landed in a hospital, claimed that he had been bludgeoned while closing his garage door. While Carbo and Palermo were applying threats, charged the indictment, Gibson "would use his power and authority to persuade victims ... to accede."

Truman Gibson, winner of the prestigious Medal for Merit for his services as civilian aide in the War Department in World War II. still has plenty of power over a boxer's future: he is president of National Boxing Enterprises, Inc. of Illinois (successor to the I.B.C.), which puts on TV's Wednesday-night fights. "I was picked up and handled like a murderer," complained Gibson after his arrest in Chicago. As for Jordan, he was taking the whole affair in stride. When newsmen finally caught up with the champ, he was hanging around with none other than gangland's celebrated Mickey Cohen.


(Story courtesy of the L.A. Times)

[kikibalt]

Jackie Leonard & Truman K Gibson Jr.

[Rick Farris]

Here's more on Jackie Leonard . . .
Jackie's real name was Leonard Blakely and he grew up in the LA area beyond Manchester and Broadway (Watts). He went to Compton High.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

More on Babe McCoy . . .

For the record, I only know of two boxers that Babe McCoy actually "managed", and they were heavyweight Tom Patrick, and Jackie Leonard.
In later years, Jackie Leonard would end up promoting boxing at the Hollywood Legion Stadium. That's a story in it's self, to be discussed later.


-Rick Farris

Babe McCoy's heavyweight, Tom Patrick, lost a six-rounder to Young Firpo at the Olympic in 1929.

[Rick Farris]

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Filming Moves into New York City; Casting Calls Issued Out to Locals
By Pietro Filipponi

After several months of principal photography in Los Angeles, California, the cast and crew of Sony's upcoming Spider-Man movie reboot have arrived on the East Coast to wrap up filming.

[Rick Farris]

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Filming Moves into New York City; Casting Calls Issued Out to Locals
By Pietro Filipponi

After several months of principal photography in Los Angeles, California, the cast and crew of Sony's upcoming Spider-Man movie reboot have arrived on the East Coast to wrap up filming.

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This week & next, I'll be wrapping up stages at Sony Studios.
Today, President Obama visited Sony for a fund raiser, which was held on stage 30.
Due to the Presidential visit, the studio was closed for norman activity.
We were filming Spider Man on stage-30, wrapped it up two weeks ago,
Yesterday, as the Secret Service combed thru the studio and stage from top-tp-bottom, I stepped into the stage and took a photograph of the platform & podium set up for the President to speak, an gigantic American flag hanging on the stage wall behind, as well as drapes, etc.
I'll post the photo tomorrow.

[bennie]

A pub landlord holds up Alan by his teeth.

[AlFrancis]

Alright Alan! I think i have told you this before but it is a good story I think. I used to work with a lad who was a bit of a crook, a nasty piece of work tbh and his dad was a crook also. He told me his dad used to drink with yours around Anfield and that one day he had offered your dad £10k for his Lonsdale belt and your dad told him to go and f**k himself!! Not sure if its true, I kind of hope it is!!

He kept hold of it Rob there was never a chance he'd sell it. As it happens it's gonna be displayed at the new Liverpool museum that open's in July. Conteh has lent some of his stuff as well. There is a sporting section and they're gonna have the belt and his MBE for the next three years.

Didn't he win two Belts, Al?

No, one Bennie. He had two notches on the second when he retired.

[Panzerfaust]

Frank, wish Connie a happy birthday Im sure i can speak for all they guys on this thread on this

[Cholo]

The Ring-Dec, 1949.
Making his first professional home-town appearance here Art Aragon, now of Los Angeles, won a slashing 10-round decision over Shamus McCray, Los Angeles welter, at the Ice Arena. Although outweighed by six and one-half pounds Aragon who came in at 137 1/2 to McCray's 144, fought his way to a clean-cut victory and was awarded the decision of the two judges and Henry Armstrong former world's triple titleholder, who was the guest referee. The crowd-pleasing bout was a fast, heavy punching duel all the way with both boys throwing plenty of leather from bell to bell. Aragon ripped many clean solid punches to McCray's jaw, frequently jarring him but unable to bring him down despite the pleadings of his hometown constituents. Art slipped and blocked many of McCray's best punches while countering viciously with his own. McCray's best weapon was a right-hand semi-bolo punch, while Aragon's two-fisted attack of a left-hook and right cross piled up sufficient points to gain him the nod....Frank do you remember the Ice Arena?, Art's first fight in Los Angeles....

[Cholo]

Frank, wish Connie a happy birthday Im sure i can speak for all they guys on this thread on this

Happy Birthday Connie....

[kikibalt]

Baby Vázquez

http://youtu.be/LMXeHM8KIq8

[kikibalt]

Mexican Boxers

http://youtu.be/YuINSCELRNM

[kikibalt]

The Ring-Dec, 1949.
Making his first professional home-town appearance here Art Aragon, now of Los Angeles, won a slashing 10-round decision over Shamus McCray, Los Angeles welter, at the Ice Arena. Although outweighed by six and one-half pounds Aragon who came in at 137 1/2 to McCray's 144, fought his way to a clean-cut victory and was awarded the decision of the two judges and Henry Armstrong former world's triple titleholder, who was the guest referee. The crowd-pleasing bout was a fast, heavy punching duel all the way with both boys throwing plenty of leather from bell to bell. Aragon ripped many clean solid punches to McCray's jaw, frequently jarring him but unable to bring him down despite the pleadings of his hometown constituents. Art slipped and blocked many of McCray's best punches while countering viciously with his own. McCray's best weapon was a right-hand semi-bolo punch, while Aragon's two-fisted attack of a left-hook and right cross piled up sufficient points to gain him the nod....Frank do you remember the Ice Arena?, Art's first fight in Los Angeles....

Paul, that was in New Mexico, not in Los Angeles....

[Cholo]

Frank, I see Aragon's first recorded fight was with Frenchy Renee in Los Angeles, the Shamus McCray fight was in
Alburquerque New Mexico, my mistake, i think i've taken too many punches.....

[kikibalt]

Frank, I see Aragon's first recorded fight was with Frenchy Renee in Los Angeles, the Shamus McCray fight was in
Alburquerque New Mexico, my mistake, i think i've taken too many punches.....

Or one shot too many of Gin????....

[kikibalt]

Paul and Ram, Connie sends her thanks.....

[Panzerfaust]

unknown boxer 1920

[kikibalt]

To Connie on her birthday

http://youtu.be/NpGVJCOWybs

Las Mañanitas

[bennie]

He kept hold of it Rob there was never a chance he'd sell it. As it happens it's gonna be displayed at the new Liverpool museum that open's in July. Conteh has lent some of his stuff as well. There is a sporting section and they're gonna have the belt and his MBE for the next three years.

Didn't he win two Belts, Al?

No, one Bennie. He had two notches on the second when he retired.

Yeah, I checked a Hugman book and could see he won the one. One is enough.

[bennie]

Happy birthday, Connie.

[kikibalt]

Happy birthday, Connie.

Steve, Connie says "thank you"

[Cholo]

Frank, I see Aragon's first recorded fight was with Frenchy Renee in Los Angeles, the Shamus McCray fight was in
Alburquerque New Mexico, my mistake, i think i've taken too many punches.....

Or one shot too many of Gin????....

Frank....

[Cholo]

Frank and Rick, another quote from the "Golden Boy", Aragon remarks, " I thank god, and i mean this sincerely, anybody that had has many fights as i did can't even talk, I know a good fighter, won't mention his name. Good fighter, great fighter, champion. "Hi, how are you, good to see you again'. And you know what he said to me? 'Bwoa duow bla'. And I believed him!".....

[Rick Farris]

A pub landlord holds up Alan by his teeth.

The Lad from Liverpool . . .

Great shot! I wish Alan Rudkin would have fought more in the L.A. area way back when.
When he finally came here for a title shot, it was at the very end of a brilliant career.
With all the great bantamweight talent showcased in Los Angeles during the era, Rudkin would have been box-office here, facing the great Mexican stars.
Alan Rudkin was always in the top ten during his years fighting, and those were the days of Eder Jofre, Fighting Harada, Jose Medel, Jesus Pimentel and Olivares.
I have deep respect for this great Brit bantamweight.