Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Paul, until you receive the DVD, the film is available in 5 parts thru YouTube.
Here is part-1:

The Gil Cadilli Story . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsRxcs9r ... re=related

Gil Jr. did a great job!

[kikibalt]

Paul, until you receive the DVD, the film is available in 5 parts thru YouTube.
Here is part-1:

The Gil Cadilli Story . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsRxcs9r ... re=related

Gil Jr. did a great job!

I love the music by the Gil Cadilli Jr, Trio....

[Rick Farris]

"The Gil Cadilli Story" . . .

I remember Gil as a trainer at the Main Street Gym. He was in his heyday about the time I was born.
Cholo bringing up the Gil Cadilli Story motivated me to watch the film again, and I enjoy it so much.
It's kinda a like a visual version of this thread, as it shows all the West Coast sites and charactors we write about here.
I learned from this movie, it filled in a few blanks.

Of all, I appreciated learning more about Johnny Forbes, the great trainer of Cadilli and others.
What a great era in Los Angeles boxing, the best ever.

[Rick Farris]

Paul, until you receive the DVD, the film is available in 5 parts thru YouTube.
Here is part-1:

The Gil Cadilli Story . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsRxcs9r ... re=related

Gil Jr. did a great job!

I love the music by the Gil Cadilli Jr, Trio....

Me too, Frank. It really complimented a warm story.
I enjoyed seeing Gil's home in East L.A.'s Los Flats, "The Castle".
Just great stuff.

[kikibalt]

"The Gil Cadilli Story" . . .

I remember Gil as a trainer at the Main Street Gym. He was in his heyday about the time I was born.
Cholo bringing up the Gil Cadilli Story motivated me to watch the film again, and I enjoy it so much.
It's kinda a like a visual version of this thread, as it shows all the West Coast sites and charactors we write about here.
I learned from this movie, it filled in a few blanks.

Of all, I appreciated learning more about Johnny Forbes, the great trainer of Cadilli and others.
What a great era in Los Angeles boxing, the best ever.

"the best ever" and I was so lucky to have been there, albeit at times looking in from the outside....

[Rick Farris]

How good was Gil Cadilli?

To give you an idea, the great Willie Pep had 241 pro fights, and lost only 11 times.
One of those losses was to Gil Cadilli.

[Rick Farris]

"The Gil Cadilli Story" . . .

I remember Gil as a trainer at the Main Street Gym. He was in his heyday about the time I was born.
Cholo bringing up the Gil Cadilli Story motivated me to watch the film again, and I enjoy it so much.
It's kinda a like a visual version of this thread, as it shows all the West Coast sites and charactors we write about here.
I learned from this movie, it filled in a few blanks.

Of all, I appreciated learning more about Johnny Forbes, the great trainer of Cadilli and others.
What a great era in Los Angeles boxing, the best ever.

"the best ever" and I was so lucky to have been there, albeit at times looking in from the outside....

You were a part of the era, Frank.
It was guys like you that brought the best of that era into my era.
You learned your lessons in that era, and shared them with us, guys like you and Johnny Flores, etc.
I could still taste that era in the 60's & 70's, although it was gone.
In many ways I felt I was there, because of my growing up in the wake of this special time.

[Cholo]

Frank/Rick, Great fighter Cadilli, the old-timer's always looked complete fighters, like they learn't there trade, not like some of these so called World Champions we have today, they look amateurish too me. Amir Khan comes to mind....

[Rick Farris]

Frank/Rick, Great fighter Cadilli, the old-timer's always looked complete fighters, like they learn't there trade, not like some of these so called World Champions we have today, they look amateurish too me. Amir Khan comes to mind....

Amen, Paul! "Complete fighter", that say's it all.
Frank told us about the great six-rounder featuring Gil Cadilli and Keeny Teran.
If you watch the Cadilli film, you'll hear the fight mentioned several times.
I have only seen clips of Keeny Teran, but what Johnny Forbes created in both men was "complete fighters".

[Cholo]

Frank/Rick, Great fighter Cadilli, the old-timer's always looked complete fighters, like they learn't there trade, not like some of these so called World Champions we have today, they look amateurish too me. Amir Khan comes to mind....

Amen, Paul! "Complete fighter", that say's it all.
Frank told us about the great six-rounder featuring Gil Cadilli and Keeny Teran.
If you watch the Cadilli film, you'll hear the fight mentioned several times.
I have only seen clips of Keeny Teran, but what Johnny Forbes created in both men was "complete fighters".

Rick....

[Rick Farris]

Amir Khan?
It will take a lot more than Freddie Roach to make this guy a complete boxer.

[wsbuf]

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/27/358161 ... owing.html

[kikibalt]

Happy Birthday Bennie....

[Cholo]

Rick/Frank, Can you buy the Gil Cadilli Story?, i'd like to own it on dvd....

[Cholo]

Amir Khan?
It will take a lot more than Freddie Roach to make this guy a complete boxer.

Rick, I'd have liked to have seen the original "Golden Boy" hang one on him, goodnight Khan....

[kikibalt]

Rick/Frank, Can you buy the Gil Cadilli Story?, i'd like to own it on dvd....

Send me your mailing address and I'll send you a copy, But it won't be right away, I am going to be gone for a bit starting tomorrow, going on a fishing trip and when I come back I'll be busy with the CBHOF, but I can get it out in the next few weeks.

[Rick Farris]

Happy Birthday Bennie....

Happy Birthday, Bennie.
Have a great day!

[Rick Farris]

Amir Khan?
It will take a lot more than Freddie Roach to make this guy a complete boxer.

Rick, I'd have liked to have seen the original "Golden Boy" hang one on him, goodnight Khan....

That would be like shooting a mouse with a shotgun.

[Rick Farris]

Yes, the Catacombs!!!!!

Memories Rick, memories!!!

Lopez looks in shape for once.

The Animal . . .

I was never a fan of Eddie "The Animal" Lopez.
After coming up with Jerry Quarry, I considered Lopez a lazy bum with minimal talent.
The best Chicano heavyweight I ever saw was Joey Orbillo.
Orbillo was a small heavyweight with fast hands, good boxing skills and a punch.
Joey's career was side tracked by a hitch in the Army.

[Cholo]

Rick/Frank, Can you buy the Gil Cadilli Story?, i'd like to own it on dvd....

Send me your mailing address and I'll send you a copy, But it won't be right away, I am going to be gone for a bit starting tomorrow, going on a fishing trip and when I come back I'll be busy with the CBHOF, but I can get it out in the next few weeks.

Frank, I've sent you my address, private message, your a Champ Frank....

[kikibalt]

Rick/Frank, Can you buy the Gil Cadilli Story?, i'd like to own it on dvd....

Send me your mailing address and I'll send you a copy, But it won't be right away, I am going to be gone for a bit starting tomorrow, going on a fishing trip and when I come back I'll be busy with the CBHOF, but I can get it out in the next few weeks.

Frank, I've sent you my address, private message, your a Champ Frank....

[Rick Farris]

Don Johnson . . .

This is a name nobody talks about any more, not even here!
But the truth is, he was one helluva featherweight contender who fought the best.
He was another along the lines and talent of Dwight Hawkins, L.C. Morgan, Adolph Pruitt . . . L.A. boys who couldn't get fights here.
Fought more than 90 fights in a 14 year career, most other countries. Beat Gil Cadilli and Howard Winstone, to name a couple.

[Cholo]

Frank/Rick, I've been looking on the internet and i came across some photo's of you and Armando Muniz and Bobby Chacon,
Muniz had two tough fights with Carlos Palomino for the WBC Welterweight Title, both fights at the Olympic. I remember Carlos coming over to the UK in 1976 and destroying John H Stracey, body shots finished Stracey. The following year Carlos came back and sent Dave "Boy" Green into dreamland with a perfectly timed left-hook, Palomino was a good Champion. Though i'll never forget seeing my man "EL CHOLO" Roberto Duran make him look very ordinary in a 10 round dream match at Madison Sq Garden in 1979, Duran was awesome that night and showed he could compete as a welterweight. Carlos made a comeback in his late forties finally losing to Wilfredo Rivera at the Olympic, did either of you see Carlos fight, is he still involved in boxing?. And i think i'm right Roberto Duran defeated Javier Muniz, Armando's brother in a 10 rounder on the undercard of Ali/Evangilista back 1977.....

[Rick Farris]

Frank/Rick, I've been looking on the internet and i came across some photo's of you and Armando Muniz and Bobby Chacon,
Muniz had two tough fights with Carlos Palomino for the WBC Welterweight Title, both fights at the Olympic. I remember Carlos coming over to the UK in 1976 and destroying John H Stracey, body shots finished Stracey. The following year Carlos came back and sent Dave "Boy" Green into dreamland with a perfectly timed left-hook, Palomino was a good Champion. Though i'll never forget seeing my man "EL CHOLO" Roberto Duran make him look very ordinary in a 10 round dream match at Madison Sq Garden in 1979, Duran was awesome that night and showed he could compete as a welterweight. Carlos made a comeback in his late forties finally losing to Wilfredo Rivera at the Olympic, did either of you see Carlos fight, is he still involved in boxing?. And i think i'm right Roberto Duran defeated Javier Muniz, Armando's brother in a 10 rounder on the undercard of Ali/Evangilista back 1977.....

Misc. notes . . .

Paul, Mando Muniz and I are close friends. I've known him since the 60's when we were amateurs, and as pros we fought on the same card eight times.
Mando and I were both involved with the WBHOF, he as President, and me as a director and historian.
I was ringside the night he fought Palomino the first time, when Mando dropped him in the first round, but was stopped in the 15th.
I didn't know Palomino personally during our careers, but would meet him years later on a film set, and later thru HOF involvment, etc.
Carlos did come back in his 40's and I attended the fight with a film director who was a friend of Carlos. It was held at the Paladium in Hollywood.
He went ten rounds with good fighter, but was just a shell of his old self, his moves were jerky, off rhythm, things one might expect of an old fighter.
Yeah, Duran really kicked his arse, and I had to watch that one on closed circuit TV at the Olympic.
Jackie McCoy used to say that Palomino's success was the result of his strong work effort. Carlos was a stand up boxer, and McCoy got him body punching, punching with more power.
Jackie said he wasn't the natural talent of a Mando Ramos, but he worked hard and lived a clean life. He was also very coachable.
As for Bobby, I was the first guy Bobby Chacon would trade blows with in a boxing ring. That was at the Johnny Flores Gym in 1967, when we were both fifteen.
As for Javiar Muniz, he's lucky he got Duran on one of his "not motivated" nights, and he likely didn't train, as well.
If Duran had given the match even a moment's attention, he'd have executed Javiar with stern glance.

[Randyman]

Growing Up On Charlesworth Street

I was born in Boyle Heights at the White Memorial Hospital on Brooklyn Avenue. My father, who was originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico, came of age in Maravilla, an East Los Angeles barrio. My mother was from Boyle Heights, growing up on Soto Street. They lived for a while with my uncle Jimmy De La O, renting a small back house on my uncle's property on Arizona Street before buying their home in Santa Fe Springs, a little further east but still in L.A. county. The house they bought was on Charlesworth Street. The house sat near the bottom of small hill, two house from the corner. At the top of the hill, behind the row of houses were the oil derricks. Santa Fe Springs was filled with them.

The guys I grew up with were Georgie Nava, Manuel Azarte, and a few other guys whose last names I no longer recall; Rudy, Oscar and up near the top of the block lived Ricky. Some of the guys had older brothers. Squeaky was Manuel's older brother. He was about six or seven years older then us. Georgie's older brother was Charlie Nava. Across the street lived the Romo family. the youngest son was about two years younger than me, the older brothers, Bennie and Frankie were in high school. Next to the Romo's were the Delgado's, my cousins. It was not an easy place to grow up. If we weren't fighting with each other, we were fighting or having rock fights with the block behind us.

Charlie Nava was a Pachucho, not quite the Pachuco's of the 1940's, the Zootsuiter's. They were what would later be called Cholos. The older guys were attached to nearby barrio Canta Ranas (Singing frogs), Charlie seemed to be the main guy. He was known as a pretty good fighter. Squeaky on the other hand was a bully. Whenever Manuel and I got in a fight, Squeaky would come looking for me. There was no escaping it. It just got to be a regular routine. I beat up Manuel, Squeaky beat me up. Often times, their sister would join Squeaky in kicking my ass. If they did a really good job on me I would find Manuel the next day and the whole thing would start over again. It was a vicious cycle.

Every once in a while, Charlie and his friends would get a wild hair up their arse and decide that Georgie, Rudy and I were going to fight a "Round Robin". Both Georgie and Rudy were one year older than me. I must have been about five or six when this was going on. They would form a circle around us, and then eventually, two of us would start fighting, sometimes through tears. We hated it. We were best friends but at that age we really didn't have much choice, so we fought.. I could take Georgie but not Rudy, Georgie could take Rudy but not me and Rudy could take me but not Georgie. This went on for a couple of years. Even with all that we still managed to remain friends.

At about the same time frame, a new family moved into the block, they were immigrants of some type, Germans, if I remember correctly. The entire family were bunch of a..holes. There was a boy in the family that was two grades above me. His name was Steve. He was a classic bully. He picked on us whenever he had the chance, which was everyday. He made no attempt to become friends with any of the other guys on the block. I hated him. His father was the same way. My father didn't like him ad they clashed a few times.

One day we were playing baseball in the street. We were having a good time but it was too much for Steve and his father. They were watching us from their front porch. Steve jumped on his bike and rode right into the middle of the game, kicking everyone and anyone, including me, and ruining the game. His father was laughing the entire time this was going on. Over on my side of the street my father was sitting in his car with a few friends from the neighborhood, they were drinking. Most of the men were old friends from East L.A., so they were a tight knit group. My father saw what was going on and when he saw me walk back toward the house he jumped out of the car and asked me "Where are you going?" I answered back "I'm going home". He looked me right square in the eye and told me to go back there and stand up for myself. I knew there was no point in arguing with my dad, not in this type of situation. So I walked back to where we were playing ball. Steve rode over toward me and stuck his foot out to kick me. this time I grabbed his leg and pulled him off the bike. he landed hard on his back and I jumped right on top of him and just let go of my punches, He was crying like a baby. His father jumped off the porch and started yelling at me to get off of his son. My father walked toward him, with his right extended arm out and pointing his index finger at him. He said " Leave them alone and let them settle it by themselves, you thought it was funny a minute ago". The guy thought about it for a second but kept his mouth shut. I let Steve up and he ran home crying. He never bothered us again. It wasn''t too long after that Steve and his family moved away.


When I lived on that block I got in a fight just about every day. It was a tough neighborhood. I would go back and visit every once in a while, I had cousins that lived across the street from our old house. Turns out Charlie Nava committed suicide while in his twenties. About the same tome Robert Arzate was shot to death coming out of the Rim Ram Club on Telegraph Road. Georgie got in so much trouble he was sent to Chicago to live with some relatives.

It might not seem like it but those were good times. We moved from Charlesworth street in November of 1962.