Cholo wrote:Rick/Frank, I was wrong about a Mosley KO, what a stinker, i think Manny just wanted to do enough to win without hurting Shane too much. I wonder what the old-timers would think about the fights today, couldn't see Artie Aragon wanting to keep touching gloves and hugging, he'd be there to FIGHT....
My son Tony and Hector Camacho did the same thing in 1990, when they fought for Hector's title. I think it was the only time in Tony career that I was disappointed in him....
CNorkusJr wrote:Bennie- I did not hear about Charlie Powell's fight against Billy Walker.
When my father fought Charlie Powell, Mr Powell was an undefeated (11-0) rising star who was managed by Suey Welch and trained by Gorilla Jones.
At that time in 1954, the top contenders were all jockeying in the top 10 to get a shot at Rocky Marciano.
My father,Charley Norkus, was managed by a fellow named Abe Bressler, who also had Ernie Durando. Al Weill(Rocky's official mgr on paper) was working with Madison Sq Garden Productions at the time and it would be a conflict of services to be assoc, with a fighter at that time.Al Weill also had a piece of Durando unofficially and probably my father as well but my father did not have to know that, only Bressler would know(front man).
As Rocky's career heated up, Al Weill had to step aside from Mad Sq Garden Productions where he promoted bouts outside of New York for the Garden.
He controlled who got what shot at Rocky at this time.
Of course there were other players in this game as well. IBC Chairman Jim Norris (front man), and the tricky part was of course Carbo & Palermo.
My father told me he was never associated officially with these men.Bressler, Weill and my father would meet and Weill would tell him where he was fighting next. They used him as a feeler out for Rocky. When Weill wanted to fight a top prospect,like Powell, he usually sent in a guy like my father to fight him first to see if the opponent's ability can suit Rocky. Rocky feared no man,but it gave a opportunity to see the fellow before the shot.
My father played the part of a ring spoiler here. Powell, Nardico, Crowe Peele, and several others couldn't pass the audition. It was a role my father enjoyed as it put him the top ten,and top TV bouts-only hoping Rocky would give HIM a shot one day.
My dad had 2 contracts with Rocky, but the fights never came off-(before Rocky had the title) also it earned him a shot at Ezz Charles, whom Weill promised verbally to my father that he would fight Rocky for the title next if he got pass Ezz. He didnt.
My father never regretted the role he played back then. It kept him in money and TV bouts which was for him good enough for him and his family.
My father told me that after he fought many of his opponents-that they were not the same again. He brought their confidence down a level or two,and after realizing that Rocky was not any closer to giving them a title shot. Weill liked it that way-hence Rocky's career can be argued over whether if he would be truley tested by any up and coming men like Powell and such.
It might be noted that my father was suppose to fight Roland LaStarza in 1952 in Providence, but LaStarza withdrew from cuts he suffered from a previous fight. My father fought Tommy Harrison instead. This was LaStarza audition supposedly.
LaStarza fought Rocky soon after, and some say Rocky almost took it on the chin that night.
Yeah, Powell was seriously lacking in ambition by the time Walker blew him over. The muscled American never fought again.
Pacquiao cornerman Roach to help train U.S. Olympic team
By Steve Carp
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Michael Hunter can count on seeing a lot more of Freddie Roach.
Hunter, the 201-pound Golden Gloves champion from Las Vegas, trained at Roach's Wild Card Boxing Club a few weeks ago to prepare for the national tournament.
On Saturday, USA Boxing announced that Roach, Manny Pacquiao's head trainer, will work with the U.S. boxing team for the 2012 London Olympics.
Roach said he wouldn't have signed on to help unless he thought he could make a difference.
"I think it's embarrassing that America's not winning more gold medals," Roach said. "I want to help the Olympic team get back in form. I know the game well, and I think I have a lot to offer these kids."
Roach said his Olympic duties won't interfere with his primary role of training Pacquiao, Amir Khan and the other professional fighters he oversees.
"Manny was hoping I would train the Philippine Olympic team," Roach said. "But I'm an American. I need to help my country."
Roach will not be the head coach. That position belongs to Joe Zanders, a longtime amateur coach who was on the U.S. staff at the 2004 Athens Games.
Roach and Zanders know each other well and have talked extensively about what Roach's role will be.
"Me and Joe get along well," said Roach, who is volunteering his time and will begin his advisory duties this month during a retreat in Colorado Springs, Colo. "We've been working on this idea for about a year, and I'm looking forward to working with the kids."
The Olympic boxing trials will be in late July at a site to be determined. Hunter qualified for the trials after winning a gold medal last week at the Golden Gloves nationals.
kikibalt wrote:Pacquiao cornerman Roach to help train U.S. Olympic team
By Steve Carp
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Michael Hunter can count on seeing a lot more of Freddie Roach.
Hunter, the 201-pound Golden Gloves champion from Las Vegas, trained at Roach's Wild Card Boxing Club a few weeks ago to prepare for the national tournament.
On Saturday, USA Boxing announced that Roach, Manny Pacquiao's head trainer, will work with the U.S. boxing team for the 2012 London Olympics.
Roach said he wouldn't have signed on to help unless he thought he could make a difference.
"I think it's embarrassing that America's not winning more gold medals," Roach said. "I want to help the Olympic team get back in form. I know the game well, and I think I have a lot to offer these kids."
Roach said his Olympic duties won't interfere with his primary role of training Pacquiao, Amir Khan and the other professional fighters he oversees.
"Manny was hoping I would train the Philippine Olympic team," Roach said. "But I'm an American. I need to help my country."
Roach will not be the head coach. That position belongs to Joe Zanders, a longtime amateur coach who was on the U.S. staff at the 2004 Athens Games.
Roach and Zanders know each other well and have talked extensively about what Roach's role will be.
"Me and Joe get along well," said Roach, who is volunteering his time and will begin his advisory duties this month during a retreat in Colorado Springs, Colo. "We've been working on this idea for about a year, and I'm looking forward to working with the kids."
The Olympic boxing trials will be in late July at a site to be determined. Hunter qualified for the trials after winning a gold medal last week at the Golden Gloves nationals.
Freddie told me of this when i was over there last august,but he hadent decided yet. I think he'll be a great asset for the US olympic team. especially as the amateur rules recently changed a bit closer to what it should with increased emphasis on body punching and a different scoring count based more on each judges scores and not the the 1 sec window, three judges press = 1 point system.
US might do better at the 2012 olympics than they have recently i suspect..
Expug wrote:
I think Fritzie would probably dig one low during the national anthem.
I'm reminded of a funny scene in the movie "slap shot" one goon player looks at another goon player on the other team before the game starts on the ice and says "we'll straighten you ouuut". with that great french canadian accent.Preeceded to pound lumps on the guy.
What about Al "Bummy" Davis, Bummy hit Fritzie low so many times he was singing soprano, caused a riot at the old Garden..... , any of you old-timers know much about Al Davis?....
Yes,Ive studied Davis a bit. Recently read a good book about him called 'Bummy Davis and murder inc." good read.
Bummy was one of the all time great left hook artists. Boy did he go out in a blaze of glory too.
Cholo wrote:Rick, Lionel Rose/Chucho Castillo, The decision in favour of Rose sparked a major riot at the Inglewood Forum back in 1969, do remember this?.....
Lionel Rose . . .
Yes, I was there. I'll post a story about my memories of Lionel Rose and the riot.
I really liked Lionel Rose,and i boxed with him one day at Alexandria Hotel about a week before he lost his title to Olivares.
Rest in Peace Lionel. You are now on the ultimate "Walk About".
On February 26, 1968, Mashiko "Fighting" Harada, the greatest Japanese boxer of all-time, was scheduled to defend his World Bantamweight title against number one challenger Jesus Pimentel of Mexico. It would be Harada's fourth defense of the title he'd won nearly three years previous by upsetting the great Eder Jofre of Brazil.
Pimentel was one of the hardest hitting bantamweights ever and had been in contention for a title shot throughout most of the sixties. However, just days before the fight, Pimentel's manager Harry Kabakoff demanded more money
from the Japanese promoter. When the promoter refused to renegotiate, Kabakoff pulled his fighter out of the match and returned to the United States. The story was that Pimentel had taken ill.
Desperate to save the promotion, the Japanese promoter sought a qualified challenger for Harada. The champion had struggled to make weight for the bout and after doing so insisted on fighting. Harada's plan was one last title defense before moving up to the featherweight division. However, none of the contenders were interested in taking a title shot on such short notice, except one, the Australian Bantamweight Champion Lionel Rose. Rose was considered the perfect replacement because he was not considered a hard puncher like the thunderous punching Pimentel. Rose had a 27-2 record and had scored only 8 KO's.
Rose and his manager Jack Rennie jumped on a plane for Tokyo and three days later the 20-year-old Australian won the World Bantamweight title with a unanimous fifteen round decision over Harada.
Six months later, after defending his title against Japan's Takao Sakurai, Rose made his U.S. debut in a 10 round non-title bout against perennial contender Jose Medel of Mexico. Medel was one of the greatest bantamweights
to come out of Mexico but had the misfortune of coming up at the same time as another Mexican great, former bantam king Jose Beccera. Medel had fought and beaten most of the top bantamweights in the world during the previous decade. He had KO'ed Fighting Harada prior to Harada winning the title from Jofre. My father and I had seen Medel fight two years previous when he defeated Jesus Pimentel by decision at the L.A. Sports Arena.
Also on the card would be future bantamweight champion Chucho Castillo, who had just beaten Jesus Pimentel two months earlier in the Forum's first boxing show. Castillo would be fighting Scotland's Evan Armstrong and was expected to be Rose's next opponent in a title defense.
I remember when Rose arrived in Los Angeles. I was 16-years-old at the time and was anxious to get a look at the Australian who was a heavy underdog when he won the title. I had read a lot about Rose and wanted to watch him train. I had no idea that less than a year later I would have a chance to spar with Rose while he trained for his last title defense against Ruben Olivares.
At the time, Forum boxing promoter George Parnassus' office was located in the old Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles. The Alexandria had been one of Los Angeles' finest hotels around the turn-of-the-century. During the 20's it was a place where many celebrities and dignitaries stayed, including Jack Dempsey. However, in 1968 the Alexandria was in no better shape than most of the buildings near 5th & Spring St. It was one step above a flop house.
However, George Parnanssus loved the Alexandria. He'd gotten his first job there washing dishes after arriving in America from Greece in 1909. He would turn the old ballroom into a boxing gymnasium and showcase the fighters he was promoting on Forum cards and charge $1 admission to anybody who cared too watch.
The Alexandria was located right around the corner from the Main Street Gym where I would train on weekends. After I'd finish my workouts on Saturday & Sunday mornings I'd hurry over to the Alexandria where I could watch Rose and the other fighters on the card train. One of those fighters was another Mexican bantamweight contender, Ruben Olivares. With Rose, Castillo. Olivares and Medel on the card, I was able to see the four best 118 pounders in the world up close as they prepared for their matches.
I remember how impressed I was with Rose. He was tall for a bantamweight, about 5'7", and had the best jab I'd ever seen. It was rare that I was impressed with any bantamweight having been around the best 118 pounders from Mexico, I was always partial to the great Latin bantams. However, Rose was special, kind of a throw back to another era. This guy was a master boxer and he was only 20. He had several sparring partners including Jorge "Alacrancito" Torres, younger brother of flyweight champ Efren "Alacran" Torres.
Rose ended up defeating Medel easily, winning a unanimous decision in his American debut. Chuchu Castillo KO'ed an over matched Evan Armstrong in three rounds, putting himself in line for a title shot. Another winner that night, also making his U.S. debut, was another future champ, Ruben Olivares. Olivares KO'ed Filipino Bernabe Fernandez in the third round
This would set up Rose's second title defense. Four months later, Lionel Rose and Chucho Castillo would be involved in a war. A war that resulted in a riot.
Mexico has produced many of the greatest bantamweights to ever step into a boxing ring. 1968 was no exception. With Jose Medel past his prime and Jesus Pimentel heading in the same direction, a new crop of Mexican bantams were beginning to rise. Chucho Castillo was one of them.
Castillo was the Mexican Bantamweight Champion and had defeated Edmundo Esparza, Jose Medel, Memo Tellez and Jesus Pimentel. You have to understand that in Mexico, being the Mexican Champion is more important than being the world champion. Often the Mexican Champion was, or would become, the World
Champ. When Chucho Castillo stepped into the Forum ring to fight Lionel Rose for the title, he had the support of thousands of Mexican's who had spent hard earned money to travel to Los Angeles from below the border. They expected Castillo to return home with the title, and he almost did.
Rose and Castillo put on a great battle for 15 rounds. Rose boxed brilliantly, using his darting left jab and sharp counter punches to hold off the charging Castillo. Castillo landed the harder blows and in the 10th round floored the Australian which drove the Mexican fans crazy. "Chucho, Chucho, Chucho"" the fans chanted. However, Rose made it to his feet and went right back to his original plan. He held off the furious attack of the Mexican and continued to box. At the end of 15 rounds ring announcer Mario Machado read the verdict. Lionel Rose was awarded a split decision victory over Castillo. The Mexican fans went crazy and literally tore apart the
brand new 18,000 seat Forum.
I had attended the match with one of friends, amateur heavyweight Al Boursse. This was one time Al and I were glad our seats were nowhere near the ring. After the decision was announced there was booing, then cups of
beer were tossed toward the ring from way back. Then cherry bombs began to explode and fights started breaking out everywhere. Cushioned seats were slashed open and the stuffing set afire.
After Rose and Castillo left the ring, featherweights Dwight Hawkins and Fernando Sotelo were set to fight in a ten rounder. However, the crowd was so unruly the fight was halted after the third round to protect the fighters
from all of the debris being tossed into the ring.
Al Boursse and I had come to see our stablemate Hawkins or we'd have left quickly after the title fight. When they stopped the Hawkins-Sotelo bout, Al and I headed up the aisle, away from all all the missiles being thrown
down. People were pushing and shoving each other trying to escape. As we passed through a tunnel toward an exit we ran into another one of our stablemates, Ruben Navarro. Navarro said he knew of a short cut so Al & I
followed Ruben back down to the floor and slipped out through the dressing room area. As we headed up the ramp to the parking lot we saw Canto Robledo, an old trainer who was totally blind. Robledo had been separated from his guide and had been hit with several bottles and was bleeding. Navarro took Canto by the arm and led him away from the trouble. Outside, cars were being tipped over and the riot squad was arriving just as we pulled out of the parking lot. All over a close decision.
Eight months later, in August of 1969, Rose returned to Los Angeles for another title defense. This time he would take on one of the greatest bantamweights of all-time, Ruben Olivares.
I was 17 at the time and had just grown into a bantamweight. I was still an amateur but had an opportunity to spar with Rose as he trained for Olivares at the Alexandria. I learned a lot from Lionel and found him to be one of the most interesting characters I've ever met. I only worked out with him twice and wasn't one of his regular sparring partners, however, I picked up a few things from him. I began to use my jab much more effectively after
watching how Rose used his.
After one of Rose's workouts the local press wanted to get some pictures of the champ doing road work. Rose had already done his running for the day but to accommodate the reporters he walked down to Pershing Square, a little downtown park located above an underground parking structure. I had nothing to do so I followed Rose and the reporters down to the park to kill time. Rose was an Australian Aborigine and was like a character out of a Crocodile Dundee movie.
After the photo session was over, he pulled a tiny little pipe out of his pocket, like the ones you used to see old ladies smoke in movies. He filled it with tobacco, lit it with a match and then announced to the rest of us, "Well, it's time for a walk about". Suddenly Rose disappeared. None of us saw him leave, he just vanished.
A week later Ruben Olivares would end the 18 month title reign of Lionel Rose, knocking him out in the fifth round.
Rose would move up to featherweight but with little success. The last time I saw Rose was in 1976 when he came to Los Angeles to fight Bazooka Limon. Rose was KO'ed in that fight and retired shortly afterward.
Recently I was introduced to former world champ Jeff Fenech of Australia who was in Phoenix visiting Mike Tyson. I couldn't help but ask Fenech what had become of Lionel Rose. Fenech just shook his head and said things weren't going well for Rose, but did not elaborate.
Last week I received a video tape in the mail from my friend Ted Luzzi, a regular poster on AOL boxing boards. There were several bouts on the video tape and one was the Rose-Castillo title fight from '68. Watching this tape
brought back a lot of memories and inspired this story.
I hope Lionel Rose is doing better. He was a one of the most unique boxers I have ever met and one of the best.
On February 26, 1968, Mashiko "Fighting" Harada, the greatest Japanese boxer of all-time, was scheduled to defend his World Bantamweight title against number one challenger Jesus Pimentel of Mexico. It would be Harada's fourth defense of the title he'd won nearly three years previous by upsetting the great Eder Jofre of Brazil.
Pimentel was one of the hardest hitting bantamweights ever and had been in contention for a title shot throughout most of the sixties. However, just days before the fight, Pimentel's manager Harry Kabakoff demanded more money
from the Japanese promoter. When the promoter refused to renegotiate, Kabakoff pulled his fighter out of the match and returned to the United States. The story was that Pimentel had taken ill.
Desperate to save the promotion, the Japanese promoter sought a qualified challenger for Harada. The champion had struggled to make weight for the bout and after doing so insisted on fighting. Harada's plan was one last title defense before moving up to the featherweight division. However, none of the contenders were interested in taking a title shot on such short notice, except one, the Australian Bantamweight Champion Lionel Rose. Rose was considered the perfect replacement because he was not considered a hard puncher like the thunderous punching Pimentel. Rose had a 27-2 record and had scored only 8 KO's.
Rose and his manager Jack Rennie jumped on a plane for Tokyo and three days later the 20-year-old Australian won the World Bantamweight title with a unanimous fifteen round decision over Harada.
Six months later, after defending his title against Japan's Takao Sakurai, Rose made his U.S. debut in a 10 round non-title bout against perennial contender Jose Medel of Mexico. Medel was one of the greatest bantamweights
to come out of Mexico but had the misfortune of coming up at the same time as another Mexican great, former bantam king Jose Beccera. Medel had fought and beaten most of the top bantamweights in the world during the previous decade. He had KO'ed Fighting Harada prior to Harada winning the title from Jofre. My father and I had seen Medel fight two years previous when he defeated Jesus Pimentel by decision at the L.A. Sports Arena.
Also on the card would be future bantamweight champion Chucho Castillo, who had just beaten Jesus Pimentel two months earlier in the Forum's first boxing show. Castillo would be fighting Scotland's Evan Armstrong and was expected to be Rose's next opponent in a title defense.
I remember when Rose arrived in Los Angeles. I was 16-years-old at the time and was anxious to get a look at the Australian who was a heavy underdog when he won the title. I had read a lot about Rose and wanted to watch him train. I had no idea that less than a year later I would have a chance to spar with Rose while he trained for his last title defense against Ruben Olivares.
At the time, Forum boxing promoter George Parnassus' office was located in the old Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles. The Alexandria had been one of Los Angeles' finest hotels around the turn-of-the-century. During the 20's it was a place where many celebrities and dignitaries stayed, including Jack Dempsey. However, in 1968 the Alexandria was in no better shape than most of the buildings near 5th & Spring St. It was one step above a flop house.
However, George Parnanssus loved the Alexandria. He'd gotten his first job there washing dishes after arriving in America from Greece in 1909. He would turn the old ballroom into a boxing gymnasium and showcase the fighters he was promoting on Forum cards and charge $1 admission to anybody who cared too watch.
The Alexandria was located right around the corner from the Main Street Gym where I would train on weekends. After I'd finish my workouts on Saturday & Sunday mornings I'd hurry over to the Alexandria where I could watch Rose and the other fighters on the card train. One of those fighters was another Mexican bantamweight contender, Ruben Olivares. With Rose, Castillo. Olivares and Medel on the card, I was able to see the four best 118 pounders in the world up close as they prepared for their matches.
I remember how impressed I was with Rose. He was tall for a bantamweight, about 5'7", and had the best jab I'd ever seen. It was rare that I was impressed with any bantamweight having been around the best 118 pounders from Mexico, I was always partial to the great Latin bantams. However, Rose was special, kind of a throw back to another era. This guy was a master boxer and he was only 20. He had several sparring partners including Jorge "Alacrancito" Torres, younger brother of flyweight champ Efren "Alacran" Torres.
Rose ended up defeating Medel easily, winning a unanimous decision in his American debut. Chuchu Castillo KO'ed an over matched Evan Armstrong in three rounds, putting himself in line for a title shot. Another winner that night, also making his U.S. debut, was another future champ, Ruben Olivares. Olivares KO'ed Filipino Bernabe Fernandez in the third round
This would set up Rose's second title defense. Four months later, Lionel Rose and Chucho Castillo would be involved in a war. A war that resulted in a riot.
Mexico has produced many of the greatest bantamweights to ever step into a boxing ring. 1968 was no exception. With Jose Medel past his prime and Jesus Pimentel heading in the same direction, a new crop of Mexican bantams were beginning to rise. Chucho Castillo was one of them.
Castillo was the Mexican Bantamweight Champion and had defeated Edmundo Esparza, Jose Medel, Memo Tellez and Jesus Pimentel. You have to understand that in Mexico, being the Mexican Champion is more important than being the world champion. Often the Mexican Champion was, or would become, the World
Champ. When Chucho Castillo stepped into the Forum ring to fight Lionel Rose for the title, he had the support of thousands of Mexican's who had spent hard earned money to travel to Los Angeles from below the border. They expected Castillo to return home with the title, and he almost did.
Rose and Castillo put on a great battle for 15 rounds. Rose boxed brilliantly, using his darting left jab and sharp counter punches to hold off the charging Castillo. Castillo landed the harder blows and in the 10th round floored the Australian which drove the Mexican fans crazy. "Chucho, Chucho, Chucho"" the fans chanted. However, Rose made it to his feet and went right back to his original plan. He held off the furious attack of the Mexican and continued to box. At the end of 15 rounds ring announcer Mario Machado read the verdict. Lionel Rose was awarded a split decision victory over Castillo. The Mexican fans went crazy and literally tore apart the
brand new 18,000 seat Forum.
I had attended the match with one of friends, amateur heavyweight Al Boursse. This was one time Al and I were glad our seats were nowhere near the ring. After the decision was announced there was booing, then cups of
beer were tossed toward the ring from way back. Then cherry bombs began to explode and fights started breaking out everywhere. Cushioned seats were slashed open and the stuffing set afire.
After Rose and Castillo left the ring, featherweights Dwight Hawkins and Fernando Sotelo were set to fight in a ten rounder. However, the crowd was so unruly the fight was halted after the third round to protect the fighters
from all of the debris being tossed into the ring.
Al Boursse and I had come to see our stablemate Hawkins or we'd have left quickly after the title fight. When they stopped the Hawkins-Sotelo bout, Al and I headed up the aisle, away from all all the missiles being thrown
down. People were pushing and shoving each other trying to escape. As we passed through a tunnel toward an exit we ran into another one of our stablemates, Ruben Navarro. Navarro said he knew of a short cut so Al & I
followed Ruben back down to the floor and slipped out through the dressing room area. As we headed up the ramp to the parking lot we saw Canto Robledo, an old trainer who was totally blind. Robledo had been separated from his guide and had been hit with several bottles and was bleeding. Navarro took Canto by the arm and led him away from the trouble. Outside, cars were being tipped over and the riot squad was arriving just as we pulled out of the parking lot. All over a close decision.
Eight months later, in August of 1969, Rose returned to Los Angeles for another title defense. This time he would take on one of the greatest bantamweights of all-time, Ruben Olivares.
I was 17 at the time and had just grown into a bantamweight. I was still an amateur but had an opportunity to spar with Rose as he trained for Olivares at the Alexandria. I learned a lot from Lionel and found him to be one of the most interesting characters I've ever met. I only worked out with him twice and wasn't one of his regular sparring partners, however, I picked up a few things from him. I began to use my jab much more effectively after
watching how Rose used his.
After one of Rose's workouts the local press wanted to get some pictures of the champ doing road work. Rose had already done his running for the day but to accommodate the reporters he walked down to Pershing Square, a little downtown park located above an underground parking structure. I had nothing to do so I followed Rose and the reporters down to the park to kill time. Rose was an Australian Aborigine and was like a character out of a Crocodile Dundee movie.
After the photo session was over, he pulled a tiny little pipe out of his pocket, like the ones you used to see old ladies smoke in movies. He filled it with tobacco, lit it with a match and then announced to the rest of us, "Well, it's time for a walk about". Suddenly Rose disappeared. None of us saw him leave, he just vanished.
A week later Ruben Olivares would end the 18 month title reign of Lionel Rose, knocking him out in the fifth round.
Rose would move up to featherweight but with little success. The last time I saw Rose was in 1976 when he came to Los Angeles to fight Bazooka Limon. Rose was KO'ed in that fight and retired shortly afterward.
Recently I was introduced to former world champ Jeff Fenech of Australia who was in Phoenix visiting Mike Tyson. I couldn't help but ask Fenech what had become of Lionel Rose. Fenech just shook his head and said things weren't going well for Rose, but did not elaborate.
Last week I received a video tape in the mail from my friend Ted Luzzi, a regular poster on AOL boxing boards. There were several bouts on the video tape and one was the Rose-Castillo title fight from '68. Watching this tape
brought back a lot of memories and inspired this story.
I hope Lionel Rose is doing better. He was a one of the most unique boxers I have ever met and one of the best.
Great piece Rick, from what i've seen of Rose he impressed me alot, classy boxer. I have a photo some where of Rose smoking a pipe, Rick you've sparred with some greats.....
Australian Jack Rennie was the manager of Lionel Rose, and in the late 60's when Rose came to L.A. to fight for George Parnassus and Don Fraser at the Forum, Fraser and Rennie began what would become a life long friendship.
Talking with Don this morning we discussed Rose, and I would learn about the Forum's former publicist and promoters relationship with Rennie.
"We have stayed in touch ever since, and were in Japan together once on boxing business" Fraser told me.
Of course, after meeting Lionel myself when I was a teenager, I was also familiar with Jack Rennie, having watched him take care of Rose in the gym.
I was surprised to learn that Rennie was still living and doing very in the land down under.
I recall years after crossing paths Lionel Rose, I would hear of his struggles and health challenges following his boxing career.
After hearing this I would include Lionel Rose in my prayers, hoping devine guidence might help him regain the resepct and happines he once achieved.
Lionel Rose, like so many boxing stars, had a unique personality. I saw goodness in him, courage and confidence, not to mention a natural talent.
There is a hint of sadness in my heart on this otherwise beautiful day, sadness that Lionel's post boxing life was such a struggle for him, as it is for so many of our friends we write about here. How lucky for me, at age 17, to trade some blows with one helluva boxer, one who won a world title in one of the bantamweight division's most competitive eras.
The deaths of Sir Henry Cooper and Lionel Rose this week bring back a lot of memories of the sixties, when boxing was quite different than what it is today. Forever these two champions will remain a part of boxing history. God bless their souls.
Panzerfaust wrote:Frank, you know a good place to get a tripita taco in L.A?
More than one place Ram, more than one place....
You gotta hook me up
Remy, between Frank & Randy, you'll find yourself in Taco heaven here in Southern Cal.
As far as great tacos are concerned, you'll be in the right place with the right people next month.
I look forward to shaking your hand and enjoying some of our CAWCB buddies at the CBHOF lunch.
I would also like to say that the food served at the CBHOF event (although not Mexican food) is very good, better than at the larger WBHOF events of past.
Don and Frank put on a great event, the best you'll find anywhere on the West Coast.
La Parrilla is a great place for tripas
2126 E. Cesar Chavez Ave
Los Angeles, Ca.
90033
thx Frank
Remy, I don't know where you are planning to stay, but the Sportsman's Lodge, where the event is being held is a nice place.
I'll be happy to drive you and any of our out of town guests staying at the Lodge anywhere you might want to go in L.A.
I'll be off work that week and know the town as well as anybody.
kikibalt wrote:
La Parrilla is a great place for tripas
2126 E. Cesar Chavez Ave
Los Angeles, Ca.
90033
thx Frank
Remy, I don't know where you are planning to stay, but the Sportsman's Lodge, where the event is being held is a nice place.
I'll be happy to drive you and any of our out of town guests staying at the Lodge anywhere you might want to go in L.A. that week.
I'll be off work that week and know the town as well as anybody.
Thx for the offer Rick.
We'll be staying at the Vagabond motel on Vine street right next to the Wildcard, Im planning on getting some workouts done during my 2 week stay, and may need to considering all the food ill have to ''sample'' ( Ill be spending alot of time there, Its like heaven for me coming from basically a non boxing country to be around a real boxing gym )
)