Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Cholo]

Frank, I've come across a newspaper clipping from the Art Aragon/Reybon Stubbs fight Dec, 1959, one of Golden Boys last fights. It says that Art was given oxygen in his corner between rounds from the fifth on, were you at this fight Frank?....

No, I didn't see that fight. I vaguely remember reading about the oxygen.

Frank, Couldn't see that happening today....

[Rick Farris]

Frankie Flores


division featherweight
country United States
residence Los Angeles, California, United States
won 5 (KO 1) + lost 8 (KO 2) + drawn 0 = 13


1944-05-26 128½ Harry Wicker 120 14-9-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L KO 2 4
1944-05-23 129 Lou Bernal 129 5-5-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L PTS 4 4
1944-05-12 128 Earl Reynolds 128
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L KO 3 4
1944-03-08 Tino Perez 3-6-2
Gilmore Field, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1944-03-03 127½ Henry Zamora 129½ 3-1-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 4 4
1944-02-18 126½ Henry Zamora 131½ 3-0-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
Zamora was knocked down twice in the 4th round.

1944-02-07 129 Frenchy Savidan 134 20-17-13
Ocean Park Arena, Santa Monica, California, United States L PTS 4 4
1944-01-31 128 Tino Perez 131 1-4-2
Ocean Park Arena, Santa Monica, California, United States L PTS 4 4
1944-01-28 167 Otto Buettler 168½ 4-5-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L PTS 4 4
1944-01-18 126 Ray Puente 127 2-1-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L PTS 4 4
1943-09-08 125 Dave Hernandez 6-8-0
Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, United States L PTS 4 4
1943-08-30 125 Carlos Gomez 129 0-1-0
Ocean Park Arena, Santa Monica, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1943-07-27 125 Jess Galardo 127 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4

[Rick Farris]

Frank, I did hear Art say that he started fighting in 1942, was this pro or amateur?, thanks for posting Aragon/Bolanos photo's....

On the day my mom celebrated her 26th birthday, May 23, 1944, Art Aragon had his first pro fight.

When L.A. was a hot bed of activity . . .

What an era!
Frank, I know when you started boxing so I know that Art Aragon was a headliner from the very beginning of your career.
I thumb thru old KO mags and I'm amazed by all the boxing activity. Even when I was a kid, I was amazed how there was so much going on in LA during the 40's-50's.
I thought things were very slow in LA compared to the past, even though we had two weekly local fight cards that were televised.
In the old days, you could watch a fight in LA nearly every night of the week. In my era, just a couple days a week. Today? NADA!

[Rick Farris]

How Mel taught . . .

Mel Epstein was a good teacher.
Mel had his talents in the world of boxing, at one time a successful promoter/matchmaker in the Pacific Northwest.
He also had an eagle eye, not much passed by Mel unnoticed, and he would let it be known straight out that he was up to you.
In his later years, when involved with pain-in-the-ass prospects like Mike Nixon and myself, Mel's abrasivness would rage.
Mel and I actually had no problems getting along, aside from the ridiculous haircut issues, etc.

In his day, when his eyes were clearer and his movement steady, Mel must have been a great teacher.
Most old guys, like a Ray Arcel, Cus D'Amato, etc.would break in younger men to help them with the physical demands of working with a boxer.
You could not expect Cus to hold pads for Tyson, or for Mel to do the same for Nixon and I.

Mel used to joke (in a semi-serious way) that, "I still got one last shot in me. And I swear I'm going to bounce off your head one of these days!"
We'd both be laughing, but the old guy just might do it, he wanted to put that out there. I loved him for that!
Mel had the boniest hands I ever saw or felt. Anybody who Mel taught knows the feel of those knuckles cracking betweent he ribs. It was his trick, he'd feint you and stick you in the ribs.
He would smile proudly as you'd wince and turn away.

Mel was always bitching about his health, like he was going to check out at any moment.
"My ticker is no good, and I got Nixon running around with those no-class Quarry's, and I never know when you are going to have one of your 'Saturday night specials."
Mel truly hated the Quarry family. When Mike Nixon married Wilma Quarry, Mel was livid. As far as Mel was concerned, the Quarry broad was moving into his life.
The truth was, Mike Nixon was moving out of Mel's life. Nixon had some talent, but he was a head case and had a glass chin. His personality irritated Mel, and I know that Mel was irritating Nixon , as well. By 1973, Nixon's contract with Mel expired, and he was gone.

At the time I was Mel's only boxer. So I had his complete focus, and he was more bitter than ever.
Mel knew I liked to write, and he asked me to write a novel about this dysfuntional family, and this guy from Upstate New York (Nixon) and blah, blah, blah. I told him, "You're crazy".
In the gym, Mel was still fit enough to demonstrate his very own unique arsenel of punches. The inverted jab, the straight-arm knuckle punch, inside fighting control.
This was good stuff! He taught me this great feint, a deceptive old school boxing move that almost always resulted in me landing a solid jab.
I remember this move was so good, I could still make it work when I wasn't in the best of shape. It would lead an opponent to getting cracked solid.
Then there were other little tricks that you never see today, to bad I wasn't more dedicated or I could have made them work even better than I did.
But learn I did from Mel Epstein. In many, many ways, he was brilliant. He was very smart, and clever, and despite the hard shell, he was kind, gentle man.
He would get angry at himself becasue he could no longer see well. And Mel would have never settled for an assitant to help convey his messages.

Mel was a nag, could be as small as he could large, but I would not trade one thing about my modest boxing career.
Today, all those stories I heard over and over, about Young Firpo, Hubert "Kid" Dennis, etc. today they mean something.
His quiet resentment toward some L.A. fight figures was something he did not reveal publicly, except the Quarry's. And Nixon.

After me, Mel would have a couple more boxers. Gary Pittman was one, and the other was Randy De La O.
I remember being happy for Mel around 1976, he was excited over a young prospect and he wanted me to meet him. His new fighter was Randy.
I had no idea the night I had dinner with Mel and Randy, that one day Randy and I would reconnect.
I also had no idea that his best fighter, Young Firpo, would be inducted into the WBHOF, an accomplishment that Mel played an instrumental role.

I stopped boxing, but Mel and I stayed in touch. He would sometimes spend Holiday dinners with my family. Such a well dressed, perfect gentleman he was.
We last talked by phone in 1977. God Bless your soul, Mel.


-Rick Farris

[Randyman]

How Mel taught . . .

Mel Epstein was a good teacher.
Mel had his talents in the world of boxing, at one time a successful promoter/matchmaker in the Pacific Northwest.
He also had an eagle eye, not much passed by Mel unnoticed, and he would let it be known straight out that he was up to you.
In his later years, when involved with pain-in-the-ass prospects like Mike Nixon and myself, Mel's abrasivness would rage.
Mel and I actually had no problems getting along, aside from the ridiculous haircut issues, etc.

In his day, when his eyes were clearer and his movement steady, Mel must have been a great teacher.
Most old guys, like a Ray Arcel, Cus D'Amato, etc.would break in younger men to help them with the physical demands of working with a boxer.
You could not expect Cus to hold pads for Tyson, or for Mel to do the same for Nixon and I.

Mel used to joke (in a semi-serious way) that, "I still got one last shot in me. And I swear I'm going to bounce off your head one of these days!"
We'd both be laughing, but the old guy just might do it, he wanted to put that out there. I loved him for that!
Mel had the boniest hands I ever saw or felt. Anybody who Mel taught knows the feel of those knuckles cracking betweent he ribs. It was his trick, he'd feint you and stick you in the ribs.
He would smile proudly as you'd wince and turn away.

Mel was always bitching about his health, like he was going to check out at any moment.
"My ticker is no good, and I got Nixon running around with those no-class Quarry's, and I never know when you are going to have one of your 'Saturday night specials."
Mel truly hated the Quarry family. When Mike Nixon married Wilma Quarry, Mel was livid. As far as Mel was concerned, the Quarry broad was moving into his life.
The truth was, Mike Nixon was moving out of Mel's life. Nixon had some talent, but he was a head case and had a glass chin. His personality irritated Mel, and I know that Mel was irritating Nixon , as well. By 1973, Nixon's contract with Mel expired, and he was gone.

At the time I was Mel's only boxer. So I had his complete focus, and he was more bitter than ever.
Mel knew I liked to write, and he asked me to write a novel about this dysfuntional family, and this guy from Upstate New York (Nixon) and blah, blah, blah. I told him, "You're crazy".
In the gym, Mel was still fit enough to demonstrate his very own unique arsenel of punches. The inverted jab, the straight-arm knuckle punch, inside fighting control.
This was good stuff! He taught me this great feint, a deceptive old school boxing move that almost always resulted in me landing a solid jab.
I remember this move was so good, I could still make it work when I wasn't in the best of shape. It would lead an opponent to getting cracked solid.
Then there were other little tricks that you never see today, to bad I wasn't more dedicated or I could have made them work even better than I did.
But learn I did from Mel Epstein. In many, many ways, he was brilliant. He was very smart, and clever, and despite the hard shell, he was kind, gentle man.
He would get angry at himself becasue he could no longer see well. And Mel would have never settled for an assitant to help convey his messages.

Mel was a nag, could be as small as he could large, but I would not trade one thing about my modest boxing career.
Today, all those stories I heard over and over, about Young Firpo, Hubert "Kid" Dennis, etc. today they mean something.
His quiet resentment toward some L.A. fight figures was something he did not reveal publicly, except the Quarry's. And Nixon.

After me, Mel would have a couple more boxers. Gary Pittman was one, and the other was Randy De La O.
I remember being happy for Mel around 1976, he was excited over a young prospect and he wanted me to meet him. His new fighter was Randy.
I had no idea the night I had dinner with Mel and Randy, that one day Randy and I would reconnect.
I also had no idea that his best fighter, Young Firpo, would be inducted into the WBHOF, an accomplishment that Mel played an instrumental role.

I stopped boxing, but Mel and I stayed in touch. He would sometimes spend Holiday dinners with my family. Such a well dressed, perfect gentleman he was.
We last talked by phone in 1977. God Bless your soul, Mel.


-Rick Farris

Rick, that was absolutely beautifully written, and so accurate. I wince whenever I remember Mel feinting and cracking me one on the ribs, sometimes an uppercut to the chin, and then that mischievous smile of his to let you know you should have been paying attention, been quicker.

Mel had one foot in the grave as long as I knew him and he let you know. I last saw Mel late 1979 or early 1980. Picked him up and took him out to dinner. He wanted to promote again. The Pico Rivera Arena had opened up recently and Mel had this dream about promoting fights there. I knew it would never happen but it was still fun talking about it with him. He died not to long after that.

For years, I would talk about Mel to Jeri and the kids, or to a few select friends but I never had anyone to share those old memories with, not with someone who lived them as I did. One of the side benefits of us hooking up after all these years. Who would have thunk?

God Bless his soul indeed. I still miss the old man!

[Randyman]

I took the day off from work today and Jeri and I went to the Orange Circle in the city of Orange. It's filled with antique stores. I found an old copy of a Hollywood Legion Stadium program from, February 18, 1944. In good shape too. I grabbed a good piece of "West Coast Boxing" history. Actually, Jeri found it. She went though some magazines that I had already went through and asked me "What about this one, you do't want it?" I couldn't believe I missed it! it pays to bring her with me.
I'll scan it later and post it.

The fights listed are:

Ike Kibble vs Otto Beutler -170 lbs - 4 rounds
Henry Zamora vs Frankie Flores - 128 lbs - 4 rounds
Rene De Leon vs Freddie Long - 145 lbs - 4 rounds
Bert White vs Jimmy Reynolds - 136 lbs - 4 rounds
Matt Oglesby vs Sol Torres - 140 lbs - 6 rounds
Elmer Ray vs Mike Alfano - Heavyweights - 10 rounds

[Randyman]

Today, I also picked up a Life magazine from March 19, 1971. It was the issue that covered Ali-Frazier I, with a article by Norman Mailer and some great photos of the fight taken by Frank Sinatra. Ali and Frazier are on the cover. frazier has Ali against the rope and the caption read "Frazier pounds at Ali", a great photo. I also got an old General Electric advertisement with Joe Louis in the ad. And (don't laugh) I got and old Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Club magazine from 1956 with Spin and Marty on the cover-remember them?

Randy, I remember "Spin & Marty"!
Many years later I would be working at Disney Ranch, a movie ranch located off the 14 Fwy. near Soledad Canyon.
Another lighting tech and I were walking thru the stable area and were talking with the caretaker.
The man said he had been caretaker for the property since Walt Disney was alive and pointed to a small ranch house.
"Walt would often drive out here and spend his weekends in that house," he said.
He them pointed to the barn, "My first day on the job was working as a wrangler on the 'Spin & Marty' series. That was filmed here."
I've worked Disney Ranch many times during the past thirty-four years. "Spin & Marty", thanks for the memories, Randy.

[Randyman]

I also got this photo of Mando Muniz and Carlos Palomino. Not sure which fight it's from.

[Rick Farris]

A Ward and A Rose: A Tribute to Two Gone Champions

By Anton Santiago

In 2009, boxing lost three of it’s brightest stars with the deaths within weeks of Alexis Arguello, Arturo Gatti and Vernon Forrest. This week too, we have lost two great ones. For the record, Lionel Rose and Alice Ward did not do much as far as boxing history is concerned. But records barely ever tell the whole story.

Lionel Rose was an Aboriginal Australian. Now, if you are a minority in a country, you probably know what that meant to him. The Aborigines have been historically treated like the lowest of the human race by the majority of Australians. Not all White Australians are bad or racist, mind you, but among Australians, Aborigine people have had the worse for wear, having survived abusive working conditions, poisoning (by contamination of their water supply using arsenic and by way of introducing rum to their villages), hate, massacres and even “The Lost Generation”, period in which Australian Aborigine children were being kidnapped by the government so that they would not influence politics in the future, kind of like what happened in Chile during General Pinochet’s years and in Argentina during “The Dirty War” years of 1976 to 1983.

John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia, seems to be a good man. In fact, I received an autograph personally from him a few years ago. But even Howard decided not to ask the great Aborigine people for forgiveness for all that was done to them by past members of the White race there. Kevin Ruud, in turn, made sure to do so when he became Prime Minister. Australians overall are changing their views and treatment of these well deserving people, and now laws protect them from any racial discrimination or attack.

Lionel Rose had a part in the change. Rose was a great fighter, but more importantly, he was a great human being who was fiercely proud of himself and his roots. He was the son of a fighter, born in a very poor area called Jackson’s Track, a full contrast with rich, modern Melbourne, which is only 50 miles away. That is the same Melbourne that only eight years after Rose’s birth in 1948 would host the Summer Olympic Games. Rose chose boxing to escape the dire conditions of his birthplace and the racism given towards his people. It seems that destiny and boxing itself also chose him .

Beginning on a badly set ring where safety was not a worry because there was none, Rose first put on his gloves at the age of 14. He was a prodigy. He trained up and progressed so fast that soon, he was at Jack Rennie’s Melbourne Gym, after having become the Australian National Amateur Flyweight champion and marrying Jenny Oakes, daughter of one of his early trainers.

Raking an impressive number of victories as a pro, and a couple of losses on the side, Rose became a prominent figure in Australia, winning the Australian Bantamweight title and defeating men like Noel Kunde and Rocky Galletari along the way. On February 27, 1968, Rose met International Boxing Hall of Fame member Masahiko “Fighting” Harada for the world Bantamweight title at Nihon Buhokan, Tokyo, Japan. Few outside Australian Aborigine gave Rose a chance, but he boxed, moved, danced and ducked on his way to an artistic, if aesthetically boring, 15 round unanimous decision win. A few days later, Rose arrived at Melbourne’s Tullamarine International Airport to be welcomed by 250,000 people, a Champion not just for Aboriginal people, but for the entire country of Australia.

He defended the title against excellent challenges from Tadao Sakurai, future world Champion Jesus “Chucho” Castillo-a wholly controversial 15 round split decision win in Los Angeles, California-and Alan Rudkin. All three world class challengers, and all three defeated on points. Then he returned to the United States, to take on one of the most fearsome punchers in history, Mexican bone breaker Ruben “Puas” Olivares. Rose took one of the most frightening beatings in the history of boxing, and after the fight, all newspapers and magazines praised Olivares, highlighting the way in which he stomped over the defending Champion. Lost in the reports was the way Lionel Rose stood for 5 rounds taking Hell and more, not wanting to lose his title that night. It was almost inhuman. Watching the fight recently onYoutube.com, I actually felt nauseous at such a beating. Yet Rose’s will let him stand to it, and it took a whole punishing from Olivares for his body to finally go down. Rose later went on to lose to 8 of his next 16 opponents, but those included Fernando Sotelo, Raul Cruz, Yoshuaki Numata in a challenge for the WBC world Junior Lightweight title, and future 2 time WBC world Junior Lightweight Champion Rafael “Bazooka” Limon. In the meantime, he actually defeated future WBC world Lightweight Champion “Guts” Itshimatsu Suzuki, by a ten round decision.

Rose enjoyed a singing career that yielded him more #1 hits in Australia than Oscar De La Hoya’s did in the United States, and he enjoyed a life of respect and harmony among other Australians of all kinds. This remarkable man, in 1996, donated his world Championship belt to another brave Aboriginal warrior, T’jandamurra O’Shane, who had been burned over 70 percent of his body as a six year old, in a still unexplained attack which was allegedly carried by a man named Paul Wade Streeton. Rose was also the recipient of an MBE, and the subject of an Australian film, named “Lionel”. In a way, he was like Jack Johnson and Joe Louis all wrapped into one: being the first Champion of his race, he managed to be a hero for all.

Alice Ward, meanwhile, was a champion in her very own style. Ward may have gone unnoticed by many, until her son Dick Ecklund became a good fighter and reasonably talented Middleweight challenger. Her other son, Micky Ward, gained wide celebrity after his three fights with Arturo Gatti, paving the way for Hollywood to pay him tribute with the movie “The Fighter”. Ward was one of the secondary characters in the movie but a first class character in real life. Feisty, intelligent in her own street-wise way, and never a quitter, Ward fought hard. She fought hard against the unwritten rule of no women in boxing. She fought the stereotype of the mother who cannot stand to watch her kids fight, actually being the manager of both Dick and Micky. In her own way, and perhaps without herself knowing it, she can be compared to Susan B. Anthony, WNBA basketball players and Gloria Steinem as women who would not take no for an answer. Like Jackie Kallen, Alice Ward survived in a world where being a woman may be seen as a sin, and she did it by putting her two sons’ best interests ahead of anything else. Most of the time, the fight behind the fight in boxing pits promoters against managers, and both of those against boxer him or herself. The manager calls the promoter an SOB, the promoter calls the manager an A-hole, the boxer says the manager or promoter stole from the fighter, the promoter or manager accuses the boxer of having spilled all the money earned, etc. It’s an un-merry-go-around. That’s why Alice Ward guided the careers of Dick Ecklund and of Micky Ward. Nobody like mom to tell you what line you need to take in life. Nobody like her to tell you when enough is enough.

As we all know now, and as was well documented back in the day by HBO, Dick Ecklund had hard times falling on drugs. That in itself was another battle that Alice Ward had to fight. Her and her son’s courageous fight against the evil but addicting world of drug usage was as painful to fight as any beating from Olivares, Mike Tyson or any other boxer in the world. Yet thanks in part to her love, Dick Ecklund is today an accomplished boxing trainer who has gained wide respect for beating his demons. She had to fight the hard times following Micky’s hand injury at the hands of a boneheaded police officer as Micky had to go through three years of surgery, hard work as a construction worker, and, probably, untold hours of dark depression since he possibly thought he would never again fight. Yet thanks in part to her love, he came back. He came back to beat Shea O’Nary for the-I have to admit, widely unrecognized-WBU Junior Welterweight title, as well as Emmanuel Augustus and Arturo Gatti in their first of three history making classics. He came back to write a book and become the inspiration behind the producing of “The Fighter”.

Alice Ward would not let Cancer beat her. But in the end, Cancer did take life away from the loving and caring woman. Not before she gave it her very best fight until the end, though. The Boston Herald later published that she gave up on her fight against the disease. They were wrong. Alice Ward went down as a willing fighter herself.

We just hope that with this tribute to their memories, our article can reflect, if just a bit, the type of humans that Lionel Rose and Alice Ward were.

May the Ward and the Rose rest in peace.

[Rick Farris]

In Mel's World . . .

I'll never forget the day in 1975 when I picked Mel Epstein up at his apartment in the Rampart District of L.A.
It was a saturday, I was living in an apartment I shared with actor Reb Brown in Manhatten Beach. Nice place, on the Strand.
Roberto Duran is defending his lightweight title against Ray Lampkin and it's going to be featured on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
Reb and I are going to have a few friends over, food, drinks. We invite Mel to join us for a BBQ and the fight.

I pick up Mel and take him back to the apartment.
Everybody there introduces themselves to Mel, and treat him with a lot of respect.
I told them Mel was important in boxing and to treat him as such, and they did. No pot, no cigarettes.
Mel was fine right up until the fightert's were entering the ring. Somebody stops by unexpected, sees the fight starting and asks if he could join us?
We invited him in and when Mel saw him his looked changed. The guy was wearing an earring in one ear, and when Mel saw it he was shocked.
He turns to me (I'm sitting beside him on the sofa), "What in thell have you got here?" he says in a low tone.
My eyes were on the TV, but I turned to Mel and saw his eyes riveted on the new guest. To make matters worse, the guy had his hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Suddenly it appeared as if Mel was in the enemy's camp. I realized at any moment he would likely stand an exit. If he did, I wasn't going to chase him. Duran was fighting!

After the intros, I noticed Mel had refocused on the fight, and how could anybody take one's mind off the great Duran?
After two rounds, the unexpected guest stood and thanked us, then left. When the door closed behind him, Mel grumbled, "Commie bastid . . ."

Just another day in my life with Mel Epstein.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

In Mel's World . . .

I'll never forget the day in 1975 when I picked Mel Epstein up at his apartment in the Rampart District of L.A.
It was a saturday, I was living in an apartment I shared with actor Reb Brown in Manhatten Beach. Nice place, on the Strand.
Roberto Duran is defending his lightweight title against Ray Lampkin and it's going to be featured on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
Reb and I are going to have a few friends over, food, drinks. We invite Mel to join us for a BBQ and the fight.

I pick up Mel and take him back to the apartment.
Everybody there introduces themselves to Mel, and treat him with a lot of respect.
I told them Mel was important in boxing and to treat him as such, and they did. No pot, no cigarettes.
Mel was fine right up until the fightert's were entering the ring. Somebody stops by unexpected, sees the fight starting and asks if he could join us?
We invited him in and when Mel saw him his looked changed. The guy was wearing an earring in one ear, and when Mel saw it he was shocked.
He turns to me (I'm sitting beside him on the sofa), "What in thell have you got here?" he says in a low tone.
My eyes were on the TV, but I turned to Mel and saw his eyes riveted on the new guest. To make matters worse, the guy had his hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Suddenly it appeared as if Mel was in the enemy's camp. I realized at any moment he would likely stand an exit. If he did, I wasn't going to chase him. Duran was fighting!

After the intros, I noticed Mel had refocused on the fight, and how could anybody take one's mind off the great Duran?
After two rounds, the unexpected guest stood and thanked us, then left. When the door closed behind him, Mel grumbled, "Commie bastid . . ."

Just another day in my life with Mel Epstein.


-Rick Farris

[scartissue]

In Mel's World . . .

I'll never forget the day in 1975 when I picked Mel Epstein up at his apartment in the Rampart District of L.A.
It was a saturday, I was living in an apartment I shared with actor Reb Brown in Manhatten Beach. Nice place, on the Strand.
Roberto Duran is defending his lightweight title against Ray Lampkin and it's going to be featured on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
Reb and I are going to have a few friends over, food, drinks. We invite Mel to join us for a BBQ and the fight.

I pick up Mel and take him back to the apartment.
Everybody there introduces themselves to Mel, and treat him with a lot of respect.
I told them Mel was important in boxing and to treat him as such, and they did. No pot, no cigarettes.
Mel was fine right up until the fightert's were entering the ring. Somebody stops by unexpected, sees the fight starting and asks if he could join us?
We invited him in and when Mel saw him his looked changed. The guy was wearing an earring in one ear, and when Mel saw it he was shocked.
He turns to me (I'm sitting beside him on the sofa), "What in thell have you got here?" he says in a low tone.
My eyes were on the TV, but I turned to Mel and saw his eyes riveted on the new guest. To make matters worse, the guy had his hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Suddenly it appeared as if Mel was in the enemy's camp. I realized at any moment he would likely stand an exit. If he did, I wasn't going to chase him. Duran was fighting!

After the intros, I noticed Mel had refocused on the fight, and how could anybody take one's mind off the great Duran?
After two rounds, the unexpected guest stood and thanked us, then left. When the door closed behind him, Mel grumbled, "Commie bastid . . ."

Just another day in my life with Mel Epstein.


-Rick Farris

Laughing my friggin' arse off!

Scartissue

[Rick Farris]

When Mel cracked Mike Nixon . . .

As mentioned in an earlier post, Mel Epstein was not afraid to dig his knuckles into the ribs of his fighters, unexpectedly.
He did it to Mike Nixon one day, when working with the middleweight on the floor of the Main Street Gym.
Nixon's guard was up, Mel didn't think he was focused. He digs his knuckles into Mike's side and Nixon is furious.
The fighter, more than fifty years younger, retaliates by countering with his own hook, but a moment too late.
Mel knew he was taking chances whenever he did his trick, and he knew Nixon wouldn't think twice of unloading on his 71-year-old arse.
Mel bent his knees, and Nixon's whistling hook flew high over the old man's head. Mel stepped off to the right, avoiding any further counters.
Mel Epstein made Mike Nixon look like a bum in the park.

[Rick Farris]

More on Mel & the Duran fight . . .

Actor Reb Brown had met Mel many times over the previous four years.
Mel was a bit of a fan of Brown, who at the time was doing a lot of TV, under contract to Universal.
Reb had been witness to all flavors of Mel Epstein and considered him an aquired taste. And Reb aquired it.
Mel was a charactor, one of the best. We all were well aware of Mel's disgust over The Beatles.
More than once I'd slip in a "White Album" Beatles 8-Track tape, blasting "Helter Skelter" into my cab. I'd do that when Mel was being Mel.
He'd whip his head toward me, eyes blazing, face scrunched. That would quiet him down. All you had to deal with was the residual consequences. Mel could suck the air out of a room.
If looks could kill I'd be dead many times over. Each time he'd get in the car with me, even years later, he'd sit glaring at me, as if daring me to reach down and hit the stereo.
On the night of the Duran-Lampkin fight, as we walk in a Beatles song is playing on the stereo.
Mel was smiling, not aware that the Abbey Road song was something the Beatles were capable of. Just the same, I killed the music and turned on the TV.
Having to deal with a Commie bastid and the Beatles on the same night might have sent Mel over the edge?

[bennie]

I also got this photo of Mando Muniz and Carlos Palomino. Not sure which fight it's from.

It looks like the second one; Palomino was quite cleancut in the first. Carlos tore his shoulder against the rugged Muniz in the rematch.

[Cholo]

In Mel's World . . .

I'll never forget the day in 1975 when I picked Mel Epstein up at his apartment in the Rampart District of L.A.
It was a saturday, I was living in an apartment I shared with actor Reb Brown in Manhatten Beach. Nice place, on the Strand.
Roberto Duran is defending his lightweight title against Ray Lampkin and it's going to be featured on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
Reb and I are going to have a few friends over, food, drinks. We invite Mel to join us for a BBQ and the fight.

I pick up Mel and take him back to the apartment.
Everybody there introduces themselves to Mel, and treat him with a lot of respect.
I told them Mel was important in boxing and to treat him as such, and they did. No pot, no cigarettes.
Mel was fine right up until the fightert's were entering the ring. Somebody stops by unexpected, sees the fight starting and asks if he could join us?
We invited him in and when Mel saw him his looked changed. The guy was wearing an earring in one ear, and when Mel saw it he was shocked.
He turns to me (I'm sitting beside him on the sofa), "What in thell have you got here?" he says in a low tone.
My eyes were on the TV, but I turned to Mel and saw his eyes riveted on the new guest. To make matters worse, the guy had his hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Suddenly it appeared as if Mel was in the enemy's camp. I realized at any moment he would likely stand an exit. If he did, I wasn't going to chase him. Duran was fighting!

After the intros, I noticed Mel had refocused on the fight, and how could anybody take one's mind off the great Duran?
After two rounds, the unexpected guest stood and thanked us, then left. When the door closed behind him, Mel grumbled, "Commie bastid . . ."

Just another day in my life with Mel Epstein.


-Rick Farris

Rick,... :lol

[Rick Farris]

Jackie McCoy on Carlos Palomino in England . . .

"When we went to London for Carlos' shot at the Welterweight title in 1976, the papers were saying he'd last four rounds, maybe five. Carlos was a 10-to-1 underdog and nobody gave him any kind of chance. All the papers talked about was how Stracey was a great fighter and how he wanted Carlos next. The promoter, Mickey Duff even told me, "I think Palomino is very ordinary to be honest with you." Mickey was a sharp guy. Obviously it would be a big advantage for Mickey as a promoter if Stracey were to keep the title. But when Mickey told me that I didn't say a word."

"Just before the fight started, Mickey is walking around the ring wearing a tuxedo. I walked over to him and said, "Hey Mickey, we're not over here for a payday because we're not getting one." We're getting ten thousand dollars, which even then was real small. I then told him, "We came over here to take the title, and that's exactly what we are going to do." Mickey looked at me and said, "Oh my God!"

"Afterwards, I ask Mickey why he acted so scared when I talked to him in the ring? And he said, "because you don't usually talk like that." I don't, but I did that time because I just knew we were going to win. When I started with Carlos he had a stand-up AAU style. But he developed a good hook to the liver. Early on with Stracey he started digging that hook to the body. In the 12th round that's what he knocked Stracey out with. The second time Stracey went down he was in agony."

[Rick Farris]

Jackie McCoy on Don Jordan . . .

"Don Jordan was a messup. He had great ability but he drank like a fish. Not only did he drink, but he was a chain cigarette smoker. Not many guys do that.
This guy never stopped smoking. But somehow he won the welterweight title."

[bennie]

Jackie McCoy on Carlos Palomino in England . . .

"When we went to London for Carlos' shot at the Welterweight title in 1976, the papers were saying he'd last four rounds, maybe five. Carlos was a 10-to-1 underdog and nobody gave him any kind of chance. All the papers talked about was how Stracey was a great fighter and how he wanted Carlos next. The promoter, Mickey Duff even told me, "I think Palomino is very ordinary to be honest with you." Mickey was a sharp guy. Obviously it would be a big advantage for Mickey as a promoter if Stracey were to keep the title. But when Mickey told me that I didn't say a word."

"Just before the fight started, Mickey is walking around the ring wearing a tuxedo. I walked over to him and said, "Hey Mickey, we're not over here for a payday because we're not getting one." We're getting ten thousand dollars, which even then was real small. I then told him, "We came over here to take the title, and that's exactly what we are going to do." Mickey looked at me and said, "Oh my God!"

"Afterwards, I ask Mickey why he acted so scared when I talked to him in the ring? And he said, "because you don't usually talk like that." I don't, but I did that time because I just knew we were going to win. When I started with Carlos he had a stand-up AAU style. But he developed a good hook to the liver. Early on with Stracey he started digging that hook to the body. In the 12th round that's what he knocked Stracey out with. The second time Stracey went down he was in agony."

Fighters like Palomino don't really exist today, the dark horses who get one opportunity and make it pay.

[bennie]

Ray Leonard is claiming he was sexually molested by a "prominent Olympic boxing coach" in 1976 in a new book.

[Cholo]

Aragon/Basilio Post-Fight
"Art Aragon, summons and complaint!" bellowed the process server, lunging for the fighter. Aragon fled down the stairs from the dressing room to the ball park concourse. A knot of a couple of hundred fans began to cheer. Then there jaws gaped open. Here came there hero flying down the stairs in wild flight from a fattish, hysterical man, waving papers. What made Artie run was not decipherable to is fans. But run Art did. Out into the night, between parked cars, weaving through the crowds of fans streaming out of the park. "Hey, Art," said one baffled observer, "Basillio's gone." But Art didn't stop to joke. He fled. The summons-server was in hot pursuit. But Art's footwork was improved. He disappeared into the night, coat-tails flying in undignified rout.
In another part of the park, telecaster Gil Stratton spotted Mrs. Aragon. "How did you like the fight?" he asked innocently. Georgia looked at him. "Fine," she said evenly. "Just fine."...... Frank, there never seemed to be a dull moment with the "Golden Boy", how the fight game could do with him today.....

[scartissue]

I also got this photo of Mando Muniz and Carlos Palomino. Not sure which fight it's from.

It looks like the second one; Palomino was quite cleancut in the first. Carlos tore his shoulder against the rugged Muniz in the rematch.

I think you're right, Randy, it's the rematch. You can just barely make out a piece of white trunks on Muniz, which is what he wore in the rematch and all black in the 1st match.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Aragon/Basilio Post-Fight
"Art Aragon, summons and complaint!" bellowed the process server, lunging for the fighter. Aragon fled down the stairs from the dressing room to the ball park concourse. A knot of a couple of hundred fans began to cheer. Then there jaws gaped open. Here came there hero flying down the stairs in wild flight from a fattish, hysterical man, waving papers. What made Artie run was not decipherable to is fans. But run Art did. Out into the night, between parked cars, weaving through the crowds of fans streaming out of the park. "Hey, Art," said one baffled observer, "Basillio's gone." But Art didn't stop to joke. He fled. The summons-server was in hot pursuit. But Art's footwork was improved. He disappeared into the night, coat-tails flying in undignified rout.
In another part of the park, telecaster Gil Stratton spotted Mrs. Aragon. "How did you like the fight?" he asked innocently. Georgia looked at him. "Fine," she said evenly. "Just fine."...... Frank, there never seemed to be a dull moment with the "Golden Boy", how the fight game could do with him today.....

Paul, I think you can truly say that the "Golden Boy" was one of a kind....

[Rick Farris]

Aragon/Basilio Post-Fight
"Art Aragon, summons and complaint!" bellowed the process server, lunging for the fighter. Aragon fled down the stairs from the dressing room to the ball park concourse. A knot of a couple of hundred fans began to cheer. Then there jaws gaped open. Here came there hero flying down the stairs in wild flight from a fattish, hysterical man, waving papers. What made Artie run was not decipherable to is fans. But run Art did. Out into the night, between parked cars, weaving through the crowds of fans streaming out of the park. "Hey, Art," said one baffled observer, "Basillio's gone." But Art didn't stop to joke. He fled. The summons-server was in hot pursuit. But Art's footwork was improved. He disappeared into the night, coat-tails flying in undignified rout.
In another part of the park, telecaster Gil Stratton spotted Mrs. Aragon. "How did you like the fight?" he asked innocently. Georgia looked at him. "Fine," she said evenly. "Just fine."...... Frank, there never seemed to be a dull moment with the "Golden Boy", how the fight game could do with him today.....

Paul, I think you can truly say that the "Golden Boy" was one of a kind....

The truth about "Two Golden Boy's" . . .

Art was truly great in so many ways, he was a part of his era, a very special one in boxing.
Today's morons wouldn't know how to appreciate him.
Let's take boxing ability out of the picture, and just compare the personality of Art with a contemporary "Golden Boy", Oscar.
The modern guy is cool, rich, good looking and went as far as possible in today's boxing.
Take any reporter, and have him interview both Art & Oscar.
Take the final cut of the interviews and run them one after the other.
After watching both, nobody would remember anything Oscar said. Art's comments would be quoted Jay Leno on the tonight show.
Oscar may be the richest boxer in history, but when it comes to being "The Golden Boy" he couldn't carry Art's golden trunks, let alone wear them.
Art is the only Golden Boy, Oscar's image is made of brass.

[Rick Farris]

I also got this photo of Mando Muniz and Carlos Palomino. Not sure which fight it's from.

It looks like the second one; Palomino was quite cleancut in the first. Carlos tore his shoulder against the rugged Muniz in the rematch.

I think you're right, Randy, it's the rematch. You can just barely make out a piece of white trunks on Muniz, which is what he wore in the rematch and all black in the 1st match.

Scartissue

My father, uncle and I had great seats for the first fight. Right below Mando's corner where the boxers enter the ring.
Palomino tasted the canvas earlier, just for a moment. Mando's championship heart took him to an early lead.
I liked both guys, but Mando Muniz was a friend, I wanted him to win.
In the 15th round, I watched Carlos batter Mando. The ref was forced to stop the fight.
As Mando left the ring for the dressing room, I stood up and patted his shoulder. He walked up the aisle talking to himself.
I gave Mando no chance in the second fight, but he did OK, went the distance.