Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

NOTE: Frank Baltazar was in Armando Muniz's corner for his match with Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez.

[Rick Farris]

Pacquiao vs. Marquez . . .

Almost set for November 12th. Catch weight of 144 pounds will benefit both naturally smaller men.
Pac is too much for the bigger boys, we know Marquez will come to fight.
I predict Pac by KO, two rounds max.
I have always liked Juan Manuel Marquez, who has more heart and talent than all the other welterweight contenders combined.

[Rick Farris]

Margarito likely to retire . . .

Antonio Margarito will likely retire due to the eye injury he suffered in his bout with Manny Pacquiao last year, this according to Margarito's trainer.
Funny how things work out, huh? A career ending injury.
One more positive thing Manny Pacquiao has done for boxing.
I obviously spent a lot of time around Mel Epstein.

[Expug]

I remember the Palomino - Muniz rivalry well. Fierce with great fights.They were boxing highlights back then.
There was another rivalry from back in that era I also remember well.
Yaqui Lopez vs Victor Galindez. I remember watching one of those fights and thinking for sure Yaqui beat his ass and took the title. The judges thought otherwise. I thought Yaqui got shafted out of the title. I still think that . Hes an uncrowned champ in my opinion.
It might have been the second or third fight. Hard to remember which.

[Rick Farris]

I remember the Palomino - Muniz rivalry well. Fierce with great fights.They were boxing highlights back then.
There was another rivalry from back in that era I also remember well.
Yaqui Lopez vs Victor Galindez. I remember watching one of those fights and thinking for sure Yaqui beat his ass and took the title. The judges thought otherwise. I thought Yaqui got shafted out of the title. I still think that . Hes an uncrowned champ in my opinion.
It might have been the second or third fight. Hard to remember which.

Brian, Dan Hanley and I were lucky to get a great interview with Yaqui Lopez in 2007.
One of these days soon we'll get it out on Youtube.
We also have a classic iterview from the previous year, 2006, with Yaqui Lopez and Mathew Saad Muhammad.
What a tough guy Yaqui was.

[kikibalt]

Marquez signs deal to fight Pacquiao Nov. 12

May 18, 2011
latimes.com

Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez Wednesday officially signed a contract to fight Manny Pacquiao for a third time Nov. 12, most likely in Las Vegas, said Todd duBoef, the president of Pacquiao's promotional company, Top Rank.

Marquez and Pacquiao fought to a 2004 draw, then battled to a split-decision won by Pacquiao in 2008. Part three of the trilogy appears destined for MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with Pacquiao's World Boxing Organization welterweight belt on the line.

Pacquiao, considered the world's top pound-for-pound boxer, has proceeded to dominate the likes of Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto since edging Marquez. His three consecutive unanimous decisions over Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley have been landslides.

Meanwhile, Marquez has lost only to the far bigger and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. since his narrow Pacquiao loss, ascending to become world lightweight champion and insisting his style will give Pacquiao fits.

A 144-pound catch weight has been agreed upon.

"I like the fight, how can you not after the first two fights?" said DuBoef, who supervised Marquez's signing at the Beverly Hills Hotel. "The thing I like best about this one is that the fans are encouraged by it.

"These guys have fought like gladiators over the course of their last 24 rounds together, and I believe we have another 12 more like that ahead of us."

Marquez will receive a guaranteed $5 million, plus an unspecified "upside" of pay-per-view sales. Pacquiao's U.S. business advisor met with Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum Tuesday, and the Filipino star boxer will likely sign his deal -- likely to be in the $20-million guaranteed neighborhood -- later this month in the Philippines.

Marquez's signing triggers what will likely be a compelling battle to televise the bout between Showtime -- which televised Pacquiao-Mosley on May 7 -- and the fighter's former home network, HBO.

Rumors abound in the industry that HBO executives were extremely displeased to lose the Pacquiao fight, ramping up pressure on HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg to land Pacquiao-Marquez.

An HBO spokesman told The Times Wednesday that Greenburg was not available to comment about the network's interest in Pacquiao-Marquez.

Showtime, which has yet to announce the number of pay-per-view buyers it drew for Pacquiao-Mosley, has proven to Arum "they can perform."

"We will evaluate whoever is providing the most assets in the publicizing and promotion of the event," Arum said Wednesday.

Arum said he won't use Pacquiao-Marquez to get other premium network fight dates, and said, "Whoever offers me dates is out. My job is to maximize the revenue for these two fighters, period."

Negotiations for Pacquiao-Marquez also included a Monday session that placed Arum and Golden Boy Chief Executive Richard Schaefer at the same table for the first time in several months, and the rivals who haven't staged a fight together in two years emerged conciliatory rather than still divisive, DuBoef said.

"It's good to have positive dialogue and not allow negative banter -- backstabbing, talking about each other to the media -- to take over," DuBoef said. "Positive interaction is encouraging. You crawl before you walk. I hope we can do business together again, we want a more healthy environment, and that brief interaction represents the first steps."

[Rick Farris]

Pac-Marquez

[Rick Farris]

Mike Mazurki's Restaurant, in the BARON's CASTLE
Elks Building
607 South Park View
Los Angeles, California 90057


This is where I ate on many occasions, with Mel Epstein, or Suey Welch, or Jerry McCauley and George Parnassus.
It was located in the lobby of the Elks Building, across the street from MacArthur Park. Once a great neighborhood, now one of the most violent.
I remember walking out of the Elks front doors and Mel would usually point across the street to the park lake.
"You see that lake, lots of missing bodies could be found in there, and weapons buried in decades of muck." Made good sense to me. One day, years in the future, they would drain it.

Mickey Davies office was upstairs, and Don Fraser was always in and out. And of course, the restaurant host, and personal friend of everybody, former wrestler & actor, Mike Mazurki.
In those days I never thought of photo ops, I avoided the camera. Today I wish I had a photo snapped of me with guys who would eat there.
They were all buddies of George and Suey, Gorilla Jones, Enrique Bolanos, Lou Nova, Henry Armstrong, Count Billy Varga, Jimmy McClarnin, Mushy Callahan.
Mae West and Suey had been friends for decades. Mr. Welch was an occasionally visitor of Ms. West at her suite at the Ravenswood, on Rossmoor off of Vine.

When there was regular weekly televised boxing thru the Forum Boxing Club, the Elks building lobby was busy with boxing personalities.
This was where George Parnassus had his office. This is where world champs featured on Forum cards would train, upstairs in the ballroom.
Reporters, local politicians, such as L.A. Mayor Sam Yorty, underworld figures, and boxing legends. I mean real legends.
I was well aware of the great Ike Williams. He was at one of George's office lunches. I was unaware that Parnassus resented Williams' domination of his Enrique Bolanos, 25 years earlier.
But there were warm embraces. Lunch was served. Mike Mazurki took care of the catering, I forget what it was, but there were also deli sandwiches provided by Jerry McCauley.

What a group of charactors. A Gathering of Angels, as they would come to be known.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Mike Mazurki's Restaurant, in the BARON's CASTLE
Elks Building
607 South Park View
Los Angeles, California 90057


This is where I ate on many occasions, with Mel Epstein, or Suey Welch, or Jerry McCauley and George Parnassus.
It was located in the lobby of the Elks Building, across the street from MacArthur Park. Once a great neighborhood, now one of the most violent.
I remember walking out of the Elks front doors and Mel would usually point across the street to the park lake.
"You see that lake, lots of missing bodies could be found in there, and weapons buried in decades of muck." Made good sense to me. One day, years in the future, they would drain it.

Mickey Davies office was upstairs, and Don Fraser was always in and out. And of course, the restaurant host, and personal friend of everybody, former wrestler & actor, Mike Mazurki.
In those days I never thought of photo ops, I avoided the camera. Today I wish I had a photo snapped of me with guys who would eat there.
They were all buddies of George and Suey, Gorilla Jones, Enrique Bolanos, Lou Nova, Henry Armstrong, Count Billy Varga, Jimmy McClarnin, Mushy Callahan.
Mae West and Suey had been friends for decades. Mr. Welch was an occasionally visitor of Ms. West at her suite at the Ravenswood, on Rossmoor off of Vine.

When there was regular weekly televised boxing thru the Forum Boxing Club, the Elks building lobby was busy with boxing personalities.
This was where George Parnassus had his office. This is where world champs featured on Forum cards would train, upstairs in the ballroom.
Reporters, local politicians, such as L.A. Mayor Sam Yorty, underworld figures, and boxing legends. I mean real legends.
I was well aware of the great Ike Williams. He was at one of George's office lunches. I was unaware that Parnassus resented Williams' domination of his Enrique Bolanos, 25 years earlier.
But there were warm embraces. Lunch was served. Mike Mazurki took care of the catering, I forget what it was, but there were also deli sandwiches provided by Jerry McCauley.

What a group of charactors. A Gathering of Angels, as they would come to be known.


-Rick Farris

[bennie]

I remember the Palomino - Muniz rivalry well. Fierce with great fights.They were boxing highlights back then.
There was another rivalry from back in that era I also remember well.
Yaqui Lopez vs Victor Galindez. I remember watching one of those fights and thinking for sure Yaqui beat his ass and took the title. The judges thought otherwise. I thought Yaqui got shafted out of the title. I still think that . Hes an uncrowned champ in my opinion.
It might have been the second or third fight. Hard to remember which.

Galindez was the blue-eyed boy with the WBA. He should also have lost his first fight with Richie Kates after getting cut, turning away and surrendering. However, the referee allows Galindez's corner to work on the cut for many minutes before clearing the ring and resuming the fight. It's on youtube, round three, and it makes you feel sick.

[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.....

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, I agree Oscar couldn't carry Artie's jock-strap, there was only one Golden Boy and it ain't Oscar, and Art fought in a much tougher era.....

[Cholo]

Art Aragon/Don Jordan 1955.
There were red faces in Los Angeles following Art Aragon's decisive victory over Don Jordan, state lightweight champ, at the Olympic Auditorium. The Golden Boy, always unpredictable, knocked the dope for a loop.
All but one of the newspaper experts had picked Jordan to win; the solitary exception seemed to apologize for picking Aragon. Jordan was 10-7 choice, going in. A crowd of 7,842 paid a gross of $25,111 to see the ruckus. Add that sum to the $985,391 drawn by Aragon in the 31 previous fights promoted by Cal Eaton-and the press-agented by your 'umble servent-and you have the highly impressive figure of $1,010,502. Over one million dollers for a non-champ, 32 fights! An average of $31,265 per fight. Golden Boy ? Truer words were never spoke, or writ. To put it in a nutshell, I think Aragon won the fight in Round One. Shortly before the round ended, the Golden Guy connected with a sharp left-hook to Jordan's jaw. Down went Jordan for nine. The bell sounded soon after. But from then on, Jordan seemed weary, cautious, shy and sluggish. When on rare occasions he tried to open up, Aragon would open up more aggressively.
Aragon, at 147 1/2, had 5 1/2 pound edge over Jordan, 142. Here's the scoring: Referee Abe Roth, 62-48; Judges Mushy Callahan and Frankie Van, identical cards, 59-51-all for Aragon. Yes, the reports of Aragon's demise, like Mark Twain's, were greatly exaggerated. He's the liveliest corpse I ever did see....From The Ring 1956.

[kikibalt]

Happy Birthday to our friend Hap Navarro. Hap turns a young 92 today...

[Rick Farris]

I remember the Palomino - Muniz rivalry well. Fierce with great fights.They were boxing highlights back then.
There was another rivalry from back in that era I also remember well.
Yaqui Lopez vs Victor Galindez. I remember watching one of those fights and thinking for sure Yaqui beat his ass and took the title. The judges thought otherwise. I thought Yaqui got shafted out of the title. I still think that . Hes an uncrowned champ in my opinion.
It might have been the second or third fight. Hard to remember which.

Galindez was the blue-eyed boy with the WBA. He should also have lost his first fight with Richie Kates after getting cut, turning away and surrendering. However, the referee allows Galindez's corner to work on the cut for many minutes before clearing the ring and resuming the fight. It's on youtube, round three, and it makes you feel sick.

People think these wild Argentine fighter's (like Sergio Martinez) are supermen. Victor Galindez, and the guy who gave Hagler a good go whose name escapes me, were wild and crazy until tamed by smarter men. Galindez act against Kates was typical of the Argentine mystique. They quit when the going gets tough, just like a MArtinez will if he ever fights Pacquiao.

[Rick Farris]

Happy Birthday to our friend Hap Navarro. Hap turns a young 92 today...

Happy Bithday Hap!

[Chuck1052]

Happy 92nd Birthday, Hap!

- Chuck Johnston

[scartissue]

I remember the Palomino - Muniz rivalry well. Fierce with great fights.They were boxing highlights back then.
There was another rivalry from back in that era I also remember well.
Yaqui Lopez vs Victor Galindez. I remember watching one of those fights and thinking for sure Yaqui beat his ass and took the title. The judges thought otherwise. I thought Yaqui got shafted out of the title. I still think that . Hes an uncrowned champ in my opinion.
It might have been the second or third fight. Hard to remember which.

Galindez was the blue-eyed boy with the WBA. He should also have lost his first fight with Richie Kates after getting cut, turning away and surrendering. However, the referee allows Galindez's corner to work on the cut for many minutes before clearing the ring and resuming the fight. It's on youtube, round three, and it makes you feel sick.

Bennie, if you want to see the most vile instance of partiality, you have to see the 1st fight between Juan Martin Coggi and Eder Gonzalez. What happened here would make you want to cry if you weren't laughing so hard. I first read about it when it happened in Boxing News, then made a point of getting the film of it. Coggi starts out well and drops Gonzalez in the 2nd before walking into a "nitey-nite" right hand later that round. After one verrrrry long count and immense dithering by the corrupt Ref, Coggi, who cannot stand on his own, is allowed to be propped up in his corner with his cornerman standing on the apron directly behind him with his hands holding tightly onto the waistband of Coggi's trunks, while the corrupt timekeeper rings the bell early. Coggi is still not out of the fog for a couple of rounds, but that doesn't matter, because the ref interferes and the timekeeper rings the bell early for the next two rounds until Coggi is ready to go again. Coggi finally comes around in the 8th and stops Gonzalez who is now arm-weary from belting Coggi all over the place for the last 7 rounds. Unbelievable!

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon in training camp for his 1951 title fight vs Jimmy Carter





Art on the left



Art with Benny Conyers (L), don't know who the other guy is.

[Expug]

I remember the Palomino - Muniz rivalry well. Fierce with great fights.They were boxing highlights back then.
There was another rivalry from back in that era I also remember well.
Yaqui Lopez vs Victor Galindez. I remember watching one of those fights and thinking for sure Yaqui beat his ass and took the title. The judges thought otherwise. I thought Yaqui got shafted out of the title. I still think that . Hes an uncrowned champ in my opinion.
It might have been the second or third fight. Hard to remember which.

Brian, Dan Hanley and I were lucky to get a great interview with Yaqui Lopez in 2007.
One of these days soon we'll get it out on Youtube.
We also have a classic iterview from the previous year, 2006, with Yaqui Lopez and Mathew Saad Muhammad.
What a tough guy Yaqui was.

He was always a favorite of mine.
I was honored to meet him a couple years ago when I was out there.
He looks tremendous too. Good to see.

[Expug]

I remember the Palomino - Muniz rivalry well. Fierce with great fights.They were boxing highlights back then.
There was another rivalry from back in that era I also remember well.
Yaqui Lopez vs Victor Galindez. I remember watching one of those fights and thinking for sure Yaqui beat his ass and took the title. The judges thought otherwise. I thought Yaqui got shafted out of the title. I still think that . Hes an uncrowned champ in my opinion.
It might have been the second or third fight. Hard to remember which.

Galindez was the blue-eyed boy with the WBA. He should also have lost his first fight with Richie Kates after getting cut, turning away and surrendering. However, the referee allows Galindez's corner to work on the cut for many minutes before clearing the ring and resuming the fight. It's on youtube, round three, and it makes you feel sick.

Bennie, if you want to see the most vile instance of partiality, you have to see the 1st fight between Juan Martin Coggi and Eder Gonzalez. What happened here would make you want to cry if you weren't laughing so hard. I first read about it when it happened in Boxing News, then made a point of getting the film of it. Coggi starts out well and drops Gonzalez in the 2nd before walking into a "nitey-nite" right hand later that round. After one verrrrry long count and immense dithering by the corrupt Ref, Coggi, who cannot stand on his own, is allowed to be propped up in his corner with his cornerman standing on the apron directly behind him with his hands holding tightly onto the waistband of Coggi's trunks, while the corrupt timekeeper rings the bell early. Coggi is still not out of the fog for a couple of rounds, but that doesn't matter, because the ref interferes and the timekeeper rings the bell early for the next two rounds until Coggi is ready to go again. Coggi finally comes around in the 8th and stops Gonzalez who is now arm-weary from belting Coggi all over the place for the last 7 rounds. Unbelievable!

Scartissue

Wow just watched it. What a disgrace.
It makes me wonder about fighters from there who have fantastic records. Maybe some shennanigans went on.
Even looking at Monzons record I get a bit sceptical. I wonder if he didnt get "the benefit of the doubt " a few times.

[Seamus]

I know it was a terrible call, but in fairness Juan Coggi should be remembered for being an otherwise outstanding fighter.

[kikibalt]

(L-to-R) Bill Miller, Shirley Price and Don Fraser...1958

[bennie]

I remember the Palomino - Muniz rivalry well. Fierce with great fights.They were boxing highlights back then.
There was another rivalry from back in that era I also remember well.
Yaqui Lopez vs Victor Galindez. I remember watching one of those fights and thinking for sure Yaqui beat his ass and took the title. The judges thought otherwise. I thought Yaqui got shafted out of the title. I still think that . Hes an uncrowned champ in my opinion.
It might have been the second or third fight. Hard to remember which.

Galindez was the blue-eyed boy with the WBA. He should also have lost his first fight with Richie Kates after getting cut, turning away and surrendering. However, the referee allows Galindez's corner to work on the cut for many minutes before clearing the ring and resuming the fight. It's on youtube, round three, and it makes you feel sick.

Bennie, if you want to see the most vile instance of partiality, you have to see the 1st fight between Juan Martin Coggi and Eder Gonzalez. What happened here would make you want to cry if you weren't laughing so hard. I first read about it when it happened in Boxing News, then made a point of getting the film of it. Coggi starts out well and drops Gonzalez in the 2nd before walking into a "nitey-nite" right hand later that round. After one verrrrry long count and immense dithering by the corrupt Ref, Coggi, who cannot stand on his own, is allowed to be propped up in his corner with his cornerman standing on the apron directly behind him with his hands holding tightly onto the waistband of Coggi's trunks, while the corrupt timekeeper rings the bell early. Coggi is still not out of the fog for a couple of rounds, but that doesn't matter, because the ref interferes and the timekeeper rings the bell early for the next two rounds until Coggi is ready to go again. Coggi finally comes around in the 8th and stops Gonzalez who is now arm-weary from belting Coggi all over the place for the last 7 rounds. Unbelievable!

Scartissue

Yeah, I've seen it, Dan, and it is another lesson in how to break a fighter's heart. Gonzalez, like Kates, got a rematch but the dream had gone.

[bennie]

We've got a big show tomorrow at Wembley featuring Olympic gold medallist James DeGale in a grudge match against fellow Londoner and fellow unbeaten George Groves. The two men boxed for the same amateur club but really appear to dislike each other. Perhaps they know each other too well. I would love Groves to dent DeGale's flash but it ain't gonna happen. Also on the bill, Nathan Cleverly now takes on Tony Bellew in another domestic clash of unbeaten fighters. Cleverly was due to take on German lunatic Juergen Braehmer but southpaw Braehmer failed to show (citing a cut) and in comes the exciting Bellew, who posts on the British forum and has plenty of fans. Bellew is dangerous but he struggles if he can't knock a man out, and Cleverly looks too rounded.

[bennie]

Bellew is out. I'm reminded of the bridge scene in Kelly's Heroes when Donald Sutherland says, "It's up."

"No, it ain't."