Classic American West Coast Boxing

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[Rick Farris]

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, United States

Emile Griffith L Luis Manuel Rodriguez UD 15 15
Battling Torres L Roberto Cruz KO 1 15
Sugar Ramos W Davey Moore RTD 10 15
Efren Torres W Changa Munoz KO 4 5
Larry Flores W Avelino Felix KO 3 5

[Rick Farris]

A Don Fraser/Forum Boxing Club Promotion . . .

Forum, Inglewood, California

Muhammad Ali W Ken Norton SD 12 12
Jerry Quarry W Tony Doyle TKO 4 10
Charlie Brooks D Gustavo Perez PTS 4 4
Mike Weaver W Lyn Martin KO 1
Earl McLeay W Tommy Kearse KO 3
Donnie Nelson L Billy Ryan KO 1

[Rick Farris]

A Don Fraser/Forum Boxing Club Promotion
Forum, Inglewood, California

Muhammad Ali W Ken Norton SD 12 12
Jerry Quarry W Tony Doyle TKO 4 10
Charlie Brooks D Gustavo Perez PTS 4 4
Mike Weaver W Lyn Martin KO 1
Earl McLeay W Tommy Kearse KO 3
Donnie Nelson L Billy Ryan KO 1

One of Don Fraser's biggest promotions . . .

A big money bout, a big heavyweight bout, in a big heavyweight era.
Big names like Ali, Norton, Quarry, Weaver, were familiar to Don Fraser, nothing new.
Don had dealt with Muhmmad Ali years before, when he was Cassius Clay, Norton and Quarry cut their teeth on cards Fraser publicized from the Olympic.
Mike Weaver? On this night young Mike was just happy to be there.
Don had been around nearly two decades, a fresh faced young publicist when he took over for Hap Navarro at the Legion in the mid-50's.
It was young Don assigned to cover Sugar Ray Robinson when he was in town to fight Gene Fullmer in their third match.
Art Aragon, Enrique Bolanos, Jose Napoles, Ruben Olivares, Danny Lopez, Mando Ramos, Bobby Chacon, Zarate, Zamora.
All names that Don has promoted.
Don Fraser's career has covered six decades.
I asked Don what it was like dealing with Ali & Norton and the money involved.
Don just smiled and told it straight, "Bob Arum had already worked out the deal, so it was no problem for me."

[Randyman]

Renato Garcia

I remember Renato Garcia very well. I sparred with him regularly when he was training at the Main Street Gym. I was a regular sparring partner for him when he was preparing for his fight with Pete Ranzany, a fight he lost by KO.

He was a class act guy. Humble and almost seemed shy and bashful at times. Mel kidded with him a lot. Garcia was one of the fighters at the gym that Mel seemed to sincerely like. Garcia's hair was short as I recall and I have no doubt Mel would have given him a hard time if he would have seen him with long hair.

I wonder what ever happened to him?

[Randyman]

I'm beat today. I spent the weekend moving some furniture and boxes and just lots of accumulated stuff for my mother. Then I had a long day at work today. Early to bed tonight. On the plus side I just polished off a nice Ribeye steak that Jeri cooked up for me, with a sweet potato and broccoli.

[Randyman]

Frank, thanks for posting all the programs. "West Coast" history.

[Randyman]

And we also fought on this night . . .
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Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California - 1971

Ruben Navarro L Jimmy Robertson MD 12 12
Jose Luis Martin Del Campo W David Sotelo SD 10 10
Armando Muniz W Cipriano Hernandez UD 10 10
Rick Farris W Gabe Gutierrez PTS 4 4


Armando Muniz I've known since I was 14.
And we shared a lot of great cards back in the 70's.

Great memories for you Rick. No one can take that away from you. You were there!

[Rick Farris]

In the mid-60's, Johnny Flores gave me this same program. I remember it was in a box of old KO & Referee mags Johnny wanted to get rid of.
One man's junk is another one's treasure.

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[Rick Farris]

Look at the date on the bottom of the program.

[Rick Farris]

Sho Saijyo an under rated LA headliner/world champ . . .

Saijyo would be avoided today, a fast boxer, solid puncher with an aggressive style. He was poison for Raul Rojas.
In this bout, he whips Rojas in a non-title fight. A few months later he takes Rojas' WBA featherweight title. He ruined Raul Rojas.
Saijyo was bad news for all the Latinos he fought in LA.
The guy who did best vs. Sho Saijyo was Frankie Crawford, who twice challenged him in Tokyo for the title.
Frankie dropped Saijyo and would have won the first bout had it been held here. Saijyo edged him in the rematch.

[raylawpc]

Well, I'm back in the hospital with another heart episode. Going in to the cardiac catheter lab tomorrow morning to look for blockage.

[Rick Farris]

This was their first fight. Frankie was outweighed by seven pounds. He insulted Mando, stepped on his toes, thumbed him, used elbows and his head.
When it was over Frankie took a close decision, handing Mando his second loss. He took Mando out of his game.
After the fight, Crawford was so exhausted he was given oxygen in the dressing room
In the rematch Ramos wouldn't be pulled into a slugging match, and out boxed Crawford.

[kikibalt]

Well, I'm back in the hospital with another heart episode. Going in to the cardiac catheter lab tomorrow morning to look for blockage.

Sorry to hear that Tom... ..Will keep you in our prayers and thoughts. Keep us posted; if you can't do it on your own; have the Boss post here with info...

[Rick Farris]

Well, I'm back in the hospital with another heart episode. Going in to the cardiac catheter lab tomorrow morning to look for blockage.

Hope you feel better, Tom. You are in my prayers.

[Randyman]

Well, I'm back in the hospital with another heart episode. Going in to the cardiac catheter lab tomorrow morning to look for blockage.

Sorry to hear that Tom... ..Will keep you in our prayers and thoughts. Keep us posted; if you can't do it on your own; have the Boss post here with info...

Ditto Tom, we'll keep you in our prayers!

[CNorkusJr]

And we also fought on this night . . .
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Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California - 1971

Ruben Navarro L Jimmy Robertson MD 12 12
Jose Luis Martin Del Campo W David Sotelo SD 10 10
Armando Muniz W Cipriano Hernandez UD 10 10
Rick Farris W Gabe Gutierrez PTS 4 4


Armando Muniz I've known since I was 14.
And we shared a lot of great cards back in the 70's.

Great memories for you Rick. No one can take that away from you. You were there!

Awesome !

[CNorkusJr]

Well, I'm back in the hospital with another heart episode. Going in to the cardiac catheter lab tomorrow morning to look for blockage.

Figured something was up, haven't heard from you in awhile, or as frequent.
Keeping the faith for you, Tom. Your a tough hombre', keep us posted when you can.

[Rick Farris]

Frank, Don & Tom . . .

Hope all of you feel better soon!

[CNorkusJr]

Not all of our heroes are the two footed kind:

http://youtu.be/YIo3ZfA9da0

[Rick Farris]

Another American hero! . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=civOdWxd4Kc