Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

Former world heavyweight title challenger Scott LeDoux has died at the age of 62 from Lou Gehrig's disease.
LeDoux, a renowned tough guy with a distinctive blonde mop of hair, was thumbed out of his challenge to Larry Holmes in 1980 but proved his toughness against men of the calibre of Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, George Foreman, Mike Weaver, Gerrie Coetzee, Duane Bobick and Greg Page, among many others. When he folded in three rounds against our own Frank Bruno at Wembley in 1983, a disgusted LeDoux immediately walked away from the sport.
LeDoux's greatest performance came when he held "Neon" Leon Spinks to a 10-round draw in Las Vegas in October 1977 - just a few months before Spinks deposed Muhammad Ali - but LeDoux is probably best remembered for dislodging Howard Cosell's wig in a post-fight scuffle after he was robbed of the verdict against Don King fighter Johnny Boudreaux in February 1977. LeDoux proceeded to chase King out of the arena.

[Cholo]

Frank,Is there a possibility of Frank Jr and Tony coming to the CBHOF in June ?
My brother in-law and myself were huge fans of theirs and watched them on TV many times.(Along with 1,000's other boxing fans)
It would be an honor to meet them.

Frankie will Charlie; as he lives here in SoCal, actually he lives across the street from me, Tony? don't know, as he lives in Arizona and he has a hard time getting time off from the job. He was planning on coming over this past June and couldn't get off. I'm sure that if he can worked it out he'll be here....

That would be great, Frank. I will keep my fingers crossed.Thanks.

I know Tony fought here (New York), upstate NY to be exact. I remember he had McGirt down once or twice too.Tony was a fantastic puncher for his weight. A true ring talent who gave everyone a thrill who watched him.I am surprised they didnt fight in the city, but rather upstate. McGirt & Tony were Main Event guys. Do you know why it wasnt in the Garden.? Sure had the billing for it.

McGirt fought here out of Long Island in the beginning of his career (my father reffed some of his early fights).Tough kid. An old New Jersey guy had him-Al Certo. Al and my dad knew each other well since Al was in New Jersey. He had a tailor shop for decades near Bayonne. I think someone just mentioned he sold it recently.

I noticed that Tony didnt fair too well here on the East Coast, But he held his own against tough guys like McGirt & Howard Davis. Davis was another Long Island kid who faired well. He now lives in Florida and runs a gym there. Howard Davis Sr was in the boxing game many years but he been gone awhile now. We dont see much of Howard Davis around much anymore, but McGirt comes to the Ring 8 luncheons every Dec. Nice guy, who will sit and talk for awhile. His son was involved in Boxing now.

It will be a honor to get out to the West Coast and meet everyone there.

Clever boxer McGirt, I remember him saying that use to meet many of the old-timers at Al Certo's shop, the likes of Jersey Joe Walcott..

[Cholo]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Teddy "Red Top" Davis, May. 22, 1951
Anytime a cagey, shifty boxer is bent on merely going the distance, it is almost impossible to knock him out and in failing to tag him, his apponent is made to look bad. Such was Art Aragon's predicament in his 10-rounder with Teddy(Red Top)Davis, of Hartford, at the Los Angeles Olympic. They started fast, but Davis soon discovered that Aragon was out for a KO victory and that is what would happen if he, Davis, didn't avoid Art's artillery. And Red Top knew the answer to that one. Davis ducked like a hell-diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargin hunter at Macey's. The crowed booed the cutie's tactics, but it didn't change his safety-first technique. The pattern of the contest was the same round after round. Aragon continually stalked Davis, but missed over half his punches and all of the pay-off ones. Art did get in some short hooks and uppercuts that hurt the Hartford hare. Red Top may not have been scared, but at times he gave a good imitation of a guy who was. Aragon, 138, was credited with 9 of the rounds. Davis weighed 134.

[Randyman]

Got up at 2:30 am this morning. Clocked in at 4:00 am. Not the life of a kept man. I'm leaving at 9:00 to Spring Valley Lake to meet with the realtor and my mother and hopefully close the deal.

Getting ready to have my first cup of coffee right now.

[Rick Farris]

Got up at 2:30 am this morning. Clocked in at 4:00 am. Not the life of a kept man. I'm leaving at 9:00 to Spring Valley Lake to meet with the realtor and my mother and hopefully close the deal.

Getting ready to have my first cup of coffee right now.

Good morning, Randy. I'm not working today but I was also up at 4am.
Frank tells me that to remain a kept man, it's best to get up early to stay one step ahead of the enemy.
I'm doing my best to follow Frank's lead until I can escape to the comfort of my next job.
Being a "kept man" is a lot of work. You know it irritates the hell out of them to see us enjoying unemployment.

[kikibalt]

Got up at 2:30 am this morning. Clocked in at 4:00 am. Not the life of a kept man. I'm leaving at 9:00 to Spring Valley Lake to meet with the realtor and my mother and hopefully close the deal.

Getting ready to have my first cup of coffee right now.

Good morning, Randy. I'm not working today but I was also up at 4am.
Frank tells me that to remain a kept man, it's best to get up early to stay one step ahead of the enemy.
I'm doing my best to follow Frank's lead until I can escape to the comfort of my next job.
Being a "kept man" is a lot of work. You know it irritates the hell out of them to see us enjoying unemployment.

[kikibalt]

Got up at 2:30 am this morning. Clocked in at 4:00 am. Not the life of a kept man. I'm leaving at 9:00 to Spring Valley Lake to meet with the realtor and my mother and hopefully close the deal.

Getting ready to have my first cup of coffee right now.

[kikibalt]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Teddy "Red Top" Davis, May. 22, 1951
Anytime a cagey, shifty boxer is bent on merely going the distance, it is almost impossible to knock him out and in failing to tag him, his apponent is made to look bad. Such was Art Aragon's predicament in his 10-rounder with Teddy(Red Top)Davis, of Hartford, at the Los Angeles Olympic. They started fast, but Davis soon discovered that Aragon was out for a KO victory and that is what would happen if he, Davis, didn't avoid Art's artillery. And Red Top knew the answer to that one. Davis ducked like a hell-diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargin hunter at Macey's. The crowed booed the cutie's tactics, but it didn't change his safety-first technique. The pattern of the contest was the same round after round. Aragon continually stalked Davis, but missed over half his punches and all of the pay-off ones. Art did get in some short hooks and uppercuts that hurt the Hartford hare. Red Top may not have been scared, but at times he gave a good imitation of a guy who was. Aragon, 138, was credited with 9 of the rounds. Davis weighed 134.

Art Aragon vs Teddy "Red Top" Davis

[Rick Farris]

Frankie will Charlie; as he lives here in SoCal, actually he lives across the street from me, Tony? don't know, as he lives in Arizona and he has a hard time getting time off from the job. He was planning on coming over this past June and couldn't get off. I'm sure that if he can worked it out he'll be here....

I'm hoping he can get some time off too. I would like to meet tony as well. I was a fan of both Tony and Frankie, never saw Bobby fight.

meeting those two would make my nights of watching so cal boxing complete. you too ricky. maybe i fighter u guys heard of called rebel can't remeber at all the other part.....try a big manny

Greg . . . The Rebel was welterweight Nate Robinson
Robinson came out of Aileen Eaton's amateur "Youth Development Program" and became a winning six-round fighter as a pro.
He was also part of a group of six-round fighters who were matched in ten round bouts with two-minute rounds.
This was a controversial practice that didn't last long, as it would match guys that really were not ten round fighters. When they were matched in ten, 3-min round matches, they would usually fail, but Robinson succeeded. He went on to defeat Gil King for the California welter title and became a headliner for Don Fraser's Forum Boxing Club. Robinson peaked in 1971 and although winning matches, he retired. We both fought on the undercard of the Windmill White-Roger Rouse match at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1971.

Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, United States (May 22, 1971)

Roger Rouse L Ray White UD 10 10
Nate Robinson W Eltefat Talebi UD 10 10
Gerardo Olivera W Florentino Ramirez PTS 6 6
Rick Farris L Ruben Coria PTS 5 5

[Rick Farris]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Teddy "Red Top" Davis, May. 22, 1951
Anytime a cagey, shifty boxer is bent on merely going the distance, it is almost impossible to knock him out and in failing to tag him, his apponent is made to look bad. Such was Art Aragon's predicament in his 10-rounder with Teddy(Red Top)Davis, of Hartford, at the Los Angeles Olympic. They started fast, but Davis soon discovered that Aragon was out for a KO victory and that is what would happen if he, Davis, didn't avoid Art's artillery. And Red Top knew the answer to that one. Davis ducked like a hell-diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargin hunter at Macey's. The crowed booed the cutie's tactics, but it didn't change his safety-first technique. The pattern of the contest was the same round after round. Aragon continually stalked Davis, but missed over half his punches and all of the pay-off ones. Art did get in some short hooks and uppercuts that hurt the Hartford hare. Red Top may not have been scared, but at times he gave a good imitation of a guy who was. Aragon, 138, was credited with 9 of the rounds. Davis weighed 134.

Art Aragon vs Teddy "Red Top" Davis

"Ducked like a hell diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargain hunter at Macey's"
Damn, those old school writer's really knew how to make a point!
Today's writers are B-O-R-I-N-G

[kikibalt]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Teddy "Red Top" Davis, May. 22, 1951
Anytime a cagey, shifty boxer is bent on merely going the distance, it is almost impossible to knock him out and in failing to tag him, his apponent is made to look bad. Such was Art Aragon's predicament in his 10-rounder with Teddy(Red Top)Davis, of Hartford, at the Los Angeles Olympic. They started fast, but Davis soon discovered that Aragon was out for a KO victory and that is what would happen if he, Davis, didn't avoid Art's artillery. And Red Top knew the answer to that one. Davis ducked like a hell-diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargin hunter at Macey's. The crowed booed the cutie's tactics, but it didn't change his safety-first technique. The pattern of the contest was the same round after round. Aragon continually stalked Davis, but missed over half his punches and all of the pay-off ones. Art did get in some short hooks and uppercuts that hurt the Hartford hare. Red Top may not have been scared, but at times he gave a good imitation of a guy who was. Aragon, 138, was credited with 9 of the rounds. Davis weighed 134.

Art Aragon vs Teddy "Red Top" Davis

"Ducked like a hell diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargain hunter at Macey's"
Damn, those old school writer's really knew how to make a point!
Today's writers are B-O-R-I-N-G

Hare?..

[Cholo]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Teddy "Red Top" Davis, May. 22, 1951
Anytime a cagey, shifty boxer is bent on merely going the distance, it is almost impossible to knock him out and in failing to tag him, his apponent is made to look bad. Such was Art Aragon's predicament in his 10-rounder with Teddy(Red Top)Davis, of Hartford, at the Los Angeles Olympic. They started fast, but Davis soon discovered that Aragon was out for a KO victory and that is what would happen if he, Davis, didn't avoid Art's artillery. And Red Top knew the answer to that one. Davis ducked like a hell-diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargin hunter at Macey's. The crowed booed the cutie's tactics, but it didn't change his safety-first technique. The pattern of the contest was the same round after round. Aragon continually stalked Davis, but missed over half his punches and all of the pay-off ones. Art did get in some short hooks and uppercuts that hurt the Hartford hare. Red Top may not have been scared, but at times he gave a good imitation of a guy who was. Aragon, 138, was credited with 9 of the rounds. Davis weighed 134.

Art Aragon vs Teddy "Red Top" Davis

Frank, Thanks for the photos..

[kikibalt]

You're welcome Paul....

[Cholo]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Teddy "Red Top" Davis, May. 22, 1951
Anytime a cagey, shifty boxer is bent on merely going the distance, it is almost impossible to knock him out and in failing to tag him, his apponent is made to look bad. Such was Art Aragon's predicament in his 10-rounder with Teddy(Red Top)Davis, of Hartford, at the Los Angeles Olympic. They started fast, but Davis soon discovered that Aragon was out for a KO victory and that is what would happen if he, Davis, didn't avoid Art's artillery. And Red Top knew the answer to that one. Davis ducked like a hell-diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargin hunter at Macey's. The crowed booed the cutie's tactics, but it didn't change his safety-first technique. The pattern of the contest was the same round after round. Aragon continually stalked Davis, but missed over half his punches and all of the pay-off ones. Art did get in some short hooks and uppercuts that hurt the Hartford hare. Red Top may not have been scared, but at times he gave a good imitation of a guy who was. Aragon, 138, was credited with 9 of the rounds. Davis weighed 134.

Art Aragon vs Teddy "Red Top" Davis

"Ducked like a hell diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargain hunter at Macey's"
Damn, those old school writer's really knew how to make a point!
Today's writers are B-O-R-I-N-G

Rick, What a Great era, sorry to say I missed it

[kikibalt]

Art Aragon vs Teddy "Red Top" Davis

"Ducked like a hell diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargain hunter at Macey's"
Damn, those old school writer's really knew how to make a point!
Today's writers are B-O-R-I-N-G

Rick, What a Great era, sorry to say I missed it

I am sure glad my mom and dad got romantic when they did, that enable me to be around for L.A's Boxing Golden Era....

[Cholo]

"Ducked like a hell diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargain hunter at Macey's"
Damn, those old school writer's really knew how to make a point!
Today's writers are B-O-R-I-N-G

Rick, What a Great era, sorry to say I missed it

I am sure glad my mom and dad got romantic when they did, that enable me to be around for L.A's Boxing Golden Era....

Frank,

[Cholo]

Frank, Some more Golden Boy quotes, "I have to work hard to be a villain," Art acknowledged he should have retired from boxing a few years earlier. He said that he knew what he did for a living was dangerous. "All my life, I was scared I'd kill somebody in the ring," he said. "Me!"

[CNorkusJr]

Art Aragon vs Teddy "Red Top" Davis

"Ducked like a hell diver, ran like a deer, and grabbed like a bargain hunter at Macey's"
Damn, those old school writer's really knew how to make a point!
Today's writers are B-O-R-I-N-G

Rick, What a Great era, sorry to say I missed it

You can say that again !
Thanks Frank, posting the great photos-as always adds a special element to the stories.

Red Top Davis was an excellent brawler- didnt know he fought Aragon till you posted this. One of the million fights I wished I attended

[coach greg v]

I'm hoping he can get some time off too. I would like to meet tony as well. I was a fan of both Tony and Frankie, never saw Bobby fight.

meeting those two would make my nights of watching so cal boxing complete. you too ricky. maybe i fighter u guys heard of called rebel can't remeber at all the other part.....try a big manny

Greg . . . The Rebel was welterweight Nate Robinson
Robinson came out of Aileen Eaton's amateur "Youth Development Program" and became a winning six-round fighter as a pro.
He was also part of a group of six-round fighters who were matched in ten round bouts with two-minute rounds.
This was a controversial practice that didn't last long, as it would match guys that really were not ten round fighters. When they were matched in ten, 3-min round matches, they would usually fail, but Robinson succeeded. He went on to defeat Gil King for the California welter title and became a headliner for Don Fraser's Forum Boxing Club. Robinson peaked in 1971 and although winning matches, he retired. We both fought on the undercard of the Windmill White-Roger Rouse match at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1971.

Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, United States (May 22, 1971)

Roger Rouse L Ray White UD 10 10
Nate Robinson W Eltefat Talebi UD 10 10
Gerardo Olivera W Florentino Ramirez PTS 6 6
Rick Farris L Ruben Coria PTS 5 5

Ricky thank you if I am not mistaken you also fought on the undercard of a ken norton fight. I started watching boxing from the olympic in 1964. mando ramos and a few others were just comming on.Being only thirteen at the time I was a bug on boxing I bought all the magazines. they showed them on friday nights. As for boxing writers I can not think of one name toay I would seriously reed. as for tv color guys save me from larry meerchant and whos the guy who looks like a crack head and annoys the hell out ofme lol

[kikibalt]

Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States

Art Aragon W Teddy Davis UD 10 10

Tommy Umeda W Oscar Torres SD 6 6

Bobby Romo W George Cramer PTS 4 4

Joey Maldonado W Eddie Beltram PTS 4 4

Charley Green W Morrie McFarland TKO 2 4

Manuel Maldonado W Johnny Malloy PTS 4 4

I was there for the Aragon/Davis fight. It was not a great fight to watch because of Davis, he'd not want to fight that nite, he just wanted to finish on his feet.

[kikibalt]

Frank, Some more Golden Boy quotes, "I have to work hard to be a villain," Art acknowledged he should have retired from boxing a few years earlier. He said that he knew what he did for a living was dangerous. "All my life, I was scared I'd kill somebody in the ring," he said. "Me!"

[Cholo]

Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States

Art Aragon W Teddy Davis UD 10 10

Tommy Umeda W Oscar Torres SD 6 6

Bobby Romo W George Cramer PTS 4 4

Joey Maldonado W Eddie Beltram PTS 4 4

Charley Green W Morrie McFarland TKO 2 4

Manuel Maldonado W Johnny Malloy PTS 4 4

I was there for the Aragon/Davis fight. It was not a great fight to watch because of Davis, he'd not want to fight that nite, he just wanted to finish on his feet.

Thanks Frank, I remember you saying you were there, Frank did they film many of Art's fights?. I'd love to get hold of some old newsreel footage of the Golden Boy, I bet there is loads of old footage just gathering dust in some vault in L.A.

[kikibalt]

Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States

Art Aragon W Teddy Davis UD 10 10

Tommy Umeda W Oscar Torres SD 6 6

Bobby Romo W George Cramer PTS 4 4

Joey Maldonado W Eddie Beltram PTS 4 4

Charley Green W Morrie McFarland TKO 2 4

Manuel Maldonado W Johnny Malloy PTS 4 4

I was there for the Aragon/Davis fight. It was not a great fight to watch because of Davis, he'd not want to fight that nite, he just wanted to finish on his feet.

Thanks Frank, I remember you saying you were there, Frank did they film many of Art's fights?. I'd love to get hold of some old newsreel footage of the Golden Boy, I bet there is loads of old footage just gathering dust in some vault in L.A.

I've some of his fights on DVDs....You might find some on Youtube. There might be some on the Baltazabrothers channel.

[Rick Farris]

meeting those two would make my nights of watching so cal boxing complete. you too ricky. maybe i fighter u guys heard of called rebel can't remeber at all the other part.....try a big manny

Greg . . . The Rebel was welterweight Nate Robinson
Robinson came out of Aileen Eaton's amateur "Youth Development Program" and became a winning six-round fighter as a pro.
He was also part of a group of six-round fighters who were matched in ten round bouts with two-minute rounds.
This was a controversial practice that didn't last long, as it would match guys that really were not ten round fighters. When they were matched in ten, 3-min round matches, they would usually fail, but Robinson succeeded. He went on to defeat Gil King for the California welter title and became a headliner for Don Fraser's Forum Boxing Club. Robinson peaked in 1971 and although winning matches, he retired. We both fought on the undercard of the Windmill White-Roger Rouse match at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1971.

Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, United States (May 22, 1971)

Roger Rouse L Ray White UD 10 10
Nate Robinson W Eltefat Talebi UD 10 10
Gerardo Olivera W Florentino Ramirez PTS 6 6
Rick Farris L Ruben Coria PTS 5 5

Ricky thank you if I am not mistaken you also fought on the undercard of a ken norton fight. I started watching boxing from the olympic in 1964. mando ramos and a few others were just comming on.Being only thirteen at the time I was a bug on boxing I bought all the magazines. they showed them on friday nights. As for boxing writers I can not think of one name toay I would seriously reed. as for tv color guys save me from larry meerchant and whos the guy who looks like a crack head and annoys the hell out ofme lol

I know who your talking about, Max Kellerman, he annoys me too.
The jack-ass came from rock music, and had an opinion about boxing.

[coach greg v]

Greg . . . The Rebel was welterweight Nate Robinson
Robinson came out of Aileen Eaton's amateur "Youth Development Program" and became a winning six-round fighter as a pro.
He was also part of a group of six-round fighters who were matched in ten round bouts with two-minute rounds.
This was a controversial practice that didn't last long, as it would match guys that really were not ten round fighters. When they were matched in ten, 3-min round matches, they would usually fail, but Robinson succeeded. He went on to defeat Gil King for the California welter title and became a headliner for Don Fraser's Forum Boxing Club. Robinson peaked in 1971 and although winning matches, he retired. We both fought on the undercard of the Windmill White-Roger Rouse match at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1971.

Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, United States (May 22, 1971)

Roger Rouse L Ray White UD 10 10
Nate Robinson W Eltefat Talebi UD 10 10
Gerardo Olivera W Florentino Ramirez PTS 6 6
Rick Farris L Ruben Coria PTS 5 5

Ricky thank you if I am not mistaken you also fought on the undercard of a ken norton fight. I started watching boxing from the olympic in 1964. mando ramos and a few others were just comming on.Being only thirteen at the time I was a bug on boxing I bought all the magazines. they showed them on friday nights. As for boxing writers I can not think of one name toay I would seriously reed. as for tv color guys save me from larry meerchant and whos the guy who looks like a crack head and annoys the hell out ofme lol

I know who your talking about, Max Kellerman, he annoys me too.
The jack-ass came from rock music, and had an opinion about boxing.

Ricky sometimes I turn off the sound I do not need teddy atlas or those guys explaining to me like a second grader what i am seeing drives me nuts. now the guys on boxeo tecate and others i like those guys they do not pull punchs. they call it like it is.....