Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Cholo]

The "Golden Boy" Speaks
You know, most people ask me how I got started in this fight game...Actually it was a necessity. I had to protect myself from a kid who used to beat me up every day on the way to school, it wasn't a fair fight either, she was six months older then me!

[Cholo]

Wendell Kim talks about his life and his father Phil ''Wildcat'' Kim :
http://books.google.no/books?id=QOoCAAA ... im&f=false

Thanks buddy..

[coach greg v]

thanks rick now tell me how to put a picture on here......
----------------------------------------------------------

You want me to tell you what? I never ever put a picture here.
When I have a photo to post, I just close my eyes and beg the great internet spirit to guide my picture to the right place.
The next day, it's usually here. I dunno how it happens? ;;-)

> tough bantams are always smartasses

[coach greg v]

thanks rick now tell me how to put a picture on here......
----------------------------------------------------------

You want me to tell you what? I never ever put a picture here.
When I have a photo to post, I just close my eyes and beg the great internet spirit to guide my picture to the right place.
The next day, it's usually here. I dunno how it happens? ;;-)

> tough bantams are always smartasses

[Cholo]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Henry Davis Aug, 5. 1953 San Francisco..
In one of the wildest brawls seen in the huge Cow Palace, Los Angeles welter Art Aragon, rated seventh in the world, had a close call before beating Henry Davis, of Honolulu, in the tenth and final round on August 5. At this stage with matters very even, referee Frankie Brown stopped the fight beause Davis was bleeding profusey from the mouth. Davis, conceding nearly six pounds in weight, and a 1-3 underdog at ringside, was the aggressor around the ring nearly all through the contest. This was supposed to be "just another fight" as far as Aragon was concerned. Since losing to Jimmy Carter in a World lightweight title bout back in 1951 he had been toppling them over with regularity, and his only setback was a points defeat at the hands of highly-rated Billy Graham. The twenty-nine-year-old Davis seemingly in line for a lightweight title shot himself at the beginning of the year with wins over Georgie Dunn and Johnny Gonsalves, had then sustained three successive defeats which had put him on the sidelines, so he knew this was his chance to get into the big money again. It was the Hawaiian who carried the battle at the start. He cut Aragon's left eye in the first and his right optic in the fifth and was knocking some of the lustre off the "Golden Boy," as Aragon has been dubbed. Most of the time the Los Angeles boxer, acknowledged as a great puncher, seemed content to sit back and wait for his shot. The blows he did land, however, jarred the onrushing Davis to his boot-tops. The best round was the ninth, when Aragon got in a blow that virtually ended the scrap. A powerful right-cross to the mouth started the claret flowing, and that was the beginning of the end for Davis. When it was stopped the fans swarmed over the ring, screaming for the fight to continue. The bout was televised nationally while being blacked out in the San Francisco area...

[kikibalt]

thanks rick now tell me how to put a picture on here......
----------------------------------------------------------

You want me to tell you what? I never ever put a picture here.
When I have a photo to post, I just close my eyes and beg the great internet spirit to guide my picture to the right place.
The next day, it's usually here. I dunno how it happens? ;;-)

It's complicate to say the least

[coach greg v]

thanks rick now tell me how to put a picture on here......
----------------------------------------------------------

You want me to tell you what? I never ever put a picture here.
When I have a photo to post, I just close my eyes and beg the great internet spirit to guide my picture to the right place.
The next day, it's usually here. I dunno how it happens? ;;-)

It's complicate to say the least

>thanks frank i tried to drag and drop that did not work or copy AND paste. how is el jefe this morning???

[kikibalt]

When it comes to shit (and i mean literally shit) like in sewer i got a above average strong stomach, I can stand to my knees in it and not be bothered, but on diaper patrol this morning the little man let one go that brought tears to my eyes and made my breakfast wanna come up How can such a little body produce such a foul smell??

[coach greg v]

When it comes to shit (and i mean literally shit) like in sewer i got a above average strong stomach, I can stand to my knees in it and not be bothered, but on diaper patrol this morning the little man let one go that brought tears to my eyes and made my breakfast wanna come up How can such a little body produce such a foul smell??

> wait another 14 yrs when he really gives u crap

[kikibalt]

thanks rick now tell me how to put a picture on here......
----------------------------------------------------------

You want me to tell you what? I never ever put a picture here.
When I have a photo to post, I just close my eyes and beg the great internet spirit to guide my picture to the right place.
The next day, it's usually here. I dunno how it happens? ;;-)

It's complicate to say the least

>thanks frank i tried to drag and drop that did not work or copy AND paste. how is el jefe this morning???

You need a program like photobucket to up load youur pictures, once you get that program then things really get complicate...

[kikibalt]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Henry Davis Aug, 5. 1953 San Francisco..

In one of the wildest brawls seen in the huge Cow Palace, Los Angeles welter Art Aragon, rated seventh in the world, had a close call before beating Henry Davis, of Honolulu, in the tenth and final round on August 5. At this stage with matters very even, referee Frankie Brown stopped the fight beause Davis was bleeding profusey from the mouth. Davis, conceding nearly six pounds in weight, and a 1-3 underdog at ringside, was the aggressor around the ring nearly all through the contest. This was supposed to be "just another fight" as far as Aragon was concerned. Since losing to Jimmy Carter in a World lightweight title bout back in 1951 he had been toppling them over with regularity, and his only setback was a points defeat at the hands of highly-rated Billy Graham. The twenty-nine-year-old Davis seemingly in line for a lightweight title shot himself at the beginning of the year with wins over Georgie Dunn and Johnny Gonsalves, had then sustained three successive defeats which had put him on the sidelines, so he knew this was his chance to get into the big money again. It was the Hawaiian who carried the battle at the start. He cut Aragon's left eye in the first and his right optic in the fifth and was knocking some of the lustre off the "Golden Boy," as Aragon has been dubbed. Most of the time the Los Angeles boxer, acknowledged as a great puncher, seemed content to sit back and wait for his shot. The blows he did land, however, jarred the onrushing Davis to his boot-tops. The best round was the ninth, when Aragon got in a blow that virtually ended the scrap. A powerful right-cross to the mouth started the claret flowing, and that was the beginning of the end for Davis. When it was stopped the fans swarmed over the ring, screaming for the fight to continue. The bout was televised nationally while being blacked out in the San Francisco area...

I have this fight on DVD, have yet to watch it....

[Rick Farris]

When it comes to shit (and i mean literally shit) like in sewer i got a above average strong stomach, I can stand to my knees in it and not be bothered, but on diaper patrol this morning the little man let one go that brought tears to my eyes and made my breakfast wanna come up How can such a little body produce such a foul smell??

LOL! They have a way of doing that. That little guy is really cute. One day you will have fun teaching him how to box.

[Rick Farris]

thanks rick now tell me how to put a picture on here......
----------------------------------------------------------

You want me to tell you what? I never ever put a picture here.
When I have a photo to post, I just close my eyes and beg the great internet spirit to guide my picture to the right place.
The next day, it's usually here. I dunno how it happens? ;;-)

> tough bantams are always smartasses

I really don't know how to post photos. Frank will validate that. I know just enough to write my stories and get them where they need to go.
If you go thru the 7000 items I've posted in 3 1/2 years, you won't find one photo posted under my name.
Other people have posted photos, not me.
It was only yesterday I learned how to put pics on my Facebook page.

[CNorkusJr]

http://coxscorner.tripod.com/napoles_rf.html

Jose Napoles...By Rick Farris

Good piece of writing Rick. Great insight to a wonderful fighter.
My father met Jose Napoles in New York when he came in to fight Petey Toro.
Toro,a New Yorker, had good fights in his career against Bobby Cassidy,Bobby Bartels and a few other heavy hitters who my father hung around with.

Jose,I dont know if Angelo Dundee had him in 1970, was probably training in Gleason's Gym who moved to midtown Manhattan about then(around the corner from the new MSG), or possibly 42 St gym (Jimmy Glenns' old place).

But possibly my dad went to see Angelo to say hello. He came home that night to tell me he met Jose Napoles, whom my father said was one of the hardest punchers he saw in training. Any recollection of Jose's sparring people on the road,if he had any (maybe he used local guys) ?

Charlie . . . I can't remember all who sparred with Napoles, except L.A.'s Baby Cassius, whom Mantequilla abused daily.

Thanks Rick. Angelo did fly into many cities to work corners on special fights (mostly championships). Whitey Bimstein did the same.
With Ray Arcel added - boxing had contenders 10-15 deep in many divisions.
There are still a few guys around that can train the best, like Freddie Roach has always been there,but it is not till now that he is getting the accolades he should have got years back.

[raylawpc]

It's complicate to say the least

>thanks frank i tried to drag and drop that did not work or copy AND paste. how is el jefe this morning???

You need a program like photobucket to up load youur pictures, once you get that program then things really get complicate...

You don't use Tiny Pics anymore? That was pretty easy, although I never figured out sizing.

[raylawpc]

Good piece of writing Rick. Great insight to a wonderful fighter.
My father met Jose Napoles in New York when he came in to fight Petey Toro.
Toro,a New Yorker, had good fights in his career against Bobby Cassidy,Bobby Bartels and a few other heavy hitters who my father hung around with.

Jose,I dont know if Angelo Dundee had him in 1970, was probably training in Gleason's Gym who moved to midtown Manhattan about then(around the corner from the new MSG), or possibly 42 St gym (Jimmy Glenns' old place).

But possibly my dad went to see Angelo to say hello. He came home that night to tell me he met Jose Napoles, whom my father said was one of the hardest punchers he saw in training. Any recollection of Jose's sparring people on the road,if he had any (maybe he used local guys) ?

Charlie . . . I can't remember all who sparred with Napoles, except L.A.'s Baby Cassius, whom Mantequilla abused daily.

Thanks Rick. Angelo did fly into many cities to work corners on special fights (mostly championships). Whitey Bimstein did the same.
With Ray Arcel added - boxing had contenders 10-15 deep in many divisions.
There are still a few guys around that can train the best, like Freddie Roach has always been there,but it is not till now that he is getting the accolades he should have got years back.

I don't like the way some of his fighters position their feet. But he's a good trainer - probably the best of the bunch now. But that said, I still don't like the way some of his fighters position their feet.

[coach greg v]

thanks rick now tell me how to put a picture on here......
----------------------------------------------------------

You want me to tell you what? I never ever put a picture here.
When I have a photo to post, I just close my eyes and beg the great internet spirit to guide my picture to the right place.
The next day, it's usually here. I dunno how it happens? ;;-)

> tough bantams are always smartasses

I really don't know how to post photos. Frank will validate that. I know just enough to write my stories and get them where they need to go.
If you go thru the 7000 items I've posted in 3 1/2 years, you won't find one photo posted under my name.
Other people have posted photos, not me.
It was only yesterday I learned how to put pics on my Facebook page.

> JUst giving u some smack. i understand its ill try to figure it out . when i was a kid i had the hardest time throwing a left body hook. ill figure this out...you know that was smart what u said about a mean streak....yeah u had to give ur bag to a pro at newmans but u can not be pushed around....

[kikibalt]

>thanks frank i tried to drag and drop that did not work or copy AND paste. how is el jefe this morning???

You need a program like photobucket to up load youur pictures, once you get that program then things really get complicate...

You don't use Tiny Pics anymore? That was pretty easy, although I never figured out sizing.

No, Tinypic started that thing where a window opens up with some letter and numbers that you can't even make out and they ask you to type them in a box.... ...Photobucket is better, you can do more things with your pictures....Sizing is the thing lots of people don't get, if the files are too big when you post your picture you'll skewed the thread page out of whack...

[kikibalt]

Dog days of summer are beginning to wane....

[Cholo]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Henry Davis Aug, 5. 1953 San Francisco..

In one of the wildest brawls seen in the huge Cow Palace, Los Angeles welter Art Aragon, rated seventh in the world, had a close call before beating Henry Davis, of Honolulu, in the tenth and final round on August 5. At this stage with matters very even, referee Frankie Brown stopped the fight beause Davis was bleeding profusey from the mouth. Davis, conceding nearly six pounds in weight, and a 1-3 underdog at ringside, was the aggressor around the ring nearly all through the contest. This was supposed to be "just another fight" as far as Aragon was concerned. Since losing to Jimmy Carter in a World lightweight title bout back in 1951 he had been toppling them over with regularity, and his only setback was a points defeat at the hands of highly-rated Billy Graham. The twenty-nine-year-old Davis seemingly in line for a lightweight title shot himself at the beginning of the year with wins over Georgie Dunn and Johnny Gonsalves, had then sustained three successive defeats which had put him on the sidelines, so he knew this was his chance to get into the big money again. It was the Hawaiian who carried the battle at the start. He cut Aragon's left eye in the first and his right optic in the fifth and was knocking some of the lustre off the "Golden Boy," as Aragon has been dubbed. Most of the time the Los Angeles boxer, acknowledged as a great puncher, seemed content to sit back and wait for his shot. The blows he did land, however, jarred the onrushing Davis to his boot-tops. The best round was the ninth, when Aragon got in a blow that virtually ended the scrap. A powerful right-cross to the mouth started the claret flowing, and that was the beginning of the end for Davis. When it was stopped the fans swarmed over the ring, screaming for the fight to continue. The bout was televised nationally while being blacked out in the San Francisco area...

I have this fight on DVD, have yet to watch it....

Frank, I've watched it, the good old days, and they were wearing Flores gloves..

[Rick Farris]

Charlie . . . I can't remember all who sparred with Napoles, except L.A.'s Baby Cassius, whom Mantequilla abused daily.

Thanks Rick. Angelo did fly into many cities to work corners on special fights (mostly championships). Whitey Bimstein did the same.
With Ray Arcel added - boxing had contenders 10-15 deep in many divisions.
There are still a few guys around that can train the best, like Freddie Roach has always been there,but it is not till now that he is getting the accolades he should have got years back.

I don't like the way some of his fighters position their feet. But he's a good trainer - probably the best of the bunch now. But that said, I still don't like the way some of his fighters position their feet.

Who taught the teacher? . . .

Nearly two years ago, I was at Goossen's gym in Van Nuys, watching heavyweight Chris Arreola train. It was a press/PR event.
He had a young trainer, who obviously had never fought, and he was holding pads for Arreola.
In addition to being a lazy fat-ass, that bum has a know-nothing trainer.
Even worse, I'm watching Joe Goossen work pads with heavyweight Malik Scott.
Scott throws a jab, then drops his left hand as he pulls it back. Joe doesn't say a word. The left hand dips every time.
I wanted to ask him, "what about the guy who times that lazy jab, and follows up with a right cross as Scott pulls it back low?"
I didn't score a lot of KO's, but when I did that was usually what got my opponent knocked out, right hand over a lazy jab.

One thing I'll say about Mel Epstein, he really knew the "cutie' stuff, subtle little moves you will never see any of today's trainers teach, not even Roach.
Dan Hanley and I were conducting an interview with a great trainer in former middleweight contender George Benton.
Dan came out and asked Benton, "George, you were what was known as a 'cutie" had those slick moves you don't see today."
Benton, a very soft spoken and humble man, answered, "Nobody today can teach that. The old school trainers are all dead."
Benton's strategy enabled a guy with just eight pro fights under his belt to take the heavyweight title from Muhammad Ali.

[Rick Farris]

Dog days of summer are beginning to wane....

Sadly, so is my interest in contemporary boxing. Having a few guys here that I can discuss "the good old days" with is all that keeps boxing alive in me.
I won't be of much use to any hall of fame in the future, as it's too difficult to keep track of the inept talent that exists today.

In 20 years, some guy will say to me . . . "Why haven't you inducted a great fighter like Victor Ortiz?"
Instead of trying to explain, I might as well just pull out a gun and shoot myself in the foot.

[raylawpc]

Thanks Rick. Angelo did fly into many cities to work corners on special fights (mostly championships). Whitey Bimstein did the same.
With Ray Arcel added - boxing had contenders 10-15 deep in many divisions.
There are still a few guys around that can train the best, like Freddie Roach has always been there,but it is not till now that he is getting the accolades he should have got years back.

I don't like the way some of his fighters position their feet. But he's a good trainer - probably the best of the bunch now. But that said, I still don't like the way some of his fighters position their feet.

Who taught the teacher? . . .

Nearly two years ago, I was at Goossen's gym in Van Nuys, watching heavyweight Chris Arreola train. It was a press/PR event.
He had a young trainer, who obviously had never fought, and he was holding pads for Arreola.
In addition to being a lazy fat-ass, that bum has a know-nothing trainer.
Even worse, I'm watching Joe Goossen work pads with heavyweight Malik Scott.
Scott throws a jab, then drops his left hand as he pulls it back. Joe doesn't say a word. The left hand dips every time.
I wanted to ask him, "what about the guy who times that lazy jab, and follows up with a right cross as Scott pulls it back low?"
I didn't score a lot of KO's, but when I did that was usually what got my opponent knocked out, right hand over a lazy jab.

One thing I'll say about Mel Epstein, he really knew the "cutie' stuff, subtle little moves you will never see any of today's trainers teach, not even Roach.
Dan Hanley and I were conducting an interview with a great trainer in former middleweight contender George Benton.
Dan came out and asked Benton, "George, you were what was known as a 'cutie" had those slick moves you don't see today."
Benton, a very soft spoken and humble man, answered, "Nobody today can teach that. The old school trainers are all dead."
Benton's strategy enabled a guy with just eight pro fights under his belt to take the heavyweight title from Muhammad Ali.

I'll tell you a little story that I wasn't going to repeat because it might sound like I'm bragging, but . . . what the hell.

About six months ago, my youngest son invited a group of friends - one an amateur boxer - over to the house to watch a fight card on TV. This amateur's trainer - a pro - was fighting his first fight on national TV, and they all wanted to see it on my big screen TV. (They all work at the same pizza restaurant.) I can't remember the guy's name or who he fought but, anyway, about two minutes into the fight, I told my son's friend, "Your trainer is gonna get stopped about the third round with a straight right hand."

Laughs all around followed from the youngsters in the room . . .

Round three, the guy is taking a ten count from - you guessed it - a straight right hand.

Nobody is laughing now. The kid asks me, "How did you know?" So I proceeded to show him how his trainer was making a amateur mistake and leaving himself open for the punch.

The kid listens intently then says, "Mr Ray . . . will you train me?"

[Rick Farris]

I don't like the way some of his fighters position their feet. But he's a good trainer - probably the best of the bunch now. But that said, I still don't like the way some of his fighters position their feet.

Who taught the teacher? . . .

Nearly two years ago, I was at Goossen's gym in Van Nuys, watching heavyweight Chris Arreola train. It was a press/PR event.
He had a young trainer, who obviously had never fought, and he was holding pads for Arreola.
In addition to being a lazy fat-ass, that bum has a know-nothing trainer.
Even worse, I'm watching Joe Goossen work pads with heavyweight Malik Scott.
Scott throws a jab, then drops his left hand as he pulls it back. Joe doesn't say a word. The left hand dips every time.
I wanted to ask him, "what about the guy who times that lazy jab, and follows up with a right cross as Scott pulls it back low?"
I didn't score a lot of KO's, but when I did that was usually what got my opponent knocked out, right hand over a lazy jab.

One thing I'll say about Mel Epstein, he really knew the "cutie' stuff, subtle little moves you will never see any of today's trainers teach, not even Roach.
Dan Hanley and I were conducting an interview with a great trainer in former middleweight contender George Benton.
Dan came out and asked Benton, "George, you were what was known as a 'cutie" had those slick moves you don't see today."
Benton, a very soft spoken and humble man, answered, "Nobody today can teach that. The old school trainers are all dead."
Benton's strategy enabled a guy with just eight pro fights under his belt to take the heavyweight title from Muhammad Ali.

I'll tell you a little story that I wasn't going to repeat because it might sound like I'm bragging, but . . . what the hell.

About six months ago, my youngest son invited a grounds of friends - one an amateur boxer - over to the house to watch a fight card on TV. This amateur's trainer - a pro - was fighting his first fight on national TV, and they all wanted to see it on my big screen TV. (They all work at the same pizza restaurant.) I can't remember the guy's name or who he fought but, anyway, about two minutes into the fight, I told my son's friend, "Your trainer is gonna get stopped about the third round with a straight right hand."

Laughs all around followed from the youngsters in the room . . .

Round three, the guy is taking a ten count from - you guessed it - a straight right hand.

Nobody is laughing now. The kid asks me, "How did you know?" So I proceeded to show him how his trainer was making a amateur mistake and leaving himself open for the punch.

The kid listens intently then says, "Mr Ray . . . will you train me?"

Tom, as you know, we are just talking "boxing basics."
You were around the game and have an eye for it. If a seasoned fighter carries his left low, it's for a reason, a set-up.
Any other reason will lead to bad consequences. Period.
The kid had good reason to seek your experience. You taught him a lesson, right there.
I don't know your life or schedule, but maybe it would be fun to work with him a little?
It would not only be helping him, but getting some great excercise yourself, and contributing to the betterment of boxing, one kid at a time.

[Panzerfaust]

Who taught the teacher? . . .

Nearly two years ago, I was at Goossen's gym in Van Nuys, watching heavyweight Chris Arreola train. It was a press/PR event.
He had a young trainer, who obviously had never fought, and he was holding pads for Arreola.
In addition to being a lazy fat-ass, that bum has a know-nothing trainer.
Even worse, I'm watching Joe Goossen work pads with heavyweight Malik Scott.
Scott throws a jab, then drops his left hand as he pulls it back. Joe doesn't say a word. The left hand dips every time.
I wanted to ask him, "what about the guy who times that lazy jab, and follows up with a right cross as Scott pulls it back low?"
I didn't score a lot of KO's, but when I did that was usually what got my opponent knocked out, right hand over a lazy jab.

One thing I'll say about Mel Epstein, he really knew the "cutie' stuff, subtle little moves you will never see any of today's trainers teach, not even Roach.
Dan Hanley and I were conducting an interview with a great trainer in former middleweight contender George Benton.
Dan came out and asked Benton, "George, you were what was known as a 'cutie" had those slick moves you don't see today."
Benton, a very soft spoken and humble man, answered, "Nobody today can teach that. The old school trainers are all dead."
Benton's strategy enabled a guy with just eight pro fights under his belt to take the heavyweight title from Muhammad Ali.

I'll tell you a little story that I wasn't going to repeat because it might sound like I'm bragging, but . . . what the hell.

About six months ago, my youngest son invited a grounds of friends - one an amateur boxer - over to the house to watch a fight card on TV. This amateur's trainer - a pro - was fighting his first fight on national TV, and they all wanted to see it on my big screen TV. (They all work at the same pizza restaurant.) I can't remember the guy's name or who he fought but, anyway, about two minutes into the fight, I told my son's friend, "Your trainer is gonna get stopped about the third round with a straight right hand."

Laughs all around followed from the youngsters in the room . . .

Round three, the guy is taking a ten count from - you guessed it - a straight right hand.

Nobody is laughing now. The kid asks me, "How did you know?" So I proceeded to show him how his trainer was making a amateur mistake and leaving himself open for the punch.

The kid listens intently then says, "Mr Ray . . . will you train me?"

Tom, as you know, we are just talking "boxing basics."
You were around the game and have an eye for it. If a seasoned fighter carries his left low, it's for a reason, a set-up.
Any other reason will lead to bad consequences. Period.
The kid had good reason to seek your experience. You taught him a lesson, right there.
I don't know your life or schedule, but maybe it would be fun to work with him a little?
It would not only be helping him, but getting some great excercise yourself, and contributing to the betterment of boxing, one kid at a time.

Great stuff Tom