Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Alonzo "Strongbow" Gonzalez - what do you guys remember of him?

Freddie Gonzalez. Alonzo "Strongbow" Gonzalez's brother?



Comedian and television star Redd Foxx joins his latest boxing prize, bantamweight Freddie Gonzalez
after a fight.

[bennie]

Alonzo "Strongbow" Gonzalez - what do you guys remember of him?

Freddie Gonzalez. Alonzo "Strongbow" Gonzalez's brother?



Comedian and television star Redd Foxx joins his latest boxing prize, bantamweight Freddie Gonzalez
after a fight.

Thanks, Frankie. Freddie came over here and was stopped by an unbeaten Charlie Magri.

[raylawpc]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwy ... ull.column

Ring referee Joe Cortez calls Mayweather-Ortiz as he sees it

Interesting column. I'm looking forward to the rebroadcast, and kicking myself that I didn't buy the live broadcast.

I don't know what the rest of you think, but I'm of the opinion that Cortez is a horrible referee. In the fights he's worked that I've seen, he seems easily excitable and he yammers at the fighters all the time. Too much ego for a referee. The referee should be the forgotten man in every fight. Cortez might as well wear a sign that says, "Look at me! I'm the referee!"

[CNorkusJr]

Last night was our monthly Ring 8 meeting here in New York.
On hand as guests was a former heavyweight contender who fought alot of greats from the 1950's & 1960's. He fought fighters Eddie Machen, Harold Carter, Henry Cooper, Mike DeJohn,Nino Valdes,George Chuvalo,Zora Folley, Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay at time),and fought Jimmy Carter and in his last pro fight, against Jerry Quarry both of those in The Olympic Aud in LA.

He is Alex Miteff. Alex is about 76 yrs old now and was accompanied by his son and his son's friend. Alex suffered somewhat of a medical setback last month (son didnt go into detail) and to be placed in a nursing care facility now. He can stand and take a few steps,but travels mostly by wheelchair. His mind is still sharp,but speaks very low and slowly. He was born in Argentina (Held So.Amer. Hevywt Champ Title) and his son speaks to him in Spanish.

I managed to talk to him for about 10 minutes. We talked on his fights in the 50's mostly and he remembered that he fought a pre-lim fight vs John Henry in St Nicks in 1956.His 6th pro fight.He trained in Stillman's Gym with my father in New York.
My father was the televised Main Event against Joe Rowan that night.
I told his son that the original tape I have of broadcast has the TV show opening up and showing the last two RDs of the Miteff vs Henry fight before my dad's Main Event.
The posted videos on the web had cut out Miteff's fight ending.
I told son I'll send copy to him,as they only have the Ali-Miteff fight on tape.

Here is picture of Miteff (red shirt) from last nite and Ring 8 members.


Also on hand was Gary Shaw, famed promoter of todays better boxing events.

He talked on many subjects,but it finally got around to Mayweather-Ortiz fight.
He said fault on the stoppage of the fight can be placed all around on this one.

He mentioned that Ortiz literally jumped up to intentional headbutt Mayweather was obvious
and halting the fight to deduct points was correct. He went on to say that 2 points should have been deducted not one point by Cortez. By rights, Cortez, after halting the fight,should have had Mayweather retreat to a neutral corner, and Ortiz led by hand to center of ring and faced each judge taking the 2 pts away from Ortiz. He then, after calling time in,turned to face judges-probably telling them that he is the most fair judge in the world, he should have called time in and kept facing fighters at all time.
But he said the biggest fault of night lies with Ortiz himself. Not adhering to the number one rule of fighters-Protect yourself at ALL times.

[raylawpc]

Alonzo "Strongbow" Gonzalez - what do you guys remember of him?

Freddie Gonzalez. Alonzo "Strongbow" Gonzalez's brother?



Comedian and television star Redd Foxx joins his latest boxing prize, bantamweight Freddie Gonzalez
after a fight.

Thanks, Frankie. Freddie came over here and was stopped by an unbeaten Charlie Magri.

I remember Charlie Magri. Typically tough Brit flyweight. What's he doing these days, bennie?

[bennie]

Freddie Gonzalez. Alonzo "Strongbow" Gonzalez's brother?



Comedian and television star Redd Foxx joins his latest boxing prize, bantamweight Freddie Gonzalez
after a fight.

Thanks, Frankie. Freddie came over here and was stopped by an unbeaten Charlie Magri.

I remember Charlie Magri. Typically tough Brit flyweight. What's he doing these days, bennie?

He ran a pub in his native East End for a long while, living above the pub. I'm not sure what he is doing now. He's OK, though, a real little tough nut.

[kikibalt]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwy ... ull.column

Ring referee Joe Cortez calls Mayweather-Ortiz as he sees it

Interesting column. I'm looking forward to the rebroadcast, and kicking myself that I didn't buy the live broadcast.

I don't know what the rest of you think, but I'm of the opinion that Cortez is a horrible referee. In the fights he's worked that I've seen, he seems easily excitable and he yammers at the fighters all the time. Too much ego for a referee. The referee should be the forgotten man in every fight. Cortez might as well wear a sign that says, "Look at me! I'm the referee!"

Tom, I agree with you...

[Rick Farris]

Last night was our monthly Ring 8 meeting here in New York.
On hand as guests was a former heavyweight contender who fought alot of greats from the 1950's & 1960's. He fought fighters Eddie Machen, Harold Carter, Henry Cooper, Mike DeJohn,Nino Valdes,George Chuvalo,Zora Folley, Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay at time),and fought Jimmy Carter and in his last pro fight, against Jerry Quarry both of those in The Olympic Aud in LA.

He is Alex Miteff. Alex is about 76 yrs old now and was accompanied by his son and his son's friend. Alex suffered somewhat of a medical setback last month (son didnt go into detail) and to be placed in a nursing care facility now. He can stand and take a few steps,but travels mostly by wheelchair. His mind is still sharp,but speaks very low and slowly. He was born in Argentina (Held So.Amer. Hevywt Champ Title) and his son speaks to him in Spanish.

I managed to talk to him for about 10 minutes. We talked on his fights in the 50's mostly and he remembered that he fought a pre-lim fight vs John Henry in St Nicks in 1956.His 6th pro fight.He trained in Stillman's Gym with my father in New York.
My father was the televised Main Event against Joe Rowan that night.
I told his son that the original tape I have of broadcast has the TV show opening up and showing the last two RDs of the Miteff vs Henry fight before my dad's Main Event.
The posted videos on the web had cut out Miteff's fight ending.
I told son I'll send copy to him,as they only have the Ali-Miteff fight on tape.

Here is picture of Miteff (red shirt) from last nite and Ring 8 members.


Also on hand was Gary Shaw, famed promoter of todays better boxing events.

He talked on many subjects,but it finally got around to Mayweather-Ortiz fight.
He said fault on the stoppage of the fight can be placed all around on this one.

He mentioned that Ortiz literally jumped up to intentional headbutt Mayweather was obvious
and halting the fight to deduct points was correct. He went on to say that 2 points should have been deducted not one point by Cortez. By rights, Cortez, after halting the fight,should have had Mayweather retreat to a neutral corner, and Ortiz led by hand to center of ring and faced each judge taking the 2 pts away from Ortiz. He then, after calling time in,turned to face judges-probably telling them that he is the most fair judge in the world, he should have called time in and kept facing fighters at all time.
But he said the biggest fault of night lies with Ortiz himself. Not adhering to the number one rule of fighters-Protect yourself at ALL times.

Charlie, I remember when Miteff fought Quarry at the Olympic. I was 15 at the time and attended with my dad and grandfather. I was part of the Flores stable at the time and we went to all of Jerry's fights. Miteff wasn't much opposition that night. I remember Jerry landing solid and Miteff hitting the canvas and landing on his back, rolling backward with his feet in the air. It's hard for me to imagine that was 44 years ago. Sorry to hear of his health challenges but glad to see him surrounded by boxing people. Ring #8 is a great organization. We have nothing that compares in California, aside form the Golden State Boxers Associtation which only brings in a handful of people for it's tuesday lunch get togethers. Once Don Fraser & the Montalvos are gone, I'm afraid all memories and reference to the Golden Age of boxing in California will be gone. Once Aileen Eaton & George Parnassus were gone, we still had boxing in Southern Cal but it was not the same, not as big. Now there is nothing. I remember we had so many great fighters here, the best of the Mexican talent and the best Latino-American warriors. Now when LA boasts of a top Latino fighter, we see guys like Victor Ortiz, etc.

[Cholo]

Tony "The Tiger" Baltazar became a grandpa for the time today, his daughter Nakojua gave birth to Aubrella Trinity Baltazar this morning.

Congrats Tony, Frank and family, only seems like yesterday I was watching Tony fight on T.V. and now he's a grandpa..

[kikibalt]

Tony "The Tiger" Baltazar became a grandpa for the time today, his daughter Nakojua gave birth to Aubrella Trinity Baltazar this morning.

Congrats Tony, Frank and family, only seems like yesterday I was watching Tony fight on T.V. and now he's a grandpa..

Thanks Paul..

[raylawpc]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwy ... ull.column

Ring referee Joe Cortez calls Mayweather-Ortiz as he sees it

Interesting column. I'm looking forward to the rebroadcast, and kicking myself that I didn't buy the live broadcast.

I don't know what the rest of you think, but I'm of the opinion that Cortez is a horrible referee. In the fights he's worked that I've seen, he seems easily excitable and he yammers at the fighters all the time. Too much ego for a referee. The referee should be the forgotten man in every fight. Cortez might as well wear a sign that says, "Look at me! I'm the referee!"

Tom, I agree with you...

Thanks Frank.

[raylawpc]

Thanks to Remy, I got on a site that had Ortiz-Mayweather. Three points:

1. Merchant was right: It was a "legal" sucker punch. I guess I can't bitch too much since I've never criticized Jack Dempsey for his sucker punch against Jack Sharkey. So, I won't criticize Mayweather now.

2. Cortez was partly to blame. He knew he was in a volatile situation, but he was more worried about the timekeeper starting the clock than watching the fighters. Memo to Cortez: Next time, worry about doing your own job, and let the timekeeper worry about doing his.

3. Ortiz showed how you can beat Mayweather. Watch the last half of the second round (which, incidentally, I thought Ortiz won) . . .

[CNorkusJr]

Thanks Rick. I read your post with great interest. The Jerry Quarry vs Alex Miteff fight was the last fight of Miteff's career. Probably,it should have never been fought as the layoff of years from his prime days were significant,especially against a power house opponent Quarry.
No doubt the desire for a better pay-day from any other previous fight (except maybe Ali,but that was early Clay) kept Miteff in the ring. How often do we see this in boxing with palpable results.

I can understand the frustrations of being a former boxer & boxing fan such as you gentlemen are in So Cal, where it was once a huge hub of exciting fighters with great fighters with talents going at each other often in Auditoriums and Arenas over the years, but little to show for it nowadays.
It is all not that much different here in New York, but I guess you might considerate it even less palpable there. As we all can see, the venues of casinos have been the arenas of choice. Yes, Madison Square Garden still exists and does a very good job as promoting itself
as "The Mecca of Boxing" through the years. Still today, boxers at some point of success still want to add a Madison Square Garden victory onto their record report. It's more of a flashy history lesson to see. But our boxing schedule is still barren.
New Jersey's new Prudential Center in Newark holds more fights now than the Garden,only because some very good talented boxers are working their way up in Jersey. Adamek, Kendall Holt and a few others use Jersey as a home base mostly. But, Adamek as you can see, goes home to Poland to fight more often. Also the rash of new champions are coming from places out of the states and certainly draw well "at home".

I cant speak for California, but in New York, the downfall of boxing here lies in its taxes and costs to put on a fight in New York. I believe I was told that the New York tax bite on a purse is huge with special entertainment tariffs figured in. Plus union labor to work in the arenas and the medical coverage needed costs thousands to a promoter who needs 2,000 persons in attendance to break even. The huge Promotions like Pac-man or Mayweather cards go to huge arenas that can handle the crowds. Who knows how much taxes come out for Vegas fights ? By the way, Adamek's fight vs Klitschko drew 40,000 + live gate in a spanking new arena that going to be used primarily for World Cup Games coming up.
No arena here can hold that, and the stadiums costs are huge.
Like anything else in Boxing-Money is the driving force in Productions,and New York suffers too.But maybe not as much as other cities like LA.
Ring 8 has long been in existance and stays strong because New York promotes amateurs who keep coming into our rolls.We now admit any New York amateur or pro fighter to join our ranks for free for the first year to see if they like it. They never leave after attending only one meeting.They mingle with former boxing champs like Antuefermo,Barkley, Juan LaPorte and many others(guests like Miteff and Shaw last month alone) and get "how to manage their careers" tips by example. Promoters,Trainers and cornermen attend our meetings and networking introductions fall into place for them too. Where else can you do this ? And get a free dinner buffet before the meeting to boot.Everyone else pays $25 a year.

Ring 8 just got into the promoting business in sponsoring amateur cards on Long Island and the City.(No pro fights). Positive Income goes towards fighters in need of financial or medical bill assistance or counseling,(fighters IDs kept anonymous). I learned last night that a fighter's child lost his or hers new clothing for school in floods caused by Hurricane Irene here. Ring 8 paid out $500 to replace the clothing for her to go to school and whatever.
Its been doing that for 60 years now. Thats what ALL of the nations Ring Veteran Boxers Assoc-(VBA) are suppose to be doing as it was founded on that premise. The are alot more fighters down and out / or living check to check than there are of Mayweather's out there.
No we have not heard a request from Holyfield yet.

[kikibalt]

California Boxing Hall Of Fame inductee, Kid Rayo has passed

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

[CNorkusJr]

Frank, Please relay my congratulations to Tony too on becoming a grandpa. He may not have a gray hair on his head to show for it,but I certainly got a few more. I remember seeing Tony,also on TV as a young fighter. Congrats to you too Frank. A never ending supply of diapers for them this Christmas maybe ?

[CNorkusJr]

California Boxing Hall Of Fame inductee, Kid Rayo has passed

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Going the distance 5 times vs Gaspar Ortega is serious business. Pulling a victory out of one of them put a nice exclamation point on his career. My regrets on his passing.

[raylawpc]

California Boxing Hall Of Fame inductee, Kid Rayo has passed

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Going the distance 5 times vs Gaspar Ortega is serious business. Pulling a victory out of one of them put a nice exclamation point on his career. My regrets on his passing.

He was an excellent fighter. I'm saddened by his passing.

[kikibalt]

Frank, Please relay my congratulations to Tony too on becoming a grandpa. He may not have a gray hair on his head to show for it,but I certainly got a few more. I remember seeing Tony,also on TV as a young fighter. Congrats to you too Frank. A never ending supply of diapers for them this Christmas maybe ?

Thanks Charlie, I surely will pass on your congrats to Tony.... Connie and I will need to take a trip to Arizona soon to see our new baby. Btw Tony has a few gray hairs too...

[kikibalt]

California Boxing Hall Of Fame inductee, Kid Rayo has passed

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Going the distance 5 times vs Gaspar Ortega is serious business. Pulling a victory out of one of them put a nice exclamation point on his career. My regrets on his passing.

Kid Rayo was the true epitome of a gym fighter. He was never as good in a fight as he was in the gym. I seen him both in the gym and in real fights. In the gym he was an all time great, for some reason or other he couldn't fight as well in a real fight. Of course we all have seen fighters like that....

[Rick Farris]

Kid Rayo, Rest in Peace . . .

I remember Kid Rayo from the Main Street Gym, and he was a good gym fighter. I remember him working with Dwight Hawkins several times. Few boxers chose to spar with Dwight more than once, and the ones that did wore a foam water-ski vest to cushion their bodies from The Hawks brutal body shots. I remember Hawkins boxing with him several times over the years, and never did Rayo where the vest. I never saw Kid Rayo fight, but he fought a lot of great fighters in and out of L.A. I know that he was coaching amateurs for awhile at the old Lincoln Heights Jail Gym in the 90's, after the death of Johnny Flores. That was the last time I spoke Kid Rayo, and he remembered me from the gym. We talked a bit about his career, and he shared an experience he told me he'd had with Babe McCoy, way back when.

[Randyman]

California Boxing Hall Of Fame inductee, Kid Rayo has passed

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Kid Rayo 2009 CBHOF
R.I.P.

[Randyman]

Congrats to Grandpa Tony and Great-Grandpa Frank!

Frank, Congrats to the parents, grandparents and great grandparents!!

[Randyman]

Kid Rayo, Rest in Peace . . .

I remember Kid Rayo from the Main Street Gym, and he was a good gym fighter. I remember him working with Dwight Hawkins several times. Few boxers chose to spar with Dwight more than once, and the ones that did wore a foam water-ski vest to cushion their bodies from The Hawks brutal body shots. I remember Hawkins boxing with him several times over the years, and never did Rayo where the vest. I never saw Kid Rayo fight, but he fought a lot of great fighters in and out of L.A. I know that he was coaching amateurs for awhile at the old Lincoln Heights Jail Gym in the 90's, after the death of Johnny Flores. That was the last time I spoke Kid Rayo, and he remembered me from the gym. We talked a bit about his career, and he shared an experience he told me he'd had with Babe McCoy, way back when.

Just a little before my time there. you saw some good L.A.boxing history up close Rick. It's those little stories that make up a large part of the history. Thanks for sharing.

[kikibalt]

Congrats to Grandpa Tony and Great-Grandpa Frank!

Frank, Congrats to the parents, grandparents and great grandparents!!

Thanks Randy, Anthony is a happy grandpa...

[Randyman]

Congrats to Grandpa Tony and Great-Grandpa Frank!

Frank, Congrats to the parents, grandparents and great grandparents!!

Thanks Randy, Anthony is a happy grandpa...

Frank, being a grandparent is a great thing. I forget that Tony is not too far behind me in age. In my minds eye I still see him as he was when he was fighting. Now he's a grandpa! Time flies when you're having fun.