Classic American West Coast Boxing

[CNorkusJr]

[Randyman]

Rocky was undefeated when he stopped boxing. Why did he retire, Randy?

Rocky was the VP in the family business. The Burke Outdoor advertising business, that took up a lot of his time. When his father, Sammy Burke passed away, Rocky took over the company. He is still the Head to this day. He stays involved with boxing as a referee.

[Randyman]

Randy-You sure are posting some really nice stuff on your family and The Burke Family.
Thank You. Gotta be proud dad of that heavy swinger back when he was younger !

Thanks Charlie, my son enjoyed his short time boxing but his first love is music. He still enjoys watching boxing as a fan. Probably better off.

I'm proud of my cousins Rocky and Louie too, both are great guys.

[Randyman]

You've been posting some pretty informative stuff on your Pops. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[raylawpc]

Rocky was undefeated when he stopped boxing. Why did he retire, Randy?

Rocky was the VP in the family business. The Burke Outdoor advertising business, that took up a lot of his time. When his father, Sammy Burke passed away, Rocky took over the company. He is still the Head to this day. He stays involved with boxing as a referee.

Thanks Randy!

[raylawpc]

You've been posting some pretty informative stuff on your Pops. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[CNorkusJr]

Thanks Men !! I'll post what I have on my dad's 2nd fight with Powell (1958) which Powell got his revenge in San Diego when I have the time. It doesn't consist as much as this first fight but it's fascinating to say the least.

[Chuck1052]

Charlie- Looking at the U.S. Census database of Ancestry.com, I found one Charles Norkus, born about 1896, in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 versions. In all three, his parents were listed as Vincent and Anna Norkus.

Looking at the World War I Draft Registration database of Ancestry.com, I found an image of the registration card of one Charles Edmund Norkus, who was born in 1896. It is likely that he filled out the card himself.

Man! Your grandmother was left with four small children after your grandfather died in 1931, which was during the Great Depression. That is a tough row to hoe, but it is great to find out that all of the children did well later on.

- Chuck Johnston

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Hi Bruce, My father and cornermen were guests of the St Francis Hotel in San Francisco. A most memorable place my father told me, and wonderfully situated in downtown. Part of the fight agreement was a week stay in San Fran-prior and after the Powell I fight in 54, and the Moore fight in 58. Several news conferences and radio interviews were held throughout spots in San Fran that week leading up to the fight. At ODouls place around the corner, in The St Francis itself and my father did train in Newmans Gym. What roadwork he did do in San Fran was all uphill he said LOL. He loved San Fran. A mag did a picture spread on him here turning the cablecars around, At DiMaggio's on the wharf.etc etc. (My father was good friends with Joe DiMaggio here in NY, Joe was a huge known boxing fan,and attended many NY fights including Yankee Stad cards. He enjoyed my fathers fights even in Miami during spring training. My father has a picture of himself with a huge chef's hat on in the kitchen of DiMaggios,where he was treated like a king.)Your dad might have heard of Art Norkus-the famed bandleader in san Fran. No relations here,but my dad gave him a nice plug in town.

On my fathers strict advice I went to San Fran in 1988 with my first wife, where we visited the old Civic Center,where on the 2nd floor they had a small CA boxing museum. We did mostly the tourist thing-but I certainly agreed with him that it is one of the MOST Beautiful
cities that one can go to.!!


Bruce, Can you tell me if Newman's Gym is still there. I didnt get a chance to look it up in '88, but would love to try and get there someday. Maybe under a different name and I'm sure a new look, but would be interested to know if it is still there ? Thanks.
A few years back I went to the old Miami Bch Aud. which is still there,but now called The Fillmore at Jackie Gleason Theatre,and is now a renovated concert hall in the interior. Just like the SF Aud. which is now The Bill Graham Theatre I heard last,doing the concert thing too. By the way, the old Garden and Stillman's gym in NY are long gone into the history books.

Hi Charlie,
Your father did it up right while he was in S.F., the St. Francis is still a premier hotel known for its superior service. That little boxing museum at the old civic is now gone and I have been trying to find out where all or the exhibits went. I donated a couple old boxing posters that I had collected and wouldn't mind getting them back if they're just sitting in a basement someplace. My father who was head of the S.F. building trades union council at the time called in some favors to get material and labor donated to help put the little museum together. I was fortunate enough to box at the civic six times including the Golden Gloves and as an amateur on several pro cards and at 16 I thought I was pretty cool stuff!
Sadly Newman's gym is long gone...the old sign from the gym hangs in a little gym on the peninsula and I have meant to go down and get a picture of it and post it.
I must agree that S.F. is one of the most beautiful places, I feel fortunate to work there supervising construction in some of its great buildings, old and new, I never take it for granted.
Both Eddie Muller and Jack Fisk wrote well into the 70s and Muller's son has done some writing as well. My father befriended the two of them separately (they are rumored to not like each other) and at times would drive them home from Northern California Veteran Boxer's luncheons and says he doesn't think either of them ever drove.
I very much enjoy learning about your father's career.
Bruce

> Bruce do you remember the bucket of blood arena and winterland??

Coach Greg,
I'm a little too young, even at 55, for either of those places, I did ask my father today about them he said he saw fights in both places. He said Winterland used to be Dreamland Arena. The Bucket of Blood was the nick name for National Hall at 16th and Mission. My first fight I attended was at Kezar Pavilion between Denny Moyer and Jimmy Lester in 1965 and I fell in love instantly with the whole seen. I still have the program with my ticket stub stabled to it.
Bruce

[CNorkusJr]

Charlie- Looking at the U.S. Census database of Ancestry.com, I found one Charles Norkus, born about 1896, in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 versions. In all three, his parents were listed as Vincent and Anna Norkus.

Looking at the World War I Draft Registration database of Ancestry.com, I found an image of the registration card of one Charles Edmund Norkus, who was born in 1896. It is likely that he filled out the card himself.

Man! Your grandmother was left with four small children after your grandfather died in 1931, which was during the Great Depression. That is a tough row to hoe, but it is great to find out that all of the children did well later on.

- Chuck Johnston

Save you some time Chuck

Vincent was Charles I 's father from Russian/Poland border then to Alsace Lorraine then to USA. Peter was Vincent's brother.
Charles I,William & Marie were brothers and sister.They are buried in Bklyn NY



Anna's grave-wife to Vincent.Anna -mother of Charles I,born in Alsace Lorraine(spoke only French) came to USA and married Vincent here. He was like 40,she was 21 or close to it. Buried with young child lost,and son John aged 23.
buried nearby.Wanted to be buried with her young children lost.



My father Charles II(the boxer died 1996) and mother Margaret(died 2001) are buried in Farmingdale,NY.Because my father really didnt know his father or grandfather-he said I was Charles Jr.

A long lost cousin in Chicago recently notified me of this info above. Failed to mention the WW I service. Interesting. And Thank You.

[raylawpc]

Charlie- Looking at the U.S. Census database of Ancestry.com, I found one Charles Norkus, born about 1896, in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 versions. In all three, his parents were listed as Vincent and Anna Norkus.

Looking at the World War I Draft Registration database of Ancestry.com, I found an image of the registration card of one Charles Edmund Norkus, who was born in 1896. It is likely that he filled out the card himself.

Man! Your grandmother was left with four small children after your grandfather died in 1931, which was during the Great Depression. That is a tough row to hoe, but it is great to find out that all of the children did well later on.

- Chuck Johnston

Save you some time Chuck

Vincent was Charles I 's father from Russian/Poland border then to Alsace Lorraine then to USA. Peter was Vincent's brother.
Charles I,William & Marie were brothers and sister.They are buried in Bklyn NY



Anna's grave-wife to Vincent.Anna -mother of Charles I,born in Alsace Lorraine(spoke only French) came to USA and married Vincent here. He was like 40,she was 21 or close to it. Buried with young child lost,and son John aged 23.
buried nearby.Wanted to be buried with her young children lost.



My father Charles II(the boxer died 1996) and mother Margaret(died 2001) are buried in Farmingdale,NY.Because my father really didnt know his father or grandfather-he said I was Charles Jr.

A long lost cousin in Chicago recently notified me of this info above. Failed to mention the WW I service. Interesting. And Thank You.

FYI: The registration was simply a registration for the World War I draft; it didn't mean he served. My granddad also had to register, but he was never called up.

[CNorkusJr]

Charlie- Looking at the U.S. Census database of Ancestry.com, I found one Charles Norkus, born about 1896, in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 versions. In all three, his parents were listed as Vincent and Anna Norkus.

Looking at the World War I Draft Registration database of Ancestry.com, I found an image of the registration card of one Charles Edmund Norkus, who was born in 1896. It is likely that he filled out the card himself.

Man! Your grandmother was left with four small children after your grandfather died in 1931, which was during the Great Depression. That is a tough row to hoe, but it is great to find out that all of the children did well later on.

- Chuck Johnston

My Norkus relatives were something-Thank you.


Chuck- My grandmother WAS a piece of work. Danish-woman born in USA.Last name Christensen before marriages. I'll leave you with this chuckler:

Some of the Best boxing stories came from my mother. My dad was like pulling teeth on some things,even for me. My father fought most of his career as Charley "Murphy" Norkus.
His green and gold robes had this monicker on the back and can be seen in some of his videos. Truth be told-we have very little Irish Blood,if any at all.

His mgr and trainers said that since no one knows what a "Norkus" is-why not be half or whole Irish. Irish followers buy a heck of lot more tickets to fights than Germans do. At least on the westside of New York at old Madison sq Garden & St Nicks Arena.My father's Marine backers coupled with the Irish Dock Workers and westside,plus my father giving more than he took punch wise was a marriage made in Heaven. He sold thousands if not hundreds of tickets on the "Murphy "name alone.

After a nationally televised fight-he was interviewed in the ring. When the reporter asked-my father said the Murphy name was his mothers maiden name. Watching with her friends in a packed local bar The Bellrose Tavern-his mother turned red with embarrasment as they all known her as Christensen.She explained that "Murphy" sold the tickets thing.

When my father saw his mother the next day to say he won the fight-did she watch ? My mother said -that his mother asked my mother to stay outside one minute to talk to her son.
Inside, my mother said "his mother kicked the shit out of him for embarassing her like that on TV".By the time he fought next-he had to have a new robe-sans the Murphy name.

He used the "Murphy "robe a bit more when time was needed.
True Story.

[CNorkusJr]

What's a Norkus anyway ?

My father somehow knew that his grandfather Vincent came from Alsace Lorraine at one time. That his grandmother came from Alsace Lorraine-so 2+2=4. Wrong.

Last year our family found out from long lost relatives on another tree branch that Vincent got his start in Siauliai (Russian/Polish border town going both ways in border struggles)
Norkus can be either Polish or Russian and we dont have any exact ID before Vincent.
We did not know this till last year-and my father went to his grave thinking he was Danish-German.

Lets go back to 1954. Norkus vs Roland LaStarza in sold out Cleveland Arena (12,000+) for national TV bout. A week before fight my father arrives in Cleveland to finish off training and public appearances. His mgr /trainers again have a bright idea- Why cant Norkus be Polish ?
Half of inner city Cleveland is Polish back then-we'll sell tickets. They begin to announce that Charley Norkus is descended from Polish royalty. A huge hit immediately. It gives Cleveland someone they can call their own and root for. Cant hide LaStarza as Polish now can you.
I have articles here with photos of my father being feted by no less than 5 Polish Halls and Societies on different nights. They sold over 5,000 tickets alone for this one. My father said that Cleveland Arena was All Norkus that night. His mother had no qualms about that one.

Also, my father said he received a bit of Polish language fan mail after that here in NY. A Polish woman on his block taught him how to write "Best Wishes" in Polish and sent back an autographed picture to each letter.
True Story.
Little did we Norkus's know that we are part Polish in 2011. I dont think royalty though-but my dad was King Paduppa of one night in Cleveland.

Siauliai- You can look it up !

[kikibalt]

Manny Pacquiao training harder than usual

Pacquiao doesn't want his third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez left in the hands of the judges.
Manny Pacquiao

By Lance Pugmire
October 18, 2011

The man who has watched boxers prepare for fights since the 1960s approached the trainer of the sport's current king and expressed some cautionary words.

"Slow him down, Freddie," veteran fight promoter Bob Arum said near the sweat-soaked ring in Hollywood.

It's there where Manny Pacquiao has returned to train under Freddie Roach for the final four weeks before his third fight against bitter rival Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.

"Slow him down," Arum repeated.

Almost from the moment the fight was announced, there have been concerns about properly pacing Pacquiao, who didn't even wait for the introductory news conference in the Philippines to start running.

Pacquiao, 32, is telling those close to him he doesn't want this fight in the hands of the judges after his prior battles with Marquez resulted in a 2004 draw and a 2008 Pacquiao victory by split-decision. The decisive score was a one-point margin.

He wants the knockout, and Roach says, "That's what we're training him for."

But there's danger in peaking too early, of working so hard in the first month-plus of training that the body inevitably fatigues in the final weeks before a fight.

"We're way ahead of where we usually are, like 75-80% of where we should be by fight night," Roach said. "We're usually around 50% right now. I have to make sure we don't overdo it."

Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 knockouts) grinned his way through being questioned about his fervent effort to get ready for the 38-year-old Marquez.

"I'm focusing on my strength and speed," Pacquiao said. "They're watching my body, so I don't become too big. I control my training, step by step, until the time comes to fight. I want to be gradual in my training."

Pacquiao's words aren't matching his actions, conditioning coach Alex Ariza says. Pacquiao and Ariza had an occasionally animated conversation in the ring last week. Ariza said he convinced Pacquiao that drills to build up strength in the feet and legs are more important at this juncture than upper-body strength training.

"He wants to be as big as he was against Miguel Cotto," Ariza said of Pacquiao's last knockout two years ago — which has been followed by three consecutive unanimous decisions versus larger opponents. "But Cotto was the equivalent of a linebacker, and Marquez is a free safety.

"I think he just wants to kill Marquez."

Pacquiao has never forgiven Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) for not only complaining incessantly after the 2008 loss, but traveling to the Philippines to wear T-shirts saying he was robbed of victory and pleading for a third fight.

"This fight," Pacquiao said, "will be the answer to all those doubts."

[email protected]

[Chuck1052]

Charlie- You have a very interesting family history. By the way, I subscribe to Ancestry.com, which means I can access lots of census, death, military and birth records very quickly with their search engine. It is another tool for doing boxing history research, which has been a hobby of mine for over thirty years. Until recent years, I also looked at old newspapers on micro-film, which was extremely time consuming and often involved traveling to libraries in certain locales.

- Chuck Johnston

[kikibalt]

Greatest sports figures in L.A. history, No. 15: Merlin Olsen

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_ ... olsen.html

[BigJuicyHog]

Just wanted to pop in and thank you guys for the stuff in this thread. You guys could make a book out of it.

Very interesting stuff.

[kikibalt]

Greatest sports figures in L.A. history No. 14: Don Drysdale

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_ ... sdale.html

[kikibalt]

Just wanted to pop in and thank you guys for the stuff in this thread. You guys could make a book out of it.

Very interesting stuff.

Thanks BigJ...

[kikibalt]

California boxing fans have enjoyed the work of a long list of noteworthy matchmakers since the late 19th century Determining who was the very best among them is no easy task. From my own personal experience in the sport two names come to mind. One would be Tom Gallery, who was the MM at Hollywood Legion Stadium from 1925-1931. In time he also made matches for the Olympic Auditorium and many southland outdoor shows as well as at Dreamland in San Fancisco. A capable man, Tom went on to become an executive with the Dumont radio and TV group.

Another nominee would be George Parnassus, a skillled fight man who became MM at the Olympic in LA during 1957. But he did not stop there. George is the only man to have made use of all the major boxing venues in the southland. He also showed at the Sports Arena, the Forum, Wrigley Field, the Coliseum and Dodger Stadium.He brought big time boxing to California by importing many of the top names in the world wide game. His blockbuster shows may never be equaled as they were not only well programmed but they left unprecedented receipts at the box office And that was long before the advent of Pay Per View as we know it today..

George also had one other trump card............he was very well connected with the sport in Mexico as he was the leading importer of Mexican talent for years before his ascennt to matchmaking. He had preference in dealing with Mexco's top fight managers and their stable stars.[

This was the same man who in 1934 was seen standing on the running board of a moving car with a megaphone pressed to his lips plugging the boxing show of that night at El Centro's tiny arena.


hap navarro

[Randyman]

California boxing fans have enjoyed the work of a long list of noteworthy matchmakers since the late 19th century Determining who was the very best among them is no easy task. From my own personal experience in the sport two names come to mind. One would be Tom Gallery, who was the MM at Hollywood Legion Stadium from 1925-1931. In time he also made matches for the Olympic Auditorium and many southland outdoor shows as well as at Dreamland in San Fancisco. A capable man, Tom went on to become an executive with the Dumont radio and TV group.

Another nominee would be George Parnassus, a skillled fight man who became MM at the Olympic in LA during 1957. But he did not stop there. George is the only man to have made use of all the major boxing venues in the southland. He also showed at the Sports Arena, the Forum, Wrigley Field, the Coliseum and Dodger Stadium.He brought big time boxing to California by importing many of the top names in the world wide game. His blockbuster shows may never be equaled as they were not only well programmed but they left unprecedented receipts at the box office And that was long before the advent of Pay Per View as we know it today..

George also had one other trump card............he was very well connected with the sport in Mexico as he was the leading importer of Mexican talent for years before his ascennt to matchmaking. He had preference in dealing with Mexco's top fight managers and their stable stars.[

This was the same man who in 1934 was seen standing on the running board of a moving car with a megaphone pressed to his lips plugging the boxing show of that night at El Centro's tiny arena.


hap navarro

Hap, it's always good to hear your thoughts and perspective on all things regarding boxing (or anything else for that matter). George Parnassus certainly left his mark on the sport. Thanks for the info.

[CNorkusJr]

California boxing fans have enjoyed the work of a long list of noteworthy matchmakers since the late 19th century Determining who was the very best among them is no easy task. From my own personal experience in the sport two names come to mind. One would be Tom Gallery, who was the MM at Hollywood Legion Stadium from 1925-1931. In time he also made matches for the Olympic Auditorium and many southland outdoor shows as well as at Dreamland in San Fancisco. A capable man, Tom went on to become an executive with the Dumont radio and TV group.

Another nominee would be George Parnassus, a skillled fight man who became MM at the Olympic in LA during 1957. But he did not stop there. George is the only man to have made use of all the major boxing venues in the southland. He also showed at the Sports Arena, the Forum, Wrigley Field, the Coliseum and Dodger Stadium.He brought big time boxing to California by importing many of the top names in the world wide game. His blockbuster shows may never be equaled as they were not only well programmed but they left unprecedented receipts at the box office And that was long before the advent of Pay Per View as we know it today..

George also had one other trump card............he was very well connected with the sport in Mexico as he was the leading importer of Mexican talent for years before his ascennt to matchmaking. He had preference in dealing with Mexco's top fight managers and their stable stars.[

This was the same man who in 1934 was seen standing on the running board of a moving car with a megaphone pressed to his lips plugging the boxing show of that night at El Centro's tiny arena.


hap navarro

Hap, it's always good to hear your thoughts and perspective on all things regarding boxing (or anything else for that matter). George Parnassus certainly left his mark on the sport. Thanks for the info.

Great Piece of writing. On the original videos at home here with my fathers fights-some carry "The Dumont Broadcast" trade mark at the end of the video. I dont know if they sponsored the Friday Night fights or Wednesday Night Fights or both.

[Chuck1052]

It is my understanding that Tom Gallery was a TV sports executive for NBC after working for DuMont.

- Chuck Johnston

[Rick Farris]

Don Fraser . . .

Excuse my brief return to this thread but I wanted to let all of you who are concerned about Don Fraser that he is doing very well after his surgery yesterday.
I spoke with Don's daughter Denise yesterday, and again this morning. Don was kept in the hospital overnight, under observation but it appears that everything went very well and things look good for a successful recovery. I spent Sunday evening with Don, we went out to listen to a great band that plays at my favorite watering hole and his daughter Denise (a great drummer) sat in with the band for a couple sets. After his recovery, we'll begin work on next year's CBHOF event. Regardless of the inductees, it will likely set a record for the most tables sold for a CBHOF event to date.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Just heard from Don Fraser. Said his surgery went well, but that he won't know till he sees his surgeon next week as to what was actually found in his arm...