Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Chuck1052]

My new e-mail address is [email protected].

- Chuck Johnston

[kikibalt]

[Randyman]

Roberto Duran vs Alvaro Rojas

Rojas as over matched in this fight with Duran. This slim and fit Duran, that still had the fire in his belly was one the greatest pound for pound fighter that ever lived. What a great photo.

[Randyman]

[Randyman]

The Tommy Harrison (of Los Angeles) -Charley Norkus fight.

Charley was scheduled to fight Roland LaStarza in the Providence,RI Auditorium on Oct 20,1952. When Roland pulled out with cuts he suffered in the previous fight with Rocky Jones, Tommy Harrison, a 177 lb heavy and chief sparmate for Rocky Marciano's fights with Harry "Kid" Matthews & Jersey Joe Walcott was substituted into the Main Event. 10 Rds.
Rocky Marciano was on hand to referee one of the Pre-lims, Willie Wilson vs. Jeff Dyer.
Wilson got the SD after 8 Rds with Rocky being the tie breaker.
Rocky was also scheduled to work in Harrison's corner that night, but Rocky changed his mind after being worked out during his reffing duties. It was his first appearance in the Providence area after his winning the Heavy title. The crowd of 1,340 was under what was expected after announcing Rocky would be at the card.
When the Harrison -Norkus fight started Harrison took an early lead by beating Norkus to the punches. Norkus took the 3rd round & 5th rd, but the other 3 rds were working to be in Harrisons favor.
In the eighth Rd my father said he peppered Harrison with left hooks and felt he swiped the 8th rd. My father said, between Rds, Ghee Laico-mgr,said to him that your in Rhode Island and that you will probably need a KO to get the dec.. My father responded in the 9th Rd with solid lefts and then a right cross that dropped Harrison. Tommy Harrison rose up on the count of nine and Norkus went on the attack again. Harrison fought back gamely and countered with some shots of his own. The crowd was now on its feet and expecting big things in the 10th. The two men gave them their money worths. Harrison threw the more punches than Norkus but all accounts had Norkus's punches carrying more of the "sting". It ended with both on their feet and the crowd going wild over the last two power Rds.
Both fighters were evenly matched going into the ring, but Harrison's early Rds won over the scorecard and got the Split Decision. Ref Sharky Buonanno saw it Norkus, Judges Ed Jansen and Dick Cotter gave Harrison the 6-4 edge.
Some of the info above came from the "The Providence Journal" newspaper.

Great write up on your Pops, Charley. Looking forward to seeing you in October.

[Randyman]

Tony Baltazar v Roger Mayeather

[kikibalt]

August "Gus" Wilson (Born: 1887 or 1888; Died: July 27, 1951) was a prominent French-American boxing manager and trainer between the 1920s and 1940s. Wilson was born in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. He initially came to the United States in 1921 with Georges Carpentier, acting as his French-English translator for his bout with Jack Dempsey at Boyle's Thirty Acres in New Jersey. Wilson remained in the United States, and also worked with Dempsey during his second bout with Gene Tunney. After leaving Dempsey, Wilson ran a gym in Orangeburg, New Jersey, which was the frequent training spot for Jimmy McLarnin, for his bouts on the East Coast. During this time Wilson would often manage boxers from France fighting in the United States, such as Eugene Huat. Wilson would move to California during the early 1930s. His first notable fighter in California being Heavyweight prospect Bob Nestell. Wilson would manage one world champion during his career, Bantamweight champion Harold Dade. He continued to manage boxers until his death. On July 17, 1951, Wilson suffered a heart attack while in Portland, Oregon, with his boxer Baby Dutch Culbertson, who was facing Harry "Kid" Matthews. He
would die in a Portland hospital ten days later.

Wally Hally & Manager Gus Wilson

[kikibalt]

Terry Young (right) and Enrique Bolanos trade blows during their ten-round fight
at Madison Square Garden, Sept. 23, 1949. Young of New York's East Side, took a
unanimous decision over the Mexican lightweight. At the weigh-in Young tipped the scales at
140 1/4; Bolanos at 137 1/2.

[Cholo]

Terry Young (right) and Enrique Bolanos trade blows during their ten-round fight
at Madison Square Garden, Sept. 23, 1949. Young of New York's East Side, took a
unanimous decision over the Mexican lightweight. At the weigh-in Young tipped the scales at
140 1/4; Bolanos at 137 1/2.

Frank,

[kikibalt]

Champion Ike Williams (L) reels from a well placed blow from challenger,
Enrique Bolanos early in the fourth round of NBA lightweight title bout at Wrigley Field
in Los Angeles, 4/30/46.

[CNorkusJr]

It will great to meet you Randy, in Oct.. I am very much looking forward to the event and I am very pleased to know that you will be honored that day also.
I am only wondering who will be recording the speeches while your up on the dais ?? LOL. You have always done a spectacular job working the camera for the youtube films.
Either way, its going to be great weekend. See you there.!! Charlie N

[kikibalt]

Ernesto Figueroa. Watched Figueroa fight a draw with Gil Cadilli at the Olympic in the later '50s

[kikibalt]

Harold 'Baby Face' Jones. Seen Jones fight in the southland a few times.
Still remember his fight with Art Aragon in the early '50s

[jj5000]

Frank: Did you see this fight or ever see Ortiz train in person?

[kikibalt]

Frank: Did you see this fight or ever see Ortiz train in person?

I need to know who you are before I answer you

[marzam]

Hello! Fresh blood here.

Thought I'd branch out and share a bit from the past. Here's a little flashback to stir the memories:

Thursday, March 5, 1948 (Good Friday weekend) - Hollywood Legion Stadium Program
THE DOPE by DEAN SNYDER - Commander Jim Bradley and comrades of Hollywood Post 43 will do all in their power to lighten the sorrow and burden of the bereaved Leroy Decatur family. This is and has always been the purpose back of the Hollywood stadium enterprise. For twenty five years profits from boxing and wrestling have poured 100 percent into charities. Naturally the intent is to aid veterans of the war with Germany and their families that need financial assistance in a crisis. But the Post through the years has been among the first to help many others. So next Friday night on April 2nd the entire proceeds of the regular boxing show will go to the Decatur memorial fund, excepting that the boxers appearing will be paid. Matchmaker Bobby Jackson, working in full cooperation with the local fight managers, is arranging a card of six six-round bouts. We think that Leroy Decatur, who lost his life trying to entertain us boxing fans, would want it just this way if he could be here next Friday--and he will be in spirit… Hugh Nichols turned over the entire gate of his Monday night wrestling show to the Crippled Children’s fund of the Hollywood Hospital. This fund is sponsored by the West Hollywood Rotary club of which Frank Gotch is an official.


Friday, April 1, 1949 - Hollywood Legion Stadium Souvenir Program
MAKING IT OFFICIAL - The Rev. Joseph P. Hill, assistant CYO director, signs an agreement to stage CYO amateur boxing bouts at the Hollywood Legion Stadium… The California State Athletic Commission wholeheartedly passed on the CYO application at the meeting last Saturday in Bakersfield. Bouts will start on April 20... Admission has been scaled at from 75 cents to $2.00.
THE CHAMP IS HERE TONIGHT - Special Guest of the evening--Joe Louis.
YOU SAID IT, GROUCHO - “Matches are made in Heaven--also at Hollywood Legion Stadium.”
THE LATIN TOUCH by “HAP” NAVARRO - Let’s open the door to the Stadium’s newly installed gym. There’s the speed bag platform… the heavy bag… the full-view mirror… The first time our gym swung open to Southern California boxers only a few showed up. Last week we counted 22. And the CYO’ers are still to come.


Friday, November 2, 1951 - Hollywood Legion Stadium Program
PRELIMSTERS BATTLE FOR “BEST OF 1951” AWARD by HAP NAVARRO - With slightly more than eight weeks remaining to be fought, the local crop of prelim stars will be firing all their guns at the opposition in hopes of hitting the tape first in the run for the “Outstanding Prelim Boxer” accolade for 1951. At the moment, and it is merely our opinion, the leaders in this merry chase though not necessarily in this order, appear to be Keeny Teran, Gil Cadilli, Willie Vaughn, Mickey Northrup, Juan Luis Campos, Tommy Harrison, Rocky Robinson, and Leroy Richards. Others who may get into the picture are Don Cloud, Pinky Martinez, Abel Fernandez, Mike Augustain, Pete Aguirre, Frankie Rivers, Eddie Hernandez, Jesse Morales and Jimmy Hayes. This group of headline hunters plus a few others who have already taken part in at least one main event, in Los Angeles or elsewhere figure to provide local fight fans with plenty of fireworks for the remainder of the year. Joe Gurrola, Sammy Figueroa, Oscar Reyes, Bobby Brewer, etc.

[kikibalt]

Hello! Fresh blood here.

Thought I'd branch out and share a bit from the past. Here's a little flashback to stir the memories:

Thursday, March 5, 1948 (Good Friday weekend) - Hollywood Legion Stadium Program
THE DOPE by DEAN SNYDER - Commander Jim Bradley and comrades of Hollywood Post 43 will do all in their power to lighten the sorrow and burden of the bereaved Leroy Decatur family. This is and has always been the purpose back of the Hollywood stadium enterprise. For twenty five years profits from boxing and wrestling have poured 100 percent into charities. Naturally the intent is to aid veterans of the war with Germany and their families that need financial assistance in a crisis. But the Post through the years has been among the first to help many others. So next Friday night on April 2nd the entire proceeds of the regular boxing show will go to the Decatur memorial fund, excepting that the boxers appearing will be paid. Matchmaker Bobby Jackson, working in full cooperation with the local fight managers, is arranging a card of six six-round bouts. We think that Leroy Decatur, who lost his life trying to entertain us boxing fans, would want it just this way if he could be here next Friday--and he will be in spirit… Hugh Nichols turned over the entire gate of his Monday night wrestling show to the Crippled Children’s fund of the Hollywood Hospital. This fund is sponsored by the West Hollywood Rotary club of which Frank Gotch is an official.


Friday, April 1, 1949 - Hollywood Legion Stadium Souvenir Program
MAKING IT OFFICIAL - The Rev. Joseph P. Hill, assistant CYO director, signs an agreement to stage CYO amateur boxing bouts at the Hollywood Legion Stadium… The California State Athletic Commission wholeheartedly passed on the CYO application at the meeting last Saturday in Bakersfield. Bouts will start on April 20... Admission has been scaled at from 75 cents to $2.00.
THE CHAMP IS HERE TONIGHT - Special Guest of the evening--Joe Louis.
YOU SAID IT, GROUCHO - “Matches are made in Heaven--also at Hollywood Legion Stadium.”
THE LATIN TOUCH by “HAP” NAVARRO - Let’s open the door to the Stadium’s newly installed gym. There’s the speed bag platform… the heavy bag… the full-view mirror… The first time our gym swung open to Southern California boxers only a few showed up. Last week we counted 22. And the CYO’ers are still to come.


Friday, November 2, 1951 - Hollywood Legion Stadium Program
PRELIMSTERS BATTLE FOR “BEST OF 1951” AWARD by HAP NAVARRO - With slightly more than eight weeks remaining to be fought, the local crop of prelim stars will be firing all their guns at the opposition in hopes of hitting the tape first in the run for the “Outstanding Prelim Boxer” accolade for 1951. At the moment, and it is merely our opinion, the leaders in this merry chase though not necessarily in this order, appear to be Keeny Teran, Gil Cadilli, Willie Vaughn, Mickey Northrup, Juan Luis Campos, Tommy Harrison, Rocky Robinson, and Leroy Richards. Others who may get into the picture are Don Cloud, Pinky Martinez, Abel Fernandez, Mike Augustain, Pete Aguirre, Frankie Rivers, Eddie Hernandez, Jesse Morales and Jimmy Hayes. This group of headline hunters plus a few others who have already taken part in at least one main event, in Los Angeles or elsewhere figure to provide local fight fans with plenty of fireworks for the remainder of the year. Joe Gurrola, Sammy Figueroa, Oscar Reyes, Bobby Brewer, etc.

[marzam]

As part of my job, I have to type up various things in newsletters, programs, magazines, etc. To make any future research/work easier, I got ambitious and flipped through every available Legion boxing program for nuggets of info like those. The problem is that for the most part, nobody gives a damn; all those names are just glanced at by people who have no idea what boxing really meant in Los Angeles back then, and how much sacrifice was made by those men just for that little bit of notice in the stadium programs. Sad.

Another bit of history for everyone... so don't say dat I ain't nevah given youse guyse nuttin'!

August 21, 1921 - BUILD HUGE STADIUM. Hollywood Legion Post Prepares for Boxing Tournament.

Construction by Hollywood Post, American Legion, of a stadium to seat 8,000, has started on the post's acreage adjoining Legion Hall, 1634 El Centro avenue. The spacious inclosure is to be the scene of a boxing carnival, the 12th inst., the funds to be used for ex-service men.
This athletic tourney is indorced by club women and ministers, it is said. James J. Jeffries and "Kid" McCoy will referee several events and Dustin Farnum is slated to hold the megaphone. George Blake of the L.A.A.C., who instituted Army boxing during the war, will act on the advisory board.

Currently, I'm trying to get together a list of movies that were shot there--which is incredibly difficult because nobody apparently kept such a list. Some of the earliest productions shot at the stadium were silent films which utilized the stadium as part of a tourist promotional stunt; tourists to Hollywood could walk in, grab a seat and "see how the magic happens!"

[kikibalt]

"PRELIMSTERS BATTLE FOR “BEST OF 1951” AWARD by HAP NAVARRO - With slightly more than eight weeks remaining to be fought, the local crop of prelim stars will be firing all their guns at the opposition in hopes of hitting the tape first in the run for the “Outstanding Prelim Boxer” accolade for 1951. At the moment, and it is merely our opinion, the leaders in this merry chase though not necessarily in this order, appear to be Keeny Teran, Gil Cadilli, Willie Vaughn, Mickey Northrup, Juan Luis Campos, Tommy Harrison, Rocky Robinson, and Leroy Richards. Others who may get into the picture are Don Cloud, Pinky Martinez, Abel Fernandez, Mike Augustain, Pete Aguirre, Frankie Rivers, Eddie Hernandez, Jesse Morales and Jimmy Hayes. This group of headline hunters plus a few others who have already taken part in at least one main event, in Los Angeles or elsewhere figure to provide local fight fans with plenty of fireworks for the remainder of the year. Joe Gurrola, Sammy Figueroa, Oscar Reyes, Bobby Brewer, etc."

I watch all of the above named fighters fight live or on local TV back in the early '50s. I also got to train at the legion gym in the mid-'50s.....Thanks for your post.

[marzam]

Can you give me some info on the Legion gym? What part of the building it was in, what hours it was used, etc.? We have almost no information on it, and I don't know of any photos floating around. Was the gym room previously used as another room, like storage space? It's a real task to try and figure out what's what, and some day I'll have to track down the blueprints and see how things were laid out. A while back, I came across several scratched and decomposing negatives of the building, like this room (physician's room?). The negatives are probably from 1938, after the wooden structure was torn down in April and this concrete one ("fireproof and earthquake proof!") was finished in September:



Honestly, I've been admiring this thread for a long time because you guys bring up so much previously-unmentioned information that I just had to join in, share what I've learned, and hopefully gather additional nuggets about what happened, where and when!

Boxing-wise, I love the sport but have only minor personal experience. I attended Northern Michigan University, which is an Olympic boxing center in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and in the fall of my senior year (1991), they offered an extracurricular boxing class to anyone interested. The class began with nearly fifty guys and myself, and within about a month, it went down to four guys... and me. Too many of them wanted to be Rocky and had no concept of the commitment that boxing requires of an athlete. Sadly, I was running out of money in early '92, and had to concentrate on my classes in order to graduate on time or risk not getting my diploma. But, hey, it was fun while it lasted! The athletes themselves were training us rather than the coaches because, quite frankly, the coaches wanted little to do with the off-the-street athletes. And they wanted nothing whatsoever to do with me; they almost wouldn't even let me into the class, but they relented when I agreed not to spar with anyone.

What was the problem? Well... (https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4Ehv ... 00ca15.jpg)

[Randyman]

I don't own this photo but have had it on file for years. Rocky Marciano - The only undefeated
Heavyweight Champion in boxing history. No small feat! This photo was taken the year I was born.





This is another photo of Rocky Marciano that I have had on file for years. I don't own the rights.
Not sure of the exact date and it's more than likely in Brockton, Mass





Rocky and his father, Pierino Marchegiano

[Randyman]

It will great to meet you Randy, in Oct.. I am very much looking forward to the event and I am very pleased to know that you will be honored that day also.
I am only wondering who will be recording the speeches while your up on the dais ?? LOL. You have always done a spectacular job working the camera for the youtube films.
Either way, its going to be great weekend. See you there.!! Charlie N

See You there Charlie!

[CNorkusJr]

I don't own this photo but have had it on file for years. Rocky Marciano - The only undefeated
Heavyweight Champion in boxing history. No small feat! This photo was taken the year I was born.





This is another photo of Rocky Marciano that I have had on file for years. I don't own the rights.
Not sure of the exact date and it's more than likely in Brockton, Mass








Rocky and his father, Pierino Marchegiano

Next month :
On Sept 23, 2012 The WBC will be unveiling a 19 foot statue of Rocky Marciano in his former hometown of Brocton, Mass.
Here is a link to show you the statue in its unveiling in Mexico by the sculptor before being shipped to Mass.
http://youtu.be/zN9hd_bzJI4

For a little bit more info click here and scroll down http://www.ring8ny.com/

[Cholo]

I don't own this photo but have had it on file for years. Rocky Marciano - The only undefeated
Heavyweight Champion in boxing history. No small feat! This photo was taken the year I was born.





This is another photo of Rocky Marciano that I have had on file for years. I don't own the rights.
Not sure of the exact date and it's more than likely in Brockton, Mass





Rocky and his father, Pierino Marchegiano

Great photos, Randy.

[kikibalt]

Can you give me some info on the Legion gym? What part of the building it was in, what hours it was used, etc.? We have almost no information on it, and I don't know of any photos floating around. Was the gym room previously used as another room, like storage space? It's a real task to try and figure out what's what, and some day I'll have to track down the blueprints and see how things were laid out. A while back, I came across several scratched and decomposing negatives of the building, like this room (physician's room?). The negatives are probably from 1938, after the wooden structure was torn down in April and this concrete one ("fireproof and earthquake proof!") was finished in September:



Honestly, I've been admiring this thread for a long time because you guys bring up so much previously-unmentioned information that I just had to join in, share what I've learned, and hopefully gather additional nuggets about what happened, where and when!

Boxing-wise, I love the sport but have only minor personal experience. I attended Northern Michigan University, which is an Olympic boxing center in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and in the fall of my senior year (1991), they offered an extracurricular boxing class to anyone interested. The class began with nearly fifty guys and myself, and within about a month, it went down to four guys... and me. Too many of them wanted to be Rocky and had no concept of the commitment that boxing requires of an athlete. Sadly, I was running out of money in early '92, and had to concentrate on my classes in order to graduate on time or risk not getting my diploma. But, hey, it was fun while it lasted! The athletes themselves were training us rather than the coaches because, quite frankly, the coaches wanted little to do with the off-the-street athletes. And they wanted nothing whatsoever to do with me; they almost wouldn't even let me into the class, but they relented when I agreed not to spar with anyone.

What was the problem? Well... (https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4Ehv ... 00ca15.jpg)

When I trained at the legion (mid-'50s) the gym area was on the main floor, where the ring was at. Seats were removed to make room for us to work out, speed bags were against the walls, the heavy bags were on portable stands. It was open everyday except on fight day/night.

Is that you on the picture? can't make out if you are a guy or a Gal...