Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Sonny Liston

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Chiki Jai-Tijuana,Mexico

Best Basque Food on the West Coast

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La Crea Boxing Gym=Tijuana,Mexico

All the great fighters in Mexico have trained there

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Jai Alai Palace- Tijuana,Mexico

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Tijuana Municipal Auditorium"Fausto Gutierrez"

Still have weekly boxing and wrestling cards

[El Gallo]

Tijuana Municipal Auditorium"Fausto Gutierrez"

Still have weekly boxing and wrestling cards

Great stuff, Rog!

[El Gallo]

Duct Tape

"So how's school going?" asked Ed as he drew a tall cold draft.
"When I'm finished with this class I can get my credential,"I said.
"What course is this?"
"Childhood development."
"Sounds interesting."
"Yesterday our psycologist took us to a restauarant. She split us up into three groups. Each group had to function without the use of one of its senses."
"What did you lose?"
"We couldn't talk. We put duct tape on our mouthes."
"Did you feel awkward?"
"To tell the truth I felt more at ease. I was relaxed. I felt I could be more honest with myself."
"That's strange,"said Ed.
I held the beer glass.
"Someone said the apocalypse began with the first spoken word."
"What was that?"asked Ed.
I drank some beer.
"Say Ed,how's Burke doing with that new kid he's got? Doesn't he have a fight coming up?"
"They're trying to work on his plan of attack. Wants him to throw combinations off his feignts."
I grabbed the glass again.
"Well tell Burke not to use any duct tape."
"What was that?"
"Just thinking out loud."
Two customers walked in and sat at the other end of the bar.
"Rog,another beer?"
"No thanks. If you see Burke tell him I said'hello'".
As Ed walked down to the other end of the bar ,I thought of my grand daughter Amanda when she was nine years old dancing sevillanas in the Gypsy quarter of Seville with the old men at three in the morning.

Instead of using medical tape, duct tape should be required when taping the wrists after putting on the boxing gloves. I have never seen duct tape unravel when used in such a situation during a bout.

- Chuck Johnston

Duct tape is more adhesive Chuck, but can be manipulated to fail just as easily as the tape used to wrap boxers.

[dagosd2000]

Champs Lounge

This is Burke Emery's bar.
Burke was inducted into the CBHOF this past year. Rog and I made it happen!
It never got a mention, no fanfare, no notice.
I'm not certain Burke is aware of his induction. Sadly, it didn't have to be that way.
There were two earlier campaigns to induct Emery, but he was denied.
So after two years of BS I say, he's going in this year. Bottom line, we refused to be denied!
We did our best for a deserving world boxing figure.
Sadly, had it taken place in it's right time, maybe it would have brought a smile to the face of a tough old man?
God bless you, Burke!

-Rick Farris

Wow Now this must be a Great Place to watch boxing or just have a beer and talk about it. Not much here on Long Island-though there are a few generic sports bars.
NYC has a place in Times Square called Jimmy's Corner owned by famed gym owner and cornerman Jimmy Glenn. He's had the place for zillion years and nothing but boxing memorabilia in it dating back to 40's and 50's. Small but the beer is cold, and unless Jimmy is on road working a corner, he's in the joint. His wife handles the daytime duties. A real gem of old NY that only a handful of locals and boxing crowd knows about.
I bet Mr Emery's place is the same. Cant beat a place like that. Thanks Roger for the a great photo.

You Can't Judge A Bar By Its Sign

Don't kid youself Charley. No one talks about boxing in this place,nor any other place in San Diego. If you can pin down Burke he'll talk about boxing only if you ask him something about it. He's not behind the bar anymore and the only people who schlep booze in his joint are dames and guys who aren't old enough to know the difference between Archie Moore and Archie Bunker.As for the customers,all they know is that Burke was a fighter once. They couldn't tell you anyone he fought.I've never seen a fight on TV in his place. For a bar in this town to buy a fight on Pay TV it will run a couple of thousand bucks.No bar in this burg is going to shell out that kind of dough. Champs Bar doesn't get the traffic like the other local bars. Those bars get the beach crowd. An example:the names of the three closest bars are The High Dive,The Off Shore,and The Bay Ho Tavern. Champs just isn't a fit anymore. When Burke finally throws in the towel,you can bet the first thing the new owner will do is take down the sign.

[Expug]

What I Tell Ya...

"I didn't know you liked hockey,"said my father as he was putting on his coat and tie.
"I like watching the Blackhawks."
The TV commentator was finishing announcing the starting lineups.The Blackhawks were hosting the Stanley Cup Bruins at the Chicago Stadium. I always enjoyed watching anything from the Chicago Stadium because I liked the sound of the big Wurlitzer Organ. A big sound for a big city.
"Did I hear him say Esposito?"asked my dad.
"Yeah,that's Tony Esposito the Chicago goalie."
"Tony Esposito? Is he any good?"
"He's one of the best in the league."
"Well I think you ought to know that Tony Esposito is your cousin."
"Really?"I said in slight astonishment. "You never mentioned that to me before."
"Sure,"said my father tying his tie."His last name is Esposito like ours. He's from Chicago. And he was named after your uncle ,Anthony. Besides,he's Italian."
"I thought Tony Esposito was born in Canada."
"No, he's from the neighborhood."
My dad checked himself out in the mirror.
"Well I've got to go downtown and talk to a fella,"he said. "I'll be back in a couple of hours."

The game started and right off the bat the Bruins were skating the Hawks off the ice. The Bruins were the best team in the league and they were loaded. They had Bobby Orr who was the best player at the time and Tony Esposito's older brother,Phil, who led the league in scoring. It was tough watching the game. By the middle of the 3rd period I'd had enough. I got up to change the channel. That's when my father returned from downtown.
"How's the game?"
"The Blackhawks are getting killed."
My father started to loosen his tie.
"Phil Esposito just turned a hat trick. The game's over."
"See,"said my father,"What I tell ya. Phil Esposito is you cousin."

Rog, Tony Esposito is a beautiful guy he really is. I count him amongst my friends. As I've mentioned before,my wife is legaly blind and suffers from a tough disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. Tony is always asking how she's doing and how he can help. I really appreciate things like that.I have had the pleasure of spending a good deal of time with him over the last few years and he is great company as well. He's a legend here in Chicago and a truly good person

[dagosd2000]

What I Tell Ya...

"I didn't know you liked hockey,"said my father as he was putting on his coat and tie.
"I like watching the Blackhawks."
The TV commentator was finishing announcing the starting lineups.The Blackhawks were hosting the Stanley Cup Bruins at the Chicago Stadium. I always enjoyed watching anything from the Chicago Stadium because I liked the sound of the big Wurlitzer Organ. A big sound for a big city.
"Did I hear him say Esposito?"asked my dad.
"Yeah,that's Tony Esposito the Chicago goalie."
"Tony Esposito? Is he any good?"
"He's one of the best in the league."
"Well I think you ought to know that Tony Esposito is your cousin."
"Really?"I said in slight astonishment. "You never mentioned that to me before."
"Sure,"said my father tying his tie."His last name is Esposito like ours. He's from Chicago. And he was named after your uncle ,Anthony. Besides,he's Italian."
"I thought Tony Esposito was born in Canada."
"No, he's from the neighborhood."
My dad checked himself out in the mirror.
"Well I've got to go downtown and talk to a fella,"he said. "I'll be back in a couple of hours."

The game started and right off the bat the Bruins were skating the Hawks off the ice. The Bruins were the best team in the league and they were loaded. They had Bobby Orr who was the best player at the time and Tony Esposito's older brother,Phil, who led the league in scoring. It was tough watching the game. By the middle of the 3rd period I'd had enough. I got up to change the channel. That's when my father returned from downtown.
"How's the game?"
"The Blackhawks are getting killed."
My father started to loosen his tie.
"Phil Esposito just turned a hat trick. The game's over."
"See,"said my father,"What I tell ya. Phil Esposito is you cousin."

Rog, Tony Esposito is a beautiful guy he really is. I count him amongst my friends. As I've mentioned before,my wife is legaly blind and suffers from a tough disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. Tony is always asking how she's doing and how he can help. I really appreciate things like that.I have had the pleasure of spending a good deal of time with him over the last few years and he is great company as well. He's a legend here in Chicago and a truly good person

I told you he was my cousin.

[dagosd2000]

George Latka

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Just caught this on the Google search. Jake LaMotta,90, and his new wife. Be carefull Jake,I think she can knock you down.

[CNorkusJr]

Hi Roger, Sorry to hear that "Champs" is not a boxing bar. Your right-cant judge a book by its cover. But I do know the beaches are nice-my father told me so-at least in the late 1950's they were LOL.
Dont know where you got the LaMotta picture, but here is one with his new wife taken last year at the NYS Boxing HOF dinner. Jake one of its first inductees. He might be old, but he still is sharp and tells funny stories. Some have been washed through the mill for many years, but he does have new material, especially on DeNiro.
His new wife (sorry I forgot her name) is very nice and is petite as well.
What he was telling me was his relationship with my dad, the two cavorted around Manhattan for many years together, and with Jackie Gleason soaking it all in at Toots Shor's place.

The first time I met Jake was in 1971, I was 14 years old. My father took me into Manhattan,which was always a treat for a young kid. The purpose of trip was to meet Jim Jacobs, owner of Big Fights Inc, he was to give my father some 16mm reels of a couple of his fights (gratis). We had time to kill at our early arrival at Penn Station. My father walked me up 7th Ave and about 40th St. A bar-no name on it and a porthole for a window. My father said wait here and dont wander off. My father entered and in about 2 minutes exited with a man about my height. My father said " This is Middleweight Champion Jake LaMotta". (Reminding you 1971-well past Jakes career-but my father always called Champions-"Champ or Champion" no matter when they got title.) I said hello and we shook hands. A crowd of passerbys quickly formed and Jake suggested we go inside.

Once inside, I couldnt help notice the lovely ladies on the bar with no tops on. Jake was a bouncer at a titty bar. While I got an eyefull and loud music pumping-my father talked to Jake on business. It was about this time that my father helped Jake get a job as a liquor salesman in Manhattan (My dad was one on LI).
After a few minutes, my father said that was enough and we said goodbye to the Champ. We then reversed our walk and got the reels and took the train back home.
A Great 3 hours spent.




My dad with Jake in 1995, the last year the two would meet after a lifetime of memories. My father passed away from cancer just a few short months later in 1996.
You can see where he once fought at 6'0 194 lbs, now he was about 5' 7" 145 lbs.


Tommorrow Feb.10th, Ring 8 will have its Annual Holiday Luncheon (which was re-secheduled from Dec 2012 because of Hurricane Sandy). Some honorees hopefully in attendance (We just got hit with 16 inches of snow-but the roads are clear now) will be Bernard Hopkins (training in New Jersey for his upcoming fight), Oscar De La Hoya (who is putting on another Golden Boy card at Barclays Center), Joe Calzaghe (Fighter of Decade),Kid Chocolate Pete Quillan(fighter of year) and more.

April 28th will be 2nd Annual New York state Boxing HOF dinner. No inductees named yet- but there is a list of over 150 boxers who were called "Champions" who hailed from New York since bare knuckle days.

[dagosd2000]

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[dagosd2000]

Space For Rent

"I see where McGwire,Bonds,and the rest of the 'roid users didn't get inducted into the Hall of Fame,"said Ed the barteder as he set down my beer.
"No,and the low numbers of votes they got from the writers doesn't look good for them in the future."
"I say kick all the cheats out and don't let any of them in."
"That's how most of the baseball people think."
Ed turned on the TV looking for a game to put on.
"Roger. Doesn't boxing have a Hall of Fame?"
"Yeah,it's in New York."
"Any trouble with fighters getting in there because of a beef?"
"Not that I know of."
"I bet there were some who had issues."
"If they had to kick out every one of those fighters,promoters,and managers that were involved in a fight that wasn't on the level,they'd have to put a"For Rent"sign on the building."

[dagosd2000]

Jake LaMotta-Still Raging

[CNorkusJr]

Jake LaMotta-Still Raging

Yea thats him !!! Good Job Roger-you have a wonderful talent.

Last thing I heard on LaMotta- just after last years dinner in April, he went out to Los Angeles to start filming the second part to "Raging Bull".
Not a big budget film, no big studio behind it, and as far as I heard DeNiro wanted no part of it. You can only go downhill after the first one.
Soon after the success of the Original Scorsese production, LaMotta pushed for a sequal to his life in the ring. He authored a second book called "Raging Bull II" (what else)
It sold minimally and can be found with a good search on the web. I liked it because it has a chapter in it on my dad getting him the short lived career as a liquor salesman-which my father knew beforehand was going to be a wash out.
But regardless, We heard here in New York that in LA, LaMotta got into production problems because ; if I remember correctly; MGM or whatever studio did the first one held the rights for any sequal, and Jake was using other backers and entire crew without the studios okay. A court issue ensued and a immediate halt came to the project. LaMotta returned home to New York. Thats the last we heard. I guess the original studio sees no money in it, or story line, nor do they want to throw their money away.
I really dont think Jake needs anything financially like many other former champs, but I know he is still pushing hard for the sequal.

He still walks the streets of Manhattan, going out on the town and occaisional sport autograph appearances. If he's not eating dinner or anything, he is quite approachable and will give you a rememberance or two.

[dagosd2000]

Jake LaMotta-Still Raging

Yea thats him !!! Good Job Roger-you have a wonderful talent.

Last thing I heard on LaMotta- just after last years dinner in April, he went out to Los Angeles to start filming the second part to "Raging Bull".
Not a big budget film, no big studio behind it, and as far as I heard DeNiro wanted no part of it. You can only go downhill after the first one.
Soon after the success of the Original Scorsese production, LaMotta pushed for a sequal to his life in the ring. He authored a second book called "Raging Bull II" (what else)
It sold minimally and can be found with a good search on the web. I liked it because it has a chapter in it on my dad getting him the short lived career as a liquor salesman-which my father knew beforehand was going to be a wash out.
But regardless, We heard here in New York that in LA, LaMotta got into production problems because ; if I remember correctly; MGM or whatever studio did the first one held the rights for any sequal, and Jake was using other backers and entire crew without the studios okay. A court issue ensued and a immediate halt came to the project. LaMotta returned home to New York. Thats the last we heard. I guess the original studio sees no money in it, or story line, nor do they want to throw their money away.
I really dont think Jake needs anything financially like many other former champs, but I know he is still pushing hard for the sequal.

He still walks the streets of Manhattan, going out on the town and occaisional sport autograph appearances. If he's not eating dinner or anything, he is quite approachable and will give you a rememberance or two.

Thanks Charley. Maybe old Jake is just about all raged out.

[dagosd2000]

A Nibble

Jimmy Avila used to have a Boston Whaler and we'd like to take it around the jetty at night and drift inside the harbor.He had made a couple of hoop nets out of wrought iron and fishing net. We'd slice up mackeral and tie it down with wire at the bottom of the net and then let the net drop,waitfor a half hour and then pull up real fast and hope we trapped some lobsters. While we set the nets we'd cast our rods with the cut mackeral for bait on our hooks and set the drags. We wanted something big like a ray or a sand shark. In the mean time we opened a bottle and sling the breeze.
"Roger,you went to school. What's a Phd.?",asked Jimmy sitting on the wooden bait tank.
"That's when the university gives you this degree about being an expert in something."
"I met this guy from Fish and Game on the boat last trip and said he was a doctor,but said he wasn't a real doctor,but a doctor in Oceanagraphy.He said he had a Phd."
"You have to have those guys along on the boats now."
"Yeah,the Feds want to make sure we ain't netting dolphins in our nets."
"So this guy comes out to make sure you 're not netting porpose,"I said.
"No one likes the guy. I don't think he knows anything about tuna fishing."
"But he's a Phd."
"Well then everyone on that boat should be a Phd. There's got to over two hundred years of tuna fishing experience on that boat."
I took a swig of tequila from the bottle and passed it to Jimmy.
"My grand daughter's dance teacher has a Phd.She always signs her name with 'Phd. ' after it"I said.
"Does she have a Phd. in dancing?"
"No,science."
"I knew a guy once that said his preacher had a Phd."
"I wonder if priests have Phd.'s?"
"My grandmother should have a Phd. in religion,"said Jimmy."She goes to mass everyday and I bet she gets to heaven before my priest."
We both took a long drink from the bottle. It was getting that time near morning when the temperature drops.
"You need to know a lot of facts to be a Phd."I said.
"My uncle Fernando knows everything about the history of baseball."
"But you can't get a Phd. in baseball."
"I wonder if Mickey Mantle could have gotten a Phd. in basesball?" asked Jimmy.
"No,you have to know a lot of facts. Besides they don't give out Phd.'s in baseball."
"How about boxing?"
"I don't think so."
"You mean Sugar Ray Robinson wouldn't qualify?"
"Doesn't know enough facts.Besides there's no Phd,'s in boxing."I said
"Didn't the smartest guy in the world Einstein get a Phd.?"
"He got the Nobel Prize."
"What's the difference?"
"I think to get the Nobel Prize you have to discover something",I said.
"What did Martin Luther King discover?"
"He won a Nobel Peace Prize."
"You going to tell me he discovered peace?"
Just then I heard a click on the drag.
"I've about had it tonight,"said Jimmy."There's too much drift to catch any lobsters and I haven't caught one fish. It's a wash if you get skunked."
"All I need is to just get a bite."
"Well I'm freezing my ass off and besides the hooch is gone."
There was a few more clicks on the drag of my pole.
"We can't go just yet. I've got a nibble.'

[dagosd2000]

Danny Valdez

[dagosd2000]

Lupe Pintor

[dagosd2000]

Throwing In The Sponge

"What are people in TJ saying about the Pope quitting ?"I asked my grand daughter's husband Jaime.
"They hope the next Pope is Mexican,"he said.
Jaime took out his I Pad and started playing something.
"That was quite a surprise,"I said.
"They say it was the first time a Pope quit in over 700 years,"said Jaime not taking his eyes off the I Pad.
"The Pope said his health was failing."
"But all those Pope's health fails. They all die in office."
"He said the world was changing too fast."
"I wonder what he meant by that?"
"Hard to say ,"I said. "The Church keeps a lot of things hidden."
I saw Jaime move his finger across the screen.
"There's been a lot of dirt on the Church in recent years,"I said.
"Like what happened at Penn State."
"But that wasn't the Church. Justice prevailed on that one."
"I think you have to be a Catholic to understand it."
"Why's that?,I asked.
"Well if your're the Pope you ask for strength from God and stick it out."
"I know a lot of people who said he made the right decision. Now they hope the congressmen would do the same,"I said.
"But congress ain't the Church,"said Jaime.
"No,I guess you're right."
"All I hope is the next Pope is a Mexican,"said Jaime as he moved his finger across the screen.

[dagosd2000]

Change The Channel


Everyday as I drive to pick up my grand daughter from school I turn on the news channel to find out what's going on. Yesterday ,around mid day,they had surrounded that ex cop who killed those people.He was holed up in a cabin in Big Bear.


When school let out I switched over to the 50's channel on my Sirius XM because I know Amanda likes to listen to rock n' roll.
After dropping her off ,I went home and turned on the TV to see if they had got that guy one way or the other.

Well every law enforcement agency was on scene from the local sheriff's to the FBI. Everything was cordoned off,helicopters were in the air,SWAT guys were at the ready. I waited . The brass from those law enforcement agencies were trying to field questions from the reporters. In the mean time speculation ran rampant. Bogus tips were coming in faster than they could be broadcast to the public. I turned off the TV.

Around 6 o'clock I went drove over to my sisters and brought over the dogs. My two dogs like to play with their dog. My sisters had the live broadcast of the manhunt on the TV.
"You mean this is still going on?"I asked.
"They say he may have escaped to a horse corral."said my youngest sister.
"It's getting dark out side."
"They've shot tear gas in the cabin,"she said.
"This has been going on since noon,"I said. "There's got to be a thousand cops out there for this guy."
"They say he held a couple captive for three days."said my older sister.
"I heard a limo driver saw him first and shot him,"said my younger sister.
"That was a false report,"said my older sister.
"Is there anything else on TV,"I asked.
"Just the President's address. I don't want to hear politics,"said the younger one.
"I thought you got over 300 channels?"
"It's this or the President's address."
"There are people holding signs that say "Don't Kill Him",said the older one.
"Didn't he ambush his victims?"I asked.
"He's been to Afganistan and trained in weapons. He has more than 30 registered guns,"said the younger one.
"He wants to shoot it out,"said the older one.
"He said that in his 10 page manifesto,"said the younger one.


Around 6:30 the local news reporters finally confirmed that the gunman was dead. Apparently he tried to a make break for it,ran into a hail of lead,went back inside the cabin,and shot himself.All the local reporters ,who were dressed the same in gray suits,were shaking their heads thankfull it was over. Then all the recapping started and speculation about what kind of person would do such a thing. The station switced back to the scene and the law enforcement brass were trying to answer a flood of questions.

"Well it's over,"I said."I hope some nut out there who was watching this doesn't get any ideas.I hope no one thinks this guy is Rambo."
"They gave it enough coverage,"said my older sister.
"It was on all the stations,unless you wanted to watch the President's address,"said my younger sister.
"You think you could change the channel?"I asked.
"What do you want to watch?"she asked.
"Anything but this."

[dagosd2000]

The Beating

"Ever see this Shavers kid in the ring?"asked Denny.
"No I haven't ,"I said.
I was driving up to Long Beach Auditorium with Denny in the passenger seat. He was in the semis of the heavyweight finals. His opponent was some guy named Earnie Shavers.
"Everything I can do he can do better,"said Denny.
I had worked with Denny at the 32nd Street Naval Gym in San Diego. He was big and strong. A little crude but he was damn strong and with that red hair and alabaster skin and freckles he looked like a Viking.
"You'll go through the guy like everyone else."
"No I'm going to take a beating and then that's it."
"Don't talk like that ",I said.
"Roger,I'm pushing 30 and still fighting amateur. I'm going nowhere with all this."
"How's Nancy dealing with it?"
"It's tearing her apart. She can't understand it."
"Well if you win you can go on to something else,"I said.
"I'll stick to the teaching. We've got the boy now.I can't beat this guy. He's the class of the tourney. He's got the best right hand I've ever seen."
I turned the car into the auditorium parking lot. Outside the front there was a big sign that read"California Golden Gloves."
The heavyweight semi was the last bout. Everyone was sticking around to see this Shavers. He had a big following from the applause he got when he was introduced. Denny hadn't fought in LA before. He was from the Northwest. He didn't get much of a response when he got announced.

At the sound of the bell the fighters moved forward and touched gloves. Shavers bent in a little stuck out a jab and came across with the straightest right hand I'd ever seen. His follow through was perfect.The punch caught Denny on the tip of the chin that sent him collapsing against the ropes. Later I read somewhere that Shevers said he could always throw the right hand like that. It was a kind of gift.The first time they saw him in the gym they knew they had something.

The first round was all Shaver's right hand and Denny in trouble.Denny had no defense against the right. He couldn't rush the guy because Shaver's right would send him reeling backwards against the ropes. At the end of three it was obvious. I walked to the locker room while they were unwrapping Denny's hands.
"You showed a lot of guts tonight,"I said trying to lift Denny's spirits."You hung in there."
"Imagine if Nancy would have been here. Now I know why she'd never seen me fight."
"How do you feel?"
"I've got a headache and I just want to get back to San Diego."
"Just take it easy."
"You mind if I curl up in the back seat on the way home?"
"No,feel comfortable."
Denny picked up his gear and we walked to the parking lot.
"You were right about that Shavers. He's something."
"He'll turn pro after this. They're banking on him."
"Well you showed you had plenty of guts tonight."
"That's about all I showed,"he said.