Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Chuck1052]

Great story about your friend and Earnie Shavers, Roger! Shavers was the hardest puncher that I saw in person or on television, bar none.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

Joey Orbillo

[dagosd2000]

The Second Wife

Everyone called him Big Gene,even his son Joey who I used to pal around with in high school. Big Gene's real name was Gino Palermo. When Gino's father,Gianni, came over on the boat from Sicily and arrived at Ellis Island,they asked him where he was from. He answered Palermo,Sicily and that's the name they stuck him with. Young Gino worked with his father for a while in a bakery,but the family moved to San Diego in the 40's when the war broke out. Gino and his father went fishing. The tuna fishing industry in San Diego was growing fast. Since fishermen were providing food for the country they were exempt from service.It wasn't that they were not patriotic. If anything they were gratefull to the United States for letting them live here. Some of the boys enlisted,but most chose to fish.

After the war Gino bought a boat and then another. The tuna business was taking off by then . There was a cannery in San Diego and one in Long Beach. The boats in those days held maybe several hundred tons of fish and everyone pole fished. Sometimes up to three or four poles to a line. The fish were so frenzied that you didn't even bait the hook .There was a guy behind the fishermen who threw out "chum"(sardines) and the fishermen would work back and forth hooking the fish and then yanking them behind off the slip hooks into the bait tank. Sometimes the wake would rise above the stern and the fishermen would be looking the fish ,and the sharks,in the eye.

After time the boats got bigger and they went to purseine nets to haul in the loads. But if you hadn't had experience fishing with poles,you hadn't exactly been through the right of passage.

By this time Gino had several purseiners and had gone to work for the Fishermen's Union. It was a solid group mostly made up of Portugese,but there was good share of Italians,and some Japanese. The union was all out for the fishermen and Gino was the type of guy who went to bat for the men. Later when the government gave away the fishing waters to Mexico and the environmentalists started to watch the Dolphin population closely,the industry died off. But that's another story I don't want to tell.

I remember when Joey told me that his mother had cancer. That's when we were playing on the high school baseball team. Joey's mom died before the season ended. After high school ,I didn't see Joey again for several years. Then I ran into him at the Rec Center playing hoops. He invited me over to his father's place. Joey was staying there at the time.

I was looking forward to seeing Gino again. He was real Italian from the old school. When he entered the living room he still had the big forearms and shoulders he had developed when he was fishing. He smiled big and grabbed my hand and pulled me into a bear hug.
"Rog,paisan,how you doing? Good to see you. How's the family?"
After talking our Italian thing about family and what's been going on,a short dark skinned woman entered the room. Her black hair was worn down her back. She was clutching her tiny hands.
"Rog,"said Gino with a smile,"I want you to meet Luisa my wife."
Gino's wife lowered her eyes and smiled prettily.
"Gino,"she said,"Are you hungry. Can I get you boys something to eat?"
"No Lisa,"said Gino,"We're fine thanks."
Luisa went back into the bedroom.Before she left she excused herself and said it was a pleasure all in very broken English.
"When Joey's mother died it was hard on us,"said Gino."My wife had a sister in Palermo who was a widow. Her husband was killed in some Mafia business. Luisa has a son in Palermo who is a lawyer."
"Dad sent for her,"said Joey."Lisa has been like a mother to me."
"She takes care of us,"said Gino. "She's a lot like her sister.We're blessed."

It was another several years since I saw Joey again. When i bumped into him I asked him about his father. Joey told me that his father had died. A sudden heart attack. I thought about Gino and I also thought about his second wife Luisa. I didn't ask Joey what had happened to her,but I know where ever she went she would make the people around her happy.

[dagosd2000]

http://youtu.be/u5dOLiF9fjk

Tuna Fishing When Men Were Men

[scartissue]

The Second Wife

Everyone called him Big Gene,even his son Joey who I used to pal around with in high school. Big Gene's real name was Gino Palermo. When Gino's father,Gianni, came over on the boat from Sicily and arrived at Ellis Island,they asked him where he was from. He answered Palermo,Sicily and that's the name they stuck him with. Young Gino worked with his father for a while in a bakery,but the family moved to San Diego in the 40's when the war broke out. Gino and his father went fishing. The tuna fishing industry in San Diego was growing fast. Since fishermen were providing food for the country they were exempt from service.It wasn't that they were not patriotic. If anything they were gratefull to the United States for letting them live here. Some of the boys enlisted,but most chose to fish.

After the war Gino bought a boat and then another. The tuna business was taking off by then . There was a cannery in San Diego and one in Long Beach. The boats in those days held maybe several hundred tons of fish and everyone pole fished. Sometimes up to three or four poles to a line. The fish were so frenzied that you didn't even bait the hook .There was a guy behind the fishermen who threw out "chum"(sardines) and the fishermen would work back and forth hooking the fish and then yanking them behind off the slip hooks into the bait tank. Sometimes the wake would rise above the stern and the fishermen would be looking the fish ,and the sharks,in the eye.

After time the boats got bigger and they went to purseine nets to haul in the loads. But if you hadn't had experience fishing with poles,you hadn't exactly been through the right of passage.

By this time Gino had several purseiners and had gone to work for the Fishermen's Union. It was a solid group mostly made up of Portugese,but there was good share of Italians,and some Japanese. The union was all out for the fishermen and Gino was the type of guy who went to bat for the men. Later when the government gave away the fishing waters to Mexico and the environmentalists started to watch the Dolphin population closely,the industry died off. But that's another story I don't want to tell.

I remember when Joey told me that his mother had cancer. That's when we were playing on the high school baseball team. Joey's mom died before the season ended. After high school ,I didn't see Joey again for several years. Then I ran into him at the Rec Center playing hoops. He invited me over to his father's place. Joey was staying there at the time.

I was looking forward to seeing Gino again. He was real Italian from the old school. When he entered the living room he still had the big forearms and shoulders he had developed when he was fishing. He smiled big and grabbed my hand and pulled me into a bear hug.
"Rog,paisan,how you doing? Good to see you. How's the family?"
After talking our Italian thing about family and what's been going on,a short dark skinned woman entered the room. Her black hair was worn down her back. She was clutching her tiny hands.
"Rog,"said Gino with a smile,"I want you to meet Luisa my wife."
Gino's wife lowered her eyes and smiled prettily.
"Gino,"she said,"Are you hungry. Can I get you boys something to eat?"
"No Lisa,"said Gino,"We're fine thanks."
Luisa went back into the bedroom.Before she left she excused herself and said it was a pleasure all in very broken English.
"When Joey's mother died it was hard on us,"said Gino."My wife had a sister in Palermo who was a widow. Her husband was killed in some Mafia business. Luisa has a son in Palermo who is a lawyer."
"Dad sent for her,"said Joey."Lisa has been like a mother to me."
"She takes care of us,"said Gino. "She's a lot like her sister.We're blessed."

It was another several years since I saw Joey again. When i bumped into him I asked him about his father. Joey told me that his father had died. A sudden heart attack. I thought about Gino and I also thought about his second wife Luisa. I didn't ask Joey what had happened to her,but I know where ever she went she would make the people around her happy.

Damn, Roger, that was one vivid story. When I picture myself standing in the living room as you're meeting Gino and Luisa, I know I'm engulfed.

[dagosd2000]

Aileen Eaton

[dagosd2000]

Holy Toledo

Bertolo Beneventi,"Bert" ,as everone called him, was a man to himself. My friend Whitey ,whose real name was Walter,said his dad served in the Army in World War I and was "gassed",had ridden the rails during the depression, and wound up raising chickens with his sister and brother in Texas somewhere. Bert married Whitey's mom when she was a cook on the chicken farm or ranch(whatever they call it). They moved to San Diego so they could be near her parents. They had three children,two boys and a girl. Walter was the youngest. They called him "Watty",but eventually that wore off and just about everyone called him "Whitey." He was the youngest of the three and always admired his father .

Bert worked at Frost Lumber across lower Broadway from the Santa Fe Depot. The family never had much money and I remember they lived in a little two room cottage two blocks up from the beach. The kids never got any Christmas presents and would cry on the front steps. Maybe at the end of the week Bert would buy them a pint of ice cream and they would share it.

Bert said he never had anything growing up and couldn't understand why kids had to "have so much." He was a little dark skinned Italian whose ancestors were from Modena.He spoke fluent Italian because one time I heard him speaking it to his brother on the phone. Just about everything he made at the lumber yard ,he spent at the race track. The family didn't have a car so Bert would get up early on the weekends and catch the 32 bus and ride it to the border, then he'd hop a taxi to Caliente. It must have taken him more than an hour to get down there because the bus must have made 50 stops. Once in awhile he'd go to the track by himself or with his friend Pete at work. They were both gambling degenerates. They lived to bet on the races.

When Whiteys mother's brother died and left her 40 thousand dollars Bert tried to pry the money from her. She wouldn't budge despite getting whacked a few times. She bought a duplex up the street so her oldest son Robert,who had gotten recently married, could raise his family there. Whitey's sister left home to become a beautician right after high school. Whitey and his mom and dad lived in the other unit.

I remember when Whitey's mom died. She had diabetes and I don't think she was taking the proper medicine. That money that Bert made went to feeding the horses. After his wife died Bert retired from the lumber yard. Now he could bet the horses everyday.

Tijuana in those days had an Off Track Betting place in a basement on Revolution Street.It's still there. This was Bert's home away from home. Bert enjoyed the horses. He also liked baseball and boxing.And he loved jazz.On time I looked in his hi-fi console and saw all his old 78's. The collection was mostly guys like Armsrtong and Beiderbeck. There was a lot of Kansas City stuff. Moten,Jay McShann,and Joe Turner to name a few. None of the Bop or contemporary. Bert was one of the last to read the Sporting News in those days. It featured only boxing ,baseball,and horse racing. Bert didn't drink,but he rolled his own Bull Durhams. Later when the doctor told him his lungs were going bad from all the years at the lumber yard and the Bull Duurhams ,he switched to Camels non filters. I remember before he died in the hospital from lung cancer,he couldn't under stand why.

One morning I went over to Whitey's to watch the pro football game on the television.
"Your dad going to the track?,"I asked.
"Yes,he's going down to place a 5-10. Told me he felt lucky."
"You never go with him?"
"No. Besides he never taught me how to read the form."
The game on the TV was the Colts and the Bears. The Bears would go on to win the NFL title that year.
"Didn't you tell me your dad saw Dempsey fight?"
"He did."
"He doesn't talk too much about things like that does he?"
"No. He doesn't say anything unless he has to."
Just then Bert came out of the bedroom. He was wearing a pork pie hat and holding the form.
"Mr.Beneventi. Whitey says you saw Jack Dempsey fight."
"I saw him in Toledo."
"Against Willard?"
"Yes."
"That's amazing."
"You know after the 1st round Dempsey jumped out of the ring and ran to the dressing room."
Me and Whitey weren't watching the game.
"Dempsey didn't know that Willard was through. They had to call him back. When he got back into the ring his wraps were off."
"But Dempsey won in the next round,"I said.
"No Willard lasted through next round but Dempsey couldn't knock him down anymore. Willard's corner wouldn't let him out for the 3rd. He was all broken up."
Bert looked down at the TV at the game. His hand was on his back hip.
"Naw",he scoffed,"I don't get it."
"Have good luck at the track today Mr. Beneventi,"I said.
The old guy turned around. You could tell he had no teeth.
"Watty",he said to his son."Can you lend me 5 dollars.If I hit something I'll pay you back."

[CNorkusJr]

http://youtu.be/u5dOLiF9fjk

Tuna Fishing When Men Were Men

Great Documentary !!! Thanks for posting it. I didnt know Tuna from Del Monte was packed out of San Diego. On my trip to San Francisco around 1988, I took one of those pre-planned group bus tours out of SF to Montery Peninsula. Simply beautiful country and coast. We past vast Del Monte fields yielding vegetables after vegetables.
Miles and miles till we reached Montery. Thrilled to be in Steinbeck country, parking for a couple of hours to see the former Cannery Row. The new at the time- Montery Aquarium. I just assumed most fishing cans came from that area. But I am not naive to think that California has hundreds of miles of Coast line with zillions of fish in each area.

We capped the trip with lunch at Clint Eastwoods tourist trap Restaurant in Carmel, The Hogs Head Inn" or something like that. A trip through Pebble Beach and back up through Garlic capital of World before heading back home. Big Sur waves reaching 50 feet that day we were told, but we looked down upon them from the high cliffs and I think Highway 1. Wonderful California.

[dagosd2000]

Put Some Sauce On It

Clyde and Ollie climbed up the ladder from the well with their lunch buckets and sat at a picnic table next to the ship.
"It got hot today,"said Ollie as he unrapped his sandwich.
"All those big fans do is move the hot air around."
The two welders were on their lunch break.
"What are you earting?"asked Ollie.
"I bought a tuna sandwich off the roach coach this morning,"said Clyde.
"My wife made me a meatloaf sandwich from last night."
"I wish I had a wife that could cook for me."
"You wouldn't want mine then,"said Ollie.
"These Mexicans make their wives make them big lunches."
"I don't think they make them,"said Olllie. "They want to to it."
Both welders nibbled at their food.
"I see where Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield met in New York,"said Clyde."I guess Holyfield came out with some new bar b q sauce and was promoting it and signing autographs.Women got those two in trouble and noe they're scratcing for dough."



"This sandwich could use some bar b q sauce on it,"said Ollie."
Ollie put the half eaten sandwich back in the lunch bucket and took a long drink of water.
"What was Tyson doing?"asked Ollie.
"He's doing some play talking about his life and how sorry he is for everything. His wife wrote it for him"said Clyde.
"Imagine all the money those two made and now they have to shill bar b q sauce and act in a play.What did they say to each other?"

"Holyfield said he forgave him."
"Didn't they do that on Oprah?"
"There's a picture of them hugging each other."
"Was Tyson biting his ear?"
"They looked very happy."
"Too bad in their second fight Holyfield didn't put any of his bar b q sauce on his ear. It would have tasted better."

[dagosd2000]

George Parnassus

[El Gallo]

Roger, very nice paintings! Particulary Mrs. Eaton and George Parnassus. You captured them!
-Rick

[dagosd2000]

Rick Farris,Armando Muniz,and Bobby Chacon

[dagosd2000]

Maria Esty and Jeri De La O

[dagosd2000]

In Old London Town

I walked across the street from the hotel next to St. Paul's down the narrow paths in the old City looking for a nice pub to have a drink. I saw a lot of crowded ones with men in suits gathering around tables outside. They had gotten off work and were at the usual meeting places. As I walked some more I saw a corner one that didn't have any tables outside and went inside.At the door resting was a little Scottie dog. There were the papers laid out on the tables and easy chairs and sofas and lamps along the walls.
I went up to the bar. The bartender was an older man with thinning hair. He was wearing a vest.His pants were held up by suspenders.
"Got anything cold and light?"I asked him.
"You'll want a Carlsberg."
The bartender drew a long draft from the tap. The beer was bright yellow.
"You're a Yank I take it?"
"Yes. I'm here on vacation with my family."
"Been to London before?"
"Yes,once . I enjoy the pubs."
Behind the bar were old photographs of fighters.
"That's Jimmy Wilde,"I said pointing to one.
"Why that's correct mate,"said the bar keep wiping a glass.
"They called him the Mighty Atom".
"He could hit like a bigger man,"said the bartender."You know a lot about boxing."
"I like to follow it. Not as much now as when I was younger."
"Boxing originated in England."
"Do they still have Boxing Day on the 26th of December?"
"Why yes they do."
The bartender picked up another glass and began wiping it also.
"Who was your favorite British fighter?"he asked.
"I always liked Henry Cooper. Had an an unusual left hook that came down from the top."
"He came close to beating Ali."
"If Cooper would have hit him with that hook at the start of that round it might have ended differently."
"Frank Bruno was my favorite,"said the bartender.
"I know England was behind him when he fought Lewis."
"Lennox was from Canada,but he grew on us."
I finished my beer.
"This is very good beer,"I said.
"Like another?"
"No I promised them I'd only have one."
I reached in my pocket and pulled out a handfull of coins.
"How much do I owe? The money here still confuses me."
"Why nothing Yank. Any American that knows British boxing can have one on the house."

[dagosd2000]

Henry Cooper

[dagosd2000]

Jimmy Wilde

[El Gallo]

Jimmy Wilde

[El Gallo]

Henry Cooper

[dagosd2000]

Driving Along

Clyde swung by Ollie's apartment after work at the ship yard to drive down to the Coliseum to take in the Hafey fight.
"Who's Art fighting?"asked Clyde as they started along Pacific Highway.
"Another set up guy. I think after tonight they'll move him up to LA for some better competition."
"Good thing you got the tickets early. The fight will sell out",said Clyde.
They drove past the ship yard next to the harbor.
"Don't want to see that place until tomorrow,"said Ollie.
They drove along thinking.
"What did you think about Nixon packing it in?"asked Clyde.
"He boxed himself in a corner with those tapes. He should have burned them. Then they would have had nothing on him."
"I thought he was doing a good job."
"Me too,"said Ollie. "He was a better President than Kennedy. Everybody misses that guy. Not me "
"I don't either," said Clyde. "Banging all those starlets in Hollywood.What kind of man would do that?"
"The man had no character."
"Just think. Banging Marilyn Monroe when you're the President."
"Typical Catholic",said Clyde. "They can never keep their pants on."
"To think that they put virginity on a pedestal and then they're banging all these broads."
"That's only for their women.I bet Nixon never banged any Hollywood starlets,"said Clyde.
The car turned on G Street headed for the Coliseum.
"My old man said never bring up politics or religion. It always leads to differences,"said Ollie.
"You're old man had a lot of wisdom."
"So did yours."
As they approached the Coliseum,they could see the long line at the ticket window.
"You know this Hafey is the best fighter in his division,"said Clyde.
"You're crazy. He hasn't fought anybody yet."
"What do you know?"
"You know what Clyde? You can go to hell."

[dagosd2000]

Marilyn Monroe

[dagosd2000]

Ed Hernandez

[dagosd2000]

A Nightmare Is Just A Dream

"I know you didn't come out here just to see me,"I said.
"No",said Jesse."I've come out to San Diego to see my daughter. I have a grandson now."
Jesse Garcia used to lace on the gloves back in the 70's. He fought a lot in San Diego and across the border. He was no stranger in LA. either.
"So this is Burke's place ,"he said.
"Burke has had it for a while. He used to tend bar. Now he owns the joint."
"Good for him. He put a lot of effort with his boys."
"You think you would have come out better if you had gone to him instead of staying with Sid?"
"Maybe. At the end I'd had it. "
Ed came over with a couple of beers.
"Ed,this is Jesse Garcia. He was a pretty fair welter weight back in the day. He's a friend of Burke's."
"Burke should be here tonight. It's the dart tournament,"said Ed.
"Oh,I'll be gone back to Florida by then,"said the ex fighter.
Ed walked back behind the bar.
"I'll tell Burke you dropped by,"said Ed.
"Tell him "hello" from me. Ask him about the time I swallowed my mouth guard."
"So how are things in Orlando?"I asked.
"Real good. You know I married a Puertorican gal. We have two sons."
"That's great."
"After losing to Hedgemon Lewis my career went south. Sid kept putting me in there with guys I had already fought. Now they were beating me. Then came the drinking and the divorce. I could see it coming."
"Remember, I went to the Olympic to see you fight Lewis."
"If I could have got by him,I might have had a title shot. But Lewis was too fast. I'd never seen speed like that. Speed is something you have or you don't."
"How's Gloria doing?"
"She's fine. I see my daughter and grandson once a year. She's remarried. Everyone is happy."
"Still have your hand in boxing?"
"No. Don't follow it much. I've got the hardware store and the family in Florida. Keeps me busy."
"Ever keep in touch with anyone?"
"No,I wouldn't know where to begin."
"There's a lot of the boys that live up in LA,"I said.
"That's good. One of these days I'd like to go up there."
"Ever look back on fighting?"
"Not really. I do have this recurring dream though. I dream it's before the Lewis fight and I'm walking towards the ring. There's a big crowd I can't get through. I'm pushing my way trying to get in the ring. I see Lewis in the ring and then the bell goes off and I'm not in there."
"Sounds like a nightmare."
"It's not so bad,"he said. "Besides a nightmare is just a dream."

[dagosd2000]

Hedgemon Lewis

[bennie]

Damn, is this thread still running!

[bennie]

Yaqui Lopez

I was surprised when some of the American members of Facebook's Fight Club talked about Lopez's fight against John Conteh as if Lopez had been robbed. The European view was that Conteh outboxed Lopez pretty much as he pleased. I went to youtube to try and watch the fight but there are only a few rounds to be seen. In those few rounds, Conteh is outjabbing and outboxing Lopez.