Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

[dagosd2000]

No One Reads Shakespeare Anymore

"I see you got an 'A' in AP English,"I said to my grandaughter.
"It's not that hard. If you turn in your assignments,the teacher will give you an 'A' ",said Amanda.
I was driving to the yogurt place.I would get my coffee. Amanda,her strawberry yogurt.
"You mean to tell me kids in AP English don't turn in their assignments?"
"Some kids have problems understanding symbolism."
"Most good fiction is symbolic."
"You've helped me with that."
I pulled into the parking lot and went inside what I call the yogurt place. Amanda came back with my coffee. She was waiting for them to make her yogurt.
"So what are you going to read next in class?"
"We have a choice of The Grapes Of Wrath or Of Mice And Men."
"I remember reading that in high school also."
"What would you recommend?"
"The Grapes OF Wrath. Capitalists in the 30's were against kids reading that book in schools.They wouldn't show the movie on television for years."
"What was wrong with it?"
"Nothing really. It showed how successfull the Civilian Conservation Corps worked during the Great Depression.Anything socialistic like that was a threat to big business."
The waitress brought over Amanda's yogurt.
"No one reads Steinbeck anymore,"I said.
"Why?"
"Well very few. Maybe they still make you read it in school.The same with Twain,Dickens,Shakespeare. Mostly in school."
"What do people read?"
"Well I see what's on those little bookshelves that spin around in the super markets. Big thick books .Fiction I guess."
"Are they any good?"
"I don't know really. I tried reading Harry Potter once. I put it down."
"Why?"
"It had no style."
"I like reading vampire books,"said Amanda eating her yogurt.
"Things that were once popular vanish with time."
"What do you mean?"
"There was once a fighter named Jose Napoles many years ago.He was like Shakespeare with boxing gloves. A friend of mine who has a collection of fight films invited me over to watch some of them. He didn't have one of Jose Napoles's fights."
Amanda was finishing her yogurt.
"Abuelito,"she said."Next time we come here you should try the strawberry yogurt."

[dagosd2000]

John L. Sullivan

[dagosd2000]

After The Loss

I don't like airports. I don't think many do especially when you have to make connecting flights. Missing a connection can ruin a trip. I had missed my connecting flight to London,England from Chicago's O'Hare the day before because our flight out from San Diego was delayed because of turbulent weather over the midwest. We were on our yearly trip to Spain.My wife,grand daughter,and grandson. They put us up in a hotel and booked us for another flight the following day. I was seated in the terminal next to a young man perusing an edition of The Guardian.
"Going to London?,"I asked him.
The young man folded over the paper and smiled. He had a nice smile. His hair was sandy color.He had a piece of tape over one eye. He spoke with a British accent.
"Why yes I am,"he replied.
He was slight of build. Wore a sport coat ,no tie,shirt opened at the collar.
"We are also,"I said. "We were delayed yesterday and were lucky to get booked today."
"I'm traveling from Melbourne,"said the young man."I feel I've been en route forever."
"Are you on vacation?"
"I'm not on holiday. I was competing in the Commonwealth Games."
"That sounds interesting."
"I was representing England in boxing. A featherweight."
"How did you do?"
"Lost my first bout. Now I'm going back home."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be,"said the young fellow."It's a relef to have it done with."
"London's a beautifull city,"I said wanting to change the subject.
"It's very interesting,"said the young man."But I don't like the weather.I was born in Africa. Zimbabwe."
"What made you move to London?"
"I moved with my parents. They had bought a farm in Zimbabwe just after I was born."
"So why the move?"
"President Mugabe was running for re election. He promised the people land reform.He wanted to redistribute the land,but to his friends."
The young man put down the newspaper.
"My parents had a legal deed to the property. Mugabe wanted to seize it away from them."
"So what happened?"
"First he tried to say we didn't have a legal document anymore.He had changed the law. We wanted a trial in an international court,but it kept getting postponed."
"Your family must have been worried,"I said.
"Yes we were,but my father was very brave and very stubborn. His life was in that farm. We had more than 100 workers. I grew up with their children."
"What finally happened?"
" Mugabe sent his thugs . One night they broke in and beat up my parents. They were hospitalized before the next trial session."
"What happened in court?"
"Mugabe's solicitors wanted another postponement.When it was denied,they walked out."
"Did you win?"
"Yes,the judges ruled on our behalf."
"Your family must have been very happy."
"It was a most emotional day."
"So why did your family leave ?"
"Six months later Mugabe sent in his thugs again. They burned down the farm.We lost everything. There was no international court to preside over the matter."
"That's terrible,"I said trying to find the right words.
"It was terrible,but my family survived.We are still together."
"What does your father do now?"I asked.
"He represents people in Africa who are being taken advantage of by the likes of devils like Mugabe."
"And you?"
"Well I'm going back to England to take stock of myself,"said the young man picking up the newspaper again."This I do know. I won't pursue a career in boxing."

[dagosd2000]

Peter Jackson

[dagosd2000]

Didn't want to say anything during the playoffs because I was afraid I'd jinx the Blackhawks,but now that it's over
Bet you're celebrating Brian. Rog

[Chuck1052]

After The Loss

I don't like airports. I don't think many do especially when you have to make connecting flights. Missing a connection can ruin a trip. I had missed my connecting flight to London,England from Chicago's O'Hare the day before because our flight out from San Diego was delayed because of turbulent weather over the midwest. We were on our yearly trip to Spain.My wife,grand daughter,and grandson. They put us up in a hotel and booked us for another flight the following day. I was seated in the terminal next to a young man perusing an edition of The Guardian.
"Going to London?,"I asked him.
The young man folded over the paper and smiled. He had a nice smile. His hair was sandy color.He had a piece of tape over one eye. He spoke with a British accent.
"Why yes I am,"he replied.
He was slight of build. Wore a sport coat ,no tie,shirt opened at the collar.
"We are also,"I said. "We were delayed yesterday and were lucky to get booked today."
"I'm traveling from Melbourne,"said the young man."I feel I've been en route forever."
"Are you on vacation?"
"I'm not on holiday. I was competing in the Commonwealth Games."
"That sounds interesting."
"I was representing England in boxing. A featherweight."
"How did you do?"
"Lost my first bout. Now I'm going back home."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be,"said the young fellow."It's a relef to have it done with."
"London's a beautifull city,"I said wanting to change the subject.
"It's very interesting,"said the young man."But I don't like the weather.I was born in Africa. Zimbabwe."
"What made you move to London?"
"I moved with my parents. They had bought a farm in Zimbabwe just after I was born."
"So why the move?"
"President Mugabe was running for re election. He promised the people land reform.He wanted to redistribute the land,but to his friends."
The young man put down the newspaper.
"My parents had a legal deed to the property. Mugabe wanted to seize it away from them."
"So what happened?"
"First he tried to say we didn't have a legal document anymore.He had changed the law. We wanted a trial in an international court,but it kept getting postponed."
"Your family must have been worried,"I said.
"Yes we were,but my father was very brave and very stubborn. His life was in that farm. We had more than 100 workers. I grew up with their children."
"What finally happened?"
" Mugabe sent his thugs . One night they broke in and beat up my parents. They were hospitalized before the next trial session."
"What happened in court?"
"Mugabe's solicitors wanted another postponement.When it was denied,they walked out."
"Did you win?"
"Yes,the judges ruled on our behalf."
"Your family must have been very happy."
"It was a most emotional day."
"So why did your family leave ?"
"Six months later Mugabe sent in his thugs again. They burned down the farm.We lost everything. There was no international court to preside over the matter."
"That's terrible,"I said trying to find the right words.
"It was terrible,but my family survived.We are still together."
"What does your father do now?"I asked.
"He represents people in Africa who are being taken advantage of by the likes of devils like Mugabe."
"And you?"
"Well I'm going back to England to take stock of myself,"said the young man picking up the newspaper again."This I do know. I won't pursue a career in boxing."

Roger, there were quite a number of articles in the Los Angeles Times about the debacle in
Zimbabwe a few years ago. It is obvious that Robert Mugabe ran a formerly thriving agricultural country into the ground, making it a pathetic basket case. It may be that it was unjust that so many whites owned the farms with blacks being shut out, but the confiscation and redistribution of the farm land meant that many highly experienced and competent farmers were replaced by so many people who had very little idea how to farm.
Moreover, Zimbabwe has also be badly crippled by a staggering amount of runaway inflation in recent years. The result is that many citizens face tremendous hardships with a large number of them fleeing to South Africa, where they often still have to struggle to get by in a country in which they aren't wanted.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

After The Loss

I don't like airports. I don't think many do especially when you have to make connecting flights. Missing a connection can ruin a trip. I had missed my connecting flight to London,England from Chicago's O'Hare the day before because our flight out from San Diego was delayed because of turbulent weather over the midwest. We were on our yearly trip to Spain.My wife,grand daughter,and grandson. They put us up in a hotel and booked us for another flight the following day. I was seated in the terminal next to a young man perusing an edition of The Guardian.
"Going to London?,"I asked him.
The young man folded over the paper and smiled. He had a nice smile. His hair was sandy color.He had a piece of tape over one eye. He spoke with a British accent.
"Why yes I am,"he replied.
He was slight of build. Wore a sport coat ,no tie,shirt opened at the collar.
"We are also,"I said. "We were delayed yesterday and were lucky to get booked today."
"I'm traveling from Melbourne,"said the young man."I feel I've been en route forever."
"Are you on vacation?"
"I'm not on holiday. I was competing in the Commonwealth Games."
"That sounds interesting."
"I was representing England in boxing. A featherweight."
"How did you do?"
"Lost my first bout. Now I'm going back home."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be,"said the young fellow."It's a relef to have it done with."
"London's a beautifull city,"I said wanting to change the subject.
"It's very interesting,"said the young man."But I don't like the weather.I was born in Africa. Zimbabwe."
"What made you move to London?"
"I moved with my parents. They had bought a farm in Zimbabwe just after I was born."
"So why the move?"
"President Mugabe was running for re election. He promised the people land reform.He wanted to redistribute the land,but to his friends."
The young man put down the newspaper.
"My parents had a legal deed to the property. Mugabe wanted to seize it away from them."
"So what happened?"
"First he tried to say we didn't have a legal document anymore.He had changed the law. We wanted a trial in an international court,but it kept getting postponed."
"Your family must have been worried,"I said.
"Yes we were,but my father was very brave and very stubborn. His life was in that farm. We had more than 100 workers. I grew up with their children."
"What finally happened?"
" Mugabe sent his thugs . One night they broke in and beat up my parents. They were hospitalized before the next trial session."
"What happened in court?"
"Mugabe's solicitors wanted another postponement.When it was denied,they walked out."
"Did you win?"
"Yes,the judges ruled on our behalf."
"Your family must have been very happy."
"It was a most emotional day."
"So why did your family leave ?"
"Six months later Mugabe sent in his thugs again. They burned down the farm.We lost everything. There was no international court to preside over the matter."
"That's terrible,"I said trying to find the right words.
"It was terrible,but my family survived.We are still together."
"What does your father do now?"I asked.
"He represents people in Africa who are being taken advantage of by the likes of devils like Mugabe."
"And you?"
"Well I'm going back to England to take stock of myself,"said the young man picking up the newspaper again."This I do know. I won't pursue a career in boxing."

Roger, there were quite a number of articles in the Los Angeles Times about the debacle in
Zimbabwe a few years ago. It is obvious that Robert Mugabe ran a formerly thriving agricultural country into the ground, making it a pathetic basket case. It may be that it was unjust that so many whites owned the farms with blacks being shut out, but the confiscation and redistribution of the farm land meant that many highly experienced and competent farmers were replaced by so many people who had very little idea how to farm.
Moreover, Zimbabwe has also be badly crippled by a staggering amount of runaway inflation in recent years. The result is that many citizens face tremendous hardships with a large number of them fleeing to South Africa, where they often still have to struggle to get by in a country in which they aren't wanted.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck,Africa is rife with criminals like Mugabe. Much of the third world also. Mugabe runs on a platfoem of land redistribution. Sounds good to the masses. Take away the white farmers land(which only comprised 4%).Instead of giving this stolen property to people who could cultivate it,the land is given to his associates. Illiteacy is 90% in Zimbabwe. The life expectancy has fallen from 60 years to 42.Unenployment is 80%. Then these gangsters borrow money from institutions like the IMF knowing they can't pay it back (the IMF knows this too)and instead of using the money to build schools,hospitals and infrastrucure,is used by Mugabe and his friends.Inflation doesn't fall from the sky. It is caused by borrowing money at interest.When loans can't be paid back then inflation really skyrockets. Then the international corporations say let us have a deal on your natural resources and let us put our factories there and pay your people slave wages. A nice little set up. Don't go along or start a protest and Mugabe will rub you out. Zimbabwe is on the top of the list for humam rights violations.Blame it on the white man? My ass.Africa has been decolonized for decades and is in worse shape than ever.

[CNorkusJr]

Congratulations Brian, on Blackhawks big thrilling win last night. Another Stanley Cup for an "Original Six" team. Enjoy the year ahead. Do you get to accompany the cup with the individual players now ?

[El Gallo]

Congratulations Brian, on Blackhawks big thrilling win last night. Another Stanley Cup for an "Original Six" team. Enjoy the year ahead. Do you get to accompany the cup with the individual players now ?

I would like another pic of Brian hoisting up the Stanley Cup as he did when they won it in 2010!
I bet the Blackhawks to win it at -130! Just collected on that net. Thanks for coming through Chicago!
By the way, Dan Hanley forwarded me a photo of the front page of Sports section today, and Brian is right in with the team.

-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Scars

Part of my day, now that I'm retired, is going out to my balcony and painting. Not only does it release whatever quality of creative juices I have,but it's theraputic. Better than paying a shrink the going rate just to tell him about my insecurities. The other day I'm out on the balcony and I hear the doorbell ring.
"Es un hombre para ti,"said my wife to me as I was locked into my work.
"Tell him to come out here,"I said.
I was stunned to see an old friend. I hadn't seen him in almost twenty years. Gray hair and a little paunchy,but right away I knew it was Paul. We used to run around together when we were teenagers and even once in a while after I got married. Paul was fighting on the undercards down at the old San Diego Coliseum. He'd win some and lose some. He never fought a main event. After I heard that his fighting career was finished,I learned that he went to prison. That's when I lost touch.
"Paul,"I gasped."How did you know I was here? It's good to see you again."
"My mother is sick. I came out to see her."
I was happy to see him after all those years.
"Let's go inside. Maria will fix us something,"I said.
My wife brought out a couple of cokes and some chips and homemade bean dip. We were sitting on the couch.
"What have you been doing?"I asked.
"Well it's been up and down for me. I never made it as a fighter. You knew about Barbie after that. One day she left me. I came home from work and she was gone."
"That's when you went to Kansas."
"I wanted to get as far away as possible. I started my own maintanence business and got married again."
"Well how did you wind up in the can?"
"I caught my wife fooling around. I kicked her out.Then I started to drink and take drugs. I hated the world."
"I remember seeing your mother in the store. She told me about you getting in trouble."
"I went to jail. Manslaughter.I was driving drunk and slammed into a telephone pole. Killed the guy with me."
"How long were you in?"
"Two years. That's where I met up with the Aryan Brotherhood. It was either that or get killed. Prison is all about race."
"But you've been out for awhile."
"But I got brainwashed while I was in there. I blamed my problems on people of color."
"So what did you do when you got out?"
"Stayed with the Brotherhood. Became a drunk. Liked to beat up blacks and Mexicans. That was my life.Even went back to jail on a assault rap."
"I notice you don't have any tattoos."
"I used to have them all over. My mother paid to get them removed.The pain was terrible."
"What changed?"
"I met a girl. We fell in love. We have a little boy.I'm trying to start over. No more booze and drugs. I want the best for my family.It's been a long haul. It took me two years and twenty treatments to get the hate removed from my face. "
"I believe in redemption,"I said.
I felt good for Paul.
"I guess God can redeem. I guess God can forgive,"said Paul.
"Looking at your face I can't tell."
"I still have tattoos on my body,but I couldn't get a job with the ones I had on my face."
"Well I can't see any scars,"I said.
"But I still have scars inside. I hurt a lot of people. God may forgive,but I still can't forgive myself.There's still a lot of pain inside."

[dagosd2000]

Jake LaMotta

[CNorkusJr]

Congratulations Brian, on Blackhawks big thrilling win last night. Another Stanley Cup for an "Original Six" team. Enjoy the year ahead. Do you get to accompany the cup with the individual players now ?

I would like another pic of Brian hoisting up the Stanley Cup as he did when they won it in 2010!
I bet the Blackhawks to win it at -130! Just collected on that net. Thanks for coming through Chicago!
By the way, Dan Hanley forwarded me a photo of the front page of Sports section today, and Brian is right in with the team.

-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

The Furniture Warehouse

After the San Diego Coliseum closed its doors for boxing,the owner's son converted the insides into a furniture warehouse. Jerome's Furniture has several large stores in San Diego.The warehouse downtown is also a store. The area is still pretty run down. The revamped Gas Lamp District didn't reach that far. The area around the warehouse is bleak and full of the homeless. But if you want to get a break on the price of a sofa,you can take a ride downtown and save a little money.

Awhile back I walked inside the place to see if any footprints were left. If you didn't know that it was once a boxing arena,you wouldn't have a clue. Oh there's some photographs of Archie Moore and Ken Norton on a wall. They seem out of place. I asked the kid working behind the desk if he knew that the warehouse was once an arena that showcased some of the best boxing talent in the Southland.
"Oh yeah. I heard they used to have boxing here once,"he said as he was writing up an invoice.
"You still have some old photographs hanging,"I said trying to stir up a conversation.
"They say these guys fought here."
"I remember seeing Kenny Norton begin his career here."
The kid pulled out a calculator.
"I even worked out with Norton a few times,"I said stiil trying to pique some interest.
The kid was fooling around with the buttons of the calculator.He hadn't looked up at me.
"Excuse me,"he said."What did you say?"
"I was commenting on the photograph of Ken Norton."
"Oh yeah,which guy is that?"

[dagosd2000]

Earnie Shavers

[CNorkusJr]

The Furniture Warehouse

After the San Diego Coliseum closed its doors for boxing,the owner's son converted the insides into a furniture warehouse. Jerome's Furniture has several large stores in San Diego.The warehouse downtown is also a store. The area is still pretty run down. The revamped Gas Lamp District didn't reach that far. The area around the warehouse is bleak and full of the homeless. But if you want to get a break on the price of a sofa,you can take a ride downtown and save a little money.

Awhile back I walked inside the place to see if any footprints were left. If you didn't know that it was once a boxing arena,you wouldn't have a clue. Oh there's some photographs of Archie Moore and Ken Norton on a wall. They seem out of place. I asked the kid working behind the desk if he knew that the warehouse was once an arena that showcased some of the best boxing talent in the Southland.
"Oh yeah. I heard they used to have boxing here once,"he said as he was writing up an invoice.
"You still have some old photographs hanging,"I said trying to stir up a conversation.
"They say these guys fought here."
"I remember seeing Kenny Norton begin his career here."
The kid pulled out a calculator.
"I even worked out with Norton a few times,"I said stiil trying to pique some interest.
The kid was fooling around with the buttons of the calculator.He hadn't looked up at me.
"Excuse me,"he said."What did you say?"
"I was commenting on the photograph of Ken Norton."
"Oh yeah,which guy is that?"

You know Roger, I too wax nostalgia on my trips to cities where my father once fought. I know I wrote about my trip to San Francisco in 1988 to see the old Civic Center there, now turned into the Billy Graham Center for Music.
I visited Miami Beach about 2007 to see a Jets vs Dolphins game with a few friends. A stop at the old Miami Beach Auditorium would be on my itinerary. I saw pictures of the exterior that my father took in 1954. Also my fathers videos from the Nardico fights showed some ,but little, of the boxing palace it once was. As I walked up to the entrance of the Auditorium, I can tell it was the same exterior with very little renovation to it. Maybe it is protected by a "landmark preservation" status claus in Miami and I am pleasantly surprised. A huge billboard out on its front lawn now states it's named the " The Fillmore- at the Jackie Gleason Center for Performing Arts" or something like that. Of course Jackie was as big as it gets in any one city.He filmed or performed his variety show from the Auditorium back in its day. I entered the front doors of the Aud to be standing in a still very much Art Deco lobby, which most likely existed back then also. The pastel colors of Miami Beach was ever present inside and out. I too, saw a young man standing guard in a small booth in the lobby. I went over to him to ask if I may take a glance inside the arena itself. I told him my father made history there in 1954, by being involved in the first boxing match there that was "Sold Out" and that it was televised too. He said "really " quizzically. He told me I cannot enter the arena as the place was setting up for a Pink Floyd tribute band concert that night and they are about to do a sound check. He saw the dejection in my face I think and said "hold on one moment". He radioed for a maintenance supv. to come to the lobby. A older man of about 60 years of age I guess. I told him of my fathers history there and I wished to get a peak inside. He told me that the place was renovated there years ago and looks nothing of the old arena, in which, as a young man he saw with his father.
He said to come with him and we took an elevator ride to the upper balcony lobby. He said if I promise not to talk, he will open a door to gander inside as the band was about to practice and he could lose his job if we were discovered. The minute or so was a nice moment. The entire room was redone to shape the arena to a stage at one end, very much like Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Seats were permanent in nature on the floor. My mind ran the bell sounds of the ring, and the voice of the fight intros from the videos I watched a thousand times. It was all I wanted to see. I thanked the maintenance Supv. many times as it was something I needed to do. He said "In my office in the basement, I have a picture of the Auditorium from the 1950's or 60's. " He finished saying " I understand your feelings perfectly, for as a kid, his father brought him there and ever since, the place brings back great memories every time he goes to work".

Myself in front of the Miami Beach Auditorium 2007




taken from about the same place as above in Dec 1958 by my father

[dagosd2000]

A picture I took a few years ago of the old San Diego Coliseum as it stands today. Located on 14th Street it is now Jerome's Furniture Warehouse. The sidewalks on the sides of the building are homes of the homeless.At the far corner is where the ticket window was. Now a shallow footprint only an old fight fan would recognize.

[dagosd2000]

Sick To My Stomach

"What made you want to go down there to his hometown and fight him?,"I asked Henry.
"I needed to get fights. I wasn't getting anything up here so I went down to Mexico,"said Henry.
"Look."I said seriously,"they don't like African Americans down there let alone black fighters.They didn't want you to win."
I read that Henry Brown had lost the fight in Apatzingan,Mexico.That's in Michoacan.Not far from where me and the wife built our place.I went over to visit him at his apartment when I read the news.We sat at the kitchen table over a cup of coffee.

Henry was trying to manage his own career in San Diego and was rubbing the promotors the wrong way.Issues with money and opponents,let alone that Henry had a short fuse. I played football with him at San Diego City College. He quarterbacked the team. He wasn't afraid to get in a lineman's face if he missed a block or a player who made a mental mistake like jumping offside. He was in charge in that huddle.As tough as he could be on teammates,we would go through a wall for him.
"You should of at least asked me to come down there with you,"I said. "At least I could speak Spanish, and besides I'm familiar with the area."
"The Mexican kid who set me up at the hotel was working the other guy's corner.The night before the kid brought me my dinner. They put something in it. I was sick to my stomach all night."
"What did Eddie do for you?"
"Hell,Eddie is dumber than me.He tried to find a doctor but he don't speak Mexican either.I had nothing left inside for the fight."
"So you lost a majority decision."
"You know damn right I was robbed.A n----r losing a majority decision in Mexico? You know damn right I was robbed."
"Look ,you need these guys in San Diego.You've got to work with them. Meet them half way.If you start to show something you'll move up."
Henry looked into his coffee cup.
"They want too much,"he said.
"They all do. But you're burning bridges here."
Henry looked at me.
"You know it wouldn't of mattered if you had gone down there with me and even if you did speak Mexican. It wouldn't have made a difference."
"Now you're starting to get smart,"I said.

[dagosd2000]

Cleveland Williams

[El Gallo]

The Furniture Warehouse

After the San Diego Coliseum closed its doors for boxing,the owner's son converted the insides into a furniture warehouse. Jerome's Furniture has several large stores in San Diego.The warehouse downtown is also a store. The area is still pretty run down. The revamped Gas Lamp District didn't reach that far. The area around the warehouse is bleak and full of the homeless. But if you want to get a break on the price of a sofa,you can take a ride downtown and save a little money.

Awhile back I walked inside the place to see if any footprints were left. If you didn't know that it was once a boxing arena,you wouldn't have a clue. Oh there's some photographs of Archie Moore and Ken Norton on a wall. They seem out of place. I asked the kid working behind the desk if he knew that the warehouse was once an arena that showcased some of the best boxing talent in the Southland.
"Oh yeah. I heard they used to have boxing here once,"he said as he was writing up an invoice.
"You still have some old photographs hanging,"I said trying to stir up a conversation.
"They say these guys fought here."
"I remember seeing Kenny Norton begin his career here."
The kid pulled out a calculator.
"I even worked out with Norton a few times,"I said stiil trying to pique some interest.
The kid was fooling around with the buttons of the calculator.He hadn't looked up at me.
"Excuse me,"he said."What did you say?"
"I was commenting on the photograph of Ken Norton."
"Oh yeah,which guy is that?"

Charley Norkus, a top heavyweight back in the 50's (when heavyweights were monsters) fought there.
Ruben Navarro fought his last fight there.
I fought my last fight there.
Our pal Randy de La O fought there.
Some of the greatest fighters in the history of boxing fought there.
Some of us saw it as a dump for dead-enders. A graveyard for LA headliners.
But that was just arrogance, a hint of youthful ego realizing that we actually couldn't fill the shoes of legends who headlined in days gone by.
Call it what you want. We called it the San Diego Coliseum. Today it's a furniture outlet.
Maybe our memories are deader than Casey's nuts. But today I realize I cashed out my few chips in the right place.
Beginning my career at the Olympic first time out was perfect. Ending it at the S.D. Coliseum was equally so.

-Rick Farris, retired prizefighter.

[CNorkusJr]

A picture I took a few years ago of the old San Diego Coliseum as it stands today. Located on 14th Street it is now Jerome's Furniture Warehouse. The sidewalks on the sides of the building are homes of the homeless.At the far corner is where the ticket window was. Now a shallow footprint only an old fight fan would recognize.

Thank You, Roger for posting this photo. As down-trodden this bldg and area is today, it gives me a sense of location and "whats once was" during my dads career. Thanks.

[CNorkusJr]

The Furniture Warehouse

After the San Diego Coliseum closed its doors for boxing,the owner's son converted the insides into a furniture warehouse. Jerome's Furniture has several large stores in San Diego.The warehouse downtown is also a store. The area is still pretty run down. The revamped Gas Lamp District didn't reach that far. The area around the warehouse is bleak and full of the homeless. But if you want to get a break on the price of a sofa,you can take a ride downtown and save a little money.

Awhile back I walked inside the place to see if any footprints were left. If you didn't know that it was once a boxing arena,you wouldn't have a clue. Oh there's some photographs of Archie Moore and Ken Norton on a wall. They seem out of place. I asked the kid working behind the desk if he knew that the warehouse was once an arena that showcased some of the best boxing talent in the Southland.
"Oh yeah. I heard they used to have boxing here once,"he said as he was writing up an invoice.
"You still have some old photographs hanging,"I said trying to stir up a conversation.
"They say these guys fought here."
"I remember seeing Kenny Norton begin his career here."
The kid pulled out a calculator.
"I even worked out with Norton a few times,"I said stiil trying to pique some interest.
The kid was fooling around with the buttons of the calculator.He hadn't looked up at me.
"Excuse me,"he said."What did you say?"
"I was commenting on the photograph of Ken Norton."
"Oh yeah,which guy is that?"

Charley Norkus, a top heavyweight back in the 50's (when heavyweights were monsters) fought there.
Ruben Navarro fought his last fight there.
I fought my last fight there.
Our pal Randy de La O fought there.
Some of the greatest fighters in the history of boxing fought there.
Some of us saw it as a dump for dead-enders. A graveyard for LA headliners.
But that was just arrogance, a hint of youthful ego realizing that we actually couldn't fill the shoes of legends who headlined in days gone by.
Call it what you want. We called it the San Diego Coliseum. Today it's a furniture outlet.
Maybe our memories are deader than Casey's nuts. But today I realize I cashed out my few chips in the right place.
Beginning my career at the Olympic first time out was perfect. Ending it at the S.D. Coliseum was equally so.

-Rick Farris, retired prizefighter.

Nice piece of writing Rick. I might want to add that hometown legend and California Athletic Great Charlie Powell, got his retribution of victory over my father in 1958 before his home crowd here. Both combatents were under new management since they last met in 1954. Thinking that a sell-out of the non-televised rematch was a cinch, it turned out not to be at the final bell. The sparse crowd showed their admiration for Powell greatly at the conclusion of his victorious Decision win just a few days before Christmas.

Like so many of these Civic Centers, Auditoriums and Arenas of old boxing cities across America; they all hold old memories of the thankful of bygone eras. With the flash in the pants boxers today, the ungrateful who rather rant or brag about who's girlfriend is dating who, instead of what skills or, rather lack thereof they have and bring to the ring- maybe you hit it on the head Rick. Let these sleeping Giants lie. Punch Stats. Bull crap. Maligianni -900 punches thrown- everyone a pillow.

[dagosd2000]

The Reek of Cologne

Burke Emery would have his fighters working out in morning at the Coliseum. After they were finished,in came the wrestlers.Sometimes I'd work out with the fighters or just go to watch. But sometimes I'd stick around and watch the wrestlers go through their routines after the fighters had gone. Some of them would arrive together.Grapplers like Freddie Blassie and Mr. Moto,who would be adversaries on the mat,would walk in wearing their Hawaiian shirts, open down the front, laughing and having a good time.They'd use the same locker room as the fighters. The locker room was small and spotted with mold. There were always leaky pipes that would spew water under the door. The plumbing hadn't been replaced since they built the place back in the 30's.It was covered with crud.The lockers were dented and rusty.But it was like all the guys who used that locker room realized that that was the way it was and didn't complain.It was apropos with the building. The only thing that started a beef was if something was missing,and that was a human condition.

After rehearsing their routines ,that they would use on Friday night,the wrestlers would go back sweaty and smelly to that locker room. I think the problem was that locker room never got a break from all the men that used it. It probably needed to be power washed and then disenfected with DDT and Lysol.

But here was the thing that got me. After someone finished dressing,he'd often douse himself with massive quantities of cologne and fly out the door. One time I was standing near the door when Freddie Blassie exited. The smell blasted my nostrils.Tears came to my eyes. No matter how much cologne saturated the air,you still couldn't mask the odor.Smelling all that perfume only made you realize how bad the stink was in that place.

[dagosd2000]

Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull

[El Gallo]

A picture I took a few years ago of the old San Diego Coliseum as it stands today. Located on 14th Street it is now Jerome's Furniture Warehouse. The sidewalks on the sides of the building are homes of the homeless.At the far corner is where the ticket window was. Now a shallow footprint only an old fight fan would recognize.

Thank You, Roger for posting this photo. As down-trodden this bldg and area is today, it gives me a sense of location and "whats once was" during my dads career. Thanks.

Yes, thank you, Rog. I copied it and filed it away.
I'm grateful for our memories. We saw and lived so much.
I also appreciate both Charley's & Roger's pictures, painting and stories.
I enjoyed reading about the old wrestlers, and how they were, as they were always a part of these arenas.
As a kid, I saw so many grappling legends on TV wed. nights from the Olympic.

-Rick