Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Fighting On Fumes

In answering Goose's inquiry about Mike Quarry's talents and I see on the forum a thread on how the human body has just so many fights in it,this in reference to Ray Mancini,I want to get back for a moment of what I saw of Mike Quarry near the end of the line. I mentioned that I saw Mike fight a journeyman,Pete McIntyre at the San Diego Coliseum in 1978.Mike had gone to war over 70 times by then.McIntyre had lost more than his 14 fight total. Quarry had fought anybody that had a rep in the light heavy division and lost in a bid for Bob Foster's crown via the picture perfect left hook.

Like another light heavyweight,local Ronnie Wilson and an opponent of Mike on three occasions,I thought Mike was handled badly. He fought without enough rest in between and rematches with foes he had already beaten.Like I said earlier,Mike's main weapon was his heart. I saw that in his matches with Wilson. Ronnie had guts too.Their fights were close,but Mike won all three-on guts.

By the time he faced Foster Mike was unbeaten,but his ,list of conquests were mostly against the Southland's muster of 175 and under boys. After losing to Foster he was up and down. Again,he was rushed,and his workouts with big bro Jerry were punishing as much as fights.

Mike failed to resurrect his career against names like Kendall,Rossman,Lopez,and Finnegan. What I witnessed at the Coliseum in 1978 was a shot fighter. The heart was still beating ala Quarry,but the body wasn't there for him anymore. He couldn't see the punches coming and if he did he couldn't do anything but take it.. The Quarry's, especially Mike, weren't welcome in San Diego. Mike had beaten a lot of locals:Amado Vasquez,Wilson included ,who were big draws down here. So when Pete McIntyre used Mike as punching bag the crowd walked away sated and satisfied.

I liked all the Quarry's.To me they were the kind of guys you wanted to cover your back,be in the same foxhole. When I think of the big men in Southland boxing ,Jerry Quarry comes to mind first even over Norton who trounced him. Jerry had a temper and he liked to fight.Forget about strategy. He wasn't going to "box" Shavers. It was kill or be killed.

Mike was like Jerry.He wasn't going to back down. You might say both guys were a little nuts.Sadly at the end all the shots they took certified them that way. But whatever the result they always gave the fans their money's worth.


Bob Foster

[dagosd2000]

Distant Greatness

When Eder Jofre beat Eloy Sanchez at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles to decide the who was the best bantamweight in the world it would be the second and last time the Brazilian would fight in the good ol' USA. Three months earlier he had KO'd the tough Mexican Joe Medel at the Olympic.That fight set up the Sanchez match for the vacant title. All I knew about Jofre was that he was undefeated fighting in his homeland Brazil. Medel was the best fighter he had beaten prior to Sanchez.Jofre held the Brazilian bantamweight crown by decisioning Ernesto Miranda. Sanchez had upset Joe Becerra in a non title match. Joe was done with fighting after that and called it quits. Eloy was on a three fight losing skid before he fought Becerra. He had also beaten Medel and dropped a decision. I didn't know if Sanchez was the real article or if his win over Becerra was a fluke. I wasn't going to put any money on it.

When seeing the replay of the fight I was very impressed by Jofre. He was way too much for Eloy. Jofre took the title back to Brazil and never crossed the border again. Although the spin doctors tried to put matches with him on the U.S. side nothing transpired. When making the bantamweight limit became a burden on Jofre he finally got outhustled by the speedy Fighting Harada in !965 losing the crown in Japan. The rematch was also in Nippon with a similar ending. Jofre then decided to move up to the featherweight division.

The two losses to Harada in 1965 was just on the eve of the Mexican bantamweight explosion. Imagine what it would have been like to see the great Jofre in the ring with Olivares,Castillo,Herrera,and Martinez? They would have had to put those matches in the LA Coliseum. The LA scribes would have been writing about Jofre as much as Koufax and Drysdale.. Sports Illustrated would have his face plastered on their front cover With that Southland exposure he would have been in demand to fight back east and in Europe. Instead he finished his career in Brazil. He did fight one in Quezon City in the Philippines but that isn't exactly Madison Square Garden.

The lack of American and European exposure was an obvious handicap when it came to naming off the top of your head the Who's Who of the boxing community of that time. It took three years after the initial IBHOF inductions for Jofre's name to enter the hallowed walls of Canastota,

In 1972 Nat Fleischer the editor and founder of The Ring magazine put out his list of the top ten greatest fighters of all time in each division. Fleischer was an old school advocate. He grudgingly gave credit to the modern fighter if any accolades were to be handed out at all. For example he ranked Joe Louis the 6th best heavyweight behind the likes of Corbett and Fitzsimmons. Archie Moore didn't break into the top ten light heavies.Sugar Ray was considered the 5th best of the middle weights-no mention in the welterweight division.The modern day fighter drew a blank in the lightweight category. Willie Pep got the number four ranking in the feathers. But what surprised me was stodgy old Nat put Jofre at number four in the bantamweight class. He had seen Jofre fight in Brazil after he had won the championship and left impressed.

Monzon was similar to Jofre. A great South American fighter who fought most of his wars in his country.But Carlos was a middleweight.He fought more high profile fighters like Benvenuti,Napoles,Valdez,and Griffith. He was the toast of Europe. Jofre couldn't slug his way out of obscurity. He had been seen in American arenas just two times nor the U.S. tele. Poster Chris John has done some pretty diligent work working with Eder Jofre's son in putting together dad's story. Now there's going to be an effort to bring Jofre to the states to give him that deserved last hurrah. If he gets up here he can see all the stadiums and arenas he would have sold out. Imagine Jofre and Olivares,both undefeated,packing dynamite in each fist fighting before 90,000 crazy nuts in the LA Coliseum not only a title on the line but Latino macho bragging rights.. Put that mythical match up on another thread.



The great Eder Jofre

[chrisjs1985]

Excellent write-up and painting. I'll send this to his children so they can show the great man.

Yeah, it's crazy when you think of when Jofre broke through he came just at the end of one great cycle of Mexican bantam's - Raton Macias, Jose Becerra, Toluco Lopez, Pajarito Moreno and German Ohm and only really had the fierce Jose Medel to tangle with and then a few years after Jofre's reign you then get another golden generation with Olivares, Chucho Castilo, Rafael Herrera, Rodolfo Martinez etc; I think a huge advantage Jofre had was that he was always in tip-top condition and when not killing himself at the scale was almost unbeatable. If he comes around 5 years earlier or 5 years later he'd be such much more known among Latino boxing fans at least in this country. Crazy thing is that he outlasted all of those guys that came after him too when he came back to featherweight and only gave up his title because his dad died.

Regarding Fleischer's lists; Imagine thinking Louis wasn't top 5 even before Ali or Holmes or Foreman or Frazier had arrived or not thinking that Pep is top 3 at feather or that Robinson doesn't place at welterweight!

[chrisjs1985]

Opa que legal!! Muito obrigado. Transmita um grande abraço a ele!


Wow, that's cool !! Thank you very much. Convey a big hug to him!

Ficou bacana. Muito bom , ele desenha bem

Very nice. Very good. He draws well.

That's what his son and daughter said. I just sent it to them on facebook messenger.

[dagosd2000]

Excellent write-up and painting. I'll send this to his children so they can show the great man.

Yeah, it's crazy when you think of when Jofre broke through he came just at the end of one great cycle of Mexican bantam's - Raton Macias, Jose Becerra, Toluco Lopez, Pajarito Moreno and German Ohm and only really had the fierce Jose Medel to tangle with and then a few years after Jofre's reign you then get another golden generation with Olivares, Chucho Castilo, Rafael Herrera, Rodolfo Martinez etc; I think a huge advantage Jofre had was that he was always in tip-top condition and when not killing himself at the scale was almost unbeatable. If he comes around 5 years earlier or 5 years later he'd be such much more known among Latino boxing fans at least in this country. Crazy thing is that he outlasted all of those guys that came after him too when he came back to featherweight and only gave up his title because his dad died.

Regarding Fleischer's lists; Imagine thinking Louis wasn't top 5 even before Ali or Holmes or Foreman or Frazier had arrived or not thinking that Pep is top 3 at feather or that Robinson doesn't place at welterweight!

That would be nice.Thanks. You're right. He won the title in 1960 and left as champ in 1976. It wasn't like he was hanging around at the end. Not many can say that.Marciano,Tunney,Mayweather,and Monzon come to mind.

BTW;If you can send me Jofre's address and I'll send it his way on my dime.thanks

[chrisjs1985]

That would be nice.Thanks. You're right. He won the title in 1960 and left as champ in 1976. It wasn't like he was hanging around at the end. Not many can say that.Marciano,Tunney,Mayweather,and Monzon come to mind.

BTW;If you can send me Jofre's address and I'll send it his way on my dime.thanks

Ok, I will send it to you via PM. That's very nice of you.

[dagosd2000]

Esther's Gallery

I took my painting of Eder Jofre to Esther's Gallery in Tijuana today.I'll send it later to Brazil. Esther's has been doing the framing on my paintings going on 20 years. Esther is 87 years old. She's been living in the same house in the established Colonia Cacho near downtown since 1955. Her husband was a head waiter at the Caesar Hotel for many years.He passed away 25 years ago. Esther then started her business with her twin daughters framing pictures. Several years ago she started a framing business on the U.S. side in Chula Vista near the border.

Esther has a couple of helpers that work with her and her daughters. They've been there as long as I can remember. I feel at home when I walk in the door. We all trade stories about our families.One of the reasons I like to go to Tijuana is that there still are a lot of mom and pop businesses. With the trade rules that have been implemented since NAFTA the mom and pops have giving away to the Walmarts and MacDonalds. But this submission is a grudging process. Mexicans like to stay with what has worked for them. Change is not acted on a whim. However,the young are restless and want to associate themselves with the 21st century mode of glitz and sparkle. There's nothing pretentious about Esther's Gallery. The quality of work and service oversteps anything that reeks of a masquerade.If I took my Jofre painting to Michaels up here I'd have to come back for it in a week and pay a couple of hundred dollars Rosa,Esther's daughter,framed my painting in 20 minutes and I only coughed up 20 bucks. But they have a Michaels in TJ. I have no idea what kind of business they do in the framing department. But I'm old style. I'll stick with what's worked for me for 20 years. Besides ,if I went somewhere else it would be like abandoning old friends


Rosa with my painting of Eder Jofre

[chrisjs1985]

Looks terrific, Roger! He's going to absolutely love it. A lovely gesture.

[dagosd2000]

Looks terrific, Roger! He's going to absolutely love it. A lovely gesture.

Thanks Chris
The other day I mentioned Jofre's name with another Brazilian super star-Pele.Pele is still considered the greatest to ever play the game. He was the nucleus of the North American Soccer League.He played on World Cup Championship teams. He married movie stars and made movies.His face is alongside Muhammad Ali's when it comes to international recognition.

When I think of Jofre he accomplished so much,but his glory for the most part was celebrated within the borders of his native country. Maybe if he was a heavyweight he would be a household name. I've never painted a portrait of Pele.I will one day. But for now I hope Jofre will get some satisfaction from a far away fan who admired his talents so much that he got inspired to paint his image.

[chrisjs1985]

Thanks Chris
The other day I mentioned Jofre's name with another Brazilian super star-Pele.Pele is still considered the greatest to ever play the game. He was the nucleus of the North American Soccer League.He played on World Cup Championship teams. He married movie stars and made movies.His face is alongside Muhammad Ali's when it comes to international recognition.

When I think of Jofre he accomplished so much,but his glory for the most part was celebrated within the borders of his native country. Maybe if he was a heavyweight he would be a household name. I've never painted a portrait of Pele.I will one day. But for now I hope Jofre will get some satisfaction from a far away fan who admired his talents so much that he got inspired to paint his image.

I recently saw photos of Pele and Jofre meeting up for the first time in years. George Best came just a little after him. The late great George Best. 'El Beatle' they called him because when my beloved Manchester United played Real Madrid the Spaniards thought he looked like one of The Beatles. Best boozed too much to be in the upper echelons with Pele, Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi but his talent was about equal. He opened a pub in Hermosa Beach called "Besty's", which is still there today, only called "Chelsea Pub" for god knows what reason.

I think part of the reason why Jofre has a low profile is that he's a model citizen. No scandals, no affairs, no slacking it or hitting the bottle or the pipe. He even got into politics and was liked and respected in that field. Sometimes controversy sells and makes for "better print".

[dagosd2000]

I recently saw photos of Pele and Jofre meeting up for the first time in years. George Best came just a little after him. The late great George Best. 'El Beatle' they called him because when my beloved Manchester United played Real Madrid the Spaniards thought he looked like one of The Beatles. Best boozed too much to be in the upper echelons with Pele, Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi but his talent was about equal. He opened a pub in Hermosa Beach called "Besty's", which is still there today, only called "Chelsea Pub" for god knows what reason.

I think part of the reason why Jofre has a low profile is that he's a model citizen. No scandals, no affairs, no slacking it or hitting the bottle or the pipe. He even got into politics and was liked and respected in that field. Sometimes controversy sells and makes for "better print".

Good point about how the bad boys make the headlines and are in the spotlight.I guess that's why Larry Holmes was never invited to be on the Johnny Carson Show..

[dagosd2000]

Pipino Es Mi Campeon

Pipino Cuevas lost 5 of his first 15 fights. He lied about his age and began as a pro when he was 14.He lost his first fight in the U.S. to Andy Price via 10 round decision at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. In July of 1977 Angel Espada put his welterweight title on the line in Mexicali,Mexico against Cuevas. Espada thought he'd add Pipino to his victim's list so taking the fight infront of the rowdy aficianados in Mexicali wasn't a concern. Espada and Clyde Gray fought for the vacant WBA title after the WBA stripped Jose Napoles of the belt when instead of fighting number one Espada ,Napoles opted for a big payday and another crown by taking on Carlos Monzon in Europe. Napoles couldn't get by Carlos but Jose was still wearing the WBC belt around his tummy. Money was tossed Jose's way to fight Espada to unify things, but at that stage of his career, Jose wanted something "softer" so Armando Muniz was given a shot at Mantequilla in Acapulco.Before Muniz made his way to ringside he was asked by Jose Sulaiman if he thought he was going to win. Pancho Villa was in Jose's corner that night and Napoles kept his crown in one of the biggest robberies in boxing history. Napoles fought Muniz in the rematch and won fair and square this time,but the two bouts with Mando pushed Jose over the edge of the cliff. You could have stuck a fork in him. He was shot. Jose thought he would have an easy mark with Brit John Stracey in Mexico City,but after getting dropped in frame one,John got back up to stick the fork in Jose. It was Mantequilla's last fight. He considered a comeback,but decided that he couldn't hit the boards running anymore

After the dust settled Espada and Stracey were waiting for the right offer to get together. John beat the perennial losing challenger Hedge Lewis and then brought over Carlos Palomino to jolly olde England and got stomach punched into submission by the Southern Californian. Now it was Espada's turn to get the tables turned on him in Mexicali by the relatively unknown Cuevas.Pipino mopped him up.

Cuevas was the poster boy Mexican Champion. He had that stoic look.He had a chin as tough as the Sierra Madres. (It was legend that Cuevas was a passenger in an automobile when the driver crashed the vehicle into a telephone post. Cuevas was launched head first through the windshield. He then wiped the shards of broken glass off his face and exited the automobile unscathed)Cuavas brandished the traditional Mexican left hook-el gancho-that would eventually hammer an opponent to the canvas for good. He could go through opponents and windshields and never celebrated with doing a happy dance. He was the contrast to the flashy,sequined trunked, loquacious Puerto Rican fighter when that national rivalry was really heating up.

I remember they wrote a song about Cuevas.It was called "Pipino Es Mi Campeon."The sing had a gaiety about it. A lilt that conveyed that Pipino was" Meheecos" champion; humble,powerful,and a head that could go through windshields without leaving a scratch on that stoic face. Many Mexican fans thought he could polish off Ali. Ali couldn't be any tougher than an Oldsmobile. When Cuevas was signed to fight The Hit Man in The Motor City,Tommy was described as just another used car. I didn't think so. Maybe Mexico was whistling in the graveyard.

Hearns said that fight was his biggest win,even more so than what he dealt out to Duran. After that devastating defeat Pipino was never the same. Duran crushed him.I remember the promo to that fight -"Someone Is Gonna' Fall." After falling in that one Pipino was never in the picture again. I saw him fight his last fight against Lupe Aquino in the Tijuana Auditorium. He didn't last two rounds. The crowd turned against him. As he left the ring he was pelted with empty beer cups. And I didn't hear any choruses of "Pipino Es Mi Campeon."


Pipino Cuevas

[chrisjs1985]

I was out in Hollywood a couple of weeks back and saw the LA fitness there just off Hollywood Blvd on El Centro. Of course it used to be Legion Stadium where so many big fights happened. Archie Moore vs. Charles Burley was there, Henry Armstrong fought there, Jimmy McLarnin too and a host of legendary boxers.

[dagosd2000]

I was out in Hollywood a couple of weeks back and saw the LA fitness there just off Hollywood Blvd on El Centro. Of course it used to be Legion Stadium where so many big fights happened. Archie Moore vs. Charles Burley was there, Henry Armstrong fought there, Jimmy McLarnin too and a host of legendary boxers.

Chris
Not only did I follow the fights,but I was also into wrestling. My favorite wrestler was Argentine Rocca,but he never wrestled down here in San Diego at the Coliseum. I used to watch him on the cards at the Olympic Auditorium and at the Hollywood Legion Stadium on the television.He was big and put together and very acrobatic,besides he was Italian and that drew me to him. He also was a very handsome dude and the little old ladies went crazy over him.. I coaxed my father to take me up to LA and watch him wrestle. He was on the docket at the Legion. I'm pretty sure he wrestled another "paisan",Primo Carnera,but it might have been Freddie Blassie.Primo Carnera would once in awhile wrestle in San Diego.

Rocca wrestled in his bare feet. I never saw a big man fly through the air with such grace and ease. Rocca won that night I saw him at The Legion..He was the "good guy" that night.When Carnera would wrestle in San Diego he was a "good guy".-the "bad guy" in LA.Another "good guy" in San Diego was Mr. Moto,but in LA he was a "bad guy."All those wrestlers buddied up together. i'd see them at the various watering holes together sopping up the brewskies.The wore mor or less the same attire.:open sport coats,and Hawaiian shirts unbuttoned at the collar.

When I was coaching American football in Tijuana I was approached to be a wrestler. Saturdays in TJ.Sundays in Mexicali.I went for a tryout.Mexican wrestling is very acrobatic. I had about as much flexibility as a brick. I said "thanks but no thanks." I remember when Carnera would come to San Diego the scribes would always ask him if he "threw" fights. He didn't like that and would deny that he ever participated in such nefarious undertakings.


Da Preem

[Chuck1052]

I was out in Hollywood a couple of weeks back and saw the LA fitness there just off Hollywood Blvd on El Centro. Of course it used to be Legion Stadium where so many big fights happened. Archie Moore vs. Charles Burley was there, Henry Armstrong fought there, Jimmy McLarnin too and a host of legendary boxers.

There were two versions of the Hollywood Legion Stadium, the first one built during the early 1920s, the second one during 1938. The top photograph is of the first version. Both were built on the same site.

Henry Armstrong and Charley Burley never fought in the first version of the Hollywood Legion Stadium. Black fighters were not permitted to fight at the Hollywood Legion Stadium until 1940.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

Unlike Father

I saw Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.'s second pro fight.It was in a nightclub in downtown Tijuana.The club's name was "Las Pulgas", but the Boxrec listing has it down as something else. The fight was billed as Junior's pro debut,but after looking at the BoxRec records I see it was his second pro fight. He fought a black kid from the U.S. Again, I hd to go to the record book to recall his name.The kid's name was Eugene Johnson. He was mired in an eight fight losing streak.at that point The club was mobbed that night The place was massive inside ,full of glitter and lights, a posh bar and a decorative décor to match,,and I'm sure the cocktail waitresses were selling more than just booze.All the scribes from north and south of the border were there. I'm guessing the joint was owned and operated by one of Tijuana's above the law types which was fine with me. I figure nothing bad was going to happen like a police raid or someone opening fire with an Uzi.

Junior hadn't an amateur fight under his belt. I wondered what his father was thinking. He could have started his boy out with the best people who ,,through the amateurs, could have prepared him for what was waiting for him at the pro level.Dad had fought in the amateurs,and then wanted to swim with the big fish after paying his dues,so he relocated from the obscure gyms of Culiacan(where he was living)to the hotbed of boxing in the republic,Tijuana. There he was groomed by Romulo Rodarte at the famous CREA Gym located in the Rio section of town.

From the get go everyone who saw Dad new that he had the heart of a lion.Nothing was going to get in the way to derail him.He was the prototype Mexican fighter-a killer.You could look up the word "macho" in the Mexican dictionary and see his picture. After eliminating all the local talent south of the border he won his first title against Mario Martinez at The Olympic. He was the most popular fighter in Mexico's history. More popular than Olivares and Canelo,and that was because he fought everyone and dominated. When he beat the slick and pretty Puerto Rican Macho Camacho it was obvious that Camacho's nickname should have been in front of Chavez's. It wasn't until Pernell Whitaker exposed Chavez as being a mortal that the point of no return had been crossed.Booze and drugs,,not to mention too many shots of tequila and a steady diet of fast women, began to create cracks in the armor. He went to rehab.He's OK now with a new wife and a new life. He's still regarded in Mexico as their best fighter. Then later his son wanted to be like Dad.

But Junior didn't grow up the hard way like his father. He wanted fame and fortune before he earned it. His name was attached with his father,but it wasn't father like son.Maybe in the beginning people thought so. When I saw him fight that black kid in TJ,I didn't see any resemblance(at least in boxing)with his father. Oh,Dad was there that night. sitting in back of his son's corner cheering him on. But Junior was no fighter like his dad. He was a bigger man physically,but I could tell his heart was puny in size when making that comparision. with his father. Junior was lethargic.I could tell he could be had. But they brought him around slowly.it was whistling in the dark.

But Junior won that night. It was a KO .The black kid folded like a tent. The crowd went nuts. Dad had a smile from ear to ear. I wondered how long the masquerade would go on. In the end the perfect storm in Mexico came to a head-Junior against Canelo. It was a slow walk for Junior. He wasn't the killer and didn't seem he wanted to administer any harm on Canelo. I think he didn't want to piss him off. His dad couldn't stand to watch it to the end, and beat his son to the exit.

But getting back to that bar fight in that strobe lit cathouse. The fight was an illusion just like what those nightclubs are built for. So a man can escape from reality.The thing is that the next morning you're left with the hangover.



Junior

[Ric]

Happy 100th Anniversary (from the building of this eventual historic boxing venue): http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Holly ... on_Stadium

[dagosd2000]

Happy 100th Anniversary (from the building of this eventual historic boxing venue): http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Holly ... on_Stadium

Ric
Thanks for sharing. Very informative. Seems to be the way of the times especially in So Cal:tear down the landmark and turn it into a franchise joint. I'm sure the people that workout(socialize)at LA Fitness could give a hoot about local history and tradition.But if the old structure was still there today,it would just be a stucco ghost with little or no connection to the people who would pass by.

[dagosd2000]

Ric
Thanks for sharing. Very informative. Seems to be the way of the times especially in So Cal:tear down the landmark and turn it into a franchise joint. I'm sure the people that workout(socialize)at LA Fitness could give a hoot about local history and tradition.But if the old structure was still there today,it would just be a stucco ghost with little or no connection to the people who would pass by. Humphrey who?:TU:

[dagosd2000]

Little Bird

You see it in Mexico more than anywhere else. A fighter steps out from the bowels of obscure arenas and launches into his career decapitating opponent after opponent. At the start usually all the combatants are level. With little or no amateur experience they are thrown to the dogs and they're all wearing Milk Bone underwear. After the dust clears there will emerge a Carlos Zarate,a Julio Cesar Chavez,or an El Puas. They made their marks making mince meat of their adversaries-KO after KO. They win the championship,not to mention the hearts and souls of their countrymen. Father time will be their conqueror along with a worthy antagonist,but the legend is cemented.

He is the killer that all he has to do is touch the other guy and it's another victory in the win column.,But sometimes when that title shot is in front of him he suddenly folds. Raimundo "Battling "Torres was one of those killers that came apart against the master boxer puncher Carlos Ortiz for the title. Ortiz exposed Torres's crudeness. Ortiz was no run of the mill fighter. The distance between the two was very evident. Another fast starter was the Little Bird,Ricardo "Pajarito" Moreno. He came along when Mexico had two of their finest atop their respective divisions, Raul "Raton" Macias and Joe Becerra. The pump was primed for the Little Bird to emerge like Rodan. Every time he won he did it via the knockout. That's the way Mexicans want to see their fighters.Give the other guy an old fashion beat down. Oh,Mexico will embrace a Fancy Dan like a Miguel Canto or a Baby Vasquez,but they want to see the other guy in agony,at the feet of their killers. it was time for Ricardo Moreno to kill Hogan Kid Bassey the featherweight champion of the world.

Everything was in place. The title would be held in the ballpark at LA's Wrigley Field.The hometown advantage would just be icing on the cake. But the Nigerian was no mouth watering dessert to be eaten with a plastic fork. He'd been around and he had something Pajarito lacked-boxing skills. Was it just too much for Moreno?Was he psyched out? Bassey was just the better fighter. It was a mismatch,If you were pulling for Moreno it was hard to watch.

After the loss Moreno almost appeared avian in the ring at times. Davey Moore made short work of him. Raul Rojas built his rep beating him twice.Moreno was flying into a hailstorm of leather and unsavory types that tossed him from boxing's nest at the age of 30.

But the old timers still remember Pajarito..For a time he was soaring in rarified air. At the end he was in disarray and broken. After all the vultures had picked away the last remnants of his flesh his wings were clipped forever. Somehow his story is a Mexican analogy.-a happy ending that's lost in a dream.


"Pajarito" Moreno

[dagosd2000]

Gema -Trio De Los Panchos

When I was writing the piece on Ricardo Moreno I was listening to this song. It seemed apropos.

[scartissue]

Rog, your diatribe on Pajarito Moreno got me thinking of another Mexican idol. Remember Toluco Lopez? So much natural talent diluted by an indigenous potion called Pulque. Anyways, this video is almost comical. he enters the ring amid cheers against another Mexican who was pretty good named Juan Ramirez. Anyways, Toluco shows up in deplorable shape and the fickle crowd turns on him and begins pelting the ring with seat cushions. Comically, amid this obstacle course, the incompetent ref tells them to box on. Incidentally, the incompetent ref is Ramon Berumen whom we all remember as the incompetent ref that robbed Armando Muniz of the title in his first attempt. In what probably should have been called a no-contest, Ramirez is declared the winner. I don't know how they came to that conclusion. perhaps that bi-lingual tongue of yours can figure that out in the video. Let me know what you think.

[dagosd2000]

Rog, your diatribe on Pajarito Moreno got me thinking of another Mexican idol. Remember Toluco Lopez? So much natural talent diluted by an indigenous potion called Pulque. Anyways, this video is almost comical. he enters the ring amid cheers against another Mexican who was pretty good named Juan Ramirez. Anyways, Toluco shows up in deplorable shape and the fickle crowd turns on him and begins pelting the ring with seat cushions. Comically, amid this obstacle course, the incompetent ref tells them to box on. Incidentally, the incompetent ref is Ramon Berumen whom we all remember as the incompetent ref that robbed Armando Muniz of the title in his first attempt. In what probably should have been called a no-contest, Ramirez is declared the winner. I don't know how they came to that conclusion. perhaps that bi-lingual tongue of yours can figure that out in the video. Let me know what you think.

Dan
That video made my day. Toluco Lopez was an example of the tough Mexican fighter who fought often and gave it everything he had even when he left most of it in the cantina. Fighters like him are what others refer to when they say "He fought like a Mexican." Man,you could make a list a mile long of fighters like Lopez..They never had the talent nor the discipline to reach the top.They knew that. They were never champs and didn't fight for world titles. They fought most of their careers in Mexico.They fought because it was easier than working. The money wasn't bad and they had a following. The aficianado identified with the Toluco Lopezes. The aficianado might have lived a life of quiet desperation,but the Toluco Lopezes took on fighting with violent hopelessness. They fought in every arena in the republic,took as much as they dealt out,and were proud of their pug faces.. Obviously ,the entire fight is not shown. I couldn't make out from the announcer why the decision went that way. It was a voice over anyway.These are the fights they used to show on TV in Mexico on Sunday afternoons They'd show a replay of a past fight and then talk about what prominent Mexican fights were coming up. I sat in some venues when a few of those melees erupted. Once the crowd got going there was no let up and no one was going to stop them.

[dagosd2000]

A Wrong Number

I was just going along with my daily fluctuating retirement routine of reading,writing,painting,taking a swim,and mingling with the family.It was late at night when the phone rang . I'm not used to getting calls late at night unless there's an emergency or a wrong number. I was hoping for the wrong number.

I picked up the receiver and heard a familiar voice,a voice I hadn't heard in a long time.
"Roger.This is Ed Delong."
I wouldn't have guessed in a thousand years that Ed DeLong would be giving me a jingle.It had to be ten years since I last talked with him.
"Ed.It's good to hear from you.How are you doing?It's been a while."
I used to lift weights with Ed in the gym.While Ed was primarily a boxer he did like to push some iron around from time to time. But this was back when I was going to City College playing football. Ed was fighting on the undercards at the Coliseum. He was a decent light heavyweight and building up a following.. He worked out often with Ronnie Wilson,but didn't have Ronnie's talent.Ed's forte was guts.In fact he fought harder when he was hurt. The crowds never left the building not satisfied.
"Roger.the reason I called is to tell you that I've been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer."
I suddenly felt a chill run up my spine.
"That's terrible,"I said trying to find the right words on very short notice.
"Can you talk to me right now?I need someone to talk to."
"Of course pal,"I said finding no problem coming up with the right response.
I met Ed when he was working out with the fighters at the Coliseum. Burke Emory was handling him.Ed was what you'd call the rugged,crude type. Irish and tough with a crop of reddish hair,a square jaw and the fighter's nose. His skin stretched tightly on his lanky frame. He never took his greenish eyes off you when he spoke. He could size you up in a flash and if he liked you it was for keeps. If his take was that you had something else you wanted to get out of him he'd give you the cold shoulder.
"Remember I used to smoke?"he said."Well,I quit that ten years ago but the cancer was growing inside and has got me.."
It had been about ten years since I last saw him. He was working at the VA hospital in the rehab facility. His wife had left him I heard. She went back to where she grew up back east to live with her folks.. I never understood what was behind the break up.. They never had any kids. They seemed to get along. The only thing I noticed was that when they were together Ed did all the talking.
"What are they doing for it?"I asked.
"The usual. Chemo.Radiatuion.It makes me sick as hell."
Ed wasn't making any money fighting. He decided to enlist in the army,but not before getting married. He got to Nam just as Nixon was pulling troops out of there and trying handing things over to the South Vietnamese . Ed was a good soldier. He got a battlefield commission and made corporal. During a scouting mission his platoon got ambushed.They were surrounded by NVA. Ed's platoon couldn't see where the fire was coming from..Ed took one in the knee. All his guys were falling around him. He managed to carry three of his fallen comrades out of harms' way to the medics at the back of the line. For that deed he earned a Bronze Star. After that bit of heroism Ed became a role model for me. I wished I could be him.. Brave.Doing the right thing at the right time .No questions asked.No hint of hesitation. That Hemingway moment of grace under pressure. Though we were the same age Ed was like a surrogate father hero.
"Roger,"he continued."I'm scared.I don't know what to do.Can you tell me.Please.I can't bear this."
He began sobbing over the phone.
"I'm broken.You're the only one I can turn to."
Again I felt that chill.
"How about a faith?"I meekly repiied.
"I have none. I don't put trust in it,"he said trying to gather himself.
"Where are you now?"
"I"m at my apartment by the beach. The same one.Can you come over?I need to talk to someone. I need to know,."
"How about tomorow?the little coffee shop. The usual place. Tomorrow at nine."
"You can't come over now?What are you doing?"
"I can come over then."
"Come over to the apartment. I'll have the door unlocked."
"Ok.But give me a half hour."

I showered and dressed. All the while I'm trying to put this together. I never expected this. A guy who had guts to spare in the ring. A guy who saved his buddies' lives under fire while wounded barely able to stand let alone walk.I drove my car in jerky bursts to his apartment.. I didn't have a plan. I would just listen. That would be the best way,just let him talk it out. I didn't have any answers.That chill was still with me. In a way that call was a wrong number.

[chrisjs1985]

Excellent posts guys. This is what I want to see in a boxing history forum not the endless randomly picked mythical matches that pollute the forum.

I’ve always wanted to see more of Toluco and Pajarito. German Ohm too. That era of Tepito bantamweights is fantastic. Outside of the Harada knockout, Medel’s best accomplishment is probably the Toluco wins. Any insight into what happened in those fights?