Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Left Town

Even before this Covid thing hit San Diego had dried up pretty much as having any kind of a base for the fight game. Bobby DiFilippis tried to keep things going with some cards at some of the small venues, mostly in the various hotel dining rooms around town that were converted into makeshift fight arenas.There weren't any "name' fighters and often the main event would be an 8 round fight. The crowd size was I'd say around average. He just couldn't make ends meet that way so now (that was before this Covid thing)he's gone in partners with the promoters in Tijuana and supplemented what talent that was here in San Diego with the fighters in TJ.

When I was acquiring a taste for the sport the local boxing hero was Archie Moore. He was not only cheered,he was a treasure of this city.Moore began establishing himself in San Diego fighting at The Coliseum.that was back in the 1930's.Moore's fistic career took him traveling around the world so to speak. When he won the light heavyweight title from Joey Maxim in 1951 he had settled by then in San Diego.But now that he wore the crown he didn't fight any showcase matches in San Diego. He had three non title goes in town. He was in there with the veterans Bob Dunlap,Frank Buford,and Howard King; stopping Dunlap and Buford and going the distance with King. A few months later he fought King again in Tijuana and won the fight inside a round.But Moore was on everyone's lips. He failed in two tries to be the first light heavy champ to capture the heavyweight title and his epic fight with Yvon Durelle would never make San Diegans forget the Ol' Mongoose.They put his affability in front of the camera in movies and television shows.Later he was besides anchormen as a fight commentator. He tried to make Cassius Clay,fresh from Olympic stardom,into a clone of himself at his training facility in Ramona, but Clay would have nothing to do with that.Moore also ,along with Dick Saddler,tried to come up with a game plan for champ George Foreman in how to handle the now Ali, but again The Greatest didn't cooperate.And of course he ran his ABC club to teach kids how to defend themselves and to go on to be good citizens.if anyone in San Diego had anything bad to say about Archie Moore he'd be burned at the stake.

Moore retired after another failed attempt to bring The Louisville in tow inside the ring at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles,San Diego was without a local guy who they could .throw money into the ring.But in the late 60's the local sports columns began mentioning a kid just out of the Marines and the amateurs who was beating who they could put in front of him at the local venues.The kid's name was Ken Norton .He had enough going for him that Eddie Futch wanted to take control.I wouldn't say that San Diego showed the love for Norton like they did for Archie Moore,but after Norton upset Ali's applecart the interest in what was next for Norton skyrocketed.

During Norton's stretch there were other fighters who were getting attention from the locals. Art Hafey,Ronnie Wilson-both Canadians-were being guided along by another Canadian,an ex fighter by the name of Burke Emery.Though Hafey and Wilson didn't stick around after their days the ring ended they were considered San Diego property.Hafey came close to winning the featherweight championship but Danny Lopez and nerve damage to Art's shoulder screwed up the works. Wilson could never get by Mike Quarry who would eventually get hammered by Bob Foster in a fight for all the marbles.

Two sharp fighters,James Kinchen and Terry Norris, came along in the 80's and were showing their stuff around town. KInchen was on the cusp of becoming a champ but he got the short end of some very controversial decisions. Losses to James Shuler,Iran Barkely,and Tommy Hearns prevented "The Heat"from getting the recognition he desreves.Today,he's a local pastor at the Helping Hand of God Church in Encanto that's located in the eastern area of San Diego.Terry Norris was the guy who should have convinced Ray Leonard not to try anymore comebacks.Terry earned his way to becoming a champ and his name would be passed around as perhaps the best pound for pound guy with the gloves.Today,Terry is fighting the biggest fight of his life against that old boxing nemesis-dementia.

All those fighters and all those fights seem so long ago. It's like going back to where you came from and discovering everybody has left town.


James "The Heat" Kinchen

[dagosd2000]

Closing Down

"I'm closing the place down."
That's what Vargas told me yesterday, After 30 years of having his gym in Colonia Independencia Vargas is closing his place down.I was in Tijuana yesterday.I saw my daughter and went to the farmacia.On the way back I drove by Vargas' gym and saw the door open. I thought I'd stop and say hello.I went inside and there was Vargas by himself at his desk.
"I'm starting to clean the place out. I haven't been able o pay the rent in six months.I can't think of nothing."
"Anyone moving in ?"I asked him.
"No one.I think it will be vacant for awhile."
Vargas looked tired.Because of the pandemic and not being able to have any business and boxing on hold it was getting him down.
"Boxing has changed a lot in the past year,"he said as he sat emptying out the desk.
While he was stacking papers and folders on top of the desk i neat little piles I looked at his frame bent over and tired.All the old scars when he used to be a fighter were fading into his gray skin. The gnarled fingers , stiff and thick, moved everything with a slow steady motion.
"The only fights will be on television,"he said in his hoarse voice."The rest of the fighters won't have work. They'll have to give it up."
"It's a shame,"I said.
"You're going to see champions who have just fought a few fights. There will be nobody left to build a reputation on.There'll be no credibility."
"They'll have to sell that to the public."
"But they can't fool us,"said Vargas as he shut the desk door,
Vargas got up and walked over to the ring and rested his hand on the top rope.
"I've sold most of the gear but I don't know what I'll do with the ring."
"There's no one who wants to buy it?"
"No one has any money.I'll eventually have to give it away."
"I remember when Margarito trained here,"I said.
"That's when he was moving up.I was thinking of managing him.I should have."
"Well, he got caught loading his gloves."
"They all did.At least in Tijuana it was normal.The fighters would all be in the dressing room and having their trainers wrap their hands using plaster of Paris. It was normal.I did it with my fighters.It was like nothing.I should have managed Margarito.I could have made some money."
"Didn't Margarito open a gym up the road in La Villa?"
"He still has it.But he wants to sell it."
"What's Morales doing with his gym?"
"I think he'll keep it.He owns the building."
"The CREA is shutdown."
"That's the government.It will still be there."
There didn't seem to be anything more to talk about fighting.
"This pandemic is out of control down here,"said Vargas taking his hand off the ring rope.
"There's a lot of people in Canon Jhonson that have it. I just was visiting my daughter. A lot of people are sick."
Vargas turned to me and smiled.He broken tobacco stained teeth gave a glow to his disposition.
"Boxing isn't that important anymore,"he said laughing a little.
"Unless that was how you made a living."
"I guess you're right,"he said as he grabbed o broom and began sweeping the floor.


image share website

Erik Morales' gym in the colonia Zona Norte

[dagosd2000]

A Yank From The Other Side

This was when Lennox Lewis was the undisputed champ. I was visiting London on what they call a "holiday." Lewis had just come off fresh putting Mike Tyson to sleep. He retired after his next fight when it looked like Vitali Kltschko might prevail but VK's eye cut was going to cause him to bleed to death in the ring so the doctor halted it and Lewis exited a winner by an eyelash so to speak.I was telling you how I liked going to those English pubs because it seemed people went there not only to drink warm beer but to make conversation.Beer,ale,it's all beer to me and I can't get it down when it's the same temperature as my piss. So I'll settle for a cold Carling and work my way around the room and find my niche.

One evening I walked inside a pub near the hotel,planted my arse on a stool at the end of the bar,and began chit-chatting with the barman.He looked like he was around my age.I didn't know whether he was losing his hair in front or growing a new forehead.Thick through the shoulders and the chest and hands that looked like they could lift a keg of Guinness as easy as a British copper,I feinted him into his take on Lennox Lewis.
"Don't think that highly of him mate,"he retorted with his eyes flashing green and a nose getting redder.
"Why's that?"I asked.
"He's conceited.Comes over here from Canada just to make a name for himself,"he went on in an agitating nasal voice.
"He sure finished off Mike Tyson,"I said having no trouble getting his nose and now his face turn the color crimson.
"Tyson was past his prime by then."
"He beat Holyfield."
"He should have awarded the first fight to Holyfield instead of scoring it a draw."
By now I knew this guy was not a member of the Lennox Lewis' fan club.
"How did you feel about his fight with Bruno?"
"I wanted Bruno but the man froze solid in the ring that night."
"Does it have to do with Lewis being black?"
"No. I just don't like way he carries himself .He's a bit snotty.I can't warm up to him."
"Well,he certainly looked awful against McCall and Rahman,"going over to his side.
Just then the barman reached under the bar and pulled out a shot glass topped to the brim of what looked like whiskey and downed it.
"But he got more than even in the return bouts with those Yanks",he said gasping for a little air.
"Yes he did."
"And there was no Yank that could take him to task either."
"You're right about that."
"It's about time the united States begins giving credit to what we have over here."
"It's about time."
You Yanks don't have a hold on the sport like you used to have."
"That's for sure."
"And you Yanks can't deal with it either."
I finished my Carling and ordered a whiskey.
"A preference?"
"Yeah.Make it Irish."

Lennox Lewis

[dagosd2000]

El Americano En Espana

I've been to Spain more than any of the other countries in Europe.That's because when my granddaughter Amanda began showing an interest with her Flamenco dancing I thought I'd test that enthusiasm by taking her to Spain,more precisely the Andalucia region were the city of Sevilla located and is considered a Mecca of the art.Yesterday I talked about a back and forth with a barman in a pub in London about the subject of boxing. I had a similar experience once in Sevilla inside a bodega with the camarero.

First things first.Boxing isn't that popular in the Andalucia. It has a greater following in Barcelona and especially Madrid. Andalucians don't seem to want to catch up the the modernized world of their countrymen to the north.They don't want to let go of their traditions,but every time I go back to Sevilla I can see more cracks in the armor. It's the young people. They want to be "current",especially the women. There's no stopping it. The old folks think they can prevent the change,but they can just look at the U.S. and see how this country(that has the world's youth in the palm of their hands)is also morphing into something that can't help make Jane Fonda feel like an old fuddy duddy.

OK.Let's get down to some boxing talk. There was this bartender(the hell with this "camarero" reference.Besides, it doesn't roll off my tongue like "bartender") behind the bar in the bodega next to the hotel.On the wall was a picture of Pedro Carrasco,the former lightweight champ of the world and a national hero.Of course I had to jump on it. I ordered a sherry(Andalucia is also the "fino" capital of the world)and a dish of sardines to satisfy my thirst and hunger while I opened up with this guy about their hero who won the crown by the most dubious of circumstances.
"Isn't that Pedro Carrasco?"I asked him like I didn't know.
"Yes it is."
This Spaniard was a big brute. He had that thickness that many Basques have-not muscular but thick in the arms and legs like they don't have any calves. His hair was dark and wavy atop his boyish round face.His eyes were black and sparkled.Everything else about his countenance was common.
"I remember when he beat Mando Ramos to win the championship,"I said wanting to test how far he'd go with this.
"I saw that fight in Madrid."
"It was very controversial,"I said still feeling him out.
"The crowd went crazy when Carrasco was awarded the victory but after everything calmed down we knew he'd have to fight Ramos again."
"Ramos wanted to fight him in Los Angeles."
"I saw that fight on television.I thought Carrasco won."
Now I knew that this guy was no Johnny Come Lately.
"I thought he won the third fight too,"I said.
"After that Carrasco became disinterested with boxing.He married Rocio Jurado and became a matinee idol.To the day he died he was cherished."
"Ramos had a different fate.He destroyed himself with alcohol and drugs."
"That was the Indian in him ,"said the bartender.
"Tell me. How do Spaniards think of Mexicans?
"They are savages.Uncivilized.It's their Indian blood that degenerates them."
"You know I've never seen a Mexican restaurant in Spain."
"We don't like what they eat-beans and tortillas and all that hot chili.That's the Indian in them."
I'd heard enough of his racial bias so I went on the offensive,however trying to be subtle.
"Where are you from?"
"I'm not from here.I was born in Guernica."
"That's where Hitler tested his Luftwaffe and bombed the city killing many people."
"My father told me about that,"he said putting his hands on the bar..
"Yeah, Franco during your civil war wanted Hitler to do that. Hitler showed no remorse killing those people.He thought they deserved it."
The bartender,camarero, whatever he was said nothing.


My granddaughter,Amanda,trying on her Flamenco dress that was a surprise gift given to her by Spain's foremost "cante" singer,Esperanza Fernandez.Seville,Spain 2008

[dagosd2000]

Champion's Home

"You can always say that Jiquilpan had a champion fighter,"I said to my nephew Chelis.
"Who was that?"
"Julio Diaz.He was the lightweight champion."
Chelis didn't say anything. We were all sitting in the sala in our house in Jiquilpan and I thought I'd bring it up.Chelis is my nephew .He was born in Jiquilpan like everyone else in his family. The pueblo only has a population of around 15,000.I thought he would have known that Julio Diaz was born in Jiquilpan.
"Of course he moved from Jiquilpan when was he was a boy to California,"I said wanting to elaborate.
Chelis still remained quiet on the subject. I felt that since he was born and lived in Jiquilpan all his life that he should have known that Julio Diaz was from his hometown.I think hewas a little embarrased.Chelis knew like everyone else in Jiquilpan that Lazaro Cardeas,the former president of Mexico,and Rafael Mendez,the famous trumpet player,were born in Jiquilpan.Their houses are now national monuments.

But in the scheme of things Julio Diaz wasn't that high a profile fighter as a title claimant.. He certainly wasn't a Julio Cesar Chavez nor a "Canelo" Alvarez in notoriety. and accompllshment.When Diaz won the IBF title in 2007 he wasn't considered the best fighter at that weight or a few pounds up and down anyway.He had a crossroads fight with another Diaz from Mexico,"Baby Bull" for a more prestigious belt,the one that said World Boxing Associiation Champion,but was stopped in 9 rounds. After that loss he was up and down.He was "down" when he fought the top ranked guys and retired from boxing in 2014.

Jiquuilpan has a boxing gym on the edge of town but every time I drive by the place it's closed.My amigo "Gato" Gonzalez fought a few pro fights in Jiquilpan's bullring when he was just getting started.I've asked around and no one remembers.Maybe that's because that was back in the early 60's when he fought.Sometimes there's amateur fighting in the town's "palenque" featuring kids from the neighboring pueblos. I've been to a few of those events. The fighters have to share headgears and gloves.After one bout finishes the gear is passed to the next two.The fights are pretty bad. One time I was took my grandson Adam. I almost asked him to jump in there.He could have beaten any of those other kids.But that would have been something to satisfy my ego. I'm glad I'm over that.

Getting back to Julio Diaz. To be precise,he was born in a small "ranchita" on top of a mountain next to Jiquilpan called Paradones. My wife was born there along with all her brothers and sisters.The town never had more than maybe a hundred people living there.But with no work and the bandits sacking the place of what was left maybe there's a scattering handful left. They're the old people.There isn't a school anymore. No doctor around. Forget any police protection like there should be any.My wife's cousin has the only store.She lives in the back with her brother who's an invalid.Her husband died 20 years ago.My wife's cousin is the same age as my wife and could pass for my wife's mother.She sells maybe a couple of Cokes and some candy. There's really nothing in there that anyone would want.It's so small and cramped inside you can't move around.I once asked her if she knew of Julio Diaz.
"His family moved to California when he was one years old.He as a fighter.A champion."
"Does he ever come back to visit?"
"No he never has."


My wife with her "tia",Antonia.She was 103 in this picture.Paredones.




My niece,wife,and son .An early visit to Pardones


The town bullring in Jiquilpan where "Gato" Gonzalez fought.

[dagosd2000]

In Name Only

The most high profile trainer in the history of boxing had to be Angelo Dundee.He was the chief second in the corners of some of the most notable fighters who ever put on the gloves.I don't even need to go to Wikipedia to look up the names.Let's see. There was of course Ali.Jimmy Ellis,Ray Leonard,Sugar Ramos,Jose Napoles,Luis Rodriguez,When George Foreman came back to win the heavyweight title it was Ange in the big guy's corner.But Dundee never taught those fellas HOW to fight. What I'm saying he was never with them at the start.

The first champion that Dundee worked with was Wilie Pastrano. Pastrano walked into Chris Dundee' s 5th Street Gym to take off some weight.Little brother Angelo was assigned the task of getting Willie away from the raviolis and meatballs.But Dundee also noticed that the overweight paisan was an agile alp.So you could say that Dundee had the kid from the get go and made him into what he was as a fighter.He eventually won the light heavyweight title.But the closest fighter to Dundee and the one he cherished the most was Carmen Basilio.He took him to the top.Basilio,from back east and another Italian/American, was Dundee's favorite. He can take the credit there for molding Basilio into a Hall Of Famer.But unlike Willie who was often in bed with with two three women at a time in the No Tell Motel,,Carmen" lived" in the gym.

I think sometimes what was going through Basilio's mind when he saw his former trainer in Jose Napoles' corner during the two scraps with Carmen's nephew Billy Backus.And what Angelo was thinking when he saw his goomba across the ring giving instructions to his nephew.I'm sure Angelo had been invited over to the house and played with the young Billy in the backyard and then making himself comfortable in the living room enjoying a feast of homemade pasta.

I saw Angelo Dundee work with two fighters in prepping for a fight. When Luis Rodriguez was in town to fight an elimination fight against Rafael Gutierrez in order to step into the ring with Nino Benvenutti ,Dundee was there with The Nose.Or maybe I would closer to the point if I said he was hanging around.Don't let anyone tell you other wise.It was Louie who was calling all the shots.From taping of hands to shadow boxing through to sparring Rodriguez was giving the orders. Dundee was just kind of standing off to the side talking to the press when needed.THey like him and he could always give them some good copy.

The other time I saw Dundee in inaction was when Ali strolled into San Diego thinking he was going to brush aside Ken Norton.Dundee was like a an odd man out. Walter Youngblood was more hands on with Ali than Dundee. Youngblood who had been with Muhammad since The Fight Of The Century, was at least talking with Ali. He did a lot of the nuts and bolts things getting Ali prepped.If you didn't know any better you'd think Youngblood was the "chief second"or at least did an excellent impersonation of Our Man Godfrey.

With all those guys I mentioned in the first paragraph,Dundee would enter the fold after the main training camp broke. Dundee was there the final two weeks when when his charge was in town winding down. That's when all the scribes and the public were more accessible to the goings on.The exception was Ali,but he was his own boss and Dundee was smart enough to not interfere.You could have asked Archie Moore about that.I remember when Ali wanted Ray Robinson to be his trainer.Robbie was wise enough to know that two egos that huge could never fit inside the gym.

Dundee certainly had the boxing knowledge.He was reared in Stillman's Gym and couldn't take his eyes off Charley Goldman,but when it came to putting his moxie into fighters,at least all those champions,they already knew how to do it.I guess you could say that Angelo Dundee was smart enough to know that why fix it when it ain't broken.

Carmen Basilio

[dagosd2000]

Just Up The Road

It was that little cafe in Gravadona on Lake Como. Inside was all the pictures of Marilyn Monroe.the whole decor,the theme,Marilyn Monroe. I don't know who owned the place but I knew there was the bartender and a few waitresses that I saw and the cook inside who I never saw.My wife and I would walk in the late morning on the sidewalk along the lake from the hotel into the town of Gravadona and have a coffee and maybe a roll and look out over the lake sitting outside at a table under the awning and talk about what it must be like to live in Gravadona.I never knew the name of the cafe.There was no sign outside and I never asked any of the waitresses what the name of the cafe was.One morning an old man sat down at the table next to where my wife and I were sitting.He was an old man who had on a gray tailored suit and shined brown leather shoes. A brown fedora shaped the way he wanted it was atop his head..He wore a red polka dot tie that didn't seem to match his suit.He carried a cane but didn't seem to rely on it much.I saw that he ordered hot tea and was sipping it as he stared out looking at the lake.After awhile I could see that he was moving towards the table where my wife and i were sitting.
"Excuse me,"he said standing next to us,"I couldn't help listening but are you Americans?"
"Well,I'm American.My wife is Mexican."
"Well so am I,"he smiled.
"Please sit down and join us,"I said.
The waitress saw him at our table and brought over his tea,
"Here you are Ricardo,"she said smiling.
The old guy was sinewy of frame and his suit fit him handsomely. His face was still smooth and sweet looking.A fleshy nose and glistening green eyes set off his manner in a sort of a debonnaire light.As the waitress walked away he turned and held up his hand.His fingers were very long for the size of his hand I could see as he motioned the waitress back.
"Sweetheart,can you bring me a roll too,"
He then looked at my wife and I and smiled again. His mouth was full and stretched warmly as he smiled.
"Can I get you two anything else?"
"No thank you,"I said.
In a minute the waitress brought over the roll and a small teapot with some extra teabags.The old man began to strike up a conversation.
"I don't see many Americans on this side of Lake Como anymore.Mostly in Bellagio but not up here.By the way,my name is Richard.Everyone here calls me Ricardo."
"My name is Roger and this is my wife Maria."
"You said that you are American?"
"Yes.My wife is Mexican."
"Oh,that's interesting.Were you born in Mexico?"asked the Ricardo looking at my wife.
"Yes.But we live in San Diego."
"San Diego, California? I used to be a fighter and I fought in San Diego a few times."
"That's interesting.Where are you from originally?"
"Hoboken,New Jersey."
"Are you vacationing in Gravadona?"
"No.I live here."
"My wife and I are on a vacation.We're staying at the Hotel Regina."
"How long are you staying?"
"We're going back to San Diego Friday."
"What made you choose Gravadona?
"I don't know. It seemed like a good deal in the brochure."
"I retired here 20 years ago.I worked 30 years for General Motors.I wasn't always a fighter."
"Why did you decide to live in Gravadona?"
"My parents were born here so I decided to live here.They had a house here and they'd come here every summer to visit.but I never went with them .I didn't want to go then.But when they died they left me the house so when I retired I came here to live."
"Are you married?"
"I was but I got divorced before I retired.I'm been by myself ever since."
""I'm Italian too. ,"I said.
"Were you born in Italy?"
"No.I was born in Chicago."
"That's where Capone was from,"he said chuckling.
I didn't want to get into any Mafia history especially concerning my heritage.
"That's what they say,"I said.
Then I quickly got back to bringing up what he said about being a fighter.
"You said you fought in San Diego?"
"At the Coliseum."
"When was that?"
"Back in the 50's.When I came out to the West Coast I always fought a Mexican. Let me tell you they were a tough lot.Never took a backward step."
"Why did you stop fighting?"
"I was slowing down.I'd had enough of it.I have no regrets.I got married and went to work for GM."
"Have any kids?"
"Two sons and seven grand children.How about yourself?"
"Three girls and one boy and seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren,"jumped in my wife.
"That's great,"said Ricardo.
Ricardo poured the last of the hot water into his cup and dipped a teabag into it.My wife and I had finished some time ago.
"So how do you keep yourself occupied?"I asked him.
" I read in the morning.I come to the cafe.I have my soap operas.Sometimes I get on the bus and go into Milan or the other way to Switzerland to enjoy the day.Once a year my sons come to visit me."
"We're thinking of doing something today. We don't have much time left."
"Have you taken the ferry?"
"We did that yesterday."
"You should visit the spot where they killed Mussolini.It's just up the road.They have a marker there."
"Really.That sounds interesting."
I looked at my wife.
"How would you like to do that today?"
My wife looked away like she didn't hear me.
"That sounds good."I said."How do I get there?"
"You should take the municipal bus.It's only one euro.Tell the bus diver where you want to go.He'll know."

We soon said good bye to Ricardo and walked back to the hotel.When we got to the hotel I didn't mention anything to my wife abut going to see where Mussolini got killed. I asked the clerk at the desk to have a taxi come to front to take us to Milan. I know my wife wanted to do some shopping before we went back to San Diego.



The view of Lake Como and the town from the cafe.

[f read]

Sorry, Expug, I'm thinking of Kenny Bogner.

Now Bogner would have been a great fight for Tony. there was talk of him fighting Tony and he was in attendance for Tony's fight with Howard Davis, and I guess he and his people didn't like what they saw, because we never heard from them again.

Kennys father worked in the corner for Baltazar. It was at the Philadelphia Convention Center January 1992. Baltazar lost a decision to hometown Rockin Rodney Moore. It was on a Taylor and Whitaker undercard. He was the cutman. He was a good guy.

Baltazar-Davis was February 1983 and at that time Bogner was in line for his title shot with Mancini. The Bogner-Montellano fight was November 27 1982 and the winner was next suppose to challenge Mancini. Yes Bogner defeated Gonzalo and was just standing by for the title fight.

[scartissue]

Now Bogner would have been a great fight for Tony. there was talk of him fighting Tony and he was in attendance for Tony's fight with Howard Davis, and I guess he and his people didn't like what they saw, because we never heard from them again.

Kennys father worked in the corner for Baltazar. It was at the Philadelphia Convention Center January 1992. Baltazar lost a decision to hometown Rockin Rodney Moore. It was on a Taylor and Whitaker undercard. He was the cutman. He was a good guy.

Baltazar-Davis was February 1983 and at that time Bogner was in line for his title shot with Mancini. The Bogner-Montellano fight was November 27 1982 and the winner was next suppose to challenge Mancini. Yes Bogner defeated Gonzalo and was just standing by for the title fight.

Y'know, I saw Montellano lose a squeaker to Sean O'Grady and was impressed. To tell you the truth, I'm really surprised that he lost to Bogner.

[f read]

That was considered an upset. Many thought Gonzalo defeated Sean. Yes that was Bogners best fight against good competition. He clearly won the decision and deserved the victory.

[dagosd2000]

Critique

So we're all sitting around playing cards at Pat Vetere's place.Pat was the guy who introduced me to Ronnie Wilson and was also my negotiation rep for my work unit back when I was working for the County Of San Diego.Pat was there and so was his old man Nick.Pat's brother Nicky was also at the table sitting next to the guy who lived across the street.Pat was dealing out the cards for a round of poker something like jacks or better.
"You know in that movie Raging Bull when Jake LaMotta moved to Pelham,said Pat while dealing out the cards,"well,that was my aunt Josie's house they used for that scene in the movie. You know where Robert De Niro is asking his brother if he ever made it with his wife."
"Well,that's something,"I said as I looked at my cards holding nothing.
Then Pat's old man jumped in.
"I used to watch La Motta fight at St. Nicholas Arena,"said Pat's old man as he tossed his hand in the middle of the ante."Sometimes he'd just be sitting at ringside and then across the ring would be Rocky Graziano sitting on the other side.They'd be cursing at each other shouting that they wanted to kick each other's asses.It was all a put on,"he chuckled.
"My old man said he was at ringside for the St. Valentines' Massacre.He was sitting ringside,"I said."He told me that La Motta never was talking to Robinson and said that ' You never put me down Ray'.That was all a bunch of crap."
"Al Silvani said the same thing,"said Nicky as he turned over his cards.
"Didn't Silvani get into a beef with Scorsese about that movie?"asked Pat.
"He didn't like the way Scorsese put in all that violence.He said he over did it with the violence."I answered.
"I think at one time La Motta's brother Joey sued the producers,"said Nicky.
"He didn't like the way he was portrayed,"said Pat's old man. "You know he was a pretty good fighter.I'd seen him fight at St. Nicks.He gave up his career to manage his brother. And then there was all that stupid stuff about La Motta accusing his brother of making it with his wife."
Silvani also said that there was too much cursing in the movie.That people didn't talk that way with each other,"I added for good measure.
Then the guy across the street spoke up.
"Can any of you guys open because I can?"
Everyones' cards were tossed in.
"I guess you can take the ante,"said Pat.
The guy across the street put out his hand and dragged in a buck and a quarter.
"And this is all I get to have listen to you Italians talk about some movie,"he moaned.
Pat's old man then gave him a stare and a response.
"If you don't like it you can get go back across the street and go f--k yourself."



Robert De Niro as Jake La Motta

[dagosd2000]

What It Means To Be The Heavyweight Champ

When Jack Johnson won the heavyweight championship from Tommy Burns then began a frantic search for a white fighter,at any weight,to beat this guy. What I don't understand is there wasn't all that noise when other black fighters ,in the lower weights, wore championship belts. George Dixon,Joe Gans,Barbados Joe Walcott were all clear cut world title holders but because they didn't come in the large size it was not that big a deal. Prior to Johnson finally getting his gloves onto Burns it was considered a sin for a black man challenging for the heavyweight title.Then when it happened, Johnson was perceived as a devil in disguise. Johnson knew that so he rubbed everybody's face in it including the white challengers who wanted to bring Christ back to earth.Johnson wasn't just satisfied beating Burns,Jeff,and Ketchel.He wanted to humiliate them along the way to defeat. Then after triumphing he'd pose in front of the cameras with one of his white women showing all his gold teeth.

I always marvel when I watch the footage of Willard knocking Johnson to the canvas in Havana. The crowd rises to its feet like a surging tidal wave.Then there's ol' Sam McVea ,you can see in his tailored suit sitting at ringside,wishing he had a sign around his neck saying "I'm Cuban." Jesus H. Jess did what the white insecure male wanted to happen since they turned off the camera in Sydney,Australia when Johnson committed the mortal sin by beating Tommy Burn's brains out.

But all this chaotic comedy was the result of a black man for the first time in history winning the HEAVYWEIGHT title.Joe Gans,George Dixon,Barbados Joe ,well they still had to use the "colored" washroom ,but they could be champ without too much ruckus.

When it became virtually impossible to keep Joe Louis on the sidelines (besides uncle Mike saw the financial combinations awaiting to make himself a very rich fellow)Louis got his chance against The Cinderella Man.. He had all the goods.Braddock had the heart.But Joe's ticker was healthy and strong too.Everyone knew it was gonna' happen. After Jimmy surprised Joe with the flash knockdown in the 1st,Joe went to work. But he was nice about it.When Louis deposited Braddock to the canvas in the 8th round in the Chi Sox ballpark in the Windy City,Jimmy's brain relayed the message to the rest of his body that it was time to sit down and take the load off. His fall looked like they had slowed the camera down.

Now that Joe Louis was best heavyweight in the world the white public didn't see beezlebub ,but a guy who was more of an interloper.The scribes gave him all the backhanded compliments but Joe didn't blink once. Mike Jacobs saw dollar his signs come to fruitionJack Johnson was still around and wanted in but Louis' camp blocked the door.Joe went into the army when the war started and was buried at Arlington. Jack Johnson died racing his car somewhere in North Carolina trying to get to The Apple wanting to see Louis' rematch with Conn.I don't know where they buried Jack Johnson.


Jack Johnson

[chrisjs1985]

Hi Roger, as you can imagine I've been very busy going over the final, FINAL proofreads. I'm sending it to the printers in a week to 10 days and then will proofread the physical copy a couple of times. I estimate a March release and it will be available via Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I will put a post up for sure when the date is confirmed.

P.S - I am writing on Harada after that. I have an INCREDIBLE amount of research and information on him translated from Japanese plus access to him and his closest friends. The works begins on that shortly. It will be June when BOTH Jofre and Harada will be here and we will meet up with you for sure. I'll keep you posted on everything. Jofre will also be here in October too.

Second Best

"You know who died today?"asked my wife walking into my room from the kitchen.
"No.Who?"
"Maradona,"
"I heard he was sick."
"He had tumor on his brain and they took it out and then he was fine but he died today."
I had never heard my wife bring up an athlete's name before.Oh,I take that back.I heard her mention "Raton" Macias once but that was because after fighting he became a Mexican movie star.She didn't care for sports and contests. It was something she didn't understand: why men got so wrapped up in it.Sports was something men liked to do.
"Pele number one.Maradona second best."she said.
That surprised me too but I didn't want to ask why she thought that way.It was probably something she heard somewhere.

They called Maradona "The Golden Kid" and remember watching him on television sitting in the Hotel Nelson bar in Tijuana leading the Argentine team to victory over England in a World Cup match and the two goals he scored,the first one he used his hand to help him and they referred to it as the "Hand of God" goal and then there was the second who many called the greatest goal in history.The championship game ,played against West Germany in Estadio Azteca,was all his again scoring and setting things up dribbling the ball like a a man possessed.When I watched the final,again at the Hotel Nelson,the bar was jammed and everyone was pulling for Argentina,and of course Maradona. Funny,Mexicans don't think much of South American countries especially Argentina.In fact the rest of south America thinks Argentina is a bit snooty with all that European blood and people with last names like Marconi,Von Krupp,MacFadden,and Cooke and how the Europeans there eradicated the Indians to separate that blood from theirs.But sitting inside the Nelson I guess if the Mexicans had to draw a line in the sand so they looked as Argentina as a cousin.

We here on the boxing forum I guess think more highly of boxing than what the rest of the world calls football.When I think of an athlete from Argentina I put Carlos Monzon alongside Maradana,but i don't think the rest of the world nor Argentinians feel that way.Boxing has their fanatics but not on the scale of soccer. Only Muhamad Ali transcended that image.

Eder Jofre was one of the all time great fighters but he pales in comparison to his countryman,Pele.My pal Chris James(when are you going to let me know how to get my hands on your bio of the great Jofre?)is lining up a visit with Jofre and Fighting Harada in April to come to LA for Rick Farris's West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame ceremony. Chris wants to do a day trip to San Diego with the fighters.I told Chris we'll all go out to lunch and do some friendly verbal sparring.

You know, if Pele ever came to San Diego I'd just have to read about it in the papers.


Eder Jofre

[dagosd2000]

Hi Roger, as you can imagine I've been very busy going over the final, FINAL proofreads. I'm sending it to the printers in a week to 10 days and then will proofread the physical copy a couple of times. I estimate a March release and it will be available via Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I will put a post up for sure when the date is confirmed.

P.S - I am writing on Harada after that. I have an INCREDIBLE amount of research and information on him translated from Japanese plus access to him and his closest friends. The works begins on that shortly. It will be June when BOTH Jofre and Harada will be here and we will meet up with you for sure. I'll keep you posted on everything. Jofre will also be here in October too.
Chris
Good luck and thanks for the update.Roger

[goose 5]

Good to see the name Al Silvani mentioned on this thread-he was a great trainer. I love the story about him humbling a martial arts expert and wish I could find the article where I originally read about it.

[dagosd2000]

Easy Money

After going around and around being Jake La Motta's trainer Al Silvani focused his attention working his skills in Tinsel Town. He was in demand by the "beautiful people" to be a technical advisor with movies that necessitated boxing scenes.He also offered his services to Hollywood's leading men in the art of the Sweet Science. From working a with guy like La Motta ,who would tell the press that he never listened to Silvani and that he was only a "front" ,to now showing Frank Sinatra how to box so he could go around afterwards and tell everyone that he was a fighter back in the day and he made sure he posed for plenty of pictures.There's bony Frank in his trunks with his paisan Al standing behind him with the signature towel draped over the shoulder and Q Tip dangling from his mouth.They needed Al to show Elvis Presley how to throw the most lethal right hand in Hollywood history in that box office flop Kid Galahad.Camera angles can sure hide the trickery.And of course there was Sly Stallone as "Rocky" who called the boxing choreography of his scenes with Apollo Creed in the ring "The Apache Dance" all staged by paisan Al who had no problem letting Sly call it anything he wanted.And then the movie that made "Jake La Motta' a household name,Raging Bull. (like you'd want this guy to come knocking on your door some night asking if your daughter was ready to go out on a date).If you look hard enough you can see Silvani's name stuck up in the corner of the screen when they roll the credits at the end.

Silvani had got on the gravy train. He didn't have to beat down the door at 5 in the morning to get La Motta to get out of bed and do road work. Jake didn't think he needed to do any running.("What's running have to do with fighting anyway?)For Silvani the teeth pulling was over.He was rubbing elbows with the "beautiful people."Now he could smile and show his pearly whites when making out his deposit slips to the teller at the bank.

But from time to time Silvani would get homesick for the smell of the sweat mixed in with the liniment back at a boxing boilermaker like Stillmans or Gleasons. He needed that get sense of getting hit in the mouth. Not the pretend punches.Not the "Apache Dances."Not building up Frank Sinatra's already overblown ego. There wasn't the chicanery of showing Elvis how to pull the right hand while he groped for his guitar with his left which he also faked when strumming. It wasn't acting anymore for awhile. But then again it was back to coercing the fighters to come to the gym everyday and not waste all that effort later that night at The Copa.

With Hollywood you can write it anyway you want.You can always put in a "happy ending".Boxing is the sport world's crap shoot.


Jake La Motta

[f read]

Easy Money

After going around and around being Jake La Motta's trainer Al Silvani focused his attention working his skills in Tinsel Town. He was in demand by the "beautiful people" to be a technical advisor with movies that necessitated boxing scenes.He also offered his services to Hollywood's leading men in the art of the Sweet Science. From working a with guy like La Motta ,who would tell the press that he never listened to Silvani and that he was only a "front" ,to now showing Frank Sinatra how to box so he could go around afterwards and tell everyone that he was a fighter back in the day and he made sure he posed for plenty of pictures.There's bony Frank in his trunks with his paisan Al standing behind him with the signature towel draped over the shoulder and Q Tip dangling from his mouth.They needed Al to show Elvis Presley how to throw the most lethal right hand in Hollywood history in that box office flop Kid Galahad.Camera angles can sure hide the trickery.And of course there was Sly Stallone as "Rocky" who called the boxing choreography of his scenes with Apollo Creed in the ring "The Apache Dance" all staged by paisan Al who had no problem letting Sly call it anything he wanted.And then the movie that made "Jake La Motta' a household name,Raging Bull. (like you'd want this guy to come knocking on your door some night asking if your daughter was ready to go out on a date).If you look hard enough you can see Silvani's name stuck up in the corner of the screen when they roll the credits at the end.

Silvani had got on the gravy train. He didn't have to beat down the door at 5 in the morning to get La Motta to get out of bed and do road work. Jake didn't think he needed to do any running.("What's running have to do with fighting anyway?)For Silvani the teeth pulling was over.He was rubbing elbows with the "beautiful people."Now he could smile and show his pearly whites when making out his deposit slips to the teller at the bank.

But from time to time Silvani would get homesick for the smell of the sweat mixed in with the liniment back at a boxing boilermaker like Stillmans or Gleasons. He needed that get sense of getting hit in the mouth. Not the pretend punches.Not the "Apache Dances."Not building up Frank Sinatra's already overblown ego. There wasn't the chicanery of showing Elvis how to pull the right hand while he groped for his guitar with his left which he also faked when strumming. It wasn't acting anymore for awhile. But then again it was back to coercing the fighters to come to the gym everyday and not waste all that effort later that night at The Copa.

With Hollywood you can write it anyway you want.You can always put in a "happy ending".Boxing is the sport world's crap shoot.


Jake La Motta

Al shows up in Rocky and is even introduced to Rocky as Al Silvani his real name. Also remember him being in Every Which Way But Loose. He is one of Tank Murdochs entourage. Rip In Peace Al you were great and a credit to the sport of boxing.

[dagosd2000]

A Fairy Tale Faith

I was at the Forum that night in LA when the aficianados tried to raze the building after Chucho Castillo came up short in his quest to wrench the bantamweight title from Lionel Rose.As the fight went along I thought the Aussie was ahead and it was going to go 15.But that night it was cold in Los Angeles so I guess the Latino mob tried to warm their hands by trying to set the Forum on fire.But what the hell. Everyone knew that Ruben Olivares was next in line. Castillo's loss just whetted the boxing appetites that much more.When the two finally had their showdown at the OK Corral(The Forum)Rockin' Ruben's left hook left Rose without his championship belt when he left the arena.

Olivares by that time looked unstoppable. He had 52 notches on his gun,all ending before the final bell,except for a draw against a fighter named German.His first defense was against a game Alan Rudkin but the Brit couldn't withstand the Mexican's "ganchos" and flew back across the pond a pretty busted up fighter.It seemed that there was no one else to fight so along came Castillo again.However when you put two Mexicans in the ring you can scrap the spread sheet.The fight at The OK Corral(I mean The Forum)

Olivares won but the bout lasted the whole 15 rounds and a red flag was raised in the 3rd when Chucho lowered Olivares onto the canvas.I thought Rudy Jordan had the scoring right:7-6-2.Georgie Latka and Dick Young must have been reading the papers while the fight was going on.

Then six months later the two were back at The Forum but this time there was a sense that Castillo had a good shot of pulling it off.And he did just that cutting up Olivares so bad he couldn't continue.Looking at his pan when it was over certainly didn't give you the impression that he was unstoppable.

But that's the way it seems when these fighters who get out of the blocks and pile up KO after KO not sweating a thing,everyone waiting for the inevitable fusillade to carve another notch on the gun,is almost like a blind faith.But like I said:put two Mexicans in the ring and the mythical odds become just that-a fairy tale.


Lionel Rose

[dagosd2000]

A Gift From God

George Foreman never invented that grill with his name on it. it was some guy in Batavia.Illinois that came up with the idea.You've seen them.They come in various sizes. The grill cooks the meat on both sides at the same time while the fat runs off in a container.The guy had a good product but he didn't know how to market the thing.He hired this outfit and they told him that they'd handle things and right away they called the grill "the Fajita Express".Well,that moniker went over like a cold taco.Then this firm decided they needed a high profile person,who was trusted by the public, to promote the grill. In steps in George Foreman. The marketing firm again thought a name change was necessary so the grill was renamed "The Lean Mean Fat Burning Machine."That was closer but still no cigars handed out. But by now Big George was making a comeback with boxing.After losing the Rumble In The Jungle and then trying to show the public it was fluke he fought 5 guys in Toronto to prove he was as mean as ever, but then Jimmy Young showed that Foreman was human after all and sent him into defeat number two. After that loss foreman was shattered. His persona of "I'm gonna' kill ya' " translated into "I'm thinkin' of killin' myself."That ol' permanent solution to a temporary problem.Then George said he found God. He began to find peace inside himself and with others. You couldn't piss him off if you tried.Before,if you asked him "How's it goin' ?" he'd snarl and say he was gonna' eat your children.

After ten years of inactivity in the ring and a new frame of mind and finding God,George abandoned sinking with the Titanic and began sailing on The Good Ship Lollipop.When he put a moody Michael Moorer to sleep to win the heavyweight championship everyone wanted to get close to George Foreman. So the marketing firm offered Gentle Ben 138 million dollars so they could call the cooker "The George Foreman Grill."Before the deal was struck George was raking in 40 percent of the profits. All together to date he's socked away a cool 200 million just to have his name on the box.

Around ten years ago my grandson Adam was sparring at a local gym and I got word that Big George was across the street at the Costco hawking the grills in the parking lot.I thought I'd go across the street to find out what was going down.

Well,there he was,the champ wearing a big white apron around his bulk and he had on one of those Chef Boy R Dee hats on top of his head. His smile could have swallowed an ocean.He was there with his grills charming all the old ladies and having fun with the little kids. He had the full attention of the women showing them how to bread and baste all the cuts with a carving fork in one hand and a butcher's knife in the other. No Everlast gloves.Just utensils in his big hands.

There were some dudes there thinking they were going to talk shop(boxing) but George put them on the pay no mind list.They eventually moved to the bleacher seats and kept quiet as George waltzed the womenfolk through the menu.George was coming across with big rights and lefts and had me on the gourmet ropes so I sidled up front to learn a little about how to cook a rump roast.Before I knew it I grabbed a box,the one that said 'George Foreman Grill.". I still have it and my wife uses it. I'm still trying to figure out how to boil water.I wasn't going to make it some Christmas present to give to my sister in law.

When I walked back across the street with the grill under my arm Adam asked me what it was.
"Let's say it was a gift from God."
Adam's still trying to figure that one out.


Chef George

[dagosd2000]

To Tell The Truth

Lately there's been these threads asking former fightwers all these questions about for example:
"Who was the best fighter you ever fought?"
"Who punched the hardest?"
"Who had the best foot work?"
"Who had the best chin?" and so on and so on.

I'm curious so I read what they have to say but I always take it with a grain of salt.I see Manny Pacquiao was put on the witness stand today. I skimmed through his answers and yawned.But then I brgan reading some of the posts regarding Manny's responses. I expect before the day is over he'll be indicted on perjury charges.Either he is punchy or he's just a down and out liar because just about everyone thinks his replies are wrong.

I guess Manny didn't feel like putting Floyd Mayweather in one the categories of admirable skills. It was blasphemy! The thread just popped up today but now I'm reading stuff questioning his IQ.You ask the guy his opinion. He gives you his opinion.And then you say his opinion is not only wrong but that he's a moron. What did you expect? I could care less what he says.I've got my own opinion about how he should have answered a few of those queries but the man is human like all of us and to tell the truth is a moving target. Ask him the same tomorrow and he might have a different set of answers.

I remember reading a similar interview with Nino Benvenuti.They asked him about the best fighter he ever faced in the ring. He came back with Emile Griffith.What about Monzon? Benvenuti beat Griffith 2 out of 3 and Monzon stops Nino twice in two fights.So I'm suppose to believe Benvenuti because it's coming from the horse's mouth?

If you look back on Archie Moore he's been quoted that the best fighter he ever faced was Burley.Then you pick up another rag and he said it was Ezzard Charles. Then I saw him on a talk show and he said it was Marciano.I'll lay you a dollar to a doughnut if you asked Manny Pazquiao the same set of questions tomorrow he'd rearrange the ansewrs.And who knows,maybe he'll throw in Pretty Boy Floyd. Everybody happy?


Nino Benvenuti

[dagosd2000]

Hat In Hand

You hear the story all the time about how Sam Langfors,holding hat in hand,approaches Doc Kearns and asks to fight the new heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey.It went something like this.
."No thanks Sam.We're looking for something easier,"replied Dempsey's manager.
More or less for the myth seekers they wanted to believe that the great Langford still had enough in his tank to beat Dempsey.But Sam was running on fumes by 1919. He was blind in one eye,the result coming from the blows of the giant Fred Fulton.Langford's long time rival ,Harry Wills, who he used to school at the start of their 20 or more so series of battles, couldn't teach Wills any new lessons.Wills by that time was making Langford write on the blackboard"I can't beat Harry Wills anymore."Langford's proposition was a wing and a prayer that was more for publicity than seriously thinking he'd sit down with Dempsey's people and Tex Rickard and ink a contract.Besides no one wanted to see Dempsey defend against Langford. Joe Woodman,Langford's manager,would have went along for the ride,but he knew that that fight was just a prayer unanswered.

I have a copy of Jack Dempsey's auto/bio,which was helped along by Bob Considine,where Jack stands up and proclaims that he wouldn't fight Langford because"he would have flattened me."The book went to print in 1960.By then black fighters were earning their long God given right to sit on top of the boxing heap.The prewar days of exclusion and drawing color lines had the same sense as Joe McCarthy and his witch hunts. Dempsey was a part of that.Maybe he felt with the Kennedy generation in the mainstream he'd let it be known that the had changed his course of thinking.But I think Jack just threw out a bone to black society.It was alot easier than fighting Harry Wills.

BTW,that book isn't something that's going to win any Pulitzer prizes. I'll just say it's shallow. It skims over everything and seems quickly written. I never got the feel that anything gut wrenching was inside Dempsey. It's typical sports pap that you find at the corner newsstand.It was the way Considine wanted it.I don't think he had it in him to raise the bar anyway.

But they don't have corner newsstands anymore.And that "Golden Era" of boxing with all the separation between black and white fighters is something Ken Burns can devote his time to.Ask the man on the street who Jack Dempsey was and you'll get a blank stare. Then ask him who Sam Langford was and he'll think you're an outpatient from the psychiatric ward.Might as well hold out your hat. The guy might put a dollar in it.


Tex Rickard






An example of what I was talking about. 15 years ago I went inside this "used book store" in downtown San Diego. It was going out of business and liquidating stock. I saw this book on one of the shelves. I brought it to the counter and asked the owner how much he wanted.He picked up the book and examined it like he was about to perform open heart surgery. He read the inscription inside the front cover and began scratching his chin. There was a long pause and then he said,"Whatever you want to give me."
I pulled out a five spot from my wallet and put it on the counter.He picked it up and opened his cash drawer.
"You got anymore books like this?"I asked him.
He pointed me towards a corner in the back of the store.
"You might find something over there,"he said.





And then I found this.Another five dollar bill was on his counter and then deposited in the cash box.I wanted to ask him if he had a "Holy Grail" in stock but then I saw the St. Christopher hanging around his neck.

[dagosd2000]

Ain't That A Kick In The Head

It was before I had a falling out with Ronnie Wilson.I blame myself. His wife approached me about Ronnie's drinking and carrying on ,and I listened. She did all the talking.She just wanted to vent ,and I listened. I'm not sure what happened but somehow that brief encounter got back to Ronnie and the next thing I know he wants to kick my ass.He was rarin' to go but I wasn't going to make a move unless he took a swing at me. And I wouldn't have boxed him. I sparred with him a few times and it was like trying to swat a fly in a whirlwind.We never spoke after that.I'm glad it never came to blows.But I learned never to listen to a disgruntled woman pour her guts out about her marital woes. It's a set up. That time she set me up.

But before all that came down Ronnie threw a party at his apartment one night.His place was upstairs and it was packed. The liquor was flowing non stop and when he got drunk he went from Jekyll to Hyde like it was nothin'.His wife wasn't there. She must have been out at her parents' house with the baby. That way we could do whatever we wanted without feeling guilty about anything.

There were some other fighters there but Denny Moyer showed up late. He was working as a tire buster at the Goodrich store on Broadway and showed up still wearing his work shirt.But he didn't lose any time getting caught up with the rest of us.He was another guy who,after a few belts, did the chameleon act of being Mr. Nice Guy to Hey Knock the Chip Off My Shoulder.

The party or whatever you wanted to call it was getting louder with the stereo boomin' and the talk taking on an aura of inside the Long Branch after a trail herd rides into Dodge.Since it was Ronnie's place he was Marshall Dillon but he wasn't in the mood of tellin' any of the cowhands to park their fists outside.

It was around midnight and you could hear the goings on out across the street.I didn't see how it started.I don't know if these guys came over to complain about the noise or just anted to be uninvited guests.But there's Ronnie at the door yelling at the top of his lungs telling these guys that they were not welcome.Well, one of them must have been a big fan of Bruce Lee movies and the next thing I see he's leaping in the air and tries to kick Wilson in the head. Well,Ronnie grabs this guy's foot with is left hand in mid air like picking a orange off the tree and won't let go. I could see this guy's friends aren't about to jump in, and Ronnie's crew was watching making sure they didn't change their minds.This guy lands on one foot with the other one still in Ronnie's grip. Then Ronnie proceeds to punch this guy with his free hand right in the chops. Ronnie lets go of his foot and this guy tumbles own to the foot of the stairs out cold.Ronnie then examined his work for a second and then returned to the festivities inside like Marshall Dillon after outdrawing some dude in the street.

Later ,when me and him had that falling out about his wife and he wanted to kick my ass I thought about that time when that guy tried to kick him in the head.If I had gotten into it with Ronnie I sure wouldn't have tried that move.


Ronnie Wilson

[goose 5]

Great Ronnie Wilson story ! I love stories about boxers knocking out karate guys in street fights. Jack O'Halloran tells a great one about Joey Giardello. Boxers are great at adapting.

[dagosd2000]

Great Ronnie Wilson story ! I love stories about boxers knocking out karate guys in street fights. Jack O'Halloran tells a great one about Joey Giardello. Boxers are great at adapting.

Thanks Goose.But you know somethin'.That guy could have had a gun in his hand and Wilson wouldn't have cared. Once someone pissed him off and he'd been drinking he'd flip his switch and it would be lights out for the other guy.

[dagosd2000]

You Can Eat Them But Don't Kill Them

Cockfighting ,I thought was illegal in all 50 states but there are some that have it. Most of them are in the South. I think Arizona has it ,and I know Arizona is in the southt but not THE SOUTH.My nephew Chelis ,who lives in Mexico where my wife is from, travels a couple of times a year to buy roosters in Louisiana. He says the best gamecocks are from Louisiana.

Cockfighting is a big sport in Mexico. The arena is called the "palenque" and every pueblo has one or a facsimile where people bring in their birds and everyone bets on which rooster is going to win. There's no betting window like at a race track.You just go up to someone and ask if he wants to bet.

The birds have razor blades tied to their talons called "Puas".That was the nickname they gave to Olivares.Insinctively,roosters like to go at it with each other but if one doesn't kill the other one in a matter of a minute or so that instinct turns to licking their wounds and taking a nap.So then the referee has to decide which bird "won" the decision. I wouldn't want to be that guy.

It's all a big "macho" extravaganza-the fighting,the death,the blood, living viscerally through one's bird.Pancho Villa was a big hombre with the palenque.But all that aura falls on deaf ears except in the South and Arizona ,Here in the U.S. the consensus is that cockfighting is cruel.

But driving through a KFC and ordering a bucket of chicken is a microcosm of Americana. I wonder how they killed those chickens? But boxing is legal.And now we have MMA. Even the girls are in it for the blood. Sometime if you want to watch it you have to pay your PPV channel.

So to watch two human beings wanting to hurt each other is OK but not two birds(except you know where in the ol' USA).But Mexico sure has plenty of fighting-boxing,MMA,gunfighting(both sexes involved)And they also have the best fighter in the world-Canelo Alvarez. I wonder if he has any birds?


My nephew Chelis shooting steroids into one of his birds. In the U.S. they call it Performance Enhancing Drugs.


The "palenque" in my wife's hometown of Jiquilpan. Sometimes they also have boxing matches.