Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxm3eurRlsc
Perfidia

By Nat King Cole
In Spanish

[dagosd2000]

LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY

I was a kid,Frank was a teen,Hap a young man. We were there. We were on the ground walking through it,breathing it all in. The last of the good times. The 50's. Oh I know I'm gonna' catch some flack about this. So what? You had to be there to know what I'm talking about.

Those good times didn't have long to go. The middle of the 60's put everyone on their head. I guess the 50's is when it was winding down.We just didn't see it coming. But it was simpler then. You could see things clearer. You could trust more. Leave your door unlocked. Our fathers were so big. They protected us. They had been through a lot. They lived without, and tried to give us the things they didn't have.

Who was the first family on your block to have a television set?And if you were the youngest,you were the one that had to get up and change the channels.

[bennie]

Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay
February 25, 1964, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Flordia

"I can't lift my arm, that's it." Liston told his trainer Willie Reddish at end of round number six. Willie Reddish reinserted the mouthguard and Liston spate it out saying "That's It!"

"We'll y'know another place, another time" responded a heart broken Willie Reddish as Charles Sonny Liston became only the second man in the modern history of the heavyweight division to have retired on his stool, the other being Jess Willard following a horrific beating at the hands of Jack Dempsey.

Sonny Liston had injured his shoulder in training and thought he could get by without having to postpone the fight.

Interestingly, the scoring was split, Judge Lovett 58-56 Liston, Judge Jacobson 59-56 Clay and Referee Felix 57-57. Thus, Sonny Liston retired his championship at a moment in time when he stood even with Cassius Clay.

The beginning of the end.

[Rick Farris]

Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay
February 25, 1964, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Flordia

"I can't lift my arm, that's it." Liston told his trainer Willie Reddish at end of round number six. Willie Reddish reinserted the mouthguard and Liston spate it out saying "That's It!"

"We'll y'know another place, another time" responded a heart broken Willie Reddish as Charles Sonny Liston became only the second man in the modern history of the heavyweight division to have retired on his stool, the other being Jess Willard following a horrific beating at the hands of Jack Dempsey.

Sonny Liston had injured his shoulder in training and thought he could get by without having to postpone the fight.

Interestingly, the scoring was split, Judge Lovett 58-56 Liston, Judge Jacobson 59-56 Clay and Referee Felix 57-57. Thus, Sonny Liston retired his championship at a moment in time when he stood even with Cassius Clay.

The beginning of the end.

I had a chance to watch Liston train at the Main Street Gym in the late 60's. I'll never forget it, especially his deflating sparring partner Wayne Heath with a thudding left hook to the body. The Pacific Northwest heavyweight took a knee and crapped his in boxing trunks. More on Liston later.

-Rick

[raylawpc]

Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay
February 25, 1964, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Flordia

"I can't lift my arm, that's it." Liston told his trainer Willie Reddish at end of round number six. Willie Reddish reinserted the mouthguard and Liston spate it out saying "That's It!"

"We'll y'know another place, another time" responded a heart broken Willie Reddish as Charles Sonny Liston became only the second man in the modern history of the heavyweight division to have retired on his stool, the other being Jess Willard following a horrific beating at the hands of Jack Dempsey.

Sonny Liston had injured his shoulder in training and thought he could get by without having to postpone the fight.

Interestingly, the scoring was split, Judge Lovett 58-56 Liston, Judge Jacobson 59-56 Clay and Referee Felix 57-57. Thus, Sonny Liston retired his championship at a moment in time when he stood even with Cassius Clay.

The beginning of the end.

I had a chance to watch Liston train at the Main Street Gym in the late 60's. I'll never forget it, especially his deflating sparring partner Wayne Heath with a thudding left hook to the body. The Pacific Northwest heavyweight took a knee and crapped his in boxing trunks. More on Liston later.

-Rick

Wayne Heath . . . haven't heard that name in a long time. Wayne was originally from Oklahoma City - more specifically Midwest City. He ended up running an amateur boxing club out of Midwest City in the early and mid-70s.

N.B.: I started to write something derogatory and witty about Wayne - with whom I never really got along well ("I alway thought Wayne was full of crap, and that proves it." Ha Ha Ha) . . . But if Sonny Liston ever hit me with a "thudding left hook to the body," I'd probably take a knee and crap in my trunks too.

[kikibalt]

I remember seeing Heath's two fights against Manuel Ramos at the Olympic, winning the first one and losing the second one, I think thats how it went down.

[raylawpc]

I remember seeing Heath's two fights against Manuel Ramos at the Olympic, winning the first one and losing the second one, I think thats how it went down.

What did you think of him?

[kikibalt]

I remember seeing Heath's two fights against Manuel Ramos at the Olympic, winning the first one and losing the second one, I think thats how it went down.

What did you think of him?

Tom, both Heath and Ramos were tough fighters, with limited skills, can't say much more on them.

[kikibalt]

"Nat King Cole"

By Diego

[kikibalt]

[dagosd2000]

Frank
I remember working for the County. We'd stop in the foothills in East County and eat breakfast at little diners like that. Good home cookin'. Typical County workers. Eating breakfast at a diner while on the clock.

[kikibalt]

Frank
I remember working for the County. We'd stop in the foothills in East County and eat breakfast at little diners like that. Good home cookin'. Typical County workers. Eating breakfast at a diner while on the clock.

This one is in Orange County, when I was riding, during the summer we used to ride to Cook's and have lunch and listen to live music, and down one or two brewskis, during the summer they barbecue outside, they have tables so you can sit down and eat outside

[kikibalt]

The caption is not mine


This is some of the people hanging out at the upper outside area. There are lots more people in the lower outside area not to mention those inside. Mind you this is not a run weekend, this is just a typical Sunday at Cook's Corner.


This picture is some more of the front parking lot. There is another parking lot off to the side....I'll get a picture of that parking lot next time I go back.

[kikibalt]

http://www.cookscorners.com/
Link to Cook's Corner web site

[raylawpc]

I remember seeing Heath's two fights against Manuel Ramos at the Olympic, winning the first one and losing the second one, I think thats how it went down.

What did you think of him?

Tom, both Heath and Ramos were tough fighters, with limited skills, can't say much more on them.

I never saw Heath - he retired before my time. That was my impression of Ramos. Oklahoma City must have been Ramos' favorite town after 1969. He recorded the last two wins of his career there, after losing about 20 times every where else.

[dagosd2000]

The caption is not mine


This is some of the people hanging out at the upper outside area. There are lots more people in the lower outside area not to mention those inside. Mind you this is not a run weekend, this is just a typical Sunday at Cook's Corner.


This picture is some more of the front parking lot. There is another parking lot off to the side....I'll get a picture of that parking lot next time I go back.

Frank
It's raining outside. The kids just took a test. I'm showing them the movie Mask(the one about Rocky Dennis and all the bikers).Those pictures remind me of scenes in the movie.

[dagosd2000]

ARENA 72

I haven't been by that area in a while,but there used to be a boxing venue called the Arena 72 . Just off the Boulevard going out to the Race Track. The big fights never happened there,but a lot of the upcoming local talent could be seen inside the squared circle. The Arena 72 wasn't very big inside. Close enough though so you could see all the action from the back without having to strain your eyes.

I can't remember many of the fighters that I saw there. I don't think those boys ever graduated to the big time. Even in TJ,I don't think any of them made it to the Auditorio not to mention the Bull Ring where you could get 10,000 fans.

I usually went when there was a card at the Arena 72. It was noisy,smoky. The beer was cheap. It was only a few bucks to get in. The fights were pretty good even if the fighters weren't.

If the place is there still,I don't think they have the matches anymore. Boxing,which once was very popular in Tijuana,has disappeared practically. Wrestling is strong still,but boxing is only once in a while. There are a few gyms left,but the good Mexican fighters are on this side. Better trainers,better sparring partners,and better money. Maybe that's why boxing is on its way out in TJ. More money to be made other ways. The easy money. The thing is though,if you don't make the big score with trying to make the quick buck,they could find you in a gully with your head cut off. That's the worst kind of KO. Career over.

[kikibalt]

George Chuvalo

[kikibalt]

Hap posted this at the CBZ

You're a real old timer if you can remember when:

(1) The referee would raise both hands over his head and flick his fingers skyward at the end of a fight to signify it was a draw.

(2) Gloves for the main event were brought into the ring, in sealed boxes, to be opened and donned on the contestants. Only the prelim fighters had their gloves put on in the dressing room.

(3) Referee Lt. Jack Kennedy would stand in the center of the ring at the end of each round and point to the corner of the fighter who won the round. When he stopped doing that, he would wait until the end of the eigth round, stand in center ring, point at each fighter while counting out the number of rounds they had won thus far. A human scoreboard no less.

(4) A two-foot square box containing resin chunks was a fixture at a neutral corner of the ring. It was used by the fighters to gain traction on their feet before the first bell sounded.

(5) The announcer carried a round cardboard disc into the ring, black on one side, white on the other, which he would toss into the air to determine the respective corners occupied by the fighters.

If you remember seeing any of this you are, indeed, an old timer.

hap navarro

I can remember 3 out of 5

#2 #4 #5

[Dongee]

Here's another one, Frank, but I think you were too young to remember this one:

(6) During WW II the Athletic Commission actually permitted some fighters to fight twice on the same card, the same night. That was because of the shortage of talent created by the war. If a fighter won quickly by knockout, he would be, most likely, the one selected to fight again on a later bout on the same show. It happened many times in California boxing back then.

hap navarro

[kikibalt]

Here's another one, Frank, but I think you were too young to remember this one:

(6) During WW II the Athletic Commission actually permitted some fighters to fight twice on the same card, the same night. That was because of the shortage of talent created by the war. If a fighter won quickly by knockout, he would be, most likely, the one selected to fight again on a later bout on the same show. It happened many times in California boxing back then.

hap navarro

Thats a new to me, Hap.

[kikibalt]

[dagosd2000]

Hap posted this at the CBZ

You're a real old timer if you can remember when:

(1) The referee would raise both hands over his head and flick his fingers skyward at the end of a fight to signify it was a draw.

(2) Gloves for the main event were brought into the ring, in sealed boxes, to be opened and donned on the contestants. Only the prelim fighters had their gloves put on in the dressing room.

(3) Referee Lt. Jack Kennedy would stand in the center of the ring at the end of each round and point to the corner of the fighter who won the round. When he stopped doing that, he would wait until the end of the eigth round, stand in center ring, point at each fighter while counting out the number of rounds they had won thus far. A human scoreboard no less.

(4) A two-foot square box containing resin chunks was a fixture at a neutral corner of the ring. It was used by the fighters to gain traction on their feet before the first bell sounded.

(5) The announcer carried a round cardboard disc into the ring, black on one side, white on the other, which he would toss into the air to determine the respective corners occupied by the fighters.

If you remember seeing any of this you are, indeed, an old timer.

hap navarro

I can remember 3 out of 5

#2 #4 #5

Hap
Last time I saw the fights in Mexico(5 years ago)they still bring in the gloves for the main event. The fighters and the ref also still pose in the middle of the ring before the fight for the press photographers.

[Dongee]

Hap posted this at the CBZ

You're a real old timer if you can remember when:

(1) The referee would raise both hands over his head and flick his fingers skyward at the end of a fight to signify it was a draw.

(2) Gloves for the main event were brought into the ring, in sealed boxes, to be opened and donned on the contestants. Only the prelim fighters had their gloves put on in the dressing room.

(3) Referee Lt. Jack Kennedy would stand in the center of the ring at the end of each round and point to the corner of the fighter who won the round. When he stopped doing that, he would wait until the end of the eigth round, stand in center ring, point at each fighter while counting out the number of rounds they had won thus far. A human scoreboard no less.

(4) A two-foot square box containing resin chunks was a fixture at a neutral corner of the ring. It was used by the fighters to gain traction on their feet before the first bell sounded.

(5) The announcer carried a round cardboard disc into the ring, black on one side, white on the other, which he would toss into the air to determine the respective corners occupied by the fighters.

If you remember seeing any of this you are, indeed, an old timer.

hap navarro

I can remember 3 out of 5

#2 #4 #5

Hap
Last time I saw the fights in Mexico(5 years ago)they still bring in the gloves for the main event. The fighters and the ref also still pose in the middle of the ring before the fight for the press photographers.

The gloves in the ring feature was ineresting because one of the opposing cornermen watched as the fighter's gloves were laced on his fists, to see that there was no monkey business to worry about.

hap

[kikibalt]

Hap posted this at the CBZ

You're a real old timer if you can remember when:

(1) The referee would raise both hands over his head and flick his fingers skyward at the end of a fight to signify it was a draw.

(2) Gloves for the main event were brought into the ring, in sealed boxes, to be opened and donned on the contestants. Only the prelim fighters had their gloves put on in the dressing room.

(3) Referee Lt. Jack Kennedy would stand in the center of the ring at the end of each round and point to the corner of the fighter who won the round. When he stopped doing that, he would wait until the end of the eigth round, stand in center ring, point at each fighter while counting out the number of rounds they had won thus far. A human scoreboard no less.

(4) A two-foot square box containing resin chunks was a fixture at a neutral corner of the ring. It was used by the fighters to gain traction on their feet before the first bell sounded.

(5) The announcer carried a round cardboard disc into the ring, black on one side, white on the other, which he would toss into the air to determine the respective corners occupied by the fighters.

If you remember seeing any of this you are, indeed, an old timer.

hap navarro

I can remember 3 out of 5

#2 #4 #5

Hap
Last time I saw the fights in Mexico(5 years ago)they still bring in the gloves for the main event. The fighters and the ref also still pose in the middle of the ring before the fight for the press photographers.

Bob Seger sang "Today's music ain't got the same soul"
Same goes for boxing imo.