Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Diego Corrales & The Greatest Fight of All Time
By Gene Ramirez-RSR


Each one of us has a favorite movie. Mine is “The Hustler.” Paul Newman plays a pool hustler named “Fast Eddie Felson” who tries to make a move on the longtime king of hustling, Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason. Growing up playing pool with my dad I thought it was a great movie with great performances by Newman and Gleason. My brother on the other hand loves anything with Will Ferrell in it. I even have a friend who likes those Ernest Goes to Camp kind of movies!

My point is we all have our own tastes which can be as different as night and day in some cases. We each have our favorite foods, our favorite drink, our favorite fighter, and of course our favorite fight.

When I think of my favorite all time fight it wasn't easy for us to think of just one fight. There were literally dozens that went through my mind. Of course there was the great Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward fights. I am a big fan of the body shot and so those fights always will have a place in my heart. I am sure there are many of you out there who love those fights and have them placed above my favorite.

Another great series of fights recently were the Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera matches. There are probably many Mexicans out there who are calling me crazy that I didn't put any of those fights as my favorite. Those were also great battles and if I walked by a television with those fights on you can bet that I will plant myself in front of them and watch them in their entirety.

Some of the older readers might be saying right now that “this kid doesn't know a good fight.” While they think of some of the great fights further down the road. And while its true that I wasn't actually around to see many of the best fights live, I of course have seen the tapes repeatedly and have a deep appreciation of the fighters of the past.

Some of my favorite fights include “The Rumble in the Jungle,” “The Showdown” between Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard, of course I could go on and on. Those were all great fights and if I had watched them live perhaps they would rate higher for me.

When I think of my favorite fight of all time…that one fight that you can watch over and over again…that one fight that you think of when you hear someone mention great fights. For me that fight is Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo.

Any real boxing fan had to flash back when I just mentioned those two names together. In case you don't know what I'm talking about then do yourself a favor and go check Youtube and see the fight and come back.

This fight is my all time favorite for a number of reasons. I remember seeing it the first time almost wondering if this was really happening before my eyes. From the very beginning of the fight these two guys just went to war. They traded shot after shot. Hooks to the head and body. The amount of punishment that both guys dished out and received was beyond belief.

I remember before the fight telling my friends that it could have been a good fight. Both guys were well enough known that I got together some of my friends to watch it. Then after only a few rounds, I was already saying this could end up being a great fight. Then a few more rounds of the same thing, all out action. By this time I was saying “wow!” This could be the fight of the year. Then the tenth round came along. It started out like another great round but we were in store for something special.

As the round started Castillo would catch Corrales with a perfect left hook that put him on the seat of his pants. It was the 2:34 mark of the round that started one of the best rounds of boxing I ever witnessed.

When he went down Corrales spit out his mouthpiece in what would also add some controversy to the round. When Corrales got up in time for the eight count, he got a handful of extra seconds because he had to go to his corner to get his mouthpiece put in.

When Corrales was finally ready Castillo knew he had his man hurt and went in to finish him off and Corrales went down after a barrage of punches including a right uppercut that really hurt him.

On the canvas again Corrales once again pulled out his mouthpiece. This time getting up just before the ten count, Referee Tony Weeks penalized Corrales a point for excessively spitting out his mouthpiece. Again Corrales had to go to his corner to get the mouthpiece put back in.

After the short break, Castillo went in to seemingly finish Corrales off but instead got caught with a stinging right hook that stunned him.

Corrales then backed Castillo up against the ropes and started to unleash a barrage of his own. Castillo fought back but at this point we seen that Corrales had now taken back control and it looked like Castillo might really be in trouble.

It was only a few seconds later that Corrales landed another combination of hooks that had Castillo out on his feet and the referee stepped in to end the fight.

After going nuts with my friends and watching the replays, I was then ready to make the statement that it was the best fight I had ever seen! All of my friends knew my passion for the sport and when they heard me say that they were kind of blown away themselves. To them they figured it was probably the best fight they had seen because they simply didn't watch a whole lot of boxing. But when I said it they figured the fight had to be pretty damn good because they knew the amount of boxing I watched.

Since that first time I have seen the fight at least 15 to 20 times. I have watched it with friends I have watched it when I was bored. It was a great fight and both guys showed enormous heart.

Corrales had already been one of my favorite fighters because of his style. After this fight he shot way up on my list of favorite fighters. Many people criticized him for spitting out his mouthpiece to buy more time. I questioned it myself until I actually thought about it. Corrales had to know he was hurt badly after that first left hook put him down and if he did it purposely then I have to consider Corrales was pretty damn smart.

He needed the extra time and ultimately it could have proven to be the difference. After going down the second time Corrales seemed to gather himself with the extra time and was able to then hurt Castillo in return.

Corrales showed some real heart in that fight. How many guys would have given up after going down the first time? He was clearly hurt, after getting knocked down he gathered enough courage to not only get off his butt once but twice. He never gave up. Never quit fighting. Never quite throwing punches and never stopped believing he could win.

While doing a little research for this article I watched a few clips of the fight again just to refresh my memory. I still get goose bumps watching it even after all this time. The fight was great, the best fight I ever seen.

RIP Chico.

[dagosd2000]

Today is, Savannah’s, my youngest daughter, 21st birthday. My wife and I have gone through this four times before, with the other kids. What makes this time so significant is that this is our youngest. It marks a turning point in our lives. All our kids are now grown up. She still lives at home but she has one foot out the door. Any day, any moment, someday soon, she’ll say to my wife and I “Mom, Dad, I’m moving out” or “I’m going to leave California” or perhaps “I’m getting married” or any number of fearful thoughts that have played in my head over the years. . I’ve gone through it four times before but each time was like the first. This time it will be the last. I’m a grandfather six times over. You would think I would have it down pat.

Daughters! So different than sons. A boy we understand. We’ve been there, we understand. We know what mistakes they are going to make, we know now how to correct it because we learned the hard way. We understand it too when they reject 90% of what we have to pass on, until someday in the future the light bulb goes on and they realize the “old man” knew what he was talking about. From the very beginning we raise our sons to be men. We raise them to be independent. To stand on there own two feet.

Daughters on the other hand, we raise them and try our damnedest to keep them “our little girls” despite the evidence to the contrary everyday that she is becoming a young woman. We are never, ever prepared for it. It hits us head on, like an out of control semi truck. We see the changes coming but we shake our heads in denial. A dress that means so much to them, a secret talk with mom that they just can’t share with you, or the first time you see them dressed up and ready to go to a school dance. We see the physical changes. You hear a sound coming from deep within, you know what it is, you know it’s the sound of your heart breaking as your little girl is growing up.

We are never ready for the first knock on the door either as some kid, probably a nice boy, but certainly not someone good enough for my daughter, comes to take her away from you (the little shit!). The wife staring at you with piercing eyes, pleading with you not to embarrass your daughter. What women don’t know or maybe they do, and just secretly hope that you are the man for the job despite their interference, is that it is a father’s role to be an asshole. If the father of a daughter is not known far and wide as an asshole, than he is not doing his job. When a boy comes knocking on a girls door, especially my daughter, he better already know who I am, his knee’s better be shaking and his voice better crack, at least a little. One day someone will knock on the door. It will be “the one”. It will be the one that will not go away, nor will he be intimidated. Maybe he’s already knocked. I am prepared and I am unprepared.

There comes a time with every child when we have to let go, at least on the surface, because as every father knows, you never really let go. We do come to understand though, that at some point, we have turned them over to God and the world, and we pray that everything we have taught them will finally sink in. Even more so, we pray that the mistakes we made with them will stay in the past and be forgotten. When you have done all that you can do, you have done all that you can do.

Tonight my wife Jeri and I will take Savannah, a young woman now, and her boyfriend Josh to dinner at a restaurant of her choice, she’ll probably pick Italian, it’s her favorite. We’ll laugh and talk about what ever people talk about when they are having a good time. She’ll be old enough to order a drink if she chooses but she probably won’t. I’ll be looking at her, probably holding back a tear or two. I’ll be remembering a lifetime. I’ll still see a little girl. It’s how I’m wired.

Rand 'ol man it's like this
If you raise her right,you really never lose her. She'll pick out a nice guy who'll provide and be a good husband and dad. That's what you want for her,but "Daddy's Little Girl"is still there. Believe me. She knows who the REAL man still is. You don't even have to compete with the guy even. It's a no brainer.

She'll wind up wearing the pants in the family. That's good. Her husband will do what he's told. That's good too. You won't have to worry about him. You can see it from a distance. It's like a rule of nature. A natural order.

Take it from me pal,"Daddy's Little Girl" will always remember who the man was in her life. When we're gone,hopefully,their husbands will assuime our role. They say the boys marry the image of their mothers. It's the same way with the girls. The parents never see it until we leave this Earth. I wouldn't want to see it if I was still around.

[dagosd2000]

Diego Corrales & The Greatest Fight of All Time
By Gene Ramirez-RSR


Each one of us has a favorite movie. Mine is “The Hustler.” Paul Newman plays a pool hustler named “Fast Eddie Felson” who tries to make a move on the longtime king of hustling, Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason. Growing up playing pool with my dad I thought it was a great movie with great performances by Newman and Gleason. My brother on the other hand loves anything with Will Ferrell in it. I even have a friend who likes those Ernest Goes to Camp kind of movies!

My point is we all have our own tastes which can be as different as night and day in some cases. We each have our favorite foods, our favorite drink, our favorite fighter, and of course our favorite fight.

When I think of my favorite all time fight it wasn't easy for us to think of just one fight. There were literally dozens that went through my mind. Of course there was the great Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward fights. I am a big fan of the body shot and so those fights always will have a place in my heart. I am sure there are many of you out there who love those fights and have them placed above my favorite.

Another great series of fights recently were the Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera matches. There are probably many Mexicans out there who are calling me crazy that I didn't put any of those fights as my favorite. Those were also great battles and if I walked by a television with those fights on you can bet that I will plant myself in front of them and watch them in their entirety.

Some of the older readers might be saying right now that “this kid doesn't know a good fight.” While they think of some of the great fights further down the road. And while its true that I wasn't actually around to see many of the best fights live, I of course have seen the tapes repeatedly and have a deep appreciation of the fighters of the past.

Some of my favorite fights include “The Rumble in the Jungle,” “The Showdown” between Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard, of course I could go on and on. Those were all great fights and if I had watched them live perhaps they would rate higher for me.

When I think of my favorite fight of all time…that one fight that you can watch over and over again…that one fight that you think of when you hear someone mention great fights. For me that fight is Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo.

Any real boxing fan had to flash back when I just mentioned those two names together. In case you don't know what I'm talking about then do yourself a favor and go check Youtube and see the fight and come back.

This fight is my all time favorite for a number of reasons. I remember seeing it the first time almost wondering if this was really happening before my eyes. From the very beginning of the fight these two guys just went to war. They traded shot after shot. Hooks to the head and body. The amount of punishment that both guys dished out and received was beyond belief.

I remember before the fight telling my friends that it could have been a good fight. Both guys were well enough known that I got together some of my friends to watch it. Then after only a few rounds, I was already saying this could end up being a great fight. Then a few more rounds of the same thing, all out action. By this time I was saying “wow!” This could be the fight of the year. Then the tenth round came along. It started out like another great round but we were in store for something special.

As the round started Castillo would catch Corrales with a perfect left hook that put him on the seat of his pants. It was the 2:34 mark of the round that started one of the best rounds of boxing I ever witnessed.

When he went down Corrales spit out his mouthpiece in what would also add some controversy to the round. When Corrales got up in time for the eight count, he got a handful of extra seconds because he had to go to his corner to get his mouthpiece put in.

When Corrales was finally ready Castillo knew he had his man hurt and went in to finish him off and Corrales went down after a barrage of punches including a right uppercut that really hurt him.

On the canvas again Corrales once again pulled out his mouthpiece. This time getting up just before the ten count, Referee Tony Weeks penalized Corrales a point for excessively spitting out his mouthpiece. Again Corrales had to go to his corner to get the mouthpiece put back in.

After the short break, Castillo went in to seemingly finish Corrales off but instead got caught with a stinging right hook that stunned him.

Corrales then backed Castillo up against the ropes and started to unleash a barrage of his own. Castillo fought back but at this point we seen that Corrales had now taken back control and it looked like Castillo might really be in trouble.

It was only a few seconds later that Corrales landed another combination of hooks that had Castillo out on his feet and the referee stepped in to end the fight.

After going nuts with my friends and watching the replays, I was then ready to make the statement that it was the best fight I had ever seen! All of my friends knew my passion for the sport and when they heard me say that they were kind of blown away themselves. To them they figured it was probably the best fight they had seen because they simply didn't watch a whole lot of boxing. But when I said it they figured the fight had to be pretty damn good because they knew the amount of boxing I watched.

Since that first time I have seen the fight at least 15 to 20 times. I have watched it with friends I have watched it when I was bored. It was a great fight and both guys showed enormous heart.

Corrales had already been one of my favorite fighters because of his style. After this fight he shot way up on my list of favorite fighters. Many people criticized him for spitting out his mouthpiece to buy more time. I questioned it myself until I actually thought about it. Corrales had to know he was hurt badly after that first left hook put him down and if he did it purposely then I have to consider Corrales was pretty damn smart.

He needed the extra time and ultimately it could have proven to be the difference. After going down the second time Corrales seemed to gather himself with the extra time and was able to then hurt Castillo in return.

Corrales showed some real heart in that fight. How many guys would have given up after going down the first time? He was clearly hurt, after getting knocked down he gathered enough courage to not only get off his butt once but twice. He never gave up. Never quit fighting. Never quite throwing punches and never stopped believing he could win.

While doing a little research for this article I watched a few clips of the fight again just to refresh my memory. I still get goose bumps watching it even after all this time. The fight was great, the best fight I ever seen.

RIP Chico.

Saw the replay of it again last night. The best fights are fought in the middle of the ring until one emerges triumphant over the other. Maybe I'm wrong on this score,but maybe that's why they don't have boxing matches on Christmas.

Christmas is enough of a religous experience. To see the brutality that gets transcended into something of a dramatic struggle like that fight, is more than enough to make you keep the faith. You know Chico is in heaven.

[iskigoe]

Rick,

Ketchel is a great story. The biggest problem is how do you zero in on a point of time. Unlike someone
like Braddock. who was down on his luck and the than won the championship. Everyday in Ketchel's
life was a story and it's all the small stories that make him so colorful. You need a complete understanding
to enjoy him. I don't know if you have read any books on Mizner but he is the same. Maybe the most fascinating
man who ever lived, and most quoted. Many have tried to make his life fit a film or play but it does not seem
as great when broken down. My Aunt Hype's daughter was told a story about Mizner. At the 20th anniversary
of the San Francisco Quake Mizner and many other went back as part of a celebration of the rebuilding. Hype told
her he walked into a hotel room and there was Mizner in an large arm chair, around him were some of the greatest
minds and writers the world has known, all at his feet while he held court.

Anyway I can lead you to some of his books, they are very boxing connected. Iwish I could post a great pic of
Hype, Mizner and Ketchel.

[iskigoe]

Roger,

I don,t know if you have seen the new book by Clay Moyle on Langford, but it covers this fight completely.
As for Hype He expressed the fight was a fake to get to a bigger payday later on the west coast. Clay's
book is a must read. Not a story but based on articles at the time.

Here is something I wrote because Hype is not given credit anywhere as being Ketchels mgr.
Clay's book is the first I have seen making the connection. After I wrote it I found many more facts and
could do a better job, but here it is in it's old form.

Kevin

------------------------------------------------------------------------


STANLEY KETCHEL FACTS BROUGHT TO LIGHT AFTER 96 YEARS

In October of 1909 Stanley [Steve] Ketchel may have received his greatest loss. The loss of his Manager Willus Britt. His death came just weeks after Stanley's famous bout with Jack Johnson, for the heavy weight championship of the world.

WILLUS BRITT DIES OF A BROKEN HEART, is the headline written by Tad Dorgan, the leading boxing writer at the time. The article quotes Sunny Jim Cuffroth “That boy died of a broken heart” He was heart and soul with Ketchel in that Johnson fight. Willus saw a $1,000,000 before him if he brought home a winner, and no one ever lived who was more confident. He bet every nickel he could scrape up on Steve, and begged his friends to get on, too. When Ketchel dropped the champion in the 12th round, Willus saw fortune before him. Six seconds later his little champion was stretched out on the floor before him.

Ketchel would not fight again till the following year. Who was there to pick-up the reins? Most records would say Wilson Mizner. True, but not at first. Information suggests that famed sports writer Herbert Aloysius Igoe, had taken a turn at the wheel. Igoe was better known in later years to most, as the great raconteur Hype Igoe. In the years before penning under the moniker Hype, as suggested by his mentor and editor, Herbert Bayard Swope, he simply went by the name Bert. This shorten version of his name was the key to unlocking this long forgotten fact.

Igoe would have been well known to Ketchel, and a natural choice. It was Hype Igoe, himself who gave Ketchel the handle, THE MICHIGAN ASSASSIN. Ketchel being depressed over the loss of his Manager, would have felt right a home with Igoe. Surely Igoe, had the skills necessary too to do the job. Having spent his life around boxing, as a sports reporter. It didn’t hurt either, the late Willus Britt, his brother Jimmy Britt lightweight champion of the world, and Hype Igoe, were life long friends. Having gone to grammar school together in San Francisco in a part of town, Hype liked to refer to as “ South of the Slot”. Igoe often wrote how he and, Willus spent many an afternoon watching Jimmy hone his skills in the school yard.

The Oakland Tribune March/14/1910 in an article by Eddie Smith reports : The Michigander has taken up with a new manager in the person of Bert Igoe, formerly a cartoonist on the San Francisco Examiner, and later one of the best men of pencil in New York. Igoe intends to take Ketchel to England and Paris, and later ending up in Australia, where Ketchel has been promised a match with Tommy Burns.

The Nebraska State Journal April/23/1910 reports : Bert Igoe, the sporting writer and cartoonist has taken Stanley Ketchel in hand, and will act as manager for “The Michigan Assassin”.

This new time line puts Hype Igoe at the helm for Ketchel’s first fight back since Johnson. The bout took place on March 23, 1910 . A six round bout with Frank Klaus in Pittsburgh P.A.. Ketchel was accused of being out of shape and coasting. Later claiming to have broken his hand. The fight ended with a no decision.

His next bout was a was four round exhibition with Albert “buck” Crouse, March 24, 1910. The next day in, Wheeling W.Va.. Evidence of Hype being there with Ketchel is in a story about the pair retold many times. Just recently by Mike Casey in article called The high Octane Life and Death of Stanley Ketchel.

The article goes on to tell how Steve and John, as they were known to each other. Were having breakfast in the Clark House in West Virginia. Mike quotes Hype as telling the following story about the morning.

“I never knew him to sit down to a meal without first laying his big blue six-shooter across his lap. I never could quite understand just why he went so armed. I nearly died of anxiety in Wheeling, West Virginia, one morning, when we went to breakfast in the Clark House.
“One of the waiters gave Ketchel a snippy answer about the kind of eggs and bacon they had on tap and I saw Steve reach for the gun under the table cloth.”
Ketchel was in a foul mood. He had broken his left hand in his recent fight with Frank Klaus and the pain from the swelling was driving him to despair. Igoe knew that he had to do some fast thinking to avoid a disaster. “I bit into my thin water glass and cut my mouth purposely, and with blood running from my lips I yelled for Ketchel to see me to the wash room. He stuck his gun in his waistband and hustled me off. I insisted that I was bleeding to death and he must hustle me to a doctor. Anything to get away from that waiter. The ruse worked.”

Their next fight, and probably most important. Seeing how its still talked about today. Came on April 27, 1910, in Philadelphia P.A.. Where they meet the Great Tham himself, The Boston Tar Baby. Sam Langford. They fought too, a six round no decision.

In the Brighter Side a column written by Damon Runyon. There is an article after Hype’s death, written about this night. Damon Runyon one of the only writers in the IBHOF, worked side by side with Hype, or Hypus, as Runyon often called him. Runyon wrote :

Hype Igoe is NO STARRY EYED-BOOB SPORTS WRITER.

An article to let the younger writers know how he felt about his old friend. In the heart of the article Damon tells how he did not mind a good fake fight. If he knew in advance. He thought it took great skill to make a fake fight look real. But Hypus had no taste for them. “I can see him now” Runyon says, in the lobby after a pugilistic hoaxing doing, a little soft shoe dance in the manner of old vaudeville dance teams, and singing their familiar refrain:

“ OH, DANIEL O’LEARY, and BARNEY McCoy—“

It was Hypes way of saying the meeting was in the nature of a dance. Its from this little song that Hype used to sing. That the term “a Barney”came as meaning a fake fight, and a real one would be called “The Real McCoy”.
He ends his article by writing. Stanley Ketchel was Hype’s favorite prizefighter, just as has been reported, and undoubtably thought Ketchel was pretty good. He did not think he was good enough, however, to beat Sam Langford, and it may be that Hype’s tolerance toward my high regard for fakes, went back to that night in Philadelphia. When he still had some kind of connection with the management of Ketchel, and the Tar Baby carried The Michigan Assassin for six rounds.

Its was on the train ride home from this fight, I believe the two part ways. I will again quote a story told by Damon Runyon. “ One of Hype’s pals was the celebrated Wilson Mizner. When the great middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel, always Hype’s fighting ideal. Came to NY Hype had some managerial claim on him. He took Ketchel to Philadelphia for a fight, and returning was sitting in a Pullman drawing room, with a table before him. When in came Ketchel, and threw the two six-pistols he loved to carry, in front of Hype. I want to talk a little business to you Hype “he said”I think I prefer having Wilson Mizner as my manager from now on. That's fine “said Hype” eyeing the guns. And that's the way it was till Ketchel got shot and killed by a jealous husband down in Missouri.

And that's the way it was.

Ketchel and Igoe would not have been a match made in heaven. In Ketchel’s mind I'm sure he thought by hiring Hype he would be getting another Britt. But Igoe although fun loving and no mambe-pambe. Was a more mild mannered man than Britt ever was. Ketchel would have been way to much for old Bert to handle. Wilson Mizner another man from South of the Slot, and childhood friend of both Britt and Igoe. Was probably the better choice.
The last article linking Hype and Ketchel together. Was on June 18, 1910, in the Oakland Tribune.

WILSON MIZNER LATEST ROLE

Wilson Mizner the most irrepressible member of an irrepressible family is just now astonishing San Francisco in a novel role. It is no more or, no then less the manager to a prizefighter. That particular pugilist he has attached himself to being Stanley Ketchel.

Ketchel once enjoyed the managerial services of poor Willus Britt and under the tutelage of that greatest of all publicity agents, reached the high places of pugilistic prosperity.

After Britt's death he induced Bert Igoe the San Franciscan cartoonist to leave the Hearst service in NY and manage his affairs. But Igoe did not find the position cordial. He found that Ketchel expected him to take a lively part in all his diversions and, diversions of a pugilist Igoe has no stomach.
So the twain agreed to disagree, and when Igoe sought to collect $1500 which was due to him for his services. He had the greatest difficulty in wringing form the fist of the fighter.

Looking about for a congenial manager ketchel finally fixed on Wilson Mizner who lacks the scruples about pugilistic diversions. Which caused Ketchel to adjudge Igoe.

No sport.

Ketchel would fight three more fights, before his untimely death. He would fight, Dan “Porkey” Flynn, Willie Lewis, and Jim Smith. Ketchel would win all three fights by knockouts, in the early rounds. How much further could he have gone with Wilson Mizner? One could only guess? But surely, there would have been some great tales to tell, of their time together.

Hype had taken the job with Ketchel at great personal expense. I believe he was divorced in the same year, and spent several months in jail for not paying alimony. Hype was quoted : “paying alimony, is like feeding oats to a dead horse”. Upon his release, he was meet out side the prison by a precession of paddy wagons, lead by writers and friends. Who were all dressed in prison suits.

Igoe quickly resumed his job at the NY Journal , and went on too be a great force in boxing during his life.

Sports writer, publisher, founding member and president of the NY boxing writers assoc., one of the original writers for Ring Magazine and Fight Stories, and too much more to mention. Being Ketchel’s manager is just another feather in his cap, and one more reason this sports scribe should be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame !!!

[kikibalt]

Courtesy of Kevin, Kevin send me this photo two years ago and I posted it at the CBZ


Thanks Frank,

For posting the pic. The back is at work and I have been at home for the week-end. It is a bain photo. After a little more research I believe it is in NY. At the signing of the fight. Jeffries had just returned from europe and landed in NY with Berger, ready to sign and fight. The last pic I sent you was in Dec. and must have been the meeting to decide the promoter.

My grandfather is right behind Johnson, and his friend Tad [hall of famer] is standing behind Jeffries. Johnsons MGR is there as well as Abe Atell [off to the right]. The big guy off to the right with the mustash is a NY wine merchant. Who use the photo as an ad for champagne. I would love to find out the name of others there.

[kikibalt]

Courtesy of Kevin

[kikibalt]

Tickets for Darchinyan-Arce
By Edgar Gonzalez

Seats go on sale Tuesday at 10AM


Gary Shaw Productions and Top Rank announced today that tickets will go on sale Tuesday for the February 7th championship doubleheader featuring the rumble between unified super flyweight champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan and WBA interim super flyweight champion Jorge “Travieso” Arce, and the NABO lightweight championship battle between top contenders Antonio Demarco and Almazbek “Kid Diamond” Raiymkulov at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Priced at $250, $125, $90, $60, $45 and $35, tickets go on sale December 30 at 10AM PT, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (all Ticketmaster outlets), by phone, 714-740-2000, or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Honda Center box office.

Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs) and Arce (51-4-1, 39 KOs) will settle their bitter hostilities toward each other, once and for all, in a fight to the finish. Their battle will be televised live nationally on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.) The broadcast will open with DeMarco (19-1-1, 13 KOs) risking his three-year, 13-bout unbeaten streak and Top-10 rating in a career-defining fight against the battle-tested Raiymkulov (27-1-1, 15 KOs), who is enjoying his own two-year winning streak.

[iskigoe]

Thanks Frank,

You must have as much Hype stuff as me, or more.
I was looking for the pic of Hype and all his friends in prison suits.
I cant break the code here for posting pics?

KI

[iskigoe]

[Randyman]

I finally broke down and got a phone today. We were at the Montebello Town Center today. My wife was exchanging a few things. After an hour or so at Macy's I said to her "I'll be at the bookstore, come and get me when you're done, if worse comes to worse I'll just call you from a phone booth" Well the bookstore is no longer there and neither are the phone booths. I walked back to Macy's and then the chase was on. We somehow kept missing each other for over two hours. I hate the malls and today that hate was at full capacity.

I thought "Man, I need a cell phone". Right then and there I passed a T-Mobile kiosk. So I bought a phone. The guy asked what type of phone I wanted. "Give me a simple phone, no frills with a simple plan". That's what I got. The thing is, we got got back too late to take my daughter out to dinner because she "had already made other plans" for later in the evening, before I had mentioned dinner. She asked if I "would mind If we went another time". I understand. I was 21 once.

Randy

[Randyman]

Diego Corrales & The Greatest Fight of All Time
By Gene Ramirez-RSR


Each one of us has a favorite movie. Mine is “The Hustler.” Paul Newman plays a pool hustler named “Fast Eddie Felson” who tries to make a move on the longtime king of hustling, Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason. Growing up playing pool with my dad I thought it was a great movie with great performances by Newman and Gleason. My brother on the other hand loves anything with Will Ferrell in it. I even have a friend who likes those Ernest Goes to Camp kind of movies!

My point is we all have our own tastes which can be as different as night and day in some cases. We each have our favorite foods, our favorite drink, our favorite fighter, and of course our favorite fight.

When I think of my favorite all time fight it wasn't easy for us to think of just one fight. There were literally dozens that went through my mind. Of course there was the great Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward fights. I am a big fan of the body shot and so those fights always will have a place in my heart. I am sure there are many of you out there who love those fights and have them placed above my favorite.

Another great series of fights recently were the Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera matches. There are probably many Mexicans out there who are calling me crazy that I didn't put any of those fights as my favorite. Those were also great battles and if I walked by a television with those fights on you can bet that I will plant myself in front of them and watch them in their entirety.

Some of the older readers might be saying right now that “this kid doesn't know a good fight.” While they think of some of the great fights further down the road. And while its true that I wasn't actually around to see many of the best fights live, I of course have seen the tapes repeatedly and have a deep appreciation of the fighters of the past.

Some of my favorite fights include “The Rumble in the Jungle,” “The Showdown” between Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard, of course I could go on and on. Those were all great fights and if I had watched them live perhaps they would rate higher for me.

When I think of my favorite fight of all time…that one fight that you can watch over and over again…that one fight that you think of when you hear someone mention great fights. For me that fight is Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo.

Any real boxing fan had to flash back when I just mentioned those two names together. In case you don't know what I'm talking about then do yourself a favor and go check Youtube and see the fight and come back.

This fight is my all time favorite for a number of reasons. I remember seeing it the first time almost wondering if this was really happening before my eyes. From the very beginning of the fight these two guys just went to war. They traded shot after shot. Hooks to the head and body. The amount of punishment that both guys dished out and received was beyond belief.

I remember before the fight telling my friends that it could have been a good fight. Both guys were well enough known that I got together some of my friends to watch it. Then after only a few rounds, I was already saying this could end up being a great fight. Then a few more rounds of the same thing, all out action. By this time I was saying “wow!” This could be the fight of the year. Then the tenth round came along. It started out like another great round but we were in store for something special.

As the round started Castillo would catch Corrales with a perfect left hook that put him on the seat of his pants. It was the 2:34 mark of the round that started one of the best rounds of boxing I ever witnessed.

When he went down Corrales spit out his mouthpiece in what would also add some controversy to the round. When Corrales got up in time for the eight count, he got a handful of extra seconds because he had to go to his corner to get his mouthpiece put in.

When Corrales was finally ready Castillo knew he had his man hurt and went in to finish him off and Corrales went down after a barrage of punches including a right uppercut that really hurt him.

On the canvas again Corrales once again pulled out his mouthpiece. This time getting up just before the ten count, Referee Tony Weeks penalized Corrales a point for excessively spitting out his mouthpiece. Again Corrales had to go to his corner to get the mouthpiece put back in.

After the short break, Castillo went in to seemingly finish Corrales off but instead got caught with a stinging right hook that stunned him.

Corrales then backed Castillo up against the ropes and started to unleash a barrage of his own. Castillo fought back but at this point we seen that Corrales had now taken back control and it looked like Castillo might really be in trouble.

It was only a few seconds later that Corrales landed another combination of hooks that had Castillo out on his feet and the referee stepped in to end the fight.

After going nuts with my friends and watching the replays, I was then ready to make the statement that it was the best fight I had ever seen! All of my friends knew my passion for the sport and when they heard me say that they were kind of blown away themselves. To them they figured it was probably the best fight they had seen because they simply didn't watch a whole lot of boxing. But when I said it they figured the fight had to be pretty damn good because they knew the amount of boxing I watched.

Since that first time I have seen the fight at least 15 to 20 times. I have watched it with friends I have watched it when I was bored. It was a great fight and both guys showed enormous heart.

Corrales had already been one of my favorite fighters because of his style. After this fight he shot way up on my list of favorite fighters. Many people criticized him for spitting out his mouthpiece to buy more time. I questioned it myself until I actually thought about it. Corrales had to know he was hurt badly after that first left hook put him down and if he did it purposely then I have to consider Corrales was pretty damn smart.

He needed the extra time and ultimately it could have proven to be the difference. After going down the second time Corrales seemed to gather himself with the extra time and was able to then hurt Castillo in return.

Corrales showed some real heart in that fight. How many guys would have given up after going down the first time? He was clearly hurt, after getting knocked down he gathered enough courage to not only get off his butt once but twice. He never gave up. Never quit fighting. Never quite throwing punches and never stopped believing he could win.

While doing a little research for this article I watched a few clips of the fight again just to refresh my memory. I still get goose bumps watching it even after all this time. The fight was great, the best fight I ever seen.

RIP Chico.

Funny thing about great fights is that you don't always need great fighters, just good fair competition. Using the example from the article of Gotti and Ward, I think we can all agree that both of these guys were good, but not great fighters, though both had great hearts. If you put them together a thousand times you would probably have a fight of the year at least 999 times. Good matchmaking makes great fights. Same with Corrales and Castillo. Good fighters that fought an all time great fight. That's what makes boxing great.

Speaking of all time favorites, mine will always be Duran-Leonard I. Duran just a bit past his prime fighting Leonard, just a smidgeon before his prime. Duran was still Duran and was still mean. I have other favorites as well but for me this is the one.

Randy

[Randyman]

I have a lot of catching up to do here on this thread. I spent Christmas at my mother's house in Spring Vally Lake. We had a good time up there. I hope all of you guys had a great Christmas as well. This year really flew by.

Randy

Randy...where is Spring Vally Lake?.

Frank, Spring Vally Lake is in the High Desert, it is part of Victorville but separate. It was about 40 below while we were there. There was a forecast of a storm and possbly snow but it never really happened. It did rain on Christmas. Here are a couple of pics from Chrstmas.


This is from my mother's backyard overlooking the lake. A small part of the lake is visible. I love sitting on the deck and enjoying a cup of coffee. It's a great view. The photo doesn't do it justice.


This is a photo of my dear mother relaxing in her "Sunroom" as she calls it.


Jeri and my F-150 in my mother's driveway.

[Rick Farris]

Diego Corrales & The Greatest Fight of All Time
By Gene Ramirez-RSR


Each one of us has a favorite movie. Mine is “The Hustler.” Paul Newman plays a pool hustler named “Fast Eddie Felson” who tries to make a move on the longtime king of hustling, Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason. Growing up playing pool with my dad I thought it was a great movie with great performances by Newman and Gleason. My brother on the other hand loves anything with Will Ferrell in it. I even have a friend who likes those Ernest Goes to Camp kind of movies!

My point is we all have our own tastes which can be as different as night and day in some cases. We each have our favorite foods, our favorite drink, our favorite fighter, and of course our favorite fight.

When I think of my favorite all time fight it wasn't easy for us to think of just one fight. There were literally dozens that went through my mind. Of course there was the great Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward fights. I am a big fan of the body shot and so those fights always will have a place in my heart. I am sure there are many of you out there who love those fights and have them placed above my favorite.

Another great series of fights recently were the Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera matches. There are probably many Mexicans out there who are calling me crazy that I didn't put any of those fights as my favorite. Those were also great battles and if I walked by a television with those fights on you can bet that I will plant myself in front of them and watch them in their entirety.

Some of the older readers might be saying right now that “this kid doesn't know a good fight.” While they think of some of the great fights further down the road. And while its true that I wasn't actually around to see many of the best fights live, I of course have seen the tapes repeatedly and have a deep appreciation of the fighters of the past.

Some of my favorite fights include “The Rumble in the Jungle,” “The Showdown” between Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard, of course I could go on and on. Those were all great fights and if I had watched them live perhaps they would rate higher for me.

When I think of my favorite fight of all time…that one fight that you can watch over and over again…that one fight that you think of when you hear someone mention great fights. For me that fight is Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo.

Any real boxing fan had to flash back when I just mentioned those two names together. In case you don't know what I'm talking about then do yourself a favor and go check Youtube and see the fight and come back.

This fight is my all time favorite for a number of reasons. I remember seeing it the first time almost wondering if this was really happening before my eyes. From the very beginning of the fight these two guys just went to war. They traded shot after shot. Hooks to the head and body. The amount of punishment that both guys dished out and received was beyond belief.

I remember before the fight telling my friends that it could have been a good fight. Both guys were well enough known that I got together some of my friends to watch it. Then after only a few rounds, I was already saying this could end up being a great fight. Then a few more rounds of the same thing, all out action. By this time I was saying “wow!” This could be the fight of the year. Then the tenth round came along. It started out like another great round but we were in store for something special.

As the round started Castillo would catch Corrales with a perfect left hook that put him on the seat of his pants. It was the 2:34 mark of the round that started one of the best rounds of boxing I ever witnessed.

When he went down Corrales spit out his mouthpiece in what would also add some controversy to the round. When Corrales got up in time for the eight count, he got a handful of extra seconds because he had to go to his corner to get his mouthpiece put in.

When Corrales was finally ready Castillo knew he had his man hurt and went in to finish him off and Corrales went down after a barrage of punches including a right uppercut that really hurt him.

On the canvas again Corrales once again pulled out his mouthpiece. This time getting up just before the ten count, Referee Tony Weeks penalized Corrales a point for excessively spitting out his mouthpiece. Again Corrales had to go to his corner to get the mouthpiece put back in.

After the short break, Castillo went in to seemingly finish Corrales off but instead got caught with a stinging right hook that stunned him.

Corrales then backed Castillo up against the ropes and started to unleash a barrage of his own. Castillo fought back but at this point we seen that Corrales had now taken back control and it looked like Castillo might really be in trouble.

It was only a few seconds later that Corrales landed another combination of hooks that had Castillo out on his feet and the referee stepped in to end the fight.

After going nuts with my friends and watching the replays, I was then ready to make the statement that it was the best fight I had ever seen! All of my friends knew my passion for the sport and when they heard me say that they were kind of blown away themselves. To them they figured it was probably the best fight they had seen because they simply didn't watch a whole lot of boxing. But when I said it they figured the fight had to be pretty damn good because they knew the amount of boxing I watched.

Since that first time I have seen the fight at least 15 to 20 times. I have watched it with friends I have watched it when I was bored. It was a great fight and both guys showed enormous heart.

Corrales had already been one of my favorite fighters because of his style. After this fight he shot way up on my list of favorite fighters. Many people criticized him for spitting out his mouthpiece to buy more time. I questioned it myself until I actually thought about it. Corrales had to know he was hurt badly after that first left hook put him down and if he did it purposely then I have to consider Corrales was pretty damn smart.

He needed the extra time and ultimately it could have proven to be the difference. After going down the second time Corrales seemed to gather himself with the extra time and was able to then hurt Castillo in return.

Corrales showed some real heart in that fight. How many guys would have given up after going down the first time? He was clearly hurt, after getting knocked down he gathered enough courage to not only get off his butt once but twice. He never gave up. Never quit fighting. Never quite throwing punches and never stopped believing he could win.

While doing a little research for this article I watched a few clips of the fight again just to refresh my memory. I still get goose bumps watching it even after all this time. The fight was great, the best fight I ever seen.

RIP Chico.

This was a great fight, and I like both fighters. However, the best of all time? Not quite, maybe the best the writer had seen, his ignorance carried him away. I know I shouldn't take this seriously, but boxing matches have been going on for centuries, maybe writers should consider the possibility that something better just might have happened before they opened their eyes.

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Rick,

Ketchel is a great story. The biggest problem is how do you zero in on a point of time. Unlike someone
like Braddock. who was down on his luck and the than won the championship. Everyday in Ketchel's
life was a story and it's all the small stories that make him so colorful. You need a complete understanding
to enjoy him. I don't know if you have read any books on Mizner but he is the same. Maybe the most fascinating
man who ever lived, and most quoted. Many have tried to make his life fit a film or play but it does not seem
as great when broken down. My Aunt Hype's daughter was told a story about Mizner. At the 20th anniversary
of the San Francisco Quake Mizner and many other went back as part of a celebration of the rebuilding. Hype told
her he walked into a hotel room and there was Mizner in an large arm chair, around him were some of the greatest
minds and writers the world has known, all at his feet while he held court.

Anyway I can lead you to some of his books, they are very boxing connected. Iwish I could post a great pic of
Hype, Mizner and Ketchel.

Kevin, I'd like to see any pics you have of your grandfather. And as far as the books are concerned, I'd appreciate any suggestions.

-Rick

[bennie]

Tickets for Darchinyan-Arce
By Edgar Gonzalez

Seats go on sale Tuesday at 10AM


Gary Shaw Productions and Top Rank announced today that tickets will go on sale Tuesday for the February 7th championship doubleheader featuring the rumble between unified super flyweight champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan and WBA interim super flyweight champion Jorge “Travieso” Arce, and the NABO lightweight championship battle between top contenders Antonio Demarco and Almazbek “Kid Diamond” Raiymkulov at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Priced at $250, $125, $90, $60, $45 and $35, tickets go on sale December 30 at 10AM PT, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (all Ticketmaster outlets), by phone, 714-740-2000, or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Honda Center box office.

Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs) and Arce (51-4-1, 39 KOs) will settle their bitter hostilities toward each other, once and for all, in a fight to the finish. Their battle will be televised live nationally on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.) The broadcast will open with DeMarco (19-1-1, 13 KOs) risking his three-year, 13-bout unbeaten streak and Top-10 rating in a career-defining fight against the battle-tested Raiymkulov (27-1-1, 15 KOs), who is enjoying his own two-year winning streak.

Aussie sensation Vic Darchinyan defends his unified world super-flyweight title against brash Mexican Jorge Arce in a sizzler of a match in California on February 7
Southpaw Darchinyan, quick, rangy, unorthodox and dangerous, secured his rare undisputed status with a dazzling nine-round knockout of Cristian Mijares just last month in California - a man who had licked Arce. Styles make fights, of course, and the strong, all-action, heavy handed Arce is one of those perennial threats after 56 fights as a pro (51 wins), one of those perennial favourites. Still only 29, three years younger than Darchinyan, Arce has come back well from the Mijares points pasting last year with five solid wins and holds two stoppages of Hussein Hussein, another good Aussie.
He certainly enjoys a battle.
Darchinyan, 31-1-1 (25), came through a sticky patch himself recently when he was poleaxed by a Filipino and held to a draw by another. He then overwhelmed Russia's Dimitri Kirilov in five rounds to capture the IBF super-flyweight belt earlier this year in the States and dominated Mijares for the latter's WBC and WBA belts. It made Vic the first undisputed champ in the 30-year history of the super-flyweight division.
This one cannot fail to provide excitement as both men go at it hard, head and body, whipped up by a big crowd. Arce, a pro at 16, looks a bit battle-weary and might be ready to go, but then again, Darchinyan looks a bit chinny and might be a tad vulnerable, mentally, after all the Mijares plaudits. Fighters are often 'flat' in the wake of a huge win. Plus, he - well, his body - endures big fights back-to-back, here, which is easy task for anyone.
Ultimately, the Mijares comparison splits the two. The relentless Darchinyan must be favoured to bust up tough Jorge and to break him up in nine or 10 rounds.

[Boxingnut]

Diego Corrales & The Greatest Fight of All Time
By Gene Ramirez-RSR


Each one of us has a favorite movie. Mine is “The Hustler.” Paul Newman plays a pool hustler named “Fast Eddie Felson” who tries to make a move on the longtime king of hustling, Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason. Growing up playing pool with my dad I thought it was a great movie with great performances by Newman and Gleason. My brother on the other hand loves anything with Will Ferrell in it. I even have a friend who likes those Ernest Goes to Camp kind of movies!

My point is we all have our own tastes which can be as different as night and day in some cases. We each have our favorite foods, our favorite drink, our favorite fighter, and of course our favorite fight.

When I think of my favorite all time fight it wasn't easy for us to think of just one fight. There were literally dozens that went through my mind. Of course there was the great Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward fights. I am a big fan of the body shot and so those fights always will have a place in my heart. I am sure there are many of you out there who love those fights and have them placed above my favorite.

Another great series of fights recently were the Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera matches. There are probably many Mexicans out there who are calling me crazy that I didn't put any of those fights as my favorite. Those were also great battles and if I walked by a television with those fights on you can bet that I will plant myself in front of them and watch them in their entirety.

Some of the older readers might be saying right now that “this kid doesn't know a good fight.” While they think of some of the great fights further down the road. And while its true that I wasn't actually around to see many of the best fights live, I of course have seen the tapes repeatedly and have a deep appreciation of the fighters of the past.

Some of my favorite fights include “The Rumble in the Jungle,” “The Showdown” between Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard, of course I could go on and on. Those were all great fights and if I had watched them live perhaps they would rate higher for me.

When I think of my favorite fight of all time…that one fight that you can watch over and over again…that one fight that you think of when you hear someone mention great fights. For me that fight is Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo.

Any real boxing fan had to flash back when I just mentioned those two names together. In case you don't know what I'm talking about then do yourself a favor and go check Youtube and see the fight and come back.

This fight is my all time favorite for a number of reasons. I remember seeing it the first time almost wondering if this was really happening before my eyes. From the very beginning of the fight these two guys just went to war. They traded shot after shot. Hooks to the head and body. The amount of punishment that both guys dished out and received was beyond belief.

I remember before the fight telling my friends that it could have been a good fight. Both guys were well enough known that I got together some of my friends to watch it. Then after only a few rounds, I was already saying this could end up being a great fight. Then a few more rounds of the same thing, all out action. By this time I was saying “wow!” This could be the fight of the year. Then the tenth round came along. It started out like another great round but we were in store for something special.

As the round started Castillo would catch Corrales with a perfect left hook that put him on the seat of his pants. It was the 2:34 mark of the round that started one of the best rounds of boxing I ever witnessed.

When he went down Corrales spit out his mouthpiece in what would also add some controversy to the round. When Corrales got up in time for the eight count, he got a handful of extra seconds because he had to go to his corner to get his mouthpiece put in.

When Corrales was finally ready Castillo knew he had his man hurt and went in to finish him off and Corrales went down after a barrage of punches including a right uppercut that really hurt him.

On the canvas again Corrales once again pulled out his mouthpiece. This time getting up just before the ten count, Referee Tony Weeks penalized Corrales a point for excessively spitting out his mouthpiece. Again Corrales had to go to his corner to get the mouthpiece put back in.

After the short break, Castillo went in to seemingly finish Corrales off but instead got caught with a stinging right hook that stunned him.

Corrales then backed Castillo up against the ropes and started to unleash a barrage of his own. Castillo fought back but at this point we seen that Corrales had now taken back control and it looked like Castillo might really be in trouble.

It was only a few seconds later that Corrales landed another combination of hooks that had Castillo out on his feet and the referee stepped in to end the fight.

After going nuts with my friends and watching the replays, I was then ready to make the statement that it was the best fight I had ever seen! All of my friends knew my passion for the sport and when they heard me say that they were kind of blown away themselves. To them they figured it was probably the best fight they had seen because they simply didn't watch a whole lot of boxing. But when I said it they figured the fight had to be pretty damn good because they knew the amount of boxing I watched.

Since that first time I have seen the fight at least 15 to 20 times. I have watched it with friends I have watched it when I was bored. It was a great fight and both guys showed enormous heart.

Corrales had already been one of my favorite fighters because of his style. After this fight he shot way up on my list of favorite fighters. Many people criticized him for spitting out his mouthpiece to buy more time. I questioned it myself until I actually thought about it. Corrales had to know he was hurt badly after that first left hook put him down and if he did it purposely then I have to consider Corrales was pretty damn smart.

He needed the extra time and ultimately it could have proven to be the difference. After going down the second time Corrales seemed to gather himself with the extra time and was able to then hurt Castillo in return.

Corrales showed some real heart in that fight. How many guys would have given up after going down the first time? He was clearly hurt, after getting knocked down he gathered enough courage to not only get off his butt once but twice. He never gave up. Never quit fighting. Never quite throwing punches and never stopped believing he could win.

While doing a little research for this article I watched a few clips of the fight again just to refresh my memory. I still get goose bumps watching it even after all this time. The fight was great, the best fight I ever seen.

RIP Chico.

This was a great fight, and I like both fighters. However, the best of all time? Not quite, maybe the best the writer had seen, his ignorance carried him away. I know I shouldn't take this seriously, but boxing matches have been going on for centuries, maybe writers should consider the possibility that something better just might have happened before they opened their eyes.

-Rick Farris

A very good point Rick. Too many writers think the best fight they ever saw was either in the last decade or was a top of the bill, Las Vegas glamour fight. Personally some of the best fights I ever saw were either British title fights or six or eight rounders on the undercard.

[Boxingnut]

Today is, Savannah’s, my youngest daughter, 21st birthday. My wife and I have gone through this four times before, with the other kids. What makes this time so significant is that this is our youngest. It marks a turning point in our lives. All our kids are now grown up. She still lives at home but she has one foot out the door. Any day, any moment, someday soon, she’ll say to my wife and I “Mom, Dad, I’m moving out” or “I’m going to leave California” or perhaps “I’m getting married” or any number of fearful thoughts that have played in my head over the years. . I’ve gone through it four times before but each time was like the first. This time it will be the last. I’m a grandfather six times over. You would think I would have it down pat.

Daughters! So different than sons. A boy we understand. We’ve been there, we understand. We know what mistakes they are going to make, we know now how to correct it because we learned the hard way. We understand it too when they reject 90% of what we have to pass on, until someday in the future the light bulb goes on and they realize the “old man” knew what he was talking about. From the very beginning we raise our sons to be men. We raise them to be independent. To stand on there own two feet.

Daughters on the other hand, we raise them and try our damnedest to keep them “our little girls” despite the evidence to the contrary everyday that she is becoming a young woman. We are never, ever prepared for it. It hits us head on, like an out of control semi truck. We see the changes coming but we shake our heads in denial. A dress that means so much to them, a secret talk with mom that they just can’t share with you, or the first time you see them dressed up and ready to go to a school dance. We see the physical changes. You hear a sound coming from deep within, you know what it is, you know it’s the sound of your heart breaking as your little girl is growing up.

We are never ready for the first knock on the door either as some kid, probably a nice boy, but certainly not someone good enough for my daughter, comes to take her away from you (the little shit!). The wife staring at you with piercing eyes, pleading with you not to embarrass your daughter. What women don’t know or maybe they do, and just secretly hope that you are the man for the job despite their interference, is that it is a father’s role to be an asshole. If the father of a daughter is not known far and wide as an asshole, than he is not doing his job. When a boy comes knocking on a girls door, especially my daughter, he better already know who I am, his knee’s better be shaking and his voice better crack, at least a little. One day someone will knock on the door. It will be “the one”. It will be the one that will not go away, nor will he be intimidated. Maybe he’s already knocked. I am prepared and I am unprepared.

There comes a time with every child when we have to let go, at least on the surface, because as every father knows, you never really let go. We do come to understand though, that at some point, we have turned them over to God and the world, and we pray that everything we have taught them will finally sink in. Even more so, we pray that the mistakes we made with them will stay in the past and be forgotten. When you have done all that you can do, you have done all that you can do.

Tonight my wife Jeri and I will take Savannah, a young woman now, and her boyfriend Josh to dinner at a restaurant of her choice, she’ll probably pick Italian, it’s her favorite. We’ll laugh and talk about what ever people talk about when they are having a good time. She’ll be old enough to order a drink if she chooses but she probably won’t. I’ll be looking at her, probably holding back a tear or two. I’ll be remembering a lifetime. I’ll still see a little girl. It’s how I’m wired.

Rand 'ol man it's like this
If you raise her right,you really never lose her. She'll pick out a nice guy who'll provide and be a good husband and dad. That's what you want for her,but "Daddy's Little Girl"is still there. Believe me. She knows who the REAL man still is. You don't even have to compete with the guy even. It's a no brainer.

She'll wind up wearing the pants in the family. That's good. Her husband will do what he's told. That's good too. You won't have to worry about him. You can see it from a distance. It's like a rule of nature. A natural order.

Take it from me pal,"Daddy's Little Girl" will always remember who the man was in her life. When we're gone,hopefully,their husbands will assuime our role. They say the boys marry the image of their mothers. It's the same way with the girls. The parents never see it until we leave this Earth. I wouldn't want to see it if I was still around.

Children hold their parents hands for a while but their hearts forever.

[kikibalt]

Diego Corrales & The Greatest Fight of All Time
By Gene Ramirez-RSR


Each one of us has a favorite movie. Mine is “The Hustler.” Paul Newman plays a pool hustler named “Fast Eddie Felson” who tries to make a move on the longtime king of hustling, Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason. Growing up playing pool with my dad I thought it was a great movie with great performances by Newman and Gleason. My brother on the other hand loves anything with Will Ferrell in it. I even have a friend who likes those Ernest Goes to Camp kind of movies!

My point is we all have our own tastes which can be as different as night and day in some cases. We each have our favorite foods, our favorite drink, our favorite fighter, and of course our favorite fight.

When I think of my favorite all time fight it wasn't easy for us to think of just one fight. There were literally dozens that went through my mind. Of course there was the great Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward fights. I am a big fan of the body shot and so those fights always will have a place in my heart. I am sure there are many of you out there who love those fights and have them placed above my favorite.

Another great series of fights recently were the Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera matches. There are probably many Mexicans out there who are calling me crazy that I didn't put any of those fights as my favorite. Those were also great battles and if I walked by a television with those fights on you can bet that I will plant myself in front of them and watch them in their entirety.

Some of the older readers might be saying right now that “this kid doesn't know a good fight.” While they think of some of the great fights further down the road. And while its true that I wasn't actually around to see many of the best fights live, I of course have seen the tapes repeatedly and have a deep appreciation of the fighters of the past.

Some of my favorite fights include “The Rumble in the Jungle,” “The Showdown” between Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard, of course I could go on and on. Those were all great fights and if I had watched them live perhaps they would rate higher for me.

When I think of my favorite fight of all time…that one fight that you can watch over and over again…that one fight that you think of when you hear someone mention great fights. For me that fight is Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo.

Any real boxing fan had to flash back when I just mentioned those two names together. In case you don't know what I'm talking about then do yourself a favor and go check Youtube and see the fight and come back.

This fight is my all time favorite for a number of reasons. I remember seeing it the first time almost wondering if this was really happening before my eyes. From the very beginning of the fight these two guys just went to war. They traded shot after shot. Hooks to the head and body. The amount of punishment that both guys dished out and received was beyond belief.

I remember before the fight telling my friends that it could have been a good fight. Both guys were well enough known that I got together some of my friends to watch it. Then after only a few rounds, I was already saying this could end up being a great fight. Then a few more rounds of the same thing, all out action. By this time I was saying “wow!” This could be the fight of the year. Then the tenth round came along. It started out like another great round but we were in store for something special.

As the round started Castillo would catch Corrales with a perfect left hook that put him on the seat of his pants. It was the 2:34 mark of the round that started one of the best rounds of boxing I ever witnessed.

When he went down Corrales spit out his mouthpiece in what would also add some controversy to the round. When Corrales got up in time for the eight count, he got a handful of extra seconds because he had to go to his corner to get his mouthpiece put in.

When Corrales was finally ready Castillo knew he had his man hurt and went in to finish him off and Corrales went down after a barrage of punches including a right uppercut that really hurt him.

On the canvas again Corrales once again pulled out his mouthpiece. This time getting up just before the ten count, Referee Tony Weeks penalized Corrales a point for excessively spitting out his mouthpiece. Again Corrales had to go to his corner to get the mouthpiece put back in.

After the short break, Castillo went in to seemingly finish Corrales off but instead got caught with a stinging right hook that stunned him.

Corrales then backed Castillo up against the ropes and started to unleash a barrage of his own. Castillo fought back but at this point we seen that Corrales had now taken back control and it looked like Castillo might really be in trouble.

It was only a few seconds later that Corrales landed another combination of hooks that had Castillo out on his feet and the referee stepped in to end the fight.

After going nuts with my friends and watching the replays, I was then ready to make the statement that it was the best fight I had ever seen! All of my friends knew my passion for the sport and when they heard me say that they were kind of blown away themselves. To them they figured it was probably the best fight they had seen because they simply didn't watch a whole lot of boxing. But when I said it they figured the fight had to be pretty damn good because they knew the amount of boxing I watched.

Since that first time I have seen the fight at least 15 to 20 times. I have watched it with friends I have watched it when I was bored. It was a great fight and both guys showed enormous heart.

Corrales had already been one of my favorite fighters because of his style. After this fight he shot way up on my list of favorite fighters. Many people criticized him for spitting out his mouthpiece to buy more time. I questioned it myself until I actually thought about it. Corrales had to know he was hurt badly after that first left hook put him down and if he did it purposely then I have to consider Corrales was pretty damn smart.

He needed the extra time and ultimately it could have proven to be the difference. After going down the second time Corrales seemed to gather himself with the extra time and was able to then hurt Castillo in return.

Corrales showed some real heart in that fight. How many guys would have given up after going down the first time? He was clearly hurt, after getting knocked down he gathered enough courage to not only get off his butt once but twice. He never gave up. Never quit fighting. Never quite throwing punches and never stopped believing he could win.

While doing a little research for this article I watched a few clips of the fight again just to refresh my memory. I still get goose bumps watching it even after all this time. The fight was great, the best fight I ever seen.

RIP Chico.

This was a great fight, and I like both fighters. However, the best of all time? Not quite, maybe the best the writer had seen, his ignorance carried him away. I know I shouldn't take this seriously, but boxing matches have been going on for centuries, maybe writers should consider the possibility that something better just might have happened before they opened their eyes.

-Rick Farris

A very good point Rick. Too many writers think the best fight they ever saw was either in the last decade or was a top of the bill, Las Vegas glamour fight. Personally some of the best fights I ever saw were either British title fights or six or eight rounders on the undercard.

For pure action the Corrales vs Castillo fight was a great fight, but that been said, there has been many great action fights through the years, and I agree with Rob that lots of those great fights have been by lesser known fighters, maybe not even been on TV, so us that have been going (in my case 60+ years) to live fights for years, will have our own "Greatest fight" but I think that most of us have more then one, the writer of that article I think is fairly young, hasn't seen the fights that us older guys have seen, he say that he watch films of older fights/fighters, well, imho thats not the same as been there in person or watching it live on TV to appreciate what you're watching.

Raul Rojas vs Ricardo "Pajarito" Moreno 1 & II had as much action as the above mentioned fight, ditto, Carmen Basilio vs Tony DeMarco 1 & II, and the Israel Vasquez vs Rafael Marquez fights.

Can't forget Mando Ramos vs Sugar Ramos.

[kikibalt]

Keeping our memories from the mists of Alzheimer's
Al Martinez
December 29, 2008

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December."
-- James Barrie

The Walt Travis I knew at San Francisco State was an amazing guy: scholar, debater, hobbyist magician, fraternity brother and one hell of a lot of fun.

He could stand before a hostile audience, face a debating opponent with the cool logic of a forensic scientist and turn him into gelatin. When the crowd booed the conquest of their hero, Walt would smile. He'd made his point.

He could also sit at a downtown bar and make coins and cigarettes vanish into thin air with the skill of a master prestidigitator, gathering a different kind of audience around him and winning free drinks for both of us.

But all of that is gone now, the tricks and the fun. The man I knew a long time ago is disappearing into himself, erased by a disease called Alzheimer's.

I was thinking about him as I watched my family decorate our Christmas tree: my son Marty and his wife, Lisa, and three of our grandchildren, Nicole, Jeffrey and Joshua. Each ornament was hung with care. Small blinking lights framed their faces.

It was important to me to lock this moment into a memory component beyond erasures; I strained to fix it in my head the way a camera lens isolates a scene. I didn't want what was happening to Walt to happen to me. There are some things that must never be forgotten.

I had heard from his wife the day before that Walt had been placed in a full-care facility, suffering from "dementia," another way of describing the malady that is sucking the humanity from more than 5 million Americans.

"Walt's short-term memory has been diminishing," she wrote, "and he reached the point where his whole personality had changed. He became easily agitated, demanding and aggressive. I could no longer care for him."

It's a sad and terrible disorder, an erosion of the core mentality that contains the history of who we are, the memory of ourselves that makes us unique. I couldn't believe it was happening to him.

I've known Walt since he was a returning World War II veteran in college on the GI Bill and I was a kid out of high school.

He was a scholarly patrician who would go on to earn a PhD at Columbia University, and I was a dour and scruffy beatnik wannabe who worked on the college newspaper and wrote unintelligible poetry; I never did finish up with a degree.

He followed his dream into teaching, and I followed mine into writing.

We kept in touch by letter, but I hadn't seen him face to face until about three years ago.

When Cinelli and I learned that he and his wife had a place in Palm Springs, we made it a point to meet them for dinner on a weekend trip. It was a strange encounter.

There was a peculiarity about Walt. He had always been a soft-spoken man, intellectual in conversation, but possessed of a nimble sense of humor. Now he was loud and repetitive, greeting with raucous bursts of laughter moments from our past that weren't especially funny or that had never actually occurred, and repeating them many times over, as though each telling was new.

When he fell silent, he seemed abruptly detached, as though he were viewing from afar, directing his focus on someone beyond the room.

I had seen that look before in another man I knew, a much younger person than the 79-year-old Walt. His name was Buddy Epstein. He was in the early stages of Alzheimer's and coldly aware of the fate that would lead him into darkness. He described it as a slow disappearance. "One day you're here," he said, "and one day you're not."

Cinelli and I wondered if Walt was on the edge of that same darkness when we last saw him in Palm Springs. And now our fears had been confirmed. The Walt we had both known simply no longer existed.

That was reason enough for me to view with intensity the evening my family was decorating our tree. There are moments we must not abandon, beyond major achievements and professional triumphs. Careers end and plaques tarnish, but the eyes of Christmas, for instance, remain forever bright.

One must remember with equal clarity the nuances of a lover's voice and the cry of a baby's frustration; the aroma of pine trees and the cool, clean perfumes of a rainy day. I am determined never to give up a vision of Cinelli's smile or the warm embracement of a summer's eve.

They are blips in time to be absorbed. They pass too quickly and are gone so completely.

almtz13@aol

[bennie]

Diego Corrales & The Greatest Fight of All Time
By Gene Ramirez-RSR


Each one of us has a favorite movie. Mine is “The Hustler.” Paul Newman plays a pool hustler named “Fast Eddie Felson” who tries to make a move on the longtime king of hustling, Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason. Growing up playing pool with my dad I thought it was a great movie with great performances by Newman and Gleason. My brother on the other hand loves anything with Will Ferrell in it. I even have a friend who likes those Ernest Goes to Camp kind of movies!

My point is we all have our own tastes which can be as different as night and day in some cases. We each have our favorite foods, our favorite drink, our favorite fighter, and of course our favorite fight.

When I think of my favorite all time fight it wasn't easy for us to think of just one fight. There were literally dozens that went through my mind. Of course there was the great Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward fights. I am a big fan of the body shot and so those fights always will have a place in my heart. I am sure there are many of you out there who love those fights and have them placed above my favorite.

Another great series of fights recently were the Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera matches. There are probably many Mexicans out there who are calling me crazy that I didn't put any of those fights as my favorite. Those were also great battles and if I walked by a television with those fights on you can bet that I will plant myself in front of them and watch them in their entirety.

Some of the older readers might be saying right now that “this kid doesn't know a good fight.” While they think of some of the great fights further down the road. And while its true that I wasn't actually around to see many of the best fights live, I of course have seen the tapes repeatedly and have a deep appreciation of the fighters of the past.

Some of my favorite fights include “The Rumble in the Jungle,” “The Showdown” between Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard, of course I could go on and on. Those were all great fights and if I had watched them live perhaps they would rate higher for me.

When I think of my favorite fight of all time…that one fight that you can watch over and over again…that one fight that you think of when you hear someone mention great fights. For me that fight is Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo.

Any real boxing fan had to flash back when I just mentioned those two names together. In case you don't know what I'm talking about then do yourself a favor and go check Youtube and see the fight and come back.

This fight is my all time favorite for a number of reasons. I remember seeing it the first time almost wondering if this was really happening before my eyes. From the very beginning of the fight these two guys just went to war. They traded shot after shot. Hooks to the head and body. The amount of punishment that both guys dished out and received was beyond belief.

I remember before the fight telling my friends that it could have been a good fight. Both guys were well enough known that I got together some of my friends to watch it. Then after only a few rounds, I was already saying this could end up being a great fight. Then a few more rounds of the same thing, all out action. By this time I was saying “wow!” This could be the fight of the year. Then the tenth round came along. It started out like another great round but we were in store for something special.

As the round started Castillo would catch Corrales with a perfect left hook that put him on the seat of his pants. It was the 2:34 mark of the round that started one of the best rounds of boxing I ever witnessed.

When he went down Corrales spit out his mouthpiece in what would also add some controversy to the round. When Corrales got up in time for the eight count, he got a handful of extra seconds because he had to go to his corner to get his mouthpiece put in.

When Corrales was finally ready Castillo knew he had his man hurt and went in to finish him off and Corrales went down after a barrage of punches including a right uppercut that really hurt him.

On the canvas again Corrales once again pulled out his mouthpiece. This time getting up just before the ten count, Referee Tony Weeks penalized Corrales a point for excessively spitting out his mouthpiece. Again Corrales had to go to his corner to get the mouthpiece put back in.

After the short break, Castillo went in to seemingly finish Corrales off but instead got caught with a stinging right hook that stunned him.

Corrales then backed Castillo up against the ropes and started to unleash a barrage of his own. Castillo fought back but at this point we seen that Corrales had now taken back control and it looked like Castillo might really be in trouble.

It was only a few seconds later that Corrales landed another combination of hooks that had Castillo out on his feet and the referee stepped in to end the fight.

After going nuts with my friends and watching the replays, I was then ready to make the statement that it was the best fight I had ever seen! All of my friends knew my passion for the sport and when they heard me say that they were kind of blown away themselves. To them they figured it was probably the best fight they had seen because they simply didn't watch a whole lot of boxing. But when I said it they figured the fight had to be pretty damn good because they knew the amount of boxing I watched.

Since that first time I have seen the fight at least 15 to 20 times. I have watched it with friends I have watched it when I was bored. It was a great fight and both guys showed enormous heart.

Corrales had already been one of my favorite fighters because of his style. After this fight he shot way up on my list of favorite fighters. Many people criticized him for spitting out his mouthpiece to buy more time. I questioned it myself until I actually thought about it. Corrales had to know he was hurt badly after that first left hook put him down and if he did it purposely then I have to consider Corrales was pretty damn smart.

He needed the extra time and ultimately it could have proven to be the difference. After going down the second time Corrales seemed to gather himself with the extra time and was able to then hurt Castillo in return.

Corrales showed some real heart in that fight. How many guys would have given up after going down the first time? He was clearly hurt, after getting knocked down he gathered enough courage to not only get off his butt once but twice. He never gave up. Never quit fighting. Never quite throwing punches and never stopped believing he could win.

While doing a little research for this article I watched a few clips of the fight again just to refresh my memory. I still get goose bumps watching it even after all this time. The fight was great, the best fight I ever seen.

RIP Chico.

It was a great fight seriously sullied (in my book) by the gumshield ploy. Man, Chico was 'out' twice before he came back. Small wonder Castillo was exhausted.
He had already won the fight twice.

[kikibalt]

Lenny Mancini
By Jim Amato


Youngstown great Lenny “Boom Boom” Mancini…

Although he will be best remembered as the father of Ray Mancini, Lenny was a pretty darn good fighter in his own right.

Lenny was born in Youngstown, Ohio on July 12, 1919. The city of Youngstown and the surrounding areas produced such outstanding fistic talent in the 1940’s with the likes of Tony Janiro, Tommy Bell and Sonny Horne. Lenny was among the talented Y’town exports.

Standing at 5′ 2″, Lennny who turned pro in the late 30’s slugged his way to a world ranking during the glorious 40’s.He was an extremely popular attraction in New York as he climbed the ratings ladder. In December of 1939 he lost an eight rounder to tough Johnny Rinaldi.

Lenny bounced back in 1940 fighting a six round draw with future welterweight king Marty Servo.He kayoed Frankie Terranova and outscored Joey Fontana. He then drew with Jimmy Vaughn and again outpointed Fontana. Lenny then took a tough decision over Carl “Red” Guggino and closed out the year splitting a pair of eight round verdicts with Irving Eldridge.

In 1941 he lost on points to the highly respected Leo Rodak. He came back to defeat Billy Marquart over ten in New York and then again in a Cleveland rematch.

On May 19,1941 Lenny met National Boxing Association lightweight champion Sammy Angott in a non-title fight at Cleveland’s Public Hall. After ten grueling rounds Angott was awarded an unpopular split decision. Lenny would never receive a shot at the crown. In his next fight he drew with Terry Young. In August he lost on points to Pete Lello.Still Lenny and Canadian Dave Castilloux were considered the top two lightweight contenders.On November 11 Lenny went to Montreal and won a convincing decision over Castilloux.

Lenny served his country during the war and when he got out he was close to being a heavyweight ! He still had the burning desire to be a champion so he returned to training and came back as a welterweight. He continued to be a good drawing card in New York but his career never really got back on track. In 1946 he lost to Phil Palmer and later to Harry Hurst on two occasions. He dropped another to Johnny Williams.

In 1947 Lenny gave it one last try at middleweight losing to the gifted Rocky Castellani at Madison Square Garden and then in a rematch in Scranton.

Lenny had around 70 professional fights among fast company and was NEVER knocked out ! One can only wonder if he had not been called off to war, would he have won the crown ? How proud he must have been when his son Ray captured the W.B.A. version of the title in May of 1982.

The career of Ray Mancini has been extensively covered in the past. No sense in re-hashing it here. All that can be said is that he did his father proud, inside and outside of the ring.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lenny Mancini at a fight show in Youngstown back in 1994. He was very easy to approach and was nice enough to sign a photo I had of him in his fighting stance. I only wish now I would have had more time to have talked to him.

[kikibalt]

JOHNNY LIRA
By Jim Amato


The city of Chicago has produced its share of outstanding professional fighters. One of them was a tough as nails lightweight who campaigned in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. His name was Johnny Lira and he fought his way into the top echelon of the lightweight rankings.

Lira turned pro in 1976 and quickly gained notice by winning his first twelve fights. In 1977 he drew with Manuel Lopez but defeated Lopez in a return bout. Johnny hit the big time in 1978 when he received a shot at the United States Boxing Association lightweight title. His opponent was the highly ranked southpaw bomber Andy Ganigan. Johnny was a decided underdog going in but he shocked the boxing establishment by stopping Ganigan in round six. Lira then went to New York’s Madison Square Garden to outscore the talented Larry Stanton. Lira was now high in the ratings and in 1979 he received a shot at the World Boxing Association’s version of the lightweight title. Their champion was a hard-hitting bomber from Venezuela named Ernesto Espana. It was a gruelling fight but Espana emerged victorious stopping Johnny in nine rounds. Lira would suffer a broken jaw for his gallant effort.

In 1980 Johnny traveled to Spain and dropped an eight round decision to Andoni Amana. He would later lose a ten round duke to the flashy Howard Davis Jr. In 1981 Lira would post a ten round win over Ohio’s rugged Bobby Plegge. Johnny was then outdueled over ten rounds by Nicky Furlano and the was stopped in nine rounds by Willie Rodriguez for the USBA super lightweight title.Lira regrouped in 1982 scoring a points verdict over Canadian Al Ford. Johnny then lost a tough call to former world champion Alfredo Escalera. Lira would come back to win four fights but in 1984 he lost a ten rounder to Russell Mitchell. That was his last fight.

Lira hung them up with a fine record of 29-7-1. He scored fifteen knockouts. Johnny himself was stopped on two occasions.

[kikibalt]

Oscar may not retire!

According to several press reports Mexico and Puerto Rico, a bout between Oscar De La Hoya and unbeaten "Son of the Legend" Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (38-0-1, 29 KOs) is a possibility for May at the 100,000-deat Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Oscar twice defeated Julio's father, Julio Cesar Chavez in 1996 and 1998, making a compelling story line if the bout were to happen.
Monday.

[dagosd2000]

GOING HOME

So when are you going back,"I asked the fighter.
"I don't know. I need to finish things here first."
Juanito was from my wife's hometowm in Michoacan. A little pueblo called Jiquilpan.
"Please let me know when you want to go home. If you want, you can stay in our house."
"Thank you very much. That's kind of you."
Juanito spoke without a trace of an accent. He told me he moved to the U.S. with his parents when he was two years old. He went to school, and after graduating married a Chicana gal.They started a family. Now he was struggling to break through for a title match.
"Tony is Champ now,but if I fight him again,I'll beat him."
"It will be a great fight if they can put it together."
"The people don't know me well enough,"said Juanito.
I knew what he was saying. He had to wait,and keep winning. At this point a loss would stifle his career. I went back to the topic of my wife's hometown.

"Juanito,do you ever go back?"
"When I was a kid,my parents would take me and my brothers down for the summer. We'd stay with my grandmother."
"I plan on retiring there."
"It's very peacefull. I enjoyed playing with my cousins."
"There's no routine like up here," I said." Funny,I've never seen a clock all the times I've been there."
"Time is relevant far below . Manana may not mean tomorrow,"Juanito laughed.
"When you go you can use my car. It's in storage."
"That's kind of you,"said the young fighter. "I haven't been back in 15 years. Has the town changed much?"
I was surprised when he told me in hadn't been back in such a long time.
"No it's stiil the same. Like time has passed it by. A good place to lose yourself,"I said smiling.
Juanito grabbed his gym bag.
"Well you must excuse me. I have to run 5 miles right now or I'll never get it in. I fight in two weeks."
"Where are you fighting?"
"Las Vegas."
"Will it be on television?"
"No, that fell through. I need to be seen by the people. Will you go?"
I knew I couldn't and I didn't want to lie to him.
"No,"I answered with my head down."Will there be a replay?"
"I don't know. I've got to run now or I'll never get it in."
Juanito started to walk towards the lockers.
"Remember,let me know when you want to go down there again. You can stay in my house."
I don't think he heard me because when he entered the lockers he shut the door behind him.