Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 02:13
"The broad will ruin the dumb bastid!"kikibalt wrote:
-Mel Epstein
-Mel Epstein
BoxRec
Classic American West Coast Boxing
Page 547 of 1796
-Mel Epstein
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 07:07
Jerry Quarry
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 09:36
Shane Mosley's focus could be fuzzy
Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
The fighter from Pomona has plenty on his mind these days, including an expected slugfest with Antonio Margarito in a welterweight title bout Saturday night at Staples Center.
He'll fight Antonio Margarito with his mind perhaps on other issues.
Bill Dwyre
January 20, 2009
Boxing always promotes the physical. Muscle over mind. Testosterone over thinking.
Nothing wrong with that. It's not supposed to be bridge or chess. You don't bring tea and crumpets. You bring smelling salts and sutures.
But every once in awhile, state of mind can play as big a role in the outcome as state of mayhem. A case could be made for that when Shane Mosley fights Antonio Margarito in a welterweight title bout Saturday night at Staples Center.
As far as we know, the state of Margarito's mind will be where it has been for all but a few of his battles in a career that has produced a 37-5 record with 27 knockouts. He is the Tijuana Time Bomb, as likely to break your jaw as your heart.
His most recent victory was a knockout of Miguel Cotto in July. Cotto was thought to be invincible. Margarito's victory was convince-able.
About Mosley, at 37 and seven years his senior, Margarito says, "I'll figure him out and I'll get him. If he comes to fight, that's what we'll do. We'll just fight."
Mosley always comes to fight. His 45-5 record includes two career-changing victories over Oscar De La Hoya, the first at Staples. He has proved to be fast, durable and always game.
But Mosley has never proved he can carry as heavy a load with him into the ring as he will this time.
His trainer will be Nazim Richardson, new in his corner. Richardson trains 44-year-old boxing marvel Bernard Hopkins, who along with Mosley is a member of De La Hoya's lucrative Golden Boy promotions business.
Richardson may work out fine, but the man in Mosley's corner for most of his career has been truly the man, his dad, Jack Mosley, who started his son in the sweet science at age 8.
Mosley explains their split-up succinctly.
"We were butting heads a little bit," he says.
Jack elaborates.
"He's going to use Bernard's trainer, and you know how Oscar and Bernard and Shane are all in this thing together," he says. "Every time one of them fights, all three get paid big. All those guys are going to be multimillionaires."
The senior Mosley, still living in Pomona and training fighters, remains loyal and supportive. He says he'll be at the fight Saturday night and expects Shane to be even better than ever because doctors recently fixed a nasal blockage that was causing a loss of as much as 60% of his oxygen flow.
Pressed a bit on the real reason behind his departure from Mosley's corner, Jack Mosley says, "I was trainer and manager until Shane got married. Then, you know how that goes. The woman moved in and things changed."
Which brings up potential mental burden No. 2 for Mosley. Shane and his wife, Jin, are going through marital problems.
This represents more than your usual marital upheaval because, besides being the mother of three of Shane's children, Jin Mosley is among the more interesting people you'll ever meet. She is a New Yorker, part Korean, part Irish, both business savvy and business feisty, who has been at the wheel of the ship as Mosley's career sailed nicely forward for the last six or seven years.
"Shane is now managing his own affairs," says Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions.
Then, pile BALCO on top of all this and one wonders how Mosley even sleeps at night, much less trains and focuses for a fight against a guy who, given the chance, could stomp him.
BALCO is the name of the lab in Northern California, run by Victor Conte. It sold and distributed various performance-enhancing drugs to athletes, got caught and remains the focal point of upcoming court proceedings against Barry Bonds. Before Mosley's second fight with De La Hoya, on Sept. 13, 2003, in Las Vegas, Mosley traveled to BALCO, took a substance Conte recommended and later, when his name surfaced during federal investigations, denied he knew that what he was taking was banned or illegal.
But recently released grand jury transcripts from Mosley's testimony later in 2003 seem to tell a different story. In the transcripts, taken from testimony in front of the same grand jury before which Bonds allegedly perjured himself, Mosley admits to injecting himself, admits to following a schedule of blood-oxygen enhancer EPO (erythropoietin) injections prior to the De La Hoya fight and admits to worrying about the dangers of taking the drugs Conte was recommending.
Conte has publicly called Mosley a liar and Mosley has sued for defamation.
So, with all that weight on his shoulders, one wonders whether Mosley will break the scale at weigh-in, much less be able to climb in the ring with a mind free of anything but boxing.
Asked about it on a conference call, Mosley, who has trained away from the madding crowds at Big Bear, says, "I put that in my shelf. . . . I don't even know nothing about what's going on right now about that.
"My whole thing is Margarito."
We shall see.
[email protected].
Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
The fighter from Pomona has plenty on his mind these days, including an expected slugfest with Antonio Margarito in a welterweight title bout Saturday night at Staples Center.
He'll fight Antonio Margarito with his mind perhaps on other issues.
Bill Dwyre
January 20, 2009
Boxing always promotes the physical. Muscle over mind. Testosterone over thinking.
Nothing wrong with that. It's not supposed to be bridge or chess. You don't bring tea and crumpets. You bring smelling salts and sutures.
But every once in awhile, state of mind can play as big a role in the outcome as state of mayhem. A case could be made for that when Shane Mosley fights Antonio Margarito in a welterweight title bout Saturday night at Staples Center.
As far as we know, the state of Margarito's mind will be where it has been for all but a few of his battles in a career that has produced a 37-5 record with 27 knockouts. He is the Tijuana Time Bomb, as likely to break your jaw as your heart.
His most recent victory was a knockout of Miguel Cotto in July. Cotto was thought to be invincible. Margarito's victory was convince-able.
About Mosley, at 37 and seven years his senior, Margarito says, "I'll figure him out and I'll get him. If he comes to fight, that's what we'll do. We'll just fight."
Mosley always comes to fight. His 45-5 record includes two career-changing victories over Oscar De La Hoya, the first at Staples. He has proved to be fast, durable and always game.
But Mosley has never proved he can carry as heavy a load with him into the ring as he will this time.
His trainer will be Nazim Richardson, new in his corner. Richardson trains 44-year-old boxing marvel Bernard Hopkins, who along with Mosley is a member of De La Hoya's lucrative Golden Boy promotions business.
Richardson may work out fine, but the man in Mosley's corner for most of his career has been truly the man, his dad, Jack Mosley, who started his son in the sweet science at age 8.
Mosley explains their split-up succinctly.
"We were butting heads a little bit," he says.
Jack elaborates.
"He's going to use Bernard's trainer, and you know how Oscar and Bernard and Shane are all in this thing together," he says. "Every time one of them fights, all three get paid big. All those guys are going to be multimillionaires."
The senior Mosley, still living in Pomona and training fighters, remains loyal and supportive. He says he'll be at the fight Saturday night and expects Shane to be even better than ever because doctors recently fixed a nasal blockage that was causing a loss of as much as 60% of his oxygen flow.
Pressed a bit on the real reason behind his departure from Mosley's corner, Jack Mosley says, "I was trainer and manager until Shane got married. Then, you know how that goes. The woman moved in and things changed."
Which brings up potential mental burden No. 2 for Mosley. Shane and his wife, Jin, are going through marital problems.
This represents more than your usual marital upheaval because, besides being the mother of three of Shane's children, Jin Mosley is among the more interesting people you'll ever meet. She is a New Yorker, part Korean, part Irish, both business savvy and business feisty, who has been at the wheel of the ship as Mosley's career sailed nicely forward for the last six or seven years.
"Shane is now managing his own affairs," says Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions.
Then, pile BALCO on top of all this and one wonders how Mosley even sleeps at night, much less trains and focuses for a fight against a guy who, given the chance, could stomp him.
BALCO is the name of the lab in Northern California, run by Victor Conte. It sold and distributed various performance-enhancing drugs to athletes, got caught and remains the focal point of upcoming court proceedings against Barry Bonds. Before Mosley's second fight with De La Hoya, on Sept. 13, 2003, in Las Vegas, Mosley traveled to BALCO, took a substance Conte recommended and later, when his name surfaced during federal investigations, denied he knew that what he was taking was banned or illegal.
But recently released grand jury transcripts from Mosley's testimony later in 2003 seem to tell a different story. In the transcripts, taken from testimony in front of the same grand jury before which Bonds allegedly perjured himself, Mosley admits to injecting himself, admits to following a schedule of blood-oxygen enhancer EPO (erythropoietin) injections prior to the De La Hoya fight and admits to worrying about the dangers of taking the drugs Conte was recommending.
Conte has publicly called Mosley a liar and Mosley has sued for defamation.
So, with all that weight on his shoulders, one wonders whether Mosley will break the scale at weigh-in, much less be able to climb in the ring with a mind free of anything but boxing.
Asked about it on a conference call, Mosley, who has trained away from the madding crowds at Big Bear, says, "I put that in my shelf. . . . I don't even know nothing about what's going on right now about that.
"My whole thing is Margarito."
We shall see.
[email protected].
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 09:48
On Saturday night, The World Boxing Council (WBC) Legends of Boxing Museum hosted a benefit dinner for Genaro Hernandez. ”Chicanito” who is currently battling his biggest foe ever-a rare and aggressive form of cancer Hernandez was diagnosed with just three months ago.
The event took place at the Museum and Fox Theater located on the grounds of the American Sports University in San Bernardino, California.
Photos by Raymond Rodriguez.
The event took place at the Museum and Fox Theater located on the grounds of the American Sports University in San Bernardino, California.
Photos by Raymond Rodriguez.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 10:28
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 11:07
These pictures are truly shocking. Genaro is a very sick man and a very brave man, a warrior.kikibalt wrote:On Saturday night, The World Boxing Council (WBC) Legends of Boxing Museum hosted a benefit dinner for Genaro Hernandez. ”Chicanito” who is currently battling his biggest foe ever-a rare and aggressive form of cancer Hernandez was diagnosed with just three months ago.
The event took place at the Museum and Fox Theater located on the grounds of the American Sports University in San Bernardino, California.
Photos by Raymond Rodriguez.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 11:44
Bennie,
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 12:42
Bennie, he's all of that. I spoke with Mando Muniz last night and he said it broke his heart to see Genaro's condition. Hernandez was never a "front runner" like Oscar De La Hoya. While others tried pushing their way into the spotlight, Genero Hernandez quietly let his fists do his talking, and in the ring, more often than not, his fists had the final world. Nice man, kind, great family, the kind of guy you want living next door. The kind of guy who's talent and class are lost in the shadows of the Mayweathers, the guys who make noise. Mando Muniz had Genero Hernanadez on his mind last night, he struggles with possibilities, things we at the WBHOF can do for the former champ during this time of need. We are concerned not only for Chicanito, but his family. Any ideas?bennie wrote:These pictures are truly shocking. Genaro is a very sick man and a very brave man, a warrior.kikibalt wrote:On Saturday night, The World Boxing Council (WBC) Legends of Boxing Museum hosted a benefit dinner for Genaro Hernandez. ”Chicanito” who is currently battling his biggest foe ever-a rare and aggressive form of cancer Hernandez was diagnosed with just three months ago.
The event took place at the Museum and Fox Theater located on the grounds of the American Sports University in San Bernardino, California.
Photos by Raymond Rodriguez.
-Rick Farris
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 12:45
You are a warrior too, Frankie.kikibalt wrote:Bennie,
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 12:46
bennie wrote:You are a warrior too, Frankie.kikibalt wrote:Bennie,
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 13:46
Bennie & Rick, thank you guys..... 
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 14:22
Frankie:bennie wrote:You are a warrior too, Frankie.kikibalt wrote:Bennie,
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
Please allow me to tip my hat to you. In retrospect, I am sorry I left the boxing game before I had a chance to meet you, to deal with you and your two warriors. What a trio the Baltazars surely must have been! Health and wealth to you and yours, and the time to enjoy them, my friend.
hap navarro
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 15:15
Hap....Thank you mucho for your kind words, though we never met back in those years, I am sure we pass each other in our coming and goings to the fights, I'll alway remember that TV show you had from the Hollywood Legion before the fights started, you would interview the fighters fighting that night, how nice it would be to have a show like that now, with local fight,Dongee wrote:Frankie:bennie wrote:You are a warrior too, Frankie.kikibalt wrote:Bennie,
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
Please allow me to tip my hat to you. In retrospect, I am sorry I left the boxing game before I had a chance to meet you, to deal with you and your two warriors. What a trio the Baltazars surely must have been! Health and wealth to you and yours, and the time to enjoy them, my friend.
hap navarro
and local fighters to be interview by Hap Navarro....
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 15:51
Kiki:
That is some memory you have! It's b een over 50 years since I did that show! I think it was the first of its kind in southern California but it was a "sustained" telecast, hard to sell to a sponsor, so it died after about eight weeks.
And you are right. We surely must has passed each other either at the Olympic or Hollywood on fight nights.
hap navarro
That is some memory you have! It's b een over 50 years since I did that show! I think it was the first of its kind in southern California but it was a "sustained" telecast, hard to sell to a sponsor, so it died after about eight weeks.
And you are right. We surely must has passed each other either at the Olympic or Hollywood on fight nights.
hap navarro
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 16:01
A warrior, a mentor and a friend!!bennie wrote:You are a warrior too, Frankie.kikibalt wrote:Bennie,
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 16:04
Thanks Randy...Randyman wrote:A warrior, a mentor and a friend!!bennie wrote:You are a warrior too, Frankie.kikibalt wrote:Bennie,
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 16:31
It's hard seeing Genaro, or anybody for that matter looking so bad. We'll keep him and his family in our prayers. When I was taking my son Andrew to the Brooklyn St. Gym back in 1993, "Chicanito" was a semi regular at the gym, along with his brother Rudy, who was training him. Genaro was friendly with the kids, always had a smile on his face. He was about as down to earth as a fighter could be. I wish him all the best.kikibalt wrote:On Saturday night, The World Boxing Council (WBC) Legends of Boxing Museum hosted a benefit dinner for Genaro Hernandez. ”Chicanito” who is currently battling his biggest foe ever-a rare and aggressive form of cancer Hernandez was diagnosed with just three months ago.
The event took place at the Museum and Fox Theater located on the grounds of the American Sports University in San Bernardino, California.
Photos by Raymond Rodriguez.
Randy
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 16:35
Rick, that is so right on target. That's too funny. Mel sure hated the broads didn't he? The thing is he was mostly right. We were to young to give a sh*t.Rick Farris wrote:"The broad will ruin the dumb bastid!"kikibalt wrote:
-Mel Epstein
Randy
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 16:37
Don Fraser on Hap Navarro . . .
"Hap Navarro was ahead of his time and responsible for the development of some of the greatest boxers in history. He was a young man, the new kid on the block and he caught many of the old timers off guard. He was one of the most honorable, positive influences in boxing during his era. He was an innovator and responsible for much of the legend of the great Hollywood Legion stadium."
While speaking with Don Fraser this morning, the name Hap Navarro came up. I told him of a photo Hap had given me, one of a very young Don Fraser interviewing Hap and Willie Vaughn at Soper's traing camp. "Hap was young too, he was operating with the big boys then, and making a name for himself, his reputation was solid." Fraser remembered.
We are very lucky to have mentors such as Hap Navarro, Don Fraser and Frank Baltazar Sr. Sincere thanks!
-Rick Farris
"Hap Navarro was ahead of his time and responsible for the development of some of the greatest boxers in history. He was a young man, the new kid on the block and he caught many of the old timers off guard. He was one of the most honorable, positive influences in boxing during his era. He was an innovator and responsible for much of the legend of the great Hollywood Legion stadium."
While speaking with Don Fraser this morning, the name Hap Navarro came up. I told him of a photo Hap had given me, one of a very young Don Fraser interviewing Hap and Willie Vaughn at Soper's traing camp. "Hap was young too, he was operating with the big boys then, and making a name for himself, his reputation was solid." Fraser remembered.
We are very lucky to have mentors such as Hap Navarro, Don Fraser and Frank Baltazar Sr. Sincere thanks!
-Rick Farris
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 17:32
Interview with Robert Guerrero
By Felipe Leon
There is nothing more that Robert “Ghost” Guerrero (22-1-1, 15KO) would like to do more than to forget the year 2008. His seventh year as a prize fighter began excitingly enough with the second successful defense of his IBF featherweight title with an exciting eighth round knock out over popular Jason Litzau on national television in February a mere 4 months after he knocked out the always tough Martin Honorio in the first round of his first defense a mere days after his wife was diagnosed with leukemia. “I thought the win over Litzau was a great KO. Even after the fight with Martin Honorio, I was hoping for bigger fights. All I was thinking was to get back in the ring and against bigger name fighters,” Guerrero states referring to his thoughts after the Litzau bout.
But along with his wife’s fight against the life threatening disease, Guerrero, 25, had to contend with issues with his promoter at the time Goosen-Tutor “the contract was expiring and they were trying to extend it. I wanted to keep my options open. There were a lot of promoters at the time interested in me and I wanted to find one that would be the best for me because I felt that Goosen wasnt.”
His case against his former promoter and the resulting arbitration took the better part of the year forcing Guerrero out of the ring. Along the way, the “Ghost” decided to relinquish his IBF featherweight belt that he captured overseas with a ninth round KO of Spend Abazi in his opponent’s backyard of Denmark. But after those turbulent times, Guerrero found himself with calmer seas by the end of the year as he joined the stable of Golden Boy Promotions and his first fight under that new banner was announced as he takes on the always tough and ready Edel Ruiz (31-21-4, 22KO) on the non televised undercard of Margarito-Mosley on January 24th from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, CA. “I am excited to be on the card and to get back in the ring and fight. After eleven months of not fighting, I am happy to get back in there so soon after signing with Golden Boy.”
The always positive former champion puts an optimistic spin on his year of inactivity “I am rested. There has bee no punishment to my body and I stayed in shape. I did not let myself get out of hand. I kept my tools sharp like a champ should. I started trying for this fight in the beginning of December. I am ready to go, I knew that I was going to be stuck in arbitration but I took good care of myself so I am fresh and ready to go in 2009,” Guerrero states. “I have closed the chapter on 2008, its forgotten. I am stong minded and have a lot of faith and belief in God which helped me. I have a new promoter and I have my first fight on the first big fight card of the year so I am excited.
Although his opponent for the night of the 24th Edel Ruiz barely holds an over .500 record, Guerrero is not taking him lightly “I’m excited to be fighting him. He has been in there with some of the best. I know he comes to fight, he has a lot of experience and he is crafty. These are the fights I want, I don’t want taxicab drivers, I want to keep improving.” Ruiz is coming off two KO wins and has stepped in between the ropes against some of the best in the lighter divisions such as Jhonny Gonzalez, Jason Litzau, Juan Manuel Lopez, Joan Guzman and Israel Vazquez.
Since his name has not been mentioned by the boxing press or fans except to ask where he has been, Guerrero understands that he needs to win in a spectacular fashion to get the “Ghost” back in the mix “I am coming into the ring like I always do, I am coming to fight. I am not trying to just win or to shake off ring rust but I am coming to take my first step towards a run for a 130 lbs. championship,” Guerrero says confidently. “Golden Boy has a lot of faith in me. With my wife being diagnosed with leukemia and in the same week putting an incredible performance against Honorio. I have fought with adversity and I think the proof is in the pudding, going to Denmark with only three weeks notice and winning the title, I think I have shown that there is no folding under pressure.”
Not many two time world champions would agree to fight on a non televised fight card even if it was after an eleven month layoff. Several one time world champions only fight every eleven months or so and only if it is televised but the southpaw Guerrero is not conventional in that aspect by any means “I want to show that I am one of the top fighters coming up. That I am going to be here for a long time. I want to put a dent in this sport and one of my goals is to be a multi divisional champion so that is the message I am trying to convey by fighting on this under card.”
So after a year that the “Ghost” sooner would love to forget, he sees great things for 2009 “I trust that Golden Boy will be able to get me a title shot sometime this year. I would play it by ear how many times I would defend it but I do want to go to 135, fight Marquez, fight Pacquiao, I want to fight the best.”
By Felipe Leon
There is nothing more that Robert “Ghost” Guerrero (22-1-1, 15KO) would like to do more than to forget the year 2008. His seventh year as a prize fighter began excitingly enough with the second successful defense of his IBF featherweight title with an exciting eighth round knock out over popular Jason Litzau on national television in February a mere 4 months after he knocked out the always tough Martin Honorio in the first round of his first defense a mere days after his wife was diagnosed with leukemia. “I thought the win over Litzau was a great KO. Even after the fight with Martin Honorio, I was hoping for bigger fights. All I was thinking was to get back in the ring and against bigger name fighters,” Guerrero states referring to his thoughts after the Litzau bout.
But along with his wife’s fight against the life threatening disease, Guerrero, 25, had to contend with issues with his promoter at the time Goosen-Tutor “the contract was expiring and they were trying to extend it. I wanted to keep my options open. There were a lot of promoters at the time interested in me and I wanted to find one that would be the best for me because I felt that Goosen wasnt.”
His case against his former promoter and the resulting arbitration took the better part of the year forcing Guerrero out of the ring. Along the way, the “Ghost” decided to relinquish his IBF featherweight belt that he captured overseas with a ninth round KO of Spend Abazi in his opponent’s backyard of Denmark. But after those turbulent times, Guerrero found himself with calmer seas by the end of the year as he joined the stable of Golden Boy Promotions and his first fight under that new banner was announced as he takes on the always tough and ready Edel Ruiz (31-21-4, 22KO) on the non televised undercard of Margarito-Mosley on January 24th from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, CA. “I am excited to be on the card and to get back in the ring and fight. After eleven months of not fighting, I am happy to get back in there so soon after signing with Golden Boy.”
The always positive former champion puts an optimistic spin on his year of inactivity “I am rested. There has bee no punishment to my body and I stayed in shape. I did not let myself get out of hand. I kept my tools sharp like a champ should. I started trying for this fight in the beginning of December. I am ready to go, I knew that I was going to be stuck in arbitration but I took good care of myself so I am fresh and ready to go in 2009,” Guerrero states. “I have closed the chapter on 2008, its forgotten. I am stong minded and have a lot of faith and belief in God which helped me. I have a new promoter and I have my first fight on the first big fight card of the year so I am excited.
Although his opponent for the night of the 24th Edel Ruiz barely holds an over .500 record, Guerrero is not taking him lightly “I’m excited to be fighting him. He has been in there with some of the best. I know he comes to fight, he has a lot of experience and he is crafty. These are the fights I want, I don’t want taxicab drivers, I want to keep improving.” Ruiz is coming off two KO wins and has stepped in between the ropes against some of the best in the lighter divisions such as Jhonny Gonzalez, Jason Litzau, Juan Manuel Lopez, Joan Guzman and Israel Vazquez.
Since his name has not been mentioned by the boxing press or fans except to ask where he has been, Guerrero understands that he needs to win in a spectacular fashion to get the “Ghost” back in the mix “I am coming into the ring like I always do, I am coming to fight. I am not trying to just win or to shake off ring rust but I am coming to take my first step towards a run for a 130 lbs. championship,” Guerrero says confidently. “Golden Boy has a lot of faith in me. With my wife being diagnosed with leukemia and in the same week putting an incredible performance against Honorio. I have fought with adversity and I think the proof is in the pudding, going to Denmark with only three weeks notice and winning the title, I think I have shown that there is no folding under pressure.”
Not many two time world champions would agree to fight on a non televised fight card even if it was after an eleven month layoff. Several one time world champions only fight every eleven months or so and only if it is televised but the southpaw Guerrero is not conventional in that aspect by any means “I want to show that I am one of the top fighters coming up. That I am going to be here for a long time. I want to put a dent in this sport and one of my goals is to be a multi divisional champion so that is the message I am trying to convey by fighting on this under card.”
So after a year that the “Ghost” sooner would love to forget, he sees great things for 2009 “I trust that Golden Boy will be able to get me a title shot sometime this year. I would play it by ear how many times I would defend it but I do want to go to 135, fight Marquez, fight Pacquiao, I want to fight the best.”
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 18:07
Yes indeed. Rick and Randy describe you perfectly Frank.Randyman wrote:A warrior, a mentor and a friend!!bennie wrote:You are a warrior too, Frankie.kikibalt wrote:Bennie,
Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
You are one tough guy.As well as a great pal.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 18:27
My late buddy John Martinez had this done, its a 1988 calendar
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 18:31
Thanks pug, you're a good guy...Expug wrote:Thats how I looked when I first started my cancer treatments, never did bounce back the way I was before, before I came dowm with cancer I had more meat on my face, I went from 170 lbs to 134 lbs, got most of my weight back, but all in the wrong places....
You are a warrior too, Frankie.
A warrior, a mentor and a friend!!
Yes indeed. Rick and Randy describe you perfectly Frank.
You are one tough guy.As well as a great pal.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 18:32
Thanks Roger, it arrived today.....
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 20 Jan 2009, 18:56
Genaro "Chicanito" Hernandez
Chicanito and his brother Rudy Hernandez