BoxRec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqEN0uGEuyg

MOSE ALLISON Swingin' The Blues

According to reports, Marco Antonio Barrera picked up a bad cut against a Mexican yesterday and his fight with Amir Khan, scheduled for March 14 in Manchester, is now in jeapordy.

Eddie Logan dies at 98; Santa Anita Park shoe shiner


Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times
Eddie Logan, shown in 2006 at Santa Anita, shined the shoes of all the great jockeys and trainers
for decades.

Logan, called 'the foot man,' ran a shoeshine stand at Santa Anita Park from the day the horse racing track opened in 1934 until a few weeks ago.

By Claire Noland
February 1, 2009

Eddie Logan, who ran a shoeshine stand at Santa Anita Park from the day the horse racing track opened in 1934 until a few weeks ago, died Saturday. He was 98.

Logan, who in his younger years was a boxer as well as a baseball player in the Negro Leagues, died at his home in Monrovia after suffering a seizure and stroke in early January, the racetrack announced.

Called "the foot man" by his many loyal customers, Logan was a fixture at the Arcadia track for 74 years. Jockeys, trainers, track employees, bettors and spectators all made their way to his brass-trimmed stand, where he would shine their shoes, sell them a Racing Form and shoot the breeze.

"I've been getting my shoes shined by Eddie 34 or 35 years or so," Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella told The Times in 2006. "When I started coming around, he was already a legend."

Logan liked to talk, and he liked to work, but he didn't give tips on horses.

"I don't finesse the customer, don't cheat him. I just give a piece of leather what it needs," he told then-Times columnist Scott Ostler in 1982.

Logan was born in Arkansas on May 20, 1910, and grew up in Kansas City, Mo. He often told stories of playing the outfield, shortstop and catcher with the Homestead Grays and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues, and of going on barnstorming tours with Satchel Paige, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Logan also boxed, and he said he came to Southern California in 1930 for better fights and richer purses.

Along the way he worked in a shoe factory and for a trucking company.

In 1932, when Santa Anita was under construction, Logan was hired to herd the peacocks living on the site west across Baldwin Avenue, to what is now the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

Two years later, when the track opened Dec. 25, 1934, Santa Anita founder Dr. Charles Strub hired Logan to operate the shoeshine stand, and he manned it until Jan. 3.

In 2006, the inaugural Eddie Logan Stakes, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds, was run at Santa Anita, and Logan left his post at the shoeshine stand to present the winning trophy in the winner's circle.

He is survived by his third wife, Marie, and a number of grandchildren.

More information about survivors was unavailable Saturday.

Services are pending.

geoffreysadao wrote:I would appreciate it if anybody has any info. about the following former fighters/boxing trainers: Dick Foster (welter/middle of the 30's who fought out of Berkeley, CA and had fights with Fred Apostoli, Young Corbett III, Ken Overlin, Ceferino Garcia, Dale Sparr, etc.); Charley "Tiger" Smith (welter of 50's and early 60's who fought out of Detroit and San Francisco, CA and was California State Welter Champ); Jimmy Simmons (undercard welter/middle of the 40's who fought out of Vallejo and Richmond,CA). These guys were great teachers who were generous with their knowledge and time.

I know that years have passed since I last saw them. Dick and Jimmy have probably passed on.

I had the privilege of watching Erwin Williams prepare for his winning of the California Middleweight Championship in 1981. I remember that Charley "Tiger" Smith couldn't spend too much time teaching me while he was assisting Williams, and it was a thrill watching Williams prepare. He was able to win the vacant state championship from James Waire of L.A.

I'm sure everybody has great stories to share, and I look forward to reading them.

Geoff,

Don't know much about the guys you you asked about, "Tiger" Smith I seen fight my good buddy Orlando De La Funete (for CAlif. state title) back in 1962 at the Olympic, which he won when Roy couldn't come out for the sixth round because of cuts and yes the ass kicking he was taking.

THE FIGHTER

I just read the posting about the Eddie Logan, the bootblack, who just died at 98. When I saw the name "Eddie Logan," I immediately thought of "'Motorboat' Eddie Logan," who was a bantamweight contender in the late 70's until 1980. He beat Superfly Sandoval and Alfonso Zamora. Apparently, he gave Leo Randolph a bit of a struggle as well. I know that I'm getting off on a tangent, but I wonder what happened to this guy?

geoffreysadao wrote:I just read the posting about the Eddie Logan, the bootblack, who just died at 98. When I saw the name "Eddie Logan," I immediately thought of "'Motorboat' Eddie Logan," who was a bantamweight contender in the late 70's until 1980. He beat Superfly Sandoval and Alfonso Zamora. Apparently, he gave Leo Randolph a bit of a struggle as well. I know that I'm getting off on a tangent, but I wonder what happened to this guy?

Eddie Logan was a much better fighter then his record would indicate, I seen his fights with Sandoval, Muniz and Zamora, et' al', his last fight was with Zamora which he won by ko, and then never fought again, why?

geoffreysadao wrote:I've been a boxing fan for a long time. I toyed around with boxing a little bit, being taught at the New Oakland Boxing Club at 12st and Harrison. Also, I went to Newman's Gym and the Berkeley PAL. I had some great teachers/trainers like Dick Foster, Charley Smith and Jimmy Simmons. Dick and Jimmy are probably deceased now. I last saw Charley in Nov. of 2002 at a boxing show in Vallejo.

I live in Sacramento now, and I used to go to the Capitol Boxing Gym on Stockton Blvd. I remember guys like Ernie Guevara, Joe Guevara, and John Maes Brown.

Most recently, I went to La Dinamita Boxing Gym in North Highlands, which is owned by Rogelio Castaneda Sr. His son, Rogelio Jr., has had a good pro career.

I've had so many favorite fighters in the past. Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Yaqui Lopez, Fidel Fraijo, Jesse Burnett, Andy Ganigan are some that come to mind. I still follow the game pretty closely today, and I watch old fights on You Tube. My wife is a distant cousin to Bobby Chacon. We had the opportunity to meet him at a boxing event in Sacramento last August. My wife has been able to talk to Bobby and his girlfriend over the phone. What a great thing!

I work as a social worker and practice Nichiren Buddhism, something that I've been familiar with since 1981. We chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.

I look forward to correspondence with the West Coast boxing community.

Sincerely,
Geoffrey Prenter

Geoff...Fidel Fraijo who you mention in your post here was a good friend of ours back in the 1970's-80's, he fought in the under card of my son Frankie's fight against Ernesto Herrera at the Olympic, I used to see him and his dad around town all the time, then came a time when I didn't see them anymore.

kikibalt wrote:Eddie Logan dies at 98; Santa Anita Park shoe shiner


Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times
Eddie Logan, shown in 2006 at Santa Anita, shined the shoes of all the great jockeys and trainers
for decades.

Logan, called 'the foot man,' ran a shoeshine stand at Santa Anita Park from the day the horse racing track opened in 1934 until a few weeks ago.

By Claire Noland
February 1, 2009

Eddie Logan, who ran a shoeshine stand at Santa Anita Park from the day the horse racing track opened in 1934 until a few weeks ago, died Saturday. He was 98.

Logan, who in his younger years was a boxer as well as a baseball player in the Negro Leagues, died at his home in Monrovia after suffering a seizure and stroke in early January, the racetrack announced.

Called "the foot man" by his many loyal customers, Logan was a fixture at the Arcadia track for 74 years. Jockeys, trainers, track employees, bettors and spectators all made their way to his brass-trimmed stand, where he would shine their shoes, sell them a Racing Form and shoot the breeze.

"I've been getting my shoes shined by Eddie 34 or 35 years or so," Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella told The Times in 2006. "When I started coming around, he was already a legend."

Logan liked to talk, and he liked to work, but he didn't give tips on horses.

"I don't finesse the customer, don't cheat him. I just give a piece of leather what it needs," he told then-Times columnist Scott Ostler in 1982.

Logan was born in Arkansas on May 20, 1910, and grew up in Kansas City, Mo. He often told stories of playing the outfield, shortstop and catcher with the Homestead Grays and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues, and of going on barnstorming tours with Satchel Paige, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Logan also boxed, and he said he came to Southern California in 1930 for better fights and richer purses.

Along the way he worked in a shoe factory and for a trucking company.

In 1932, when Santa Anita was under construction, Logan was hired to herd the peacocks living on the site west across Baldwin Avenue, to what is now the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

Two years later, when the track opened Dec. 25, 1934, Santa Anita founder Dr. Charles Strub hired Logan to operate the shoeshine stand, and he manned it until Jan. 3.

In 2006, the inaugural Eddie Logan Stakes, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds, was run at Santa Anita, and Logan left his post at the shoeshine stand to present the winning trophy in the winner's circle.

He is survived by his third wife, Marie, and a number of grandchildren.

More information about survivors was unavailable Saturday.

Services are pending.

WILLIE

We had our guy. Willie Shoeshines.Never got his last name. His stand was on 11th Avenue.He was from Mississippi. Told me once he came out here because he killed a man where he was from. Hard to believe with his congenial disposition.. They started with this renovation of downtown San Diego. Tearing everything down in the area and putting up posh restaurants and high rise condos. But they left a spot for Willie. Didn't disturb his stand. Sacreligous,if you know what I mean. All the fighters would stop and get the burnt spit shine and engage conversation with Willie. Oh the three piece suits and the brief cases would get their shoes shined too. Willie didn't care who wanted a shine. Most of it was to listen to Willie.

Willie must have went back a ways because he'd talk about Archie Moore fighting at the Coliseum and Lefty O'Doul playing for thr PCL Padres in old Lane Field by the docks.. He 'd tell you about the trolley line that ran through town. How the defense plants were covered with camourflage netting during the war. Back then downtown was where the action was. Plenty of servicemen on the prowl. All the good joints were downtown. He saw the change. He was still smilin'.

Willie would always have these little phrases that stuck in your mind. He was kinda' like the Mongoose. A philosophy lesson while he was polishing your foot wear.
"A man that gossips to you will gossip about you."
Or.
"A donkey is most beautifull when he's young."
I think he'd run that by the drunk sailors who were about to be grabbed by the MP's.

Willie took the bus wherever he went. Said he never had a need for an automobile. Lived in Logan a mile or so away. He used to walk to work,but his hip started to act up.

Willie's stand is gone now. I can't remember when that happened. Don't know if he still livin' or not. I remember he said to me once.
"You make your own happiness."
Sure Willie. And you made me happy everytime I'd drop by to get a shoe shine.

I remember shining shoes when I was a kid, right after WWII I would go up the hill from our house to where all the bars, pool halls were with my shine box an I would shine the shoes of the guys that had just return from fighting the war, I would make enough to go to the show and watch cowboy movies

Rog,

I'm going to watch the Super Bowl today with Frankie, James, Rocky and some of their friends.
Back in the mid-90's when the Chargers played the 49ers in the Super Bowl Connie and I were living in San Diego, the Sunday before the game Connie and I rode the Harley to "Old Town San Deigo", after eating at one of the restaurant's there we walk over to a little bar on a side street, I walk up to the bar and order two beers, the bar-girl told me that she was not going to serve me until I took off the sweatshirt I was wearing, you see it was a 49ers's sweatshirt....

kikibalt wrote:

geoffreysadao wrote:I just read the posting about the Eddie Logan, the bootblack, who just died at 98. When I saw the name "Eddie Logan," I immediately thought of "'Motorboat' Eddie Logan," who was a bantamweight contender in the late 70's until 1980. He beat Superfly Sandoval and Alfonso Zamora. Apparently, he gave Leo Randolph a bit of a struggle as well. I know that I'm getting off on a tangent, but I wonder what happened to this guy?

Eddie Logan was a much better fighter then his record would indicate, I seen his fights with Sandoval, Muniz and Zamora, et' al', his last fight was with Zamora which he won by ko, and then never fought again, why?

If I remember correctly, he was scheduled to get a title shot against Lupe Pintor in Fall of 1980, but they did some neurological tests and found some damage. I think that Johnny Owen got the title opportunity instead, of course, he tragically died. Pintor was a very formidable champion, and Owen gave him a great fight.

Joe Guevara, who is Ernie Guevara's son, fought Eddie Logan in the mid-1970's and won a decision. Guevara also held a decision win over popular Frankie Duarte. Ernie Guevara owned the Capitol Boxing Gym in Sacramento, which sadly closed its doors a few years back.

Fidel Fraijo first fought out of Cloverdale, which is just north of Sacramento. I saw him fight on TV when they would broadcast fights from the Olympic Auditorium. He was real smooth and agile. It looked like he could've gotten a ranking with the right connections. I know that he decisioned Juan Graciano, but that happened late in his career. There are so many excellent fighters who don't get the right breaks and the recognition that they deserve.

Thanks for the reply.

kikibalt wrote:

geoffreysadao wrote:I've been a boxing fan for a long time. I toyed around with boxing a little bit, being taught at the New Oakland Boxing Club at 12st and Harrison. Also, I went to Newman's Gym and the Berkeley PAL. I had some great teachers/trainers like Dick Foster, Charley Smith and Jimmy Simmons. Dick and Jimmy are probably deceased now. I last saw Charley in Nov. of 2002 at a boxing show in Vallejo.

I live in Sacramento now, and I used to go to the Capitol Boxing Gym on Stockton Blvd. I remember guys like Ernie Guevara, Joe Guevara, and John Maes Brown.

Most recently, I went to La Dinamita Boxing Gym in North Highlands, which is owned by Rogelio Castaneda Sr. His son, Rogelio Jr., has had a good pro career.

I've had so many favorite fighters in the past. Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Yaqui Lopez, Fidel Fraijo, Jesse Burnett, Andy Ganigan are some that come to mind. I still follow the game pretty closely today, and I watch old fights on You Tube. My wife is a distant cousin to Bobby Chacon. We had the opportunity to meet him at a boxing event in Sacramento last August. My wife has been able to talk to Bobby and his girlfriend over the phone. What a great thing!

I work as a social worker and practice Nichiren Buddhism, something that I've been familiar with since 1981. We chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.

I look forward to correspondence with the West Coast boxing community.

Sincerely,
Geoffrey Prenter

Geoff...Fidel Fraijo who you mention in your post here was a good friend of ours back in the 1970's-80's, he fought in the under card of my son Frankie's fight against Ernesto Herrera at the Olympic, I used to see him and his dad around town all the time, then came a time when I didn't see them anymore.

geoffreysadao wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

geoffreysadao wrote:I just read the posting about the Eddie Logan, the bootblack, who just died at 98. When I saw the name "Eddie Logan," I immediately thought of "'Motorboat' Eddie Logan," who was a bantamweight contender in the late 70's until 1980. He beat Superfly Sandoval and Alfonso Zamora. Apparently, he gave Leo Randolph a bit of a struggle as well. I know that I'm getting off on a tangent, but I wonder what happened to this guy?

Eddie Logan was a much better fighter then his record would indicate, I seen his fights with Sandoval, Muniz and Zamora, et' al', his last fight was with Zamora which he won by ko, and then never fought again, why?

If I remember correctly, he was scheduled to get a title shot against Lupe Pintor in Fall of 1980, but they did some neurological tests and found some damage. I think that Johnny Owen got the title opportunity instead, of course, he tragically died. Pintor was a very formidable champion, and Owen gave him a great fight.

Joe Guevara, who is Ernie Guevara's son, fought Eddie Logan in the mid-1970's and won a decision. Guevara also held a decision win over popular Frankie Duarte. Ernie Guevara owned the Capitol Boxing Gym in Sacramento, which sadly closed its doors a few years back.

Geoffrey . . . I remember Eddie Logan and used to see him when I was training at the Main St. Gym. Like Frank, I was surprised he just disappeared after KOing Zamora. I know that Logan was KOed by Bennie Rodriguez, whom I had fought a few years previous. I always thought he was a slick little fighter and could hit.


-Rick Farris

Rick Farris wrote:I just read the posting about the Eddie Logan, the bootblack, who just died at 98. When I saw the name "Eddie Logan," I immediately thought of "'Motorboat' Eddie Logan," who was a bantamweight contender in the late 70's until 1980. He beat Superfly Sandoval and Alfonso Zamora. Apparently, he gave Leo Randolph a bit of a struggle as well. I know that I'm getting off on a tangent, but I wonder what happened to this guy?

Eddie Logan was a much better fighter then his record would indicate, I seen his fights with Sandoval, Muniz and Zamora, et' al', his last fight was with Zamora which he won by ko, and then never fought again, why?

If I remember correctly, he was scheduled to get a title shot against Lupe Pintor in Fall of 1980, but they did some neurological tests and found some damage. I think that Johnny Owen got the title opportunity instead, of course, he tragically died. Pintor was a very formidable champion, and Owen gave him a great fight.

Joe Guevara, who is Ernie Guevara's son, fought Eddie Logan in the mid-1970's and won a decision. Guevara also held a decision win over popular Frankie Duarte. Ernie Guevara owned the Capitol Boxing Gym in Sacramento, which sadly closed its doors a few years back.


Geoffrey . . . I remember Eddie Logan and used to see him when I was training at the Main St. Gym. Like Frank, I was surprised he just disappeared after KOing Zamora. I know that Logan was KOed by Bennie Rodriguez, whom I had fought a few years previous. I always thought he was a slick little fighter and could hit.


-Rick Farris

I've the Logan/Zamora fight on DVD, great fight, it was a rock'em and sock'em kind of fight.

kikibalt wrote:Rog,

I'm going to watch the Super Bowl today with Frankie, James, Rocky and some of their friends.
Back in the mid-90's when the Chargers played the 49ers in the Super Bowl Connie and I were living in San Diego, the Sunday before the game Connie and I rode the Harley to "Old Town San Deigo", after eating at one of the restaurant's there we walk over to a little bar on a side street, I walk up to the bar and order two beers, the bar-girl told me that she was not going to serve me until I took off the sweatshirt I was wearing, you see it was a 49ers's sweatshirt....

Yeh,I'm going to watch the game at my sister's. Don't feel like goin',but if I don't my name's mud. Pete the Cop from across the street will be there with his wife. This guy does nothin' but drink. Go to Vegas and get drunk. Go to Cabo and get drunk. Watch the game and get drunk. So if I don't drink with him,his feelings will get hurt. He bought a bottle of Patron. Looks like I go to school tomorrow with a hang over. Talk to ya' later.

BTW. Pete the Cop's wife is Mexican. A real knockout. He tells her though that she has to dye her hair blond. She wants kids,but he doesn't. She don't like his drinkin',but he won't stop. Now she sits beside him and gets plastered with him. It's going to be a long game.

bennie wrote:According to reports, Marco Antonio Barrera picked up a bad cut against a Mexican yesterday and his fight with Amir Khan, scheduled for March 14 in Manchester, is now in jeapordy.

Barrera wins
By Edgar Gonzalez

By Lee Bates: Ring legend Marco Antonio Barrera (65-6, 43 KOs) won by third round disqualification over emergency replacement Freudis Rojas (1-8-1) on Saturday night at the Auditorio Telmex de la UG in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. Rojas was DQ’d for a headbutt, which left Barrera with a bad gash over his left eye. The cut could jeopardize Barrera’s scheduled March 14 clash against Amir Khan in Manchester, England. Barrera was originally slated to face John Nolasco on Saturday night, but Nolasco didn’t show up at the weigh-in, so Marco Antonio was pressed into facing Rojas, whom he knew absolutely nothing about.

Former world title challenger Ricardo “Piolo” Castillo (36-7, 25 KOs) scored a tenth round TKO over Marvin Rodríguez (14-6-2, 7 KOs) to claim the vacant NABF featherweight title on Saturday night at the Palenque del FEX in Mexicali, BC, Mexico. In the co-feature, super featherweight David Rodela (12-1-2, 6 KOs), coming a career-best win over Kevin Kelly, claimed a ten round split decision over Marlon “Rata” Aguilar (19-6-1, 14 KOs).

bennie wrote:According to reports, Marco Antonio Barrera picked up a bad cut against a Mexican yesterday and his fight with Amir Khan, scheduled for March 14 in Manchester, is now in jeapordy.

Barrera persists long past his prime, like so many. Here is a gifted great who had a very long "prime career". More fights, more cuts, more damage. Today that's as good as it gets for Barrera. Khan wouldn't have a prayer against a prime Marco Antonio Barrera, but today?

-Rick Farris

I read about it, and if I remember correctly, Logan had to get off the canvas to score a k.o. Zamora was such a murderous puncher, taking out such fighters as Soo Hwan Hong, Eusebio Pedroza and Superfly Sandoval. I viewed the Logan-Mario Chavez fight on UHF television, recorded from the Olympic Auditorium. Chavez sure fought a lot of good West Coast fighters!

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:I just read the posting about the Eddie Logan, the bootblack, who just died at 98. When I saw the name "Eddie Logan," I immediately thought of "'Motorboat' Eddie Logan," who was a bantamweight contender in the late 70's until 1980. He beat Superfly Sandoval and Alfonso Zamora. Apparently, he gave Leo Randolph a bit of a struggle as well. I know that I'm getting off on a tangent, but I wonder what happened to this guy?

Eddie Logan was a much better fighter then his record would indicate, I seen his fights with Sandoval, Muniz and Zamora, et' al', his last fight was with Zamora which he won by ko, and then never fought again, why?

If I remember correctly, he was scheduled to get a title shot against Lupe Pintor in Fall of 1980, but they did some neurological tests and found some damage. I think that Johnny Owen got the title opportunity instead, of course, he tragically died. Pintor was a very formidable champion, and Owen gave him a great fight.

Joe Guevara, who is Ernie Guevara's son, fought Eddie Logan in the mid-1970's and won a decision. Guevara also held a decision win over popular Frankie Duarte. Ernie Guevara owned the Capitol Boxing Gym in Sacramento, which sadly closed its doors a few years back.


Geoffrey . . . I remember Eddie Logan and used to see him when I was training at the Main St. Gym. Like Frank, I was surprised he just disappeared after KOing Zamora. I know that Logan was KOed by Bennie Rodriguez, whom I had fought a few years previous. I always thought he was a slick little fighter and could hit.


-Rick Farris

I've the Logan/Zamora fight on DVD, great fight, it was a rock'em and sock'em kind of fight.

"El Huero" . . .

Yesterday was beautiful in Southern Cal. High 70's, clear blue skies, perfect beach day. Monica and I headed down to the Marina Del Rey Penninsula to visit a friend of mine.

On the way down, I drive down Washington Place from the 405 Fwy toward the Marina, and pass by "Phil's Barber Shop" in Venice. Phil Barba is an ex-pug who became a barber and today owns his own shop in Venice. There are only two chairs in Phil's shop, and the other one is used by another ex-pug who became a barber, Frankie Duarte.

The walls of Phil's Barber Shop are kinda like the walls of boxing gym, covered with fight pictures, posters, gloves hanging. I always stop in to say Hi to Frankie if I'm in the neighborhood. I told Monica I had to make a stop and pulled right into a parking spot in front of the shop window. "I'll wait here", she said.

I got out of my car and walked into the store. Phil is busy cutting a customer's hair and glances up at me as I walk in. A smile comes to Phil's face when he recognizes my face. I look over to the other chair and there is Frankie, sitting in his chair, head titlted back, hands folded over his stomach. He's sound asleep.

Barba starts to laugh, "Rick, he's down for the count. He was just snoring." Frankie Duarte looked as peaceful as a little angel as he lay back, a slight smile on his face, must be having a nice dream. I queitly lean down and whisper in his ear . . . "Your out!"

The eyes snap open, the head lifts and he blinks the sleep from his eyes. When he sees me standing next to him laughing, he begins to smile, "Hey, how 'ya doin?" he asks. "I'm doing good, I just came to wake you up." As he sits up in his chair the ex-fighter asks, "What time is it?"

"It's time for me to go, I'll see you later." I drove off.


-Rick Farris

Phil Barba

Country USA
Global Id 117640
Division Lightweight


Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1962-11-26 Gabriel Brambila Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1962-06-18 Arvil Sonny Burris Santa Monica, USA W PTS 6
1962-04-06 Jimmy Lee Los Angeles, USA W KO 1
1961-06-08 Andy Montoya Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4
1961-05-25 Jerry Pena Los Angeles, USA W UD 4
1961-04-27 Speedy Nunoz Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4
1961-03-16 Joey Clements Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4

Record to Date
Won 7 (KOs 1) Lost 0 Drawn 0 Total 7

Game is over and my son James won $2,500 in a pool, do I get my 1/3 managers cut? NO!

Rick Farris wrote:"El Huero" . . .

Yesterday was beautiful in Southern Cal. High 70's, clear blue skies, perfect beach day. Monica and I headed down to the Marina Del Rey Penninsula to visit a friend of mine.

On the way down, I drive down Washington Place from the 405 Fwy toward the Marina, and pass by "Phil's Barber Shop" in Venice. Phil Barba is an ex-pug who became a barber and today owns his own shop in Venice. There are only two chairs in Phil's shop, and the other one is used by another ex-pug who became a barber, Frankie Duarte.

The walls of Phil's Barber Shop are kinda like the walls of boxing gym, covered with fight pictures, posters, gloves hanging. I always stop in to say Hi to Frankie if I'm in the neighborhood. I told Monica I had to make a stop and pulled right into a parking spot in front of the shop window. "I'll wait here", she said.

I got out of my car and walked into the store. Phil is busy cutting a customer's hair and glances up at me as I walk in. A smile comes to Phil's face when he recognizes my face. I look over to the other chair and there is Frankie, sitting in his chair, head titlted back, hands folded over his stomach. He's sound asleep.

Barba starts to laugh, "Rick, he's down for the count. He was just snoring." Frankie Duarte looked as peaceful as a little angel as he lay back, a slight smile on his face, must be having a nice dream. I queitly lean down and whisper in his ear . . . "Your out!"

The eyes snap open, the head lifts and he blinks the sleep from his eyes. When he sees me standing next to him laughing, he begins to smile, "Hey, how 'ya doin?" he asks. "I'm doing good, I just came to wake you up." As he sits up in his chair the ex-fighter asks, "What time is it?"

"It's time for me to go, I'll see you later." I drove off.


-Rick Farris

Phil Barba is a great guy whose promising boxing career came to a sudden end for the same reason that Frankie's did, only years earlier. Phil is a Venice native, just like Frankie Duarte. As you can imagine, a lot of boxing talk goes on inside Phil's place.

A few years ago, a Canadian film maker came to L.A. to shoot documentary footage for a project focused on 70's Candian featherweight Art Hafey. While he was in town, I took him around to meet with some L.A. boxing people including Duarte, who he interviewed at the Barber Shop.

The guy wanted to give the film some personality, so he decided to interview Duarte on camera, as Frankie gave him a haircut. I almost suggested that he do what we do in the film business in such a situation, and have Duarte "pretend" to be cutting his hair, and then really cut it afterwards. However, this ambitious Canadian wasn't open to suggestions, and he insisted Frankie cut as they talked. Duarte told of sparring with Art Hafey and would get excited as he remembered the session. I know Frankie pretty well, and kinda baited his excitement with a few words. The more excited Duarte would get, the more hair would come falling off the head of the Canadian.

After more than an hour, the film maker was happy with the interview he'd gotten from Duarte. As Frankie pulled the sheet off the guy he jumped out of the chair, smiling ear-to-ear, giving everybody "high fives", he was a happy man. Then he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and the smile suddenly left his face. He stood wide eyed, his mouth open, looking as if he just watched somebody run over his dog. I was laughing so hard I literally dropped to my knees.

"Whoa! You really gave me a . . . uh haircut."

Frankie kinda shrugged his shoulders. The film maker realized he got what he came for, and that hair grows back.

I have always liked Frankie Duarte. However, I liked him even more after he'd scalped the Canuck. It kinda gave me that good feeling I got when he went to war with Davila in the second fight . . . just good entertainment!


-Rick Farris

Small Club Stories . . .

If a boxer did well at Santa Monica's "Ocean Park Arena", he might eventually have a chance to fight at L.A.'s premier boxing venues, the Hollywood Legion Stadium or the Olympic Auditorium. Lots of small clubs in Los Angeles, lots of gyms, lots of fighters in days gone by.

Anybody have stories related to the smaller L.A. arenas?


-Rick Farris