BoxRec

Benitez did put him down; he knocked him out, in fact, although Benitez was starting to generate some real power up at welter and it also looked like one of those 'off' nights for Shields. Every fighter is entitled to one of them.
Leonard, a peak Cuevas, Hearns, etc, couldn't dent Shields.

As we continue our revelations,I'm amazed how many fighters started out at the little'ol Coliseum. I remember Shields fighting a guy named Moses Carbin. Pretty much a mismatch.

Another fighter I see on Shields record:Mike Mayan. Fought many times down here. Fought a lot of name fighters. Needed more of a punch. Guys like Mayan and Eddie Mazon,who I saw a lot,had difficulty pulling fights out because they didn't have knockout power. Their opponents were aware of that also I think.

One more flashback(looking at these records),Petey Vital. Slick little guy who fought a lot at the Coliseum. Again,no punch. Had short arms,but used what he had. Was up on his toes a lot.

Rick Farris wrote:By the way, Dagos . . .

I remember 1969 thru early early 1970, Robinson sparring on occasion with Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez. I have a photo I'll post of Robinson, from the Main St. Gym in 1969. Four years after retiring, following a decsion loss to Joey Archer, Robinson still trained, in a rubber suit, as if still concious of making weight.


-Rick Farris

Went for a swim. Thought about this. Remember Robinson on Edward R. Morrow? When Morrow asked Robinson if he liked boxing,Robinson answered,"No, Ed I never really liked boxing. I did it to make a living."
Robinson said that when he was making a comeback. He needed the money for sure,but there was a part of him that thought he was still the best. Be a champion again,which he accomplished.

But he also knew that his skills were eroding. He wouldn't want to say that on television. So he says he did it for the money. You always do it for the money,but when you're the best there is ,like Robinson once was,you're on top of the world. Robinson wouldn't have traded places with the President. Remember the "entourage"?.He was the toast of Harlem. The toast of Europe. He tried to be an entertainer. He wasn't on top of the world then. He had no entourage. No one paid to see him sing and dance. So he returns to boxing. He made money again and spent it like he always did. The entourage was back. But as Sugar Ray got older,he started losing more and more. He kept spending the money,but now he was losing to club fighters in dead end towns in school gymnasiums. The entourage was gone. The money was gone.

I remember that exhibition at the Olympic. Sugar Ray knew for two rounds he could show the he was Sugar Ray Robinson.. I remember him entering the ring. Nobody entered the ring like Sugar Ray. The terry cloth robe,black boxing shoes,the grace,the big smile,the combed back hair. Prancing around the ring so everybody could look at him. Sugar Ray could still do that. And box two two minute rounds. That's about all he could do in the ring anymore and look like Sugar Ray. But in a short time he couldn't do that anymore either.

He was broke,but did he want to train fighters? Cassius Clay asked him to be his trainer. Robinson turned him down. Think of all the money he would have made? But Ali would have been the star. Ali would have had the entourage.

So Sugar Ray is in the Main Street Gym in a rubber suit. A rubber suit. You're right Rick. Sugar Ray was probably thinking of making weight. He had to be the right weight if he wanted to beat LaMotta.

Sugar Ray Robinson

Thee Sugar Man

Mando Muniz, fourth from right.
Back in the amateur day's

Mrs. Enrique (Ruby) Bolanos
12-14-07

I remember Ruby as a very gorgeous young lady, and I have to say, she is still lookin' good, when I first met her 1950-51 I used to tell Enrique "you lucky SOB", this was back when I was 16-17 years old, I can just close my eyes and see Ruby and Enrique strolling down the aisle at the Olympic to sit ringside for some big fight, two proud people, but none more prouder then Enrique was of Ruby.

dagosd2000 wrote:One more flashback(looking at these records),Petey Vital. Slick little guy who fought a lot at the Coliseum. Again,no punch. Had short arms,but used what he had. Was up on his toes a lot.

D,

Petey Vital is a kid that I knew from way back, Petey lost an arm in a industrial accident years ago, his brother Mike who my son Bobby fought a few times in the Jr. is the trainer of Abner Mares who fought Saturday on the Marquez/Pacquiao card.

kikibalt wrote:
Mrs. Enrique (Ruby) Bolanos
12-14-07

I remember Ruby as a very gorgeous young lady, and I have to say, she is still lookin' good, when I first met her 1950-51 I used to tell Enrique "you lucky SOB", this was back when I was 16-17 years old, I can just close my eyes and see Ruby and Enrique strolling down the aisle at the Olympic to sit ringside for some big fight, two proud people, but none more prouder then Enrique was of Ruby.

Que chulada es el maiz prieto!

kikibalt wrote:
Thee Sugar Man

It's funny Frank
For centuries Europe thought of the United States as a nation without culture. Without artists. Europe had Shakespeare and Beethoven. The United States had a fighter by the name of Walker Smith. He was born in Alley,Georgia. He later changed his name to Sugar Ray Robinson. When he fought in a city in Europe,I heard there were no lines at the museums. Probably just a rumor.

dagosd2000 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Mrs. Enrique (Ruby) Bolanos
12-14-07

I remember Ruby as a very gorgeous young lady, and I have to say, she is still lookin' good, when I first met her 1950-51 I used to tell Enrique "you lucky SOB", this was back when I was 16-17 years old, I can just close my eyes and see Ruby and Enrique strolling down the aisle at the Olympic to sit ringside for some big fight, two proud people, but none more prouder then Enrique was of Ruby.

Que chulada es el maiz prieto!

Asi es asi sera

Pete Vital . . .

I knew Pete and his dad pretty well. He and I traveled with the L.A. Golden Gloves team to Kansas City in 1969, and a month later, both he and Mike Quarry made their pro debuts on the undercard of the second bout between Jose Napoles and Curtis Cokes, at the Forum. I have a DVD of Pete fighting Ray Lunney III up north in Redwood City.

As Frank mentioned, Pete lost his arm in a workshop related accident, ending his career. I believe it happened shortly after he was KOed by Ray Lampkin in one round. Pete had a lotta style, and I recall him competeing in Jr. GG matches that Frank put together before 1968, when he turned 17, and got his amateur license.

As an amateur, Pete fought all over L.A., but was most popular at the El Monte Legion Stadium, where promoter Sammy Saunders would hold regular Saturday night bouts. Pete was a San Gabriel Valley boy and the locals turned out to see their amigo in action.

I recall in '68, there was another hot L.A. amateur competeing in Vital's weight class, Danny Alameda. I believe Alameda was trained by Bill Slayton, and a rivalry quickly developed. I remember, the first time they fought at El Monte Legion, the place was packed. Armando Muniz, Mike Quarry and "Bunky" Akins (a future Ali sparring partner) were also on the card.

On this night Petey Vital would box beautifully to take a close, but clean victory over Danny Alameda. They crowd really got their money's worth from these two guys, not to mention Muniz & co. It was just another Saturday night at El Monte Legion Stadium in the late 60's.

I have a team photo of L.A.'s 1969 AAU Champions taken at the Legion. Petey Vital is kneeling next to the guy who is next to me, Mike Quarry, and others. Frank, I'll send it to you tonight if you'll post it. You remember that night Frank, in fact you were in the ring too, although not in the picture. If memory serves me right, you were escaping the ringside brawl taking place between the Quarry family and the family of Mike's opponent, James Dick. The issue was closed a few weeks later, when the two were matched as professionals. Might as well get paid for all that bad blood.


-Rick Farris

Roberto Duran vs Javier Ayala

Mike Nixon . . .

I knew Mike Nixon very well, as I mentioned, we were stablemates for awhile, about the time he married Wilma Quarry, Jerry & Mike's sister. Nixon, lived in Glendale, where his father Don was a Sales Manager at a Brand Blvd. Ford dealership.

Mike had fast hands, was a crisp boxer, a solid hitter, with an over inflated ego and glass chin. There was something about opponents with last name of Davis, because everytime he fought a "Davis" he was flattened.

You're right about his win over Mike Rossman, in fact, I hate to sound like another poster but in the second match, Mike let Rossman win. He was broke, in debt, needed money, and there is an element in Binghampton, N.Y., that wanted Rossman to win, and he did. Same thing with Mike Quarry. After easily defeating Rossman in the first fight, Quarry learned thru his brother-in-law Nixon, that money was to be made losing to Rossman. Unfortunatly, for a washed up, outta shape Mike Quarry, his "Irish" got the best of him and he actually took a beating before calling it quits in the corner.

Last time I saw Mike Nixon was in 1992. I was living in Malibu, and ran into him and actor Chris Penn in my favorite beachfront cantina. As I walked thru the bar toward the bathroom, I feel somebody grab me by the arm and ask, "What's your name?", I pull my arm away and ask "Who want's to know?" The guy in front of me had grey curly hair, was a chubby 240 lbs. and had that arrogant smile on his face . . . "I'm Mike Nixon, remember me?".

At the time, he and Chris Penn were sharing a Malibu house, Mike was teaching Penn how to box. Chris told us he hoped it would help him deal with his legendary drug addiction. Of course, last year, cocaine would KO Penn for good. As I sat with Mike and Chris, we talked about our memories, the Quarry brothers, his tale regarding his "going in the tank" for Rossman, and how he worked the same deal for his brother-in-law. Maybe it is all B.S. When it comes to KO losses, fighters alwyas seem to have an excuse beyond just plain getting their ass whipped. Who knows?

Anyway, I have a funny Nixon-Jerry Quarry story. I'll share it later.


-Ricardo

Joey Barnum always said that every fight in which he got ko, was because he went in the tank.

We do know that he took a dive against Art Aragon.

Huntley had a lot of success fighting in France, beating several top locals there.Huntley was matched very tough during his career.

Lucia Rijker and trainer Dub Huntley.

edit

Frankie Baltazar, Dub Huntley and Tony Baltazar

DaveV17 wrote:Kiki, This is a little off the subject, but I remember from reading a thread that you knew Frankie Randall. Frankie was in our gym recently for a few days. As you well know, he has had some tough times but he is in good health, looks good - only weighs about 155. His face is unmarked.

He said that he trained for a fight last year in Florida, but it didn't happen. He helped out with our fighters while he was here. It was good having him around and if we can find him a job he might move here and help us full time.

Davey

I don't think I said that I knew Randall personally, what I said was that I knew him as a fighter, and that Top Rank call me about Tony fighting Randall, but before we could close the deal he got busted for drugs.

I think that Randall was one of the best LW's of that era, if not for the drugs I think he would have been champion for some time.

kikibalt wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Mrs. Enrique (Ruby) Bolanos
12-14-07

I remember Ruby as a very gorgeous young lady, and I have to say, she is still lookin' good, when I first met her 1950-51 I used to tell Enrique "you lucky SOB", this was back when I was 16-17 years old, I can just close my eyes and see Ruby and Enrique strolling down the aisle at the Olympic to sit ringside for some big fight, two proud people, but none more prouder then Enrique was of Ruby.

Que chulada es el maiz prieto!

Asi es asi sera

I remember years ago Mexico paid a tribute to the late Jose Alfredo Jimenez. Senora Bolanos reminded me of Jose Alfredo's wife. Dignified and beautifull. There was a gala tribute,and of course,Dona Jimenez was the honored guest. The great artists of Mexico were there singing his songs and reminiiscing his life. How Jose Alfredo was discovered by the uneqauled Miguel Aceves Mejias.There were photographs of Jose Alfredo jimenez with the Tres Immortales: Pedro Infante,Jorge Negrete,and Javier Solis. Lucha Villa and Flor Silvestre sang. Vicente Fernandez and Antonio Aguilar sang his songs also. Mariachis de Tecalitlan played the medleys as the singers sang with everything they could bring out from within. The regal Lola Beltran was the Master of Ceremony. The songs and pictures and their stories. The emotion was almost overwhelming. La Senora sat elegantly ,each performer trying to reach her. The songs with the great tragic and beautifull lyrics:El Rey,El Caballo Blanco,Los Cuatro Caminos. The songs written by Jose Alfredo that were often the stories of his life. The romances and the drinking. Stories of great sadness. A sadness that was a part of his wife's life also. Her strength , composure, and grace radiated as the evening swirled . She looked more beautifull after every tribute.

Then as a final tribute, Lola Beltran looked at Dona Jimenez.There was a silence. A pause. And Lola Beltran with the Mariachis de Tecaltitlan sang "Ella". That beautifull dignified woman could not hold it inside any longer She wept uncontrollably. She bent over sobbing into her hands. Everyone sang "Ella". The artists,the audience. They all sang for that beautifull woman. They all wept with her . I was no exception.

kikibalt wrote:
Sugar Ray Robinson

Great shot. Is that Art Hafey?

kikibalt wrote:
Roberto Duran vs Javier Ayala

Duran doing his thing before anyone suspected how great he really was. Duran vs Cuevas drew probably the last huge genuine fight crowd in LA.

bennie wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Sugar Ray Robinson

Great shot. Is that Art Hafey?

I want to say that it is Art Hafey, just not sure.

Sugar has charisma oozing out of every pore.