BoxRec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tdQWWMpPh8
For Me!

"Im Gone"
Shirley & Lee

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

"Confidential"
Sonny Knight

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
The gang at the "Golden State Boxers' Association" meeting
3-24-09

Looking good Frank. There's a lot of "Classic West Coast Boxing" in that photo.

Thanks, Randy, lots of history and memories at those meetings...

Randyman wrote:Last Rites...

A lawyer was on his deathbed in his bedroom, and he called to his wife.

She rushed in and said, "What is it, honey?"

He told her to run and get the bible as soon as possible. Being a religious woman, she thought this was a good idea.

She ran and got it, prepared to read him his favorite verse or something of the sort. He snatched it from her and began quickly scanning pages, his eyes darting right and left.

The wife was curious, so she asked, "What are you doing, honey?"

He shouted back:

"I'm looking for loopholes!"

Legend has it that it wasn't a lawyer who said that, but W. C. Fields actually said it to someone while Fields was on his deathbed. Reportedly, a friend stopped by to see the dying Fields, and was surprised to see him perusing a Bible.

"What are you doing with that Bible, W.C.?"

"Looking for loopholes . . ."

(For obvious reasons, I prefer it as a "W.C. Fields story" than as a "lawyer joke.")

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

Dongee wrote:Rick:

That would have to be sometime in the early 1950s. The house you mentioned was also there at the time, and was owned by Paul Matty, as far as we knew.

hap navarro

Hap . . . I'll file this one away for the future. Now I know the start of the Hoover Street Gym, which is still open today. It's changed hands several times, I think Bill Slayton had it for awhile (?), and I believe Jimmy Montoya has it now? Maybe Kevin Morgan, as well? I could be wrong, maybe Frank knows?

-Rick Farris

Rick, I could be wrong but I seem to recall hearing recently that the Hoover Street Gym was closed down. I can't remember where I heard that.

Randy

Randy . . . There is only one way for me to find out and that is to go there and see. I'm on my way, bringing a camera. I'll see what I can find. Be back soon. (If I make it that far )

-Ricardo

Four Salinas boxers await USA Boxing fate

Organization at center of complaints over alleged gambling

BY MIKE HORNICK • [email protected] • March 25, 2009

Four Salinas boxers are left hanging in the air by the California State Athletic Commission's suspension of USA Boxing's authority to regulate amateur boxing in the state.

Commission chairman Tim Noonan said in a Monday press release that children under 16 have been fighting in private shows, and that complaints of alleged gambling and drinking at events attended by youths must be answered by USA Boxing at an April 13-14 hearing in Los Angeles.

That leaves boxers Hugo Sanchez, Jose Soto, Arturo Castro and Eric Sanchez - who fight in the age 17-18 division for Salinas Boxing Club -floating like butterflies, but perhaps not stinging like bees as soon as they'd like. On Tuesday, the four were still uncertain whether their scheduled Saturday event in Stockton - the CCA Men's Nationals, one of many early steps in the Olympic qualification process - will take place. The club belongs to the Central California Association of USA Boxing.

They're old enough to fight in adult shows, but what hurts USA Boxing could hurt them, too.

"If they stop it, where's that going to put me?" said Eric Sanchez, who competed in the Junior Olympics in Michigan June. "It's a trip. It's hard to even speak about."

"I've been training for this for a long time," said Hugo Sanchez, Eric's older brother. Nevertheless, last year's top welterweight at the state PAL plans no change to his routine. "I'm just going to train harder," he said.

Their trainer, Daniel Lujan, expects to learn Thursday whether Saturday's fights are on. USA Boxing is asking the state commission to allow events prior to the April hearing to go on. The club also has a PAL show set for April 11 in Modesto.

Public shows like the qualifiers and the Golden Gloves are uncontroversial; the dispute concerns private shows, where well-funded sponsors help associations raise quick cash.

The sponsors in turn can restrict admission (often by invitation), sell liquor, or employ ring card girls.

Lujan said boxers under 16 are typically turned away from private shows, though he's seen at least one where children competed. "As long as coaches and boxers don't gamble, what the public does is up to them," he said.

"As a member of USA Boxing, our association has a liquor license," Lujan said. "Parents don't like that, they're going to complain that there's drinking and smoking and girls in G-strings. But you can go to the beach and see all that, too."

The trainer says better security and commission representation at private shows are the solution to any problems caused by liquor sales or participation by underage fighters.

Lujan added that if USA Boxing's authority were permanently revoked in California, he would consider taking his boxers to competitions in other states.

In 2008, the Salinas club had a budget of $8,000. The gym plays host to 20 to 35 youths per night.

Rick:

Tracing the activity at the gyms that were operated principally for the black fighters would be an interesting topic, I would think. There was always one or two somewhere along Central Avenue near Vernon Avenue. I believe Charlie Williams ran a small training center in that area for a while. Gladstone Bell, a marginal fight figure in my time, ran a gymnasium at Woodlawn and 38th street, which would be in the area of today's Martin Luther King blvd. just east of Main street.

The Ringside Gym is worthy of comment, Rick, because it had everything necessary for success as a business enterprise, except the general acceptance of the fight mob. It was clean, well-appointed, airy and even had darkly stained hardwood floors. Just before closing it was taken over by Babe McCoy and Johnny Keyes, around 1937.

hap navarro

TIJUANA THUNDER Presser in San Diego
March 25, 2009 by Felipe Leon


Fernando Beltran, the principal of Tijuana’s Zanfer Promotions, performed double duty today at the Red Circle bar in downtown San Diego, CA, as he gathered the cheif participants for “Latin Fury 8-Tijuana Thunder” along with Tijuana’s mayor, Jorge Ramos. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., current WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel and WBC super featherweight title holder Humberto Soto were on hand to give their thoughts on Saturday’s mega fight card which is being presented by Top Rank in association with Zanfer Promotions and the city of Tijuana, MX.

With only twenty miles between the location of the press conference and the international border, much was said about the current safety concerns regarding travel in Tijuana. Mayor Ramos assured that well being of those who chose to travel across the border was not going to be in jeopardy.

“We are going to have 1,800 uniformed police officers at the event, helping with security and the flow of traffic. I am going to personally oversee the operation,” Ramos stated confidently. “One thousand tickets have been sold already to fans in San Diego and I have personally invited the mayor of San Diego Jerry Sanders to join me this Saturday night. He has visited Tijuana before for charity golf events and I am sure he will join us this weekend, I am just waiting for confirmation.”

“I would like to stress that in the fourteen months I have been in office, no tourist has been affected by the events in Tijuana,” the Mayor of the city added.

Fernando Beltran agreed with Ramos, adding: “this is a great opportunity to show the real face of Tijuana, good honest people and above all hard working.”

The “Latin Fury 8-Tijuana Thunder” PPV card distributed by Top Rank will feature four star studded bouts. Along with the Antonio Diaz-Javier Castro welterweight ten round affair, the televised portion of the night will feature current WBO super flyweight champion Fernando “Kochulito” Montiel as he attempts for his third title in as many weight classes when he faces the Argentinean Diego Silva for the WBO bantamweight title. Montiel was recently informed that Saturday’s night title bout will be for the full fledged version of the belt and not the interim which was originally announced. If he succeeds, his name will be mentioned on the same breath as Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Julio Cesar Chavez.

A fact that not escapes the Los Mochis, MX native.

“I am proud to have my name next to those great champions. This is a great opportunity and I intend to take advantage of it.”

Montiel also brought to the attention of the attending media that all the fighters assembled on the dais where from the same state in Mexico, Sinaloa. A fact that he commented on.

“It’s ironic that all the fighters here and performing on the card are from the same state and we are fighting in Tijuana. That is why I am sure that this will be a great card,” he said with a chuckle.

In the semi main event, newly crowned super featherweight WBC king Humberto “Zorrita” Soto will defend his title for the first time against Antonio Davis. Soto is well known in Tijuana as he has traveled to the city from his native Los Mochis, MX, for numerous year to train.

“This is my second home and I am very proud to be fighting here Saturday night. I would like to invite everybody to come to the event or if they cannot assist, to watch on PPV.”

In the main event, the Son of a Legend Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will face fellow unbeaten Luciano Leonel Cuello of Argentina for the WBO Latino light middleweight title.

“I am very happy to fight in Tijuana where my father had his last fight before he became a world champion for the first time. It is a great honor to be able to share the night with such great champions as the ones we have here today. I think this is an important card and I want to show that I am ready to challenge for a title this year.”

A moment of hilarity ensued when Chavez Jr., was informed that popular Mexican singer jenni Rivera will be performing the night before at the same venue and then as he was asked if he would sneak out and see the show, he responded: “no, I need to sleep but I’ll make sure to invite her to see my fight,” he said smiling.

“Tijuana Thunder” will be held at the Plaza de Toros Monumental in the Tijuana suburb of Playas on Saturday, March 28th. The plaza, the third of largest of Mexico, has the unique characteristic of being next to the sea. Doors open at 2pm for the thirteen bout fight card with the first punch thrown at 3pm. Tickets are still available for the excuslive ring side seats and range in price from $75-145 (1000-2500 pesos). Tickets are available at the El Foro Theatre box office from 12pm-8pm daily or by calling 011-52-6646-85-86-76.

Ike Williams vs Enrique Bolanos II

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Vnm7ueHK0

The Hoover Street Gym . . .

Just returned from Hoover St. & 78th. Randy was right, however, the gym is not only closed but has been torn down and replaced by some very lo-end housing. I have a photo which I'll post a little later. Doesn't even look like the same corner. Used to be a small parking lot in front of the entrance to the gym, and the owner's home to the southside. All is gone and replaced with something newer, but not much better.

-Rick Farris

Dongee wrote:Rick:

Tracing the activity at the gyms that were operated principally for the black fighters would be an interesting topic, I would think. There was always one or two somewhere along Central Avenue near Vernon Avenue. I believe Charlie Williams ran a small training center in that area for a while. Gladstone Bell, a marginal fight figure in my time, ran a gymnasium at Woodlawn and 38th street, which would be in the area of today's Martin Luther King blvd. just east of Main street.

The Ringside Gym is worthy of comment, Rick, because it had everything necessary for success as a business enterprise, except the general acceptance of the fight mob. It was clean, well-appointed, airy and even had darkly stained hardwood floors. Just before closing it was taken over by Babe McCoy and Johnny Keyes, around 1937.

hap navarro

Hap . . . I agree with you on the gyms operating principally for black fighters. To be honest, I had no knowledge of these gyms, aside from the southside gyms such as Hoover Street and the Broadway Gym, in recent years. This adds another dimension to the history, one that's important. I appreciate your opening up this subject, anything on this is appreciated.

As for the Ringside Gym, it seems an oddity that this gym wouldn't help serve the large population of L.A. prizefighers of the era. Oddly, the crude, stuffy gyms with the peeling paint, etc. seem to be the most busy. You'd think with Babe McCoy involved, the place would have had a chance?

-Rick Farris

Young Firpo a.k.a. Guido Bardelli
Light Heavy Weight Champion of the Pacific Coast

GIRLY MEN

"You mean he's coming here?",I asked.
"Got the call this morning,"said Vic. "He's coming with a friend. "
Vic's Ocean Beach Gym was like just about all the weight lifting gyms of that day. The gym was converted from a garage. It was in back of an alley. Vic's health food store was out front.

Every night back then we'd wait for Vic to close his store and then we'd pile into the gym and work out for hours. The gym was crude,but had plenty of Olymoic bars and weights and dumbells that went up to 200 pounds. There weren't any fancy nautilus machines. Some jury rigged jobs ,but that was the extent of it.Those were the days of no 24 HR. Fitness Centers. Besides girls didn't lift weights except for the few that were body builders.

I remember there must have been about six of us crammed in there that night waiting. After working out around an hour or so,a big tall guy dressed in leather walked in. His dead was shaven. Vic recognized him.
"You alone?"asked Vic.
"Yes" said the big tall guy.
Right away I recognized a thick German accent.
"I come to buy the protein and the wheat germ. Some vitamins," said the big guy.

We had expected his workout partner. He was the one we wanted to see. He'd won all the titles in Europe. Now he was coming to the United States to train.
"Theez morning we go to the Tijuana to buy the Dianabol. He's in Muscle Beach today," said the big tall guy.
I could see by his frame that he wasn't going to win any contests. He was too lanky and angular in physique.

After the dissapointment waned a bit,we asked some questions. You must understand that this was before anyone had heard of the name. Only the guys that lifted recognized it.
"You found someone to sponsor you guys up there?" ,I asked.
"Oh yes. We will go to the gay community. They will pay us."
He said that without any hesitation. It almost sounded boastfull. We looked at each other with that face that said,"Did you hear what I thought I heared?" look.

The big tall bald guy went up front with Vic as he opened his store. We saw the big guy walk to his car with a huge box. I never saw him again.

Time passed and before long everyone knew him. A household name. But I still remember that night in Ocean Beach in that converted garage. I always figured he'd never would have achieved what he achieved if it hadn't been for the help of Dianabol. And a little help from that certain community.

kikibalt wrote:

Danny Kid . . .

Frank . . . I was in the first grade when this fight happened. I've heard that Toluco Lopez was a helluva featherweight and so was Danny Kid. Danny Kid fought everybody during a long career, the best of L.A. and the best of the world. I know he fought Dwight Hawkins, Raul Rojas, Pajarito Moreno, etc. and virtual who's who of the featherweight and bantam best of the 50's & 60's. His record is worth checking out.

-Rick Farris

Director John Landis . . .
"The Blues Brothers" & "Thriller"

The Blues Brothers opened production in Chicago in 1979. It was the undisputed toughest film location I would ever work on. The most disorganized, cocaine fueled production of an era where such a reality was not uncommon.

Don't get me wrong, the film actually cut into something watchable, and a young audience bought it. Keep in mind, thirty years ago a $17million budget was considered a health one. However, when Landis finally brought it in the budget had run in excess of $35million, more than double, Universal Pictures was nervous. It could have gelded director John Landis, but it's success made him a bankable hero. Michael Cimino wasn't so lucky. After his mega bomb, "Heavens Gate", he and other over-budget failures of that time, such as Francis Ford Coppola, were not bankable. Coppola would have to rely on unconventional financing sources to bankroll his films.

Landis was really trying to beef up the "Boy Genius" personna and was dangerous. A few years later, he would direct a scene where a hlicopter crash would kill actor Vic Morrow and two young children. The Special Effects man took the blame, which ended his career. However, it was Landis calling the copter lower and lower and into pyro-explosives. I wasn't there, my ex-wife was. No comment.

The Blues Brothers, big comment. I'm surprised that John Belushi didn't die sooner. Not a great guy, not a funny guy behind the camera, he was not liked by anybody, he was tolerated. Dan Akroyd? Great guy, everything that his partner was not, decent, one of us. We worked seven days a week on this, we were making record paychecks working for union scale. It was blood money, took a piece out of a lot of people. I was 28 when we wrapped production, felt old and tired for a week afterwards. I took some time off and then it was on to something else, another location, this one about siner Loretta Lynn, "Coal Miner's Daughter".

We shot "Coal Miner" in Kentucky, Nashville and West Virginia, with Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones. Now that was a fun one, and a great pic.

I would work with John Landis again on a Michael Jackson video, "Thriller", which he would direct. Fun shoot. Different place, different people, a good experience. Jackson was the hero, the choreographer too. Landis takes credit, again saved by his talent.

-Rick Farris

scartissue wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:

scartissue wrote:Guys, I don't know if you've seen it, but Raul Macias passed away yesterday. Anyone have any info on him or special memories???

Scartissue

Dan
Two quick ones on Macias. Raton went into the Mexican cinema for a while. He was sort of a heartthrob. My wife was a big fan of his.

I wrote about this way back in the thread. I was close to an old timer who was a friend of Macias. This gentleman was on the Mexican Olympic Team witth Macias in Helsinki in 1952. My friend swam the butterfly. He said the Mexican Olympic team was very badly prepared to compete. He criticized the government for not backing the athletes. My friend said the only medal winner was Raton. I believe he won a Silver.

My friend had suffered a couple of bad strokes. He had a woman caretaker from across the border who was very kind and patient with him. My friend had a daughter who was never around much. She used to be Amanda's Flamenco instructor. She was in Spain with her boyfriend(her guitarist)trying to break into the Flamenco community over there.

I used to visit my friend once a week. I was his only visitor. His mind was very sharp still. We'd talk about the arts,politics,and yes,boxing. He told me that when he was in Helsinki the life of the party was Raton Macias. He tried to keep everyone's spirits up despite the teams' poor showing. My friend would look back with tears in his eyes and exude the companionship he had made with Raton Macias.

My friend was rapidly going downhill. One day I went to visit him and they had said he died the previous night. The neighbors said they heard a window break and that my friend was shouting something. They said it sounded something like "Ramon,Ramon."

When I heard this I wept uncontrollably.

Damn, Rog, I feel like hopping a plane to San Diego just to shake your hand. A very moving story.

Scartissue

Thanks Dan
When his daughter came back from Spain to bury her father,she wanted to have a testimonial at the beach(where he used to swim everyday)commemorating his life. All his "friends" were invited. Everybody was to bring pot luck. I didn't attend. I figured I was with him when he needed someone to talk to. Those so called "friends" never came around.

kikibalt wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKlpxTjNVaQ

For Frank Baltazar

Red Speaks

Red Prysock

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

Jump Red Jump

Red Prysock

Thanks, Roger, you capture the style from my youth.

Frank
Unfortunatly that's a style we'll never see again. Rog

Hi Frank,

Thanks for letting us know about the posting of my uncle fight (Enrique Bolanos)on youtube.

Best regard to all.

Robert Bolanos

Tijuana’s troubles make fight card dicey

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports

Bob Arum is not only arguably the greatest boxing promoter ever, he’s also one of the smartest men I know. It’s not a stretch to say Arum is a genius.

He’s also one of the most compassionate men I’ve ever met.

In 2004, longtime boxing writer Jack Welsh was in his late 70s and struggling desperately to survive. He had no retirement savings and next to no income, so he had to scrape up whatever writing jobs he could, which were becoming increasingly few. Money was always exceptionally tight.

At a news conference that year prior to the Vitali Klitschko-Danny Williams fight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, I was sitting at a table with Arum when Welsh approached and whispered to me that he was broke. Again. I’d just given him money a few days earlier, as had another mutual friend.

Welsh was looking skinnier than I’d ever seen him and it was clear he wasn’t eating well. The man with the most voracious appetite I met couldn’t afford to eat every day.

When he whispered about his financial troubles, I became visibly frustrated, because I’d been giving him money about every 10 days. Arum noticed my frustration and asked what was going on. After I told him that Welsh was worried about being evicted, Arum suggested holding a fundraiser.

I told him a group of Welsh’s friends had done that a year or so earlier and few were in a mood to do it again. At that point, Arum called Lee Samuels, his public relations director, over and proceeded to amaze both of us. He gave Samuels the money to pay Welsh’s rent for several months going forward, as well as several thousand dollars in spending money.

Welsh died in his sleep a few months later and it was Arum who picked up the majority of the funeral costs.

It’s a side of Arum few people know, but one I’ve seen regularly in the 20 years I’ve known him.

Knowing that side of Arum makes it harder to reconcile the thought that he’s willingly putting people’s lives in danger for the sake for a few extra dollars in ticket sales.

Arum’s Top Rank Inc. is promoting a boxing card in Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday that, by all accounts, should produce some marvelous action.

It’s a must see.

It is, at least, on pay-per-view.

That’s because it’s not worth the risk of going to Tijuana, no matter how Arum tries to spin it.

On a March 9 conference call that included the mayor of Tijuana and a Mexican tourism official, Arum tried to insist the danger to fans who might consider traveling to Tijuana for the fight was minimal. A publicist working for Arum issued a news release with the headline, “Mayor Proclaims Tijuana Safe for U.S. Boxing Fans.”

During the call, Arum said, “I know there have been some problems in Tijuana with the drug trafficking, but they have it under control.”

Uh, no they don’t.

There were 843 murders in Tijuana in 2008, about two-and-a-half times the amount there were in 2007. On Tuesday, the Obama administration announced an extensive plan to decrease the violence. The White House said in statement released Tuesday, “The president is concerned by the increased level of violence, particularly in Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana, and the impact that it is having on the communities on both sides of the border.”

The situation is so unsafe that, according to USA Today, U.S. Marines are prohibited from going to Tijuana.

Yet, Arum wants boxing fans to feel it’s safe.

He said he frequently travels to Mexico and called a State Department alert warning Americans about the danger of traveling to Tijuana “wrong.” When he was pressed about the murder rate, Arum compared it to his hometown of Las Vegas, which, like Tijuana, is built on the tourist trade.

“How many people get murdered in Las Vegas?” Arum said. “Does that mean people should stay away from Las Vegas because there was a drug killing the other night? The person who is coming to Tijuana to watch boxing has nothing to worry about.”

That’s an absurd comment on so many levels, but it ignores the simple fact that there were about 851 murders in Las Vegas from Jan. 1, 2003 through Dec. 31, 2008, or about the same number (843) there were in 2008 alone in Tijuana. Tijuana had 80 more murders in November alone (212) than there were in Las Vegas in all of 2008 (132).

If the number of murders in the city alone isn’t staggering enough, consider this: 843 murders amounts to one murder about every 10 hours every day of the year in Tijuana.

What’s puzzling is that Arum doesn’t need to urge Americans to travel to the fight. The city of Tijuana is underwriting the card and tickets are free for Tijuana citizens. Already, more than 15,000 of the 21,500 available seats have been claimed.

The venue will be filled regardless of whether or not one person crosses the border to buy a ticket for the fight. Given the violence in the city, it was a dubious decision, at best, by co-promoter Fernando Beltran to put the fight in Tijuana, but there’s no reason to exacerbate the problem by acting as if this is an excursion to Grandma’s house on a sunny spring Sunday afternoon.

Most likely, there will be no incidents at or around the fight. But crowds of 20,000 frequently bring out the undesirables and who knows what calamity may follow?

Arum and Beltran have put together an intriguing card featuring Fernando Montiel, one of the top fighters in the world, and the ever-popular Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

If you like rock ‘em, sock ‘em boxing, this will be the card for you.

Just don’t travel to Tijuana to see the fight.

If it’s not safe enough for a U.S. Marine, it’s not safe enough for anyone.

And so, in what may be a first in boxing journalism, I leave you with this thought:

Stay at home and buy the fights on pay-per-view.

It’s a great fight card, but it’s not worth the risk to your life to go see it.

Hoover St. Gym location . . .



Hoover St. facing 78th St.
This is where the gym once stood.
Today, the houses pictured would be in the gyms front parking lot.

-Rick Farris

Jose (Toluco) Lopez
By Dan Couco

Jose was born Jose Lopez Hernandez on June 21, 1932 in El Oro, Mexico. Like Macias, Jose also started his professional career fighting ten rounders. He was nicknamed “Toluco” after the city of Toluca where he began his fistic career.

Following his graduation from school, he worked as a plaster’s helper, than a journeyman plasterer, but found that he enjoyed plastering opponents better than walls.

He won all 15 of his amateur fights and was state champion in 1953. He made his professional debut just 17 days shy of his 21st birthday against journeyman Baby Garcia on June 4, 1953 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He stopped Garcia in the 8th round. A strong willing mixer, he quickly reached main bout status and by the end of 1954 had established himself as one of the best 118 pounders in Mexico. His record stood at 14-3, with 5 knockouts.

At this stage of his career he was more of a scientific boxer and realized that if he was going to continue to grow and reach the next level he would have to adapt his style. So he adopted a more aggressive style and started to set down on his punches more. His new exciting style started to pay off immediately and he became a tremendous drawing card in Mexico City, La Laguna and the Mexican Provinces.

1955 was his breakout year. When Raul Macias gave up his national title, Jose was matched with Fili Nava for the vacant crown. He came through with a victory. In 29 bouts he had only lost four decisions, and reversed three of those losses. Lopez had stopped 11 and was the seventh rated challenger for the world bantam title by “The Ring.”

Toluco started off 1956 impressively, knocking out Emilio de la Rosa in eleven rounds to defend his national title and Joey Benson in one round. These two victories catapulted him to the number three ranking by "The Ring." He was riding high. But that was about to change - quickly!

On August 14, 1956, Toluco made his highly anticipated debut in Los Angeles to face Billy Peacock at the Olympic Auditorium. The gallery was sold out a half-hour after going on sale. Mexican fight fans felt that the colorful Lopez was the fighter to avenge Peacock's recent mastery over Mexican fighters. In previous appearances, Peacock had knocked out Raul Macias in 3, Pimi Barajas in 4, Memo Sanchez in 3 and Kildo Martinez in 6. But Peacock continued his mastery by winning a lopsided decision over ten rounds. Peacock repeatedly nailed Toluco with crushing rights hands. Lopez took every one of those right hands and came back fighting. Lopez put on such a gutsy performance that he received a standing ovation from the crowd when he left the ring. Bud Furillo of the Herald-Express said in his column the next day "Toluco Lopez is the most courageous fighter I've ever seen!" All in attendance including the promoter agreed that he would be heartily welcomed back at any time.

Toluco unwisely decided to return to the Olympic just five weeks after his grueling loss to Peacock to meet featherweight Rudy Garcia. The hard-hitting Garcia entered the ring
with a record of 35-10-1, 20 kayos. His kayo victims included Harold Dade, Chico Rosa, Gene Smith and Nate Brooks. He held decision victories over Jackie Blair Lauro Salas, Auburn Copeland and Carmelo Costa. Garcia never looked better as he scored a 50-second knockout over Toluco. The echo of the opening bell had scarcely died away before Garcia drilled Lopez with a two-punch combination sending Lopez down for an eight count. Toluco bravely got up and ran into a savage left hook, followed by three hard rights sending him down again, this time for the full count.

The losses to Peacock and Garcia dropped him to the seventh spot in "The Ring."

The resilient Toluco wasn't discouraged by the losses. Less than a month after the Garcia loss he was back in the ring again winning a ten round decision over Joel Sanchez in Mexicali. He continued to fight up and down the Mexican provinces winning 19 of his next 20 fights, 14 by kayo. His only loss - a close decision to Havana, Cuba veteran Manuel Armenteros, later avenged. He also avenged his loss to Billy Peacock by beating him twice - by decision in Tijuana and by knockout in Los Angeles. A month prior to his knockout of Peacock he scored the biggest victory of his career when he kayoed Memo Diez in five rounds to defend his national bantam title. The knockout defeat was the first of Diez's career. Only a year before Diez had been "The Ring's" number one ranked flyweight before losing his lofty position by upset decisions to Dommy Ursua and Ramon Arias.

Once again, Toluco was ranked the third rated challenger for the world bantam title by “The Ring.” His ring record stood at 46-7-0, with 27 kayos. Of his seven defeats, five had been avenged.

Jose, however, couldn't handle prosperity. On May 11, 1958 an out of shape Lopez took on lightly regarded Willie Parker in Acapulco. Parker in only his second year as a professional came into the fight with a record of 5-6-1, with no kayos. Two of his six losses had been by kayo. Parker surprised everyone by giving the out of shape Lopez a thorough beating and stopped him in the seventh round. Lopez dropped in the ratings from third to sixth.

Lopez was so embarrassed by his performance he demanded a rematch. He got himself in shape taking on two tune-up fights - winning both by knockout. His rematch with Parker took place before a large crowd at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Lopez turned the tables on Parker by winning an easy ten round decision.

Lopez stayed in shape and ran off another string of impressive victories culminating with a third round knockout of 23-year-old hard-hitting Mexican prospect Carlos Cardoso on December 3, 1958.

On February 1, 1959 Lopez returned to California to face Horace (Boots) Monroe for the North American Bantamweight Title. The 21-year old Monroe was the hottest prospect in California. His ring record was a gaudy 20-1-0, with 16 kayos. His only loss was a four round decision in his third professional fight - later reversed. He held knockouts over Willie Parker, German Ohm, Willie Lucedo, Roberto Hernandez, Nacho Esclante and Herman Marquez and outpointed Kid Irapuato, Billy Peacock and Joe Medel.

Before a capacity crowd at the Hollywood Legion Stadium Lopez shocked the crowd by stopping Monroe in only two rounds. Monroe got off to an excellent start, utilizing his superior height and reach and employing the long left jab for which he was noted. Near the end of the round, however, Toluco stepped in and nailed Monroe with a hard right and visibly shook him. In round two, Lopez came out quickly and dropped a still dazed Monroe three times before the referee mercifully stopped the fight. The win catapulted Lopez to third in "The Rings" world ratings. Again, he was on top of the world!

Negotiations were underway for Lopez to fight bantam champ Alphonse Halimi at Wrigley Field. While negotiations were taking place, Toluco returned to Hollywood on March 24, 1959 to take on unranked Danny Kid of the Philippines in a tune up fight. Before a near capacity crowd at the Hollywood Legion Stadium, 6-1 underdog Kid employing an excellent left jab and superior ring generalship had the better of the first seven rounds. Lopez realizing he was behind came out for the final three rounds with everything in his arsenal and engaged Kid in an exciting toe-to-toe slugfest. But his rally was too late and he left the ring the loser of a majority decision and a title shot with champion Halimi. The title shot instead went to fellow Mexican Jose Becerra. This was the closest Lopez would ever again get to a title shot. Toluco would remain in the top ten ratings until April 1961 by going 29-5-1-1, with 20 kayos. During that stretch he beat Danny Kid twice by decision and outpointed Eloy Sanchez and Manny Elias. But, he also lost his Mexican Bantamweight Title to Joe Medel by decision on August 1, 1959 and suffered knockout defeats to Medel and Otilio Galvan in 1960. He was dropped from the ratings for good after suffering a seventh round knockout loss to Hector Agundez on April 2, 1961.

In his last two years in the ring (1962-1963) he went 10-7, with six knockouts. His final ring ledger was 99-20-2-1, with 62 kayos. He was stopped seven times.

NOTE: IBRO Mexico Boxing Historian Roberto Valero states that Lopez had many pro fights in El Toro in 1952 that are not recorded. The Ring magazine's Mexican boxing correspondent reported that Lopez was the Mexican State Champion in 1953. So there is some confusion as to when he actually turned professional.

Danny Kid