BoxRec

I'D RATHER NOT KNOW

Since I've got a week off from school for the Easter break ,I'll have to keep myself occupied. My birthday was yesterday so I took the grand kids out for pizza and took them to the book store all on my dime. Tomorrow is Amanda's birthday so I'll be back chowing down on pizza in Little Italy with everyone with me buyin' and them flyin'. Don't get me wrong. I ain't complainin'. I love every minute of it.

I'll also be taking my wife to TJ to do the usual. We visit the grand kids and the great ones too. We'll have lunch at her sister's little restaurant and the we'll hit all the different stops to buy the tortillas,the meat,the tomatos,and the chiles. I think I counted four so that means four different places. I'll probably stop at a corner and maybe get an ice cream cone or a bag of churros. More than likely I'll get both. Oh,I'll probably wash it down with an elote(corn on the cob).

I read and listen to the news. The local free rag "The Reader" had a story on the cover. "Mommy Why Are They Shooting?" Another maudlin episode of the narco wars in TJ.

I saw a guy get shot in TJ. In fact I saw two guys get shot. One time I'm relaxing in the Monaco Club around three in the morning with a service matron when an ex boyfriend came in the joint deciding he wanted her back living a normal life. Well I guess he had to shoot her to convince her. He was a lousy shot or maybe he just wanted to wing her bacause she suffered what they call in the movies "a minor flesh wound."

Another time I was turnin' the corner walking in the Zona Norte when this guy ran past me like he was in the relays at the Olympics. Chasing him were two of Tijuana's finest. The guy runnin' ducks into a little market followed by the guys with the M 16's. All I heard was pop pop pop. I didn't stop to look.

Anyway that never detered me from goin' down there. This narco war isn't either. It's all a crap shoot anyway. If it's meant to be,then there's nothing I can do to prevent it.

That's why I don't go to those fortune teller places. I'd rather not worry about what's coming up.

MIKE NIXON; SO CLOSE BUT YET SO FAR
By Jim Amato



If a fighter had ” future champ ” stamped on his forehead, Mike Nixon did. He was a smooth boxer with a good punch. He had solid skills and a lot of heart. He was a real crowd pleaser. For all the attributes Mike had he lacked one thing…The ability to take a good punch. He was stopped six times in his thirty seven-bout career. In fact he stopped in three rounds by Larry Davis in his pro debut in 1970. Mike was a raw eighteen-year-old kid at the time and he showed the grit and determination to come back and win thirteen in a row. In 1971 he was halted in nine by George Davis. In 1972 twice Art Davis kayoed him. Mike learned to stay away from guys with the last name of Davis.

Mike would reel off eight victories in a row plus a ninth round no contest against the rated David Love in 1974. In 1975 he lost a decision to Olympic Gold Medal winner Sugar Ray Seales. He then scored an upset points verdict over future light heavyweight champion, Mike Rossman. The rematch produced one of the most devastating knockouts I’ve ever seen. In the seventh round of a close and competitive fight, Rossman launched a right hand that landed like a guided missile on Nixon’s jaw. Need I say ” lights out “? It was one of the hardest punches I’ve ever seen landed.

Nixon would return and in 1976 he lost in ten to clever Tony Licata. Then in a stunning upset Mike stopped the highly touted South African Gert Steyn in five rounds. Nixon was now backing in the thick of the middleweight picture. In 1977 Nixon was matched with the rough and tumble Vito Antuofermo. Vito, who was on his way to the world’s middleweight championship ended Mike’s dream in the fourth round. That was Nixon’s last fight. He retired with a very respectable 27-8-1 record. During his career he gained some acclaim as the Jerry and Mike Quarry’s brother-in-law. Nixon though cut his own path through the ratings and although he did not reach the top, he did mix with some of the best.

kikibalt wrote:MIKE NIXON; SO CLOSE BUT YET SO FAR
By Jim Amato



If a fighter had ” future champ ” stamped on his forehead, Mike Nixon did. He was a smooth boxer with a good punch. He had solid skills and a lot of heart. He was a real crowd pleaser. For all the attributes Mike had he lacked one thing…The ability to take a good punch. He was stopped six times in his thirty seven-bout career. In fact he stopped in three rounds by Larry Davis in his pro debut in 1970. Mike was a raw eighteen-year-old kid at the time and he showed the grit and determination to come back and win thirteen in a row. In 1971 he was halted in nine by George Davis. In 1972 twice Art Davis kayoed him. Mike learned to stay away from guys with the last name of Davis.

Mike would reel off eight victories in a row plus a ninth round no contest against the rated David Love in 1974. In 1975 he lost a decision to Olympic Gold Medal winner Sugar Ray Seales. He then scored an upset points verdict over future light heavyweight champion, Mike Rossman. The rematch produced one of the most devastating knockouts I’ve ever seen. In the seventh round of a close and competitive fight, Rossman launched a right hand that landed like a guided missile on Nixon’s jaw. Need I say ” lights out “? It was one of the hardest punches I’ve ever seen landed.

Nixon would return and in 1976 he lost in ten to clever Tony Licata. Then in a stunning upset Mike stopped the highly touted South African Gert Steyn in five rounds. Nixon was now backing in the thick of the middleweight picture. In 1977 Nixon was matched with the rough and tumble Vito Antuofermo. Vito, who was on his way to the world’s middleweight championship ended Mike’s dream in the fourth round. That was Nixon’s last fight. He retired with a very respectable 27-8-1 record. During his career he gained some acclaim as the Jerry and Mike Quarry’s brother-in-law. Nixon though cut his own path through the ratings and although he did not reach the top, he did mix with some of the best.

Rossman looked so good in winning the title against Galindez, I was baffled as to his quick demise as champ and ex-champ. He just produced it all on the one night and that was that.

raylawpc wrote:hi guys. I'm in the hospital. Heart procedure tomorrow. Hopefully I'll know what's the matter tomorrow.

Tom . . . Keep us posted. Your in my thoughts & prayers.

-Rick

bennie wrote:

kikibalt wrote:MIKE NIXON; SO CLOSE BUT YET SO FAR
By Jim Amato



If a fighter had ” future champ ” stamped on his forehead, Mike Nixon did. He was a smooth boxer with a good punch. He had solid skills and a lot of heart. He was a real crowd pleaser. For all the attributes Mike had he lacked one thing…The ability to take a good punch. He was stopped six times in his thirty seven-bout career. In fact he stopped in three rounds by Larry Davis in his pro debut in 1970. Mike was a raw eighteen-year-old kid at the time and he showed the grit and determination to come back and win thirteen in a row. In 1971 he was halted in nine by George Davis. In 1972 twice Art Davis kayoed him. Mike learned to stay away from guys with the last name of Davis.

Mike would reel off eight victories in a row plus a ninth round no contest against the rated David Love in 1974. In 1975 he lost a decision to Olympic Gold Medal winner Sugar Ray Seales. He then scored an upset points verdict over future light heavyweight champion, Mike Rossman. The rematch produced one of the most devastating knockouts I’ve ever seen. In the seventh round of a close and competitive fight, Rossman launched a right hand that landed like a guided missile on Nixon’s jaw. Need I say ” lights out “? It was one of the hardest punches I’ve ever seen landed.

Nixon would return and in 1976 he lost in ten to clever Tony Licata. Then in a stunning upset Mike stopped the highly touted South African Gert Steyn in five rounds. Nixon was now backing in the thick of the middleweight picture. In 1977 Nixon was matched with the rough and tumble Vito Antuofermo. Vito, who was on his way to the world’s middleweight championship ended Mike’s dream in the fourth round. That was Nixon’s last fight. He retired with a very respectable 27-8-1 record. During his career he gained some acclaim as the Jerry and Mike Quarry’s brother-in-law. Nixon though cut his own path through the ratings and although he did not reach the top, he did mix with some of the best.

Rossman looked so good in winning the title against Galindez, I was baffled as to his quick demise as champ and ex-champ. He just produced it all on the one night and that was that.

I'm just heading out the door, however, a little later I'll share some memories about my former stablemate, Mike Nixon. Nixon, myself and Randy De La O were all handled by Mel Epstein. When Mel became my trainer in 1971, Mike Nixon was his only boxer. The stories I can tell. Some funny , some not so funny .

-Rick Farris

Tom, I hope that everything turns out well.

- Chuck Johnston

kikibalt wrote:
Johnny Ortiz and Henry Davis

Dan

Dan, I don't believe thats Henry Davis with Ortiz

Frank, I really can't even give an opinion. I've never seen Henry Davis other than that picture you posted. Johnny Ortiz sent me the photo, but at first glance to me, it looked like Hedgemon Lewis.

Scartissue

Good luck, Tom

Scartissue

scartissue wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Johnny Ortiz and Henry Davis

Dan

Dan, I don't believe thats Henry Davis with Ortiz

Frank, I really can't even give an opinion. I've never seen Henry Davis other than that picture you posted. Johnny Ortiz sent me the photo, but at first glance to me, it looked like Hedgemon Lewis.

Scartissue

Dan...It can't be H. Lewis, Lewis was a young man when that picture was taken, I knew Henry Davis well and I don't think thats him, Ortiz might be losing it....maybe?...

Alfredo Marcano & Steven Dack both pass away
April 6, 2009 by Edgar Gonzalez



Robert Coster from Fightnews recently reported, Former WBA super featherweight champion Alfredo Marcano passed away yesterday in Cumana, Venezuela at the age of 62 after a long bout with cancer. Marcano turned pro in 1966 and fought some of the best and toughest boxers at 125 and 130lbs in his native Venezuela, Mexico and the United States, always giving his best effort. Curiously enough, Marcano won the title at a time when his career had taken a downward spiral (4-5) and probably was viewed as a “safe” opponent for reigning WBA Champion Hiroshi Kobayashi.

Their fight took place in Japan on July 29,1971 and the gritty Marcano, trailing on points, kayoed Kobayashi in the 10th round. Alfredo then returned to Japan for his first title defense and stopped Kenji Iwata in 4 rounds. Marcano lost the title to Ben Villaflor via a 15 round decision in Honolulu on March 25,1972. The Venezuelan then returned home and racked up 8 straight wins which gave him the opportunity to meet Bobby Chacon at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles on September7,1974 for the vacant WBC Featherweight title. Alfredo put up-as always- a game effort but was kayoed by the red-hot Chacon in 9 rounds. Alfredo Marcano retired in 1975 after a kayo loss to Art Hafey with a final tally of 44-11-5, 29 KOs. Rest in Peace, Champ.

Steven Dack Passes

By Ray Wheatley - World of Boxing Former (1990) New South Wales State middleweight champion Steve Dack passed away on Friday in Sydney, NSW,Australia. Dack was only 44 years of age. He suffered a gun shot wound that police said was not suspicious. Dack boxed the best Australian middleweights including former WBC light heavyweight Jeff Harding. He boxed a supporting bout as a professional to Kostya Tszyu vs Hugo Pineda in January 1996 at Parramatta, NSW, Australia when he outpointed Glen Baragry over six.

He was trained as amateur by former 1954 world class light heavyweight Bruce Farthing. Former Commonwealth jr middleweight champion Charkey Ramon (who was also WBA#1 jr middleweight to champion Koichi Wajima in 1971) was training Steve to box on the undercard of the Danny Green vs Anthony Mundine bout in Sydney that attracted over 30,000 fight fans. The NSW Boxing Authority would not allow Steve to box because he was 40 years of age at the time and the age limit is 36 years.

Charkey said, “This was a big shock to me and my family. Steve was a great guy who was doing some legal investigative work for me. He was a very successful lawyer. It is out of character for him to take his own life. I trained him a few years ago for a comeback fight but he was 40 years of age and could not get permission to fight. I am sure he would have been Australian champion had I trained him as a young man.”

Dack will be buried on Wednesday and service will be held a St James Cathedral, Sydney at 10.30am. He will be sadly missed by his family and also friends from the Australian boxing

kikibalt wrote:MIKE NIXON; SO CLOSE BUT YET SO FAR
By Jim Amato



If a fighter had ” future champ ” stamped on his forehead, Mike Nixon did. He was a smooth boxer with a good punch. He had solid skills and a lot of heart. He was a real crowd pleaser. For all the attributes Mike had he lacked one thing…The ability to take a good punch. He was stopped six times in his thirty seven-bout career. In fact he stopped in three rounds by Larry Davis in his pro debut in 1970. Mike was a raw eighteen-year-old kid at the time and he showed the grit and determination to come back and win thirteen in a row. In 1971 he was halted in nine by George Davis. In 1972 twice Art Davis kayoed him. Mike learned to stay away from guys with the last name of Davis.

Mike would reel off eight victories in a row plus a ninth round no contest against the rated David Love in 1974. In 1975 he lost a decision to Olympic Gold Medal winner Sugar Ray Seales. He then scored an upset points verdict over future light heavyweight champion, Mike Rossman. The rematch produced one of the most devastating knockouts I’ve ever seen. In the seventh round of a close and competitive fight, Rossman launched a right hand that landed like a guided missile on Nixon’s jaw. Need I say ” lights out “? It was one of the hardest punches I’ve ever seen landed.

Nixon would return and in 1976 he lost in ten to clever Tony Licata. Then in a stunning upset Mike stopped the highly touted South African Gert Steyn in five rounds. Nixon was now backing in the thick of the middleweight picture. In 1977 Nixon was matched with the rough and tumble Vito Antuofermo. Vito, who was on his way to the world’s middleweight championship ended Mike’s dream in the fourth round. That was Nixon’s last fight. He retired with a very respectable 27-8-1 record. During his career he gained some acclaim as the Jerry and Mike Quarry’s brother-in-law. Nixon though cut his own path through the ratings and although he did not reach the top, he did mix with some of the best.

Mike Nixon, Jerry Quarry, Chris & Sean Penn . . .

With all respect to Jim Amato, Mike's KO loss in his pro debut wasn't to a "Larry Davis", he was KOed by George Davis in his pro debut, the same guy who would KO him later, after he'd made a name for himself. He was also KOed twice by Art Davis. Seems Mike had trouble with opponents named Davis, but never a Larry Davis.

I knew Mike both professionally and personally back in the early 70's. He and I weren't close friends, just a couple stablemates with a personal connection with the Quarry family. Mike was a little too cocky for my taste, but I credit him for being a fine boxer with a good punch, not championship material, but a good main eventer. He was good enough to end the winning streak of Mike Rossman, and would lose in a rematch for money. Mike Nixon owed money to the wrong people in Binghampton, N.Y. his hometown. To satisfy the debt, he took a dive in the rematch. The Jewish money was behind Rossman, who was of Italian/Jewish descent. Nixon was not a great middleweight, but he was clearly better than Mike Rossman.

Later, Mike Quarry, Nixon's brother-in-law would also defeat Rossman easily. When strapped for money, Mike Quarry did the same thing with the same opponent, in fact, Nixon introduced Quarry the "people" that set up the rematch. Mike Quarry would never just "lay down", he let Rossman batter him. Mike Quarry's dementia was apparent long before brother Jerry's, and one of the contributing factors was not only his brutal KO loss to light-heavy champ, Bob Foster, but also his choice to take a beating before the Rossman fight was stopped.

Mike Rossman could punch, and Nixon's chin was weak, but without "help", he would have never been a champion. Victor Galendez came along and finally showed the world what Rossman could do with a real fighter, not much.

I last spoke with Mike Nixon in the sumer of 1992. At the time we were both living on the beach in Malibu. I had an apartment on the sand a few hundred yards south of the Malibu Pier. One saturday, a friend and I are walking thru my favorite beachfront watering hole, the Pierview Cantina, when I feel a hand grab my arm. I turn to face the guy who grabbed me. I see a heavy set guy with curly silver hair in front of me. "What's your name?", he asks. "Who wants to know?" I ask, as I pull my arm away from the guy. The man smiles, are you, "Ricky Farris"? I can't recognize him. I study the face and say nothing. The man extends his right hand to shake mine, "Mike Nixon, remember me?" At the time, Mike was weighing in at 225 lbs, and as I mentioned, his hair was no longer dark. I hadn't seen Mike in more than a dozen years and he hadn't aged well. We were both 40, but he looked in his 50's.

At the time, Nixon was living with the late actor, Chris Penn, Sean's younger brother, in the home of Penn's father, TV director Leo Penn. The Penn home was up the beach a few miles on Point Dume Rd. Christopher Penn was a good guy, but a troubled one who struggled with cocaine addiction. Penn had an interest in boxing and martial arts and hired Mike to be his "personal trainer", hoping that training as a boxer might divert him from drug abuse. Fifteen years later, Chris would die of an overdose.

Mike invited me to join he and Chris at their table out on the deck. I was with my friend, Ralph, whose son was playing on the beach with my young daughters. We could see the kids playing from Mike and Chris's table so we joined them. It turned out to be a nice reunion. As Nixon and I remenisced about our late manager, Mel Epstein, Chris and my buddy Ralph just sat quietly and listened. We discussed the Rossman fight, His last with Vito Antifermo, the Davis losses, his break-up with Quarry sister, Wilma, his father Don, my dad, and a recent golf game he had shared with his former brother-in-law, Jerry Quarry.

Mike told me of meeting Jerry on a golf course in Agoura Hills, near where Jerry was living at the time. I asked how Jerry was doing and Nixon rubbed his jaw subconciously as he answered, "Well, he's still got his punch." It seems that the two had joined another pair of golfers in foursome on the course. The other two men were boxing fans and were buying drinks for the ex-fighters as the two shared stories of their careers. Nixon said he got angry that Jerry kept putting down his career and finally challeneged him, "Hey, how would you like to get knocked out by a middleweight?" Jerry turned to face his brother-in-law and attempted to grab him, Nixon fired a right cross and caught Jerry right on the chin. Quarry went down for a second, and when he got up it was his turn. Minutes later, Nixon was in an ambulence headed for the hospital. Just another day in the life of the Quarry familiy.

Chris told me that Sean was writing a script for a boxing movie, but was having trouble in his marriage to Madonna. "My brother is crazy, but that bitch is insane", Chris commented about his rock star sister-in-law. I didn't mention to Chris that I had picked up his brother Sean, who was hitchhiking on Pacific Coast Highway early one morning.

I was on my way to work at MGM, and recognized Penn with his thumb out. The future Academy Award winner has lost hid driver's license on a drunk driving charge. Why he didn't call a cab, I don't know? But he was hitch hiking. Artisits understand, but outsiders would think it's crazy.

I had worked with Sean on several pictures, "Taps" in Philadelphia when he was a kid, a loser called "Crackers" with Donald Sutherland in '82, and "Falcon and the Snowman". We weren't friends, but he knew who I was, he'd seen me around. He saw training gloves in my backseat, and had told me of his boxing script. When he learned I had boxed he began to pick my brain. I always liked the guy. I understand crazy.

I dropped him up the street from MGM, at the Culver Studios lot, where he had a meeting.

As I sat on the deck with Mike Nixon, Ralph, and Chris Penn, Nixon began to talk of his bout with Antofermo. I was sitting next to Mike and he began to tap my leg as he told the story. I grab his hand and he looks at me with that stupid grin on his face, that cocky Irish thing, I was now playing with an off-shoot of the Quarry family. I grew up with the Quarry family and I knew there was only one way to make my point with Mike, so I ask him . . .

"Hey Nixon . . . How would you like to be knocked out by a lightweight?"

Mike Nixon smiled, pulled his hand away, and nodded.
Mike understands crazy.


-Rick Farris

Great story, Rick.

kikibalt wrote:

The Tunnels, trainer Teddy Bentham and a Model "A" Ford . . .

These are the tunnel's right below Dodger Stadium, connecting the Pasadena Freeway with Downtown Los Angeles. My heavyweight friend, Kit Boursse' and I, would drive thru these tunnels going to and from the Main Street Gym. Kit had a Model "A" Ford, 1932 I believe it was. When you turned the ignition key "off" and then back "on" while driving, the engine would backfire. The backfire made one helluva explosion inside the tunnels.

We pissed a lot of people off doing that trick in the tunnel, but none worse than one of our passengers on a ride home from the gym, legendary trainer, Teddy Bentham. Bentham was in his 70's, and thought Kit was crazy after backfiring the car as we gave him a ride home to the San Fernando Valley shortly before his death. At the time, Bentham was training Jerry Quarry and Kit was his chief sparring partner. Teddy was staying in the Valley at the home of one of his friends, the late Eddie Foy III.

As we drove thru the tunnels with Teddy, Kit backfired the car with no warning, Teddy would go crazy and yell out, "Jesus Christ, you're out of your F__cking mind! What in the Hell is wrong with you?" I was sitting in the back, in the rumble seat behind the cab, so I got none of the heat. But I could hear him screaming, even outside the cab with all the noise of traffic.

A few weeks after the Model "A" incident, Teddy didn't show up in the gym one day for Quarry's afternoon workout. It wasn't like Teddy to be late. The next day his body was discovered in his bed. He had been dead a couple of days. Besides Quarry, I remember Teddy in the corner of the great lightweight champ, Carlos Ortiz.

There's a name from the past, Teddy Bentham. To Teddy, and my late friend Kit Boursse' . . . Rest in Peace.


-Rick Farris

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:MIKE NIXON; SO CLOSE BUT YET SO FAR
By Jim Amato



If a fighter had ” future champ ” stamped on his forehead, Mike Nixon did. He was a smooth boxer with a good punch. He had solid skills and a lot of heart. He was a real crowd pleaser. For all the attributes Mike had he lacked one thing…The ability to take a good punch. He was stopped six times in his thirty seven-bout career. In fact he stopped in three rounds by Larry Davis in his pro debut in 1970. Mike was a raw eighteen-year-old kid at the time and he showed the grit and determination to come back and win thirteen in a row. In 1971 he was halted in nine by George Davis. In 1972 twice Art Davis kayoed him. Mike learned to stay away from guys with the last name of Davis.

Mike would reel off eight victories in a row plus a ninth round no contest against the rated David Love in 1974. In 1975 he lost a decision to Olympic Gold Medal winner Sugar Ray Seales. He then scored an upset points verdict over future light heavyweight champion, Mike Rossman. The rematch produced one of the most devastating knockouts I’ve ever seen. In the seventh round of a close and competitive fight, Rossman launched a right hand that landed like a guided missile on Nixon’s jaw. Need I say ” lights out “? It was one of the hardest punches I’ve ever seen landed.

Nixon would return and in 1976 he lost in ten to clever Tony Licata. Then in a stunning upset Mike stopped the highly touted South African Gert Steyn in five rounds. Nixon was now backing in the thick of the middleweight picture. In 1977 Nixon was matched with the rough and tumble Vito Antuofermo. Vito, who was on his way to the world’s middleweight championship ended Mike’s dream in the fourth round. That was Nixon’s last fight. He retired with a very respectable 27-8-1 record. During his career he gained some acclaim as the Jerry and Mike Quarry’s brother-in-law. Nixon though cut his own path through the ratings and although he did not reach the top, he did mix with some of the best.

Mike Nixon, Jerry Quarry, Chris & Sean Penn . . .

With all respect to Jim Amato, Mike's KO loss in his pro debut wasn't to a "Larry Davis", he was KOed by George Davis in his pro debut, the same guy who would KO him later, after he'd made a name for himself. He was also KOed twice by Art Davis. Seems Mike had trouble with opponents named Davis, but never a Larry Davis.

I knew Mike both professionally and personally back in the early 70's. He and I weren't close friends, just a couple stablemates with a personal connection with the Quarry family. Mike was a little too cocky for my taste, but I credit him for being a fine boxer with a good punch, not championship material, but a good main eventer. He was good enough to end the winning streak of Mike Rossman, and would lose in a rematch for money. Mike Nixon owed money to the wrong people in Binghampton, N.Y. his hometown. To satisfy the debt, he took a dive in the rematch. The Jewish money was behind Rossman, who was of Italian/Jewish descent. Nixon was not a great middleweight, but he was clearly better than Mike Rossman.

Later, Mike Quarry, Nixon's brother-in-law would also defeat Rossman easily. When strapped for money, Mike Quarry did the same thing with the same opponent, in fact, Nixon introduced Quarry the "people" that set up the rematch. Mike Quarry would never just "lay down", he let Rossman batter him. Mike Quarry's dementia was apparent long before brother Jerry's, and one of the contributing factors was not only his brutal KO loss to light-heavy champ, Bob Foster, but also his choice to take a beating before the Rossman fight was stopped.

Mike Rossman could punch, and Nixon's chin was weak, but without "help", he would have never been a champion. Victor Galendez came along and finally showed the world what Rossman could do with a real fighter, not much.

I last spoke with Mike Nixon in the sumer of 1992. At the time we were both living on the beach in Malibu. I had an apartment on the sand a few hundred yards south of the Malibu Pier. One saturday, a friend and I are walking thru my favorite beachfront watering hole, the Pierview Cantina, when I feel a hand grab my arm. I turn to face the guy who grabbed me. I see a heavy set guy with curly silver hair in front of me. "What's your name?", he asks. "Who wants to know?" I ask, as I pull my arm away from the guy. The man smiles, are you, "Ricky Farris"? I can't recognize him. I study the face and say nothing. The man extends his right hand to shake mine, "Mike Nixon, remember me?" At the time, Mike was weighing in at 225 lbs, and as I mentioned, his hair was no longer dark. I hadn't seen Mike in more than a dozen years and he hadn't aged well. We were both 40, but he looked in his 50's.

At the time, Nixon was living with the late actor, Chris Penn, Sean's younger brother, in the home of Penn's father, TV director Leo Penn. The Penn home was up the beach a few miles on Point Dume Rd. Christopher Penn was a good guy, but a troubled one who struggled with cocaine addiction. Penn had an interest in boxing and martial arts and hired Mike to be his "personal trainer", hoping that training as a boxer might divert him from drug abuse. Fifteen years later, Chris would die of an overdose.

Mike invited me to join he and Chris at their table out on the deck. I was with my friend, Ralph, whose son was playing on the beach with my young daughters. We could see the kids playing from Mike and Chris's table so we joined them. It turned out to be a nice reunion. As Nixon and I remenisced about our late manager, Mel Epstein, Chris and my buddy Ralph just sat quietly and listened. We discussed the Rossman fight, His last with Vito Antifermo, the Davis losses, his break-up with Quarry sister, Wilma, his father Don, my dad, and a recent golf game he had shared with his former brother-in-law, Jerry Quarry.

Mike told me of meeting Jerry on a golf course in Agoura Hills, near where Jerry was living at the time. I asked how Jerry was doing and Nixon rubbed his jaw subconciously as he answered, "Well, he's still got his punch." It seems that the two had joined another pair of golfers in foursome on the course. The other two men were boxing fans and were buying drinks for the ex-fighters as the two shared stories of their careers. Nixon said he got angry that Jerry kept putting down his career and finally challeneged him, "Hey, how would you like to get knocked out by a middleweight?" Jerry turned to face his brother-in-law and attempted to grab him, Nixon fired a right cross and caught Jerry right on the chin. Quarry went down for a second, and when he got up it was his turn. Minutes later, Nixon was in an ambulence headed for the hospital. Just another day in the life of the Quarry familiy.

Chris told me that Sean was writing a script for a boxing movie, but was having trouble in his marriage to Madonna. "My brother is crazy, but that bitch is insane", Chris commented about his rock star sister-in-law. I didn't mention to Chris that I had picked up his brother Sean, who was hitchhiking on Pacific Coast Highway early one morning.

I was on my way to work at MGM, and recognized Penn with his thumb out. The future Academy Award winner has lost hid driver's license on a drunk driving charge. Why he didn't call a cab, I don't know? But he was hitch hiking. Artisits understand, but outsiders would think it's crazy.

I had worked with Sean on several pictures, "Taps" in Philadelphia when he was a kid, a loser called "Crackers" with Donald Sutherland in '82, and "Falcon and the Snowman". We weren't friends, but he knew who I was, he'd seen me around. He saw training gloves in my backseat, and had told me of his boxing script. When he learned I had boxed he began to pick my brain. I always liked the guy. I understand crazy.

I dropped him up the street from MGM, at the Culver Studios lot, where he had a meeting.

As I sat on the deck with Mike Nixon, Ralph, and Chris Penn, Nixon began to talk of his bout with Antofermo. I was sitting next to Mike and he began to tap my leg as he told the story. I grab his hand and he looks at me with that stupid grin on his face, that cocky Irish thing, I was now playing with an off-shoot of the Quarry family. I grew up with the Quarry family and I knew there was only one way to make my point with Mike, so I ask him . . .

"Hey Nixon . . . How would you like to be knocked out by a lightweight?"

Mike Nixon smiled, pulled his hand away, and nodded.
Mike understands crazy.


-Rick Farris

Rick,
Great story, I crossed paths with Mike Nixon on a quiet Saturday afternoon at Newman's Gym in S.F. and his stand out feature to me was his swagger; it appeared that if you were not "someone" you didn't exist to Mike; then he needed to barrow some sparring gloves to box with Emile Griffith; I have no idea where is gloves were but but he really poured on the charm when he barrowed mine.
Bruce

http://nymag.com/news/sports/47003/

This story appeared in the New Yorker Magazine in 1969.

It takes you into the training camp of Jerry Quarry, as he prepares for his title bout with Joe Frazier.
Grossinger's Resort in the Catskills.

The story begins with his chief sparring partner, 18-year-old amateur heavyweight, Alan (Kit) Boursse' in a sparring session with Quarry.
Boursse' was my closest friend. Reading this story brings tears to my eyes, but also happiness.
Alan did us all proud. He was just 18, stood 6'3" and at the time weighed about 198 lbs.
Johnnie Flores said Jerry had injured every sparring partner in camp, but not "Kit" Boursse'.
I remember how proud Alan (Kit) was with this story.
When he returned to L.A. he showed me the New Yorker publication. I was impressed.

This will take you inside Jerry's camp for the first Frazier fight. Just click on the above link.


-Rick Farris

Chris Arreola could fill boxing void
Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times


Chris Arreola, an unbeaten 28-year-old heavyweight, will fight 38-year-old journeyman Jameel McCline on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The heavyweight from Riverside, who will fight in Las Vegas on Saturday, says this is his time.

By Bill Dwyre
LATimes

Once boxing's heavyweight division put its ear to the ground 12 years ago, it hasn't been heard from much since.

That ear, of course, belonged to Evander Holyfield, who, somewhat pathetically, continues on.

The piece of Holyfield's ear went to the canvas when Mike Tyson bit it off. Tyson, who, somewhat pathetically, still hangs around the sport, achieved the near impossible. He sickened millions of boxing fans who assumed they couldn't be.

Yet the sport will never be as popular, nor as lucrative, without the big guys banging on each other. Oscar De La Hoya and his promoter, Bob Arum, expertly filled the void and carried the sport for much of the time since then. But whether or not he knows it, De La Hoya recently left his shoes in the ring.

The casual fan still thinks that real boxing is Dempsey-Tunney or Ali-Frazier. The sport would die for a Sonny Liston right now.

Which brings us to Chris Arreola, an unbeaten 28-year-old heavyweight from Riverside, who says he can be the savior, that 2009 is his time, and that it will come to pass this fall in a huge fight at Staples Center.

Arreola is a fascinating study. He has fought 26 times and you'd have to be an editor for Ring Magazine to recognize the names of his vanquished. He tends to be overweight, and fight that way. He has tattoos everywhere, drives one of those huge pickup trucks that should come with a ladder just to get you into the driver's seat and he has a close friend and manager who, at 31, is younger and less battle-tested than the punching bags in the gym.

"My goal for this year," Arreola says, "is to make Henry Ramirez coach of the year."

Arreola will fight 38-year-old journeyman Jameel McCline on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It isn't even the main event -- that's Paul Williams versus Winky Wright. But Ramirez says his fighter will do enough against McCline to warrant Arreola's first shot at the real big time: the Staples bout against Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko.

"Vitali said he wants to fight us there," Ramirez says, "so we will."

Still, if this all sounds like little more than boxing bravado -- a phrase that Webster should list under redundancies -- it should be reexamined.

Arreola is not a big-talking hotshot. On a podium with Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- any Mayweather for that matter -- he wouldn't get in a word. One of his tattoos is about dying young and is dedicated to his best friend, who died from bullet wounds after a gang invaded their party. He talks often about his 7-year-old daughter and has made a Yard House restaurant in a Riverside shopping mall one of his main hangouts. The bulk of the clientele, mostly schoolteachers and yuppie Lakers fans, have no idea who he is.

"Can't get in a lot of trouble there," he says.

Instead of talking tough, Arreola talks legacy, about how he wants to become the Mexican equivalent of Jack Johnson. Arreola was born in East Los Angeles, and seems to know the value of being a heavyweight champion with a Spanish surname.

"I want to leave a legacy," Arreola says. "I want to open the door for a lot of my people. I believe that, when I'm done, there will be two heavyweights of Mexican descent in the top 10.

"One time, when I was out, I had a big Mexican kid come up to me and say he looked up to me. I felt very good."

Arreola says legacy is built on longevity.

"When I get the title, I want to defend it three times a year," he says. "I want to win it, and defend it, and keep at it."

No less than HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant sees more here than a big-talking big hitter. He says it would not be surprising for Arreola to steal the night from Williams-Wright.

"That's what's bound to happen," Merchant says. "It's a test. He needs one of those to convince people that he is a serious heavyweight. Some still see him as a B-level club fighter."

Arreola's last fight, in November at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, had elements of that. He actually was knocked down by journeyman Travis Walker but rallied to knock Walker out in the third round.

It was a fight that also had the elements of great old-time heavyweight action. Huge punches. Both fighters on the canvas and against the ropes. More action packed into two-and-a-fraction rounds than you'll see on many entire fight cards.

Whether Arreola can take that brute force into the ring with an opponent who has the same, as well as boxing skills and movement, and prevail remains to be seen. The big guy from Riverside has a chance and a challenge. He can become the next heavyweight hope, or the next heavyweight dope.

The sport is watching. And listening.

[email protected].

EYESIGHT TO THE BLIND

I think one of a fighter's first signs of realizing that he's slipping is when he comes in second with his jab. I was sitting with Ronnie Wilson and Denny Moyer and the rest of the guys after a training sesiion at the Coliseum when I over heard the two friends discuss the matter.

They lamented the fact that their opponents were timing the punch. When the Irish boys would start their jab their opposition would jump their lefts in their faces before they could connect with theirs. The snap was gone. The jab was heavy.

The futility of it was that they knew there was nothing they could do to recapture the past. Besides, they'd been fighting a long time. They didn't look forward to training anymore. They hoped they just would fight a guy who had no jab. I think that was the punch they worried about the most when they climbed through the rops. The jab,if it was a good one,was somethin' they couldn't see coming until it peppered their pan. The scartissue around their eyes attested to the fact.

It was fun to watch them fight though. It was fun because I knew them. Now,looking back,I wouldn't have seen it that way. From what's been kicked around, both fellas' are hurt as they advance towards old age. There's nothin' they can do about that either. No one can do anything about preventing the aging process,but to bring a hurt fighter into that arena is something I don't like to think about.

Ronnie and Denny probably couldn't see that comin' either.

kikibalt wrote:Chris Arreola could fill boxing void
Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times


Chris Arreola, an unbeaten 28-year-old heavyweight, will fight 38-year-old journeyman Jameel McCline on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The heavyweight from Riverside, who will fight in Las Vegas on Saturday, says this is his time.

By Bill Dwyre
LATimes

Once boxing's heavyweight division put its ear to the ground 12 years ago, it hasn't been heard from much since.

That ear, of course, belonged to Evander Holyfield, who, somewhat pathetically, continues on.

The piece of Holyfield's ear went to the canvas when Mike Tyson bit it off. Tyson, who, somewhat pathetically, still hangs around the sport, achieved the near impossible. He sickened millions of boxing fans who assumed they couldn't be.

Yet the sport will never be as popular, nor as lucrative, without the big guys banging on each other. Oscar De La Hoya and his promoter, Bob Arum, expertly filled the void and carried the sport for much of the time since then. But whether or not he knows it, De La Hoya recently left his shoes in the ring.

The casual fan still thinks that real boxing is Dempsey-Tunney or Ali-Frazier. The sport would die for a Sonny Liston right now.

Which brings us to Chris Arreola, an unbeaten 28-year-old heavyweight from Riverside, who says he can be the savior, that 2009 is his time, and that it will come to pass this fall in a huge fight at Staples Center.

Arreola is a fascinating study. He has fought 26 times and you'd have to be an editor for Ring Magazine to recognize the names of his vanquished. He tends to be overweight, and fight that way. He has tattoos everywhere, drives one of those huge pickup trucks that should come with a ladder just to get you into the driver's seat and he has a close friend and manager who, at 31, is younger and less battle-tested than the punching bags in the gym.

"My goal for this year," Arreola says, "is to make Henry Ramirez coach of the year."

Arreola will fight 38-year-old journeyman Jameel McCline on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It isn't even the main event -- that's Paul Williams versus Winky Wright. But Ramirez says his fighter will do enough against McCline to warrant Arreola's first shot at the real big time: the Staples bout against Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko.

"Vitali said he wants to fight us there," Ramirez says, "so we will."

Still, if this all sounds like little more than boxing bravado -- a phrase that Webster should list under redundancies -- it should be reexamined.

Arreola is not a big-talking hotshot. On a podium with Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- any Mayweather for that matter -- he wouldn't get in a word. One of his tattoos is about dying young and is dedicated to his best friend, who died from bullet wounds after a gang invaded their party. He talks often about his 7-year-old daughter and has made a Yard House restaurant in a Riverside shopping mall one of his main hangouts. The bulk of the clientele, mostly schoolteachers and yuppie Lakers fans, have no idea who he is.

"Can't get in a lot of trouble there," he says.

Instead of talking tough, Arreola talks legacy, about how he wants to become the Mexican equivalent of Jack Johnson. Arreola was born in East Los Angeles, and seems to know the value of being a heavyweight champion with a Spanish surname.

"I want to leave a legacy," Arreola says. "I want to open the door for a lot of my people. I believe that, when I'm done, there will be two heavyweights of Mexican descent in the top 10.

"One time, when I was out, I had a big Mexican kid come up to me and say he looked up to me. I felt very good."

Arreola says legacy is built on longevity.

"When I get the title, I want to defend it three times a year," he says. "I want to win it, and defend it, and keep at it."

No less than HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant sees more here than a big-talking big hitter. He says it would not be surprising for Arreola to steal the night from Williams-Wright.

"That's what's bound to happen," Merchant says. "It's a test. He needs one of those to convince people that he is a serious heavyweight. Some still see him as a B-level club fighter."

Arreola's last fight, in November at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, had elements of that. He actually was knocked down by journeyman Travis Walker but rallied to knock Walker out in the third round.

It was a fight that also had the elements of great old-time heavyweight action. Huge punches. Both fighters on the canvas and against the ropes. More action packed into two-and-a-fraction rounds than you'll see on many entire fight cards.

Whether Arreola can take that brute force into the ring with an opponent who has the same, as well as boxing skills and movement, and prevail remains to be seen. The big guy from Riverside has a chance and a challenge. He can become the next heavyweight hope, or the next heavyweight dope.

The sport is watching. And listening.

[email protected].

He's a bum. Enough said.

Amir Khan will get his first chance at a world title on 27 June when he fights WBA light-welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik in Britain.
The 22-year-old from Bolton defeated Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in their lightweight contest in Manchester last month.
But he will move up a division to take on Germany-based Ukrainian Kotelnik at an as-yet undecided venue.
"To fight for the world title in only my 22nd fight is fantastic," said Khan.
"This is the best news that I could have received. Frank (Warren, promoter) has done a great job getting the world title fight for me in Britain and now I have to go out and win it.
"I've seen Kotelnik a few times and I've always been impressed by him but once my trainer Freddie Roach works out the game plan to beat him it's my job to execute it on the night, as I did effectively against Barrera."
Following his knockout defeat by Breidis Prescott last September, Khan's hopes of a world title fight seemed a distant hope.
However, the performance against Barrera, which saw him win courtesy of a fifth-round technical stoppage, has put him back on track.
Most of his campaigning until now has been in the lightweight division where he won the Commonwealth, WBO and WBA intercontinental titles but he beat Rachid Drilzane for the IBF intercontinental light-welterweight title in December 2006 in London.
Kotelnik, who won Olympic lightweight silver at the 2000 Games in Sydney, four years before Khan did the same in Athens, has fought in Britain three times previously.
His first fight, in 2005, saw him beaten by Junior Witter in a European light-welterweight title fight.
In 2007 he held then WBA World Champion Souleymane M'Baye to a draw and last year he beat Gavin Rees to win the WBA crown.
Promoter Warren said: "This is the moment that Amir has been waiting for and I'm delighted to deliver him the opportunity.
"Amir put in a sensational performance against a three-time world champion and future Hall of Famer in Barrera in only his 21st fight and now he has to produce the same form against Kotelnik, who is a good hard fighter."

From the BBC Sport website

Mickey Walker

The Toy Bulldog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5krtVb9zZFI


Chubby Checker

Let's Twist Again

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

Joe Frazier singing "First Round Knockout"

Not exactly a knockout performance