BoxRec

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Connie, Linda, her husband Ray and I are off to Phoenix tomorrow morning (6:A.M, driving) to vist Tony and Bobby and families, will be back on Monday, I will use The boys computers to keep in touch.

We're in Phoenix, having a good time, keep the posting coming.

Frank, have great time with your sons! Give my best to Tony and Bobby.

Randy

Frank
Have a great time with the family. It's raining here today in San Diego, probably in L.A. too. You knew when to get out of town. Rog

Hey guys, its nice out here right now, not yet 100 degrees, but its getting there, sorry Rog, no rain.

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Connie, Linda, her husband Ray and I are off to Phoenix tomorrow morning (6:A.M, driving) to vist Tony and Bobby and families, will be back on Monday, I will use The boys computers to keep in touch.

We're in Phoenix, having a good time, keep the posting coming.

Frank, have great time with your sons! Give my best to Tony and Bobby.

Randy

Will do, Randy....

kikibalt wrote:Hey guys, its nice out here right now, not yet 100 degrees, but its getting there, sorry Rog, no rain.

Phoenix memories . . .

Frank, I'm curious if Carbajal's 16th Street Gym is still open?
The building was once a central Phoenix church, located in the barrio, right across the street from the home where Michael Carbajal grew up.
A couple months ago I spoke with my friend Ricky, and he said Danny Carbajal was in prison.
I know that Danny ran the gym.

About ten years ago, I stopped by the gym with a couple of boxers from our club who would spar with Michael.
At the time, Carbajal was training for his last bout in Mexico, against Jorge Arce.

I liked Michael Carbajal, a good little fighter. Sadly, there was a lot of trouble in the family.
I remember Michael getting arrested for fighting with a cop.
Then his younger brother Angel, who actually took care of the gym, was murdered in a Phoenix bar.
Then all the trouble with brother Danny.

Although I didn't care for 100+ degree weather five months each year, I liked the boxing people in Arizona.
I became close with the Rodriguez family, who ran the Madison Gym.
Ricky Ricardo's mother knew that my mother loved Menudo, and would always bring some to the gym for me to take to my mom.
Lots of boxers would show up at the gym who'd come across the border from the state of Sinaloa, J.C. Chavez territory.
I have good memories of Phoenix, but the heat gets to you after a few months of it.

By the way, I remember a manager I met while in Phoenix. His name was Al Fenn.
Fenn once managed Zora Folley, Stevie Espinosa, Manny Elias and many of the best boxers from Arizona.
Ricky told me that Fenn passed away recently.
Another guy I liked was the boxing commissioner, former boxer Tony Montano, who fought a lot of top fighters.


-Rick Farris

Manolete

Backyard Gym's of Maricopa County, Arizona . . .

Backyard boxing gyms have been around forever.
In 1965, I started out in a backyard gym, in Pacoima, California.
Nearly twenty years earlier, Frank Baltazar began his boxing career in a backyard gym near East L.A.

When I was living in the Phoenix area, 1999-2002, I worked with boxers at a central Phoenix boxing gym, located about a block from the State Capitol.
About a mile or so east, Michael Carbajal's 16th St. Gym occupied a refurbished neighborhood church.
Carbajal had trained his entire life in the backyard gym behind his home across the street. His professional earnings bought the church building.
There were dozens of other clubs, some big, some small dotting the area.

During the time I was working with boxers at the Madison Gym, Mike Tyson was training there.
He had just finished his last prison sentence, and would begin traning at Madison during July.
He went directly to Maryland to visit his wife Monica and the children after his release, then to Arizona to begin training for the Orlin Norris fight.

In the summer of 1999, we'd close up the gym around sunset, and I'd drive to my home in Tempe thru South Phoenix.
Along Baseline Road, as you approach South Mountain, you'd see a lot of small side roads, or streets, that would lead to a small neighborhood, barrio, whatever?
These places usually had a little land, at least an acre or more.
I wanted to know the area, so I'd drive my pick-up thru just about every road, barrio, ranch, farm, downtown, you name it, I drove it.

What I found in several of the little enclaves, was backyard boxing gyms. All had boxing rings, some cruder than others, but all functional.
All had heavy bags hanging from ceiling beams, or tree branches, one speed bag, a double-end bag, everything necessary.
In one little barrio, hidden by trees several blocks above Baseline around 40th Street, I see a wooden sign nailed to a telephone pole.
The hand painted sign reads- "Gonzalez Boxing Club" with an arrow pointing down a cul-d-sac.

I had to see this. It was about 5pm and when I pulled up to this home, I could hear the speed bag tapping out a beat in the back.
I walk around and find about ten kids, between 6 and 18, training in the backyard gym.
A ring sat beneath a huge tree, two kids in head gear & cups were boxing, others skipped rope, shadow boxed, or pounded the bags.
I walk up to the oldest guy there and introduced myself. We talked about boxing, his club, his plans.
I was invited back. I wanted to do a story on his club, which represented to me backyard clubs thruout the world.

I left the Gonzalez Boxing Gym. As the sun set behind me, I drove down Baseline to Tempe.
I remembered that Madison Gym owner, Richard Rodriguez, had told me of he and his brothers starting out in their own backyard gym.
Richard, and brother Al, both began as children in Eloy, Arizona. Eloy is a small town that sits between Phoenix and Tucson. Not much around.
They would work all day, sunrise-to-sunset picking cotton. Then they'd go to their backyard gym and box, hit the canvas body bag, and roadwork.
Richard had a great amateur career. Fought professionally. Whipped Referee Richard Steele in an amateur bout. Brother Al was even better.
Both would retire, become gym owners, have rival clubs. Typical brotherly love garbage.

Arizona cities are seperated by miles of desert.
Not everything is conveniently close. Backyard gyms are a necessity in Az.
It was good to find them as I explored Maricopa County.


-Rick Farris

Rick, Thanks for that great story on backyard gym's, lot of us got into boxing through 'Backyard gym's" I know I did with "Tiger"

Vlad Klitschko vs David Haye . . .

This one is scheduled just three weeks from tonight on HBO.
I hope for boxing, Bennie, and the rest of the world that David Haye uncorks one of his hooks on Lurch's chin.

This over-sized embarrassment to the Heavyweight Crown must go, and so must Valuev and the others.


-Rick Farris

Hey Frank . . .

Did you see Kermit Cintron and Alfredo Angulo tonight on HBO?
Our thoughts about Angulo were validated.


-Rick Farris

OH HUM

So if you didn't have HBO ,you missed the Cintron/Angulo fight. I'm in the midst of watching Berto/Urango. What I want to say is the fights tonight aren't much. Angulo is an awkward fighter and slow. Cintron ran away enough to "win."

Berto is a wild swinger with a too wide a stance. I can't figure what Urango is trying to do.

So these fights are on HBO. In the day when there was a main event on three nights a week on regular TV,fights like the ones tonight would be "sluffed off". There would be three more on TV the next week. Maybe they'll be better.

If I couldn't get enough boxing on TV,I'd ride down to the San Diego Coliseum. Maybe cross the border to take in their weekly card. I could always find plenty of action in Los Angeles.

I'll get back to watching Berto/Urango now. I hear some noise. What the hell,at least it isn't on Pay Per View.They wouldn't have got my dough.

I just took a peek at Berto/Urango. I walked into the living room and asked the wife to make me a grilled cheese sandwich and serve me a bowl of "lentejas". I'll think I'll eat my food watching Sabado Gigante in the living room with my wife. I'll say one thing about the Spanish language programs,the women are BEAUTIFULL.

The four Latino dudes fighting tonight just didn't have that eye appeal. Let me know who wins the main event.

Pay per view.
Those words never sit well with me.It aint that Im cheap.
Back in the seventies and early eighties you could see great fights on the regular tube.
I still remember back in the late seventies being able to get boxing from the Olympic on what was once called UHF.
It was channel 44 here in Chicago.That was when I first saw "SuperFly" throw leather.

dagosd2000 wrote:I just took a peek at Berto/Urango. I walked into the living room and asked the wife to make me a grilled cheese sandwich and serve me a bowl of "lentejas". I'll think I'll eat my food watching Sabado Gigante in the living room with my wife. I'll say one thing about the Spanish language programs,the women are BEAUTIFULL.

The four Latino dudes fighting tonight just didn't have that eye appeal. Let me know who wins the main event.

Rog . . . I watched the Angulo fight for one reason, to see him lose. I knew it was just a matter of time.
He's too eager to eat leather. A stupid, one dimensional tough guy.
I know a couple gals who will be heartbroken Angulo lost.

You are right about the crap quality we've to choose from today- bad & worse.
I need to re-up my DVD supply. The older stuff, 40's & 50's. I like to show it to people as an example of true prizefighting.

Could you see Angulo matched with a prime Denny Moyer at 155lbs.? Or Joey Giambra?
The success bus has just pulled to the side of the road to let Angulo out. His heart was strong, but his ride was short.

I believe Kermit Cintron left a stamp on Angulo's forehead- "Opponent".
We'll still see Alfredo Angulo, he'll just be in the other corner, the guy who is bleeding.
He'll win again, but never against a fighter who can think, and knows how to win. That's what real champions do.

As for Berto, after watching the first round, I turned off the TV and Monica and I went out to get ice cream.


-Rick Farris

Rick Farris wrote:Vlad Klitschko vs David Haye . . .

This one is scheduled just three weeks from tonight on HBO.
I hope for boxing, Bennie, and the rest of the world that David Haye uncorks one of his hooks on Lurch's chin.

This over-sized embarrassment to the Heavyweight Crown must go, and so must Valuev and the others.


-Rick Farris

I don't fancy Haye in Germany - in England, yes, but not over there. Wlad is too used to hammering decent heavies over there.
I hope I'm wrong.

Expug wrote:Pay per view.
Those words never sit well with me.It aint that Im cheap.
Back in the seventies and early eighties you could see great fights on the regular tube.
I still remember back in the late seventies being able to get boxing from the Olympic on what was once called UHF.
It was channel 44 here in Chicago.That was when I first saw "SuperFly" throw leather.

Brian, I remember channel 44 well. That was how my love for west coast boxing started. Man, they never seemed to follow set schedules, so me and my Pops might be up at all hours to catch a fight. Jim Healy at ringside for the Olympic telecasts and Mickey Davies and Tom Harmon on the Forum telecasts. Amazing that it's been 37 years since they first beamed that into Chicago. Conversely, last night me and Pops were watching Berto and Urango and, in the 8th round I woke up, looked over to see my Pops also bored unconscious and I said, "C'mon Dad, I'll take you home, we've watched enough of this."

Scartissue

Rick Farris wrote:Hey Frank . . .

Did you see Kermit Cintron and Alfredo Angulo tonight on HBO?
Our thoughts about Angulo were validated.


-Rick Farris

No, missed it, I went to sleep early, but it seem like you and I were right, I wonder what Gwen is saying now.

Expug wrote:Pay per view.
Those words never sit well with me.It aint that Im cheap.
Back in the seventies and early eighties you could see great fights on the regular tube.
I still remember back in the late seventies being able to get boxing from the Olympic on what was once called UHF.
It was channel 44 here in Chicago.That was when I first saw "SuperFly" throw leather.

Brian . . .

I remember UHF channels. In L.A. I would see boxing from Mexico on UHF, and occasionally from Las Vegas, held at the Silver Slipper.
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez's early TV bouts, also those featuring Adolph Pruitt and Ferd Henandez would be broadcast.


-Rick Farris

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Hey Frank . . .

Did you see Kermit Cintron and Alfredo Angulo tonight on HBO?
Our thoughts about Angulo were validated.


-Rick Farris

No, missed it, I went to sleep early, but it seem like you and I were right, I wonder what Gwen is saying now.

I'll see Gwen and Josie today at an amateur card that Josie is promoting in Bell Gardens.
I won't say anything, and I don't imagine they will, either.


-Rick Farris

Frank,Rick,Brian,Dan

We remember the fights that were shown on regular TV. The 50's thru the early 80's I remember guys that BOXED. They stood in the middle of the ring feignting,jabbing,countering,moving their heads,moving their feet,slipping punches,looking for openings.They had good balance. We've discussed this before. The trainers were better and deeper. This has attributed a lot to what kind of quality fighters we have today. A trainer can't teach skills if he doesn't know what they are. It would be like me trying to teach the Civil War not knowing about the battles.

Nostalgia is a beautiful thing.
Im remembering back to all these things from the old days including UHF.
We used to watch wrestling after church on Sunday mornings on UHF also.
A guy named Bob Luce used to promote what was called All Star Championship wrestling.
It was sponsored by Bens Auto Sales on Chicagos South Side. This was gritty stuff and great entertainment.
I would go over to Johnny Gambacortas house after mass , watch the matches and then practice the moves.Those were the days.
UHF and a supplex off a bunk bed were all the fancy technology we needed.

Rick...Remember ON TV?, the first of cable TV in L.A....Frankie and Tony fought twin main events on the first boxing show on ON TV back in the early 1980's.
Both won by second round KO

bennie wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Vlad Klitschko vs David Haye . . .

This one is scheduled just three weeks from tonight on HBO.
I hope for boxing, Bennie, and the rest of the world that David Haye uncorks one of his hooks on Lurch's chin.

This over-sized embarrassment to the Heavyweight Crown must go, and so must Valuev and the others.


-Rick Farris

I don't fancy Haye in Germany - in England, yes, but not over there. Wlad is too used to hammering decent heavies over there.
I hope I'm wrong.

I understand, Bennie. However, all it takes is one shot on this bum's chin, Vlad has a heart the size of a pea.
I won't expect anything, but just one good shot and it won't matter where the fight is held.

-Rick Farris

Rick Farris wrote:

bennie wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Vlad Klitschko vs David Haye . . .

This one is scheduled just three weeks from tonight on HBO.
I hope for boxing, Bennie, and the rest of the world that David Haye uncorks one of his hooks on Lurch's chin.

This over-sized embarrassment to the Heavyweight Crown must go, and so must Valuev and the others.


-Rick Farris

I don't fancy Haye in Germany - in England, yes, but not over there. Wlad is too used to hammering decent heavies over there.
I hope I'm wrong.

I understand, Bennie. However, all it takes is one shot on this bum's chin, Vlad has a heart the size of a pea.
I won't expect anything, but just one good shot and it won't matter where the fight is held.

-Rick Farris

True Rick, but only bet Monica's savings on a Haye win.

dagosd2000 wrote:Frank,Rick,Brian,Dan

We remember the fights that were shown on regular TV. The 50's thru the early 80's I remember guys that BOXED. They stood in the middle of the ring feignting,jabbing,countering,moving their heads,moving their feet,slipping punches,looking for openings.They had good balance. We've discussed this before. The trainers were better and deeper. This has attributed a lot to what kind of quality fighters we have today. A trainer can't teach skills if he doesn't know what they are. It would be like me trying to teach the Civil War not knowing about the battles.

That's the truth, Rog. And yes, I often watch those fights today. You said it right. These guys would shuffle in and out, in range, slipping, countering, jabbing, hooking off jabs, with short little uppercuts and hooks. Timing, beautiful stuff. What would Floyd Mayweather Jr. do with these guys? An Ike Williams? When guys like Jackie McCoy passed on, and the rest of the great ones, the "little things" that were so big in importance to boxers, was somewhat lost. With time, the talent continues to deteriorate, and a lot has to do with society, the world. Yeah, we saw the last of the best.


-Rick Farris

I understand, Bennie. However, all it takes is one shot on this bum's chin, Vlad has a heart the size of a pea.
I won't expect anything, but just one good shot and it won't matter where the fight is held.

-Rick Farris
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True Rick, but only bet Monica's savings on a Haye win.
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Monica says