Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

The Man behind the Belt . . .


It used to mean something to have a belt.
As a kid, when I fought in the juniors, we'd get trophies, sometimes Jackets, trunks and robes.
This is what we got, those of us who fought amateur in Los Angeles during the 1960's.

You know the Baltazar home had to be filled to the ceiling with trophies, plaques, medals . . . back when the kids were growing up.
Frank fought for sixteen years. That equates to a lot of trophies.
Then he has three sons who went from diapers to pro careers, winning most every amateur title they competed for. More trophies.

I wouldn't doubt Frankie Jr. or Tony won some sort of pro "belt", because they reached the top contender status.
However, belts weren't as common when they were amateurs as they are today, and at least rated a championship.

A few years after I turned pro, I'd occasionally attend an amateur contest, sometimes present an award.
I noticed that on occasion, the amateur awardee would receieve a medal. That was kind of nice, too.

Today, if you wish to expect a nice turn out of competitors, you better have some cool "belts" to award the winners.
I'm not talking about somebody who wins a championship, just the guy who gets the nod in a close contest.
I'm seeing kids under the age of ten posing for photos with 3 or 4 huge belts strapped around their waist, chest, both shoulders.
How is it that these kids who fight for points with headgear, have earned more belts than Dempsey, Louis, Robinson, Marciano???

We have a 51-year-old Heavyweight, with a half dozen unsanctioned boxing contests held in small, out-of-the-way villages below the border.
He cannot qualify for a pro license in this country, but the guy has already garnered himself two gigantic ring belts.
Each one identifies him as some sort of champion.

Frank, did you ever win a belt? Randy? Pug? Dan? Roger? Bennie? Bruce? Tom?
I have a big box full of broken trophy pieces. I once opened it up and resisted the urge to trash it.
I reached in and pulled out two pieces, one from a '66 Jr. Golden Gloves 2nd place trophy, the other from a '69 West.Reg. GG's Champion's trophy.
When I move the box around, it feels like a sack of old bones. Plaques and trophies with missing face plates, wood, marble, brass, plastic everywhere.
A belt or medal would have made more sense, less parts to deal with.

Still, the belt used to say something more. It meant something.
I didn't need one, it was reserved for the best.
I could live with that.

Now I see ten-year-olds wearing championship belts.
That's hard to live with.


-Rick Farris

Rick
Muhammad Ali 's farm in Michigan was the site of an interview Ali had with the late Ed Bradley. As they sat outside the barn for the interview ,Bradley asked Ali what was inside the barn. Ali said nothing was inside there worth mentioning. Bradley,curious to a fault,poked his head inside anyway. What he saw through the obscure haze amazed him. Covered with spider webs and pidgeon poop were all of Ali's awards and trophies,including his belts.

I'm not surprised, Roger.
I'm sure the stuff will be preserved.
However, the thought of losing Muhammad Ali is beyond comprehension.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Trophies and more trophies



We had more trophies than space to up put them at, as you can see all the trophies on our fireplace mantel, said trophies are all gone now, what happened to them? don't know, we still have a few plaques, thats all.....

Rick, thats my late cousin Tony Adame, who promoted Jr. fights in Santa Ana, with my sister Annie, Connie and Frankie Jr....Circa 1970

[Rick Farris]

Trophies and more trophies



We had more trophies than space to up put them at, as you can see all the trophies on our fireplace mantel, said trophies are all gone now, what happened to them? don't know, we still have a few plaques, thats all.....

Rick, thats my late cousin Tony Adame, who promoted Jr. fights in Santa Ana, with my sister Annie, Connie and Frankie Jr....Circa 1970

I knew the face, but couldn't place him.
I fought on a couple shows he put on with Rudy Perez at the Hod Carriers Union Hall in Santa Ana, 1967.
Am I right?

And about the trophies, I knew it


-Rick

[kikibalt]

Trophies and more trophies



We had more trophies than space to up put them at, as you can see all the trophies on our fireplace mantel, said trophies are all gone now, what happened to them? don't know, we still have a few plaques, thats all.....

Rick, thats my late cousin Tony Adame, who promoted Jr. fights in Santa Ana, with my sister Annie, Connie and Frankie Jr....Circa 1970

I knew the face, but couldn't place him.
I fought on a couple shows he put on with Rudy Perez at the Hod Carriers Union Hall in Santa Ana, 1967.
Am I right?

And about the trophies, I knew it


-Rick

Rick, Tony died in 1990 of some kind of heart disease, he was 45 years old.

[Rick Farris]

Trophies and more trophies



We had more trophies than space to up put them at, as you can see all the trophies on our fireplace mantel, said trophies are all gone now, what happened to them? don't know, we still have a few plaques, thats all.....

Rick, thats my late cousin Tony Adame, who promoted Jr. fights in Santa Ana, with my sister Annie, Connie and Frankie Jr....Circa 1970

I knew the face, but couldn't place him.
I fought on a couple shows he put on with Rudy Perez at the Hod Carriers Union Hall in Santa Ana, 1967.
Am I right?

And about the trophies, I knew it


-Rick

Rick, Tony died in 1990 of some kind of heart disease, he was 45 years old.

He looked familiar, but I didn't know him.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Luck and a Bald Head . . .

Three days after my 17th birthday, I was eligable to sign up for the 1969 Western Region Golden Gloves Championships.
I had nothing but junior amateur bouts until then, but had been around for nearly five years.

In 1969, you had to be seventeen to qualify for an amateur boxing license and an AAU card. Eighteeen for a pro license.
I'd been working out with pros for years, but I was only seventeen and a flyweight. 112 pounds
There were two flyweights in novice class, but neither would fight me.
I fought in the open class, and whipped a good flyweight out of Washington State named Gary Ferrari in the finals.

We would go to the National Tournament of Champions in Kansas City.
The following month, basicly the same team would travel to San Diego for the '69 National AAU finals. I'll find a program somewhere.
We had a coach, a guy I'd known for years from the juniors, Jake Horn.
Jake was bald and always wore a cap.

Jake was always a team coach and traveled with us. Real good guy!
Before we would leave the dressing room to fight, Jake would pull off his cap and bend his head forward for us to rub it.
That was supposed to be "Good luck".
Of course, it was a nice jesture and all, but it did me no good in my second AAU Nationals match, when an Army champ kicked my ass pretty good.
But it had worked in my previous bout, when I flattened the All-Marine Champ in less than a minute.

Jake was a good guy to the boxers, we had fun with him.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

VIVA MARIA

School'e wrapping up(thank God),tests are over and done with,and all I need to do to put a cap on it is submit my grades. While working on my grades I show a movie. Today I finished up with the old classic from the 30's "Viva Villa". Being that most of my class is Mexican kids,I figure they'd be interested. Some are. Some aren't. Very very few know anything about Pancho Villa.

If you want a study on Villa,this movie is mostly Hollywood expanding the legend and ignoring the facts. The point though with "Viva Villa" is that Wallace Beery(about a gringo a guy imaginable)captured the personality of the famous Centaur Of The North better than any screen potrayal that I've seen. Even the Mexican film legands like Infante,Armendariz,and Indio Fernandez missed the mark when trying to be Pancho.

But I want to focus now on the nuances I see in this movie. These nuances are even in the other movies (Mexican renditions especially) that move me deeply. The soldaderas. The women who followed the troops behind the battlefields. Sometimes onto those battle fields.

The soldaderas(women soldiers in a sense) were something special. They took care of their men after the battles. Their children. They cooked. Washed. Treated the wounds. Strong women. Women who ran very deep in the character pool.

My wife,Maria,has always reminded me of the soldaderas. Children and men feel safe with her. She'll tend to them. Care without being asked. Instictively knowing a step ahead what needs to be addressed. Unbreakable under duress. The Indian. Indian tears.Crying without sound. Surviving is her way of living.She loves living for all the people who need her. There are many.

Mexico is a matriarchal society in a macho world. The Virgin of Guadalupe,the patron saint, is apropos. When the earth is dried up and the dust is blown away,there will be a soldadera that will be the last beating heart.

[bennie]

The Man behind the Belt . . .


It used to mean something to have a belt.
As a kid, when I fought in the juniors, we'd get trophies, sometimes Jackets, trunks and robes.
This is what we got, those of us who fought amateur in Los Angeles during the 1960's.

You know the Baltazar home had to be filled to the ceiling with trophies, plaques, medals . . . back when the kids were growing up.
Frank fought for sixteen years. That equates to a lot of trophies.
Then he has three sons who went from diapers to pro careers, winning most every amateur title they competed for. More trophies.

I wouldn't doubt Frankie Jr. or Tony won some sort of pro "belt", because they reached the top contender status.
However, belts weren't as common when they were amateurs as they are today, and at least rated a championship.

A few years after I turned pro, I'd occasionally attend an amateur contest, sometimes present an award.
I noticed that on occasion, the amateur awardee would receieve a medal. That was kind of nice, too.

Today, if you wish to expect a nice turn out of competitors, you better have some cool "belts" to award the winners.
I'm not talking about somebody who wins a championship, just the guy who gets the nod in a close contest.
I'm seeing kids under the age of ten posing for photos with 3 or 4 huge belts strapped around their waist, chest, both shoulders.
How is it that these kids who fight for points with headgear, have earned more belts than Dempsey, Louis, Robinson, Marciano???

We have a 51-year-old Heavyweight, with a half dozen unsanctioned boxing contests held in small, out-of-the-way villages below the border.
He cannot qualify for a pro license in this country, but the guy has already garnered himself two gigantic ring belts.
Each one identifies him as some sort of champion.

Frank, did you ever win a belt? Randy? Pug? Dan? Roger? Bennie? Bruce? Tom?
I have a big box full of broken trophy pieces. I once opened it up and resisted the urge to trash it.
I reached in and pulled out two pieces, one from a '66 Jr. Golden Gloves 2nd place trophy, the other from a '69 West.Reg. GG's Champion's trophy.
When I move the box around, it feels like a sack of old bones. Plaques and trophies with missing face plates, wood, marble, brass, plastic everywhere.
A belt or medal would have made more sense, less parts to deal with.

Still, the belt used to say something more. It meant something.
I didn't need one, it was reserved for the best.
I could live with that.

Now I see ten-year-olds wearing championship belts.
That's hard to live with.


-Rick Farris

Nah, I never even had a bout. I sparred and trained and even got my amateur licence but it just didn't happen. My twin was always the sportier one.

[bennie]

The Lonsdale Belt is made of real gold and porcelain. Close up, Rick, it is mindblowing.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Bennie, one day I hope to see one up close. Maybe next year, when we visit the U.K.?
I think many of the belts today are made of vinyl and brass, which is appropriate.


-Rick Farris
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bennie . . .
Maybe if Cooper or one of the Brits gets inducted this year, I'll encourage them to bring a Lonsdale Belt along?
It would be a nice touch to a video interview.
Mainly, I'd just love to see the beautiful belt.
Would be a great subject to photograph!


-Rick

Gleaming under the ring lights, on a fighter, it looks dazzling.

[bennie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XWwLeXzoTs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2xFARmIIRI

Freddie Mills vs. Bruce Woodcock

You know, Mills fought Gus Lesnevich for the world light-heavyweight title and Woodcock in the space of 21 days (conceding real weight to Woodcock, of course). He suffered a bad beating in both and contant headaches after his career came to an end. He officially committed suicide in his car but the shotgun was found standing up neatly in the car. Some say an alleged homosexual relationship he was having with Ronnie Kray was about to be exposed...

[kikibalt]

Luck and a Bald Head . . .

Three days after my 17th birthday, I was eligable to sign up for the 1969 Western Region Golden Gloves Championships.
I had nothing but junior amateur bouts until then, but had been around for nearly five years.

In 1969, you had to be seventeen to qualify for an amateur boxing license and an AAU card. Eighteeen for a pro license.
I'd been working out with pros for years, but I was only seventeen and a flyweight. 112 pounds
There were two flyweights in novice class, but neither would fight me.
I fought in the open class, and whipped a good flyweight out of Washington State named Gary Ferrari in the finals.

We would go to the National Tournament of Champions in Kansas City.
The following month, basicly the same team would travel to San Diego for the '69 National AAU finals. I'll find a program somewhere.
We had a coach, a guy I'd known for years from the juniors, Jake Horn.
Jake was bald and always wore a cap.

Jake was always a team coach and traveled with us. Real good guy!
Before we would leave the dressing room to fight, Jake would pull off his cap and bend his head forward for us to rub it.
That was supposed to be "Good luck".
Of course, it was a nice jesture and all, but it did me no good in my second AAU Nationals match, when an Army champ kicked my ass pretty good.
But it had worked in my previous bout, when I flattened the All-Marine Champ in less than a minute.

Jake was a good guy to the boxers, we had fun with him.


-Rick Farris

Rick....I remember Jake Horn real good, met him in the mid-1950's, real nice guy, BUT! I would never ride with him in a car if he was driving, 90 miles an hour was too slow for him....

[kikibalt]

Photo courtesy of Rick Farris

1969 Southern Pacific A.A.U. Champions, El Monte Legion Stadium

(top row) Pete Despart, ?, ?, Mike Quarry, ?, ?, James Dick, Jake Horn, "Kit" Boursse', Manny Diaz, Memo Soto.
(bottom row) Ernie DeFrance, Pete Vital Sr, Pete Vital Jr., Florentino Ramirez, Rudy "Porky" Acuna, Rick Farris, Tommy Coulson, Henry Verastique.

As this photo was taken, the Quarry family, and the family of Mike Quarry's opponent, James Dick, were involved in a little disagreement at ringside. It was settled by the riot squad of the El Monte Police Dept.

[scartissue]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XWwLeXzoTs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2xFARmIIRI

Freddie Mills vs. Bruce Woodcock

You know, Mills fought Gus Lesnevich for the world light-heavyweight title and Woodcock in the space of 21 days (conceding real weight to Woodcock, of course). He suffered a bad beating in both and contant headaches after his career came to an end. He officially committed suicide in his car but the shotgun was found standing up neatly in the car. Some say an alleged homosexual relationship he was having with Ronnie Kray was about to be exposed...

Bennie, I always heard that the Mills 'suicide' was a bit bizarre. I heard Kray was a bit of a flamer but Mills?? Were the Kray brothers the nut jobs the movie made them out to be? I always heard they were involved in boxing, whether it be always being seen at the fights or promoting/staging benefits??? Anytime I hear the name Krays, I'm always reminded of that classic Monty Python skit, which was obviously based on the Krays. Remember the Piranha bros. skit about Doug and Dinsdale? We were doing the voice of the giant hedgehog for weeks at school. "Dinsdale!!!!"

Scartissue

[bennie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XWwLeXzoTs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2xFARmIIRI

Freddie Mills vs. Bruce Woodcock

You know, Mills fought Gus Lesnevich for the world light-heavyweight title and Woodcock in the space of 21 days (conceding real weight to Woodcock, of course). He suffered a bad beating in both and contant headaches after his career came to an end. He officially committed suicide in his car but the shotgun was found standing up neatly in the car. Some say an alleged homosexual relationship he was having with Ronnie Kray was about to be exposed...

Bennie, I always heard that the Mills 'suicide' was a bit bizarre. I heard Kray was a bit of a flamer but Mills?? Were the Kray brothers the nut jobs the movie made them out to be? I always heard they were involved in boxing, whether it be always being seen at the fights or promoting/staging benefits??? Anytime I hear the name Krays, I'm always reminded of that classic Monty Python skit, which was obviously based on the Krays. Remember the Piranha bros. skit about Doug and Dinsdale? We were doing the voice of the giant hedgehog for weeks at school. "Dinsdale!!!!"

Scartissue

The Krays had the fear factor over east London and people were too scared to grass them. As with the IRA in Belfast,they dealt out their own justice.
Yes, Mills was potentially a closet homosexual.

[Rick Farris]

Photo courtesy of Rick Farris

1969 Southern Pacific A.A.U. Champions, El Monte Legion Stadium

(top row) Pete Despart, ?, ?, Mike Quarry, ?, ?, James Dick, Jake Horn, "Kit" Boursse', Manny Diaz, Memo Soto.
(bottom row) Ernie DeFrance, Pete Vital Sr, Pete Vital Jr., Florentino Ramirez, Rudy "Porky" Acuna, Rick Farris, Tommy Coulson, Henry Verastique.

As this photo was taken, the Quarry family, and the family of Mike Quarry's opponent, James Dick, were involved in a little disagreement at ringside. It was settled by the riot squad of the El Monte Police Dept.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling . . .

I can be seen in the photo with the rest of our AAU Team for 1969, however, Frank was also there.
As the photographer snapped photos, the team and Frank Baltazar (off camera) enjoyed the safety of the ring.

There was big trouble brewing at ringside.
A Quarry won the last bout. Mike got the nod over a Hillbilly, and the Clampett family wasn't happy.
Lots of things being thrown at ringside- punches, purses, cups of beer, men rolling around the ground in head locks.
A woman's wig suddenly flys thru the air like a platinum pigeon, a cherry bomb explodes.
The majority of the battle is being waged by the women, lots of biting, scratching and kicking. Somebody gets stabbed.

Ma Quarry is brought in to settle the mess, she's wearing high-heels for the first time ever and she ain't happy.
Hard enough to walk in the damn things, now she's gotta fight in them.
A moment later the two old broads are on the ground, Ma Quarry vs. Granny Clampett.
The Riot Squad bursts in, pulls the men apart and cuffs them.
Elly May is maced before she can level Wilma Quarry with a fold-up chair.

The riot squad sees that it's best to deal with the men first, and are slow to approach Ma Quarry as she pounds Granny.
Ma suddenly pins Granny Clampett and jumps to her feet.
A policeman attempts to cuff the mother of the world's #2 ranked heavyweight.

"Get your friggin hands off of me. Can't you see I am a lady?"

Without blinking an eye, the policeman replies, "Yes Mam."
He then moved away to deal with another suspect, brother Jimmy. The Quarry men aren't as dangerous as the women.

Just a typical Saturday evening at the El Monte Legion Stadium.
Irish eyes were smiling.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Photo courtesy of Rick Farris

1969 Southern Pacific A.A.U. Champions, El Monte Legion Stadium

(top row) Pete Despart, ?, ?, Mike Quarry, ?, ?, James Dick, Jake Horn, "Kit" Boursse', Manny Diaz, Memo Soto.
(bottom row) Ernie DeFrance, Pete Vital Sr, Pete Vital Jr., Florentino Ramirez, Rudy "Porky" Acuna, Rick Farris, Tommy Coulson, Henry Verastique.

As this photo was taken, the Quarry family, and the family of Mike Quarry's opponent, James Dick, were involved in a little disagreement at ringside. It was settled by the riot squad of the El Monte Police Dept.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling . . .

I can be seen in the photo with the rest of our AAU Team for 1969, however, Frank was also there.
As the photographer snapped photos, the team and Frank Baltazar (off camera) enjoyed the safety of the ring.

There was big trouble brewing at ringside.
A Quarry won the last bout. Mike got the nod over a Hillbilly, and the Clampett family wasn't happy.
Lots of things being thrown at ringside- punches, purses, cups of beer, men rolling around the ground in head locks.
A woman's wig suddenly flys thru the air like a platinum pigeon, a cherry bomb explodes.
The majority of the battle is being waged by the women, lots of biting scratching and kicking, somebody gets stabbed.

Ma Quarry is brought in to settle the mess, she's wearing high-heels for the first time ever and she ain't happy.
Hard enough to walk in the damn things, now she's gotta fight in them.
A moment later the two old broads are on the ground, Ma Quarry vs. Granny Clampett.
The Riot Squad bursts in, pulls the men apart and cuffs them.
Elly May is maced before she can level Wilma Quarry with a fold-up chair.

The riot squad sees that it's best to deal with the men first, and are slow to approach Ma Quarry as she pounds Granny.
Ma suddenly pins Granny Clampett and jumps to her feet.
A policeman attempts to cuff the mother of the world's #2 ranked heavyweight.

"Get your friggin hands off of me. Can't you see I am a lady?"

Without blinking an eye, the policeman replies, "Yes Mam."
He then moved away to deal with another suspect, brother Jimmy. The Quarry men aren't as dangerous as the women.

Just a typical Saturday evening at the El Monte Legion Stadium.
Irish eyes were smiling.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Our Coaches . . .

We had good coaches in L.A.
Our teams were always well represented in the corner.
One of the coaches pictured in an AAU Team photo above, is kneeling in the bottom row, all the way to the left.

His name is Ernie DeFrance, and Ernie worked with boxers out of the Seaside Gym in Long Beach.
Ernie fought pro in the mid-40's out of Wichita, Kansas.

In just over three years as a pro, Ernie racked up 57 bouts.
Several months after his pro debut, Ernie traveled Kansas City and fought TWICE in one night.
In his first bout of the evening, he flattened his opponent in one round.
In his second fight of the night, he scored another first round knockout, stopping future contender "Spider Webb" in one round.
Ernie's record reflects that he was a big puncher, stopping Webb reflects a lot of skill.

Ernie was just one of several coaches training kids at the Seaside Gym.
Another Seaside Gym coach was former light heavyweight contender, Sonny Ray, formerly of Chicago.

The reason Los Angeles always did well in National amateur tournaments is largely the result of great coaching.
And we liked to fight!


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Now "Perro" was sick, sick my ass, he just can't fight

HBO’s Harold Lederman shares his thoughts.
By Michele Chong

The popular unofficial judge is always great to catch up with, and an in-
MC: LAST WEEKEND ALFREDO ANGULO WAS UPSET BY KERMIT CINTRON. “PERRO” WAS SICK, BUT STILL FOUGHT. WAS IT OBVIOUS TO YOU HE WAS ILL?

HL: Rumors were rampant last week that Angulo was sick. He didn’t show up on site until a day before the fight, missing a Wednesday press conference. He didn’t make any excuses, and never attempted to pull out or postpone the fight. It showed in his performance.

MC: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING AWARD FROM THE BWAA. TELL ME ABOUT THE ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER.

HL: The Boxing Writers Association of America has had an annual dinner honoring the best in our sport for many years. This year the bulk of the work putting it together has gone to new President Jack Hirsch, aided by Gina Andriolo. This year’s dinner will feature a live appearance by the 2008 Fighter of the Year, Manny Pacquiao, plus Joe Calzaghe who will also be there from Wales.

For those of you who have not yet had the chance to meet the colorful character that is Harold Lederman, know that he is one of the most knowledgeable and engaging boxing personalities you will ever find. His dedication and passion for the sport is clearly evident.

More with one of boxing’s biggest icon’s next week–including his updates on the Klitschko-Haye bout!

[Rick Farris]

Now "Perro" was sick, sick my ass, he just can't fight

HBO’s Harold Lederman shares his thoughts.
By Michele Chong

The popular unofficial judge is always great to catch up with, and an in-
MC: LAST WEEKEND ALFREDO ANGULO WAS UPSET BY KERMIT CINTRON. “PERRO” WAS SICK, BUT STILL FOUGHT. WAS IT OBVIOUS TO YOU HE WAS ILL?

HL: Rumors were rampant last week that Angulo was sick. He didn’t show up on site until a day before the fight, missing a Wednesday press conference. He didn’t make any excuses, and never attempted to pull out or postpone the fight. It showed in his performance.

MC: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING AWARD FROM THE BWAA. TELL ME ABOUT THE ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER.

HL: The Boxing Writers Association of America has had an annual dinner honoring the best in our sport for many years. This year the bulk of the work putting it together has gone to new President Jack Hirsch, aided by Gina Andriolo. This year’s dinner will feature a live appearance by the 2008 Fighter of the Year, Manny Pacquiao, plus Joe Calzaghe who will also be there from Wales.

For those of you who have not yet had the chance to meet the colorful character that is Harold Lederman, know that he is one of the most knowledgeable and engaging boxing personalities you will ever find. His dedication and passion for the sport is clearly evident.

More with one of boxing’s biggest icon’s next week–including his updates on the Klitschko-Haye bout!

This is the voice of one of the "Ladies" involved with boxing today.
Angulo is a fav of the females of L.A. boxing.
However, we guys know the guy can't fight beyond "club fighter" level.
He loves to get hit, so there is a place for him in the world of boxing.
Eventually he'll be walking on his heels, then he'll be gone.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Sonny Ray & The Seaside Gym . . .

I remember seeing Sonny Ray at amateur boxing shows all thru the later 60's.
Sonny worked with Ernie DeFrance and company at Long Beach's Seaside Gym.
Jake Shagrue took over the place around that time.

In 1969, Sonny joined DeFrance, Jake Horn, and Memo Soto as a coach for our Southern Pacific AAU team.
We'd compete in the Nationals in San Diego in early April.
We'd all be lodged at the Le Baron Hotel on San Diego's Hotel Circle.

Sonny Ray was born in Tennesee in 1936. He grew up in Chicago but would begin his pro boxing career in California, at age 18.
From the mid-50's-to-60's, Ray fought some of the best lightheavy's of the era.
In 1959, he took on World Light Heavyweight champ, Harold Johnson, in a ten-rounder at Chicago Stadium. Losing by 10th rd. TKO.
A year later, he returned to Chicago Stadium to fight another light-heavy champ, Willie Pastrano. He lost a close decision.

Sonny wasn't afraid to fight the best in their hometowns.
He'd travel to Peru to face, Mauro Mina.
In London, he'd fight Chic Calderwood at Wembley Stadium.
In Hawaii, he'd face Bobo Olson.

Between ages 18 and 30, Sonny Ray fought nearly fifty pro fights.
When he joined our AAU team as a coach, he was 33, had retired three years earlier after losing to Matt Blow in San Bernardino.
He was quiet, spoke when it was necessary and wasn't afraid to bark at the Long Beach boxers.
Everybody liked the man, and respected him.

The only time I saw Sonny Ray smile was after the tournament finals.
The old men were all in one of the coach's rooms. They had a card table set up, cards and poker chips out.
With money on the table and a bath tub filled with ice and booze, they were good for the night.
We were looking for women, and so was everybody else. Some upped their odds below the border.

We'd leave for home the next day. More than 350 boxers were suddenly running wild thru the hotel, San Siego, and T.J.
The fights were over. The dogs were all let out for the night. No woman was safe.
However, the older guys let the younger guys go out and get themselves in trouble. They'd all been there, done that, no mas.

Our lightweight punched out a bartender in TJ.
A couple days later his dad bailed him out of the Tijuana Jail.
There were other adventures.

The old guys played it smart. Drank all night, poker all night. Eventually they went to sleep.
The next day, all coaches were ready to leave early.
Some of us were suffering pain that had nothing to do with punches.

Sonny Ray just shook his head.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Rick...Did you watch the movie?

[Rick Farris]

Rick...Did you watch the movie?

Yeah! I made Monica watch it with me.
She enjoyed it, and I love it!.
They also mentioned "El Monte".

By the way, this is the first time I've seen the movie since I've worked in the film business.
I noticed that the Director of Photography was Russell Harlin.
Harlin is a Hollywood legend as a cinematographer.
Low budget, yes. But it had a quality that I love.
You could see some of the background boxers at Teamsters were real fighters.
Great to see Keeny Teran, and Art Aragon. He was really hot then.

Thanks again!


-Rick

[Expug]

VIVA MARIA

School'e wrapping up(thank God),tests are over and done with,and all I need to do to put a cap on it is submit my grades. While working on my grades I show a movie. Today I finished up with the old classic from the 30's "Viva Villa". Being that most of my class is Mexican kids,I figure they'd be interested. Some are. Some aren't. Very very few know anything about Pancho Villa.

If you want a study on Villa,this movie is mostly Hollywood expanding the legend and ignoring the facts. The point though with "Viva Villa" is that Wallace Beery(about a gringo a guy imaginable)captured the personality of the famous Centaur Of The North better than any screen potrayal that I've seen. Even the Mexican film legands like Infante,Armendariz,and Indio Fernandez missed the mark when trying to be Pancho.

But I want to focus now on the nuances I see in this movie. These nuances are even in the other movies (Mexican renditions especially) that move me deeply. The soldaderas. The women who followed the troops behind the battlefields. Sometimes onto those battle fields.

The soldaderas(women soldiers in a sense) were something special. They took care of their men after the battles. Their children. They cooked. Washed. Treated the wounds. Strong women. Women who ran very deep in the character pool.

My wife,Maria,has always reminded me of the soldaderas. Children and men feel safe with her. She'll tend to them. Care without being asked. Instictively knowing a step ahead what needs to be addressed. Unbreakable under duress. The Indian. Indian tears.Crying without sound. Surviving is her way of living.She loves living for all the people who need her. There are many.

Mexico is a matriarchal society in a macho world. The Virgin of Guadalupe,the patron saint, is apropos. When the earth is dried up and the dust is blown away,there will be a soldadera that will be the last beating heart.

Rog, I was impressed with Maria when I met her . I remember thinking that she had a certain wisdom. She has a calmness about her that sets a person at ease. But, it seems the calmness that can be found in a warrior. There is nothing superficial there. She is , I believe, a very strong woman.

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Photo courtesy of Rick Farris

1969 Southern Pacific A.A.U. Champions, El Monte Legion Stadium

(top row) Pete Despart, ?, ?, Mike Quarry, ?, ?, James Dick, Jake Horn, "Kit" Boursse', Manny Diaz, Memo Soto.
(bottom row) Ernie DeFrance, Pete Vital Sr, Pete Vital Jr., Florentino Ramirez, Rudy "Porky" Acuna, Rick Farris, Tommy Coulson, Henry Verastique.

As this photo was taken, the Quarry family, and the family of Mike Quarry's opponent, James Dick, were involved in a little disagreement at ringside. It was settled by the riot squad of the El Monte Police Dept.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling . . .

I can be seen in the photo with the rest of our AAU Team for 1969, however, Frank was also there.
As the photographer snapped photos, the team and Frank Baltazar (off camera) enjoyed the safety of the ring.

There was big trouble brewing at ringside.
A Quarry won the last bout. Mike got the nod over a Hillbilly, and the Clampett family wasn't happy.
Lots of things being thrown at ringside- punches, purses, cups of beer, men rolling around the ground in head locks.
A woman's wig suddenly flys thru the air like a platinum pigeon, a cherry bomb explodes.
The majority of the battle is being waged by the women, lots of biting, scratching and kicking. Somebody gets stabbed.

Ma Quarry is brought in to settle the mess, she's wearing high-heels for the first time ever and she ain't happy.
Hard enough to walk in the damn things, now she's gotta fight in them.
A moment later the two old broads are on the ground, Ma Quarry vs. Granny Clampett.
The Riot Squad bursts in, pulls the men apart and cuffs them.
Elly May is maced before she can level Wilma Quarry with a fold-up chair.

The riot squad sees that it's best to deal with the men first, and are slow to approach Ma Quarry as she pounds Granny.
Ma suddenly pins Granny Clampett and jumps to her feet.
A policeman attempts to cuff the mother of the world's #2 ranked heavyweight.

"Get your friggin hands off of me. Can't you see I am a lady?"

Without blinking an eye, the policeman replies, "Yes Mam."
He then moved away to deal with another suspect, brother Jimmy. The Quarry men aren't as dangerous as the women.

Just a typical Saturday evening at the El Monte Legion Stadium.
Irish eyes were smiling.


-Rick Farris

Classic

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Sonny Ray & The Seaside Gym . . .

I remember seeing Sonny Ray at amateur boxing shows all thru the later 60's.
Sonny worked with Ernie DeFrance and company at Long Beach's Seaside Gym.
Jake Shagrue took over the place around that time.

In 1969, Sonny joined DeFrance, Jake Horn, and Memo Soto as a coach for our Southern Pacific AAU team.
We'd compete in the Nationals in San Diego in early April.
We'd all be lodged at the Le Baron Hotel on San Diego's Hotel Circle.

Sonny Ray was born in Tennesee in 1936. He grew up in Chicago but would begin his pro boxing career in California, at age 18.
From the mid-50's-to-60's, Ray fought some of the best lightheavy's of the era.
In 1959, he took on World Light Heavyweight champ, Harold Johnson, in a ten-rounder at Chicago Stadium. Losing by 10th rd. TKO.
A year later, he returned to Chicago Stadium to fight another light-heavy champ, Willie Pastrano. He lost a close decision.

Sonny wasn't afraid to fight the best in their hometowns.
He'd travel to Peru to face, Mauro Mina.
In London, he'd fight Chic Calderwood at Wembley Stadium.
In Hawaii, he'd face Bobo Olson.

Between ages 18 and 30, Sonny Ray fought nearly fifty pro fights.
When he joined our AAU team as a coach, he was 33, had retired three years earlier after losing to Matt Blow in San Bernardino.
He was quiet, spoke when it was necessary and wasn't afraid to bark at the Long Beach boxers.
Everybody liked the man, and respected him.

The only time I saw Sonny Ray smile was after the tournament finals.
The old men were all in one of the coach's rooms. They had a card table set up, cards and poker chips out.
With money on the table and a bath tub filled with ice and booze, they were good for the night.
We were looking for women, and so was everybody else. Some upped their odds below the border.

We'd leave for home the next day. More than 350 boxers were suddenly running wild thru the hotel, San Siego, and T.J.
The fights were over. The dogs were all let out for the night. No woman was safe.
However, the older guys let the younger guys go out and get themselves in trouble. They'd all been there, done that, no mas.

Our lightweight punched out a bartender in TJ.
A couple days later his dad bailed him out of the Tijuana Jail.
There were other adventures.

The old guys played it smart. Drank all night, poker all night. Eventually they went to sleep.
The next day, all coaches were ready to leave early.
Some of us were suffering pain that had nothing to do with punches.

Sonny Ray just shook his head.


-Rick Farris

Rick , looking at Sonny Rays record, I see that he fought Rico Brooks in 1955.
Rico fought Ken Norton in 1975.
I believe Tom/ Raylaw was in Ricos corner.
Which reminds me, where is Tom. I hope hes ok . He hasnt felt well lately.