Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Maybe one of you guys can answer this for me. Why didn't Jose Legra stay in Mexico after Castro banned boxing? Napoles and Sugar Ramos certainly benifitted more by staying in Mexico . Legra was in Mexico,but moved to Spain. I think it hurt his career. I saw him on closed circuit destroy Clemente Sanchez. Lost a very close majority decision to Jofre in Brazil. I thought Legra was one of the all time classic boxers. Had that Cuban flair and style. Any of you guys no why he went to Europe? I know his last fight was in LA.

Dago, your last sentence has my curiosity up. I see on Legra's record him fighting Daniel Valdez in L.A. in '75. I'm not saying it absolutely did not happen, but I seriously doubt it. For one, I don't remember it and I was glued to the magazines in those days. I only remember the Arguello fight as his last. Also, researching this, I can't find anything, no report on it. I think Boxrec is phenominal. The ultimate search engine for boxing research, but every so often I think a ringer gets caught up in the spokes and this could be one unless you guys recall this fight happening. Also, I question the final Frankie Crawford fight. They list him coming back after two years retirement and going down to Mexico to get KO'd by Jose Luis Ramirez. It could have happened but I don't remember reading about it at the time. What year did Frankie get shot?

Scartissue

Scar
You're probably right. I went to the BoxRec records and saw that. It looked unusual since Legra never fought here before.It certainly would have grabbed your interest. Thanks

[kikibalt]

Maybe one of you guys can answer this for me. Why didn't Jose Legra stay in Mexico after Castro banned boxing? Napoles and Sugar Ramos certainly benifitted more by staying in Mexico . Legra was in Mexico,but moved to Spain. I think it hurt his career. I saw him on closed circuit destroy Clemente Sanchez. Lost a very close majority decision to Jofre in Brazil. I thought Legra was one of the all time classic boxers. Had that Cuban flair and style. Any of you guys no why he went to Europe? I know his last fight was in LA.

Dago, your last sentence has my curiosity up. I see on Legra's record him fighting Daniel Valdez in L.A. in '75. I'm not saying it absolutely did not happen, but I seriously doubt it. For one, I don't remember it and I was glued to the magazines in those days. I only remember the Arguello fight as his last. Also, researching this, I can't find anything, no report on it. I think Boxrec is phenominal. The ultimate search engine for boxing research, but every so often I think a ringer gets caught up in the spokes and this could be one unless you guys recall this fight happening. Also, I question the final Frankie Crawford fight. They list him coming back after two years retirement and going down to Mexico to get KO'd by Jose Luis Ramirez. It could have happened but I don't remember reading about it at the time. What year did Frankie get shot?

Scartissue

Called Don Fraser and he said it never happened at the Forum, George Parnassus died in 75' and Don took over at that point and he don't remember that fight taking place.

[Rick Farris]

Henry Cooper...1969

This is a better fighter than he is credited for. Henry's left hook put a young Cassius Clay on the deck, and of course, Cooper's bloody face ended the fight shortly afterwards.

I had an opportunity to watch some footage of Cooper, and it was really impressive how much pop he had in that left hook. Save his paper thin, scar tissue laced eye brows, this small heavyweight by today's standards, would do quite well against today's lot, and I would bet catch either one of the Klit brothers with that cherry picker hook he drilled Ali with. If that hook were to find it's spot on the very brittle chins, and questionable hearts of the new Russian brigade, then the heavyweight title would return to England, where it first came from.

The trick for Cooper would be to LAND the hook, before he bled to death.

God save the Queen! :)

-Rick Farris

Great left hook, and a great competitive spirit. Henry was ruthless in there but struggled against stocky guys (after Patterson, he wanted no part of the likes of Quarry and Chuvalo) and was much better against guys who he could punch 'up' against. He had a shot against Ellis in 1969 but our Boxing Board did not recognise the WBA and refused to let him travel. There was a lot of fallout from that at the time.
Incidentally, believe it or not, Henry wasn't really a 'bleeder'. He always said the Ali (Clay) fights gave that impression because of the terrible cuts he picked up but he rarely cut in the rest of his career. Henry is an identical twin, you know. When he and George turned pro, George was actually regarded as the better fighter. His career was curtailed by hand injuries.

Bennie, I had a girlfriend in Hertsfordshire, during the 90's, who sent me a great book on Cooper titled, "Our 'Enry". What a great book, and a special man.


-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Henry Cooper vs Dick Wipperman

Jesus, that's a heavy knockdown! Look at the guy's leg.

Whoa!!!!!!

[kikibalt]

Rick Farris and Gene Lebell

[dagosd2000]

Here's a nice story coming out of Southeast San Diego. Today is the second day of the Martin Bayless/La' Roi Glover Football Camp in San Diego. The fellas have been putting this on for 19 years. The reason I bring it up is I used to coach La' Roi in high school. I remember him being a 14 year old freshman. He was bussed in with other kids from Logan Heights out to Point loma High School near the beach.

He was kind of a scary kid. Big,around 250 pounds and he didn't talk much. We put him on the varsity right away because of his size and his quickness. He was put together and was fast. But this kid was really a nice guy. He didn't talk because he was shy. Going to a school out at the beach sort of put him in a shell,except on the football field. By the time he was in the 10th grade you knew, if he could keep his focus,he was going to a Division I school.

He'd hang around the other black kids from Logan and mostly talked about sports. He knew the game. He could tell you what was happening on the other side of the ball. He could see the big picture. I think the girls were strong on him because of his shyness,but La'Roi couldn't think of anything to talk about except sports. On time I saw him watching the team play beseball and this cute girl sits next to him .All he could talk about was who were the best "dunkers" in pro basketball. La' Roi's mother would come and watch every practice. She was a security guard at a defense plant and right after work,she'd rush down to the field,sit in the bleachers and watch practice. Often Mrs. Glover would bake cookies and after practice we'd eat cookies. Chocolate chip was her specialty. La'Roi's father,I guess,split the scene long ago. One day over by the fence was this skinny old guy watching practice. I found out later it was La' Roi's father. La' Roi didn't go ever and say anything to him.

La' Roi had a brother and a sister. His brother was year older than him,and also was a good athlete. Not as good as La'Roi, but good enough to get a ride to San Diego State. I was getting back to lifting weights again,and after practice it was most of the time just me and La' Roi lifting iron. The 6 o'clock the bus would then come to pick up the kids from Logan who were playing sports and take them home. One time I saw that La' Roi had left his Levis in the weight room. Inside the pocket was a 5 dollar bill. I figured La' Roi had a need for the money so I drove out to where he lived to bring him back the Levis and the 5 dollars.

La'Roi,his mother,brother,and sister lived in the back of an alley in a converted garage on Market Street. There were no windows,only a door. I knocked on the door and I could here people rumbling around. La' Roi opened the door. I could see one of those big yellow boxes of generic brand cereal on a table.That was their dinner. Often after practice I'd drive La'Roi home. He was one of my linemen,so I had to take care of him. I'd offer to buy lunch,and never got a "no." He always wanted to go to "Mickey D's".

By the time La'Roi was a junior,he was first team CIF. His senior year he was a Parade Magazine Defensive Player and Most Valuable Player in the County. La'Roi had 10 million offers,but decided to go to San Diego State to be with his brother. State knew what they were doing when they gave his broither a ride. They knew La' Roi would follow him. The thing is,I don't remember his brother playing a down for San Diego State. But the Glovers were a very close family.

At State La'Roi makes All League as a freshman,starts every game for 4 years,and is drafted by the Raiders. His pro career has been great. He led the league in sacks one year and has been to the Pro Bowl around a half a dozen times. His career is winding down. I saw him at the Super Bowl Party in San Diego. He was playing for the Saints at the time and was commanding one of the "food stations" that represented each city that had a NFL team. He couldn't have done better overseeing the eats at the New Orleans booth. It was Shrimp Creole and I could see that La' Roi had made history of the yellow boxes of generic cereal. He came over when he saw me and we hugged. His family was there and you could see they were very proud of him. He bought his mother and grandmother a house. Set up his sister in a dress boutique in LA. I don't know what he did for his brother,but he didn't look worried.

Over the years I figure La'Roi has grossed around 50 million dollars. When he was with the St. Louis Rams he was voted one of the NFL players of the year for doing charity work. He puts on his clinic with Martin Bayless every year and then takes the 2000 kids that sign up for the camp to a big banquet with their families at the Hall of Champions at Balboa Park. I was thinking of going to his camp this morning,but I figured with 2000 kids practicing footbal he had more important things to do than take away his time from those kids. Besides I know I'll bump into him again sometime. I'll ask him to take me to lunch.

[dagosd2000]

This is a better fighter than he is credited for. Henry's left hook put a young Cassius Clay on the deck, and of course, Cooper's bloody face ended the fight shortly afterwards.

I had an opportunity to watch some footage of Cooper, and it was really impressive how much pop he had in that left hook. Save his paper thin, scar tissue laced eye brows, this small heavyweight by today's standards, would do quite well against today's lot, and I would bet catch either one of the Klit brothers with that cherry picker hook he drilled Ali with. If that hook were to find it's spot on the very brittle chins, and questionable hearts of the new Russian brigade, then the heavyweight title would return to England, where it first came from.

The trick for Cooper would be to LAND the hook, before he bled to death.

God save the Queen! :)

-Rick Farris

Great left hook, and a great competitive spirit. Henry was ruthless in there but struggled against stocky guys (after Patterson, he wanted no part of the likes of Quarry and Chuvalo) and was much better against guys who he could punch 'up' against. He had a shot against Ellis in 1969 but our Boxing Board did not recognise the WBA and refused to let him travel. There was a lot of fallout from that at the time.
Incidentally, believe it or not, Henry wasn't really a 'bleeder'. He always said the Ali (Clay) fights gave that impression because of the terrible cuts he picked up but he rarely cut in the rest of his career. Henry is an identical twin, you know. When he and George turned pro, George was actually regarded as the better fighter. His career was curtailed by hand injuries.

Bennie, I had a girlfriend in Hertsfordshire, during the 90's, who sent me a great book on Cooper titled, "Our 'Enry". What a great book, and a special man.


-Rick Farris

Rick I have to second that. I always thought that 'Ol Enery was a gentleman,and I know the Brits loved him for that class he showed in public and to his opponents. I've got a picture of Cooper somewhere selling a pear to an old English lady. He had a "green grocer" store. (I always like the different names the Brits have for things). They're both smiling.

As for that left hook.you could make a case that it could have been the best one at that time. Even better than Smokin' Joe's. Cooper threw it fast and high. I never saw Clay fall as hard and on "queer street' like the time the green grocer hit him with the produce stand.

[dagosd2000]

Hey Pug ,first it's making snowmen,now I hear it's raining. Put the row boat away and let us know what's going on in the Windy,Snowy,Rainy,and Hot As Hell In The Summer Time City.

[kikibalt]

Archie Moore abd Bob Dunlap

[kikibalt]

[Expug]

Hey Pug ,first it's making snowmen,now I hear it's raining. Put the row boat away and let us know what's going on in the Windy,Snowy,Rainy,and Hot As Hell In The Summer Time City.

Im here partner.
Just reading and learning from you guys.
This thread is really something special.Im really enjoying it.

[Expug]

Rick Farris and Gene Lebell

Rick, give me your thoughts on Gene.
Being a fellow Judoka and a big propnent of cross training , Ive always admired his skill.
Hes had quite a life.
What a charachter.Hes a stuntman now .
I,d love to do that , what a blast, I can take real good falls also!

[kikibalt]

Rick Farris and Gene Lebell

I can take real good falls also!

I hope you didn't learn how to fall from your fights

[scartissue]

Talking about the proposed Ellis-Cooper fight had me thinking of that era and I finally had an opportunity to sit down right now and watch the Patterson-Ellis fight on Youtube. I had never seen that fight before, so I took out pen and paper ready to score. Of course, we've heard through the years a total robbery and you have the Swedes who will cheer at everything Patterson throws and of course, Howard Cosell and his ramblings. Putting all that on the backburner, after 14 rounds I scored it 8-3-3 for Patterson. I say after 14 because on Youtube the transmission was interrupted after a minute and a half through the 15th. I felt Patterson was having a very good 15th, but you can't score a partial round. Also, Ellis went down in the 14th but the Ref and sole judge Harold Valan ruled it a slip. IMO, it was no slip. Patterson caught him with a right uppercut and he went down but pulled Floyd with him. Twice Ellis shook his head, not in disagreement, but trying to clear the cobwebs and then he staggered to his corner. You don't try to clear the cobwebs from a slip. That was a knockdown but obviously can't be scored that way if the ref says no. I will say one thing, Floyd had awful lulls in the bout where all he did was bounce around on the balls of his feet. But when he cut loose or used his jab which he should have done more of, he was dynamite. I had it very close through 8 rounds before Floyd started pulling away. I'd be interested in you guys take on the fight.

Scartissue

[dagosd2000]

Archie Moore abd Bob Dunlap

Hey Frank
I heard one time Archie talking about how he opened a fried chicken restaurant in Southeast San Diego during the War. Said he liked chicken almost as much as women and boxing. Was making a lot of money with the restaurant,but had to make a choice. The restaurant or the ring. Now I like fried chicken as much as the next fella',but then I would have never seen him fight Durelle.

[Rick Farris]

Rick Farris and Gene Lebell

Rick, give me your thoughts on Gene.
Being a fellow Judoka and a big propnent of cross training , Ive always admired his skill.
Hes had quite a life.
What a charachter.Hes a stuntman now .
I,d love to do that , what a blast, I can take real good falls also!

PUG . . .Gene is a very interesting charactor, and a very dangerous one. He is most defintily a stunt man, and I know him more from our involvement in the film industry, than I do from boxing. I do recall seeing Gene outside the Olympic Auditorium on thursday fight nights, standing near the box office area. His mother, of course, was promoter Aileen Eaton.

Today, Gene runs a Hollywood Stunt School, in fact, he has for years. I remember he and I talking back in 1978, when he was a stunt player on the Universal TV series, "Six Million Dollar Man". We'd kill time between shots and discuss his mother, The Olympic, his wrestling tales (which are truly classic, involving Strangler Lewis, and other legends that taught him the art of "Grappling".)

As you mentioned, he is an accomplished Judo master, and his signature move is his "Sleeper Hold", guaranteed to make his victims nod out. I have a story that comes from Michael Landon's ex-stunt double, Hal Burton, that tells of he and his brother Billy attending Gene's stunt school, trying to learn some wrestling moves they could use in their stunt gags.

Of course, every stunt man wants to learn Gene's "Sleeper Hold", and he agrees to show anybody that is willing to let him choke them out, just to understand the effects. None of the stunt guys wanted to be choked out, however, like cowboys, they had to do it, and Burton said it was quite an odd feeling. About a dozen years ago, I would experience the effects of the sleeper hold, when Gene showed me how to do it. And man, you just wake up with your head in his arms.

Anybody who wants to meet Gene, and learn about his form of Judo/grappling, need only to show up at the Hollywood gym he runs with his #1 student, Gokar. On monday nights, it's "visitors night", and you can either join in, or watch. For most, I recommend the latter.

Gene LeBell has a very, very interesting life, and past. The stories he could tell, if he would, and he won't, are amazing, as is the man.
Gene, like quite few I know in L.A. has quite a presence.

If anybody is interested in hearing a true, behind-the-scenes story about Gene LeBell, and how he "choked out" Steven Segall on a film set, well, I know the REAL story (yes, there are several versions, and Gene would prefer all be forgotten.)


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Rick Farris and Gene Lebell

Rick, give me your thoughts on Gene.
Being a fellow Judoka and a big propnent of cross training , Ive always admired his skill.
Hes had quite a life.
What a charachter.Hes a stuntman now .
I,d love to do that , what a blast, I can take real good falls also!

PUG . . .Gene is a very interesting charactor, and a very dangerous one. He is most defintily a stunt man, and I know him more from our involvement in the film industry, than I do from boxing. I do recall seeing Gene outside the Olympic Auditorium on thursday fight nights, standing near the box office area. His mother, of course, was promoter Aileen Eaton.

Today, Gene runs a Hollywood Stunt School, in fact, he has for years. I remember he and I talking back in 1978, when he was a stunt player on the Universal TV series, "Six Million Dollar Man". We'd kill time between shots and discuss his mother, The Olympic, his wrestling tales (which are truly classic, involving Strangler Lewis, and other legends that taught him the art of "Grappling".)

As you mentioned, he is an accomplished Judo master, and his signature move is his "Sleeper Hold", guaranteed to make his victims nod out. I have a story that comes from Michael Landon's ex-stunt double, Hal Burton, that tells of he and his brother Billy attending Gene's stunt school, trying to learn some wrestling moves they could use in their stunt gags.

Of course, every stunt man wants to learn Gene's "Sleeper Hold", and he agrees to show anybody that is willing to let him choke them out, just to understand the effects. None of the stunt guys wanted to be choked out, however, like cowboys, they had to do it, and Burton said it was quite an odd feeling. About a dozen years ago, I would experience the effects of the sleeper hold, when Gene showed me how to do it. And man, you just wake up with your head in his arms.

Anybody who wants to meet Gene, and learn about his form of Judo/grappling, need only to show up at the Hollywood gym he runs with his #1 student, Gokar. On monday nights, it's "visitors night", and you can either join in, or watch. For most, I recommend the latter.

Gene LeBell has a very, very interesting life, and past. The stories he could tell, if he would, and he won't, are amazing, as is the man.
Gene, like quite few I know in L.A. has quite a presence.

If anybody is interested in hearing a true, behind-the-scenes story about Gene LeBell, and how he "choked out" Steven Segall on a film set, well, I know the REAL story (yes, there are several versions, and Gene would prefer all be forgotten.)


-Rick Farris

Rick
I know LeBell was also friends with George"Superman" Reeves. I think he choked out Superman once too.

[Rick Farris]

Gene LeBell . . .

For another side to Gene LeBell, one that I recall from nearly 32 years ago. This is history, American history, and it ain't pretty:

http://www.konformist.com/rocknroll/chaos.htm

Check this out.

-Ricardo

[Rick Farris]

Gene LeBell . . .

For another side to Gene LeBell, one that I recall from nearly 32 years ago. This is history, American history, and it ain't pretty:

http://www.konformist.com/rocknroll/chaos.htm

Check this out.

-Ricardo

While reading the above story link, I not only found the story of Gene's involvement in the CIA Bobby Hall murder case, but also that of another guy I knew much better, Bill Mentzer. Bill is doing life for his roll in the Cotton Club murders, however, this publication names him as being with Mama Cass, when she died.

Mentzer was kind of a shady white dude. One of these guys with the mid-70's, open shirt, hairy chest look, a guy who did porn, drove a Ferrari registered to his boss, a connected "buidling contractor". He was basicly a punk, who asked me to show him some boxing moves, but didn't have the nuts for real fighting. However, when his boss hung a note on somebody, Bill would have a few drinks, to loosen up, and then do his job.

His run ended at the Westwood Holiday Inn, right off the 405 at Sunset Bl.
He was set-up, and will never again be free. It was strange stumbling across the name Bill Mentzer, once again.

Funny who we cross paths with in life, huh?

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Alvaro "Yaqui"Lopez vs Michael Spinks

[kikibalt]

Mickey Northrup

I seen Mickey fight a few time back in the 1950's at the Hollywood Legion.

[Rick Farris]

Alvaro "Yaqui"Lopez vs Michael Spinks

What a great guy, Yaqui Lopez! At this past year's WBHOF banquet, Lopez took time to sit down for an interview, and I was able to shoot Lopez and my partner, Dan Hanley.

What great memories he shared, and some with tears. The previous year, we did an interview with Lopez, and another world champ he'd fought, Mathew Saad Mahammad. This was one of those sessions where we got some on-camera disagreement relating to who did what, in which fight, where, ??? etc. However, in the end, these guys really provided a very warm, informative interview.

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

Mickey Northrup

I seen Mickey fight a few time back in the 1950's at the Hollywood Legion.

Irish-Mexican blood, not a bad combo for a fighter, but didn't seem to get this guy a win over the big names. He really fought some greats of the era. He fought a lot at the Hollywood Legion, during the years Hap Navarro was putting matches together.

Frank, what are your memories of this guy?

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Mickey Northrup

I seen Mickey fight a few time back in the 1950's at the Hollywood Legion.

Irish-Mexican blood, not a bad combo for a fighter, but didn't seem to get this guy a win over the big names. He really fought some greats of the era. He fought a lot at the Hollywood Legion, during the years Hap Navarro was putting matches together.

Frank, what are your memories of this guy?

-Rick Farris

Rick,

Mickey was a Class A fighters, boxer/puncher, he had a hard time beating the top guys of his era, but, just look at the names on his record, he fought them all ,no shame in losing to those guys.

Who knows?, with better management how far he could have gone.

[Rick Farris]

Mickey Northrup

I seen Mickey fight a few time back in the 1950's at the Hollywood Legion.

Irish-Mexican blood, not a bad combo for a fighter, but didn't seem to get this guy a win over the big names. He really fought some greats of the era. He fought a lot at the Hollywood Legion, during the years Hap Navarro was putting matches together.

Frank, what are your memories of this guy?

-Rick Farris

Rick,

Mickey was a Class A fighters, boxer/puncher, he had a hard time beating the top guys of his era, but, just look at the names on his record, he fought them all ,no shame in losing to those guys.

Who knows?, with better management how far he could have gone.

Thanks, Frank. I did check Mickey's record and was impressed. The names Jimmy Carter, Carlos Ortiz, Paulie Armstead, Ralphh Dupas, Rudy Jordan, etc. These are just a few of the world class oppostion Mickey Northrup faced. Considering the class of those days, it's important to hear of Mickey's talent from you, not a news article written by the "wrong" reporter.

-Rick Farris