Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

You dont see this every day.
I enjoy mma. Its a combat sport and I find most of them interesting. Of course boxing is an addiction to me and always will be.
I was watching an mma fight the other night and the two fighters threw right hands at the same time.
One guys right hand got there a second before the other guy. However, the second punch that landed took the first guy out of there. Knocked out. In other words, the fighter who beat the other fighter to the punch was knocked out. Almost always,the guy who gets there first in that scenario does the damage. We've all seen this many times.
Does this tell us something about mma fighters punches? mma fighters chins? I dont know. But again, I found it odd.
You dont see it every day.

Brian, I was over the other day seeing my Pops and found him watching an MMA match. He'll watch anything pitting two combatants against one another, even though he hates the sport. Anyway, one dude was on top of the other with the guy on the bottom with his legs locked around the other dude's torso. Very missionary position-ish. My Dad turns to me shaking his head and says very stoically, "This just doesn't look right!" I laughed my tail off.

Scartissue

Pops had it right....

[Rick Farris]

You dont see this every day.
I enjoy mma. Its a combat sport and I find most of them interesting. Of course boxing is an addiction to me and always will be.
I was watching an mma fight the other night and the two fighters threw right hands at the same time.
One guys right hand got there a second before the other guy. However, the second punch that landed took the first guy out of there. Knocked out. In other words, the fighter who beat the other fighter to the punch was knocked out. Almost always,the guy who gets there first in that scenario does the damage. We've all seen this many times.
Does this tell us something about mma fighters punches? mma fighters chins? I dont know. But again, I found it odd.
You dont see it every day.

Brian, I was over the other day seeing my Pops and found him watching an MMA match. He'll watch anything pitting two combatants against one another, even though he hates the sport. Anyway, one dude was on top of the other with the guy on the bottom with his legs locked around the other dude's torso. Very missionary position-ish. My Dad turns to me shaking his head and says very stoically, "This just doesn't look right!" I laughed my tail off.

Scartissue

Pops had it right....

Tell Pops I says hello, and give him a complimentary kick in the arse for me.

[Expug]

Ya gotta love pops.
He gives it to you straight.No ice, no glass. Straight up.

[Rick Farris]

"Where Champions Die Together?" . . .


Last October, I stepped up to the stage with WBHOF President, Armando Muniz.
It was the 30th annual WBHOF Banquet of Champions, and Mando and I were going to honor an L.A. boxing legend, Frank Baltazar.
I'd be up there three times that night, but this was the award I most looked forward to.

As I stepped up to the platform my eyes drifted to the WBHOF banner, which was mounted on the wall behind the podium.
"Where Champions Live For Ever", is the slogan on the WBHOF logo. I smiled inside, "Yes, from now on we'll honor them properly."

That was a goal, and the first thing that needed addressing was the event program, and the ballot.
Both had been published with innacurate spelling and typos in both common words and legendary names.
For years, nobody did a thing about it. I was amazed. Even more amazing was the program, which is archived in both State and Federal museums.

When I joined the group, I told them I had historical knowledge, and the contacts to find out anything I did not know.
In 2007, the year Dan Hanley and I began interviewing legends on camera, I noticed something was off when looking over the honor roll.
Jimmy Lennon Jr.'s name was listed as an inductee in the "Announcers & Broadcasters" catagory. However, there was no Jimmy Lennon Sr.
No cut on Jimmy Jr., but his Dad is a true legend, one of the greatest ring announcers ever. I knew the old man was in, but where was he?

I then noticed Jack Blackburn (Louis' trainer) was in, but as "Mack" Blackburn. Where was Charlie Goldman (The Rock's trainer)? Teddy Hayes (Dempsey's trainer)? And how come Tommy Burns was inducted twice, the 2nd time seven years after the first? I learned that after a legend was inducted, nobody paid close attention to maintaining the "honor roll". Jake Shagrue was another missing trainer, and the list goes on. Almost three dozen WBHOF inductees, from several catagories, were not listed in the program.

I made some noise. Nobody could hear me however, because the Vice President at the time was too busy shouting.
They were trying to figure out why tens of thousands of dollars was missing. It seems the treasurer had gotten confused.
How am I going to fix the problem with all the noise and commotion that took place at the board meetings?
The 2008 program was the same rag as always, and nobody cared. These guys didn't know boxing, they were fans at best.
Well, a few of them were ousted, and I went to work with the help of some "silent" historians.
These men wished to remain anonymous, but one was not only an L.A. boxing legend in his own right, but a former WBHOF director.
He knew the organization better than those running it today.
I dug up names, and they added to those names with documentation, such as ancient programs that had accurate lists.

With the help of Dan Hanley & John Bardelli (who re-edted my editing), we were able to put out the first historically correct WBHOF Program in many years.
The 2009 edition (The 30th year) reflected the grammar and spelling of a former English teacher/Attorney (Bardelli), the cover was graced by a Roger Esty original abstract painting, and although no major names joined the Honor Roll last year in the boxer catagory, in the post humous boxer catagory, the first black world champ in history, George Dixon, was finally honored nearly a century after his death. Ad Wolgast was reunited with Barbados Joe Walcott as they re-joined other legends that had also been inducted years ago, yet dropped off the list. I must credit Tom Ray for putting me on the trail of this mystery. Tom is a true historian, he has been a part of boxing in the ring, not just libraries. And there was Randy De La O, who put together a brilliant collage of photos, and created the greatest production covering the WBHOF event on YouTube.

I personally felt proud to have our friend, Chuck Johnston (A real boxing historian), join us at our table. All of these things were going thru my mind as I took the stage.

"Where Champions Live Forever." I was kinda proud of those words, and felt our group had contributed to this in 2009.
The ballot was the only embarrassing element related to the 2009 event. I should have paid more attention to it before it went out.
I was focusing on finding the missing legends and when I first saw the ballot I was speechless. Now I really had to make the program correct.
Mando and I agreed to change the printer for the 2010 ballot, and to allow myself, Dan Hanley and John Bardelli "proof read" it before it was printed and mailed.
The printer was not changed, I guess he was a personal friend of somebody. The copy was not forwarded to be edited.
It was decided that an inaccurate ballot mailed on time, was better than waiting a couple days for editing. So to Hell with history.

When boxers are not accuratley represented, how can people remember them? To be forgotten or disrespected is when a legend truly dies.
My idea of a World Boxing Hall of Fame is a celebration, not a funeral.
I want to thank everybody here who has contributed to the WBHOF by assisting me in attempting to make things right.



-Rick Farris

[Randyman]

You dont see this every day.
I enjoy mma. Its a combat sport and I find most of them interesting. Of course boxing is an addiction to me and always will be.
I was watching an mma fight the other night and the two fighters threw right hands at the same time.
One guys right hand got there a second before the other guy. However, the second punch that landed took the first guy out of there. Knocked out. In other words, the fighter who beat the other fighter to the punch was knocked out. Almost always,the guy who gets there first in that scenario does the damage. We've all seen this many times.
Does this tell us something about mma fighters punches? mma fighters chins? I dont know. But again, I found it odd.
You dont see it every day.

Brian, I was over the other day seeing my Pops and found him watching an MMA match. He'll watch anything pitting two combatants against one another, even though he hates the sport. Anyway, one dude was on top of the other with the guy on the bottom with his legs locked around the other dude's torso. Very missionary position-ish. My Dad turns to me shaking his head and says very stoically, "This just doesn't look right!" I laughed my tail off.

Scartissue

I can't help thinking the same thing.

[Randyman]

"Where Champions Die Together?" . . .


Last October, I stepped up to the stage with WBHOF President, Armando Muniz.
It was the 30th annual WBHOF Banquet of Champions, and Mando and I were going to honor an L.A. boxing legend, Frank Baltazar.
I'd be up there three times that night, but this was the award I most looked forward to.

As I stepped up to the platform my eyes drifted to the WBHOF banner, which was mounted on the wall behind the podium.
"Where Champions Live For Ever", is the slogan on the WBHOF logo. I smiled inside, "Yes, from now on we'll honor them properly."

That was a goal, and the first thing that needed addressing was the event program, and the ballot.
Both had been published with innacurate spelling and typos in both common words and legendary names.
For years, nobody did a thing about it. I was amazed. Even more amazing was the program, which is archived in both State and Federal museums.

When I joined the group, I told them I had historical knowledge, and the contacts to find out anything I did not know.
In 2007, the year Dan Hanley and I began interviewing legends on camera, I noticed something was off when looking over the honor roll.
Jimmy Lennon Jr.'s name was listed as an inductee in the "Announcers & Broadcasters" catagory. However, there was no Jimmy Lennon Sr.
No cut on Jimmy Jr., but his Dad is a true legend, one of the greatest ring announcers ever. I knew the old man was in, but where was he?

I then noticed Jack Blackburn (Louis' trainer) was in, but as "Mack" Blackburn. Where was Charlie Goldman (The Rock's trainer)? Teddy Hayes (Dempsey's trainer)? And how come Tommy Burns was inducted twice, the 2nd time seven years after the first? I learned that after a legend was inducted, nobody paid close attention to maintaining the "honor roll". Jake Shagrue was another missing trainer, and the list goes on. Almost three dozen WBHOF inductees, from several catagories, were not listed in the program.

I made some noise. Nobody could hear me however, because the Vice President at the time was too busy shouting.
They were trying to figure out why tens of thousands of dollars was missing. It seems the treasurer had gotten confused.
How am I going to fix the problem with all the noise and commotion that took place at the board meetings?
The 2008 program was the same rag as always, and nobody cared. These guys didn't know boxing, they were fans at best.
Well, a few of them were ousted, and I went to work with the help of some "silent" historians.
These men wished to remain anonymous, but one was not only an L.A. boxing legend in his own right, but a former WBHOF director.
He knew the organization better than those running it today.
I dug up names, and they added to those names with documentation, such as ancient programs that had accurate lists.

With the help of Dan Hanley & John Bardelli (who re-edted my editing), we were able to put out the first historically correct WBHOF Program in many years.
The 2009 edition (The 30th year) reflected the grammar and spelling of a former English teacher/Attorney (Bardelli), the cover was graced by a Roger Esty original abstract painting, and although no major names joined the Honor Roll last year in the boxer catagory, in the post humous boxer catagory, the first black world champ in history, George Dixon, was finally honored nearly a century after his death. Ad Wolgast was reunited with Barbados Joe Walcott as they re-joined other legends that had also been inducted years ago, yet dropped off the list. I must credit Tom Ray for putting me on the trail of this mystery. Tom is a true historian, he has been a part of boxing in the ring, not just libraries. And there was Randy De La O, who put together a brilliant collage of photos, and created the greatest production covering the WBHOF event on YouTube.

I personally felt proud to have our friend, Chuck Johnston (A real boxing historian), join us at our table. All of these things were going thru my mind as I took the stage.

"Where Champions Live Forever." I was kinda proud of those words, and felt our group had contributed to this in 2009.
The ballot was the only embarrassing element related to the 2009 event. I should have paid more attention to it before it went out.
I was focusing on finding the missing legends and when I first saw the ballot I was speechless. Now I really had to make the program correct.
Mando and I agreed to change the printer for the 2010 ballot, and to allow myself, Dan Hanley and John Bardelli "proof read" it before it was printed and mailed.
The printer was not changed, I guess he was a personal friend of somebody. The copy was not forwarded to be edited.
It was decided that an inaccurate ballot mailed on time, was better than waiting a couple days for editing. So to Hell with history.

When boxers are not accuratley represented, how can people remember them? To be forgotten or disrespected is when a legend truly dies.
My idea of a World Boxing Hall of Fame is a celebration, not a funeral.
I want to thank everybody here who has contributed to the WBHOF by assisting me in attempting to make things right.



-Rick Farris

Great article Rick. I posted this on my website along with a photo of last years cover by Rog.
http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com

Nicely Done!
Randy

[Wildhawke11]

"Where Champions Die Together?" . . .


Last October, I stepped up to the stage with WBHOF President, Armando Muniz.
It was the 30th annual WBHOF Banquet of Champions, and Mando and I were going to honor an L.A. boxing legend, Frank Baltazar.
I'd be up there three times that night, but this was the award I most looked forward to.

As I stepped up to the platform my eyes drifted to the WBHOF banner, which was mounted on the wall behind the podium.
"Where Champions Live For Ever", is the slogan on the WBHOF logo. I smiled inside, "Yes, from now on we'll honor them properly."

That was a goal, and the first thing that needed addressing was the event program, and the ballot.
Both had been published with innacurate spelling and typos in both common words and legendary names.
For years, nobody did a thing about it. I was amazed. Even more amazing was the program, which is archived in both State and Federal museums.

When I joined the group, I told them I had historical knowledge, and the contacts to find out anything I did not know.
In 2007, the year Dan Hanley and I began interviewing legends on camera, I noticed something was off when looking over the honor roll.
Jimmy Lennon Jr.'s name was listed as an inductee in the "Announcers & Broadcasters" catagory. However, there was no Jimmy Lennon Sr.
No cut on Jimmy Jr., but his Dad is a true legend, one of the greatest ring announcers ever. I knew the old man was in, but where was he?

I then noticed Jack Blackburn (Louis' trainer) was in, but as "Mack" Blackburn. Where was Charlie Goldman (The Rock's trainer)? Teddy Hayes (Dempsey's trainer)? And how come Tommy Burns was inducted twice, the 2nd time seven years after the first? I learned that after a legend was inducted, nobody paid close attention to maintaining the "honor roll". Jake Shagrue was another missing trainer, and the list goes on. Almost three dozen WBHOF inductees, from several catagories, were not listed in the program.

I made some noise. Nobody could hear me however, because the Vice President at the time was too busy shouting.
They were trying to figure out why tens of thousands of dollars was missing. It seems the treasurer had gotten confused.
How am I going to fix the problem with all the noise and commotion that took place at the board meetings?
The 2008 program was the same rag as always, and nobody cared. These guys didn't know boxing, they were fans at best.
Well, a few of them were ousted, and I went to work with the help of some "silent" historians.
These men wished to remain anonymous, but one was not only an L.A. boxing legend in his own right, but a former WBHOF director.
He knew the organization better than those running it today.
I dug up names, and they added to those names with documentation, such as ancient programs that had accurate lists.

With the help of Dan Hanley & John Bardelli (who re-edted my editing), we were able to put out the first historically correct WBHOF Program in many years.
The 2009 edition (The 30th year) reflected the grammar and spelling of a former English teacher/Attorney (Bardelli), the cover was graced by a Roger Esty original abstract painting, and although no major names joined the Honor Roll last year in the boxer catagory, in the post humous boxer catagory, the first black world champ in history, George Dixon, was finally honored nearly a century after his death. Ad Wolgast was reunited with Barbados Joe Walcott as they re-joined other legends that had also been inducted years ago, yet dropped off the list. I must credit Tom Ray for putting me on the trail of this mystery. Tom is a true historian, he has been a part of boxing in the ring, not just libraries. And there was Randy De La O, who put together a brilliant collage of photos, and created the greatest production covering the WBHOF event on YouTube.

I personally felt proud to have our friend, Chuck Johnston (A real boxing historian), join us at our table. All of these things were going thru my mind as I took the stage.

"Where Champions Live Forever." I was kinda proud of those words, and felt our group had contributed to this in 2009.
The ballot was the only embarrassing element related to the 2009 event. I should have paid more attention to it before it went out.
I was focusing on finding the missing legends and when I first saw the ballot I was speechless. Now I really had to make the program correct.
Mando and I agreed to change the printer for the 2010 ballot, and to allow myself, Dan Hanley and John Bardelli "proof read" it before it was printed and mailed.
The printer was not changed, I guess he was a personal friend of somebody. The copy was not forwarded to be edited.
It was decided that an inaccurate ballot mailed on time, was better than waiting a couple days for editing. So to Hell with history.

When boxers are not accuratley represented, how can people remember them? To be forgotten or disrespected is when a legend truly dies.
My idea of a World Boxing Hall of Fame is a celebration, not a funeral.
I want to thank everybody here who has contributed to the WBHOF by assisting me in attempting to make things right.



-Rick Farris

Great article Rick. I posted this on my website along with a photo of last years cover by Rog.
http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com

Nicely Done!
Randy

I guess one day your goal will be to have your own WBHOF where these fighterswhogave their all their all andllmany ended shadows of the men they once were will have a place where they will be truly honered red and given the full respect they have eaened and deserve. Bad typingand spelling mistakes seem to me Rick with again full respect meant your going to have to be aittle harder on some people. MY Motto is try to get it right the first time. Give it your best shot or don't do it at all. You know already i was so pleased to hear you was now part of the WBHOF team/ at last i thought a man who with the help of a good team will at last give the fighters and those who contributed to a sport we all here love their their full credit because i know when it comes to them your hearts the right place. So many of these fighters are now goneand more will follow even ahumble fan like me will no longer be able to teach the newcomer aittle about our beloved fight game.SO ITS imperative we keep guys like HapAND Mr Bal (Frank's memories alive for others to read and learn from. Forgive me rambling on Rick butyou know i feel the same way as you en it comes to these men.
PS DID I TALK ABOUT spelling and typing mistakes . Please forgive mine i dhould have had some sleep before trying to write this

[Rick Farris]

"Where Champions Die Together?" . . .


Last October, I stepped up to the stage with WBHOF President, Armando Muniz.
It was the 30th annual WBHOF Banquet of Champions, and Mando and I were going to honor an L.A. boxing legend, Frank Baltazar.
I'd be up there three times that night, but this was the award I most looked forward to.

As I stepped up to the platform my eyes drifted to the WBHOF banner, which was mounted on the wall behind the podium.
"Where Champions Live For Ever", is the slogan on the WBHOF logo. I smiled inside, "Yes, from now on we'll honor them properly."

That was a goal, and the first thing that needed addressing was the event program, and the ballot.
Both had been published with innacurate spelling and typos in both common words and legendary names.
For years, nobody did a thing about it. I was amazed. Even more amazing was the program, which is archived in both State and Federal museums.

When I joined the group, I told them I had historical knowledge, and the contacts to find out anything I did not know.
In 2007, the year Dan Hanley and I began interviewing legends on camera, I noticed something was off when looking over the honor roll.
Jimmy Lennon Jr.'s name was listed as an inductee in the "Announcers & Broadcasters" catagory. However, there was no Jimmy Lennon Sr.
No cut on Jimmy Jr., but his Dad is a true legend, one of the greatest ring announcers ever. I knew the old man was in, but where was he?

I then noticed Jack Blackburn (Louis' trainer) was in, but as "Mack" Blackburn. Where was Charlie Goldman (The Rock's trainer)? Teddy Hayes (Dempsey's trainer)? And how come Tommy Burns was inducted twice, the 2nd time seven years after the first? I learned that after a legend was inducted, nobody paid close attention to maintaining the "honor roll". Jake Shagrue was another missing trainer, and the list goes on. Almost three dozen WBHOF inductees, from several catagories, were not listed in the program.

I made some noise. Nobody could hear me however, because the Vice President at the time was too busy shouting.
They were trying to figure out why tens of thousands of dollars was missing. It seems the treasurer had gotten confused.
How am I going to fix the problem with all the noise and commotion that took place at the board meetings?
The 2008 program was the same rag as always, and nobody cared. These guys didn't know boxing, they were fans at best.
Well, a few of them were ousted, and I went to work with the help of some "silent" historians.
These men wished to remain anonymous, but one was not only an L.A. boxing legend in his own right, but a former WBHOF director.
He knew the organization better than those running it today.
I dug up names, and they added to those names with documentation, such as ancient programs that had accurate lists.

With the help of Dan Hanley & John Bardelli (who re-edted my editing), we were able to put out the first historically correct WBHOF Program in many years.
The 2009 edition (The 30th year) reflected the grammar and spelling of a former English teacher/Attorney (Bardelli), the cover was graced by a Roger Esty original abstract painting, and although no major names joined the Honor Roll last year in the boxer catagory, in the post humous boxer catagory, the first black world champ in history, George Dixon, was finally honored nearly a century after his death. Ad Wolgast was reunited with Barbados Joe Walcott as they re-joined other legends that had also been inducted years ago, yet dropped off the list. I must credit Tom Ray for putting me on the trail of this mystery. Tom is a true historian, he has been a part of boxing in the ring, not just libraries. And there was Randy De La O, who put together a brilliant collage of photos, and created the greatest production covering the WBHOF event on YouTube.

I personally felt proud to have our friend, Chuck Johnston (A real boxing historian), join us at our table. All of these things were going thru my mind as I took the stage.

"Where Champions Live Forever." I was kinda proud of those words, and felt our group had contributed to this in 2009.
The ballot was the only embarrassing element related to the 2009 event. I should have paid more attention to it before it went out.
I was focusing on finding the missing legends and when I first saw the ballot I was speechless. Now I really had to make the program correct.
Mando and I agreed to change the printer for the 2010 ballot, and to allow myself, Dan Hanley and John Bardelli "proof read" it before it was printed and mailed.
The printer was not changed, I guess he was a personal friend of somebody. The copy was not forwarded to be edited.
It was decided that an inaccurate ballot mailed on time, was better than waiting a couple days for editing. So to Hell with history.

When boxers are not accuratley represented, how can people remember them? To be forgotten or disrespected is when a legend truly dies.
My idea of a World Boxing Hall of Fame is a celebration, not a funeral.
I want to thank everybody here who has contributed to the WBHOF by assisting me in attempting to make things right.



-Rick Farris

Great article Rick. I posted this on my website along with a photo of last years cover by Rog.
http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com

Nicely Done!
Randy

I guess one day your goal will be to have your own WBHOF where these fighterswhogave their all their all andllmany ended shadows of the men they once were will have a place where they will be truly honered red and given the full respect they have eaened and deserve. Bad typingand spelling mistakes seem to me Rick with again full respect meant your going to have to be aittle harder on some people. MY Motto is try to get it right the first time. Give it your best shot or don't do it at all. You know already i was so pleased to hear you was now part of the WBHOF team/ at last i thought a man who with the help of a good team will at last give the fighters and those who contributed to a sport we all here love their their full credit because i know when it comes to them your hearts the right place. So many of these fighters are now goneand more will follow even ahumble fan like me will no longer be able to teach the newcomer aittle about our beloved fight game.SO ITS imperative we keep guys like HapAND Mr Bal (Frank's memories alive for others to read and learn from. Forgive me rambling on Rick butyou know i feel the same way as you en it comes to these men.
PS DID I TALK ABOUT spelling and typing mistakes . Please forgive mine i dhould have had some sleep before trying to write this

Danny . . .

I will be honoring the boxing legends in a different way, from here on.
The HOF thing is great, but there are better ways to immortalize the legends, I believe.
Aside from assisting Armando Muniz with historical info, I am no longer involved with the WBHOF.

Frank & Hap are a gift to California and World boxing history. The publications & photos that appear on this thread are resurrecting several platinum eras. More so than what the press reveals, we have the inside edge, from the gyms, dressing rooms, promoter's offices, etc. We are taught more than what facts & figures can reflect, "library explanations" I call them. Writers were bought, attendance figures rigged, whatever necessary. The truth of those involved is the true history of boxing. That's our edge.


-Rick Farris

[Randyman]

Great article Rick. I posted this on my website along with a photo of last years cover by Rog.
http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com

Nicely Done!
Randy

I guess one day your goal will be to have your own WBHOF where these fighterswhogave their all their all andllmany ended shadows of the men they once were will have a place where they will be truly honered red and given the full respect they have eaened and deserve. Bad typingand spelling mistakes seem to me Rick with again full respect meant your going to have to be aittle harder on some people. MY Motto is try to get it right the first time. Give it your best shot or don't do it at all. You know already i was so pleased to hear you was now part of the WBHOF team/ at last i thought a man who with the help of a good team will at last give the fighters and those who contributed to a sport we all here love their their full credit because i know when it comes to them your hearts the right place. So many of these fighters are now goneand more will follow even ahumble fan like me will no longer be able to teach the newcomer aittle about our beloved fight game.SO ITS imperative we keep guys like HapAND Mr Bal (Frank's memories alive for others to read and learn from. Forgive me rambling on Rick butyou know i feel the same way as you en it comes to these men.
PS DID I TALK ABOUT spelling and typing mistakes . Please forgive mine i dhould have had some sleep before trying to write this

Danny . . .

I will be honoring the boxing legends in a different way, from here on.
The HOF thing is great, but there are better ways to immortalize the legends, I believe.
Aside from assisting Armando Muniz with historical info, I am no longer involved with the WBHOF.

Frank & Hap are a gift to California and World boxing history. The publications & photos that appear on this thread are resurrecting several platinum eras. More so than what the press reveals, we have the inside edge, from the gyms, dressing rooms, promoter's offices, etc. We are taught more than what facts & figures can reflect, "library explanations" I call them. Writers were bought, attendance figures rigged, whatever necessary. The truth of those involved is the true history of boxing. That's our edge.


-Rick Farris

Rick, maybe, in the long run, that will be the legacy of this thread, a place were boxers and great fights are honored and remembered with respect. I don't think I am alone in thinking that. The guys that do come here from other threads and forums seem to recognize that fighters and their history are revered here. They leave the B.S, off of this thread. The sooner all these pages are put on discs the better.

I am privileged just to be a small part of this thread. There are great boxing minds here, along with great writers, artist(singular) and photographers. I'd like to think we are, in our own way, helping to preserve boxing history. Anyone scrolling through these pages will find that this thread is a museum and an online Hall of Fame in it's own right.

Randy

[Chuck1052]

In today's edition of the Ventura County Star, there is an article about Robert Garcia, the former world junior lightweight champion from Oxnard, California who went on to become a trainer. As of now, he is training Antonio Margarito, Brian Viloria and Brandon Rios. I didn't know that he was training Margarito, who has a scheduled bout in May.

Oxnard has a population of close to 200,000 people, making it the largest city in Ventura County by a considerable margin. Unlike the nearby cities of Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, Oxnard has a population which is mostly Hispanic. In addition, a large number of Asians, notably Filipinos, live in the city.

- Chuck Johnston

[Randyman]

In today's edition of the Ventura County Star, there is an article about Robert Garcia, the former world junior lightweight champion from Oxnard, California who went on to become a trainer. As of now, he is training Antonio Margarito, Brian Viloria and Brandon Rios. I didn't know that he was training Margarito, who has a scheduled bout in May.

Oxnard has a population of close to 200,000 people, making it the largest city in Ventura County by a considerable margin. Unlike the nearby cities of Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, Oxnard has a population which is mostly Hispanic. In addition, a large number of Asians, notably Filipinos, live in the city.

- Chuck Johnston

Thanks for the heads up on the article Chuck. Like you, I wasn't aware he was training Margarito.

Here is a link to the article:
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/mar/27/ ... ng-school/

Randy

[Rick Farris]

I guess one day your goal will be to have your own WBHOF where these fighterswhogave their all their all andllmany ended shadows of the men they once were will have a place where they will be truly honered red and given the full respect they have eaened and deserve. Bad typingand spelling mistakes seem to me Rick with again full respect meant your going to have to be aittle harder on some people. MY Motto is try to get it right the first time. Give it your best shot or don't do it at all. You know already i was so pleased to hear you was now part of the WBHOF team/ at last i thought a man who with the help of a good team will at last give the fighters and those who contributed to a sport we all here love their their full credit because i know when it comes to them your hearts the right place. So many of these fighters are now goneand more will follow even ahumble fan like me will no longer be able to teach the newcomer aittle about our beloved fight game.SO ITS imperative we keep guys like HapAND Mr Bal (Frank's memories alive for others to read and learn from. Forgive me rambling on Rick butyou know i feel the same way as you en it comes to these men.
PS DID I TALK ABOUT spelling and typing mistakes . Please forgive mine i dhould have had some sleep before trying to write this

Danny . . .

I will be honoring the boxing legends in a different way, from here on.
The HOF thing is great, but there are better ways to immortalize the legends, I believe.
Aside from assisting Armando Muniz with historical info, I am no longer involved with the WBHOF.

Frank & Hap are a gift to California and World boxing history. The publications & photos that appear on this thread are resurrecting several platinum eras. More so than what the press reveals, we have the inside edge, from the gyms, dressing rooms, promoter's offices, etc. We are taught more than what facts & figures can reflect, "library explanations" I call them. Writers were bought, attendance figures rigged, whatever necessary. The truth of those involved is the true history of boxing. That's our edge.


-Rick Farris

Rick, maybe, in the long run, that will be the legacy of this thread, a place were boxers and great fights are honored and remembered with respect. I don't think I am alone in thinking that. The guys that do come here from other threads and forums seem to recognize that fighters and their history are revered here. They leave the B.S, off of this thread. The sooner all these pages are put on discs the better.

I am privileged just to be a small part of this thread. There are great boxing minds here, along with great writers, artist(singular) and photographers. I'd like to think we are, in our own way, helping to preserve boxing history. Anyone scrolling through these pages will find that this thread is a museum and an online Hall of Fame in it's own right.

Randy

I like to think the same thing, Randy. We haven't had a problem with a poster in nearly two years, and he's long gone.
This is more than an internet boxing thread. There is a lot here, the real stuff. We are represented thruout the generations.
We have had Hap Navarro contribute. Hap will be 91 soon. Of course, Frank is the man behind this thread.
We all contribute what we can, but Frank is the spark plug. I feel real comfortable in this neighborhood. I rarely stray into other forums.


-Rick Farris

[raylawpc]

Has anybody heard anything from Roger? It's quite perplexing.

[raylawpc]

"Where Champions Die Together?" . . .


Last October, I stepped up to the stage with WBHOF President, Armando Muniz.
It was the 30th annual WBHOF Banquet of Champions, and Mando and I were going to honor an L.A. boxing legend, Frank Baltazar.
I'd be up there three times that night, but this was the award I most looked forward to.

As I stepped up to the platform my eyes drifted to the WBHOF banner, which was mounted on the wall behind the podium.
"Where Champions Live For Ever", is the slogan on the WBHOF logo. I smiled inside, "Yes, from now on we'll honor them properly."

That was a goal, and the first thing that needed addressing was the event program, and the ballot.
Both had been published with innacurate spelling and typos in both common words and legendary names.
For years, nobody did a thing about it. I was amazed. Even more amazing was the program, which is archived in both State and Federal museums.

When I joined the group, I told them I had historical knowledge, and the contacts to find out anything I did not know.
In 2007, the year Dan Hanley and I began interviewing legends on camera, I noticed something was off when looking over the honor roll.
Jimmy Lennon Jr.'s name was listed as an inductee in the "Announcers & Broadcasters" catagory. However, there was no Jimmy Lennon Sr.
No cut on Jimmy Jr., but his Dad is a true legend, one of the greatest ring announcers ever. I knew the old man was in, but where was he?

I then noticed Jack Blackburn (Louis' trainer) was in, but as "Mack" Blackburn. Where was Charlie Goldman (The Rock's trainer)? Teddy Hayes (Dempsey's trainer)? And how come Tommy Burns was inducted twice, the 2nd time seven years after the first? I learned that after a legend was inducted, nobody paid close attention to maintaining the "honor roll". Jake Shagrue was another missing trainer, and the list goes on. Almost three dozen WBHOF inductees, from several catagories, were not listed in the program.

I made some noise. Nobody could hear me however, because the Vice President at the time was too busy shouting.
They were trying to figure out why tens of thousands of dollars was missing. It seems the treasurer had gotten confused.
How am I going to fix the problem with all the noise and commotion that took place at the board meetings?
The 2008 program was the same rag as always, and nobody cared. These guys didn't know boxing, they were fans at best.
Well, a few of them were ousted, and I went to work with the help of some "silent" historians.
These men wished to remain anonymous, but one was not only an L.A. boxing legend in his own right, but a former WBHOF director.
He knew the organization better than those running it today.
I dug up names, and they added to those names with documentation, such as ancient programs that had accurate lists.

With the help of Dan Hanley & John Bardelli (who re-edted my editing), we were able to put out the first historically correct WBHOF Program in many years.
The 2009 edition (The 30th year) reflected the grammar and spelling of a former English teacher/Attorney (Bardelli), the cover was graced by a Roger Esty original abstract painting, and although no major names joined the Honor Roll last year in the boxer catagory, in the post humous boxer catagory, the first black world champ in history, George Dixon, was finally honored nearly a century after his death. Ad Wolgast was reunited with Barbados Joe Walcott as they re-joined other legends that had also been inducted years ago, yet dropped off the list. I must credit Tom Ray for putting me on the trail of this mystery. Tom is a true historian, he has been a part of boxing in the ring, not just libraries. And there was Randy De La O, who put together a brilliant collage of photos, and created the greatest production covering the WBHOF event on YouTube.

I personally felt proud to have our friend, Chuck Johnston (A real boxing historian), join us at our table. All of these things were going thru my mind as I took the stage.

"Where Champions Live Forever." I was kinda proud of those words, and felt our group had contributed to this in 2009.
The ballot was the only embarrassing element related to the 2009 event. I should have paid more attention to it before it went out.
I was focusing on finding the missing legends and when I first saw the ballot I was speechless. Now I really had to make the program correct.
Mando and I agreed to change the printer for the 2010 ballot, and to allow myself, Dan Hanley and John Bardelli "proof read" it before it was printed and mailed.
The printer was not changed, I guess he was a personal friend of somebody. The copy was not forwarded to be edited.
It was decided that an inaccurate ballot mailed on time, was better than waiting a couple days for editing. So to Hell with history.

When boxers are not accuratley represented, how can people remember them? To be forgotten or disrespected is when a legend truly dies.
My idea of a World Boxing Hall of Fame is a celebration, not a funeral.
I want to thank everybody here who has contributed to the WBHOF by assisting me in attempting to make things right.



-Rick Farris

Rick, I am honored that you chose to mention me in your article. Thanks.

[kikibalt]

Where is Paulino?

I been busy doing bio's for the CBHOF

[raylawpc]

I'll be out of pocket until Monday, guys. I'm heading down to my Dad's to start getting his estate settled, and help my step-Mother with some decisions.

I hope everyone has a great Holy Week and Easter.

Thanks again for mentioning me in your article Rick. It meant alot to me.

[kikibalt]

I'll be out of pocket until Monday, guys. I'm heading down to my Dad's to start getting his estate settled, and help my step-Mother with some decisions.

I hope everyone has a great Holy Week and Easter.

Thanks again for mentioning me in your article Rick. It meant alot to me.

Take care Tom, see you when you get back....

[THEHAMMER321]

[quote="kikibalt"]Where is Paulino?

I been busy doing bio's for the CBHOF[/quote Hi Frank my wife told me I have been spending to much time on the computer she wanted me to take a break so I did for a day I am back now thx for asking

[Rick Farris]

"Where Champions Die Together?" . . .


Last October, I stepped up to the stage with WBHOF President, Armando Muniz.
It was the 30th annual WBHOF Banquet of Champions, and Mando and I were going to honor an L.A. boxing legend, Frank Baltazar.
I'd be up there three times that night, but this was the award I most looked forward to.

As I stepped up to the platform my eyes drifted to the WBHOF banner, which was mounted on the wall behind the podium.
"Where Champions Live For Ever", is the slogan on the WBHOF logo. I smiled inside, "Yes, from now on we'll honor them properly."

That was a goal, and the first thing that needed addressing was the event program, and the ballot.
Both had been published with innacurate spelling and typos in both common words and legendary names.
For years, nobody did a thing about it. I was amazed. Even more amazing was the program, which is archived in both State and Federal museums.

When I joined the group, I told them I had historical knowledge, and the contacts to find out anything I did not know.
In 2007, the year Dan Hanley and I began interviewing legends on camera, I noticed something was off when looking over the honor roll.
Jimmy Lennon Jr.'s name was listed as an inductee in the "Announcers & Broadcasters" catagory. However, there was no Jimmy Lennon Sr.
No cut on Jimmy Jr., but his Dad is a true legend, one of the greatest ring announcers ever. I knew the old man was in, but where was he?

I then noticed Jack Blackburn (Louis' trainer) was in, but as "Mack" Blackburn. Where was Charlie Goldman (The Rock's trainer)? Teddy Hayes (Dempsey's trainer)? And how come Tommy Burns was inducted twice, the 2nd time seven years after the first? I learned that after a legend was inducted, nobody paid close attention to maintaining the "honor roll". Jake Shagrue was another missing trainer, and the list goes on. Almost three dozen WBHOF inductees, from several catagories, were not listed in the program.

I made some noise. Nobody could hear me however, because the Vice President at the time was too busy shouting.
They were trying to figure out why tens of thousands of dollars was missing. It seems the treasurer had gotten confused.
How am I going to fix the problem with all the noise and commotion that took place at the board meetings?
The 2008 program was the same rag as always, and nobody cared. These guys didn't know boxing, they were fans at best.
Well, a few of them were ousted, and I went to work with the help of some "silent" historians.
These men wished to remain anonymous, but one was not only an L.A. boxing legend in his own right, but a former WBHOF director.
He knew the organization better than those running it today.
I dug up names, and they added to those names with documentation, such as ancient programs that had accurate lists.

With the help of Dan Hanley & John Bardelli (who re-edted my editing), we were able to put out the first historically correct WBHOF Program in many years.
The 2009 edition (The 30th year) reflected the grammar and spelling of a former English teacher/Attorney (Bardelli), the cover was graced by a Roger Esty original abstract painting, and although no major names joined the Honor Roll last year in the boxer catagory, in the post humous boxer catagory, the first black world champ in history, George Dixon, was finally honored nearly a century after his death. Ad Wolgast was reunited with Barbados Joe Walcott as they re-joined other legends that had also been inducted years ago, yet dropped off the list. I must credit Tom Ray for putting me on the trail of this mystery. Tom is a true historian, he has been a part of boxing in the ring, not just libraries. And there was Randy De La O, who put together a brilliant collage of photos, and created the greatest production covering the WBHOF event on YouTube.

I personally felt proud to have our friend, Chuck Johnston (A real boxing historian), join us at our table. All of these things were going thru my mind as I took the stage.

"Where Champions Live Forever." I was kinda proud of those words, and felt our group had contributed to this in 2009.
The ballot was the only embarrassing element related to the 2009 event. I should have paid more attention to it before it went out.
I was focusing on finding the missing legends and when I first saw the ballot I was speechless. Now I really had to make the program correct.
Mando and I agreed to change the printer for the 2010 ballot, and to allow myself, Dan Hanley and John Bardelli "proof read" it before it was printed and mailed.
The printer was not changed, I guess he was a personal friend of somebody. The copy was not forwarded to be edited.
It was decided that an inaccurate ballot mailed on time, was better than waiting a couple days for editing. So to Hell with history.

When boxers are not accuratley represented, how can people remember them? To be forgotten or disrespected is when a legend truly dies.
My idea of a World Boxing Hall of Fame is a celebration, not a funeral.
I want to thank everybody here who has contributed to the WBHOF by assisting me in attempting to make things right.



-Rick Farris

Rick, I am honored that you chose to mention me in your article. Thanks.

Tom . . . I was sincere. Last year you asked me, "Where's George Dixon, Ad Wolgast & Barbados Joe Walcott?"
That was the start of of my updating the WBHOF Honor Roll. As it turns out, they were already in but had been lost.
I was already aware of the problem, and I started with the three names you mentioned. So it is I who must thank you.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Where is Paulino?

I been busy doing bio's for the CBHOF[/quote Hi Frank my wife told me I have been spending to much time on the computer she wanted me to take a break so I did for a day I am back now thx for asking

My wife said to me "Its me or the computer" I said "Wow, I have to think that one over"

[THEHAMMER321]

Touching Gloves with...Ruben Navarro
by DAN HANLEY


Long before Spuds MacKenzie made the term popular, there was a party going on on the West Coast. And at the center of this hedonistic soiree was the true original party animal who carried the handle of "The Maravilla Kid." But the difference between Spuds and Ruben Navarro was that Ruben could party and fight equally well. And woe to the man who told him he couldn't.

DAN HANLEY: Ruben, tell me about your childhood.
RUBEN NAVARRO: Well, I was born and raised in the Maravilla barrio of East L.A. My parents were
both from Mexico, and from June to December we would travel throughout California, where we would pick fruit. It's funny, when I was little they used to have this black woman watch me while they were in the orchards, and she was dressed just like Aunt Jemima. You know, with the red bandanna, right off the syrup bottle. I was so dark skinned they used to joke that I might really be hers, and they started calling me Jemima. A nickname that's stuck my whole life.

Any history of boxing in the family?
None. When I was about 13, me and some friends of mine were all high on pot, and we wandered into the Eastside Boys Club in the barrio. There were a couple of guys sparring, and we were just laughing and having a good old time, but one of the fighters took offense to it and said, "You think you could do better?" And so, with a little coaxing, I laced up the gloves and got in the ring.

How did you do?

According to my friends, I was dropped 55 times, but got up 55 times before they told us to go on home. I was so mad I went home, got a baseball bat, and went back to the club, but everyone had gone home. However, Marty Denkin, who was running the club, told me to come back for proper instruction. I should mention that the guy who worked me over was Joe Pimental, who went on to fight for the world featherweight title and was the twin brother of "Little Poison" Pimental.

Did boxing just click with you?
Oh, I hated it at first. Marty had a whole bunch of us on floor drills. Hour after hour of slipping and sliding and throwing jabs in the air. No boxing. But Marty was teaching us fundamentals, which seems to be lost today. After a few days of this, everyone dropped out, but I kept coming back. [Laughs] There was nothing else to do.


How did you fare as an amateur?
I was really taking an interest in the sport, comparing different styles, watching it on TV. My boxing hero was Gaspar Ortega. I loved the way he would sit on the ropes and lure his opponent into him. I copied that style and did quite well. Beginning with the Junior Golden Gloves, I won the tournament every year from '59 through '64. And that's when things really heated up.

What happened?
This was the year of the Olympics. Now, I never liked being told I couldn't do something. They'd tell me, "You can't lead with a right hand; it isn't done!" But I'd learn to throw it and not get hit. They told me, "You're never going to get out of the ghetto!" and sure enough, they tried to block me from the Western Regional Trials. They didn't want some kid from the barrio involved. But Marty Denkin wrote to every politician he could. I got the invite and won the Western Regionals.

So you competed in the '64 Olympic Trials?
There I was at the World's Fair in New York, gloving up next to Buster Mathis and Joe Frazier. I may have lost in the Trials, but I made it there.

Did you go pro after the Trials?
No, I came back and won the '65 Golden Gloves and was then drafted into the U.S. Army. I turned pro shortly after my discharge.

Who did you go pro with?
I started out with Marty Denkin and over the years was also managed by Howie Steindler, Johnny Flores, Harry Kabakoff and Rudy Perez. I had to watch my managers. Early in my career I fought in Las Vegas, and after the fight I asked my manager, "Where's my money?" And he said, "I left it on the table." I'm looking around and I say, "What table?" He looks at me with a grin and said, "The craps table." He'd lost the whole purse.

The beginning of your pro career was very strange. Your first 11 or so fights were just preliminary club fights. I think maybe only two were even scheduled for 10. Then, in the beginning of '68, you fought and beat Pete Gonzalez, Ray Adigun, and Hiroshi Kobayashi. All Top 10 fighters. Kobayashi, the reigning 130-pound champion of the world. In the span of three fights, with only 14 pro fights to your credit, you went from club fighter to the No. 1 contender for the junior-lightweight title. I find this uncanny. Tell me about these fights.
Pete and Ray were good, especially Ray, who could really hit. But we accepted the fight in Japan to fight Kobayashi, because they thought I'd be an easy fight. I swear he was managed by Sony, because they had every camera focused on me in the gym at all times. When the sparring partner they gave me began reporting back that I was going to beat Kobayashi, they started playing games with me.

Can you explain?
Well, one night after dinner, I came back to my room and they had a naked blonde waiting there for me in the room. Anything to break me down. Now, this was not business. I was the one who was going to get hit in that ring, and I threw her out. When the blonde didn't work, they said I couldn't use my protective cup. They gave in when we said we were leaving. But you know, I was honored that they thought so highly of me that they would pull these stunts. And they were right, because I beat him good over 10 rounds. As a matter of fact, that last round was about a minute and a half short.

You jumped in weight for your next big fight. Arturo Lomeli was a Top 10 lightweight at the time. Do you think it was a little too much too soon?
Well, I still think I should have got that decision, but I did beat him good in the rematch.

You really had a hectic schedule. A month later you were back in Japan for a 10-rounder with former champ Yoshiaki Numata. Tell me about that fight.
Y'know, we tried to postpone that fight because I was sick, but they wouldn't let us. They actually passed me in the pre-fight exam with a 102-degree fever. I beat him good but they scored it a draw.

Your solid rating, and I suppose your record and appeal in the Orient, earned you a shot at the vacant WBC junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your fight with Rene Barrientos in Manila.
Actually there's not a lot to tell. I was in his hometown and the promoter said to us, "If you want to win, we want half your contract." Johnny Flores said, "No way!" I won 12 out of 15 rounds and they gave him the fight.

You were moving solidly now into the lightweight division and were on a tremendous winning streak including a stoppage win over Jimmy Robertson. However, you were still holding your rating at 130, and in July of '70, you got a chance at a title eliminator for the junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your win over Raul Rojas.
I beat him twice, actually.

Twice?!
I beat him soundly over 10-rounds, dropping him in the ninth round. It was a unanimous decision, but he thought he was robbed and wouldn't let it go. He came up to me later threatening to finish the fight. So...I beat him up in an alley near Mando Ramos' house.

You're kidding?
Nope! He left the alley clutching his eye.

The ironic thing was that he got the title shot anyway.
Danny, the politics of boxing is something else.

Who were you working with in the gym in those days?
Let's see...Jose Napoles, "Indian Red" Lopez, Oscar Albarado, Zovek Barajas, Carlos Palomino...

Ruben, those were all welterweights!
Yeah, they liked using me for speed and because I was slippery. Ernie Lopez hired me before his first fight with Hedgemon Lewis, which he won, but didn't hire me for their second fight, which he lost. He absolutely begged me to work with him for their third fight. I agreed and he won.

What were you making as a sparring partner?
[Laughs] Five bucks a round. But I was staying sharp, too. I'll tell you a story. Roberto Duran came to L.A. for a fight and came into the Main Street Gym one day with four sparring partners who were all bandaged up. He was parading them around like trophies. He pleaded with me to spar four rounds with him, saying that his sparring partners were useless. When the bell rang ending the fourth round, he was raging because he never got to me, never really catching me cleanly.

Aside from your elusiveness, you seemed to have a pretty decent jaw.
I was probably down about....five times my whole career. I'll tell you a funny story. Angelo Dundee brought in Juan Collado from the Dominican Republic to fight me. Collado dropped me in the first round, and the next thing I remembered was the referee saying, "5," and me saying, "Hey, I'm on the floor!" I heard that Jim Healy, the TV commentator, overheard Johnny Flores yelling to me, "Get up at 8!" and me responding, "Well, what time is it now?" [Laughs] But I beat him over 10 rounds.

In February of '71, Mando Ramos was scheduled to fight Ken Buchanan for the lightweight title in Los Angeles. I understand Ramos pulled out with a groin injury?
Uhh....you could say that. He caught the clap!

You accepted the fight on 72 hours' notice. What kind of shape were you in?
I had only just started training for a rematch with Jimmy Robertson when we got the call, but I wasn't going to turn this down. The only thing I did for the next three days was run, and my main concern was what kind of shape I would be in for the later rounds.

Tell me about the fight.
Ken Buchanan was in tremendous shape, but I dropped him in the first round, breaking his eardrum in the process, only for Arthur Mercante to call it a slip. Mercante really seemed to be Buchanan's referee. In the clinches, Mercante would separate us, but he'd bend my arm in a direction it wasn't supposed to go. I actually took a bit of a swipe at him to let him know that he'd better cut it out. Buchanan also brought an English judge with him, and they gave him the fight. But I really believe I earned that decision.

Shortly after that, you took on a couple of your party buddies. Tell me about your fights with Mando Ramos and Frankie Crawford.
Well, to tell you the truth, yeah, we all drank, smoked pot, and did cocaine, but I only did it after a fight, whereas, they were doing it all the time. I was very serious in training. As for the fight with Frankie, we would all hype a fight, but he went a little too far. We'd play around, such as I used to hold up my left hand to a guy's jaw when the press was around and tell him, "This is going to make you sleep!" Then I'd hold up my right and say, "This is going to make you snore!" Y'know, fun stuff. But he went around telling the press that I pulled a knife on him and such. He really angered me for the fight and I gave him a good licking for it. I was even warned by the referee for holding him up.

Your fight with Ramos generated a lot of press and a lot of hype. There was a line attributed to you that stated, "Ahh, Mando's not in shape, he's been training in bars. I know because I was with him!"
[Laughs] Yeah, Mando and I were always going back and forth in the press. Once, I knocked out this club fighter, and Mando tells the press, "Ahh, Ruben only fights hamburgers!" But then he signs to fight the very same guy in his very next fight, so I tell the press, "Hey [Laughing], Mando's stealing my hamburgers!"

Tell me about the fight.
Well, I was really up against it. I mean, Mando was Aileen Eaton's boy, and he had already signed to fight Pedro Carrasco for the title. But there is no way I lost that fight. I did have a measure of satisfaction recently when I was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame last summer. Ray Ramos, Mando's dad, came up to me and said, "Between you and I, you beat the crap out of my son that night."

You were on a nice winning streak and were being discussed as Roberto Duran's possible first title defense when you took on Rodolfo Gonzalez in July of '72. Tell me about this fight.
I was really angry that this fight took place at the Anaheim Convention Center. It couldn't hold what the Forum could, and since we were fighting for a piece of the gate, earnings were a lot less. As for the fight, let me tell you, everyone was afraid of Rodolfo Gonzalez. He was an awesome mechanic and was a great champion but I thought I did enough to win.

After that fight you switched management. You went with Harry Kabakoff. Why was that?
A lot of funny stuff went on in choosing the Anaheim Convention Center over the Forum. I mean, money under the table. I couldn't stay with Johnny Flores anymore. I learned how to read contracts, something my managers didn't like. But I used to tell them, "Hey, you work for me, I don't work for you!"

You began another winning streak, then got the call for your third title shot. Again, against Rodolfo Gonzalez, this time for the WBC lightweight title. What happened in this fight?
Before the fight, Harry Kabakoff told me he was going to make me a "special meal," and Harry never made me a meal of any kind before. Well, he made me a "special meal" all right, and I was food-poisoned. I had nothing at all in that fight.

You retired and made a brief comeback. Was it just that it wasn't there anymore?
I had become a Jehovah's Witness by that time and was reading the Bible. I was a changed man. I had no fire, no aggression to go after my opponent. And unless you have that fire, you aren't going anywhere. So, I packed it in.

Last question. How would you sum up your career?
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to meet my boxing idol, Gaspar Ortega, and I was surprised to discover he knew who I was. I said to him, "Gaspar, I copied the way you would sit on the ropes and lure your opponent into you." He looked at me funny and said, "Lure him in? Ruben....I was tired, I was only resting." So, Danny, to answer your question, [Laughing] it's a wonder I wasn't killed.


On February 22, 2007, Ruben and his wonderful wife, Carol, will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Today, Carol and Ruben donate much of their time to working with the deaf. Ruben is also the owner and operator of the Ruben Navarro Demolition Company. For a man like Ruben, who made a career of dismantling his opponents, what an appropriate field to get into.

See ya next round,

Dan Hanley

No disrespect to Ruben Navarro but did this guy ever lose a fight lol according to this interview he got shafted on every fight

[Rick Farris]

Touching Gloves with...Ruben Navarro
by DAN HANLEY


Long before Spuds MacKenzie made the term popular, there was a party going on on the West Coast. And at the center of this hedonistic soiree was the true original party animal who carried the handle of "The Maravilla Kid." But the difference between Spuds and Ruben Navarro was that Ruben could party and fight equally well. And woe to the man who told him he couldn't.

DAN HANLEY: Ruben, tell me about your childhood.
RUBEN NAVARRO: Well, I was born and raised in the Maravilla barrio of East L.A. My parents were
both from Mexico, and from June to December we would travel throughout California, where we would pick fruit. It's funny, when I was little they used to have this black woman watch me while they were in the orchards, and she was dressed just like Aunt Jemima. You know, with the red bandanna, right off the syrup bottle. I was so dark skinned they used to joke that I might really be hers, and they started calling me Jemima. A nickname that's stuck my whole life.

Any history of boxing in the family?
None. When I was about 13, me and some friends of mine were all high on pot, and we wandered into the Eastside Boys Club in the barrio. There were a couple of guys sparring, and we were just laughing and having a good old time, but one of the fighters took offense to it and said, "You think you could do better?" And so, with a little coaxing, I laced up the gloves and got in the ring.

How did you do?

According to my friends, I was dropped 55 times, but got up 55 times before they told us to go on home. I was so mad I went home, got a baseball bat, and went back to the club, but everyone had gone home. However, Marty Denkin, who was running the club, told me to come back for proper instruction. I should mention that the guy who worked me over was Joe Pimental, who went on to fight for the world featherweight title and was the twin brother of "Little Poison" Pimental.

Did boxing just click with you?
Oh, I hated it at first. Marty had a whole bunch of us on floor drills. Hour after hour of slipping and sliding and throwing jabs in the air. No boxing. But Marty was teaching us fundamentals, which seems to be lost today. After a few days of this, everyone dropped out, but I kept coming back. [Laughs] There was nothing else to do.


How did you fare as an amateur?
I was really taking an interest in the sport, comparing different styles, watching it on TV. My boxing hero was Gaspar Ortega. I loved the way he would sit on the ropes and lure his opponent into him. I copied that style and did quite well. Beginning with the Junior Golden Gloves, I won the tournament every year from '59 through '64. And that's when things really heated up.

What happened?
This was the year of the Olympics. Now, I never liked being told I couldn't do something. They'd tell me, "You can't lead with a right hand; it isn't done!" But I'd learn to throw it and not get hit. They told me, "You're never going to get out of the ghetto!" and sure enough, they tried to block me from the Western Regional Trials. They didn't want some kid from the barrio involved. But Marty Denkin wrote to every politician he could. I got the invite and won the Western Regionals.

So you competed in the '64 Olympic Trials?
There I was at the World's Fair in New York, gloving up next to Buster Mathis and Joe Frazier. I may have lost in the Trials, but I made it there.

Did you go pro after the Trials?
No, I came back and won the '65 Golden Gloves and was then drafted into the U.S. Army. I turned pro shortly after my discharge.

Who did you go pro with?
I started out with Marty Denkin and over the years was also managed by Howie Steindler, Johnny Flores, Harry Kabakoff and Rudy Perez. I had to watch my managers. Early in my career I fought in Las Vegas, and after the fight I asked my manager, "Where's my money?" And he said, "I left it on the table." I'm looking around and I say, "What table?" He looks at me with a grin and said, "The craps table." He'd lost the whole purse.

The beginning of your pro career was very strange. Your first 11 or so fights were just preliminary club fights. I think maybe only two were even scheduled for 10. Then, in the beginning of '68, you fought and beat Pete Gonzalez, Ray Adigun, and Hiroshi Kobayashi. All Top 10 fighters. Kobayashi, the reigning 130-pound champion of the world. In the span of three fights, with only 14 pro fights to your credit, you went from club fighter to the No. 1 contender for the junior-lightweight title. I find this uncanny. Tell me about these fights.
Pete and Ray were good, especially Ray, who could really hit. But we accepted the fight in Japan to fight Kobayashi, because they thought I'd be an easy fight. I swear he was managed by Sony, because they had every camera focused on me in the gym at all times. When the sparring partner they gave me began reporting back that I was going to beat Kobayashi, they started playing games with me.

Can you explain?
Well, one night after dinner, I came back to my room and they had a naked blonde waiting there for me in the room. Anything to break me down. Now, this was not business. I was the one who was going to get hit in that ring, and I threw her out. When the blonde didn't work, they said I couldn't use my protective cup. They gave in when we said we were leaving. But you know, I was honored that they thought so highly of me that they would pull these stunts. And they were right, because I beat him good over 10 rounds. As a matter of fact, that last round was about a minute and a half short.

You jumped in weight for your next big fight. Arturo Lomeli was a Top 10 lightweight at the time. Do you think it was a little too much too soon?
Well, I still think I should have got that decision, but I did beat him good in the rematch.

You really had a hectic schedule. A month later you were back in Japan for a 10-rounder with former champ Yoshiaki Numata. Tell me about that fight.
Y'know, we tried to postpone that fight because I was sick, but they wouldn't let us. They actually passed me in the pre-fight exam with a 102-degree fever. I beat him good but they scored it a draw.

Your solid rating, and I suppose your record and appeal in the Orient, earned you a shot at the vacant WBC junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your fight with Rene Barrientos in Manila.
Actually there's not a lot to tell. I was in his hometown and the promoter said to us, "If you want to win, we want half your contract." Johnny Flores said, "No way!" I won 12 out of 15 rounds and they gave him the fight.

You were moving solidly now into the lightweight division and were on a tremendous winning streak including a stoppage win over Jimmy Robertson. However, you were still holding your rating at 130, and in July of '70, you got a chance at a title eliminator for the junior-lightweight title. Tell me about your win over Raul Rojas.
I beat him twice, actually.

Twice?!
I beat him soundly over 10-rounds, dropping him in the ninth round. It was a unanimous decision, but he thought he was robbed and wouldn't let it go. He came up to me later threatening to finish the fight. So...I beat him up in an alley near Mando Ramos' house.

You're kidding?
Nope! He left the alley clutching his eye.

The ironic thing was that he got the title shot anyway.
Danny, the politics of boxing is something else.

Who were you working with in the gym in those days?
Let's see...Jose Napoles, "Indian Red" Lopez, Oscar Albarado, Zovek Barajas, Carlos Palomino...

Ruben, those were all welterweights!
Yeah, they liked using me for speed and because I was slippery. Ernie Lopez hired me before his first fight with Hedgemon Lewis, which he won, but didn't hire me for their second fight, which he lost. He absolutely begged me to work with him for their third fight. I agreed and he won.

What were you making as a sparring partner?
[Laughs] Five bucks a round. But I was staying sharp, too. I'll tell you a story. Roberto Duran came to L.A. for a fight and came into the Main Street Gym one day with four sparring partners who were all bandaged up. He was parading them around like trophies. He pleaded with me to spar four rounds with him, saying that his sparring partners were useless. When the bell rang ending the fourth round, he was raging because he never got to me, never really catching me cleanly.

Aside from your elusiveness, you seemed to have a pretty decent jaw.
I was probably down about....five times my whole career. I'll tell you a funny story. Angelo Dundee brought in Juan Collado from the Dominican Republic to fight me. Collado dropped me in the first round, and the next thing I remembered was the referee saying, "5," and me saying, "Hey, I'm on the floor!" I heard that Jim Healy, the TV commentator, overheard Johnny Flores yelling to me, "Get up at 8!" and me responding, "Well, what time is it now?" [Laughs] But I beat him over 10 rounds.

In February of '71, Mando Ramos was scheduled to fight Ken Buchanan for the lightweight title in Los Angeles. I understand Ramos pulled out with a groin injury?
Uhh....you could say that. He caught the clap!

You accepted the fight on 72 hours' notice. What kind of shape were you in?
I had only just started training for a rematch with Jimmy Robertson when we got the call, but I wasn't going to turn this down. The only thing I did for the next three days was run, and my main concern was what kind of shape I would be in for the later rounds.

Tell me about the fight.
Ken Buchanan was in tremendous shape, but I dropped him in the first round, breaking his eardrum in the process, only for Arthur Mercante to call it a slip. Mercante really seemed to be Buchanan's referee. In the clinches, Mercante would separate us, but he'd bend my arm in a direction it wasn't supposed to go. I actually took a bit of a swipe at him to let him know that he'd better cut it out. Buchanan also brought an English judge with him, and they gave him the fight. But I really believe I earned that decision.

Shortly after that, you took on a couple of your party buddies. Tell me about your fights with Mando Ramos and Frankie Crawford.
Well, to tell you the truth, yeah, we all drank, smoked pot, and did cocaine, but I only did it after a fight, whereas, they were doing it all the time. I was very serious in training. As for the fight with Frankie, we would all hype a fight, but he went a little too far. We'd play around, such as I used to hold up my left hand to a guy's jaw when the press was around and tell him, "This is going to make you sleep!" Then I'd hold up my right and say, "This is going to make you snore!" Y'know, fun stuff. But he went around telling the press that I pulled a knife on him and such. He really angered me for the fight and I gave him a good licking for it. I was even warned by the referee for holding him up.

Your fight with Ramos generated a lot of press and a lot of hype. There was a line attributed to you that stated, "Ahh, Mando's not in shape, he's been training in bars. I know because I was with him!"
[Laughs] Yeah, Mando and I were always going back and forth in the press. Once, I knocked out this club fighter, and Mando tells the press, "Ahh, Ruben only fights hamburgers!" But then he signs to fight the very same guy in his very next fight, so I tell the press, "Hey [Laughing], Mando's stealing my hamburgers!"

Tell me about the fight.
Well, I was really up against it. I mean, Mando was Aileen Eaton's boy, and he had already signed to fight Pedro Carrasco for the title. But there is no way I lost that fight. I did have a measure of satisfaction recently when I was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame last summer. Ray Ramos, Mando's dad, came up to me and said, "Between you and I, you beat the crap out of my son that night."

You were on a nice winning streak and were being discussed as Roberto Duran's possible first title defense when you took on Rodolfo Gonzalez in July of '72. Tell me about this fight.
I was really angry that this fight took place at the Anaheim Convention Center. It couldn't hold what the Forum could, and since we were fighting for a piece of the gate, earnings were a lot less. As for the fight, let me tell you, everyone was afraid of Rodolfo Gonzalez. He was an awesome mechanic and was a great champion but I thought I did enough to win.

After that fight you switched management. You went with Harry Kabakoff. Why was that?
A lot of funny stuff went on in choosing the Anaheim Convention Center over the Forum. I mean, money under the table. I couldn't stay with Johnny Flores anymore. I learned how to read contracts, something my managers didn't like. But I used to tell them, "Hey, you work for me, I don't work for you!"

You began another winning streak, then got the call for your third title shot. Again, against Rodolfo Gonzalez, this time for the WBC lightweight title. What happened in this fight?
Before the fight, Harry Kabakoff told me he was going to make me a "special meal," and Harry never made me a meal of any kind before. Well, he made me a "special meal" all right, and I was food-poisoned. I had nothing at all in that fight.

You retired and made a brief comeback. Was it just that it wasn't there anymore?
I had become a Jehovah's Witness by that time and was reading the Bible. I was a changed man. I had no fire, no aggression to go after my opponent. And unless you have that fire, you aren't going anywhere. So, I packed it in.

Last question. How would you sum up your career?
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to meet my boxing idol, Gaspar Ortega, and I was surprised to discover he knew who I was. I said to him, "Gaspar, I copied the way you would sit on the ropes and lure your opponent into you." He looked at me funny and said, "Lure him in? Ruben....I was tired, I was only resting." So, Danny, to answer your question, [Laughing] it's a wonder I wasn't killed.


On February 22, 2007, Ruben and his wonderful wife, Carol, will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Today, Carol and Ruben donate much of their time to working with the deaf. Ruben is also the owner and operator of the Ruben Navarro Demolition Company. For a man like Ruben, who made a career of dismantling his opponents, what an appropriate field to get into.

See ya next round,

Dan Hanley

No disrespect to Ruben Navarro but did this guy ever lose a fight lol according to this interview he got shafted on every fight

Paul . . . Ruben is no different than most fighters. You should have heard Mando Ramos tell me how easily he whipped Ruben in their ten rounder. I told Mando I saw him easily defeat many fighters, but not Ruben. Ruben was robbed of a decision in a close fight. Mando got a gift. The point being, most fighters don't believe they lose fights, unless they really get their ass kicked. Some are more objective, however, part of being a fighter is a strong belief in one's self. I guess this clouds their perception, and so be it, if it works for them in the ring. By the way, great story by Dan Hanley!

[Rick Farris]

Former WBHOF Vice-President, Julian Eget, passed away yesterday.

[kikibalt]

Paulino's question about Ruben, reminded me of a guy Tony fought twice, Raul Bencomo, in the first fight Tony ko's Bencomo in 5 rounds, in the second fight Tony ko's Bencomo in the second round, he was out cold in both fights, in the dressing room after the second fight, Jimmy Montoya who was working with Bencomo told him "Don't worry I'll get you another fight with Baltazar", Bencomo told Jimmy "Fu*k you, you fight him, the son of a bitch is crazy, he is trying to kill me" at least Bencomo knew who the enemy was....LOL!!

[kikibalt]

Former WBHOF Vice-President, Julian Eget, passed away yesterday.

Heard about it....