BoxRec

Frankie and Bobby Baltazar

Ruben Navarro, (unknown), Rick Farris (kneeling), Frankie Crawford, Van Barberi (publicist)

Weigh-in at Olympic Aud. for Mando Ramos vs. Raul Rojas card, Dec. 10, 1970. I was 18, and opened the show in a four rounder, Armando Muniz fought, so did Frankie Crawford.

Rick

What a great celebration you guys had on Saturday. It is terrific seeing all the pictures that you posted, Frank. And to read all of your comments from everybody about the event---

Dago, your painting of Frankie's sons is so special. That was a wonderful surprise for him. Like Rick and Gwen, I'm sorry I couldn't be there. It would have been so nice to meet you, Dago.

I especially wanted to be there because of Mando and his father, Ray. They were so important in my life in the early years of my career. I used to work with Mando in his mother's restaurant in Long Beach. I was the dishwasher, but Mando had a better job. He was the cook. At mid-night we would close the restaurant and go running at the beach. Mando's father was the one who took the time to help me learn how to write my name. I was almost 18 years old at the time. Those are special memories that you will never forget.

El Gato

scartissue wrote:

bennie wrote:

scartissue wrote:Checked out youtube a little while ago and they've added in a number of Jose Napoles fights I haven't seen and haven't seen in awhile. Watched a grainy version of his fight with Horacio Saldano, a very good version of his fight with Ralph Charles and an excellent version of his second fight with Billy Backus. I saw the Backus fight 37 years ago and never again until now. Great nostalgia, right down to Tom Harmon interviewing Joey Bishop ringside. In every fight Napoles has this patient, almost bored composure and doesn't turn it on until he wants to or is pissed off. The Charles fight displays that. When Charles tags him with a good right, you see the fire starting and I think everyone thought, "Oops, hey Ralph, bad career move!" Bennie, was Charles noted for his power? The announcer alluded to as much. Again, great nostalgia.

Scartissue

Ralph had power but he wasn't expected to beat Napoles and probably did as well as anyone could expect, tagging and surprising Napoles with good clean blows up to the spectacular Napoles finish.
Interestingly, Napoles sparred a certain John H. Stracey while in London for the fight.

Y'know, not to take anything away from Stracey, but his greatest wins, Napoles, Lewis, Lopez and Menetrey were all in their final bout. I was a much bigger fan of Boy Green's. Of course, he had a fast burn-out style but I thought he was damn good and I thought he was leading slightly in the Palomino fight, having rocked Carlos in the 10th (alright, maybe stung Carlos). But that left hook Carlos landed on Green was a career turner, because it really softened Green up. The Leonard left hook that also took him out, was icing on the cake, Green's once formidible jaw was no more. But he was one exciting fighter and I heard the fight between Stracey and he was one wild fight. By any chance did you see it, Bennie?

Scartissue

Didn't see it (live) but it was all over the newspapers at the time, one of those 'naturals' that attracted the kind of media attention you rarely see today. Green was from Chatteris in the sticks (otherwise known as the beautiful English countryside); Stracey was from Bethnal Green in the east end of London (Reggie and Ronnie territory, and where you don't want to spill anyone's pint). Almost 40 years earlier, Eric Boon and Arthur Danahar had taken part in a similar clash of cultures in the first ever televised British title fight.
Boon was from Chatteris; Danahar, Bethnal Green.
It was obviously a sellout and Green's 'muckspreader' right hand pounded the eye shut of Stracey until Harry Gibbs waved it off. The Fen Tiger thus emulated Boon, who had stopped Danahar in 14 rounds in 1939.
Green is a multi-millionaire businessman today; Stracey, a great after-dinner speaker.

El Gato wrote:What a great celebration you guys had on Saturday. It is terrific seeing all the pictures that you posted, Frank. And to read all of your comments from everybody about the event---

Dago, your painting of Frankie's sons is so special. That was a wonderful surprise for him. Like Rick and Gwen, I'm sorry I couldn't be there. It would have been so nice to meet you, Dago.

I especially wanted to be there because of Mando and his father, Ray. They were so important in my life in the early years of my career. I used to work with Mando in his mother's restaurant in Long Beach. I was the dishwasher, but Mando had a better job. He was the cook. At mid-night we would close the restaurant and go running at the beach. Mando's father was the one who took the time to help me learn how to write my name. I was almost 18 years old at the time. Those are special memories that you will never forget.

El Gato

Rodolfo,

It was a great day for every body I'm sure, diego was real kind to present the painting to us, I was nearly floored when the painting was brought out and our name was called, I was speehless and I think I felled a tear running down my face.

We miss you guys, Rick and Gwen too.

kikibalt wrote:
Ernie "Indian Red" and Danny "Lil Red" Lopez

Hi Frank. I was glad to see this picture of Indian Red Lopez. I know he went through some tough times not so long ago. How is he doing now?

I found this picture of Frankie and Tony Baltazar in a magazine in a job lot I bought. I really like the photo, very stylish. Apologies if it has been posted before. This is the first time I have tried posting a picture that I took myself so any errors I apologise for. It is in thumbnail form so if you click on it you should get the full image.
The magazine article the photo came from was about the West Coast's fighting brothers.

Boxingnut wrote:

I found this picture of Frankie and Tony Baltazar in a magazine in a job lot I bought. I really like the photo, very stylish. Apologies if it has been posted before. This is the first time I have tried posting a picture that I took myself so any errors I apologise for. It is in thumbnail form so if you click on it you should get the full image.
The magazine article the photo came from was about the West Coast's fighting brothers.

Can't open the thumbnail.

I don't remember seeing those pics. before.

raylawpc wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Ernie "Indian Red" and Danny "Lil Red" Lopez

Hi Frank. I was glad to see this picture of Indian Red Lopez. I know he went through some tough times not so long ago. How is he doing now?

Tom,

I don't think anybody knows where Ernie is at, so its kind of hard to know how he is doing.

kikibalt wrote:

Boxingnut wrote:

I found this picture of Frankie and Tony Baltazar in a magazine in a job lot I bought. I really like the photo, very stylish. Apologies if it has been posted before. This is the first time I have tried posting a picture that I took myself so any errors I apologise for. It is in thumbnail form so if you click on it you should get the full image.
The magazine article the photo came from was about the West Coast's fighting brothers.

Can't open the thumbnail.

I don't remember seeing those pics. before.

Maybe its only me that can open the thumbnail because the pic is on my computer. Sorry I am a real computer halfwit!!

Boxingnut wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Boxingnut wrote:

I found this picture of Frankie and Tony Baltazar in a magazine in a job lot I bought. I really like the photo, very stylish. Apologies if it has been posted before. This is the first time I have tried posting a picture that I took myself so any errors I apologise for. It is in thumbnail form so if you click on it you should get the full image.
The magazine article the photo came from was about the West Coast's fighting brothers.

Can't open the thumbnail.

I don't remember seeing those pics. before.

Maybe its only me that can open the thumbnail because the pic is on my computer. Sorry I am a real computer halfwit!!

Check you PM

kikibalt wrote:

raylawpc wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Ernie "Indian Red" and Danny "Lil Red" Lopez

Hi Frank. I was glad to see this picture of Indian Red Lopez. I know he went through some tough times not so long ago. How is he doing now?

Tom,

I don't think anybody knows where Ernie is at, so its kind of hard to know how he is doing.

I'm sorry; I thought that photo was one from the banquet you attended.

Tony and Frankie Baltazar

raylawpc wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

raylawpc wrote: Hi Frank. I was glad to see this picture of Indian Red Lopez. I know he went through some tough times not so long ago. How is he doing now?

Tom,

I don't think anybody knows where Ernie is at, so its kind of hard to know how he is doing.

I'm sorry; I thought that photo was one from the banquet you attended.

Tom,

That photo is about 2-3 years old, it was take at Ernie intuction into the CBHOF.

Okay; sorry for the confusion on my end.

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
diego and Mando Muniz

We met at the "father and Son" luncheon today and I shot
this photo of diego and Mando, have more to post
later on, and also a big surprise that we received
from diego.

Looks kinda like Marciano, or somebody else who upended the "Brown Bomber".
Sorry I missed the lunch!

Gwen Adair called, she had an allergy attack and had to stay home. How was it guys?????

-Rick

Mando Ramos, Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Danny "Lil Red" Lopez



Rick,

It was great to bad you and Gwen couldn't be there.

Here'a postscript for you guys.
Last Friday I took off from school. When I came back today,I asked the kids how it went. Friday was a minimum day,so the kids got out at 1 o'clock. Afterwards there were activities going on like hip hop dancing,basketball and softball games,and a luncheon for the kids. As an added bonus a couple of San Diego Chargers were to be there. The district calls up the Chargers to see if they can send some players to the school to add to the festivities. I think it's in some of the players' contracts that they're obliged to do a certain amount of public appearences. Now I'm sure they're not going to bother LaDamien Tomlinson or Phillip Rivers to come down to our school,but they'll send somebody.

I asked the kids who showed up for the Chargers. They said a lineman and another guy who was on the taxi squad. The kids said they stayed for about ten minutes ,and then they said they had to leave. The kids said someone from the Chargers was there to keep anyone from bothering them. The kids said the two Chargers didn't make a speech nor signed any autographs. The two Chargers,the kids felt,were a dissappointment. They seemed like they didn't want to be there. They were in a hurry .
"They didn't want to talk to us ,"said one of the kids.
I knew the kids were looking forward to seeing them. Some of the kids who are going out for football at the high school next year wanted to ask them some questions. The representatve from the Chargers kept the kids away from the players.

I started thinking about the luncheon on Saturday. I haven't been around that many fighters in a long time. I don't think I'd ever been around that many former champs. Like I said,I invited my wife along. About 5 years ago there was a Super Bowl party in San Diego. I got a couple of tickets from a player I coached in high school who's playing in the NFL. LaRoi Glover is his name. Nice of him to remember me. But I wasn't going to ask my wife if she wanted to go. Aside from Glover, who'd I probably have a minute with, the Super Bowl party seemed like a circus. Down at one of those fancy hotels in Mission Valley,with all the press and TV cameras,the Doobie Brothers performing,the commisioner,and all the coaches and players from the NFL. My wife would wind up with one of her migraines. She didn't have a headache after we got home last Saturday.

But back to Saturday's luncheon. I described it for you yesterday. As down to earth as it can get. I thought of how the kids at my school got stiffed by those Charger players. Those two little known players. I looked at the above photos. 4 World Champions and Armando Muniz who should have been the Welterweight Champ until the rematch with Mantequilla. Those guys would make a total stranger feel at home. No agents keeping anyone away. No charging money for autographs. Nothing they did to want to distinguish themslves from anyone else. Take a look at those guys. My kids at my school would have loved these guys. These guys would have loved those kids. Those fighters would have been dancing,playing softball,and sitting with them eating lunch. They wouldn't have left after ten minutes.

I tried to explain to the kids at school how unassuming and gracious those fighters are. I tried to tell them about how Muniz was robbed of winning the title from Mantequilla in Mexico,but how the Mexican fans loved him because they knew he was cheated but he took it like a man. How fighters gave it their all in a sport a lot more demanding than football. A one on one battle where the objective is to hurt your opponent. How Mancini won the title for his father and the greatest thing he ever heard is a promoter tell him that he was not as good a fighter as his father. How Chacon and Little Red fought for bragging rights of LA. And how Bobby is hurt now and even though Bobby won against Little Red they are like brothers. The punishment those boys absorbed. The concussions. The blood they lost. How Mando Ramos went to Spain to fight Carrasco who had lost only twice(once to Mando) in over 100 fights and Mando beat him for the second time in a title match.

The kids in my school had never heard of those fighters. Those World Champions. They were all there Saturday at a little steakhouse in Commerce California on a Saturday morning. I'm trying to tell everyone about that day,but I'm having trouble keeping their attention. If just more people undrestood. Those expugs could make a lot of people happy. Look at the smile on my face. Look at the smiles on those fighters' faces. I bet those two Chargers weren't smiling like that at my school last Friday.

diego, here is our painting, on my fireplace

dagosd2000 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:
Looks kinda like Marciano, or somebody else who upended the "Brown Bomber".
Sorry I missed the lunch!

Gwen Adair called, she had an allergy attack and had to stay home. How was it guys?????

-Rick

Mando Ramos, Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Danny "Lil Red" Lopez



Rick,

It was great to bad you and Gwen couldn't be there.

Here'a postscript for you guys.
Last Friday I took off from school. When I came back today,I asked the kids how it went. Friday was a minimum day,so the kids got out at 1 o'clock. Afterwards there were activities going on like hip hop dancing,basketball and softball games,and a luncheon for the kids. As an added bonus a couple of San Diego Chargers were to be there. The district calls up the Chargers to see if they can send some players to the school to add to the festivities. I think it's in some of the players' contracts that they're obliged to do a certain amount of public appearences. Now I'm sure they're not going to bother LaDamien Tomlinson or Phillip Rivers to come down to our school,but they'll send somebody.

I asked the kids who showed up for the Chargers. They said a lineman and another guy who was on the taxi squad. The kids said they stayed for about ten minutes ,and then they said they had to leave. The kids said someone from the Chargers was there to keep anyone from bothering them. The kids said the two Chargers didn't make a speech nor signed any autographs. The two Chargers,the kids felt,were a dissappointment. They seemed like they didn't want to be there. They were in a hurry .
"They didn't want to talk to us ,"said one of the kids.
I knew the kids were looking forward to seeing them. Some of the kids who are going out for football at the high school next year wanted to ask them some questions. The representatve from the Chargers kept the kids away from the players.

I started thinking about the luncheon on Saturday. I haven't been around that many fighters in a long time. I don't think I'd ever been around that many former champs. Like I said,I invited my wife along. About 5 years ago there was a Super Bowl party in San Diego. I got a couple of tickets from a player I coached in high school who's playing in the NFL. LaRoi Glover is his name. Nice of him to remember me. But I wasn't going to ask my wife if she wanted to go. Aside from Glover, who'd I probably have a minute with, the Super Bowl party seemed like a circus. Down at one of those fancy hotels in Mission Valley,with all the press and TV cameras,the Doobie Brothers performing,the commisioner,and all the coaches and players from the NFL. My wife would wind up with one of her migraines. She didn't have a headache after we got home last Saturday.

But back to Saturday's luncheon. I described it for you yesterday. As down to earth as it can get. I thought of how the kids at my school got stiffed by those Charger players. Those two little known players. I looked at the above photos. 4 World Champions and Armando Muniz who should have been the Welterweight Champ until the rematch with Mantequilla. Those guys would make a total stranger feel at home. No agents keeping anyone away. No charging money for autographs. Nothing they did to want to distinguish themslves from anyone else. Take a look at those guys. My kids at my school would have loved these guys. These guys would have loved those kids. Those fighters would have been dancing,playing softball,and sitting with them eating lunch. They wouldn't have left after ten minutes.

I tried to explain to the kids at school how unassuming and gracious those fighters are. I tried to tell them about how Muniz was robbed of winning the title from Mantequilla in Mexico,but how the Mexican fans loved him because they knew he was cheated but he took it like a man. How fighters gave it their all in a sport a lot more demanding than football. A one on one battle where the objective is to hurt your opponent. How Mancini won the title for his father and the greatest thing he ever heard is a promoter tell him that he was not as good a fighter as his father. How Chacon and Little Red fought for bragging rights of LA. And how Bobby is hurt now and even though Bobby won against Little Red they are like brothers. The punishment those boys absorbed. The concussions. The blood they lost. How Mando Ramos went to Spain to fight Carrasco who had lost only twice(once to Mando) in over 100 fights and Mando beat him for the second time in a title match.

The kids in my school had never heard of those fighters. Those World Champions. They were all there Saturday at a little steakhouse in Commerce California on a Saturday morning. I'm trying to tell everyone about that day,but I'm having trouble keeping their attention. If just more people undrestood. Those expugs could make a lot of people happy. Look at the smile on my face. Look at the smiles on those fighters' faces. I bet those two Chargers weren't smiling like that at my school last Friday.

So true. These guy are special. They're also real.

Received this article from boxingnut, more pages to follow.

The 1980s was a good time for boxing brothers. The Currys became the first to hold world titles at the same time, soon to be followed by the Galaxy twins.

My man Adriano. This guy beat Pintor and Nazario, gave Chavez a 10-round war, and came to London and did a number on our own John Feeney.
He never had an easy fight.
Take a look at the number of unbeaten prospects he licks in their own backyards:

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

Bobby Chacon vs Ray Mancini

I saw the replay of the Margarito/Citron fight. Margarito after the fight,was recognizing the fighters who worked out at the boxing gym "CREA" in Tijuana. The "CREA" is a state government run recreational facility. Tijuana doesn't have much to offer its residents when it comes to public recreation. The boxing gym at the "CREA" is under the bleachers at the soccer field. I posted something about it before. It's cramped and stuffy. It's basic,nothing fancy,and everyone in there is all about boxing.You could drive right by it and not no you passed the most popular gym in TJ. The last time I went there ,I saw a lot of fighters of all abilities working out. Tony Margarito came up the hard way. He's tough and used to living a tough life. Now that he's making some money,I don't see him throwing it away. I think he'll stay up there for a long time. I think they'll be seeing him more at the "CREA" gym.

Tony and that gym look like they belong together.