BoxRec

Chuck1052 wrote:After World War II, Audie Murphy reportedly had
some very rocky personal moments despite having
quite a bit of success as a movie actor. I have read
that he had severe bouts with depression because
of his war experiences.

- Chuck Johnston

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:
I remember that day very well, Frank. Frankie Jr. fought Ruben Castillo at 65lbs, and I still have the program for the match. Marty Denkin is an ex-Navy man, and he set up the matches at the base.


-Rick

Rick,

You're right Frankie did fight Ruben Castillo, in order to make the fight we had to agree to have Frankie go easy on Ruben, Frankie had already been boxing 5 years and Ruben was just getting started.

Did you know that Marty Denkin had also been a cop?

Frank, I didn't know that Marty had been a cop. In July, 2000, I was living in Phoenix and covered the Kostya Tszyu-J.C. Chavez fight for the CBZ. At the weigh-in, I had a chance to visit with a lot of old friends from L.A. who were involved with the match, including Denkin, who was a judge. I sat and talked with Marty for about ten minutes and it was great talking of old times in L.A.

Last summer, Gwen Adair invited me to a match she was judging with Marty in Calabasas. Before the match, I visited with Marty and Vince Delgado, another Judge. Out of the clear blue, we discussed the Johnny Owens-Lupe Pintor match, that Marty had refereed. Which led to discussion of the tragic Davey Moore -Sugar Ramos match. Basically we were discussing boxers who had been killed in L.A. rings.

In the first match, a young prelim fighter named Jaclson Burcell, fought hard to gain a draw. It appeared he took a pretty good shot at the end of the fight, but he was OK. After the decision, he walked to shake hands with his opponent, turned to walk away, and suddenly his legs collapsed and he just sank to the canvas and lapsed into a coma.

He was put on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

What a tragic coincidence.


-Rick Farris


-Rick Farris

dagosd2000 wrote:We finished up the Civil War today at school. I always end this section with showing the movie"The Red Badge Of Courage" starring Audie Murphy. I've been teaching U.S History for 20 years and there hasn't been a kid who ever heard of him.
"Does anyone know who Audie Murphy was?"
"We know who Eddie Murphy is",is the usual response.
I show "The Red Badge Of Courage"to my classes every year,not only because it is a good represntation of a Civil War battle,but it gives me a chance to do a lesson about Audie Murphy.

I tell my classes that Audie was the most decorated war hero in United States military history. They're always amazed how young Murphy looked. How short he was. Later in the year I'll show them "To Hell And Back",the biographical story of Murphy's combat in World War II. I get great pleasure watching the other actors in that movie "glowing" in Murphy's presence. I saw a documentary on the making of "To Hell And Back". Some of the other actors like Paul Picerni and "The Golden Boy" Art Aragon said working with Murphy was a kick. A down to earth guy. They all laughed a lot. They all became friends. Being in his presence not only brought out the best in their performances,but they were just so damn proud to be with him. I know Art must have thought the world of Murphy because he named his son,Audie. That was good. That was real good that he named his son Audie.

Murphy and Aragon were around the same size. Both natural lightweights. Maybe they only weighed 130 pounds,but both were tough as nails. Full of life. They had their personal battles as well. But they never made excuses and never complained that they should have deserved more than what they got out of life. Both boys could take it as much as well as they could dish it out.

After attending last week's California Boxing Father and Son Luncheon,I talked to the class about the former champs like Mando Ramos,Bobby Chacon,Lttle Red,and"Boom Boom" Mancini. I talked about Art"Golden Boy" Aragon. They never heard of those guys.

Well I guess those former champs are in good company because those kids never heard of Audie Murphy either. But if you happen to sign up for my U.S. History class,you'll come out of it knowing about those champions and our country's greatest war hero. They are a part of our history that not many people,especially the young people,know about.

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.

kikibalt wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:We finished up the Civil War today at school. I always end this section with showing the movie"The Red Badge Of Courage" starring Audie Murphy. I've been teaching U.S History for 20 years and there hasn't been a kid who ever heard of him.
"Does anyone know who Audie Murphy was?"
"We know who Eddie Murphy is",is the usual response.
I show "The Red Badge Of Courage"to my classes every year,not only because it is a good represntation of a Civil War battle,but it gives me a chance to do a lesson about Audie Murphy.

I tell my classes that Audie was the most decorated war hero in United States military history. They're always amazed how young Murphy looked. How short he was. Later in the year I'll show them "To Hell And Back",the biographical story of Murphy's combat in World War II. I get great pleasure watching the other actors in that movie "glowing" in Murphy's presence. I saw a documentary on the making of "To Hell And Back". Some of the other actors like Paul Picerni and "The Golden Boy" Art Aragon said working with Murphy was a kick. A down to earth guy. They all laughed a lot. They all became friends. Being in his presence not only brought out the best in their performances,but they were just so damn proud to be with him. I know Art must have thought the world of Murphy because he named his son,Audie. That was good. That was real good that he named his son Audie.

Murphy and Aragon were around the same size. Both natural lightweights. Maybe they only weighed 130 pounds,but both were tough as nails. Full of life. They had their personal battles as well. But they never made excuses and never complained that they should have deserved more than what they got out of life. Both boys could take it as much as well as they could dish it out.

After attending last week's California Boxing Father and Son Luncheon,I talked to the class about the former champs like Mando Ramos,Bobby Chacon,Lttle Red,and"Boom Boom" Mancini. I talked about Art"Golden Boy" Aragon. They never heard of those guys.

Well I guess those former champs are in good company because those kids never heard of Audie Murphy either. But if you happen to sign up for my U.S. History class,you'll come out of it knowing about those champions and our country's greatest war hero. They are a part of our history that not many people,especially the young people,know about.

diego,

Its sad that kids don't know about people like Audie Murphy, the hero that he was, he deserves better then that,

I can understand them don't knowing some of the old fighters, lets be honest, who remembers the old time fighters but us hard core boxing people and fans, thats why I love working with Don Fraser and the CBHOF in honoring some of the old time fighters, giving them the recognizing that they so richly deserve, I love to see the look on their faces when they get call to the podium to receive their awards, thats my reward for all the time that I spent working with the CBHOF.

kikibalt wrote:
Floyd Patterson in London

kikibalt wrote:
Floyd Patterson in London

bennie wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Alan Minter vs Marvin Hagler

Minter later admitted he was relieved when it was stopped. The bravery of the attending cops is always worth a mention. They shielded Marvin and got him back to the dressing room in one piece against all the odds.
Welcome to soulless 1980s Britain.

Ezzard wrote:

bennie wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Alan Minter vs Marvin Hagler

Minter later admitted he was relieved when it was stopped. The bravery of the attending cops is always worth a mention. They shielded Marvin and got him back to the dressing room in one piece against all the odds.
Welcome to soulless 1980s Britain.

First of all I'd like to say that this thread is an absolute treasure trove. I'd like to offer a big thanks to all the contributors for what is the best thread on the whole internet. I love reading the stories and memories you guys share. All of your stories are very much appreciated.

bennie, I soemtimes see Alan Minter out and about where I live. I don't approach him as I wouldn't like to impose on the champ. When you say relieved in what sense do you mean? And anyone else think he might just have deserved that decision against hamsho?

bennie wrote:Incidentally, I've chatted to Alan in recent years and he's a good bloke. Talk about Ross.

Ezzard wrote:

bennie wrote:Incidentally, I've chatted to Alan in recent years and he's a good bloke. Talk about Ross.

Thanks Bennie...

Always seemed to me that Minter landed a decent shot on Hagler, went looking for him, and paid a heavy price. I remember there was quite a lot of needle before the bout.

bennie wrote:

Ezzard wrote:

bennie wrote:Incidentally, I've chatted to Alan in recent years and he's a good bloke. Talk about Ross.

Thanks Bennie...

Always seemed to me that Minter landed a decent shot on Hagler, went looking for him, and paid a heavy price. I remember there was quite a lot of needle before the bout.

Just a bit. The press whipped up the infamous Minter quote about 'never losing his title to that black man' (he really meant THAT man; Minter's best man at his wedding was Billy Knight) and Kevin Finnegan, who was always pissed and (sadly) lives rough these days in a park in Uxbridge, chipped in with Hagler's so-called 'I don't touch white skin' remark. Add to all that the fact Hagler was a surly so and so who hardly went out of his way to make any friends and small wonder it went off.
The atmosphere was poison.

bennie wrote:In the first World War, 'spotters' were positioned waist up from the top of trenches, as opposed to neck up.
The reasoning was they had a better chance of surviving a chest shot than a head one.