BoxRec

Panzerfaust wrote:A post by Tony on Facebook just made me think for a second.. He started as a amateur in the 60s and had his last pro fight in the 2000s ... He fought in 5 different decades...that must be close to some kind of record. of the top of my mind i can only think of a very few who did this...

WOW!, never thought about it in that way, but he sure did. And Frankie fought in 4 decades, '60's to '90's

(Editor's Note: Joe Frazier's chronic unresolved relationship with Muhammad Ali seems resolved and happily so. There's more sweetness than bitterness now in their final years, these formerly "baddest men on the planet."

Me, I was always a Clay man, an Ali adherent, starting with my grandly named Cassius Clay International Fan Club, which I founded with my mimeograph machine at age 11 in Boston.

Which reminds me of Ken Norton telling me a few years ago at a WBC convention in Mexico that he had "forgiven" me for being "an Ali man."

"I didn't know you went to school with him in Lousiville," Norton said. "So it's OK."

I had to laugh as I certainly was not the lone white kid in the then racially segregated city's school system.

About 20 years ago, I was trying to finish up at Fordham Law School and I was going to write a book with Smokin' Joe. At first, I felt like a guy cheating on his devoted wife. But Frazier's immense decency and strong character wore me down. Final exams interfered and someone else penned the book.

But I'll go my grave remembering Joe telling me how he was a broke ass fighter, sleeping in a car in Brooklyn trying to get a pro boxing career launched and the times when, as Ali was refused a boxing license due to his "draft dodging," Joe quietly loaned or gave him cash infusions, back when they both lived in Philadelphia.

Good people, all time great fighter. That should be Frazier's epitaph. When you saw Smoke, you saw fire.)

***************************************


"The people, they still want to see me."


Words of an Smokin' Joe Frazier, born 67 years ago today (Jan. 12) in Beaufort, S.C., and now, amidst physical and financial decay, appreciative of still being hailed as one of the living legends of the prize ring, the man who made so much magic head to head with a fellow he used to refer to only as "Clay."

I tried the Cassius Clay gambit three or four times on "Fray-ziuh" (Ali's exaggerated pronounciation of his historical archrival's last name) but Joe never bit.

"No, he's Muhammad, he's Ali, he's Muhammad Ali, I call him that now," Frazier said while visiting New York to hype FX cable network's acclaimed new fictional but reely real boxing program "Lights Out."


Their birthdays are a mere five days apart as the man born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Ky., turns 69--can you believe it--on Jan. 17.


"I don't hit a man when he's down," Frazier said softly, a reference to Ali's Parkinson's Syndrome which robbed "The Greatest" of public and private voice.


Chatting with Frazier, I got the idea that the rivalry is not a rivalry anymore, the combatants both softened by the ravages of time. It's about nostalgia, about brilliant action in the ring and the back and forth outside of it.

But much is gone from Frazier's life. He is completely sour on the business of boxing, especially so after he lost his shopworn North Philly gym due to unpaid taxes.

"I don't miss it, the boxing," Frazier said. "The gym is shut down in more ways than one. I would develop a fighter, have some good years with them and then they run off and leave you.


"I don't care to do that now. You go to the Mom, to the Dad and they say, "Are you paying our light bill? Are you paying our rent? Are you giving us money like they (other handlers) are?"


To Frazier, whose loyalty to manager-trainer Yancey "Yank" Durham was beyond question, such shifting alliances, the what have you done for me lately mentality, never did and never will compute.

When he speaks on Durham, a glow comes across Frazier's frazzled face.

"We don't have those kind of teachers around the gym today. Anybody can walk in the gym, put a white towel on his shoulder, and say he's a trainer."


I mentioned that boxing-rich Philly was going to honor Bad Bennie Briscoe, the excellent middleweight who somehow never won a world title at a funeral (it happened Monday) and Frazier did some mental time traveling.

"I'm going to see Bennie," Frazier said. "Bennie, he was one of them, one of the true guys. So was Gpysy Joe Harris, so was (light heavyweight champ) Harold Johnson...we had so many. Georgie Benton, he was such a slick guy in the ring," Frazier said.


"But we had the teachers...these guys today, it's like you're gonna teach me how to drive but you, you never drove a car, so how can you show me how to drive one?"


Frazier's financial woes could fill a file cabinet but one primary one was a 140 acre land purchase he made in suburban Bucks County. Frazier bought the land, which was rural but later became residential, for $843,000 and then drew monthly payments out of a trust for $1.8 million.

Unfortunately, the trust failed and heavy litigation ensued. Frazier's lawsuit was KO'd in 2003 and the land is now estimated to be worth $100 million (2006 estimate, cited by a New York Times article).

While I was talking to Smokey Joe, his sidekick Larry Holmes of the Easton, Pa., Holmses chimed in amidst a discussion about a Holmes statue planned in his hometown and the Rocky Marciano statue going up in Brockton, Mass.

"All these statues going up, Joe Frazier should have his own. Who did more for Philadelphia, who did more to put it on the map than Smokin' Joe? The city took millions in taxes from Joe when he was the champ and now they take his gym away? That is so wrong," Holmes said.


Frazier smiled. He and Holmes have grown close in their retirement years and Holmes has quietly gone into his pocket for his friend.

A few years back, when Joe had huge medical bills after an auto accident, Holmes came to the rescue.

“Joe Frazier is my friend, and what I choose to do for my friends is my own business,” Holmes said. “If I do anything for a friend, it is not done for the purpose of making myself look good and getting my name in the paper. But know this about my friendship with Joe: If I had $4 left in my wallet, two of those would go to Joe.”

Looking back, Frazier takes Ali's incesssant, sometimes cruel verbal jabs for what they were, mainly meant for promotional purposes.

All that "thrilla, chilla when I get the Gorilla in Manila" junk used to make Frazier seethe but now he sees Ali just as battered by life as he is or more so.

Even Ali's rants about Joe being so "ugly" drew a humorous response.

"I had 11 babies so someone thought I was cute," Frazier told one interviewer.

Youngest of 12, a high school dropout at age 13, father of 11, including ex-fighter Marvis.

When it comes to the guy whose name is always linked to his by the historic hypen, Ali-Frazier I, Frazier-Ali II or "Thrilla In Manila," the classic of classics, Ali-Frazier III, the party of the second part is prideful.

"Ali always said I would be nothing without him," Frazier has said.

"But who would he be without me?"

One final note.

I felt obliged to ask Joe, since it always comes up, if he thought Ali was getting ready to quit in Manila at the same time his trainer, Futch, was pulling the plug for fear of Joe going blind in at least one eye.

"Nah," Frazier said. "He wasn't gonna quit. That's not Muhammad. No quit in him.


"Like I said before, I don't kick a man when he's down, I try to help him up.


"Muhammad...me and him...we had a lot of fun."


([email protected])



Continue reading on Examiner.com: Smokin' Joe Frazier turns 67: 'Me and Muhammad, we had a lot of fun' - National boxing | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-natio ... z1BJtE1uQL

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Frank, did you know Tito Martinez, or see him fight?.

Don't think so Paul, the name doesn't ring a bell....but who know, I might had met him and just don't remember....

SRRY the first name is Tote and he lost a split decision to Enrique Bolanos, he also fought Tony Chavez, Buea Jack and many others.

THEHAMMER321 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Frank, did you know Tito Martinez, or see him fight?.

Don't think so Paul, the name doesn't ring a bell....but who know, I might had met him and just don't remember....

SRRY the first name is Tote and he lost a split decision to Enrique Bolanos, he also fought Tony Chavez, Buea Jack and many others.

Yes, I did see him fight, I also have a pic or two of him from the old Knockout mags.

Panzerfaust wrote:A post by Tony on Facebook just made me think for a second.. He started as a amateur in the 60s and had his last pro fight in the 2000s ... He fought in 5 different decades...that must be close to some kind of record. of the top of my mind i can only think of a very few who did this...

When I started boxing in 1965, Tony was 4-years-old and already a Pee-Wee star.
When Tony last fought, he was 41. That's 37 years that I know of. Five decades. Just like Duran.

As a proud but green dad i just have to share this picture

Panzerfaust wrote:As a proud but green dad i just have to share this picture

Good looking kid, that boy named Sue....

Thanks Frank Everybody says he looks like his pops

THEHAMMER321 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Frank, did you know Tito Martinez, or see him fight?.

Don't think so Paul, the name doesn't ring a bell....but who know, I might had met him and just don't remember....

Sorry the first name is Tote and he lost a split decision to Enrique Bolanos, he also fought Tony Chavez, Buea Jack and many others.

Tote Martinez


birth date 1924-12-19

division lightweight

country United States
residence Oakland, California, United States
birth place Stockton, CA

won 33 (KO 8) + lost 15 (KO 3) + drawn 10 = 58
rounds boxed 509 KO% 13.79


1954-01-25 141 Chi Chi Martinez 142 5-4-1
Arena, South Gate, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Jimmy Wilson 52-57 | judge: Joe Stone 52-57 | judge: Jimmy Wallace 52-57

1953-11-30 140½ Tommy Manaois 137½ 22-12-4
Arena, South Gate, California, United States W UD 10 10

1953-08-13 141½ Mario Trigo 140 59-37-9
Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States L RTD 7 10
Martinez didn't answer the bell starting the 8th round. (United Press)

1953-06-01 139½ Ralph Dupas 135½ 38-3-3
Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States L KO 6 8
time: 2:44

1953-02-28 139½ Cisco Andrade 136½ 10-0-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Joe Stone 52-58 | judge: Dynamite Jackson 54½-55½ | judge: Mushy Callahan 52-58

1952-11-24 139 Jesse Underwood 136 72-47-7
Civic Center, Butte, Montana, United States D PTS 10 10

1952-10-13 140 Jorge Macias 142 9-10-2
Ryan's Auditorium, Fresno, California, United States W PTS 10 10
referee: Frank Manfredo

1952-08-09 139½ Baby Franco 139½ 2-1-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
referee: Frankie Van 58-52 | judge: Jimmy Wallace 55½-54½ | judge: Frank Holborow 57½-52½

1952-06-28 Louis Williams 10-12-3
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1952-04-12 139½ Sammy Figueroa 138½ 17-6-9
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
referee: Mushy Callahan 56½-53½ | judge: Lee Grossman 56½-53½ | judge: Frankie Van 59-51

1952-03-29 Glen Hendershot 34-17-6
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1952-02-26 140 Pinky Martinez 136 2-1-0
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1951-10-12 Chu Chu Jiminez 23-9-5
Stockton, California, United States L KO 1

1951-09-14 139¾ Rudy Cruz 139¾ 44-10-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Joe Stone 51-59 | judge: Tommy Hart 51½-58½ | judge: Tommy Herman 52-58

1951-04-27 137½ Enrique Bolanos 137½ 68-12-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L SD 10 10
referee: Mushy Callahan 53-57 | judge: Jimmy Wallace 52-58 | judge: Frank Holborow 55½-54½

1951-03-02 138 Chu Chu Jiminez 136½ 21-5-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States D PTS 10 10
referee: Joe Stone 55-55 | judge: Jack McDonald 55½-54½ | judge: Lee Grossman 54-56

1951-02-02 137 Chu Chu Jiminez 136 21-5-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States D PTS 10 10
referee: Johnny Indrisano 55-55 | judge: Tommy Herman 54½-55½ | judge: Tommy Hart 56-54

1951-01-24 138 Carlos Chavez 138 52-12-8
Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, United States W TKO 5 10
Chavez suffered a damaged hand in the first round and had to quit in the fifth. He was trailing on points.

1950-12-29 138 Enrique Bolanos 138 66-11-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L SD 10 10
referee: Charley Randolph 52½-57½ | judge: Reggie Gilmore 57½-52½ | judge: Joe Stone 53½-56½

1950-12-19 Chico Rosa 31-11-2
Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1950-12-02 142 Chico Rosa 134 31-10-2
Eureka, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1950-11-17 136½ Chico Rosa 130 30-10-2
Stockton, California, United States L PTS 10 10

1950-10-24 137 Baby Neff Ortiz 135 16-1-2
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States D PTS 10 10

1950-10-10 Don Rogers 12-2-0
Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, United States D PTS 10 10
referee: Eddie Volk | judge: Ralph Gruman | judge: Al Lix

1950-09-22 142 Mongo Luciano 145 19-5-4
San Francisco, California, United States W PTS 8 8

1950-06-23 Joey Ortega 26-13-11
Auditorium, Eureka, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1950-04-18 137 Rudy Cruz 136 36-5-2
San Jose, California, United States L PTS 12 12

1950-03-06 139 Jesse Flores 140 55-6-10
Stockton, California, United States L UD 12 12

1950-02-27 137½ Baby Neff Ortiz 135½ 11-1-1
Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, United States L SD 10 10
referee: Jack Silver | judge: Eddie James | judge: Russ Bradford

1950-02-10 Tommy Vargas 20-18-4
Fresno, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1949-11-29 Hank Herring 4-4-1
San Jose, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1949-10-21 140½ Elmer Beltz 140½ 13-1-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Joe Stone | judge: Mushy Callahan | judge: Jimmy Wallace
Martinez was knocked down in the 3rd round.

1949-09-27 140 Arturo Barron 145 29-17-2
San Jose, California, United States W TKO 4 10

1949-09-06 140¾ Beau Jack 139 76-14-4
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Frankie Van 50½-59½ | judge: Tommy Herman 50-60 | judge: Frank Holborow 52-58

1949-07-08 140 Jesse Flores 137 51-5-8
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States D PTS 10 10
referee: Frank Manfredo
According to the Oakland Tribune, Flores refused to touch gloves to start the 10th round, and landed
a punch to Martinez's chest.
This cost him the 10th round, and ultimately a decision win.

1949-06-13 142 Jesse Flores 136½ 51-5-7
Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States D PTS 10 10
referee: Jack Downey | judge: Toby Irwin | judge: Frankie Brown

1949-05-06 138 Lem Thomas 137½ 29-13-3
National Hall, San Francisco, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1949-04-20 138 Chucho Llanes 135 8-12-4
Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1949-03-29 138 Billy Cornwell 138 23-7-3
Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States W KO 9 10
Cornwell died of injuries sustained in this fight

1949-03-22 137 Raul Esqueda Campos 135½ 26-3-2
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W MD 10 10
referee: Reggie Gilmore 56½-53½ | judge: Frank Holborow 56½-53½ | judge: Frankie Van 55-55

1949-02-10 138 Tommy Vargas 136½ 20-14-4
Fresno, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1948-12-10 134 Alfredo Escobar 135 29-12-7
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W SD 10 10
referee: Billy Kershner 59-51 | judge: Jimmy Wilson 58-52 | judge: Charley Randolph 53-57
Escobar was knocked down for a two-count in the 2nd round.

1948-11-23 136 Fabela Chavez 138 22-7-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W RTD 5 10
referee: Abe Roth
Chavez's manager stopped the bout between the 5th and 6th round.

1948-08-11 Bob Burgess 8-8-11
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States D PTS 8 8

1948-07-28 Bob Burgess 8-8-10
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States D PTS 10 10

1948-06-01 Tony Chavez 34-8-4
San Jose, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1948-05-03 Bob Burgess 8-6-10
Stockton, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1948-03-17 139 Nate Huskey 138 20-9-7
Ryan's Auditorium, Fresno, California, United States L PTS 8 8

1948-02-28 Felix Bueno 14-11-4
San Jose, California, United States D PTS 10 10

1948-02-21 Boykin Bourgeois 2-10-2
Stockton, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1948-01-19 Lem Thomas 16-4-2
San Francisco, California, United States W PTS 10 10

1947-12-08 139 Nate Huskey 138 20-6-5
San Francisco, California, United States W PTS 6 6

1947-11-05 136 Tony Chavez 138 31-7-4
Ryan's Auditorium, Fresno, California, United States W PTS 10 10
referee: Frank Manfredo

1947-10-20 Art Soto 6-0-1
Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, United States W PTS 8 8

1947-09-29 Billy Christman 1-4-0
Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, United States W KO 4

1947-09-22 Frankie Smith 0-3-0
Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States W KO 3

1947-09-17 140 John Howard 135 0-2-0
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States W KO 2 4

1947-09-15 139 Johnny Williams 137 1-3-0
Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, United States W KO 1 4

Panzerfaust wrote:As a proud but green dad i just have to share this picture

Look at those eyes.
I have a feeling you are going to be a great dad!

THEHAMMER321 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Frank, did you know Tito Martinez, or see him fight?.

Don't think so Paul, the name doesn't ring a bell....but who know, I might had met him and just don't remember....

SRRY the first name is Tote and he lost a split decision to Enrique Bolanos, he also fought Tony Chavez, Buea Jack and many others.

Paul, thanks for bringing this guy up, I don't recall hearing about him. Fought some of the best.

Rick Farris wrote:

Panzerfaust wrote:As a proud but green dad i just have to share this picture

Look at those eyes.
I have a feeling you are going to be a great dad!

Remy, I just showed little "Henry" Armstrong's photo to my wife, Monica.
She said in all sincerity that she has never seen a new born so beautiful as your little guy.

It could have been Darren Barker, it should have been Darren Barker; instead, Birmingham's Matthew Macklin makes his way to Las Vegas on April 9 to face a faded Ronald "Winky" Wright over 10 rounds.
Macklin, the European middleweight champion, was lined up to face Londoner Barker in a big domestic clash in Birmingham last September but Barker pulled out injured, much to the disappointment of British boxing fans. They were scheduled to meet again in the spring after "Meaty" Mick Hennessy, Barker's promoter, won the purse bids in Rome earlier this month, but then came the announcement of Macklin-Wright, and we can safely say that Macklin-Barker is dead in the water. Macklin will relinquish his European title and concentrate on world honours if he gets past Wright, and it is more a case of when he gets past Wright.
Two or three years ago Wright would have toyed with someone like Macklin, but boxers age as quickly as dogs and the 39-year-old Wright looked stiff-legged in his last fight against fellow southpaw Paul Williams in Las Vegas in April 2009 as he slumped to a comprehensive points defeat over 12 rounds. Before that, in July 2007, Wright was also outscored by Bernard Hopkins over punishing 12 rounds. You wonder how much Wright has left after two long, hard defeats and obvious inactivity, after 21 years as a pro and 57 fights. Old dogs don't freshen up if you leave them lying around, and Wright has fought only Hopkins and Williams in the last four years.
Frankly, Wright is a stepping stone for the strong, aggressive, heavy handed Macklin as he zooms in on a world title shot under new promoter Oscar De La Hoya, and we can expect Matt to mix it up nicely as he thumps his way to a rather depressing decision win.

Panzerfaust wrote:As a proud but green dad i just have to share this picture

Wonderful baby, living on love...

Coffee is on the fire.....

Charles (Carlos) Vargas from Simons



The story told to me was that Charles (Carlos) Vargas, while held as a prisoner of war,
was placed on a Japanese ship. While sailing en route from the Philippines, the ship was
attacked by the Allies.

Alberto and Federico Vasquez from Simons



Alberto and Federico Vasquez’ mother had this dual portrait made in honor 'of her two sons who
went to war on April 26, 1943 and April 16, 1943 respectively.
Note the artwork she commissioned blending the Mexican and American flags.
(Photo courtesy of Fred Vasquez.)

A Boxing Idol in Cypress Park

Sports fame in L.A. at the turn of the last century was attained with boxing gloves. Jim Jeffries, an Ohio-born son of an Evangelist minister Alexis C. Jeffries, sparred his way to notoriety beginning in 1896. By 1899 he appeared in a Coney Island fight against Bob Fitzsimmons, and Jeffries won the heavyweight championship by knock out. He retired undefeated in 1905.

Jeffries appeared in celebrity endorsements ads. He opened a downtown bar at 326 So. Spring Street (proprietors being J&J, perhaps with a brother Jonathan.) Jeffries came out of retirement in 1910, but lost to African American fighter Jack Johnson.



Jim Jeffries' Gentlemen's Club at Spring Street

The Jeffries family settled in Cypress Park around 1882. The family included mother Rebecca Boyer, three other sons Charles, Jonathan and Calvin; daughters Lydia, Alameda and Lillian. Their home was situated on their property bordered by Jeffries Avenue, Isabel Street, Figueroa Street, and Cypress Avenue. Located here were two of their houses at 535 and 545 Cypress Avenue, which sat within the present-day footprint of Florence Nightingale Middle School .

By 1905 this region underwent residential development. Son Jonathan was a real estate developer. Charles was living at 571 Cypress in a house built in 1911. Two residential tracts were attributed to the Jeffries family: the earlier Jeffries Avenue Tract, circa 1905, that subdivided south of Cypress Avenue, and the later Jeffries Highland View Tract, that spanned north of Cypress Avenue.



Jim Jeffries later moved to Burbank, and he died in 1953. His Spring Street saloon was demolished in 1960.

Burbank Historical Society's Gordon R. Howard Museum is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Jeffries-Johnson fight. The exhibit includes photos and a pair of boxing gloves.

Jeffries Avenue ends at Avenue 26. It forms a T intersection, and the former Lawry's California Center restaurant compound was at this intersection. Its beautiful grounds have found new life as the Los Angeles River Center.

I copy the above post from a blog

Going to the GSBA meeting today....

kikibalt wrote:A Boxing Idol in Cypress Park

Sports fame in L.A. at the turn of the last century was attained with boxing gloves. Jim Jeffries, an Ohio-born son of an Evangelist minister Alexis C. Jeffries, sparred his way to notoriety beginning in 1896. By 1899 he appeared in a Coney Island fight against Bob Fitzsimmons, and Jeffries won the heavyweight championship by knock out. He retired undefeated in 1905.

Jeffries appeared in celebrity endorsements ads. He opened a downtown bar at 326 So. Spring Street (proprietors being J&J, perhaps with a brother Jonathan.) Jeffries came out of retirement in 1910, but lost to African American fighter Jack Johnson.



Jim Jeffries' Gentlemen's Club at Spring Street

The Jeffries family settled in Cypress Park around 1882. The family included mother Rebecca Boyer, three other sons Charles, Jonathan and Calvin; daughters Lydia, Alameda and Lillian. Their home was situated on their property bordered by Jeffries Avenue, Isabel Street, Figueroa Street, and Cypress Avenue. Located here were two of their houses at 535 and 545 Cypress Avenue, which sat within the present-day footprint of Florence Nightingale Middle School .

By 1905 this region underwent residential development. Son Jonathan was a real estate developer. Charles was living at 571 Cypress in a house built in 1911. Two residential tracts were attributed to the Jeffries family: the earlier Jeffries Avenue Tract, circa 1905, that subdivided south of Cypress Avenue, and the later Jeffries Highland View Tract, that spanned north of Cypress Avenue.



Jim Jeffries later moved to Burbank, and he died in 1953. His Spring Street saloon was demolished in 1960.

Burbank Historical Society's Gordon R. Howard Museum is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Jeffries-Johnson fight. The exhibit includes photos and a pair of boxing gloves.

Jeffries Avenue ends at Avenue 26. It forms a T intersection, and the former Lawry's California Center restaurant compound was at this intersection. Its beautiful grounds have found new life as the Los Angeles River Center.

Great Post=Love that old boxing history stuff.
I would add that I would never be able to fit in to one of those booths in the bar-then or today. LOL

bennie wrote:

Panzerfaust wrote:As a proud but green dad i just have to share this picture

Wonderful baby, living on love...

That is truley one beautiful boy of yours. God Bless.

Here is a picture of the kid down the street from me. I hope your boy doesn't grow up to be like this little rat bastid.

CNorkusJr wrote:Here is a picture of the kid down the street from me. I hope your boy doesn't grow up to be like this little rat bastid.

looks like a charming young man

i hope he doesent turn out that way to

kikibalt wrote:A Boxing Idol in Cypress Park

Sports fame in L.A. at the turn of the last century was attained with boxing gloves. Jim Jeffries, an Ohio-born son of an Evangelist minister Alexis C. Jeffries, sparred his way to notoriety beginning in 1896. By 1899 he appeared in a Coney Island fight against Bob Fitzsimmons, and Jeffries won the heavyweight championship by knock out. He retired undefeated in 1905.

Jeffries appeared in celebrity endorsements ads. He opened a downtown bar at 326 So. Spring Street (proprietors being J&J, perhaps with a brother Jonathan.) Jeffries came out of retirement in 1910, but lost to African American fighter Jack Johnson.



Jim Jeffries' Gentlemen's Club at Spring Street

The Jeffries family settled in Cypress Park around 1882. The family included mother Rebecca Boyer, three other sons Charles, Jonathan and Calvin; daughters Lydia, Alameda and Lillian. Their home was situated on their property bordered by Jeffries Avenue, Isabel Street, Figueroa Street, and Cypress Avenue. Located here were two of their houses at 535 and 545 Cypress Avenue, which sat within the present-day footprint of Florence Nightingale Middle School .

By 1905 this region underwent residential development. Son Jonathan was a real estate developer. Charles was living at 571 Cypress in a house built in 1911. Two residential tracts were attributed to the Jeffries family: the earlier Jeffries Avenue Tract, circa 1905, that subdivided south of Cypress Avenue, and the later Jeffries Highland View Tract, that spanned north of Cypress Avenue.



Jim Jeffries later moved to Burbank, and he died in 1953. His Spring Street saloon was demolished in 1960.

Burbank Historical Society's Gordon R. Howard Museum is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Jeffries-Johnson fight. The exhibit includes photos and a pair of boxing gloves.

Jeffries Avenue ends at Avenue 26. It forms a T intersection, and the former Lawry's California Center restaurant compound was at this intersection. Its beautiful grounds have found new life as the Los Angeles River Center.

Frank . . . Thanks for posting this. Interesting about Jeff's bar on Spring St. which would have been exactly one block west of the Main Street Gym that we knew. I'm sure Tom Ray would appreciate this. I believe Tom lost his beloved step-mother recently, maybe that's why he's not been around lately. I saw this on Facebook. Tom, my thoughts and prayers are with you.