BoxRec

Frankie Duarte remembers "The Catacombs" . . .

In 1986, I was reconnected with an old boxing amigo from days gone by, Frankie Duarte.
I was the LD on NBC's "Highway to Heaven", and Michael Landon's co-star, Victor French, was a major backer of Ten Goose Boxing.
Wth French's help, the fledgling boxing club consisting of a gym, fighters, and a promotional company was able to aquire middleweight Michael Nunn from the Olympic Trials.
French also helped in rebuilding the career of L.A. bantam star Frankie Duarte, one side-tracked by heroin early on.
At the time, Duarte was 32, and preparing to fight Bernardo Pinango for the WBA bantamweight title at The Forum. An amazing comeback story.
I got to know the Goossen's thru Vic, and remember visiting with Frankie for the first time in years. Today I see Frank occasionally, we stay in touch.

More than anything, I enjoy looking back to our early days, when we both saw the Olympic Auditorium in the same light.
Every detail, the powder blue ring canvas (the color was great for the TV cameras, plain white reflects too brightly, thus burns out the image).
The way the ring looked from the inside, looking out to the audience, the feel of the canvas.
To us, the Olympic ring was the perfect size, perfect padding, ropes, everything about it felt good to Frankie and I.

I remember Frankie smiling when I mentioned the dressing rooms. "The catacombs!" he said. "It was like the Christians and Lions, you remember?"
Of course I did. The tiny cement cubicles would have a shower, sink, rubbing table, one or two benchs and a few metal fold up chairs.
You could sit down, or lay down after changing into your boxing gear, just enough room to stretch out, warm up, shadow box.
Sometimes I was a stablemate of a main eventer, such as Ruben Navarro, and we'd share a room, all our stable on the card.
We recalled watching other boxers leave the room for the ring, and we'd hear the introductions, and then the bell ring, and the crowd roar.
It was like you were sitting in a world beneath a world. One you could hear in muffled tones, but not see. The crowd would roar, something was going on. Was it over???
We'd see the guy come back, either smiling in victory, or a battered loser.

We recall our hands being wrapped, gloves laced, warming up and an Athletic Commission rep sticking his head into the room, "It's time . . . "
You make your way down the hall to where a tunnel leads out of the dressing room area, you make a quick left and another quick left and up a some stairs.
You step into the arena and turn left again, pass by the boxing people sitting in the comp seats in front of a beer stand, and then turn right.
You are now on the main aisle that leads down to the ring, to the steps that will take you up to the ropes.
I'd follow my manager Johnny Flores to the ring, we moved down the aisle quickly, almost jogging, and my seconds Julio or Teddy Bentham would follow carrying the bucket.

Duarte remembers doing that when the house was packed, so do I. One thing I enjoyed, was fighting before big crowds, featured on the undercard of some big bouts in L.A.
There was something about a Mando Ramos crowd, they came ready for a lot of action and their thunder could sure motivate you.
I don't recall the crowd much, my mind was on something else, but I recall feeling them when I landed a good shot, etc. It can take you to a higher level.
Frankie was one of the most exciting boxers of his era, a true warrior, an L.A. legend. The crowd loved Frankie Duarte, and Frankie played to his crowd couragously.
That was common among the Olympic's legendary headliners . . . the Aragon's, Ramos', Duarte's and those long before.
And of course, the icing on the cake was Jimmy Lennon. Another great honor I had was the privledge of hearing my name come from the voice of Jimmy Lennon.

I'll not forget Mr. Lennon introducing our pal, Frankie Duarte . . . "El Huerooooo . . . Frankieee Duuuuuarte!!!!"
Frankie Duarte is a great guy! And he'll be at the CBHOF lunch this June. A great guy to meet and talk with.


-Rick Farris

Los Angeles, 1947



This general view shows motorists arriving from the east along U.S. Highway 99-70 or 60, as they enter Los Angeles on May 30, 1947. The Los Angeles City Hall tower is the tall building left of the left lane, and the post office is right of the right lane. (Associated Press)

Rick Farris wrote:Frankie Duarte remembers "The Catacombs" . . .

In 1986, I was reconnected with an old boxing amigo from days gone by, Frankie Duarte.
I was the LD on NBC's "Highway to Heaven", and Michael Landon's co-star, Victor French, was a major backer of Ten Goose Boxing.
Wth French's help, the fledgling boxing club consisting of a gym, fighters, and a promotional company was able to aquire middleweight Michael Nunn from the Olympic Trials.
French also helped in rebuilding the career of L.A. bantam star Frankie Duarte, one side-tracked by heroin early on.
At the time, Duarte was 32, and preparing to fight Bernardo Pinango for the WBA bantamweight title at The Forum. An amazing comeback story.
I got to know the Goossen's thru Vic, and remember visiting with Frankie for the first time in years. Today I see Frank occasionally, we stay in touch.

More than anything, I enjoy looking back to our early days, when we both saw the Olympic Auditorium in the same light.
Every detail, the powder blue ring canvas (the color was great for the TV cameras, plain white reflects too brightly, thus burns out the image).
The way the ring looked from the inside, looking out to the audience, the feel of the canvas.
To us, the Olympic ring was the perfect size, perfect padding, ropes, everything about it felt good to Frankie and I.

I remember Frankie smiling when I mentioned the dressing rooms. "The catacombs!" he said. "It was like the Christians and Lions, you remember?"
Of course I did. The tiny cement cubicles would have a shower, sink, rubbing table, one or two benchs and a few metal fold up chairs.
You could sit down, or lay down after changing into your boxing gear, just enough room to stretch out, warm up, shadow box.
Sometimes I was a stablemate of a main eventer, such as Ruben Navarro, and we'd share a room, all our stable on the card.
We recalled watching other boxers leave the room for the ring, and we'd hear the introductions, and then the bell ring, and the crowd roar.
It was like you were sitting in a world beneath a world. One you could hear in muffled tones, but not see. The crowd would roar, something was going on. Was it over???
We'd see the guy come back, either smiling in victory, or a battered loser.

We recall our hands being wrapped, gloves laced, warming up and an Athletic Commission rep sticking his head into the room, "It's time . . . "
You make your way down the hall to where a tunnel leads out of the dressing room area, you make a quick left and another quick left and up a some stairs.
You step into the arena and turn left again, pass by the boxing people sitting in the comp seats in front of a beer stand, and then turn right.
You are now on the main aisle that leads down to the ring, to the steps that will take you up to the ropes.
I'd follow my manager Johnny Flores to the ring, we moved down the aisle quickly, almost jogging, and my seconds Julio or Teddy Bentham would follow carrying the bucket.

Duarte remembers doing that when the house was packed, so do I. One thing I enjoyed, was fighting before big crowds, featured on the undercard of some big bouts in L.A.
There was something about a Mando Ramos crowd, they came ready for a lot of action and their thunder could sure motivate you.
I don't recall the crowd much, my mind was on something else, but I recall feeling them when I landed a good shot, etc. It can take you to a higher level.
Frankie was one of the most exciting boxers of his era, a true warrior, an L.A. legend. The crowd loved Frankie Duarte, and Frankie played to his crowd couragously.
That was common among the Olympic's legendary headliners . . . the Aragon's, Ramos', Duarte's and those long before.
And of course, the icing on the cake was Jimmy Lennon. Another great honor I had was the privledge of hearing my name come from the voice of Jimmy Lennon.

I'll not forget Mr. Lennon introducing our pal, Frankie Duarte . . . "El Huerooooo . . . Frankieee Duuuuuarte!!!!"
Frankie Duarte is a great guy! And he'll be at the CBHOF lunch this June. A great guy to meet and talk with.


-Rick Farris

I have great memories of watching the fights every Thursday night with my dad at the Olympic. Pure electricity for us in the crowd...I can't even imagine what it was like making the way into the ring as a fighter. One more thing that catches me as a one of a kind about the Olympic was the tone of the bell- no other like it- a one of a kind tone that you knew and only belonged to the Olympic. Fantastic Rick! Thanks for sharing.

I

BOXERJOSH wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Frankie Duarte remembers "The Catacombs" . . .

In 1986, I was reconnected with an old boxing amigo from days gone by, Frankie Duarte.
I was the LD on NBC's "Highway to Heaven", and Michael Landon's co-star, Victor French, was a major backer of Ten Goose Boxing.
Wth French's help, the fledgling boxing club consisting of a gym, fighters, and a promotional company was able to aquire middleweight Michael Nunn from the Olympic Trials.
French also helped in rebuilding the career of L.A. bantam star Frankie Duarte, one side-tracked by heroin early on.
At the time, Duarte was 32, and preparing to fight Bernardo Pinango for the WBA bantamweight title at The Forum. An amazing comeback story.
I got to know the Goossen's thru Vic, and remember visiting with Frankie for the first time in years. Today I see Frank occasionally, we stay in touch.

More than anything, I enjoy looking back to our early days, when we both saw the Olympic Auditorium in the same light.
Every detail, the powder blue ring canvas (the color was great for the TV cameras, plain white reflects too brightly, thus burns out the image).
The way the ring looked from the inside, looking out to the audience, the feel of the canvas.
To us, the Olympic ring was the perfect size, perfect padding, ropes, everything about it felt good to Frankie and I.

I remember Frankie smiling when I mentioned the dressing rooms. "The catacombs!" he said. "It was like the Christians and Lions, you remember?"
Of course I did. The tiny cement cubicles would have a shower, sink, rubbing table, one or two benchs and a few metal fold up chairs.
You could sit down, or lay down after changing into your boxing gear, just enough room to stretch out, warm up, shadow box.
Sometimes I was a stablemate of a main eventer, such as Ruben Navarro, and we'd share a room, all our stable on the card.
We recalled watching other boxers leave the room for the ring, and we'd hear the introductions, and then the bell ring, and the crowd roar.
It was like you were sitting in a world beneath a world. One you could hear in muffled tones, but not see. The crowd would roar, something was going on. Was it over???
We'd see the guy come back, either smiling in victory, or a battered loser.

We recall our hands being wrapped, gloves laced, warming up and an Athletic Commission rep sticking his head into the room, "It's time . . . "
You make your way down the hall to where a tunnel leads out of the dressing room area, you make a quick left and another quick left and up a some stairs.
You step into the arena and turn left again, pass by the boxing people sitting in the comp seats in front of a beer stand, and then turn right.
You are now on the main aisle that leads down to the ring, to the steps that will take you up to the ropes.
I'd follow my manager Johnny Flores to the ring, we moved down the aisle quickly, almost jogging, and my seconds Julio or Teddy Bentham would follow carrying the bucket.

Duarte remembers doing that when the house was packed, so do I. One thing I enjoyed, was fighting before big crowds, featured on the undercard of some big bouts in L.A.
There was something about a Mando Ramos crowd, they came ready for a lot of action and their thunder could sure motivate you.
I don't recall the crowd much, my mind was on something else, but I recall feeling them when I landed a good shot, etc. It can take you to a higher level.
Frankie was one of the most exciting boxers of his era, a true warrior, an L.A. legend. The crowd loved Frankie Duarte, and Frankie played to his crowd couragously.
That was common among the Olympic's legendary headliners . . . the Aragon's, Ramos', Duarte's and those long before.
And of course, the icing on the cake was Jimmy Lennon. Another great honor I had was the privledge of hearing my name come from the voice of Jimmy Lennon.

I'll not forget Mr. Lennon introducing our pal, Frankie Duarte . . . "El Huerooooo . . . Frankieee Duuuuuarte!!!!"
Frankie Duarte is a great guy! And he'll be at the CBHOF lunch this June. A great guy to meet and talk with.


-Rick Farris

I have great memories of watching the fights every Thursday night with my dad at the Olympic. Pure electricity for us in the crowd...I can't even imagine what it was like making the way into the ring as a fighter. One more thing that catches me as a one of a kind about the Olympic was the tone of the bell- no other like it- a one of a kind tone that you knew and only belonged to the Olympic. Fantastic Rick! Thanks for sharing.

The Olympic's ringside bell was actually a brake drum from an old Buick.
During the 60's, timekeeper Jack Smith would crack it with a small hammer.
It was a great bell, the best I ever heard.

Rick Farris wrote:I

BOXERJOSH wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Frankie Duarte remembers "The Catacombs" . . .

In 1986, I was reconnected with an old boxing amigo from days gone by, Frankie Duarte.
I was the LD on NBC's "Highway to Heaven", and Michael Landon's co-star, Victor French, was a major backer of Ten Goose Boxing.
Wth French's help, the fledgling boxing club consisting of a gym, fighters, and a promotional company was able to aquire middleweight Michael Nunn from the Olympic Trials.
French also helped in rebuilding the career of L.A. bantam star Frankie Duarte, one side-tracked by heroin early on.
At the time, Duarte was 32, and preparing to fight Bernardo Pinango for the WBA bantamweight title at The Forum. An amazing comeback story.
I got to know the Goossen's thru Vic, and remember visiting with Frankie for the first time in years. Today I see Frank occasionally, we stay in touch.

More than anything, I enjoy looking back to our early days, when we both saw the Olympic Auditorium in the same light.
Every detail, the powder blue ring canvas (the color was great for the TV cameras, plain white reflects too brightly, thus burns out the image).
The way the ring looked from the inside, looking out to the audience, the feel of the canvas.
To us, the Olympic ring was the perfect size, perfect padding, ropes, everything about it felt good to Frankie and I.

I remember Frankie smiling when I mentioned the dressing rooms. "The catacombs!" he said. "It was like the Christians and Lions, you remember?"
Of course I did. The tiny cement cubicles would have a shower, sink, rubbing table, one or two benchs and a few metal fold up chairs.
You could sit down, or lay down after changing into your boxing gear, just enough room to stretch out, warm up, shadow box.
Sometimes I was a stablemate of a main eventer, such as Ruben Navarro, and we'd share a room, all our stable on the card.
We recalled watching other boxers leave the room for the ring, and we'd hear the introductions, and then the bell ring, and the crowd roar.
It was like you were sitting in a world beneath a world. One you could hear in muffled tones, but not see. The crowd would roar, something was going on. Was it over???
We'd see the guy come back, either smiling in victory, or a battered loser.

We recall our hands being wrapped, gloves laced, warming up and an Athletic Commission rep sticking his head into the room, "It's time . . . "
You make your way down the hall to where a tunnel leads out of the dressing room area, you make a quick left and another quick left and up a some stairs.
You step into the arena and turn left again, pass by the boxing people sitting in the comp seats in front of a beer stand, and then turn right.
You are now on the main aisle that leads down to the ring, to the steps that will take you up to the ropes.
I'd follow my manager Johnny Flores to the ring, we moved down the aisle quickly, almost jogging, and my seconds Julio or Teddy Bentham would follow carrying the bucket.

Duarte remembers doing that when the house was packed, so do I. One thing I enjoyed, was fighting before big crowds, featured on the undercard of some big bouts in L.A.
There was something about a Mando Ramos crowd, they came ready for a lot of action and their thunder could sure motivate you.
I don't recall the crowd much, my mind was on something else, but I recall feeling them when I landed a good shot, etc. It can take you to a higher level.
Frankie was one of the most exciting boxers of his era, a true warrior, an L.A. legend. The crowd loved Frankie Duarte, and Frankie played to his crowd couragously.
That was common among the Olympic's legendary headliners . . . the Aragon's, Ramos', Duarte's and those long before.
And of course, the icing on the cake was Jimmy Lennon. Another great honor I had was the privledge of hearing my name come from the voice of Jimmy Lennon.

I'll not forget Mr. Lennon introducing our pal, Frankie Duarte . . . "El Huerooooo . . . Frankieee Duuuuuarte!!!!"
Frankie Duarte is a great guy! And he'll be at the CBHOF lunch this June. A great guy to meet and talk with.


-Rick Farris

I have great memories of watching the fights every Thursday night with my dad at the Olympic. Pure electricity for us in the crowd...I can't even imagine what it was like making the way into the ring as a fighter. One more thing that catches me as a one of a kind about the Olympic was the tone of the bell- no other like it- a one of a kind tone that you knew and only belonged to the Olympic. Fantastic Rick! Thanks for sharing.

The Olympic's ringside bell was actually a brake drum from an old Buick.
During the 60's, timekeeper Jack Smith would crack it with a small hammer.
It was a great bell, the best I ever heard.

Get out of here Rick....really??! The sound of that bell followed by Jimmy Lennon Sr.'s voice simply the best way to start the night of great fights.

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Norm Lockwood, Eddie "Animal" Lopez and John Liecthy inside the Olympic "Catacombs"

Yes, the Catacombs!!!!!

Memories Rick, memories!!!

Through those swing doors, down the hall way on the right was the dressing room that was used by the house main event fighter. I have many memories of Frankie and Tony using that dressing room. At the end of the hall way was Norm Lockwood's glove room. In the '70's and '80's I cover for Norm as glove man a time or two when he was out of town working with some fighter.

kikibalt wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote: Yes, the Catacombs!!!!!

Memories Rick, memories!!!

Through those swing doors, down the hall way on the right was the dressing room that was used by the house main event fighter. I have many memories of Frankie and Tony using that dressing room. At the end of the hall way was Norm Lockwood's glove room. In the '70's and '80's I cover for Norm as glove man a time or two when he was out of town working with some fighter.

Frank, remember Norm Lockwood's gas station?

Mid 60's L.A. Cornermen . . .

Around 1965, when KTLA-Ch.5 began broadcasting Boxing from the Olympic every thursday night, I can remember seeing faces of men working boxer's corners whom I would one day know.
Larry & Memo Soto, Norm Lockwood, Phil Silvers, Howie Steindler, Duke Holloway, Jake Shagrue, Johnny Flores, Ralph Gambina, Jerry Moore & Henry Blouin, Louie Celaya, Cannonball Green, Eddie Futch, Jackie McCoy & Lee Pralia, Jake Horn, Bill Slayton, Canto Robledo, Louie Jarequi, Ernie DeFrance, Sonny Ray, Sammy Saunders, Billy Mitchell, to name a few.

Frank/Rick, Great memories, the Olympic Auditorium i've got see it, although frank tells me it's a church now....

Rick Farris wrote:Frank, remember Norm Lockwood's gas station?

Yes I do....1935 East Seventh St.....Madison 9-8235....

Roxie Eisen

Roxie run a "Valet" shop at the Greyhound Depot...6th and Los Angeles St.

Barber Shop...Pressing...Tailoring...Cleaning...Showers

While you wait...Open 24 hours...Ma 6-8559

probably a funny question ,but when did Tecate start advertising on boxing shows?
Only place ive ever heard of Tecate is on boxing broadcasts... and its one of those advertisements that acctually has had an effect...when i watch fights i feel like having a cold Tecate even though i never had one

Irving Berman
Sponsored of Fighters

Berman's

House of style...Men Store

Home of America's Most Flattering Styles

Worn by discriminating men in all walks of life

114 West 9th Street

Panzerfaust wrote:probably a funny question ,but when did Tecate start advertising on boxing shows?
Only place ive ever heard of Tecate is on boxing broadcasts... and its one of those advertisements that acctually has had an effect...when i watch fights i feel like having a cold Tecate even though i never had one

I couldn't tell you when Tacate started advertising on boxing shows, what I can tell you, imo, Tacate is not a great tasting beer....

kikibalt wrote:

Panzerfaust wrote:probably a funny question ,but when did Tecate start advertising on boxing shows?
Only place ive ever heard of Tecate is on boxing broadcasts... and its one of those advertisements that acctually has had an effect...when i watch fights i feel like having a cold Tecate even though i never had one

I couldn't tell you when Tacate started advertising on boxing shows, what I can tell you, imo, Tacate is not a great tasting beer....

Ill have to try it, never met a beer i didnt atleast like a little bit

even though im more of a dark brew man

Panzerfaust wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Panzerfaust wrote:probably a funny question ,but when did Tecate start advertising on boxing shows?
Only place ive ever heard of Tecate is on boxing broadcasts... and its one of those advertisements that acctually has had an effect...when i watch fights i feel like having a cold Tecate even though i never had one

I couldn't tell you when Tacate started advertising on boxing shows, what I can tell you, imo, Tacate is not a great tasting beer....

Ill have to try it, never met a beer i didnt atleast like a little bit

even though im more of a dark brew man

You need to use lime and salt to kill the bitter taste in the Tecate beer.....

Im getting ready to watch this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbCh81C_F3c Mando Ramos vs Sugar Ramos.

How did btw Mandos' older brother do as a pro?

Panzerfaust wrote:Im getting ready to watch this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbCh81C_F3c Mando Ramos vs Sugar Ramos.

How did btw Mandos' older brother do as a pro?

The Ramos Tragedy . . .

Mando Ramos' older brother, Manuel (known as "Junior"), had a great deal of talent, like Mando, according to Jackie McCoy and Ray Ramos (Mando's dad).
However, Manuel was always in trouble, and ended up in prison. After all the nonsense with Junior, McCoy had no interest in his little brother until he watched Mando in the gym one day and realized that the younger Ramos was something special.

After Mando's career was over, he and Manuel and Raul Rojas would all party together. One night the three holed up in a Long Beach dive hotel and shot up heroin.
All three passed out and when Mando & Raul woke up, they could not wake Manuel. Mando desperatly tried to revive his brother but Rojas told Mando, "He's gone, he's dead."

Mando told me this one day when I was visiting he and Sylvia.

Mando continued, "I tell you just how sick I was, a few hours after discovering his brother dead, I was out on the street trying to score more dope."
"Emotional cancer! That's what I have, that's what we addicts have. Thank God I was able to stop, today I have more than twenty years clean & sober."

As for Junior, his only bout on record is a 1967 loss to club fighter Manny Lugo.


-Rick Farris

kikibalt wrote:

Panzerfaust wrote:probably a funny question ,but when did Tecate start advertising on boxing shows?
Only place ive ever heard of Tecate is on boxing broadcasts... and its one of those advertisements that acctually has had an effect...when i watch fights i feel like having a cold Tecate even though i never had one

I couldn't tell you when Tacate started advertising on boxing shows, what I can tell you, imo, Tacate is not a great tasting beer....

kikibalt wrote:Roxie Eisen

Roxie run a "Valet" shop at the Greyhound Depot...6th and Los Angeles St.

Barber Shop...Pressing...Tailoring...Cleaning...Showers

While you wait...Open 24 hours...Ma 6-8559

Famous for his stubby, unlit cigars.

d

Cal Eaton & Carmen Basilio

kikibalt wrote:Irving Berman
Sponsored of Fighters

Berman's

House of style...Men Store

Home of America's Most Flattering Styles

Worn by discriminating men in all walks of life

114 West 9th Street

Irv Berman's "House of Style" & the Golden Boy . . .

Art Aragon has the distinction of being one of the few boxers to train in a Beverly mansion.
That mansion was owned by the "Golden Boy's" friend, Irv Berman.

Jose Napoles vs. Alfredo Urbina-2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5oVr4jN ... re=related