BoxRec

Besides having tremendous punching power and being extremely quick, Manny Pacquiao has improved dramatically in the skill department even after beating Marco Antonio Barrera for the first time. That is a credit to both Manny and his trainer, Freddie Roach.

Of all of the trainers who are active today, Roach is in a class by himself. Besides being able to teach and condition fighters very well, Roach is very good at finding the weaknesses of opposing fighters and preparing his fighters to exploit them. Moreover, Roach is able to remain very composed while giving advice to a fighter between rounds during a hard-fought bout.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck1052 wrote:Besides having tremendous punching power and being extremely quick, Manny Pacquiao has improved dramatically in the skill department even after beating Marco Antonio Barrera for the first time. That is a credit to both Manny and his trainer, Freddie Roach.

Of all of the trainers who are active today, Roach is in a class by himself. Besides being able to teach and condition fighters very well, Roach is very good at finding the weaknesses of opposing fighters and preparing his fighters to exploit them. Moreover, Roach is able to remain very composed while giving advice to a fighter between rounds during a hard-fought bout.

- Chuck Johnston

Very true, Chuck. Freddie is a real old school fight trainer, operating in a lost era of boxing style.
His relationship with Manny, the closeness & respect, has been compared to other great trainer/boxer duos of the past.
One not mentioned, but which came to my mind was Jimmy McLarnin-Pop Foster team. Pop was a millionaire, helped his fighter invest and become wealthy, and when Pop died, left his fighter his fortune. Pop also taught a natural fighter how to box, from the time he was a kid. I met McLarnin about this time 40 years ago, and I knew who he was having a grandfather and father-in-law who followed him closely. Suey Welch introduced me to him in George Parnassus' office.

Jimmy McLarnin vs. Barney Ross - 1935
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJgOmt_pP4w

kikibalt wrote:
Jose Mendoza (left) vs. Rick Farris

The FORUM - 1972

Mel Epstein & Johnny Villaflor were in my corner. I was 20.
Referee was Dick Young.

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Jose Mendoza (left) vs. Rick Farris

The FORUM - 1972

Mel Epstein & Johnny Villaflor were in my corner. I was 20.
Referee was Dick Young.

Rick, this is a great photo. I posted it on my website.

http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Jose Mendoza (left) vs. Rick Farris

The FORUM - 1972

Mel Epstein & Johnny Villaflor were in my corner. I was 20.
Referee was Dick Young.

Rick, this is a great photo. I posted it on my website.

http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com

Thank you, Randy.
The fight was televised in L.A. on KTLA Ch-5.
We had a war. I got the decision.
Two nights earlier, my pal actor Reb Brown, carried me out of a bar (I was too young to drink but they served me anyway) and tossed me into the back of his van.
In those days Reb Brown was known as Bob Brown, a former USC running back and amateur boxer with the Johnny Flores stable.
The next day I was a no-show at the Main Street Gym for a warm-up/loosen up session the day before the fight.
I was paralyzed with the worst hangover I would ever experience. I would hear the phone ring and know it was either Mel Epstein or my girlfriend calling, no way was I going to answer.
The next night I paid the price. What should have been an easy win, was a tough fight.
Dumb bastid?

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Jose Mendoza (left) vs. Rick Farris

The FORUM - 1972

Mel Epstein & Johnny Villaflor were in my corner. I was 20.
Referee was Dick Young.

Rick, this is a great photo. I posted it on my website.

http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com

Doesnt get much bigger than the Forum in those days and carried on TV too.

Rick, Did you ever spar with Art Hafey? they say he suffered with a mysterious neuro muscular disorder, and that when sparring he had to use gloves that heavyweights used because of his punching power..

Cholo wrote:Rick, Did you ever spar with Art Hafey? they say he suffered with a mysterious neuro muscular disorder, and that when sparring he had to use gloves that heavyweights used because of his punching power..

Cholo, here is a link to an excellent article on Hafey and his disease , written by Bill Norman. Coincidently, I am quoted in the article near the end.
http://quest.mda.org/article/despite-mu ... ng-machine

Randyman wrote:

Cholo wrote:Rick, Did you ever spar with Art Hafey? they say he suffered with a mysterious neuro muscular disorder, and that when sparring he had to use gloves that heavyweights used because of his punching power..

Cholo, here is a link to an excellent article on Hafey and his disease , written by Bill Norman. Coincidently, I am quoted in the article near the end.
http://quest.mda.org/article/despite-mu ... ng-machine

Very interesting article

Art Hafey vs Rodolfo Moreno part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0gUFaYlF48

Cholo wrote:Rick, Did you ever spar with Art Hafey? they say he suffered with a mysterious neuro muscular disorder, and that when sparring he had to use gloves that heavyweights used because of his punching power..

I was managed by Suey Welch at the time Art came to L.A. in 1972. Welch would become Art's manager, as well.
I was trained, and eventally managed by Mel Epstein, and during the summer of '72 I worked with Art several times in the ring.
We trained at the Elks Building in downtown L.A. which was where promoter George Parnassus had his office.
Art was very strong, and he did hit hard. His power was different than Danny Lopez, Chacon, etc.
Art did hit hard, but it wasn't a sharp, cracking power, like the others. His was more of a thudding type power, the kind that could move you.
I found with Art I was best to stay on the outside and box, then move in for a quick combo and then out again.
He would always move forward and he was a good body puncher.
Art suffered from "Thompson's Disease". I don't remember Art wearing special or unusually large sparring gloves?
I wore 14oz. gloves (Ray Flores gloves) and I don't remember what Art wore.
Hafey was a really nice man, and my trainer Mel Epstein really liked him (and he always pointed out that Art had a fighter's haircut ).
Hafey was like a featherweight Gene Fullmer.
Randy's quote in the article provided pretty much said it all, Art is the same man he always was, a gentleman,

Rick Farris wrote:

Cholo wrote:Rick, Did you ever spar with Art Hafey? they say he suffered with a mysterious neuro muscular disorder, and that when sparring he had to use gloves that heavyweights used because of his punching power..

I was managed by Suey Welch at the time Art came to L.A. in 1972. Welch would become Art's manager, as well.
I was trained, and eventally managed by Mel Epstein, and during the summer of '72 I worked with Art several times in the ring.
We trained at the Elks Building in downtown L.A. which was where promoter George Parnassus had his office.
Art was very strong, and he did hit hard. His power was different than Danny Lopez, Chacon, etc.
Art did hit hard, but it wasn't a sharp, cracking power, like the others. His was more of a thudding type power, the kind that could move you.
I found with Art I was best to stay on the outside and box, then move in for a quick combo and then out again.
He would always move forward and he was a good body puncher.
Art suffered from "Thompson's Disease". I don't remember Art wearing special or unusually large sparring gloves?
I wore 14oz. gloves (Ray Flores gloves) and I don't remember what Art wore.
Hafey was a really nice man, and my trainer Mel Epstein really liked him (and he always pointed out that Art had a fighter's haircut ).
Hafey was like a featherweight Gene Fullmer.

Rick, Good reply and description of Hafey, especially the Gene Fullmer comparison. You and I were both there for Hafey's last fight at the Forum against Danny Lopez. He took a terrific beating. I spoke with him before the fight and I thought he looked a little weak and frail that day. I don't think he was at his best when he stepped in with Danny that day but I don't think it would have made any difference. A very decent man.

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

Cholo wrote:Rick, Did you ever spar with Art Hafey? they say he suffered with a mysterious neuro muscular disorder, and that when sparring he had to use gloves that heavyweights used because of his punching power..

I was managed by Suey Welch at the time Art came to L.A. in 1972. Welch would become Art's manager, as well.
I was trained, and eventally managed by Mel Epstein, and during the summer of '72 I worked with Art several times in the ring.
We trained at the Elks Building in downtown L.A. which was where promoter George Parnassus had his office.
Art was very strong, and he did hit hard. His power was different than Danny Lopez, Chacon, etc.
Art did hit hard, but it wasn't a sharp, cracking power, like the others. His was more of a thudding type power, the kind that could move you.
I found with Art I was best to stay on the outside and box, then move in for a quick combo and then out again.
He would always move forward and he was a good body puncher.
Art suffered from "Thompson's Disease". I don't remember Art wearing special or unusually large sparring gloves?
I wore 14oz. gloves (Ray Flores gloves) and I don't remember what Art wore.
Hafey was a really nice man, and my trainer Mel Epstein really liked him (and he always pointed out that Art had a fighter's haircut ).
Hafey was like a featherweight Gene Fullmer.

Rick, Good reply and description of Hafey, especially the Gene Fullmer comparison. You and I were both there for Hafey's last fight at the Forum against Danny Lopez. He took a terrific beating. I spoke with him before the fight and I thought he looked a little weak and frail that day. I don't think he was at his best when he stepped in with Danny that day but I don't think it would have made any difference. A very decent man.

Randy, I remember that night very well. In one of the the ten round prelims, Bazooka Limon made his US debut with a KO over one of my former opponents, Ruben Coria.
I was sitting with Karl Nelson, and we were sitting next to Bobby & Valerie Chacon.
Limon has just beaten Bobby in Mexico, and in due course the two would engage in three more fights, two that were voted "Fights of the Year".
I liked both Danny and Art, as both were the same type, quiet, polite, and tough as nails in the ring.
The fight would send Art into retirement at a young age. I'm just glad that he didn't end up like many of our friends. Today his mind is sharp, and he has a nice family.



Forum, Inglewood, California, United States 8/6/1976

Danny Lopez W Art Hafey TKO 7 10
Cole St. John D Tony Murillo PTS 5 5
Joey Olivo W Jorge Ayala PTS 4 4
Oscar Armas W Cookie Valencia PTS 4 4
Rafael Limon W Ruben Coria TKO 4
Ruben Castillo W Ramon Contreras

Does anybody remember this guy?
He was 5'9" and weighed 106 lbs.
He was trained by my former trainer, Julio Flores, and he became a world champion.
He got very little exposure in L.A., but he was a good one.
-----------------------------------------------------------------


Joey Olivo


birth date 1958-01-25
division light flyweight
stance orthodox
height 5′ 9″ / 175cm
country United States
residence Los Angeles, California, United States
birth place San Fernando, CA, USA
won 39 (KO 11) + lost 8 (KO 2) + drawn 0 = 47



1989-07-07 115 Robert Quiroga 115 11-0-0
Sunken Gardens, San Antonio, Texas, United States L UD 10 10
1989-04-18 118 Martin Ortegon 118 11-0-0
Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States L SD 12 12
112-115 | 109-118 | 114-113
Vacant WBA Americas Bantamweight Title

1988-10-03 Javier Lucas 112 32-5-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico L KO 1 12
referee: Marty Denkin
NABF flyweight title

1988-06-16 112 Fernando Varguez 112 9-3-1
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W UD 12 12
119-109 | 120-108 | 118-110
vacant NABF flyweight title

1988-05-16 Jose Quirino 19-3-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico W PTS 10 10
1988-02-12 112 Eyup Can 113 8-0-0
Helsingoer Hallen, Helsingoer, Denmark W PTS 8 8
1985-12-08 107 Myung-Woo Yuh 107¼ 18-0-0
Municipal Stadium, Daegu, South Korea L SD 15 15
referee: Isidro Rodriguez | judge: Samuel Conde Lopez 141-146 | judge: Jesus Celis 145-143 | judge: Carlos Berrocal 142-148
WBA World light flyweight title

1985-07-28 107¾ Moon-Jin Choi 107½ 8-1-2
Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea W UD 15 15
referee: Luis Sulbaran 147-145 | judge: Medardo Villalobos 146-142 | judge: Cesar Ramos 146-142
WBA World light flyweight title

1985-03-29 107½ Francisco Quiroz 107½ 11-10-1
Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, United States W UD 15 15
referee: Carlos Berrocal 145-143 | judge: Rogelio Perez 144-143 | judge: Roberto Ramirez 143-142
WBA World light flyweight title

1984-06-15 Oscar Cristerna 0-2-0
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W TKO 6
1984-03-21 109 Henry Brent 110½ 8-3-0
Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W UD 12 12
120-108 | 120-110 | 119-109
USBA flyweight title

1984-01-14 110 Jose Manuel Diaz 108 1-2-0
Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, United States W TKO 5 10
referee: Norm Budden | judge: John McSweeny | judge: Doug Neddenreip | judge: Doug Tucker

1983-10-09 106 Luis Fernando Hernandez 106 6-6-0
County Fairgrounds, Ventura, California, United States W UD 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1983-07-28 110¼ Ian Clyde 111 13-3-1
Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States W PTS 12 12
1983-02-25 Cipriano Arreola 6-5-1
Veteran's Memorial Building, Culver City, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1982-05-08 110¾ Sylvester Guerrero 111 1-6-0
The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W TKO 5
1982-01-23 108 German Torres 109 33-5-1
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico L PTS 10 10
1981-10-23 Candido Tellez 28-4-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico W PTS 10 10
1981-06-15 107¾ Jose Reinaldo Becerra 108¾ 10-2-1
Caracas, Venezuela L UD 10 10
97-98 | 96-97 | 95-96

1981-02-08 106½ Hilario Zapata 107¾ 15-1-0
Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama L TKO 13 15
referee: Lorenzo Fortunato | judge: Carlos Offen 121-129 | judge: Harold Lederman 121-127 | judge: Harmodio Cedeno 120-129
WBC light flyweight title
Retirement.

1980-12-13 Evaristo Morales 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 1
1980-07-31 108 Candy Iglesias 109¼ 14-18-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
1980-06-05 Pedro Galaviz 8-5-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 9
1980-02-09 Amado Ursua 21-4-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1979-11-16 Martin Vargas 107 55-5-3
Estadio Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile L PTS 10 10
1979-10-23 Javier Mendoza 3-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1979-08-30 109 Florencio Barboza 111½ 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 1
1979-05-18 108½ Candy Iglesias 110 11-13-1
Pico Rivera, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1979-03-05 Lupe Madera 21-8-0
Houston, Texas, United States W PTS 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1978-12-08 Gustavo Torres
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W KO 2
1978-09-12 109¼ Rafael Rubio 110¼ 1-5-2
Pico Rivera, California, United States W KO 10 10
1978-08-10 Eleoncio Mercedes 2-0-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-05-19 Candy Iglesias 9-9-1
Concord, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-03-17 Victor Diaz 1-2-0
Convention Center, Anaheim, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-02-25 108 Candy Iglesias 111 8-8-1
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W UD 10 10
1977-12-14 John Meza 17-27-3
Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, United States W UD 8 8
1977-11-17 Ken Yamato 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 8 8
1977-09-28 Tito Arzate
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 8 8
1977-08-20 109½ Ramon Munoz 110 0-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W KO 1 6
1977-07-29 Santos Nunez 1-3-0
Coliseum, San Diego, California, United States W KO 6
1977-06-29 110½ Demetrio Torres 113 0-2-0
Stockton, California, United States W KO 2 8
1977-06-08 Joe Salazar
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 6 6
1977-05-11 Santos Nunez 0-1-0
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 6 6
1977-04-23 Demetrio Torres
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-10-02 Ramon Munoz
Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-08-06 Jorge Ayala 0-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-06-19 Paz Mena 2-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4

Rick Farris wrote:

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote: I was managed by Suey Welch at the time Art came to L.A. in 1972. Welch would become Art's manager, as well.
I was trained, and eventally managed by Mel Epstein, and during the summer of '72 I worked with Art several times in the ring.
We trained at the Elks Building in downtown L.A. which was where promoter George Parnassus had his office.
Art was very strong, and he did hit hard. His power was different than Danny Lopez, Chacon, etc.
Art did hit hard, but it wasn't a sharp, cracking power, like the others. His was more of a thudding type power, the kind that could move you.
I found with Art I was best to stay on the outside and box, then move in for a quick combo and then out again.
He would always move forward and he was a good body puncher.
Art suffered from "Thompson's Disease". I don't remember Art wearing special or unusually large sparring gloves?
I wore 14oz. gloves (Ray Flores gloves) and I don't remember what Art wore.
Hafey was a really nice man, and my trainer Mel Epstein really liked him (and he always pointed out that Art had a fighter's haircut ).
Hafey was like a featherweight Gene Fullmer.

Rick, Good reply and description of Hafey, especially the Gene Fullmer comparison. You and I were both there for Hafey's last fight at the Forum against Danny Lopez. He took a terrific beating. I spoke with him before the fight and I thought he looked a little weak and frail that day. I don't think he was at his best when he stepped in with Danny that day but I don't think it would have made any difference. A very decent man.

Randy, I remember that night very well. In one of the the ten round prelims, Bazooka Limon made his US debut with a KO over one of my former opponents, Ruben Coria.
I was sitting with Karl Nelson, and we were sitting next to Bobby & Valerie Chacon.
Limon has just beaten Bobby in Mexico, and in due course the two would engage in three more fights, two that were voted "Fights of the Year".
I liked both Danny and Art, as both were the same type, quiet, polite, and tough as nails in the ring.
The fight would send Art into retirement at a young age. I'm just glad that he didn't end up like many of our friends. Today his mind is sharp, and he has a nice family.



Forum, Inglewood, California, United States 8/6/1976

Danny Lopez W Art Hafey TKO 7 10
Cole St. John D Tony Murillo PTS 5 5
Joey Olivo W Jorge Ayala PTS 4 4
Oscar Armas W Cookie Valencia PTS 4 4
Rafael Limon W Ruben Coria TKO 4
Ruben Castillo W Ramon Contreras

I was scheduled to make my pro debut on that card against Chris Gonzales. Just minutes before I was to fight I was told that my fight had been cancelled. Chris is the brother of Zeferino (Zeffie) Gonzlez, who fought and went the distance with Roberto Duran when Duran was moving up to the welters. We went to high school together. They were a grade or two below me.

A short time after that fight I went into the gym after a weekend of partying and was really worn out. Chris was working out at the gym that day and Mel had me spar several rounds with him. He landed a right hand that seemed to dislocate my jaw. I never said a word about it to Mel but I know I looked lousy that day because the first thing he said to me after I was done sparring was " It's good thing the fight was cancelled" and he wasn't joking. My jaw was out of whack for about a week.

Rick Farris wrote:Does anybody remember this guy?
He was 5'9" and weighed 106 lbs.
He was trained by my former trainer, Julio Flores, and he became a world champion.
He got very little exposure in L.A., but he was a good one.
-----------------------------------------------------------------


Joey Olivo


birth date 1958-01-25
division light flyweight
stance orthodox
height 5′ 9″ / 175cm
country United States
residence Los Angeles, California, United States
birth place San Fernando, CA, USA
won 39 (KO 11) + lost 8 (KO 2) + drawn 0 = 47



1989-07-07 115 Robert Quiroga 115 11-0-0
Sunken Gardens, San Antonio, Texas, United States L UD 10 10
1989-04-18 118 Martin Ortegon 118 11-0-0
Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States L SD 12 12
112-115 | 109-118 | 114-113
Vacant WBA Americas Bantamweight Title

1988-10-03 Javier Lucas 112 32-5-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico L KO 1 12
referee: Marty Denkin
NABF flyweight title

1988-06-16 112 Fernando Varguez 112 9-3-1
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W UD 12 12
119-109 | 120-108 | 118-110
vacant NABF flyweight title

1988-05-16 Jose Quirino 19-3-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico W PTS 10 10
1988-02-12 112 Eyup Can 113 8-0-0
Helsingoer Hallen, Helsingoer, Denmark W PTS 8 8
1985-12-08 107 Myung-Woo Yuh 107¼ 18-0-0
Municipal Stadium, Daegu, South Korea L SD 15 15
referee: Isidro Rodriguez | judge: Samuel Conde Lopez 141-146 | judge: Jesus Celis 145-143 | judge: Carlos Berrocal 142-148
WBA World light flyweight title

1985-07-28 107¾ Moon-Jin Choi 107½ 8-1-2
Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea W UD 15 15
referee: Luis Sulbaran 147-145 | judge: Medardo Villalobos 146-142 | judge: Cesar Ramos 146-142
WBA World light flyweight title

1985-03-29 107½ Francisco Quiroz 107½ 11-10-1
Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, United States W UD 15 15
referee: Carlos Berrocal 145-143 | judge: Rogelio Perez 144-143 | judge: Roberto Ramirez 143-142
WBA World light flyweight title

1984-06-15 Oscar Cristerna 0-2-0
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W TKO 6
1984-03-21 109 Henry Brent 110½ 8-3-0
Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W UD 12 12
120-108 | 120-110 | 119-109
USBA flyweight title

1984-01-14 110 Jose Manuel Diaz 108 1-2-0
Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, United States W TKO 5 10
referee: Norm Budden | judge: John McSweeny | judge: Doug Neddenreip | judge: Doug Tucker

1983-10-09 106 Luis Fernando Hernandez 106 6-6-0
County Fairgrounds, Ventura, California, United States W UD 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1983-07-28 110¼ Ian Clyde 111 13-3-1
Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States W PTS 12 12
1983-02-25 Cipriano Arreola 6-5-1
Veteran's Memorial Building, Culver City, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1982-05-08 110¾ Sylvester Guerrero 111 1-6-0
The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W TKO 5
1982-01-23 108 German Torres 109 33-5-1
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico L PTS 10 10
1981-10-23 Candido Tellez 28-4-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico W PTS 10 10
1981-06-15 107¾ Jose Reinaldo Becerra 108¾ 10-2-1
Caracas, Venezuela L UD 10 10
97-98 | 96-97 | 95-96

1981-02-08 106½ Hilario Zapata 107¾ 15-1-0
Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama L TKO 13 15
referee: Lorenzo Fortunato | judge: Carlos Offen 121-129 | judge: Harold Lederman 121-127 | judge: Harmodio Cedeno 120-129
WBC light flyweight title
Retirement.

1980-12-13 Evaristo Morales 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 1
1980-07-31 108 Candy Iglesias 109¼ 14-18-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
1980-06-05 Pedro Galaviz 8-5-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 9
1980-02-09 Amado Ursua 21-4-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1979-11-16 Martin Vargas 107 55-5-3
Estadio Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile L PTS 10 10
1979-10-23 Javier Mendoza 3-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1979-08-30 109 Florencio Barboza 111½ 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 1
1979-05-18 108½ Candy Iglesias 110 11-13-1
Pico Rivera, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1979-03-05 Lupe Madera 21-8-0
Houston, Texas, United States W PTS 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1978-12-08 Gustavo Torres
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W KO 2
1978-09-12 109¼ Rafael Rubio 110¼ 1-5-2
Pico Rivera, California, United States W KO 10 10
1978-08-10 Eleoncio Mercedes 2-0-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-05-19 Candy Iglesias 9-9-1
Concord, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-03-17 Victor Diaz 1-2-0
Convention Center, Anaheim, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-02-25 108 Candy Iglesias 111 8-8-1
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W UD 10 10
1977-12-14 John Meza 17-27-3
Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, United States W UD 8 8
1977-11-17 Ken Yamato 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 8 8
1977-09-28 Tito Arzate
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 8 8
1977-08-20 109½ Ramon Munoz 110 0-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W KO 1 6
1977-07-29 Santos Nunez 1-3-0
Coliseum, San Diego, California, United States W KO 6
1977-06-29 110½ Demetrio Torres 113 0-2-0
Stockton, California, United States W KO 2 8
1977-06-08 Joe Salazar
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 6 6
1977-05-11 Santos Nunez 0-1-0
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 6 6
1977-04-23 Demetrio Torres
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-10-02 Ramon Munoz
Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-08-06 Jorge Ayala 0-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-06-19 Paz Mena 2-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4

Rick, I remember Oliva well, in fact I spoke with him a few years back at an amateur boxing show. He looked good. He no longer weighed 106, he had filled out but it wasn't fat. He looked solid.

You'e right, he got very little exposure, vastly underrated and under appreciated. He was an excellent boxer. He shared the same dressing room as Danny Lopez and Aberto Davila, next to the rings, at least while I was there. Didn't Howie manage him?

Thanks for bringing him up!

Rick, Thanks for your reply on Art Hafey, excellent....

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

Randyman wrote: Rick, Good reply and description of Hafey, especially the Gene Fullmer comparison. You and I were both there for Hafey's last fight at the Forum against Danny Lopez. He took a terrific beating. I spoke with him before the fight and I thought he looked a little weak and frail that day. I don't think he was at his best when he stepped in with Danny that day but I don't think it would have made any difference. A very decent man.

Randy, I remember that night very well. In one of the the ten round prelims, Bazooka Limon made his US debut with a KO over one of my former opponents, Ruben Coria.
I was sitting with Karl Nelson, and we were sitting next to Bobby & Valerie Chacon.
Limon has just beaten Bobby in Mexico, and in due course the two would engage in three more fights, two that were voted "Fights of the Year".
I liked both Danny and Art, as both were the same type, quiet, polite, and tough as nails in the ring.
The fight would send Art into retirement at a young age. I'm just glad that he didn't end up like many of our friends. Today his mind is sharp, and he has a nice family.



Forum, Inglewood, California, United States 8/6/1976

Danny Lopez W Art Hafey TKO 7 10
Cole St. John D Tony Murillo PTS 5 5
Joey Olivo W Jorge Ayala PTS 4 4
Oscar Armas W Cookie Valencia PTS 4 4
Rafael Limon W Ruben Coria TKO 4
Ruben Castillo W Ramon Contreras

I was scheduled to make my pro debut on that card against Chris Gonzales. Just minutes before I was to fight I was told that my fight had been cancelled. Chris is the brother of Zeferino (Zeffie) Gonzlez, who fought and went the distance with Roberto Duran when Duran was moving up to the welters. We went to high school together. They were a grade or two below me.

A short time after that fight I went into the gym after a weekend of partying and was really worn out. Chris was working out at the gym that day and Mel had me spar several rounds with him. He landed a right hand that seemed to dislocate my jaw. I never said a word about it to Mel but I know I looked lousy that day because the first thing he said to me after I was done sparring was " It's good thing the fight was cancelled" and he wasn't joking. My jaw was out of whack for about a week.

Randy, I know just how it feels as I've had my jaw dislocated several times, never broken or anything seious, however.
It really feels strange, huh? Your teeth don't line up, but usually it settles back in place in time.
Maybe you were just having a bad day? You might have KOed him on fight night? Of course, Mel would make sure you felt like sh*t.
Dislocated jaws come when a boxer opens his mouth to breathe, instead of thru his nose.
If you aren't in good shape, or have a nasal problem, you are more likely to open the mouth to breathe in the ring, but that is a dangerous thing to do.

I can't remember seeing a boxer as skinny as Joey Olivo. Under the circumstances, it is astounding that he was able to have a good professional boxing career. Yes, he had very good boxing skills. In the early 1980s, I saw Olivo fight in a bout on a boxing card staged during the Ventura County Fair at the Ventura Fairgrounds.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck1052 wrote:I can't remember seeing a boxer as skinny as Joey Olivo. Under the circumstances, it is astounding that he was able to have a good professional boxing career. Yes, he had very good boxing skills. In the early 1980s, I saw Olivo fight in a bout on a boxing card staged during the Ventura County Fair at the Ventura Fairgrounds.

- Chuck Johnston

Joey Olivo . . .

Chuck, my former trainer Julio Flores was working with Olivo in the mid-70's.
One day he introduced me to Joey when I was visiting the gym.
He had the skinniest legs I ever saw, like a bird, but he was a bigger hitter than his record suggests.
I watched him sparring with a Japanese boxer that day, and he appeared to be heavy-handed.
He was a damaging puncher, I could see that.
At 106 lbs. he was one of the best in the world.

From Sports Illustrated July 22, 1985
A Real Tower Of Power

Joey Olivo, a lofty 5'8", is the first American junior flyweight champ (Olivo is listed as 5'9' in Boxrec)

By Bruce Anderson

With so many boxers these days figuratively and, not infrequently, literally too big for their britches, it's refreshing to know there is one who is too small for his title belt. World champion Joey Olivo of Los Angeles can easily hold his weight at 107, one pound below the limit for the junior flyweight division, although he stands a relatively lofty 5'8". "The belt is too big," says Olivo's trainer, Rudy Tellez. "We went to the last hole in it and still had to keep pulling it around him."

"Even as a jockey—and he's about the right weight—he'd be tall," says Don Fraser, a veteran Southern California boxing promoter. "He'd be one of the few jockeys whose wife wouldn't tower over him."

Olivo is unique in an even more significant way: When he won his WBA title on March 29 with a 15-round decision over Francisco Quiroz of the Dominican Republic, he became the first U.S. fighter to wear the crown in boxing's lightest weight class. Olivo, 27, celebrated his breakthrough modestly. "I went out to eat," Olivo says. "I had a hamburger and a malt." A burger and a malt? "I had a hamburger, malt and French fries," Olivo confesses the second time around. A regular party animal.

Olivo isn't given to drawing attention to himself, but he does admit that one drawback of being light is that his purses have been even lighter. In his nine-year professional career, he has fought 39 times, winning 35 and losing four. All for about $50,000. He took home only $2,600 along with the title belt from his bout with Quiroz. Heavyweights pay their sparring partners better. This is, after all, a nation of Big Macs and Cadillacs, the Big Bopper and Home of the Whopper. Heavyweights get to live on easy street and drive Coupe de Villes. Olivo, his wife, Christina, and daughter, Enedina, live with his parents and a sister in West Covina; he drives a '79 Chevy Monza.

Olivo will finally be paid more than gas money when he fights Choi Moon Jin, the No. 5 contender, in Seoul on July 28. For that bout he'll earn $60,000, plus $5,000 for expenses. Even with his first big pay-day in sight, Olivo still works three to four days a week at Rudy's Dental Lab in Monterey Park. Rudy is Tellez, Olivo's trainer for the past 12 years and for 10 years his manager or co-manager (Norman Kaplan, a Los Angeles attorney, currently is Olivo's other manager). Olivo makes and repairs dentures and is the only world champion who can fashion his own mouthpiece. Curiously, in this respect Olivo has not set another historical precedent for boxing—former WBA heavyweight champ Gerrie Coetzee is also a dental craftsman.

But it has been like pulling teeth to find Olivo fights, particularly at home. One problem is that so few Americans fight professionally as junior flyweights—a handful at most. But in the Orient and in Latin America there are no shortages of junior flys. Another problem is that fighters on the way up, even in the flyweight (112-pound) division, haven't been eager to get into the ring against Olivo. "There aren't many guys around who want to fight him," says promoter Fraser. "The average flyweight is about five-foot-two." Olivo is not only 5'8", but he also has a 73-inch reach. That's just two inches less than the wingspan of middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Of course, Hagler also has 15-inch biceps, while Olivo's are 11 inches.

If opponents have shied away from the righthander's long-distance left jab, promoters have been turned off by his boxing skills. They want windmillers in this division, lots of frantic action, not stick-and-move specialists who impress judges while putting paying customers to sleep. The knock against Olivo is that he has scored only 12 knockouts.

As well, in a country that roots for David but pays to watch Goliath. Olivo is just too small. "The TV networks, which are the pulse of boxing in this country, don't pick up the little guys," Fraser says. "It's just unfortunate that he has to go out of the country to get work now."

All four of Olivo's losses have come in bouts outside of the U.S. He had fought 22 times straight without a defeat before he first ventured out of the country to fight Martin Vargas in Santiago, Chile in November 1979. Says Olivo, "I beat that guy so easily...." And lost on a decision. After the fight Vargas shrugged and told Olivo, "You're in my country. What can I tell you."

Olivo did not have such a difficult time finding fights when he was growing up in the Ramona Gardens housing project in Boyle Heights. That East L.A. barrio is the turf of some of the city's oldest street gangs. Tattooed across Olivo's left forearm are the words LA HAZARD GRANDE. The Big Hazard. It is the name of the gang Olivo once ran with.

Olivo tried on his first pair of gloves at a youth center when he was 10 and has been boxing ever since, turning pro before he graduated from Pueblo De Los Angeles High School, a continuation school where he had studied metal crafting. "When I started taking up boxing, some of my friends got kind of sore," Olivo says. "They wanted me to spend time with them, not at the gym. When I got off the bus, guys would be hanging around the house. I used to go in the back door and pretend like I wasn't home."

Olivo says that he would like to make five or six title defenses and then retire. His goal, he says, is to provide financial security for his baby daughter. Then he wants to begin another career back in the barrio. "I would like to counsel youths," he says. "I'd like to work with kids who came from where I came from. The hard-core kids."

What would he tell them? "To do their own thinking," he says. "Be independent. If you want to succeed in life, you can't follow your friends. You have to do your own thing."

Even now Olivo frequently goes back to the streets. "A lot of guys there come up to me and say, 'Joey, I got a good job, but it's too hard.' I say, 'It's too hard? I have to fight for my paycheck.' "

And he usually has to fight someone heavier than he is. Early in his career Olivo often fought flyweights, and he usually spars against fighters who outweigh him by at least 10 pounds.

After Olivo won the title, the Spanish-language edition of The Ring headlined its fight story JOEY OLIVO, CAMPE�N FRAGIL (Joey Olivo, frail champion). Mexican fans call Olivo El Palo Que No Quiebra (The Stick That Doesn't Break). He has never been knocked down, although he did fail to answer the bell for the 14th round of his fight with then WBC champ Hilario Zapata. Olivo went into the ring for that bout, his first title shot, suffering from the flu.

Olivo, who has a 25-inch waist and buys his pants in the boys' department, has never had a weight problem. "I eat what I like," he says. And that includes pie and ice cream even when he's in heavy training. Olivo says he gets his physique from his mother, Terry. From his father, Joe Sr., he gets something else: good advice. Olivo was already in Venezuela for the Quiroz bout when he learned how much his purse would be.

"I called my father from Maracaibo and told him they were going to pay me only $2,600," Olivo says. "He said, 'It's O.K., son. Fight him. You've worked too hard and waited too long. You're already down there, come back with something.' That's all I wanted to hear. I hung up and went and told the promoter, 'I don't want your money. I'll fight for free.' I turned to Quiroz's manager and said, 'I just want your fighter's belt.' He laughed at me. He thought I was crazy."

Olivo got the belt. Now he plans to add a few notches to it.

Rick Farris wrote:

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:
Randy, I remember that night very well. In one of the the ten round prelims, Bazooka Limon made his US debut with a KO over one of my former opponents, Ruben Coria.
I was sitting with Karl Nelson, and we were sitting next to Bobby & Valerie Chacon.
Limon has just beaten Bobby in Mexico, and in due course the two would engage in three more fights, two that were voted "Fights of the Year".
I liked both Danny and Art, as both were the same type, quiet, polite, and tough as nails in the ring.
The fight would send Art into retirement at a young age. I'm just glad that he didn't end up like many of our friends. Today his mind is sharp, and he has a nice family.



Forum, Inglewood, California, United States 8/6/1976

Danny Lopez W Art Hafey TKO 7 10
Cole St. John D Tony Murillo PTS 5 5
Joey Olivo W Jorge Ayala PTS 4 4
Oscar Armas W Cookie Valencia PTS 4 4
Rafael Limon W Ruben Coria TKO 4
Ruben Castillo W Ramon Contreras

I was scheduled to make my pro debut on that card against Chris Gonzales. Just minutes before I was to fight I was told that my fight had been cancelled. Chris is the brother of Zeferino (Zeffie) Gonzlez, who fought and went the distance with Roberto Duran when Duran was moving up to the welters. We went to high school together. They were a grade or two below me.

A short time after that fight I went into the gym after a weekend of partying and was really worn out. Chris was working out at the gym that day and Mel had me spar several rounds with him. He landed a right hand that seemed to dislocate my jaw. I never said a word about it to Mel but I know I looked lousy that day because the first thing he said to me after I was done sparring was " It's good thing the fight was cancelled" and he wasn't joking. My jaw was out of whack for about a week.

Randy, I know just how it feels as I've had my jaw dislocated several times, never broken or anything seious, however.
It really feels strange, huh? Your teeth don't line up, but usually it settles back in place in time.
Maybe you were just having a bad day? You might have KOed him on fight night? Of course, Mel would make sure you felt like sh*t.
Dislocated jaws come when a boxer opens his mouth to breathe, instead of thru his nose.
If you aren't in good shape, or have a nasal problem, you are more likely to open the mouth to breathe in the ring, but that is a dangerous thing to do.

I was dissipating!

Rick Farris wrote:Does anybody remember this guy?
He was 5'9" and weighed 106 lbs.
He was trained by my former trainer, Julio Flores, and he became a world champion.
He got very little exposure in L.A., but he was a good one.
-----------------------------------------------------------------


Joey Olivo


birth date 1958-01-25
division light flyweight
stance orthodox
height 5′ 9″ / 175cm
country United States
residence Los Angeles, California, United States
birth place San Fernando, CA, USA
won 39 (KO 11) + lost 8 (KO 2) + drawn 0 = 47



1989-07-07 115 Robert Quiroga 115 11-0-0
Sunken Gardens, San Antonio, Texas, United States L UD 10 10
1989-04-18 118 Martin Ortegon 118 11-0-0
Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States L SD 12 12
112-115 | 109-118 | 114-113
Vacant WBA Americas Bantamweight Title

1988-10-03 Javier Lucas 112 32-5-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico L KO 1 12
referee: Marty Denkin
NABF flyweight title

1988-06-16 112 Fernando Varguez 112 9-3-1
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W UD 12 12
119-109 | 120-108 | 118-110
vacant NABF flyweight title

1988-05-16 Jose Quirino 19-3-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico W PTS 10 10
1988-02-12 112 Eyup Can 113 8-0-0
Helsingoer Hallen, Helsingoer, Denmark W PTS 8 8
1985-12-08 107 Myung-Woo Yuh 107¼ 18-0-0
Municipal Stadium, Daegu, South Korea L SD 15 15
referee: Isidro Rodriguez | judge: Samuel Conde Lopez 141-146 | judge: Jesus Celis 145-143 | judge: Carlos Berrocal 142-148
WBA World light flyweight title

1985-07-28 107¾ Moon-Jin Choi 107½ 8-1-2
Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea W UD 15 15
referee: Luis Sulbaran 147-145 | judge: Medardo Villalobos 146-142 | judge: Cesar Ramos 146-142
WBA World light flyweight title

1985-03-29 107½ Francisco Quiroz 107½ 11-10-1
Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, United States W UD 15 15
referee: Carlos Berrocal 145-143 | judge: Rogelio Perez 144-143 | judge: Roberto Ramirez 143-142
WBA World light flyweight title

1984-06-15 Oscar Cristerna 0-2-0
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W TKO 6
1984-03-21 109 Henry Brent 110½ 8-3-0
Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W UD 12 12
120-108 | 120-110 | 119-109
USBA flyweight title

1984-01-14 110 Jose Manuel Diaz 108 1-2-0
Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, United States W TKO 5 10
referee: Norm Budden | judge: John McSweeny | judge: Doug Neddenreip | judge: Doug Tucker

1983-10-09 106 Luis Fernando Hernandez 106 6-6-0
County Fairgrounds, Ventura, California, United States W UD 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1983-07-28 110¼ Ian Clyde 111 13-3-1
Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States W PTS 12 12
1983-02-25 Cipriano Arreola 6-5-1
Veteran's Memorial Building, Culver City, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1982-05-08 110¾ Sylvester Guerrero 111 1-6-0
The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W TKO 5
1982-01-23 108 German Torres 109 33-5-1
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico L PTS 10 10
1981-10-23 Candido Tellez 28-4-0
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico W PTS 10 10
1981-06-15 107¾ Jose Reinaldo Becerra 108¾ 10-2-1
Caracas, Venezuela L UD 10 10
97-98 | 96-97 | 95-96

1981-02-08 106½ Hilario Zapata 107¾ 15-1-0
Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama L TKO 13 15
referee: Lorenzo Fortunato | judge: Carlos Offen 121-129 | judge: Harold Lederman 121-127 | judge: Harmodio Cedeno 120-129
WBC light flyweight title
Retirement.

1980-12-13 Evaristo Morales 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 1
1980-07-31 108 Candy Iglesias 109¼ 14-18-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
1980-06-05 Pedro Galaviz 8-5-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 9
1980-02-09 Amado Ursua 21-4-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1979-11-16 Martin Vargas 107 55-5-3
Estadio Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile L PTS 10 10
1979-10-23 Javier Mendoza 3-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1979-08-30 109 Florencio Barboza 111½ 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 1
1979-05-18 108½ Candy Iglesias 110 11-13-1
Pico Rivera, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1979-03-05 Lupe Madera 21-8-0
Houston, Texas, United States W PTS 12 12
NABF light flyweight title

1978-12-08 Gustavo Torres
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W KO 2
1978-09-12 109¼ Rafael Rubio 110¼ 1-5-2
Pico Rivera, California, United States W KO 10 10
1978-08-10 Eleoncio Mercedes 2-0-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-05-19 Candy Iglesias 9-9-1
Concord, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-03-17 Victor Diaz 1-2-0
Convention Center, Anaheim, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1978-02-25 108 Candy Iglesias 111 8-8-1
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W UD 10 10
1977-12-14 John Meza 17-27-3
Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, United States W UD 8 8
1977-11-17 Ken Yamato 0-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 8 8
1977-09-28 Tito Arzate
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 8 8
1977-08-20 109½ Ramon Munoz 110 0-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W KO 1 6
1977-07-29 Santos Nunez 1-3-0
Coliseum, San Diego, California, United States W KO 6
1977-06-29 110½ Demetrio Torres 113 0-2-0
Stockton, California, United States W KO 2 8
1977-06-08 Joe Salazar
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 6 6
1977-05-11 Santos Nunez 0-1-0
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 6 6
1977-04-23 Demetrio Torres
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-10-02 Ramon Munoz
Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-08-06 Jorge Ayala 0-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4
1976-06-19 Paz Mena 2-1-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, United States W PTS 4 4

Olivo dropped a split dcision to Korea's Myung-Woo Yuh in Korea in his first world title defence - and Yuh went on to make about a million defences. Olivo was desperately unlucky.

Rick, Do you remember a fighter named Juan Diaz, Flyweight, boxed Charlie Magri here back in 1981 Diaz won by KO in 6.
I'll never forget it, Magri hit him with everything and the punches just bounced of Diaz. Another fighter always in a war Cornelius Boza Edwards, remember those fights with Bobby Chacon, Boza had another tough fight with Bazooka Limon when winning the WBC Super-Featherweight Title 1981, Stockton Cal....