Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Rick Farris]

Art's Deli #1 Jewish Deli in L.A. -

Today KTLA Ch-5 featured Art's Deli with Art & his family, and presented them with this award.
Channel 5 says . . . "The best pastrami sandwich in L.A."

Art's Deli is two blocks east of the Sportsman's Lodge, home of the California Boxing Hall of Fame.

[kikibalt]

Joe Louis and Francisco De La Cruz

Francisco De La Cruz

division heavyweight
alias Pancho

country Mexico
residence Los Angeles, California, United States

won 16 (KO 11) + lost 17 (KO 1) + drawn 4 = 37
rounds boxed 257 KO% 29.73


1949-01-28 Jimmy Bell 23-20-4
Guam L PTS 10 10

1948-10-01 240 Enrico Bertola 192½ 29-5-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Mushy Callahan 53½-56½ | judge: Benny Whitman 51½-58½ | judge: Frank Holborow 52-58

1948-08-27 253 Sonny Andrews 180 2-2-0
San Diego, California, United States L PTS 10 10

1948-06-18 248¼ Willie Bean 203 10-6-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Reggie Gilmore 52-58 | judge: Mushy Callahan 51-59 | judge: Joe Stone 53-57
Bean was knocked down for a nine-count in the 3rd round.

1948-05-07 238 Joey Maxim 189 56-14-3
El Paso, Texas, United States L PTS 10 10

1948-01-23 242 Baby Dutch Culbertson 180 15-1-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10

1947-12-08 Ernie Rios 15-13-4
El Paso, Texas, United States W PTS 10 10

1947-10-31 243 Freddie Beshore 194 19-3-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 5 10

time: 0:32 | referee: Billy Kershner
Beshore was bleeding badly from the mouth and nose, after taking some smashing uppercuts from Francisco De La Cruz,and The referee stopped the fight.

1947-09-04 238 Dolph Quijano 177 34-3-0
El Paso, Texas, United States L SD 10 10

1947-06-06 184½ Sterling Ingram 180 8-4-0
Denver, Colorado, United States L KO 5

1947-05-30 Jim Bowden 14-33-3
El Paso, Texas, United States W KO 2

1947-05-22 Ernie Rios 12-12-4
Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona, United States L PTS 10 10

1947-05-15 238 Jimmy Edwards 178 9-11-4
Phoenix, Arizona, United States W TKO 2 10

1947-02-24 227 Tony Bosnich 190 19-4-0
Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, United States L PTS 10 10

1947-02-10 Eddie Ownby Wilson 21-5-1
El Paso, Texas, United States W KO 5

1947-01-15 Frankie Estrada 240 0-2-0
Canvas Castle, Phoenix, Arizona, United States W KO 1
time: 2:10

1946-12-09 Ragon Kinney 14-0-0
El Paso, Texas, United States W PTS 10 10

1946-11-29 219 Pat Valentino 175 33-7-1
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Reggie Gilmore 54-56 | judge: Herb Greene 53-57 | judge: Mushy Callahan 52½-57½

1946-10-11 220 Tony Martin 212 8-3-1
Phoenix, Arizona, United States W TKO 4
referee: Rusty Ling
Arizona state heavyweight title

1946-09-30 217 Fred Ford 184½ 3-1-1
City Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, United States W TKO 6 10

1946-08-12 Sterling Ingram 4-3-0
City Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, United States W TKO 6 10

1946-07-31 221 Tex Boddie 182½ 8-0-0
American Legion Ballpark, Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States L PTS 10 10
referee: Alex Fidler

1946-04-17 Nolan Sharp 9-13-2
Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, United States L PTS 10 10

1946-03-27 265 Pio Pico 6-10-1
Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, United States W TKO 6 10
referee: Billy Kershner

1946-03-01 Gene Felton 9-12-0
San Diego, California, United States L PTS 10 10

1942-04-29 239 Martin Goldberg 5-0-0
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States L PTS 10 10
referee: Oakland Jimmy Duffy

1942-04-15 235 Blimp Williams 273 7-21-3
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States W PTS 6 6

1941-11-25 230 Harold Flanagan 210 0-2-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W KO 4 8
time: 2:52

1941-10-22 226 Connie Norden 194 9-1-1
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States L PTS 8 8

1941-10-08 232 Duke Garberg 201 3-3-0
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States W TKO 5 6

1941-09-10 246 Connie Norden 196 7-1-1
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States L PTS 6 6

1941-07-23 238 Bill Dalton 204 3-2-1
Gilmore Field, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 4 4

1941-05-10 240 Bill Ely 196 2-2-1
Eastside Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 6 6

1941-04-26 Bill Ely 2-2-0
Eastside Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States D PTS 4 4

1941-04-10 247 Bill Dalton 202 0-2-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States D PTS 4 4

1941-03-29 245 Bill Dalton 0-1-0
Eastside Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States W PTS 4 4

1941-03-24 Bud Mosley 0-1-0
Ocean Park Arena, Santa Monica, California, United States D PTS 4 4

[Rick Farris]

Paulie Armstead vs. Dwight Hawkins . . .

Just spoke to Eddie Foy III, legendary casting director & boxing personality, tells of the best Junior Golden Gloves fight he ever saw . . . A couple young teenagers fought, a war! Paulie Armstead vs. Dwight Hawkins. Both would fight the best in the world in later years, two LA legends, had to travel the world to get fights. But as kids, they fought in the neighborhood and it was such a good match it's remembered today, nearly 60years later. Sounds like one of those Teran-Cadilli wars? LA had some great home grown talent, world class!

[Rick Farris]

A great boxer is an ideal combination of brains & balls.
Unfortunatly, many boxers have too much of one, and not enough of the other.

[kikibalt]

Cohen talks

"I killed nobody that didn't deserve killing. In all of these here killings there was no alternative. You couldn't call them cold-blooded killings.... It was either my life or theirs."
Mickey Cohen

May 19, 1957
Los Angeles

I suppose in hindsight it's easy to see why interviewing Mickey Cohen on live television was a bad idea. But at the time, as Mike Wallace admits, it seemed like a wonderful coup against the competition.

If you don't know anything about Cohen, you might not understand what an outspoken and profane man he was. But Wallace certainly knew. And those viewers who skipped Dr. Joyce Brothers on the "$64,000 Challenge" experienced an obscene tirade from the little mobster.

Unfortunately, the original newspaper accounts give very little of Cohen's remarks except to say they were unprintable. "Cohen was interviewed over a national ABC network show last night and admitted he has killed at least one man in self-defense," The Mirror said. "He hurled a series of unprintable charges against [Los Angeles Police Chief William H.] Parker.

" 'Gestapo tactics' was the kindest phrase he used. The laws governing libel and slander prohibit repetition of the charges in a newspaper," The Mirror said.

But some information can be gleaned from news accounts. In addition to claiming that he had killed a man, Cohen said his gambling operations once handled $600,000 in bets and that politicians needed him at election time and allowed him to operate with impunity.

He also said: "My sources of power were higher than former Mayor Bowron's and former Police Chief Horrall's."

Former Mayor Fletcher Bowron, who had returned to the Superior Court bench after being elected mayor in the 1938 recall of Frank Shaw, said it was beneath his dignity to respond to Cohen's allegations. Former Chief Clemence B. "Jack" Horrall, who headed the LAPD during World War II, said Cohen operated in the county rather than the city. "He tried to operate in the city and we ran him out," Horrall said. "Cohen's a liar."

But ABC-TV made a critical error. Recall that this was before the days of videotape. Instead, shows were preserved on kinescopes in which a movie camera filmed images on a TV picture tube, and these were shown on the West Coast three hours later. Although ABC executives had no idea what Cohen was going to say on the live show, they were well aware of Cohen's comments and decided to proceed with the West Coast broadcast three hours later.

Former Mirror reporter Cliff Dektar, who was handling publicity for ABC in Los Angeles, recalls watching the show with The Times TV critic at the network's studios:

"I hosted Cecil Smith, Times TV critic at the ABC TV Center executive viewing room, Prospect and Talmadge.

"Outrageous, and the phone rang. It was lawyer in NY. l say nothing (there is a reporter sitting next to me).

"Parker and [Police Capt. James] Hamilton (the intelligence squad captain) gave ABC and WC head Earl Hudson opportunity to cancel WC repeat (kinescope) and get out trouble...Mr. Hudson declined and Hamilton won a major slander suit against ABC.

"It was a most interesting event...oh yes...took Cecil and his wife to dinner following."

Parker was furious, and turned down a network offer to respond on Wallace's show the next week. "That sort of thing is more insidious than Confidential," Parker said. "You have to go down to the newsstand to buy a magazine and you get this in your living room."

"As a police officer, I am used to being shot at. But how can a person like Cohen be allowed to assassinate my character?" Parker said.

ABC issued an apology the next week, but the controversy continued.

[CNorkusJr]

Frank Thanks for posting the records of Francisco De La Cruz and Ernie Rios.
Though their record totals dont reflect what brawlers these guys were.
Very good heavies-De La Cruz going the distant with Maxim and beating(KO) Beshore is outstanding.
Rios fighting equally top heavies like Beshore. I would rather see these guys in a ring match from back in the day, than fighters I've seen lately.
You can tell these guys were hungry for a ranking and title fight. Thats part of the makeup of a good fighter-hungry for something better.

[bennie]

When we were Kings: Hearns and Benitez

[Rick Farris]

When we were Kings: Hearns and Benitez

Another "King" in the background . . . Jimmy Lennon Sr.

[Rick Farris]

Cohen talks

"I killed nobody that didn't deserve killing. In all of these here killings there was no alternative. You couldn't call them cold-blooded killings.... It was either my life or theirs."
Mickey Cohen

May 19, 1957
Los Angeles

I suppose in hindsight it's easy to see why interviewing Mickey Cohen on live television was a bad idea. But at the time, as Mike Wallace admits, it seemed like a wonderful coup against the competition.

If you don't know anything about Cohen, you might not understand what an outspoken and profane man he was. But Wallace certainly knew. And those viewers who skipped Dr. Joyce Brothers on the "$64,000 Challenge" experienced an obscene tirade from the little mobster.

Unfortunately, the original newspaper accounts give very little of Cohen's remarks except to say they were unprintable. "Cohen was interviewed over a national ABC network show last night and admitted he has killed at least one man in self-defense," The Mirror said. "He hurled a series of unprintable charges against [Los Angeles Police Chief William H.] Parker.

" 'Gestapo tactics' was the kindest phrase he used. The laws governing libel and slander prohibit repetition of the charges in a newspaper," The Mirror said.

But some information can be gleaned from news accounts. In addition to claiming that he had killed a man, Cohen said his gambling operations once handled $600,000 in bets and that politicians needed him at election time and allowed him to operate with impunity.

He also said: "My sources of power were higher than former Mayor Bowron's and former Police Chief Horrall's."

Former Mayor Fletcher Bowron, who had returned to the Superior Court bench after being elected mayor in the 1938 recall of Frank Shaw, said it was beneath his dignity to respond to Cohen's allegations. Former Chief Clemence B. "Jack" Horrall, who headed the LAPD during World War II, said Cohen operated in the county rather than the city. "He tried to operate in the city and we ran him out," Horrall said. "Cohen's a liar."

But ABC-TV made a critical error. Recall that this was before the days of videotape. Instead, shows were preserved on kinescopes in which a movie camera filmed images on a TV picture tube, and these were shown on the West Coast three hours later. Although ABC executives had no idea what Cohen was going to say on the live show, they were well aware of Cohen's comments and decided to proceed with the West Coast broadcast three hours later.

Former Mirror reporter Cliff Dektar, who was handling publicity for ABC in Los Angeles, recalls watching the show with The Times TV critic at the network's studios:

"I hosted Cecil Smith, Times TV critic at the ABC TV Center executive viewing room, Prospect and Talmadge.

"Outrageous, and the phone rang. It was lawyer in NY. l say nothing (there is a reporter sitting next to me).

"Parker and [Police Capt. James] Hamilton (the intelligence squad captain) gave ABC and WC head Earl Hudson opportunity to cancel WC repeat (kinescope) and get out trouble...Mr. Hudson declined and Hamilton won a major slander suit against ABC.

"It was a most interesting event...oh yes...took Cecil and his wife to dinner following."

Parker was furious, and turned down a network offer to respond on Wallace's show the next week. "That sort of thing is more insidious than Confidential," Parker said. "You have to go down to the newsstand to buy a magazine and you get this in your living room."

"As a police officer, I am used to being shot at. But how can a person like Cohen be allowed to assassinate my character?" Parker said.

ABC issued an apology the next week, but the controversy continued.

The Los Angeles Police Department was (and is ) totally corrupt.
There was a fine line seperating the actions of Mickey Cohen and Chief William Parker.
If Cohen deserved to be behind bars, so did Parker.

[kikibalt]

Dear Rick
Aurora's first day at the beach. She is my little cuddle-bug! We are on the Malibu pier

Love
Karla

This is my good friend and ex, Karla, with her grand daughter Aurora (my God daughter).
Karla and I were close with Danny & Bonnie Lopez and Ruben & Carol Navarro forty years ago.

Rick

[kikibalt]

Frank Thanks for posting the records of Francisco De La Cruz and Ernie Rios.
Though their record totals dont reflect what brawlers these guys were.
Very good heavies-De La Cruz going the distant with Maxim and beating(KO) Beshore is outstanding.
Rios fighting equally top heavies like Beshore. I would rather see these guys in a ring match from back in the day, than fighters I've seen lately.
You can tell these guys were hungry for a ranking and title fight. Thats part of the makeup of a good fighter-hungry for something better.

Thanks Charlie. Both Rios and De La Cruz fought some top guys in their careers, their W & L records are not indicative of their talent....

[Rick Farris]

Frank Thanks for posting the records of Francisco De La Cruz and Ernie Rios.
Though their record totals dont reflect what brawlers these guys were.
Very good heavies-De La Cruz going the distant with Maxim and beating(KO) Beshore is outstanding.
Rios fighting equally top heavies like Beshore. I would rather see these guys in a ring match from back in the day, than fighters I've seen lately.
You can tell these guys were hungry for a ranking and title fight. Thats part of the makeup of a good fighter-hungry for something better.

Thanks Charlie. Both Rios and De La Cruz fought some top guys in their careers, their W & L records are not indicative of their talent....

Thanks to Frank for bringing Rios and De La Cruz to the thread.
Thanks to Charlie & Frank for the info.
I have always loved the smaller weight classes for action, but without true heavyweight talent in competitive matches, boxing is not operating as it should. The contenders of the 50's are of personal interest to me at the moment. I'm getting an extended education thru the letters and postings of Charlie Norkus Jr. He really takes us into the world he was born into. I am also learning a lot about the Vetran Boxers associations such as NY's Ring #8, the New Jersey & New York Hall of Fames, etc. I'm lucky to be a part of the CBHOF with Frank & Don, because they keep our group legit. You know what Frank does for us here, but he is Don's right hand. They really put a lot of work into our event for several months every year. Don has his helpers, but Frank and Don make it happen. The smaller CBHOF has more boxing history & knowledge than any West coast group of recent years, and this includes the once larger WBHOF. At a time when boxing seems to be on it's death bed again, and most organizations struggle for survival, the CBHOF thrives and I believe will grow.

[kikibalt]

12-20-1956

Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California

Mickey Northrup L Rudy Jordan UD 10 10

Kid Gavilan L Ramon Fuentes SD 10 10

Dwight Hawkins W Leo Carter TKO 1 6

Alvin Moore D Buddy Ford PTS 4 4

Benny Robledo W Bill Garrett PTS 4 4

[Rick Farris]

12-20-1956

Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California

Mickey Northrup L Rudy Jordan UD 10 10

Kid Gavilan L Ramon Fuentes SD 10 10

Dwight Hawkins W Leo Carter TKO 1 6

Alvin Moore D Buddy Ford PTS 4 4

Benny Robledo W Bill Garrett PTS 4 4

What a great card! Gavilan-Fuentes-Jordan-Northrup-Hawkins.
That would do it for me.

[Rick Farris]

Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, United States - 1958

Carmen Basilio W Art Aragon TKO 8 10
Jose Becerra W Little Cezar TKO 4 10
Dwight Hawkins W Danny Valdez SD 8 8
Willie Dillon W DeWitt Lewis TKO 1 4

[Rick Farris]

Look at the great names, and Hawkins is among them.
He fought on a lot of big fight cards during his career, many in which he was the headliner.
This, however, is a classic upset! . . .
------------------------------------

Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, United States

Raul Macias L Alphonse Halimi SD 15 15
Jose Becerra L Dwight Hawkins KO 4 10
Auburn Copeland W Bobby Gray KO 5 6
Ernest Harris W Clyde Nettles PTS 4 4
Manny Elias L Willie Parker PTS 4 4

[kikibalt]

Great cards Rick...

[kikibalt]

Here's one that I'll never forget, not for the under card, but for the main event.

2-14-1950

Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California

Art Aragon W Enrique Bolanos TKO 12 12

Dave Gallardo W Bob DiGiovanni PTS 4 4

Chu Chu Jiminez W Rocky Haro PTS 4 4

Refugio Rodriguez W Manuel Maldonado PTS 4 4

Johnny Novella W Chuck Thompson PTS 4 4

Bobby Garza W Jimmy Dunn PTS 4 4

[kikibalt]

The night my hero's fought

6-22-1951

Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California

Eddie Chavez L Enrique Bolanos UD 12 12

Gil Cadilli D Keeny Teran PTS 6 6

Sammy Figueroa W Al Galindo UD 6 6

Morrie McFarland W Tony Renteria KO 2 4

Jesse Morales W Eddie Hernandez PTS 4 4

[Rick Farris]

Here's one that I'll never forget, not for the under card, but for the main event.

2-14-1950

Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California

Art Aragon W Enrique Bolanos TKO 12 12

Dave Gallardo W Bob DiGiovanni PTS 4 4

Chu Chu Jiminez W Rocky Haro PTS 4 4

Refugio Rodriguez W Manuel Maldonado PTS 4 4

Johnny Novella W Chuck Thompson PTS 4 4

Bobby Garza W Jimmy Dunn PTS 4 4

[Rick Farris]

The night my hero's fought

6-22-1951

Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California

Eddie Chavez L Enrique Bolanos UD 12 12

Gil Cadilli D Keeny Teran PTS 6 6

Sammy Figueroa W Al Galindo UD 6 6

Morrie McFarland W Tony Renteria KO 2 4

Jesse Morales W Eddie Hernandez PTS 4 4

[Rick Farris]

Typical George Parnassus . . .

Forum, Inglewood, California, United States - 1968


Frankie Crawford L Dwight Hawkins TKO 8 12
Ruben Navarro L Arturo Lomeli UD 12 12
Richard Sue W Gil Noriega TKO 7 10
Jose Napoles W Des Rea TKO 5 10

[raylawpc]

The night my hero's fought

6-22-1951

Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California

Eddie Chavez L Enrique Bolanos UD 12 12

Gil Cadilli D Keeny Teran PTS 6 6

Sammy Figueroa W Al Galindo UD 6 6

Morrie McFarland W Tony Renteria KO 2 4

Jesse Morales W Eddie Hernandez PTS 4 4

Frank, I know Gil Cadilli and Keeny Teran were big favorites in LA, each with his own fan base. The place probably would have been packed to the rafters for that fight alone. What was the reaction of the crowd to the draw verdict?

[Rick Farris]

"A Rainy Night In Georgia . . ."

Brooke Benton's voice was coming from the speakers of my stablemate Al Boursse's '63 Impala, as we leave the parking lot of The Forum.
A rainy night it was, despite it being clear and warm in L.A. One of my true childhood heros was KOed.
I knew he'd retire, and he wisely did so for good.
Also that night a new era in the bantamweight division took over with Ruben Olivares execution of bantam champ Lionel Rose.
I believed that a victory for Hawkins just might have . . . nah, no way they were ever going to match "The Hawk" against a champ with the title on the line.
"Too much too lose, too little to gain", had always been the thinking.
But what a dramatic end, the white towel flying into the ring, tossed in by Johnny Flores. "The hardest thing I ever had to do in boxing," said Johnny.
"A rainy night in Georgia, such a rainy night in Georgia . . ."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Forum, Inglewood, California, United States Aug. 22, 1969

Ruben Olivares W Lionel Rose KO 5 15
Antonio Gomez W Dwight Hawkins KO 10 10
Arturo Lomeli W Ian McDonald KO 5 10
Raul Cruz W Rudy Villagonza KO 2 10
Gil King W Ismael Rivera PTS 4 4

[kikibalt]

The night my hero's fought

6-22-1951

Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California

Eddie Chavez L Enrique Bolanos UD 12 12

Gil Cadilli D Keeny Teran PTS 6 6

Sammy Figueroa W Al Galindo UD 6 6

Morrie McFarland W Tony Renteria KO 2 4

Jesse Morales W Eddie Hernandez PTS 4 4

Frank, I know Gil Cadilli and Keeny Teran were big favorites in LA, each with his own fan base. The place probably would have been packed to the rafters for that fight alone. What was the reaction of the crowd to the draw verdict?

Tom, Teran and Cadilli were crosstown rivals and like you said, each had their fans, and they were all there that nite. Everybody I think were happy with the fight being called a draw, including me, hated to see either one lose. And yes the legion was pack to the rafters that nite and I think that had Teran/Cadilli been the main it still would had sold-out...