BoxRec

COLORFUL CALIFORNIAN
Jackie McCoy
LOS ANGELES sports scribes have dubbed him the "Ben Hogan of the Prize Ring" because of his miraculous comeback from an injury that threatened to end his boxing career. It was in July, 1948, that Jackie McCoy was injured when a truck brushed up against a street-car in which McCoy was riding. The doctors held out little hope for McCoy ever boxing again. Jackie was under treatment for nearly a year, much of which time was spent in hospital.
But, McCoy is an Irishman and he wanted to box again, and when an Irishman wants something badly enough-well, sixteen months after his accident, Jackie returned to the ring. And he never looked back. Since his comeback, McCoy has engaged in four bouts, winning over Johnny Efhan and Lawton Disoso, boxed a drew with Cecil Schoonmaker and lost to Reuban Smith. Pretty fast company for a fellow who had spent the previous year in a hospital.
Efhan had fought a drew with Chico Rosa and won 7 of his 8 bouts since arriving from Honolulu; Schoonmaker had defeated Dado Marino, Kui Kong Young and Luis Castillo; Smith had KO'ed Kui Kong Young, Tommy Rhett, decisioned Cachorro Herrera and drew with Luis Castillo. McCoy contends that he was not well when he met Smith and is confident that he can defeat Reuban in a rematch.
McCoy would also like another crack at Harold Dade, to whom Jackie dropped a couple decisions shortly before his acccident. In fact , the good-looking Irishman is very much in a challenging mood and wishes it known that he would welcome matches with any featherweight in the country, and is willing to travel any distance for such contests. McCoy feels that he has reached the peak of his ability and wishes to find out if he has what it takes to defeat the rated boxers; if he hasn't-he will hang up the gloves. McCoy is one of the most colorful boxers on the Pacific Coast. Although a clever boxer (not a fancy dan, or waltzer), when hurt or floored, Jackie tears in and slugs it out. He has engaged in 44 bouts, losing seven of them. Among those he has defeated are Felix Ramirez, Speedy Cabanella, Alfredo Escobar, Louis Langley, Tony Becerra, Andy Vasquez, Bert White. Jackie makes 124 easily, but takes them on up to 130.

Tony Baltazar v Robin Blake

At the time of Tony’s fight with Robin Blake Bob Arum was still base out of New York City. His man in Las Vegas was Mel Greb. My dealings for the fight were with Greb who was a hard guy to deal with.
We made the fight over the phone, but I had to go to Vegas to sign the contract. Mel wanted me to fly out of Ontario Airport, on their dime, of course, sign the contract and fly right back home. I told him no, that I would drive on Saturday, two weeks before the fight. I told him to get me a room at the Showboat and that I

wanted $500 to play the slots, he barked, but I got what I wanted.
Saturday morning two weeks before the fight I drove to Vegas on Connie’s new 1984 Z28 Camaro, made the trip in about four hours. When I got to Vegas there was a room waiting for me at the Showboat, after checking in I called Mel, told him I was at the Showboat, he told me that he would meet me at the coffee shop within an hour.

We met and Mel hands me the contract to sign, well, I am no lawyer, but I could see that everything we had agreed on was not on the contract. The money for the fight was okay, but the 4 rooms for five days, five round-trip tickets from Ontario Airport, meals for five people for five days, 5k for training expenses, Frankie’s fight on the card were not on the contract, when I told Mel that I wanted all that on the contract, he told me to sign the contract and that everything would be taken care off, I refuse to sign the contract until he added all that we had agreed upon, when he did and he handed me a check for 5k and the $500 cash for me to play with I signed the contract.

Saturday before the fight I drove Tony, Frankie, Bobby and Herman Montes, who we had hired as a sparring partner for Tony to Ontario Airport. I paid for the tickets. After the fights when we got paid I was still out the five hundred for the plane tickets, I hit Bob Arum, he told me to see Mel Greb about it. I told Mel that I still had $500 coming for the plane tickets. He bought out a roll of hundred dollar bills, gave me four, I told him it was five, not four that I had coming, “take the four” Mel said to me, I said to Mel “Mel, either you give me five or I’ll take all your money from you” Mel was a little guy.. He gave me the five.

There’s another part of the contract that has to do with Frankie’s fight.

Bolanos/Giminez...May,22.1950...
Enrique Bolanos traveled to New Orleans where he laced Guillermo Giminez. The latter will be remembered as the man who put an end to the long winning streak of Maxie Docusen.

Cholo wrote:COLORFUL CALIFORNIAN
Jackie McCoy
LOS ANGELES sports scribes have dubbed him the "Ben Hogan of the Prize Ring" because of his miraculous comeback from an injury that threatened to end his boxing career. It was in July, 1948, that Jackie McCoy was injured when a truck brushed up against a street-car in which McCoy was riding. The doctors held out little hope for McCoy ever boxing again. Jackie was under treatment for nearly a year, much of which time was spent in hospital.
But, McCoy is an Irishman and he wanted to box again, and when an Irishman wants something badly enough-well, sixteen months after his accident, Jackie returned to the ring. And he never looked back. Since his comeback, McCoy has engaged in four bouts, winning over Johnny Efhan and Lawton Disoso, boxed a drew with Cecil Schoonmaker and lost to Reuban Smith. Pretty fast company for a fellow who had spent the previous year in a hospital.
Efhan had fought a drew with Chico Rosa and won 7 of his 8 bouts since arriving from Honolulu; Schoonmaker had defeated Dado Marino, Kui Kong Young and Luis Castillo; Smith had KO'ed Kui Kong Young, Tommy Rhett, decisioned Cachorro Herrera and drew with Luis Castillo. McCoy contends that he was not well when he met Smith and is confident that he can defeat Reuban in a rematch.
McCoy would also like another crack at Harold Dade, to whom Jackie dropped a couple decisions shortly before his acccident. In fact , the good-looking Irishman is very much in a challenging mood and wishes it known that he would welcome matches with any featherweight in the country, and is willing to travel any distance for such contests. McCoy feels that he has reached the peak of his ability and wishes to find out if he has what it takes to defeat the rated boxers; if he hasn't-he will hang up the gloves. McCoy is one of the most colorful boxers on the Pacific Coast. Although a clever boxer (not a fancy dan, or waltzer), when hurt or floored, Jackie tears in and slugs it out. He has engaged in 44 bouts, losing seven of them. Among those he has defeated are Felix Ramirez, Speedy Cabanella, Alfredo Escobar, Louis Langley, Tony Becerra, Andy Vasquez, Bert White. Jackie makes 124 easily, but takes them on up to 130.

Great story on Jackie, Paul....

kikibalt wrote:

Cholo wrote:COLORFUL CALIFORNIAN
Jackie McCoy
LOS ANGELES sports scribes have dubbed him the "Ben Hogan of the Prize Ring" because of his miraculous comeback from an injury that threatened to end his boxing career. It was in July, 1948, that Jackie McCoy was injured when a truck brushed up against a street-car in which McCoy was riding. The doctors held out little hope for McCoy ever boxing again. Jackie was under treatment for nearly a year, much of which time was spent in hospital.
But, McCoy is an Irishman and he wanted to box again, and when an Irishman wants something badly enough-well, sixteen months after his accident, Jackie returned to the ring. And he never looked back. Since his comeback, McCoy has engaged in four bouts, winning over Johnny Efhan and Lawton Disoso, boxed a drew with Cecil Schoonmaker and lost to Reuban Smith. Pretty fast company for a fellow who had spent the previous year in a hospital.
Efhan had fought a drew with Chico Rosa and won 7 of his 8 bouts since arriving from Honolulu; Schoonmaker had defeated Dado Marino, Kui Kong Young and Luis Castillo; Smith had KO'ed Kui Kong Young, Tommy Rhett, decisioned Cachorro Herrera and drew with Luis Castillo. McCoy contends that he was not well when he met Smith and is confident that he can defeat Reuban in a rematch.
McCoy would also like another crack at Harold Dade, to whom Jackie dropped a couple decisions shortly before his acccident. In fact , the good-looking Irishman is very much in a challenging mood and wishes it known that he would welcome matches with any featherweight in the country, and is willing to travel any distance for such contests. McCoy feels that he has reached the peak of his ability and wishes to find out if he has what it takes to defeat the rated boxers; if he hasn't-he will hang up the gloves. McCoy is one of the most colorful boxers on the Pacific Coast. Although a clever boxer (not a fancy dan, or waltzer), when hurt or floored, Jackie tears in and slugs it out. He has engaged in 44 bouts, losing seven of them. Among those he has defeated are Felix Ramirez, Speedy Cabanella, Alfredo Escobar, Louis Langley, Tony Becerra, Andy Vasquez, Bert White. Jackie makes 124 easily, but takes them on up to 130.

Great story on Jackie, Paul....

Indeed. Thanks for posting it, Paul!

Gutierrez/Parra...Jan,16.1958...Olympic Auditorium...
One of the weirdest shows in its history was staged at the Olympic Auditorium when Alvaro Gutierrez Mexico, 144 1/2, was awarded a 6th round TKO over L.C. Morgan, Youngstown, 140. This was one of the two tens that topped the card: in the other Ernesto Parra, Mexico, 128, scored a split decision over Lauro Salas, 128 1/2.
The Parra-Salas fight was rated the top bout, and was chiefly responsible for the $6,700 house. But it was the Gutierrez-Morgan brawl which got the headlines next morning. That was a wild melee. One of the customers, a huge fellow, leaped into the ring, picked up Referee John Thomas, a former lightweight, and smashed him to the floor. Pandemonium reigned. As far as the fight had gone, Morgan was well ahead on points. When the rematch comes-it has to come-there will be a big turnout.
Scoring of the Parra-Salas bout: Referee Charley Randolph, 97-92; Judge John Thomas, Salas, 96-95; Judge, Frank Holborow, Parra, 99-93. Some of the ringsiders suffered minor injuries when the fans threw things into the ring-including whiskey bottles.

Wrigley Field, Sept,5.1958...
Dwight Hawkins, 123, Los Angeles, gained a close split nod over Danny Valdez, 125, also from Los Angeles, and Willie Dillon, 148, Chicago, packed too much power for DeWitt Lewis, 148, of Santa Monica and halted him in 58 seconds of the opening round.

Enrique Bolanos/Jimmy Carter...July,10.1951.
Los Angeles boxing fans were not very impressed with Jimmy Carter as a world champion, even though he did have little trouble disposing of Enrique Bolanos at the Olympic Auditorium. Carter was declared winner early in the seventh round. Bolanos, not nearly the fighter he used to be, was not credited with a round. Carter was the aggressor throughout, with Bolanos boxing defensively and retreating most of the time. Carter jabbed Enrique repeatedly, but he appeared over-anxious to score a kayo and he missed most of his best blows. The champ came in rather open and Bolanos scored with several left hooks, but there was little steam behind them. One of Carter's left hooks landed low in the fifth heat. Bolanos expressed pain, the crowd booed, and when the bout was resumed, both tore in with a vengeance. First, it was Carter who belted Bolanos limp, but just when it seemed that Enrique was about to cave in, he came storming back with a two-fisted attack that forced the champion to give ground. This spirited onslaught brought load cheers from the Mexican idol's supporters, but it was their only fling. Carter came out fast in the seventh, whipped over a hook that sent Bolanos' mouthpiece sailing through the air, and crossed a right to the mouth that put Enrique down. Bolanos arose at the count of eight, but was in a weakened and dazed condition, and Referee Joe Stone wisely halted it. Carter weighed 135, Bolanos 136.

Teran/Gault...April,9.1955.
Keeny Teran, 113, one of the most controversial figures in California ring history, was declared the winner by TKO, in round two, over Pappy Gault, 118, former American bantam champ, at Hollywood Legion Stadium. There was a storm of protest from many ringsiders who felt that Referee Tommy Hart had been over-hasty in the stoppage of hostilities. Gault had not been floored. He was staggered by a right to the chin, but seemed to be in possession of all his faculties when the Referee stopped it.

raylawpc wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Cholo wrote:COLORFUL CALIFORNIAN
Jackie McCoy
LOS ANGELES sports scribes have dubbed him the "Ben Hogan of the Prize Ring" because of his miraculous comeback from an injury that threatened to end his boxing career. It was in July, 1948, that Jackie McCoy was injured when a truck brushed up against a street-car in which McCoy was riding. The doctors held out little hope for McCoy ever boxing again. Jackie was under treatment for nearly a year, much of which time was spent in hospital.
But, McCoy is an Irishman and he wanted to box again, and when an Irishman wants something badly enough-well, sixteen months after his accident, Jackie returned to the ring. And he never looked back. Since his comeback, McCoy has engaged in four bouts, winning over Johnny Efhan and Lawton Disoso, boxed a drew with Cecil Schoonmaker and lost to Reuban Smith. Pretty fast company for a fellow who had spent the previous year in a hospital.
Efhan had fought a drew with Chico Rosa and won 7 of his 8 bouts since arriving from Honolulu; Schoonmaker had defeated Dado Marino, Kui Kong Young and Luis Castillo; Smith had KO'ed Kui Kong Young, Tommy Rhett, decisioned Cachorro Herrera and drew with Luis Castillo. McCoy contends that he was not well when he met Smith and is confident that he can defeat Reuban in a rematch.
McCoy would also like another crack at Harold Dade, to whom Jackie dropped a couple decisions shortly before his acccident. In fact , the good-looking Irishman is very much in a challenging mood and wishes it known that he would welcome matches with any featherweight in the country, and is willing to travel any distance for such contests. McCoy feels that he has reached the peak of his ability and wishes to find out if he has what it takes to defeat the rated boxers; if he hasn't-he will hang up the gloves. McCoy is one of the most colorful boxers on the Pacific Coast. Although a clever boxer (not a fancy dan, or waltzer), when hurt or floored, Jackie tears in and slugs it out. He has engaged in 44 bouts, losing seven of them. Among those he has defeated are Felix Ramirez, Speedy Cabanella, Alfredo Escobar, Louis Langley, Tony Becerra, Andy Vasquez, Bert White. Jackie makes 124 easily, but takes them on up to 130.

Great story on Jackie, Paul....

Indeed. Thanks for posting it, Paul!

No Trouble, Jackie McCoy was a class act...

Enrique Bolanos and Keeny Teran. Two my ring heroes from my teenage years. Thanks, Paul

kikibalt wrote:Enrique Bolanos and Keeny Teran. Two my ring heroes from my teenage years. Thanks, Paul

Frank,

Aragon/Miceli...Aug,4.1955.
In comparison to Archie Moore, who admits 38, and Sugar Ray Robinson, who recently celebrated his 35th birthday, Art Aragon and Joe Miceli, principals in tonight's headliner, are mere kiddies.
Aragon is 27, Miceli one year younger.
But neither could be called a Johnny-come-recently from the standpoint of ring activity. Art has had 84 fights, Miceli 72.
Of the five million residents in Greater Los Angeles, probably four million, nine hundred thousand have seen, read or heard about the Golden Boy. The other hundred thousand must have been goofing.
Aragon is a star of screen, TV, radio and Sunset Boulevard brawls. And of course, the ring. He has many admirers, and even more non-admirers, and both categories bounce for ducats when he's scheduled to fight.
One reason is that this guy doesn't bore you. Never mind the other reason.
It's not necessary to dwell on Senor Aragon's virtues, or vice versa. He's too well known to require embellishment.

There is word that Luther Rawlings, a lightweight contender who was active during the 1950s, has passed away.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck1052 wrote:There is word that Luther Rawlings, a lightweight contender who was active during the 1950s, has passed away.

- Chuck Johnston

Rawlings fought and beat Art Aragon in 1949.

In Sunny California...1947.
Most of our California boxers seem to do their best fighting in their own back yards. In recent weeks, Enrique Bolanos, Jackie Wilson, and Joe Barnum, three Los Angeles top-notchers, all favored to win, were held to draws in bouts in the northern part of the state. While Jesse Flores, Earl Turner and Pat Valentino, best of the 'Frisco favorites, were beaten in scraps at Los Angeles. And all three were favorites to win. These results mentioned above are not just rare cases. Fact is, this thing has been happening for months. The exceptions have been in the cases of Jackie McCoy of Los Angeles, and Julius Menendez of San Jose, two lesser lights. McCoy has been making his best fights in the north, while Menendez has been a consistent winner here in the sunny south.

Aragon/Rawlings...April,27.1949...Detroit.
On a card that included exhibition bouts featuring ring legends Willie Pep and Jack Dempsey, Art Aragon battled Luther Rawlings in the main event, dropping a close 10-round decision to a local favorite in a fight the Associated Press described as "One of the best scraps seen in a Detroit ring in years, so hard-fought it had the crowd of 10,062 tossing paper from the rafters into the ring as a way of cheering the bloody brawlers."

Great stuff from the Golden Era of L. A. boxing, thanks, Paul

kikibalt wrote:Great stuff from the Golden Era of L. A. boxing, thanks, Paul

Frank,

HBO's Jim Lampley . . .

Will be inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on October 20th.
I just made contact with Mr. Lampley and he told me that he was honored over the induction and looks forward to the event in October.

CBHOF President Don Fraser and I are on track with our goal of making this the best event to date for our organization.

Rick Farris
CBHOF Vice President

kikibalt wrote:Great stuff from the Golden Era of L. A. boxing, thanks, Paul

> I need to ask the boxing historians a question. I was watching the old tv series "the untouchables" I swear I saw a famous boxer from Los Angeles as a member of ness's team. Anybody know who he might be?

coach greg v wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Great stuff from the Golden Era of L. A. boxing, thanks, Paul

> I need to ask the boxing historians a question. I was watching the old tv series "the untouchables" I swear I saw a famous boxer from Los Angeles as a member of ness's team. Anybody know who he might be?

One of the cast members boxed in the Navy and was a fleet champion, I think. Maybe had a few pro fights too, but I can't remember who it was. I don't think he was a famous fighter.

raylawpc wrote:

coach greg v wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Great stuff from the Golden Era of L. A. boxing, thanks, Paul

> I need to ask the boxing historians a question. I was watching the old tv series "the untouchables" I swear I saw a famous boxer from Los Angeles as a member of ness's team. Anybody know who he might be?

One of the cast members boxed in the Navy and was a fleet champion, I think. Maybe had a few pro fights too, but I can't remember who it was. I don't think he was a famous fighter.

Greg, you should know better than to ask that question in this thread. You get an answer from Tom Ray, the only thing close to Cali historian left on this site. Forget the fleet champ filler that old Tom tried to bluff with, the fighter is Abel Fernandez, whose record you can access thru Boxrec. If you need Okie O'Grady type BS, Tom is your guy. But don't expect to get West Coast or film industry infor from a guy you already know is a heyseed. Just sayin . . .

Rick Farris wrote:

raylawpc wrote:

coach greg v wrote: > I need to ask the boxing historians a question. I was watching the old tv series "the untouchables" I swear I saw a famous boxer from Los Angeles as a member of ness's team. Anybody know who he might be?

One of the cast members boxed in the Navy and was a fleet champion, I think. Maybe had a few pro fights too, but I can't remember who it was. I don't think he was a famous fighter.

Greg, you should know better than to ask that question in this thread. You get an answer from Tom Ray, the only thing close to Cali historian left on this site. Forget the fleet champ filler that old Tom tried to bluff with, the fighter is Abel Fernandez, whose record you can access thru Boxrec. If you need Okie O'Grady type BS, Tom is your guy. But don't expect to get West Coast or film industry infor from a guy you already know is a heyseed. Just sayin . . .

I know Tom thinks this guy wasn't much of a fighter but at light heavy he fought some of the best, such as Freddie Beshore, Eddie Cotton, Tommy Harrison and others. Back in Tom's stomping grounds, the best heavyweights have names like Monty Masters. LOL!