Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

The Dart Thrower

Been some time since I went down to the corner to see how Jack was doing. After fighting ,he tended bar there. Then the bar was named O'Riley's. I think at the end of his career Jack was training at O'Riley's as much as in the gym. I know he was behind the bar after that. When he got off his shift you could find him sitting on the other side.

It wasn't long after that that he bought the Irishman out and renamed the place Pug Corner. With the help of his girlfriend,Judy,they redecorated the place with a lot of Jack's old press clippings and fight programs. I think it was mostly Judy's dough that got him into the joint.

The other morning when I walked in I could see things were getting set up. Ed,the day bartender,was opening the register. Judy was in the back checking the marks on the liquor bottles.
"Good morning Judy,"I said. "How's things?"
"Oh hello Roger,"she said as she put the pen down. "If we had one of those computerized systems that measured the drinks and kept tabs on things,I wouldn't have to do this."
Judy was some years older than Jack,but she didn't show her age like Jack."Where's Jack?"I asked her.
"In the back playing darts ."
"Is he by himself?"
"Yes. He's alone."
As I went to the game room,I heard Judy say to Ed the bartender,"If we don't get another two or three new TV's in here,the young crowd will never come in to watch the ball games."

I saw Jack sitting on a stool pitching darts on the wall.
"How's it going mate?"I said.
Jack turned around. He squinted a little at me. You could sure tell he was in the ring.
"Oh,Roger. It's you."
Jack had a long career starting back in Canada. He was a pretty good light heavy winning the Canadian title. The he went over to Scotland to fight Calderwood. He was going to be the next champ. He split open Jack's eye in the first frame. They stopped it in the second. Jack was always pretty sore about that. Jack's next fight was in the Garden in New York. Jose Torres was moving up fast and didn't let Jack stand in his way. After that it was oblivion. Jack wound up in San Diego training fighters. He did Ok. Had Art Hafey for a while.
"What are you up too Jack?"
"Nothing much. Did you see Judy?"
"She's in the back checking the receipts."
Jack went to the board and pulled out the darts. He sat on the stool facing the wall.His shoulders were slumped over. I could see his bad ear from the back.As i turned to go to the door,I heard Jack say,
"You know Roger,I haven't hit a bull's eye yet."

That's a great story, Rog. And this past October, "Jack" was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. You had a big part in his being inducted, and we both knew just how qualified he was, as a fighter, and a trainer. Mel Epstein had promoted him in the Pacific Northwest and knew "Jack" from his fighting days. I came up with Mel when Jack had Hafey, so after our gym workouts I'd get an earful about Hafey's handler, and how he was a helluva fighter himself. So I knew who he was when you nominated him, and something good happened - he finally hit the bulls eye. Jack is a Hall of Famer!

Thanks Rick. Trying to use other names. Funny,some of the kids of these guys got sore at me about writing about their dads. They were only babies then,but I can understand their beefs. It's better all the way around if I change the names to protect the innocent!

[dagosd2000]

"Canelo" Alvarez

[CNorkusJr]

The Dart Thrower

Been some time since I went down to the corner to see how Jack was doing. After fighting ,he tended bar there. Then the bar was named O'Riley's. I think at the end of his career Jack was training at O'Riley's as much as in the gym. I know he was behind the bar after that. When he got off his shift you could find him sitting on the other side.

It wasn't long after that that he bought the Irishman out and renamed the place Pug Corner. With the help of his girlfriend,Judy,they redecorated the place with a lot of Jack's old press clippings and fight programs. I think it was mostly Judy's dough that got him into the joint.

The other morning when I walked in I could see things were getting set up. Ed,the day bartender,was opening the register. Judy was in the back checking the marks on the liquor bottles.
"Good morning Judy,"I said. "How's things?"
"Oh hello Roger,"she said as she put the pen down. "If we had one of those computerized systems that measured the drinks and kept tabs on things,I wouldn't have to do this."
Judy was some years older than Jack,but she didn't show her age like Jack."Where's Jack?"I asked her.
"In the back playing darts ."
"Is he by himself?"
"Yes. He's alone."
As I went to the game room,I heard Judy say to Ed the bartender,"If we don't get another two or three new TV's in here,the young crowd will never come in to watch the ball games."

I saw Jack sitting on a stool pitching darts on the wall.
"How's it going mate?"I said.
Jack turned around. He squinted a little at me. You could sure tell he was in the ring.
"Oh,Roger. It's you."
Jack had a long career starting back in Canada. He was a pretty good light heavy winning the Canadian title. The he went over to Scotland to fight Calderwood. He was going to be the next champ. He split open Jack's eye in the first frame. They stopped it in the second. Jack was always pretty sore about that. Jack's next fight was in the Garden in New York. Jose Torres was moving up fast and didn't let Jack stand in his way. After that it was oblivion. Jack wound up in San Diego training fighters. He did Ok. Had Art Hafey for a while.
"What are you up too Jack?"
"Nothing much. Did you see Judy?"
"She's in the back checking the receipts."
Jack went to the board and pulled out the darts. He sat on the stool facing the wall.His shoulders were slumped over. I could see his bad ear from the back.As i turned to go to the door,I heard Jack say,
"You know Roger,I haven't hit a bull's eye yet."

That's a great story, Rog. And this past October, "Jack" was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. You had a big part in his being inducted, and we both knew just how qualified he was, as a fighter, and a trainer. Mel Epstein had promoted him in the Pacific Northwest and knew "Jack" from his fighting days. I came up with Mel when Jack had Hafey, so after our gym workouts I'd get an earful about Hafey's handler, and how he was a helluva fighter himself. So I knew who he was when you nominated him, and something good happened - he finally hit the bulls eye. Jack is a Hall of Famer!

Thanks Rick. Trying to use other names. Funny,some of the kids of these guys got sore at me about writing about their dads. They were only babies then,but I can understand their beefs. It's better all the way around if I change the names to protect the innocent!

Wonderful Story Roger. When Rick mentioned "Jack's" Induction this year, it didnt take long to figure out who this well respected fighter was. Putting 4,100 people in a band box of an arena like St Nick's was no small feat. Going against Jose Torres was even a bigger task than one can imagine. At that time (1958) my father was still fighting but was aging quick for his Ring Prowess. He was one of a handful of Jose's sparring partners at that time in Stillmans Gym (which was coming to its end soon also).
My father's friendship with Jose lasted many years which was strengthened when Jose became NYS Athletic Commissioner and my father was a referee under his supervision. My father's assignments were based on Jose's rememberance of my father's heavyweight Ring days and often got assigned some of the bigger heavies in boxing during the 70's and 80's.

Getting back to "Jack" though, I wished I had a chance to meet him at the CA Boxing HOF event. With a whirlwind of activity and greeting people on that special day, I certainly wished I met him. My admiration comes from fighting in an era like that, and his opponents he fought. One such man he fought was another good friend of mine Don McAteer out of New Jersey. Splitting the two fights they had and McAteer moving up to 175 lbs range like "Jack "did at later years of their career, had to be something to see. I know Don and he was a fierce competitor in the Ring, and I still see him every year at the NJ dinner. He lives in Pennsylvania now and owns a gym there to train his son.
I would have enjoyed talking boxing with "Jack", his experiences on the East Coast as well as the West Coast.
St Nicks' too was in its final stages of being the oldest US venue to indoor bouts. My father fought there a few times on TV. If you wish to see St Nicks the way it appeared on TV in the 1950's with its in close crowd and balcony, you can view my fathers fight vs Joey Rowan on sosoboxing.com.
It also might be noted that you can see St Nicks in the film "Requiem for a Heavyweight" starring Quinn, Gleason and Rooney.
THe fight between Quinn and Cassius Clay was from St Nicks, as well at the end of the movie, with Mountain (Quinn) becoming a wrestler comes into St Nicks Ring. My father appears in the movie in that scene as the referee of the midget wrestlers just before Quinn enters the ring for his match vs Haystacks Calhoun.

I hope "Jack" is in good health and maybe I will shake his hand someday.

[dagosd2000]

Charley,like too many ex fighters,"Jack" isn't that interesting a chap to talk with. Oh,he's nice enough.A real friendly guy. In fact,if you didn't look at his face,you wouldn't believe he was a fighter. But then a lot of expugs have a friendly demeanoroutside the ring.

Jack took a lot of shots. It's caught up with him like a lot of expugs. He has a hard time remembering things that happened just a few minutes ago. He can go way back to his days of pugilism,but it's like his memory has cut off after he left the ring as a fighter and a trainer. His girlfriend is like a caretaker for him like Bobby Chacon's .To sit and talk with "Jack",at least for me,is painfull. There are some that come in his place and talk "over" him like they know more than he does. Sometimes their language verges on teasing. I don't like that. Sometimes once it's over for a fighter and people see that his faculties have waned,they think the guy is a butt for their jokes. Take Joe Louis for example.

If these clowns think it's funny now that it's over why don't they give these ex fighters a rest.They certainly won't give respect.

[CNorkusJr]

Charley,like too many ex fighters,"Jack" isn't that interesting a chap to talk with. Oh,he's nice enough.A real friendly guy. In fact,if you didn't look at his face,you wouldn't believe he was a fighter. But then a lot of expugs have a friendly demeanoroutside the ring.

Jack took a lot of shots. It's caught up with him like a lot of expugs. He has a hard time remembering things that happened just a few minutes ago. He can go way back to his days of pugilism,but it's like his memory has cut off after he left the ring as a fighter and a trainer. His girlfriend is like a caretaker for him like Bobby Chacon's .To sit and talk with "Jack",at least for me,is painfull. There are some that come in his place and talk "over" him like they know more than he does. Sometimes their language verges on teasing. I don't like that. Sometimes once it's over for a fighter and people see that his faculties have waned,they think the guy is a butt for their jokes. Take Joe Louis for example.

If these clowns think it's funny now that it's over why don't they give these ex fighters a rest.They certainly won't give respect.

Agreed Roger. I see many older fighters and greet them at various Ring functions here in NY. It is easy to see that at fighter like "Jack" has left much if not all of his boxing memories behind him through not fault of his own, but aging and what the sport has brought him. I for one will just shake his hand and say a few simple words like "I admired you as a boxer" or "You gave me many a thrill in the ring". A smile will usual comes from the former pugilist and that is nice. I remember my father getting such compliments from many people; and I know those simple words made him feel like a very good boxer back in the day. Though my father's memory never had a chance to wane like so many (He passed from gall bladder cancer at the age of 68) and he was sharp on his boxing career till maybe the last month of his life, He cherished moments of contact from fans or boxing buddies from the past. For me, it will be a lasting image of my dad that I will never forget. Thanks Roger for telling me about "Jack".

[dagosd2000]

Charley,like too many ex fighters,"Jack" isn't that interesting a chap to talk with. Oh,he's nice enough.A real friendly guy. In fact,if you didn't look at his face,you wouldn't believe he was a fighter. But then a lot of expugs have a friendly demeanoroutside the ring.

Jack took a lot of shots. It's caught up with him like a lot of expugs. He has a hard time remembering things that happened just a few minutes ago. He can go way back to his days of pugilism,but it's like his memory has cut off after he left the ring as a fighter and a trainer. His girlfriend is like a caretaker for him like Bobby Chacon's .To sit and talk with "Jack",at least for me,is painfull. There are some that come in his place and talk "over" him like they know more than he does. Sometimes their language verges on teasing. I don't like that. Sometimes once it's over for a fighter and people see that his faculties have waned,they think the guy is a butt for their jokes. Take Joe Louis for example.

If these clowns think it's funny now that it's over why don't they give these ex fighters a rest.They certainly won't give respect.

Agreed Roger. I see many older fighters and greet them at various Ring functions here in NY. It is easy to see that at fighter like "Jack" has left much if not all of his boxing memories behind him through not fault of his own, but aging and what the sport has brought him. I for one will just shake his hand and say a few simple words like "I admired you as a boxer" or "You gave me many a thrill in the ring". A smile will usual comes from the former pugilist and that is nice. I remember my father getting such compliments from many people; and I know those simple words made him feel like a very good boxer back in the day. Though my father's memory never had a chance to wane like so many (He passed from gall bladder cancer at the age of 68) and he was sharp on his boxing career till maybe the last month of his life, He cherished moments of contact from fans or boxing buddies from the past. For me, it will be a lasting image of my dad that I will never forget. Thanks Roger for telling me about "Jack".

Yes Charley. With fighters that wound up impaired or are on their way there,a sincere handshake and compliment is appreciated.

[CNorkusJr]

This past year, I had the pleasure to meet one of my dads boxing friends from Stillman's gym. Alex Miteff, top heavyweight contender from Argentina attended a Ring 8 meeting in NYC with his son. His son must accompany Mr Miteff due to health concerns. Also he translates English to Portugese for his dad. Alex Miteff and my father were sparring partners in Stillman's Gym for a while. They both fought on the same fight cards in NYC. They were going to fight each other once, but was cancelled when better bouts came each others way. They were though, great friends in and out of the Ring.

When I had a chance to approach Mr Miteff, I realized that Mr Miteff had a hard time hearing and you must speak close to his ear, most of the time, his son must translate long sentences, and Alex's replies were low and slow in coming. Knowing this, all I said to Mr Miteff was " Hello Mr Miteff, My name is Charlie Norkus Jr, son of boxer Charley Norkus, your friend from Stillman's gym". A huge smile came upon his face, he rose out of his wheelchair, which I beckoned him to stay seated without any luck.
He grabbed my hand with both of his hands and shook vigorously saying softly (as interpeted by his son ) "I remember ! I remember !". He turned and we took a picture before he sat down. I Thanked Him and he smiled again. I told his son that my dad and his dad were very close friends back in their boxing days. His son said "I can see that- his dad usually stays seated for all". It was a great memory for me.

Alex and I, 2012



Any of my friends on the West Coast go to any of the two fights Miteff had in California. Olympic Stadium to be exact ? 1961 vs McCarter or 1967 vs J. Quarry ?
Like to hear about it.

[dagosd2000]

Hyde Park

The Indian at the desk said that the entrance to Hyde Park was at the end of the block if we wanted to see anything of interest. The wife ,grandkids,and myself had arrived that morning on the train from Gatwick. We gathered ourselves together and strolled towards the park.

The weather was nippy and the clouds were low and gray. It wanted to rain. Near the entrance there was a big old fountain. The water was spurting out in a trickle. The water was choked with algae. Two men were wading in the fountain wearing oil skin coveralls. They both had rakes pushing the algae along trying to open up the water.We sat down on a iron bench opposite the fountain. There weren't many people in the park. Mostly old folks wearing heavy cloth coats.Most were by themselves.

"To think it's come to this,"one of the men said to the other. He was darker than the other man and you could see his nose had been broken. His speech was a little slowed.The other man looked older ,but moving all the time while he listened to the other man.
"To think,I'm pushing weeds around in a pond all day,"said the man with the broken nose.
The other worker kept pushing the algae as the other man would stop to say something.
"You know I represented England in the Commonwealth games."
The other man kept pushing the rake.
When I lived in the End,Charlie Magri saw me fight. Said I had something."
The other man stopped working and looked at the man who was complaining.
"So what happened?" he asked.
The man with the broken nose started pushing the algae again.
"I just didn't listen,"he said not looking up.

I felt a few cold drops. We got up to leave. As we were walking toward the gate I heard the older man say to the man with the broken nose,"Better hurry up. I've got another fountain to clean before it rains."

[dagosd2000]

Sergio Martinez

[CNorkusJr]

Just About Midnite here in New York, Happy New Year to All My West Coast Friends.(and Chicago)
May 2013 be a Prosperous and Healthy New Year For You All- Charlie Norkus Jr.

[dagosd2000]

Just About Midnite here in New York, Happy New Year to All My West Coast Friends.(and Chicago)
May 2013 be a Prosperous and Healthy New Year For You All- Charlie Norkus Jr.

Not even ten o'clock here. Am not going to make it till midnight. See you guys next year!

[Expug]

Happy New Year to my pals here.

[El Gallo]

Happy New Year, guys!

[Randyman]

Happy New Years to all my friends here! Here's to another great year in life and another great year in boxing. All the best to the best!

[Chuck1052]

Happy New Year to everyone who contributes to this thread.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

Gene Fullmer

[dagosd2000]

Smelling The Roses

Dropped into Pug's Corner the other afternoon. Figured Jack wasn't there ,but I wanted a beer and I knew I wouldn't have to compete with the young crowd. A couple of guys shooting pool and someone sitting at the far end of the bar with a beer in front of him. The place was pretty empty,but that was fine with me. The TV was on with the sound off. Some college basketball game was going on.

I looked at the guy sitting at the end of the bar. I knew that face. Yeah,it was Danny Millstone. He,like Jack,trained a lot of the boys in San Diego.He also had one of those softball teams with his son, where he played five guys against an opponents' full contingent. Danny pitched like a he had a shotgun up his sleave.Nobody could hit him. He could have played alone. It was guite a show in town at the time. I thought I'd work my way over to him.
"Your Danny Millstone ,"I said sliding my beer next to his.
"The Irishman turned to me and smiled. His face was bright and his hair had thinned to nothing.
"Sure am. How's it going?"
"I remember you down at the Coliseum with your fighters."
"Now you must go back a ways,"he said with a slight jolt.
"Sure . You handled a lot of the fighters down here."
"I had my share."
"Still in the fight business?"
The old guy laughed. "I gave that up years ago. After the Coliseum went dark,everything dried up."
"I remember the ball team. What happened with that?"
"Just look at me. You really think I could ever do that again,"he said laughing.
"So how are things?"
"Pretty good. I have a couple of flower stands downtown."
"No more fight training."
"Not any money in it for the fighters. Less for a trainer."

I remember those Tuesday night cards like yeaterday. Jack,Flaherty,Danny- kept their stable of guys hoppin' Yeah,those were the days.
"One of these days drive by the flower stand. I do pretty good . Built up a clientele. They all know me."
The old timer finished his beer.
"I came down to see if Jack was in,"the old guy said."Seems I never catch him."
The old guy held out his hand.
"By the way. I didn't get your name."
"Roger."
"Well Roger,can I buy you a beer? We can talk about old times."

[jj5000]

Great post! i was wondering if you could describe the old San Diego Coliseum? What was its atmosphere like on fight night? How long did it run shows? I have been interested in it for a while.

[dagosd2000]

Great post! i was wondering if you could describe the old San Diego Coliseum? What was its atmosphere like on fight night? How long did it run shows? I have been interested in it for a while.

I believe the San Diego Coliseum was built in the mid 1930's. One of the first big attractions were the fights between Archie Moore and Johnny"The Bandit"Romero. I believe they split a pair of fights at the welter weight level. Moore eventually made San Diego his home town. He fought a lot of bouts at the Coliseum and the old Lane Field baseball park. His bouts with the Hogue brothers(Shorty and Big Boy)were memorable.During the late 60's and 70's when boxing was huge in Southern Cal and Mexico I saw the likes of Ken Norton,Ronnie Wilson,Art Hafey,Denny Moyer,and Bobby Chacon to name just a few. Fights at the Coliseum were fighters on their way up(Norton)or fighters on their way down(Moyer). The Coliseum was a small venue. Held around 1500. Bleacher seating was usually good enough. You were always close to the action. Place did pretty good back then. Mickey Davies was the match maker. Burke Emery,Sid Flaherty,Ernie Fuentes,and Danny Millsap provided the talent. It was like somethiong out of an old Cagney movie.Plenty of smoke and noise. Oh by the way,wrestling on Saturday nights. The Coliseum,which was owned by the Jerome family,is now a furniture warehouse.

[El Gallo]

The Cyber Boxing Zone Message Board is now officially dead.
Too much of the same old info for too long.
A few years ago it was a great forum, but it has been going down hill for a long time.
Variety would have helped, instead, you had the same photos posted by the same person, who posts & reposts on every site on the net.
The Hap Navarro thread was the best ever on the site, and so was the Rodolfo Gonzalez site. When they died, so did the Forum.
It's good to see new blood pumping on these pages. There is so much we have yet to cover. Here's to 2013!

[CNorkusJr]

Great post! i was wondering if you could describe the old San Diego Coliseum? What was its atmosphere like on fight night? How long did it run shows? I have been interested in it for a while.

I believe the San Diego Coliseum was built in the mid 1930's. One of the first big attractions were the fights between Archie Moore and Johnny"The Bandit"Romero. I believe they split a pair of fights at the welter weight level. Moore eventually made San Diego his home town. He fought a lot of bouts at the Coliseum and the old Lane Field baseball park. His bouts with the Hogue brothers(Shorty and Big Boy)were memorable.During the late 60's and 70's when boxing was huge in Southern Cal and Mexico I saw the likes of Ken Norton,Ronnie Wilson,Art Hafey,Denny Moyer,and Bobby Chacon to name just a few. Fights at the Coliseum were fighters on their way up(Norton)or fighters on their way down(Moyer). The Coliseum was a small venue. Held around 1500. Bleacher seating was usually good enough. You were always close to the action. Place did pretty good back then. Mickey Davies was the match maker. Burke Emery,Sid Flaherty,Ernie Fuentes,and Danny Millsap provided the talent. It was like somethiong out of an old Cagney movie.Plenty of smoke and noise. Oh by the way,wrestling on Saturday nights. The Coliseum,which was owned by the Jerome family,is now a furniture warehouse.

Thanks Roger, your description of San Diego Coliseum,short and sweet as it is, speaks volumes for guys like me. Lucky for me, my father brought me to about 4 or 5 of those type places here in New York before they went away. Club fighting in New York was behind me by about 10-15 years, but I caught remnants of places like Sunnyside Gardens, Rivchmond Hill Arena, Freeport Stadium, old Gleason's Gym in the Bronx (the original), and the newer one in Manhattan, now presently moved to Brooklyn.
And a few other places before their demise. These places had class and an aura.San Diego Coliseum had class.
Todays venues are sterile, chandeliered catering halls or barren sports arenas with plastic seats and "No Smoking" signs hung up and very few "Ring Cards" billboards the promoters used as frequent calling cards for todays heroes.. Yea, I'm crying. Another year, and what seems a century away from the classy places.
2013- 59 years ago Powell got tagged with his first Pro Loss up in Frisco. 55 yrs ago- that same California legend Charlie Powell finally avenged his loss to Norkus in a smoke filled San Diego Coliseum, righting the ship for him.
There is nothing more enjoyable for me to talk and show scrapbooks and memorabilia of my dads to the young kids in my neighborhood, and anybody else that has time to listen, about the gyms and fighters from that long ago. And I am very thrilled over the fact that there are still some guys left from that time who continue to tell me more about boxing first hand.
That's why I pull up a chair here and there and will hear anyone out on their experiences. This thread is one of the BEST for doing that.

[dagosd2000]

The Cyber Boxing Zone Message Board is now officially dead.
Too much of the same old info for too long.
A few years ago it was a great forum, but it has been going down hill for a long time.
Variety would have helped, instead, you had the same photos posted by the same person, who posts & reposts on every site on the net.
The Hap Navarro thread was the best ever on the site, and so was the Rodolfo Gonzalez site. When they died, so did the Forum.
It's good to see new blood pumping on these pages. There is so much we have yet to cover. Here's to 2013!

Yeah Rick I know what you mean. I responded to Dan Hanley about how enlightening his interviews with the fighters are. That's why I like to create something like a painting or a story to keep things fresh.

I get tired of going back and forth with compiling lists,who could beat who,and the same guys with the same stories.The insults when someone disagrees. Keep swinging. Rog

[El Gallo]

Roger, we will keep this alive with new input, and with new info and activities related to Veteran Boxing organizations. With the help of Charley Norkus, I was able to connect the California Boxing Hall of Fame with New York & New Jersey organizations. Of course, those organizations will not support the CBHOF or it's associates in the future, however an alliance was forged that will serve as the foundation of a much bigger organization, which is under construction at the moment, and will keep Veteran Boxer affairs going with the default of the WBHOF and the demise of the CBHOF. We will feature new avenues for the event, including literary input, art, film, etc. It is not something that is being thrown together quickly or without great thought and support. We all got together just months after coming together on this thread in 2008. The vehicle for our "get together" was a World Boxing Hall of Fame event. We honored the greats and had a good time. I can see that happening again in the not too distant future.

-Rick Farris

[El Gallo]

The San Diego Coliseum . . .


I recently posted a story about my first pro fight. The excitement, the pride of fighting at the Olympic on this night.
As Rog knows, the San Diego Coliseum wasn't my favorite arena to box in, but it was the last place I'd fight.
In Los Angeles, we looked at the little cockpit on San Diego's tough side as a "graveyard" for Angeleno boxers.
My former stablemate, Ruben Navarro, and I both fought and lost our last bouts at the S.D. Coliseum just a couple months apart in the mid-70's.
I fought like a bum, and I lost to a bum.
When I left the ring after the fight, I walked up the aisle and saw water cascading down the steps from the dressing room.
The shower had clogged up and flooded the room.
I sustained a cut over my left eye, was stitched in the dressing room with no pain killers, didn't feel a thing.
After fighting at the Olympic Auditorium, The Forum, and all of the big arenas in Southern Cal, I was ending my career in a pugilistic dive bar.
However, it was a classic dive bar, one that had showcased some of the best in boxing history, just like the Olympic had.
Today I am grateful for having had the experience of fighting in a place that is straight out of "Fat City".
And the fight I fought deserved nothing better.


-Rick Farris

[El Gallo]

"Canelo" Alvarez