Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Getting Back Up Forever

When I was perusing The Forum and the Boxing History topic "Most Heroic Get Up After Knockdown?" I was certain the first citing by a poster would be of Archie Moore's incredible survival in the 1st round after getting hammered 3 times to the canvas by Yvon Durelle. It was a title defense for The Mongoose and he was putting it on the line in front of the Canadian's loud and faithful fans in Montreal. Moore had been in there with a lot better.He had laced up his gloves in more than 200 fights,knocked out close to 140 opponents,and was already a living legend in the sport. The oddsmakers concurred with his resume making him a heavy favorite. By the time the two faced each other Moore was wading into his fourth decade of life and was in no hurry to take on the cream of the crop in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions anymore. After failing in his attempt to win the heavyweight championship in an open fight for the crown against Floyd Patterson,Moore and his shifty management team of Charley Johnston and Doc Kearns, knew approximately how much was remaining in the old man's gas tank. They figured Moore could beat Durelle running on close to empty.

Moore made his reputation traveling to the other guy's hometown and stealing his thunder. Although Montreal didn't cater much to Negros(ask Ray Leonard about his trip to Montreal to fight Hands Of Stone)that prejudice wouldn't pose any new problem. What Moore didn't count on was that Yvon might have had a girl's name but was no mademoiselle. He was a tough New Brunswick ex fisherman who packed a punch like a hammerhead shark.

Moore wasn't the most graceful guy in the ring. He liked to find openings and then sneak over either the left or the right then fold his arms crablike and look for another chance. He had more trouble with boxers than big punchers so he figured he could mesmerize the Canadian pulling out something out of his old hat. But before Moore could say hocus-pocus Durelle ,in less than a minute gone,countered Archie's lazy left lead with a sharp right hand that toppled Archie to the deck ,the back of his head bouncing off the canvas making some pass a petition around ringside to end the sport. Moore was on the seat of his pants twice more before the gong sounded to end the round. Jack Sharkey,who was picked by Moore's people to do the officiating,thought America first and let the fight continue.

Moore saw the canvas again in the 5th round but you could see that Durelle didn't know how to conserve his energy.The crowd was beginning to worry as was Yvon. Moore was working in a deliberate stride,picking his spots, breaking Durelle down,and by the 11th round was ahead on the cards. In the 11th Durelle's gas tank was on empty and his quest for the title went up in fumes.

Let's make one thing clear. if you ask septuagenarians which fight turned them on to adhere to the sweet science forever and ever it was THAT fight.It was a definitive moment. If you watch it on YouTube and see the pandemonium in the ring after it was over:Jack Drees(one of my favorite announcers)bounding into the ring absolutely ecstatic holding the mike to Moore who now turns from fighter to philosopher, and Doc Kearns and Charley Johnston all wearing shirts that said on the back"Diamond Palace Importer"wrapping Moore with his robe that had the same words on the back(Moore was always promoting something on the side.There was an old character named Murray Goodrich in San Diego who owned an army surplus store called "Goodrich On Main".Moore would wear his robe into the ring with all the advertising on the back)By time everybody was in the ring the crowd couldn't help but to become enamored with the conqueror of their favorite son.

I watched the fight on the old Philco in the living room with my father and my uncle Joe. Of course being a couple of dagos from Taylor Street they were hoping that Moore would get his ass kicked. They never rooted for a black fighter or any black athlete except Roy Campanella who was half Italian(Campanella's father met his wife in Italy during the war that was supposed to end all the others).I think the excuse they used when Durelle lost was that he was a bum.They weren't saying anything like that during the first frame.

That fight was broadcast across the country and opened the doors for fans to see something on the level of another televised sporting event that put pro football on the national radar-the Sudden Death overtime championship game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants in Yankee Stadium. TV was the conduit.Television was closing down the boxing arenas,but bringing the sport into the homes where fathers and sons could watch a fight in the family room and not pay the price of tickets.Imagine if only the fans in the arena had seen this historic battle? You could have found the result in Nat Fleischer's Ring Record Book but the (moving) picture always says a thousand words especially when it comes to sports.

While scanning the topic about the "most heroic get up" I finally ran across BoxBuzz's mention of that night in Montreal.For me there was nothing to match it.


Archie Moore.We'll never see the likes of him again.

[dagosd2000]

Hall Of Shame

I've never been one who has much credence in the institutions honoring the individual achievements of a particular activity. A media honor like The Academy Award is often bestowed on someone who should have deserved the recognition at an earlier time,but was for one reason or another bypassed. Then later , out of sympathy and feelings of guilt, was given the trophy for something that wasn't worthy of a prior effort.Thus another recipient gets the shaft and the injustice perpetuates. I look back at the people who were giants in their art that never got to go to the podium to hold onto their precious Oscar.But the Academy Award if presented for a solo performance rather than an institution like a Hall Of Fame - an honor given for the embodiment for a lifetime achievement of work.

With boxing ,the most esteemed institution for recognition is the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. I'm sure every former fighter would like to get the invitation to Canastota and be handed the plaque with his name on it. But I consider the IBHOF on equal footing with the other sports entities that have their organizations of hallowed ground. The people who sit on the committees who cast their votes for the athletes they think deserving are comprised mostly of men who never got paid for playing the respective sport.Most of this ilk is a hodge podge of people associated with writing about a particular sport instead of participating. I used to go to the California Boxing Hall Of Fame banquets under the direction of Don Fraser and see on the dais all Fraser's journalist pals while the ex fighters were grouped sitting at tables in the audience eating their chicken dinners. Sometimes these scribes would get inducted (thanks to a big donation to Fraser) and then stride up to the mike ,throw out their chests,and rant on for a half hour about something self absorbing and of no interest to anyone else. Talk about an act to make everyone squirm in their seats.

Then there is the coterie of sycophants who have either contributed some of their own money or just plain weaseled their way into the room of voters,and with all their arrogance,give either the thumbs up or the thumbs down. It's all bull s--t to me because I think the only people who should cast ballots are the fighters,active or retired.

Another topic on the Forum that I glanced at the other day-"Which Fighter Deserves To Be Inducted Into The IBHOF?" I never want to look at first but my curiosity always gets the better of me.So the other day I scanned some of the posts. My pal Chris brought up Jose Legra.He couldn't understand why the former featherweight champ hasn't been inducted. Well,at first I thought Chris had made a mistake,but going to the IBHOF website I was shocked not to find Legra's name included with the others. I could run off a list of inductees that I don't think merited to be in The Hall,but that would be catty.I could also cite the reasons Legra's name is worthy,but that seems superfluous. It's for this kind of nonsense that I take many of these honors with a grain of salt.

I would like to see Jose Legra get his just rewards.He's still with us. I'm sure he'd be very happy walking up to the soapbox and making his speech even though he'd have to traverse through all the people sitting at the tables in the audience eating their chicken dinners.


Jose Legra

[chrisjs1985]

Roger, Jose Legra was recently hospitalized with Covid-19 but was released in the last couple of days and has recovered. There was a book released on him earlier in the year. I have a contact in Spain who says that he lives in a nursing home but aside form memory loss, he is a healthy and happy man.

He was featherweight champion twice, winning both times in the opponent's home country and his major losses were Famechon (bad robbery), Saldivar (close, competitive fight also scored a knockdown), Jofre (very close fight, scored a knockdown). Competition in Spain is poor so he got inflated runs to a degree but also beat the best of the continent and good African fighters too in an era when good fighters came from a lot of places. He was also a fantastic fighter as the films show.

[dagosd2000]

Roger, Jose Legra was recently hospitalized with Covid-19 but was released in the last couple of days and has recovered. There was a book released on him earlier in the year. I have a contact in Spain who says that he lives in a nursing home but aside form memory loss, he is a healthy and happy man.

He was featherweight champion twice, winning both times in the opponent's home country and his major losses were Famechon (bad robbery), Saldivar (close, competitive fight also scored a knockdown), Jofre (very close fight, scored a knockdown). Competition in Spain is poor so he got inflated runs to a degree but also beat the best of the continent and good African fighters too in an era when good fighters came from a lot of places. He was also a fantastic fighter as the films show.

Chris
Thanks for the update.Someone can recover from Covid-19.Many have.My sisters had it and they recovered.I did the math the other day of fatalities from the disease in the U.S.Since we're all in on this the percentage of dying from coronavirus is something like 0.00017142857 percent. I'll bet the percentage of fighters finally succumbing from the effects of dementia is much higher. There's a weird irony with your statement of Legra's condition:"aside from memory loss,he is healthy and happy."Life is so bittersweet. I'll take that any day.

[chrisjs1985]

Roger, Jose Legra was recently hospitalized with Covid-19 but was released in the last couple of days and has recovered. There was a book released on him earlier in the year. I have a contact in Spain who says that he lives in a nursing home but aside form memory loss, he is a healthy and happy man.

He was featherweight champion twice, winning both times in the opponent's home country and his major losses were Famechon (bad robbery), Saldivar (close, competitive fight also scored a knockdown), Jofre (very close fight, scored a knockdown). Competition in Spain is poor so he got inflated runs to a degree but also beat the best of the continent and good African fighters too in an era when good fighters came from a lot of places. He was also a fantastic fighter as the films show.

Chris
Thanks for the update.Someone can recover from Covid-19.Many have.My sisters had it and they recovered.I did the math the other day of fatalities from the disease in the U.S.Since we're all in on this the percentage of dying from coronavirus is something like 0.00017142857 percent. I'll bet the percentage of fighters finally succumbing from the effects of dementia is much higher. There's a weird irony with your statement of Legra's condition:"aside from memory loss,he is healthy and happy."Life is so bittersweet. I'll take that any day.

A couple of cousins and uncle had it back in the U.K they are ok now. Yeah, those %'s are getting smaller too as we find out more and more people had it. The amount of people within the boxing community to pass from it seems high compared to other sports however. Not sure why that is? Maybe I just pay more attention to boxing.

[dagosd2000]

Baby Face

If Denny Moyer was around today fighting in his prime he'd have won a championship belt or two and be making money hand over fist. I saw him at the end of his career when Sid Flaherty,his manager,asked him to come down to San Diego from Portland,Oregon to keep an eye on Ronnie Wilson.Flaherty had a stable of fighters in San Diego including Wilson who was beginning to struggle. For one thing Flaherty had Wilson fighting way too often. Ronnie would beat a club fighter and then instead of Flaherty moving Wilson onto a better quality opponent he'd match him against the same guy Wilson had beaten three weeks earlier. With time Wilson would become the perennial club fighter-the promoter's fighter who could be reliable on short notice to take on someone(usually a hot up and comer)that he hadn't properly trained for. Wilson was also a bleader,but instead of Flaherty letting the wounds heal over time,Wilson was back in there with his tissue paper skin ready to explode crimson from the first good shot on his lamps. Thirdly,there was Ronnie's fondness for drink which was beginning to become more frequent causing his career(and personal life) to unravel. So Flaherty brings in Denny Moyer to straighten Wilson's course. But instead of sailing over the bounding main,both Denny's and Ronnie's boats sank in the tub.

I knew both boys on the periphery.I'd hang out at The Coliseum to watch them train.Once in awhile I'd rub elbows with them in one of the downtown watering holes. They'd ask me sometimes why I didn't get more serious in becoming a fighter. I'd look at their pans and they'd tell me that they didn't have a nickel in the bank.There was a B.F. Goodrich shop on Broadway near the Coliseum.When they were in a pinch they'd work there as a couple of tire busters.But for the most part,me just hanging around those guys was enough. I didn't have what it took to be a fighter. Even when I was in pretty good physical shape,mentally I was kind of oft about what it took to be a fighter.I didn't mind sparring once in awhile,but fighting in real fight meant getting down to seriousness.I liked to joke around more.By the the time I was fraternizing with those two they had lost their physical edge.They kept on fighting because they needed the money.They weren't afraid of getting in there trading shots,but saw fighting as better than working a 9 to 5 job.

Moyer started out under Flaherty in Portland along with his brother Phil.Denny was the more talented. He came along when the welterweight and middleweight divisions had never been more loaded with top quality fighters-Gaspar Ortega,Don Jordan,Virgil Atkins,Sugar Ray Robinson,Emile Griffith,Paddy and Tony DeMarco,Benny Paret,Jorge Fernandez,Joey Giambra,Joey Archer,Luis Rodriguez to name some,and these were guys Moyer fought in his prime. Later,when he (I hate to say)morphed into a club fighter he fought guys like Benvenuti and Monzon.

Moyer was a very good boxer,but so were those fellas I just mentioned. If he lacked anything it was a big punch that could get him out of a jam. What the public remembered as much as his fights was that he had a "Baby Face."He looked like Wally Cleaver.But Wally Cleaver was no fighter.Denny Moyer could give and take with the toughest of the lot.By the time he called San Diego his home he had had more than 100 fights under his belt. By the time he hung up the gloves that number would stretch to over 150. By that time he didn't have that "Baby Face" anymore.

He was in the gym just about everyday or Flaherty's farm up in the foothills of San Diego trying to not lose his edge,but he was burning the candle at both ends,along with Ronnie Wilson,in saloons that had names like the Chee Chee Club,Molly's Place,and Carl's Baseball Inn.I should know because I was a witness.

His last hurrah was in his third to last fight against a young undefeated Italian kid Named Ricky DeFazio in Chicago. Denny boxed his ears off before the ring doc called a halt. If any of the recent fans of boxing in that day were to have perused Moyer's mug they wouldn't have ever guessed that they used to call him "Baby Face."

While doing a little research for my post I looked at the backside of Moyer's record to get some history. I shook my head after reading the last sentence of his biography(that was extracted from The Eastside Boxing web page).

"As of February 2004 Moyer was in a Portland nursing home.The reason for his stay is unknown at this time."

And I thought that I was a rube.


The Chee Chee Club on Broadway. It's still there.

[goose 5]

I love these posts about Moyer and Wilson. Any friction between those two and bar bouncers that you remember, Roger ?

[dagosd2000]

I love these posts about Moyer and Wilson. Any friction between those two and bar bouncers that you remember, Roger ?

Goose
Let me tell you pal,first of all Denny Moyer and Ronnie Wilson were two of the most nicest guys you'd ever want to meet when sober. Quiet,unassuming,polite.never using foul language in front of a lady.Type of guys that parents would invite over for Sunday dinner in order to acquaint them with their daughters.But like so many fighters that I've run across like Wilson and Moyer once they started drinking(and they were very fond of John Barley Corn)their transformations were like Dr. Jekyl going over to shake hands with Mr. Hyde. I got along with them however when they got a snoot full. For one thing they didn't like showoffs or braggarts. I made sure I didn't try to upstage them or get too cute. I didn't offer much to the conversation when they started with bending their elbows.As far as anyone like a bouncer or a guy who wanted to present a challenge,God have mercy on his soul. Ronnie and Denny had those guys in their crosshairs. I remember one time Wilson had a party over at his apartment.He was feeling no pain and was doing his Mr. Hyde impersonation. Someone who wasn't invited to he party tried to storm inside. I was talking to the guy and said that I'd ask Ronnie if it was OK to let him in. Before I could make a move Wilson pushes me aside and the next thing I know this gate crasher is lying unconscious on the sidewalk.Size never mattered with those two. I think they liked it better when someone bigger tried to muscle them.

I miss those guys. I always wished that I had their straightforewardness,and if you were with them you knew they had your back.

Ronnie Wilson. They gave him the nickname "Irish" but he wasn't. He was Canadian,but like an Irishman he was tough.But that was only in the boxing ring or when he was out on the town .

[dagosd2000]

It Took A Germ To Get Everyone Off The Front Page

it seems you can't do anything,except maybe sleep, to escape the Coronavirus pandemic. But then I'm sure plenty of people have nightmares about it. You can't go outside without realizing that the world in the last 40 days has changed. People wearing masks inside and outside stores.Everyone is uptight.Businesses shut down.Schools closed.People laid off. Social distancing. Quarantining.Washing your hands like you have Tourette Syndrome. Stress related issues. Paranoia. Mortality,something that we try to keep in the back of our minds,we wake up to in the morning as we look at the current death count. All the experts can't agree on what's going on and what's ahead. The presidential task force telling us to wash our hands and don't congregate in crowds.Well,I could have told you that.They also say that unless they come up with a vaccine all we can do is sit and wait and not touch our faces.The prognosis for this vaccine is anywhere from a year or two down the road so say the experts. But then they also say that there is the potential for thousands of new viruses that haven't been unleashed yet. What if that happens? We do the drill again? Remember that song,"I Remember April?" It's gained added significance.

So what was so damned important 40 days ago has diminished in importance. When I was going to college majoring in English our professor made us read The Plague by Albert Camus. Sitting in the classroom after smoking a joint(like most of the others including the prof)we all discussed and dissected the novel and walked away very satisfied that we understood its impact.Then it was back to the dorm to roll up some more joints.Now that we ALL share this plague it rubs our faces in its reality.It isn't a thing that happened thousand of miles from us or written about in a book of fiction.

There were a lot of gung ho speeches by the pundits just after all the shutdowns.
"Because we're Americans we'll get through this because there's no other country like us."
Well,this has never happened before. Time will tell. In the meantime I lament of news past when we were so self absorbed and dwelled on unimportance. A bad bug has kicked all the personalities, who craved attention to be in the headlines, to the back pages of the newspaper. Here's a short list of what I miss about the good ol' days of March.

Donald Trump:Remember when all that sleaze came out about Epstein's pornographic paradise? There was the guest book that had some pretty big names in it.Trump was there,but it wasn't so big a deal because he had brought his wife. There were pictures even(everyone in clothes). Trump's a smart guy bringing his wife. Now who would bring their wife to an isle of ill repute?I bet she participated in whatever went on.Just thinking about it makes me want to go out and buy a quart of Wesson Oil.

Nancy Pelosi:Here's a gal that's got a screw loose. I've never agreed with anything that came out of her mouth. When she went to that NAACP function and said to Al Sharpton,"I want to thank you for saving the country" it about knocked me over. I don't care if you have big tits you're a nut case.

Hillary Clinton: She's getting fatter and fatter. Maybe she should switch to diet tequila.

Bill Clinton: Can't really blame him being married to Hillary.

AOC:Every time I look at her I wonder what she looks like without clothes.

Rashida Tlaib:Every time I look at her I wish she'd put on more clothes.

Joe Biden:After speaking I get that little kid impulse to put him in a Skippy Peanut Butter jar and punch holes in the lid.

Prince Harry:Lose the beard.

Prince Charles:Lose the wife.

Womens' Movement: When I hear "Womens' Movement I automatically think of bowel movement.

Tyson Fury:When he said he was jerking off 7 times a day in order to get ready to fight Deontay Wilder it proves that masturbation will never get out of hand.

LeBron James:Who would want to call himself King Of LA?

The U.S. National Soccer Team:Oops.I messed up .They were never on the front page.

OK there's some of the names we don't see on the front page of the newspaper anymore.I miss those days when everyone was arguing if Tom Brady was going to stick with the Patriots or go somewhere else.(BTW.Where did he go?).No.It's time America got back to the basics. The thoughts and ideas that had made America what it was-a nation of gossip and trivia.

AMERICA WAKE UP.It's time to get Colin Kaepernick back on the front page! .

[goose 5]

Roger, I was just reading the Nevada and California newspapers from 1972 to get a feel for Denny Moyer's activity rate. On January 2, 1972, the L.A. Times reported that Moyer and Monzon signed for a title bout in March. However, on February 15, 1972, Moyer fought and beat Gene Bryant in a 12 round bout, getting off the floor to win. Can you imagine risking a signed title fight in today's boxing by taking a 12 round bout less than 3 weeks before ? Very different era for certain.

[dagosd2000]

Roger, I was just reading the Nevada and California newspapers from 1972 to get a feel for Denny Moyer's activity rate. On January 2, 1972, the L.A. Times reported that Moyer and Monzon signed for a title bout in March. However, on February 15, 1972, Moyer fought and beat Gene Bryant in a 12 round bout, getting off the floor to win. Can you imagine risking a signed title fight in today's boxing by taking a 12 round bout less than 3 weeks before ? Very different era for certain.

Goose
I remember when Moyer signed for that fight. He did it more for the money. He wasn't in great shape and knew the odds were stacked against him fighting Monzon who was very popular in Europe. If you look at the video he was doing pretty good early.Monzon was a slow starter but when he caught him with a good shot,I think in the 5th, the referee stopped it.Moyer used to go around saying if he ever needed a quick 1500 dollars he could always fight at The Silver Slipper in Vegas.That's where he fought Bryant prior to the Monzon fight.


Denny Moyer

[dagosd2000]

Golf Carts And The Grand Olympic

IN 1968 Dick Enberg announced the fights on TV from the Grand Olympic Auditorium on Thursday nights. His color man was the personable matchmaker of the Southland,Mickey Davies. Enberg,born in Mount Clemens ,Michigan, attended the University of Indiana earning a Masters and PHD in health sciences. While he was announcing his last gig for the San Diego Padres during the 2012 through the 2016 seasons he never let his color man,Mark Grant, forget that he had all these sheepskins hanging over his mantel in the living room. Grant,who never went to college,but played 12 seasons as a pitcher in the Majors, finally had heard enough of Enberg's casual referencing of his academia exploits and gave him the moniker,"The Professor."Enberg took no offense to the gibe.In fact I think he thought of the nickname as being kind of flattering.

Enberg had done some radio work with UCLA Bruin basketball and LA Ram football,but his boxing assignment was the first time we got to see his handsome face on the tube. And he WAS a natty looking dude. He made sure his hair was parted on the left side and his suits were tailored. He made Mickey Davies look like ...well,a fight matchmaker.

I rarely missed those fights broadcasted from the Olympic. The venue was under the auspices of Aileen Eaton who was just beginning to televise her shows to the Southland. A little sluggish at the start, the boxing matches began picking up steam.That was because the quality of the fighters provided good matches. If the main event featured two outstanding fighters,their bout would not be shown live. We could only see the prelims.Aileen would do the oral promoting before the featured fight.

Quite honestly I never took to Dick Enberg with any of his broadcasting efforts. He was one of the last of the old guard announcers that in time would fade away to the guy in the booth that was an ex athlete who could bring to the audience some knowledge and insights to the sport. With a little polishing and practice with his delivery, this is what we are accustom to today.

With time the problem I had with the traditional announcers(Curt Gowdy,Red Barber,Keith Jackson,Vin Scully,Howard Cosell just some examples) was that they were focused more on themselves than the game.(Although Chick Hearn with the Lakers was a real gas with his rapid play by play).Before the ex jocks got inside the booth all I had to make judgement on were those old warhorses who were first fed their oats in the 40's and 50's. They announced a game like describing the D Day Landing. After awhile their articulation got on my nerves. Metaphors and synonyms proper for a play or another art form of eloquence seemed stupid for a baseball game or a prize fight. These old guys in the booth wanted the fans to go home when it was all over and remember what THEY had to say about the guy the who stole home or landed the lucky punch.Enberg's career was built on this kind of rhetoric. His signature line for a homerun was "Touch em' all." or "Oh My!". No play by play announcer is going to find work coming up with those kinds slogans anymore.Today,they have to know something about the sport they're calling inside the booth. With baseball Enberg knew about as much as your standard Little Leaguer. As for boxing he knew nothing. You could tell he didn't like that.He wanted the spotlight on himself. The aficianados at the Olympic could have cared less if he could speak big words.

Mickey Davies tried as hard as might to sell Enberg on boxing,but he never seemed to interested nor excited. After a year of sitting ringside and once in awhile getting pelted by beer,Enberg divulged that he was leaving the rickety confines of the Grand Olympic and moving on (up) in the world of sports. He was going to take his handsome face in front of the camera to announce baseball,football,and basketball to the national level on the big daddy channels,CBS and NBC. Intermixed with these genres would be The Olympic Games,Masters golf,and Wimbledon tennis.Between his broadcasting assignments you could find him on the links riding in a golf cart and playing in a foursome of entertainment celebrities and U.S. presidents. He also had plenty of photos of those memorable moments hanging above the mantel. They did a documentary on him once and made sure to humbly point out all the glossy 8 by 10's with signatures.

But what the hell. Can't blame the guy for wanting to make a name for himself.Get the big bucks. Rub shoulders with Gerald Ford. He even made it to Cooperstown in the "other category."He liked to tell the story that when he got inducted to "The Hall' Johnny Bench said to him "Dick,welcome to the club."

I'll never forget the last card that Enberg announced at The Olympic. Mickey Davies tried to get him to admit that the experience had a positive effect on him.
"Well,Dick after a year announcing the fights what fighter were you the most impressed with?"asked the old matchmaker.
I was expecting him to answer maybe Mando Ramos,Jerry Quarry,or Floyd Patterson. Not close.
"I'd have to that Manny Lugo made the most impression."
Davies' jaw dropped.
For you newcomers to the forum let me describe Manny Lugo as a fighter.In a five year career he crammed in more than 60 fights scoring just 2 KO's. I don't think he ever fought in a main event.I saw him fight live in San Diego on the undercard when Ken Norton had just broken his cherry.Manny should have performed in the circus. I'll try to put it in perspective. If you thought Windmill White was a goof ball in the ring,well Manny Lugo made the Windmill look like Willie Pep. Lugo fought as a lightweight,in the literal sense. His main attack comprised of rushing his opponent and with both arms simultaneously making a tomahawk chopping motion, the fulcrum at the elbows. He'd bounce around like a rubber ball on meth and then entangle himself with the guy who he was fighting.He got a lot of laughs out of this,but he seldom emerged victorious.Go ahead and check out his record in the BoxRec archives. Let me know if you recognize any of his opponents' names.And this is the guy that handsome Dick thought made the most sense to him.I guess he made him laugh.But if Enberg was that impressed with Manny Lugo why wasn't his picture above the mantel next to Gerald Ford's? I think I'll go to the University of Indiana to get a PHD in health sciences.Then maybe I'll understand.

The Grand Olympic Auditorium today.A Korean Church.AMEN

[dagosd2000]

An Enigma Wrapped Inside A Puzzle

My pal Dan Hanley mentioned the fight between Leotis Martin and Sonny Liston the other day on the "Post Your Scorecards" thread. I remember when Liston was blowing up all the heavyweight contenders in back of champ Floyd Patterson in the 50's and early 60's. While Cus D'Amato was throwing a blanket over his young charge matching him with fighters of dubious qualifications like Roy Harris,Brian London,and Pete Rademacher,Liston was putting to sleep big boppers like Cleveland Williams(twice),Zora Folley,and Nino Valdes.Sonny also had no difficulty beating the number one guy, Eddie Machen, who stayed away from him for 12 rounds. The call was getting louder for Patterson to meet Liston,but Floyd was in the midst of trying to regain his title from Ingemar Johansson.Meanwhile, Liston also was fighting the bread and butter black fighters that seemed to be in a perpetual round robin tournament with each other.Fighters with names like Wayne Bethea,Ernie Cab,Howard King,Johnny Summerlin,Marty Marshall,and Bert Whitehurst seemed to be going nowhere earning little money,and fighting in the small arenas.

D'Amato finally had to come to terms with his fighter getting in there with the fighter they called "The Bear." Liston by this time was the most intimidating fighter on the planet. An ex felon who was denied by the commission to fight in the most important venue,Madison Square Garden in New York City. A big heavyweight for his day( a shade over 6 foot and weighing a fit 215 pounds)Liston wasn't the most demonstrative person with his mouth. He let his fists do most of the talking. When he did manage to mutter something he put on his impassive face with those deadpan eyes and grumble something like "I'm going to kill you." He'd skip rope while listening to James Brown's "Night Train" and have one of his men slam the big medicine ball into his stomach,his massive hands encircling the missile practically hiding it from view,and then tossing it back like it was a ping pong ball all the while keeping his stone face intact. He was scaring a lot of people with his mantra,especially his opponents. The fighter who cringed the most was the champ,Floyd Patterson.

When they finally inked the contract everyone was saying that Liston might actually kill Floyd. Joe Louis proclaimed that Liston was the best heavyweight ever. However,mainstream fight fans were hoping that Floyd would somehow win. Even president Kennedy wanted to see Patterson keep his crown. But in two fight lasting less than 4 minutes total Patterson was still living but without the championship belt any longer. After the second fight Patterson donned the mask he brought with him and left the Las Vegas Center unnoticed.

After Patterson the fight world was concurring with Joe Louis that maybe he was right about Liston being unstoppable. But it was also Liston's persona that validated that vision. Boxing was used to braggarts before. Jack Johnson was no shrinking violet. Neither was the current top contender,a kid who won an Olympic gold medal,by the name of Cassius Clay. But Clay's non stop barrage of verbal insults aimed at The Big Bad Bear were interpreted by everyone as a knee jerk ploy because deep down inside Cassius also had feet of clay.

Well,Cassius not only beat Liston but Sonny lost in a manner that disgraced his position as the heavyweight champion. The Big Bear,the guy with no emotions and cold blood running through his veins,the heavyweight who had the largest most powerful hands ever,the man who said he was going to kill Clay succumbed twice in a way unworthy of a champion.In the first fight he quit on his stool,the second time he flopped to the canvas from a punch that no one saw.The man ,who prior,who many thought could beat the Viet Cong with one hand behind his back was revealed to be fraud. A bully who was bullsh---ing everyone with this pantomime of being a real life Darth Vader.

But Liston stuck to the ruse. He still presented his image of terror to the public eye.But people close to him said he wasn't really such a meanie. His wife said he loved children and emitted a lighthearted wit. He continued fighting trying to salvage another chance at a title fight. He went back to that menu of black trial horses:Amos Lincoln,Willis Earls,Sonny Moore,and Roger Rischer.Next in line was Leotis Martin.

Watching Liston fight was always a gripping experience because he was such a devastating puncher. He delivered his jab like battering ram breaking down a door;his right though crude ,when landed, could bust a man's jaw;and his best weapon, his left hook when dug deep, could burst every organ inside a fighter's torso.

I remember watching the fight on TV. Liston was on the cusp of maybe getting another title shot. At ringside,Howard Cosell,said Sonny was in the best shape of his life.Leotis Martin was ripe for the picking.The fight started along like scripted:Liston pressed the outgunned Martin catching up to him in the 4th sending him down to take the mandatory 8 count. But just as it looked like Sonny was on his way to putting an end to Martin,he began to tire. His chest was heaving and was breathing open mouthed. Martin sensed that Liston was unraveling. It gave him a second wind. In the 8th round one of Martin's blows split open Liston's lower lip. The blood began gushing out like Old Faithful.Sonny,tasting his own blood,instantly came apart.The Bear turned into a rabbit. At the bell he staggered back to his corner bewildered and lost.At the gong sounding the 9th Sonny walked out to center ring and threw the jab,but he let it hang there. Martin smelling Sonny's blood,shot over a counter right smacking the big fellow on the side of the head. Liston fell like he'd been poleaxed. He landed flat on his face,then turned his head to rest his cheek on the mat.It looked like he was taking a nap. In a minute 8 seconds of the 9th it was over.

After Liston decided to get up Cosell climbed into the ring and asked Liston what happened.
"If I knew I could tell you,"Sonny answered through a bloody lip.

To this day Sonny Liston, for me, was that enigma wrapped inside the puzzle.On the outside he wanted everyone to think he was a monster. What he really was inside that façade was anyone's guess. After the Wepner bloodbath,Liston was found by his wife,dead in their bedroom of a heroin overdose. What he took with him to his grave will keep people wondering forever.

[dagosd2000]

Stepped On It

I read about it later how Archie Moore wasn't a guy you'd want to ride with when he was driving a car. Many years later I listened to some people who had that experience of riding with the ex champ when he was behind the wheel.I had had a first hand experience.One of those people who shared a similar experience was the ex local fighter,Charlie Powell.

I was at a benefit dinner for retired local high school coaches at the Hall Of Champions in Balboa Park in San Diego. I was invited to sit at the table of my former coach Bennie Edens of Point Loma High School who had recently retired. He still holds the record for most wins as a football coach at the local high school level in San Diego.The event was some time in the mid 1990's.The Powell brothers(Charlie,Art,and Jerry) were there to give their applause to Shan Deniston,the long time football coach at Lincoln High School in Southeast San Diego. During the 50's and 60's Deniston had built the football program at the practically all black institution into one of the best in the state. Though all three Powell brothers were at Deniston's table,only Jerry went to Lincoln High. Charlie and Art made their names known on the gridiron at San Diego High School. Deniston,a white man,was endeared in the black community thus the always meticulously attired Powells made it a point to recognize the community mentor.

During a break in the ceremony people arose and began mingling throughout the banquet room. I made it a point to seek out the Powells. Art, I'd seen play football for the American Football League's New York Titans and Oakland Raiders football teams against the local San Diego Chargers. He was a sensational player;tall,fast;athletic;an unstoppable wide receiver who was voted by the Associated Press as being on the first team All AFL Team of the 1960's.Jerry,who is a few years younger than me, was a quarterback for the football team at Lincoln High.I was coaching at my ex alma mater,Point Loma High School,when Lincoln High's football team beat us at old Balboa Stadium for the city championship. However, it was Charlie who I wanted to have a few words with.

Charlie was an all everything in school. As a 19 year old he played defensive end for the pro San Francisco 49ers.In a game against the NFL champs Detroit Lions he sacked quarterback Bobby Lane 9 times! After a short career with pro football,Charlie turned to his first love in sports,boxing. He had a so so stint as a fighter. Built like an Adonis,he wasn't very polished as a fighter. He finished his fighting career as mostly a "stepping stone." He's most remembered for losing to a young Cassius Clay. I introduced myself to Charlie,a very soft spoken man donned in a smart three piece tan suit.Everything about his stature was huge;a large maginificant head,big boned jaw and cheeks;a thick broad chest,and what struck me most,his massive hands.Though he didn't know me he didn't put me off.He was very approachable. I told him that I had worked for a summer with Archie Moore at his Any Boy Can Club.He listened attentively as I went on that it was an experience that would never leave me. then He smiled and put his big paw on my shoulder.
"DId you ever ride with him in a car?"he asked with a cat that swallowed the canary look on his face.
"Well,I did once and I swore I'd never ride with him again."
"What happened?"asked Charlie.
"He said he was going to C&M Meat Market to pick up some pork chops and wanted to know if I wanted to ride with him.I got in the passenger side and he put his foot on the gas and didn't even look when he sped out the parking lot.He was driving on the side streets going 60 miles an hour.""
Powell shook his head.
"I drove with him up to LA once,"he said."He drove in the fast lane on the freeway tailgating every car in front of him honking the horn till they pulled over.He scared me to death."
"Did you ride back with him?"
Powell laughed.
"I told him that I was going to stay overnight with an uncle. The next day I took a Greyhound bus back to San Diego."

I could just see someone telling Archie Moore to slow down when he was driving. When I rode with him that one time I didn't say anything.Knowing how he was he would have just stepped the gas harder.


Charlie Powell

[dagosd2000]

The Night At The Club 21

At the time I didn't think anything of it. This was back in the early 1970's. I'd been working out with my friend Gary ,a local amateur heavyweight originally from Portland ,Oregon,at the 32nd Street Naval Base Gym in National City.After a sparring session I was approached by Dick Wood,a trainer and manager of fighters in San Diego,if I'd like to fight on an undercard at The Club 21,a bar located on National City Boulevard near the navy base. I told him that I didn't have a license,but he told me not to worry about it because it would be an amateur fight and that having a license wasn't necessary. I told Dick Wood that I'd never been in a real boxing match before,but again he reassured me that the guy I'd be fighting hadn't been in a real boxing match either.Gary was with me when I was asked to fight at The Club 21.
"Don't worry about anything,"said Gary."I've fought there before.Sometimes they have matches there that are not sanctioned,but there was nothing to worry about."
Gary went on to to tell me that the South Bay area of San Diego was rife with "sub rosa" fighting. Most of the bouts were held in local gyms and bars like The Club 21.

I took a ride with Gary to The Club 21 to familiarize myself with what I was getting into. The Club 21 was a small local joint that patronized mostly to the sailors that were stationed at The 32nd Street facility or at the North Island Air Base that was up the road across the bay from downtown San Diego. I'm not sure what the demographics consisted of in National City, but everywhere you went you'd see Filipinos. I'd say most of those Filipinos were either in the U.S. Navy or were retired sailors. No brass,just your regular recruits and noncoms.You see, after World War 2 it was an automatic path to getting to the U.S. and becoming a citizen for a Filipino to join the navy over in the Philippines. With San Diego being "a navy town" we had our share of Filipinos. Most of them lived in National City near the two bases.The Club 21 was a "club" for many of the Filipinos that lived in the area.

The boxing matches were always a big draw at The Club 21. The ring was in the middle of the bar. It wasn't raised,the mat level with the floor.Tables and chairs surrounded the ring.The Club 21 was a Filipino favorite,but there weren't any Filipino fighters around so the amateur fights and what little bouts involving the pros, were comprised mostly of Mexicans and sailors. Usually the main event provided a pro fight,but those matches were screened by the commission. Before my fight I wasn't anything by anybody.

Dick Wood,who I didn't know very well,said that I was "a natural" and that he wanted to take me under his wing and be my manager.I knew his encouragement was all wind and smoke. I didn't trust him,but Gary told me I should go ahead with it because there was really nothing to lose. Besides,Gary said he'd be in my corner along with Dick Wood the night I made my debut.

I arrived early and was told to dress in the mens room. Gary hadn't showed up yet and neither had Dick Wood and I was getting antsy because I was to go on first. I had borrowed my gear and trunks from Gary and I didn't have a robe so I brought a bath towel. I was warming up in the bathroom. I was by myself . I was still waiting for Gary and Dick when the owner told me I was "on" and to get to the ring. I felt like running out to the street,but my better judgement told me that would only make for a scene.

I got into the ring prancing in my corner looking across at my opponent's corner. He was a fair haired boy with pale skin and looking kind of soft. I was bigger,maybe having 20 pounds on him.But you can't judge a fighter on looks so I didn't know what to expect until the bell rang. I had forgotten about Gary and Dick by then when the bell rang for the 1st round. I rushed him thinking I could overpower him.If he had anything he could have thwarted my effort with meagerest of boxing skills. But he didn't have anything and to my relief he was scared if not overawed. I kept swinging until he folded in his corner and submitted. I don't know how much longer I could have kept up that pace,but I was glad when it was over that quickly.

The crowd got a kick out of it. I was happy. I went over and shook my opponent's hand.I didn't even know his name. As I turned to get out of the ring I saw Dick Wood standing alone.He didn't make a move. His face was expressionless.
"Dick,"I said out of breath."Where were you guys?"
He looked through me and spoke in a monotone.
"They found Gary's wife in their apartment this afternoon. She took her life."
It was like I was hit with a sledgehammer. All I could say was "What do you mean?"
"I don't know the details. I don't know why,"was all he could add.

The next time I saw Gary was at the service.I didn't pry for any details. He didn't offer. I'd met his wife a few times before. I would have never have guessed. I never saw Gary again for a long time,almost 30 years. When I accidently ran into him years later at the gym I had joined down by the beach,he was there working part time. He had retired from his teaching profession and fighting.it was good to see him again. We talked about the old days when we used to spar in the gym and the time he fought Mike Weaver in an amateur tournament;all the nights we worked out with the weights in Vic's Gym in Ocean Beach;the time we saw Schwarzenegger at the gym after going to Tijuana to buy steroids;all the boxing matches and all the ex fighters we saw at The Coliseum. We talked about everything except his wife. He never brought her up and I sure wasn't about to do so.


The USS Midway aircraft carrier.It's now a floating museum anchored at the foot of Broadway at the harbor in downtown San Diego.It was commissioned in 1943. Decommissioned in 1984.

[dagosd2000]

Taking A Little Off the Top

Remember the movie On The Waterfront? The lead character Terry Malloy ,played by Marlon Brando, collected pigeons that he kept in a coop on top of the tenement where he lived in New York City. Mike Tyson,when he was a young thug roaming the neighborhood in Brooklyn,was also a pigeon enthusiast who kept his birds on the rooftop of the building where he lived. Even my grandfather,Diamond Joe Esposito ,who was at one time the Don of the gangster element in Chicago, had a slew of birds living on top of his house in the Southwest Side. You'd think that trough guys like prize fighters and racketeers wouldn't want to let anyone know that they were bird lovers,but collecting pigeons is part of the culture associated with dwelling in the city,especially the poorer ethnic neighborhoods.But then you think of it:struggling to survive in a dog eat dog world everyday where no one will give you anything for free like money or sympathy, Going atop of a roof and taking care of a gentle bird like a pigeon is I guess the next best thing to traveling to the Himalayas and meditating with the Dalai Lama. Besides guys like the Dalai Lama or Ravi Shankar are human beings and we all know what mortal man has done to screw everything up.Cons and fakers are not traits of our feathered friends.

Speaking of pets. When Sid Flaherty and his soulmate Danny Rodriguez transplanted themselves from Portland ,Oregon to open up a stable of fighters,their training facility, located in Lyons Valley in the foothills of San Diego, was also a kennel for their pack of Malamute dogs. They were beautiful animals,but typical of that breed, they were very aggressive.I sometimes thought that Sid and Danny cared more for those mutts than they did for their fighters. Every time I went up there to watch the fighters break a sweat I made sure to stay away from those dogs. Even the coyotes didn't give a hoot about bothering those beasts.

Went to Tijuana Monday. Will give you an update regarding what 's going on with the virus in that burg. In the downtown area they're imposing similar restrictions that we San Diegans are going through:social distancing,wearing masks,the closing of "non essential" businesses. The talk on the street is how the United States' government is providing loans and stimulus money to people.The Mexican government isn't lifting a finger. Here's some food for thought.All the bars are closed. Even all the cantinas in the red light district are shutdown,but they let the prostitutes still walk the streets. Even when the AIDs epidemic was spreading there were signs in the Coahulia about the risk of getting AIDs but everything went going along as usual.Prostitution is an essential part of Latin American culture.It's as fundamental as Catholicism. Prostiution is a safety valve.When a man isn't getting "any" or he just wants to roll around with a different woman other than his wife,he knows where he can go. Sex in Latin America has never been equated with love,at least from a man's point of view. The wives,for the most part, look the other way.As long as the husband comes home at night and doesn't spend quality time(I guess screwing would be considered quality time)I really believe that prostitution keeps a marriage ,and with it the family,functioning(for the lack of a better word)in a Latin society. Wine,women,and song take precedent over the Ten Commandments when the urge strikes. Besides,that's what "confession" is for:tell the priest that you went to the whorehouse.Then he'll tell you to say 10 "Our Fathers" and 20 "Hail Mary's" and then you can go out and start all over again.

My grandfather,"Diamond Joe" with a few of his pigeons

[dagosd2000]

Breakdown

Jim Healy was a local LA sportscaster who hosted his radio show in the evenings five days a week. He liked to engage in flippant banter with his guests,usually comprised of the areas' athletic pool. He also did the ringside commentary at the Olympic Auditorium during the 1970's. I liked tuning in to his show because he knew how to touch the right buttons with his guests to get them to open up and often get their blood boiling. Harry Kabakoff.a local fight manager with a Falstaffian persona and physique and having a penchant for wearing Hawaiian shirts,would swap insults with Healy all in the guise of promoting one of his boxing charges. Kabakoff had a slew of fighters who weren't really top echelon pugs but he came across like they were all Willie Peps.However,one fighter Kabakoff had under his wing was a pretty fair battler, Jesus Pimentel. I saw him lose to Ruben Olivares in his attempt to win the bantamweight championship at the LA Forum. In a more or less one sided affair,Jesse(one of several nicknames for Jesus)was knocked through the ropes in the 11th round.

For a time Healy also had a "live" television show replicating his radio program.One of his shows I'll never forget. It was the time he had on Art "Golden Boy" Aragon.Like I said,Healy liked to poke around with his guests to evoke some animation,but this time with the "Golden Boy",Healy was watching his P's and Q's.
"Ladies and gentlemen,if you're not familiar with my guest this evening,"began Healy,"I want to introduce you to Art Aragon.They called him "Golden Boy." He was a top contender for the lightweight title in the 1950's and the most popular sports figure in town."

Now you have to consider a few things. In the 1950's in the good ol' USA baseball,boxing,and horse racing were the most popular sports with the fans. Pro football didn't start taking off until the end of the decade.The Sudden Death Game broadcast on the tube in Yankee Stadium between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants was the epiphany for the pig skinners.(I remember watching the Ed Sullivan Show that Sunday night. Sullivan made Alan Ameche who was in the audience and who scored the winning touchdown for the Colts stand up and take bow).The Sporting News magazine was still considered the foremost journal when it came to reporting the weekly sports stories. Boxing was one of the "Big 3. Los Angeles in the 50's wouldn't see Major League Baseball until the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to play ball in the massive Los Angeles Coliseum in 1958. The LA Lakers didn't blow into town until 1960. The Rams football team was very good featuring stars like Norm Van Brocklin,"Crazy Legs" Hirsch,and Jon Arnett. Gil Stratton,who was a character actor in Hollywood(remember him in Stalag 17 and The Wild One)was in the booth calling the action.But the Rams were a team effort.As far as a solo personality that stood above the others it was "the Golden Boy."

Art was still looking pretty good at the time of Healy's show. He made a lot of friends in the Hollywood set and had some good roles in flicks like "To Hell And Back" and "Fat City." He became pals with Audie Murphy the star in the semi biographical "Hell And Back."Art even named his son "Audie".When Murphy was cast in the lead in the film "World In My Corner" playing Tommy Shea,an up and coming young fighter,it was Aragon who gave the Medal Of Honor recipient a few pointers on the Sweet Science. Even Sgt. Friday on Dragnet would from time to time mention that he had a couple of ducats for "the Aragon fight." I remember Aragon as a fighter most vividly when he was put in the ring with Carmen Basilio.Basilio had just lost his crown to Ray Robinson in the rematch.So he came out West to get back on the right track to fight who Los Angeles had the best to offer,"The Golden Boy." From the start it was evident that Basilio was too big and strong for Aragon.

At the conclusion of the interview Healy asked Art if he had any parting words.I'll try to paraphrase.
"I want you people to try to understand what it's like to be a fighter,"he said building up emotion."A fighter goes out there never knowing what's in store. Both boys want to put as much hurt on the other guy to win.They get punched in the head and the body and when the going gets tough there's no time out. No substitute to put in.The fans want to see plenty of action and I always wanted to satisfy the customers. When a fighter finally hangs up his gloves he often has no money to provide a comfortable life thereafter. Often he's suffering physically from all the pounding. Again he's on his own to pay the doctor bills.The people who were close,the people who he thought were his friends have deserted him.If he has a wife he's lucky."
He then gathered himself for a final word.
"Please try to understand what fighter goes through.Don't forget them. When they were in the ring you cheered them.Don't desert them now.Always remember them and how much happiness they provided."
He then bowed his head and broke down. The show was over.Jim Healy had nothing to further to say.

One time around ten years ago I saw Art Aragon with his son Audie at a "Father And Son" dinner recognizing fighters and their families. Of course Art Aragon drew a lot of attention. One guy in particular I'll never forget. He had a little too much to drink and went up to Art's table and began carrying on to him that he was pretty good with his fists.
"I could have been a fighter if I wanted,"he bragged."I'm a tough guy.I would have like to have fought you in my day."
Aragon gave him a long look and then snickered.
"So you think you're a fighter."
Aragon then got up from his chair and then turned his back on him.


Art "Golden Boy" Aragon

[dagosd2000]

The Greatest Oxymoron Fighters

OK.Rake me over the coals on this one,but how can a "great" fighter be a "slow" fighter? I'm sure most of you have at least scanned that thread,"Greatest Slow Fighters",maybe even put up a post. I looked at some of the names used as examples:Monzon,Salvador Sanchez,Basilio,Arguello,Wilfredo Gomez. All great fighters,but "slow?"Now I can give you a list of guys I've seen in the ring that were "slow",but they are fellas' that no one has even heard of or forgotten. Their losing records speak themselves.

For starters I'm not going to defend any of the names used as examples by some of the posters.To me it isn't worth the ink.However,I think the sport of boxing is the most ambiguous endeavors to pass judgement on.I think all of us at one time or another has watched a boxing match and said to ourselves,"I can do that." Boxing is by far the most difficult athletic undertaking a novice could attempt even to achieve marginally proficiency. There is NO WAY a man who is "slow" i.e.his hands, footwork,and reflexes being "slow" ,like the average human being can ever be a fighter,a contender, let alone win a championship. Watching it all at ringside or in the living room how can be misleading. Sadly, there are more men who should never be allowed to step inside the ring. These are the poor souls that somehow finagle a license to fight and get their brains beat out week after week in far way arenas around the globe.But that's how the future great fighters build their foundations on:the battered and the bruised.

When Luis Rodriguez stopped Denny Moyer ,when Moyer was still in his prime,I heard him say that "El Feo" was too fast for me." He was also too smart for Denny.But Moyer was plenty fast and maybe not as smart.Watching the fight o YouTube you might say that Moyer was "slow",but the better word would be "slower."A fighter like Rodriguez relied on what he could do best:stick and move.And he had those physical traits to pull it off.A fighter like George Foreman brought out of his toolbox how he could dismantle on the other guy:tremendous power in both hands. Could you imagine Luis Rodriguez wanting to slug it out with everyone toe to toe? Or Foreman dancing around the ring?

The thread ought to be retitled "The Slowest Fighters".But then who wants to read about a bunch of fighters no one has heard of?

When I was coaxed to get in there with Ken Norton for a sparring session I was nervous.But there was a little birdie inside me that said,"He ain't so fast."I thought I might at least hold my own for awhile. Faster than you could say "bird of prey" Norton brought up a jab that hit me like a telephone pole breaking my nose.I never saw it coming.Man,did I eat crow.


Luis Rodriguez

[dagosd2000]

Hard To Figure

David love was a fighter who was hard to figure. Born in San Diego and graduating from Kearny High School,in a career lasting 13 years(1970-1983) he compiled a record of 32 wins,21 losses,and a draw. I saw him fight a lot at the San Diego Coliseum when he was starting out. A good looking light skinned Afro/American ,a tall middleweight with a long reach,his footwork superb,i thought he might have a good shot,to say modestly,of at least being a top ten contender and maybe get a title shot.But he was off and on. For starters he seemed a bit cocky thus not exhibiting enough discipline in the ring. With his physical attributes,, if he had refined his skills under tighter control he could have given any middleweight in the 70's a tough go. But often he'd let his arms dangle and he'd flail his punches,dance around when he should have been working.Often he liked to play to the crowd,kind of hot dogging it,instead of bearing down when the occasion called.If Love would have concentrated more I don't have any doubt that he would have fulfilled his potential and maybe winning a title.

I remember seeing his two fights with Marcos Geraldo at the Coliseum. He was at his best out boxing the veteran Mexican handily.After the Geraldo fights he was on his way,but then George Cooper flattened him in 2 rounds for the California Middleweight Title. and after that lost two straight to an undefeated Renato Garcia at the Coliseum where I sat ringside. In the first fight Love was ahead ,but then Garcia floored him twice in the 7th round to earn a split decision. it called for a rematch,but this time Garcia made shot work of him inside 2 rounds.Like I said, Love was hard to figure.

After the first loss to Cooper, Love went on short winning and losing streaks. When he was on he looked unbeatable.When he was off it looked like anyone could take him.But again, I think he wasn't mentally prepared all the time.He fought Cooper again, this time in San Jose for that Cal Middle Title, and again Cooper had his number. After loss number two to Cooper, Love packed his bags and took on fighters in their hometowns back East and overseas.During that stint he soundly beat three of Philadelphia's best:Willie Monroe in 4 rounds,Bobby Watts in 4 rounds,and Benny Briscoe in a unanimous 10.

Somewhere back East Angelo Dundee watched Love in action and became his manager. Angelo was most impressed by Love's hand speed. But then Dundee fell out of the picture,perhaps it was that lack of focus, and Love was starting to lose more fights than coming out on the winning side. He retried in 1983. Today,he runs a gym near San Diego State University and likes to play golf. A teacher friend of mine says that he runs into Love on the links at the Chula Vista Community Golf Course. Wnen this virus thing ends I'd like to look up David Love at his gym. When he was on,I thought he was one of the best. I'll be sure to tell him that.

San Diegan David Love inside his gym with some of his fighters

[dagosd2000]

Making A Big Deal About Nothing

I was in Spain when Pedro Carrasco died. Funny,I was sitting at the bar in the Hotel Regina in Seville talking to the cantinero about Carrasco the day before. Somehow the topic turned to boxing and so Carrasco's name came up right away.When Carrasco "won" the title he was only the second Spaniard to hold a world boxing title.The other was Baltazar Sangchili.Notice I "typed the word "won" using quotation marks.I'll explain that if you haven't already guessed by now.

I remember when lightweight champion Mando Ramos took his title to Spain accompanied by his manager /trainer Jackie McCoy and Mando's dad and drinking buddy,Ray Ramos. Looking at Carrasco's record of 103 wins against only 1 loss and staging the fight in Madrid I still thought Ramos would show him something in the ring that Carrasco had never experienced before. Running my finger down the list of Carrasco's opponents it was comprised of all those European fighters from places like Norway,Belgium, and France.The only names I recognized were Kid Tano and Miguel Velasquez, who if I ran into them on the street, I wouldn't have confused them with Roberto Duran or Esteban DeJesus.

With the cards looking like they came from a stacked deck I still was convinced that if Mando behaved himself over there he'd come back to America still a champion. Prior to the fight the word on the street was that Mando and his pop had planted their rear ends on just about every bar stool in Madrid. They also were trying to "bed" every senorita who flashed their "castanets" in front of their luring eyes.

I watched the fight on a delayed broadcast here in San Diego. For you pigeonholers that might think there is a distant affection between Mexicans and Spaniards,I'll clear the air for you. Spainiards have a eerie feeling about Mexicans. They think of Mexicans as being half bred uncultured bastards with that dark skinned Indian blood that contaminated their bald headed Conquistador white skin.Trying to find a taco stand in Spain is like searching for the Holy Grail.

About the fight.Carrasco fought like the "Continental fighter",standing stiff and erect poking the jab, and began getting belted around pretty good by the American who happened to be Mexican ,if you get my drift. By the 12th round Carrasco had gone to the canvas four times. if he hadn't been fighting in Spain he wouldn't have gotten away with what he got away with. The referee,Samuel Obudate,who'll never be compared with an Arthur Mercante,accused Ramos of "pushing" Carrasco to the mat,thus disqualifying him and awarding victory to Carrasco.I like what Jackie McCoy said.
"If he was pushed why didn't he get back up?"

Well,the crowd and Spain went ape s--t.Pedro Carrasco was the biggest thing to hit Iberia since the Roman Empire. I mean c'mon.What did they think?It was the biggest theft since the Great Brinks Robbery.But Carrasco was put on the Spanish throne,two black eyes and all,and became an overnight icon. But what could he do after that?Ramos worked the rematch clause and the two were back,this time in LA,for the second go around.

There was the rematch.And then there was a third fight.I thought that Mando would make it look easy again,but to me he stunk up the joint. Maybe the fast living was taking its toll.Mando got a "gift" split win in Los Angeles and then had a Mexican referee in the ring when the third fight was fought back in Madrid.Another split decision for Mando and another present from Santa Claus.. His next fight was the humiliating defeat by of all fighters,Chango Carmona.Couldn't you see it comin'?

While I was slugging down one of the local liquers,Miura,inside the Hotel Regina talking to the bar keep about Pedro Carrasco,I asked him about what his country thought about Pedro Carrasco.
"He was a sensation.He married a movie star Rocio Jurado and was in television and the movies.His name was in all the papers.He could do no wrong."
As I finished my conversation and began walking upstairs to my room I was thinking if all that fame and attention was ever bestowed on Baltazar Sangchili.

Mando Ramos

[scartissue]

Rog, some of the Spanish press weren't too thrilled either. At least they were honest enough to see it for what it was. Here are a few quotes:

"Carrasco was knocked out twice and the referee should have stopped the fight. Carrasco holds a crown with very little glory." -Valentin Martin, Spanish reporter

"A shameless injustice. The referee did not count when he should have taken Carrasco to his corner and prevent him from receiving such unnecessary and cruel punishment." -Manuel Olias, Spanish reporter

"We feel shameful it was not Carrasco but an unfair referee who defeated Mando Ramos. But above such an injustice the overwhelming superiority of Ramos over Pedro Carrasco was clear and evident to everybody." -Fernando Vadillo, Spanish reporter

[dagosd2000]

Rog, some of the Spanish press weren't too thrilled either. At least they were honest enough to see it for what it was. Here are a few quotes:

"Carrasco was knocked out twice and the referee should have stopped the fight. Carrasco holds a crown with very little glory." -Valentin Martin, Spanish reporter

"A shameless injustice. The referee did not count when he should have taken Carrasco to his corner and prevent him from receiving such unnecessary and cruel punishment." -Manuel Olias, Spanish reporter

"We feel shameful it was not Carrasco but an unfair referee who defeated Mando Ramos. But above such an injustice the overwhelming superiority of Ramos over Pedro Carrasco was clear and evident to everybody." -Fernando Vadillo, Spanish reporter

Thanks for posting those quotes Dan.You know that trio of fights finished both those guys off,but in different ways.Ramos tumbled into an abyss of substance abuse and Carrasco got caught up with the limelight. Anyway you look at it you can't mix those kinds of lives with being a fighter.

[dagosd2000]

The House On Bass Lake

When Jack Dempsey sat down with Al Capone and my grandfather Diamond Joe Esposito inside his restaurant ,The Bella Napoli, to listen to Capone's offer to "throw" the fight with Gene Tunney ,who had easily outpointed the Manassa Mauler to win the championship in Philadelphia,Jack wasn't the least bit interested. Dempsey ,in so many words, told Capone that this was going to be his last fight.He hadn't stayed sharp while he was champ barnstorming around the country participating in exhibition matches and rubbing elbows with Hollywood celebrities and sports stars instead of defending his title.He knew he had little chance beating Tunney. His wife was putting on the pressure for him to hang up the gloves anyway.After winning the championship from Jess Willard in 1919 Dempsey had only put his belt on the line five times in six years.

My father always said that Doc Kearns "protected" his fighter because Kearns thought Dempsey wasn't as good as they made him out to be and that the two could make more money starring Jack in movies and sparring around in those exhibition matches. If you look at his defenses they weren't against any fellas' that wound up afterwards in the Hall Of Fame.Bill Brennan was an average contender. Carpentier was a light heavyweight with a glass jaw.Tommy Gibbons record looked better than a lot of the fighters he had beaten in the ring.Billy Miske was dying of Bright's Disease.And Firpo was one big lug from South America who should have beaten Dempsey when he punched him through the ropes only to have the scribes lift Jack back into the ring. The only fighter of merit in his defenses was Tunney and in 20 rounds in two title fights Gene won 19 of the rounds. Dempsey knew he was only in it now for the money,and he didn't want to get hurt.

Dempsey was no stranger to Chicago. Mobsters like Capone liked having their pictures taken with fighters and have them close around.It was kind of an alter ego trip with Mobsters.When Dempsey sat down with Capone at The Bella Napoli,Doc Kearns, who had steered Dempsey up the path to the heavyweight championship, was no longer around. Jack fired his guru because he thought Doc was stealing his money behind his back. That was probably so,but if Kearns hadn't handled Dempsey he probably wouldn't have won the heavyweight crown.In the beginning Kearns had him fighting out in the boon docks where he could bamboozle the press and the authorities and load Dempsey's gloves with plaster of Paris with one hand and make off with the gate receipts with the other. Many years after the second Tunney fight,Jack admitted that if it wasn't for Doc Kearns he would have probably been just a boxing footnote.

When Dempsey would pay the Windy City a visit he would often stay at my grandfather's retreat in Bass Lake,Indiana.The house at Bass Lake was also a retreat for Capone ,and when Diamond Joe took the family back to his hometown, Acerra .Italy, where he was born,Frank Nitti lived in the house. He also remembered Mary Pickford and Doug Fairbanks staying there as did Charlie Chaplin.

After they bumped off my grandfather,Capone and the rest of his crew picked the bones dry from Diamond Joe's estate. In short time the Bella Napoli and the house on Bass Lake were gone. Charles Dineen,the Republican senator from Illinois who was close to president Calvin Coolidge,was my grandfather's proxy to the president.Coolidge knew that Diamond Joe the alderman of the 19th district, would "deliver" enough votes for Coolidge to carry Chicago and the state of Illinois without a hitch. At that time the Republicans ran Chicago letting my grandfather and Capone control the bootlegging and the gambling without any interference. Old Man Joe Kennedy sold Haig and Haig Pinch Bottle Scotch along with sugar from Cuba to help make bathtub gin to both of them.My father told me he remembered the Kennedy family as guests at the house on Bass Lake. In fact my father and Joe Jr. would have speed boat races against each other on the lake

Well,that's all gone now. There's no one left around anymore that remembers those days.From what was told to me by my father I'll try to pass along. I feel I should keep the legacy going.

Diamond Joe's house on Bass Lake

[dagosd2000]

The Spoiler

There were five fighters that come to my mind that started off their careers on an impressive undefeated win streak.Then they all got into the ring with one of the all time "spoilers",the great Emile Griffith. The five fighters carrying that unblemished record were Luis Rodriguez,Gypsy Joe Harris,Armando Muniz, Tom Bogs.and Renato Garcia. Quickly, an assessment of the five.

Emile beat El Feo the first time in a very close match that I think belonged to Rodriguez. They were to fight three more times afterwards with Emile winning two out of the three,all title matches. The first fight was when they both were contenders. It was the closest of the four fights,but I thought Luis got robbed.Anyway ,it was Rodriguez's first pro loss.

In 1968 Philly's Gypsy Joe Harris stepped into the ring with Griffith compiling 34 straight wins. Fighting in front of his hometown Harris tasted defeat for the first time losing an unanimous decision. Later it was discovered that Harris was fighting with only one good eye. The Griffith fight was his last time we got to see him in the ring.

Armando Muniz was beating everyone they threw at him in Southland boxing arenas when he came face to face with Griffith in 1972. Some gurus of the sport were saying beforehand that maybe Muniz was being "rushed' to quickly to take on the legengary Griffith. Well, their hunches were right. Griffith gave Muniz a thorough boxing lesson in front o a full house at the Anaheim Convention Center. Many in the crowd thought that perhaps Griffith showed some mercy and "carried" the young Muniz to the end.

Denmark's Tom Bogs was beating what was left of the talent on the Continent when Griffith flew across the pond to give Bogs a thrashing in front of his fellow Danes flooring him twice before winning a lopsided decision.

Renato Garcia ,a native son of Chile,was notching victory after victory in the Southland in the early 70's. I had seen him fight a few times at the San Diego Coliseum. He was tough,could box,but when he fought Griffith on the undercard of the Rodrigo Valdes/Bennie Briscoe title fight,Griffith tied him in knots.After suffering his first loss in 24 fights,Garcia's career stumbled to the finish.

With the exception maybe of Luis Rodriguez and Jose Napoles(who Griffith admitted to me was the best fighter he ever faced)Griffith was good as any welterweight in the 50's and 60's. Emile was always someone an opponent couldn't take lightly.He was always in top condition and his skills were razor sharp.He went up in weight to fight Benvenuti to win the middleweight championship,then lost,and tried again for the 160 title against Carlos Monzon.

In 2011 I met Griffith at the World Boxing Hall Of Fame banquet. He was there accompanied by his adopted son and caretaker Luis Rodrigo Griffith. Griffith was in the throes of dementia by then. The banquet was being held at the Marriot Hotel in Inglewood. I was there with my wife. Our room was right across from Griffith and his son's room. Going upstairs to eat dinner,I saw Griffith and his son standing in front of the elevator in the hallway.Griffith's nose was pressed against the elevator door.
"I'm scared,"he said."Where are we going? I'm hungry."
He was trembling.
"Don't worry,"said his son. "We're going up to the dining room to eat.Every thing think will be all right."
After dinner I went over to where he was sitting with his son. There were a stack of books on a table next to him. it was his ghost written autobiography,"8,9,10 And Out." I bought a copy that he had signed.His son transacted the deal.He was a little lost,but approachable and friendly. I asked him who was his toughest opponent and that's when he told me.
"Jose Napoles was very smart. He out boxed me,"he said carefully in a soft tone of voice.
Just then some guy comes over with an 8 x 10 glossy of when Griffith had pounded Benny Paret in the corner sagging against the ropes during that tragic fight in Madison Square Garden that millions saw on television.The guy wanted Griffith to autograph the picture.Like nothing, and his son not interfering,Griffith signed his name.

A lot of times at those ceremonies the ex fighters ,showing the signs of physical and mental wear, are swarmed on by creeps like that guy who wanted the autograph.I saw a similar episode, at one of those boxing functions, with Bobby Chacon who at the time was behaving like he was two years old. The sports memorabilia shills were shoving everything from pictures to cocktail napkins under his nose to get his John Hancock,All Bobby got from it were some dollar cigars.His caretaker,Rosie,did nothing but pretend she didn't notice.

Emile Griffith's status as a fighter ,as time goes on,will fade into the auspices of the Mayweathers,Pacquiaos,and Canelos.But take this to the bank,Emile Griffith, if he had fought the aforementioned ,would have given those guys a boxing lesson like they had never encountered before. And to you Money Floyd,if you had fought Emile Griffith he would have spoiled that undefeated record of yours having you guessing where the next punch was going to land.But now I'm getting into that "Mythical Fight" stuff. I'll just let it go at that.



I'm standing between two of the greats.Gaspar Ortega and Emile Griffith.Griffith beat Ortega in an exciting fight for the title.

[dagosd2000]

Boxing And Ballots

Teddy Roosevelt was on the boxing team at Harvard. While Dwight Eisenhower attended West point he donned a pair of boxing trunks.Today,we don't fathom a president of the United States getting into a boxing ring.Back then around the end of the 20th century boxing was considered a rite of passage for the young American male. To read what T.R. and Ike had to say of the time they spent in the ring isn't a show of bravado. It wasn't anything they boasted about to try to enhance their manhood or win some votes.Boxing was something boys did because instead of brawling in the backyard they also went to the local gym and participated in a formal form of fighting.

You never knew what to expect in a street fight. When I was a kid you fought with your hands. No kicking with the feet.No hitting a man when he was down.No gouging of the eyes.And of course no weapons. In the old days in a street fight spics,jigs, and wops(that's what O'Henry called them) were known to have a blade concealed somewhere in their possession. Those hidden helpers gave them a bad rep during those honkytonk days. They were chicken s--t and couldn't be trusted.They grew up with that onus in the old neighborhood.

What I like about organized fighting is that there are rules. Those rules are in place to prevent all that chicken s--t stuff. When I boxed in the ring I felt kind of "safe."You never knew what was going to happen in a street fight.

Maybe the way kids fight today is a microcosm of what the real world is all about.Fairness is something for saps. "Jumping in" some guy is the norm. 3,4,5,or more kicking the crap out of some poor soul is not enough. Clubs.knives,brass knuckles are part of the arsenal to insure a brutal delivery. And if someone pulls a gun,well, what's wrong with that? Gang members call this kind of warfare part of the ceremony in order to join their gang. Or often they just to do it for "kicks."Afterwards, they gloat about it.

I've known plenty of fighters. Sure they took their Alpha male hormones out to the alley to settle things.Then one day they understood they could get paid for fighting so they went to the gym. Now came the hard part:learning how to fight with all those rules.Practice,practice,practice. Most street fighters are a wash.If they do succeed a lot of them fall back into despair:broke,punchy,and addicted to something.

When I read the stories about guys like Tyson and Liston who were young thugs mugging old ladies and shaking down weaklings I become gratified that were guys around like Ali and Holyfield who called their bluffs and stood up to them. They showed the world that all that posturing was a fraud. However ,Ali opened up a can o worms shooting off his mouth like he did.Most of it was funny,even chlldish,but now the door has been kicked open. You can say anything and get away with it.The dumb public falls for that kind of crap. Walter Mitty wants to be a tough guy but he's being mislead.

Back to politics. When Trump was running for president he said something like"I could stand in the middle of the street and shoot someone in the head and I'd still win.That's how popular I am."Then at the podium he smirked and put on the smug face of his wallowing in false pride. Now that the country is shaking in its boots about this coronavirus he talks about Joe Biden being a scum bag. I'm sure if he was running against Teddy Roosevelt or Dwight Eisenhower he 'd shout about kicking them in the balls.



Teddy Roosevelt.I wonder if he had said when campaigning "i'll shoot some guy in the head and you'll still love me?"