BoxRec

kikibalt wrote:
Henry Clark & Sonny Liston

I don't know what inspired you to post this picture but it brought back some good memories for me. I knew Henry Clark pretty well when we trained in the same gym in the 70s and was thrilled when he worked with my trainer in my corner in the Golden Gloves. Henry was truley a nice guy who if you didn't know it would never guess his occupation to be a prize fighter. Henry also worked as a carpenter at the American Can Company on third st. in San Francisco. Henry was always helping us out with pointers in the gym and spent countless hours raising money for the boys club after his career was over. I saw him spar many rounds with Geo. Foreman at Newman's in S.F. and when George opened training camp for his fight with Ali across the bay I was able to gain access because I was with Henry, I have many pictures of George training there that I will post some day. Henry could box with anyone and had a kinda rolling, weaving style with a nice jab and claimed that he was dodged by most of the rated heavies becasue he was thought of as a spoiler. I was sadened when I learned he died of a brain hemorage six or eight years ago.
Bobbin & Weavin
in Nor-Cal

kikibalt wrote:As selected by The Ring magazine in the March 1979 issue.


Samuel Serrano, Champion

Frankie Baltazar
Alexis Arguello
Rafael (Bazooka) Limon
Alfredo Escalera
Natale Vezzoli
Bobby Chacon
Arturo Leon
Ernesto Espana
Walter Seeley
Greg Coverson

Frankie above Arguello, Limon, Escalera and Chacon. Must have been a proud moment.

Bobbin & Weavin wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Henry Clark & Sonny Liston

I don't know what inspired you to post this picture but it brought back some good memories for me. I knew Henry Clark pretty well when we trained in the same gym in the 70s and was thrilled when he worked with my trainer in my corner in the Golden Gloves. Henry was truley a nice guy who if you didn't know it would never guess his occupation to be a prize fighter. Henry also worked as a carpenter at the American Can Company on third st. in San Francisco. Henry was always helping us out with pointers in the gym and spent countless hours raising money for the boys club after his career was over. I saw him spar many rounds with Geo. Foreman at Newman's in S.F. and when George opened training camp for his fight with Ali across the bay I was able to gain access because I was with Henry, I have many pictures of George training there that I will post some day. Henry could box with anyone and had a kinda rolling, weaving style with a nice jab and claimed that he was dodged by most of the rated heavies becasue he was thought of as a spoiler. I was sadened when I learned he died of a brain hemorage six or eight years ago.
Bobbin & Weavin
in Nor-Cal

NICE story. Clark fought some 'bad' guys across two eras. His record really is a "Who's Who?" of those eras.

Frank Baltazar . . .

Frank inspires memories that make me want to write. He'll post a photo, sometimes setting up a story I would not have oherwise written. I don't sit down intending to write anything, just read the posts. When I do write here, I rarely edit anything, or attempt to do so as I might a deliberate story. I just write with the flow of thoughts that Frank brings to my mind. I FEEL L.A. boxing, I have since the first day I walked into a gym, studying it was never a chore, but a desire, something that totally controlled my mind and spirit from childhood. Today, Frank's words, pictures, memories, etc. take me back to that special era that today's fans, who weren't a part of it, cannot imagine. There was a magic to the Olympic, and the Main Street Gym, and the FORUM fights that George Parnassus promoted, not so much with the latter FORUM promoters, who put on good shows on Monday night for prime ticket, however, a diluted version of what we had, not the real thing, if you know what I mean.

It was not the places, so much as the players that occupied them. Steindler, Eaton, Parnassus, Davies, Chargin, Fraser (thank God he's still with us!), Flores, Jaregui, Shagrue, Welch, Epstein, Baltazar, Kabakoff, McCoy,and dozens more I don't have time to name. And of course, the FIGHTERS! And yes, they were boxers, but more so, they were FIGHTER's!!!!!

Today I'm a lighting tech in the film industry. The three things I like best in life are fighting, writing & lighting . . .and of course, senioritas. Why not?

-Rick Farris

Bobbin & Weavin wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Henry Clark & Sonny Liston

I don't know what inspired you to post this picture but it brought back some good memories for me. I knew Henry Clark pretty well when we trained in the same gym in the 70s and was thrilled when he worked with my trainer in my corner in the Golden Gloves. Henry was truley a nice guy who if you didn't know it would never guess his occupation to be a prize fighter. Henry also worked as a carpenter at the American Can Company on third st. in San Francisco. Henry was always helping us out with pointers in the gym and spent countless hours raising money for the boys club after his career was over. I saw him spar many rounds with Geo. Foreman at Newman's in S.F. and when George opened training camp for his fight with Ali across the bay I was able to gain access because I was with Henry, I have many pictures of George training there that I will post some day. Henry could box with anyone and had a kinda rolling, weaving style with a nice jab and claimed that he was dodged by most of the rated heavies becasue he was thought of as a spoiler. I was sadened when I learned he died of a brain hemorage six or eight years ago.
Bobbin & Weavin
in Nor-Cal

Hey Bobin . . . I look forward to your sharing some of your pics. That was a great story and your memories of things up in San Fran during our era are of great interest to me. Especially the gym, was it Newman-Herman Gym? I was there once, with Mel Epstein while up north to visit a former boxer he had who lived in Burlingame. Also, my friend Ray Lunney III will likely join in on our thread in due course. I heard a lot of great first hand Bobo Olsen stories up there, as well as Charley Shipes, etc. A lot of great Foreman-Dick Saddler stories, as well. By the way, did you ever see or here about Foreman's sparring session with Sonny Liston???? Just curious.

-Rick

Bobbin & Weavin wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Henry Clark & Sonny Liston

I don't know what inspired you to post this picture but it brought back some good memories for me. I knew Henry Clark pretty well when we trained in the same gym in the 70s and was thrilled when he worked with my trainer in my corner in the Golden Gloves. Henry was truley a nice guy who if you didn't know it would never guess his occupation to be a prize fighter. Henry also worked as a carpenter at the American Can Company on third st. in San Francisco. Henry was always helping us out with pointers in the gym and spent countless hours raising money for the boys club after his career was over. I saw him spar many rounds with Geo. Foreman at Newman's in S.F. and when George opened training camp for his fight with Ali across the bay I was able to gain access because I was with Henry, I have many pictures of George training there that I will post some day. Henry could box with anyone and had a kinda rolling, weaving style with a nice jab and claimed that he was dodged by most of the rated heavies becasue he was thought of as a spoiler. I was sadened when I learned he died of a brain hemorage six or eight years ago.
Bobbin & Weavin
in Nor-Cal

Watching and working out with Ken Norton when he started out in San Diego,you could see, for some unknown reason ,he was having trouble with stamina. He'd hit the wall around the 5th round. Jose Luis Garcia exposed him in their fist match in L.A. I really thought it was over for Ken,but he came back. I thought the fight that turned it around for him was his win over Henry Clark in Nevada.Clark was a good boxer. In the face he looked a little like Muhammad Ali. When Norton beat him in 9 rounds,I knew Norton had broken through,which I thought was something psychological. I posted this before,but Ken was working with a local hypnotist in town named Dean Ezell.Ezell always took credit for making Norton believe he was in condition to go the distance. Then when Norton broke Ali's jaw,it seemed validated. However after his win over Muhammad,Norton drifted away from Ezell and never gave him any credit for helping him. In fact Norton said in public that Ezell's sessions didn't do anything for him. I know Ezell was hurt by his remarks.

Rick Farris wrote:Frank Baltazar . . .

Frank inspires memories that make me want to write. He'll post a photo, sometimes setting up a story I would not have oherwise written. I don't sit down intending to write anything, just read the posts. When I do write here, I rarely edit anything, or attempt to do so as I might a deliberate story. I just write with the flow of thoughts that Frank brings to my mind. I FEEL L.A. boxing, I have since the first day I walked into a gym, studying it was never a chore, but a desire, something that totally controlled my mind and spirit from childhood. Today, Frank's words, pictures, memories, etc. take me back to that special era that today's fans, who weren't a part of it, cannot imagine. There was a magic to the Olympic, and the Main Street Gym, and the FORUM fights that George Parnassus promoted, not so much with the latter FORUM promoters, who put on good shows on Monday night for prime ticket, however, a diluted version of what we had, not the real thing, if you know what I mean.

It was not the places, so much as the players that occupied them. Steindler, Eaton, Parnassus, Davies, Chargin, Fraser (thank God he's still with us!), Flores, Jaregui, Shagrue, Welch, Epstein, Baltazar, Kabakoff, McCoy,and dozens more I don't have time to name. And of course, the FIGHTERS! And yes, they were boxers, but more so, they were FIGHTER's!!!!!

Today I'm a lighting tech in the film industry. The three things I like best in life are fighting, writing & lighting . . .and of course, senioritas. Why not?

-Rick Farris

Rick
Is that in any particular order?

bennie wrote:

kikibalt wrote:As selected by The Ring magazine in the March 1979 issue.


Samuel Serrano, Champion

Frankie Baltazar
Alexis Arguello
Rafael (Bazooka) Limon
Alfredo Escalera
Natale Vezzoli
Bobby Chacon
Arturo Leon
Ernesto Espana
Walter Seeley
Greg Coverson

Frankie above Arguello, Limon, Escalera and Chacon. Must have been a proud moment.

Agreed, but no surprise. We all had high hopes for the Baltazar boys in L.A. And they never disappointed us. Damn, those kids could FIGHT!

-Rick

dagosd2000 wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Frank Baltazar . . .

Frank inspires memories that make me want to write. He'll post a photo, sometimes setting up a story I would not have oherwise written. I don't sit down intending to write anything, just read the posts. When I do write here, I rarely edit anything, or attempt to do so as I might a deliberate story. I just write with the flow of thoughts that Frank brings to my mind. I FEEL L.A. boxing, I have since the first day I walked into a gym, studying it was never a chore, but a desire, something that totally controlled my mind and spirit from childhood. Today, Frank's words, pictures, memories, etc. take me back to that special era that today's fans, who weren't a part of it, cannot imagine. There was a magic to the Olympic, and the Main Street Gym, and the FORUM fights that George Parnassus promoted, not so much with the latter FORUM promoters, who put on good shows on Monday night for prime ticket, however, a diluted version of what we had, not the real thing, if you know what I mean.

It was not the places, so much as the players that occupied them. Steindler, Eaton, Parnassus, Davies, Chargin, Fraser (thank God he's still with us!), Flores, Jaregui, Shagrue, Welch, Epstein, Baltazar, Kabakoff, McCoy,and dozens more I don't have time to name. And of course, the FIGHTERS! And yes, they were boxers, but more so, they were FIGHTER's!!!!!

Today I'm a lighting tech in the film industry. The three things I like best in life are fighting, writing & lighting . . .and of course, senioritas. Why not?

-Rick Farris

Rick
Is that in any particular order?

Good question, Rog. Put the very last before the first three, and that's the order, amigo. But keep it too yourself, the spirit of Mel Epstein has been haunting this thread of late and, as Randy will attest, Mel wasn't big on his fighter's obsession with "broads".

-Ricardo the huero

bennie wrote:

kikibalt wrote:As selected by The Ring magazine in the March 1979 issue.


Samuel Serrano, Champion

Frankie Baltazar
Alexis Arguello
Rafael (Bazooka) Limon
Alfredo Escalera
Natale Vezzoli
Bobby Chacon
Arturo Leon
Ernesto Espana
Walter Seeley
Greg Coverson

Frankie above Arguello, Limon, Escalera and Chacon. Must have been a proud moment.

Yes it was!, yes it was!!...

James and Chata, after a night of heavy partying.

My wife and I with some friends and Santa, on a cold December day...1982 L.A. toy run

Former British-based man Joshua Clottey gets an overdue second shot at a major world title when he takes on brash New Yorker Zab Judah for the vacant IBF welterweight title in Las Vegas this Saturday (August 2). The title was previously held by rugged Antonio Margarito, now the division No. 1 after his sensational win over Miguel Cotto in Vegas a few days ago.
Clottey gave the big, remorseless Margarito a great fight in 2006 in Atlantic City in a stab at Margarito's WBO welterweight title, before dropping a close but unanimous decision. He came back with big wins over Diego Corrales (an admittedly faded Corrales, just weeks away from his untimely death) and a previously unbeaten Shamone Alvarez and has won his last four. Indeed, in 37 outings, only Margarito and Argentina's Carlos Baldomir have ever bettered the 31-year-old Clottey, who was slung out for butting Baldomir in the 11th round of a fight he was winning at Wembley way back in 1999, after which the Ghanaian returned home for a few fights and then relocated to the States, where he's been largely avoided.
Who needs him?
Clottey was still kicking his heels when Judah also lost to Baldomir seven years later in January 2006. Judah was defending his WBC welterweight title that night (at one point he held WBC, WBA and IBF welterweight belts, and is also a former IBF light-welterweight champion) and went into it a prodigious favourite on home turf in Madison Square Garden. Cocky, loud, even abnoxious, Zab found himself up against a man who showed no fear and worked hard from the start. An increasingly desperate Judah tried to 'steal' the later rounds with typically quick flurries, but Baldomir worked even harder and deserved the unanimous verdict and that WBC belt.
Since then Judah has also lost to Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Miguel Cotto in long, punishing fights, and you wonder how much the 30-year-old southpaw has left after 12 hard years as a pro - Clottey is undoubtedly the fresher of the two. Still, the Brooklyn man comes off two (rather obscure) wins and, slick and sharp-hitting, is not one to give anyone an easy night, especially in the early rounds, although he tends to fight in flashy spurts after his lightning start.
Clearly, Clottey will have to reproduce the form he showed against Margarito two years ago, when he belted the Mexican at times, until the iron-jawed champion, making the seventh defence of his WBO title, put in his usual late-round surge and came through in much less convincing fashion than he did against Cotto. Even in defeat, then, it was an excellent performance from Clottey, a durable, brave, clever, relaxed performance. Clottey is classic African, good at picking fast, chopping punches behind a tight guard, and immensely proud. His punches are less potent than Judah's but his defence is better, along with his stamina.
This one looks close on paper. Judah's experience and boxing brain undoubtedly give him a shout but Clottey is probably as quick as the ex-champ and that could prove crucial if he can tag Judah as the American goes for his own quick shots, although Judah has a decent enough chin.
Ultimately, one sides with the more ambitious Clottey to snatch a verdict.

For our friends from the U.K

Huck to fight Monrose for European Cruiserweight Title on September 20

Press Release

Marco “Captain” Huck (21-1, 16 KOs) will take on European cruiserweight
champion Jean Marc Monrose (24-1, 15 KOs) in his hometown of Bielefeld
on September 20. It will be a special fight for the 23-year-old who
returns to the place where he almost celebrated the biggest success of
his career. Back in December 2007, IBF cruiserweight champion Steve
Cunningham handed Huck the first defeat of his career. “The support of
my home fans was phenomenal,” Huck said. “This time I will leave the
ring victorious. Winning the European title would bring me much closer
to a world title fight. And I am really looking forward to returning to
Bielefeld. I have to make amends for the Cunningham fight.”

Huck bounced back with two straight wins, including a ninth-round TKO
victory over Frantisek Kasanic to clinch the IBF Intercontinental Title.
Huck stopped the hard-hitting Slovakian despite suffering a broken jaw
in the fourth round. Three days after the fight, he successfully
underwent surgery in Berlin. Six screws and one titanium plate were
inserted into his jaw. “I don´t have any problems any more,” Huck said.
“I have recovered fully and things have been going very good in practice.”

A victory over Monrose would put Huck back in line for a shot at the
world title, and coach Ulli Wegner is optimistic his fighter will make
the most out of this opportunity. “He has learned his lesson from the
Cunningham fight,” Wegner said. “He has given the right answer in
practice. He comes closer to fighting to his potential every day. I am
sure he will confirm his good shape against Monrose.”

In the co-featured main event, newly-crowed European super-middleweight
champion Karo Murat (17-0, 11 KOs) will make his first title defence
against Gabriel Campillo (16-1, 6 KOs). “I am looking forward to
returning to Bielefeld,” Murat said. Back in December, he stopped
Emiliano Cayetano in the seventh round of an entertaining fight. “I will
continue where I left it.”

kikibalt wrote:For our friends from the U.K

Huck to fight Monrose for European Cruiserweight Title on September 20

Press Release

Marco “Captain” Huck (21-1, 16 KOs) will take on European cruiserweight
champion Jean Marc Monrose (24-1, 15 KOs) in his hometown of Bielefeld
on September 20. It will be a special fight for the 23-year-old who
returns to the place where he almost celebrated the biggest success of
his career. Back in December 2007, IBF cruiserweight champion Steve
Cunningham handed Huck the first defeat of his career. “The support of
my home fans was phenomenal,” Huck said. “This time I will leave the
ring victorious. Winning the European title would bring me much closer
to a world title fight. And I am really looking forward to returning to
Bielefeld. I have to make amends for the Cunningham fight.”

Huck bounced back with two straight wins, including a ninth-round TKO
victory over Frantisek Kasanic to clinch the IBF Intercontinental Title.
Huck stopped the hard-hitting Slovakian despite suffering a broken jaw
in the fourth round. Three days after the fight, he successfully
underwent surgery in Berlin. Six screws and one titanium plate were
inserted into his jaw. “I don´t have any problems any more,” Huck said.
“I have recovered fully and things have been going very good in practice.”

A victory over Monrose would put Huck back in line for a shot at the
world title, and coach Ulli Wegner is optimistic his fighter will make
the most out of this opportunity. “He has learned his lesson from the
Cunningham fight,” Wegner said. “He has given the right answer in
practice. He comes closer to fighting to his potential every day. I am
sure he will confirm his good shape against Monrose.”

In the co-featured main event, newly-crowed European super-middleweight
champion Karo Murat (17-0, 11 KOs) will make his first title defence
against Gabriel Campillo (16-1, 6 KOs). “I am looking forward to
returning to Bielefeld,” Murat said. Back in December, he stopped
Emiliano Cayetano in the seventh round of an entertaining fight. “I will
continue where I left it.”

Huck can whack, and must be one of the few fighters in history to win a fight with a busted jaw, but Cunningham exposed him. Forget the "almost celebrated the biggest success" crack, Cunningham outclassed him.

Ricky Hatton hit with Bad News; Hatton gets Emotional over It
By Johnny Benz, DoghouseBoxing.com

Ricky Hatton has been hit with some bad news that could affect him in his upcoming fight against Paulie Malignaggi. The bad news is also sad news for Hatton as his long time trainer Billy Graham has announced his retirement.

Ricky's father, Ray Hatton quoted in the Sun UK disscussed the matter with the publication. Ray stated, "Ricky and Billy had a meeting yesterday in which Billy admitted he was not going any further. It was quite emotional because they have been together for so long."

Ray went on to add how it is a sad day for them and that Graham will always be remembered as one of the greatest trainers. Ray stated: "It's a sad day. Billy will always be remembered as one of the world’s great trainers."

Ray hinted that health problems has made Graham struggle in training Hatton in recent times. "Everybody knew Billy had been struggling in recent years with a few health problems and it was becoming increasingly painful for him to train Ricky," said Ray.

For now it is expect that Hatton will keep training with Graham's assistant at least until after the Malignaggi fight

kikibalt wrote:

Al Fenn managed a number of fighters in Arizona during Folley's era. I learned a lot about Folley and Al Fenn during the time I lived in Az. Folley's mysterious death was swept under the carpet when police listed his downing in the backyard pool as an accident. Ironic that Liston, Eddie Machen and Roger Rischer, all opponents of each other, died roughly within a year of each other, all from accidental causes.

-Rick Farris


About Folley. We all know that Zora had little chance of upsetting Ali, however, look at his KO loss. Close examination of the tapes will show that Folley took a dive. Maybe he just quit, but watch his going down, how he fell, played as if asleep and then bounced right up fresh after the ten count, is not that of a hurt boxer.

-Rick

kikibalt wrote:Ricky Hatton hit with Bad News; Hatton gets Emotional over It
By Johnny Benz, DoghouseBoxing.com

Ricky Hatton has been hit with some bad news that could affect him in his upcoming fight against Paulie Malignaggi. The bad news is also sad news for Hatton as his long time trainer Billy Graham has announced his retirement.

Ricky's father, Ray Hatton quoted in the Sun UK disscussed the matter with the publication. Ray stated, "Ricky and Billy had a meeting yesterday in which Billy admitted he was not going any further. It was quite emotional because they have been together for so long."

Ray went on to add how it is a sad day for them and that Graham will always be remembered as one of the greatest trainers. Ray stated: "It's a sad day. Billy will always be remembered as one of the world’s great trainers."

Ray hinted that health problems has made Graham struggle in training Hatton in recent times. "Everybody knew Billy had been struggling in recent years with a few health problems and it was becoming increasingly painful for him to train Ricky," said Ray.

For now it is expect that Hatton will keep training with Graham's assistant at least until after the Malignaggi fight

Thanks Frankie. Billy "The Preacher" Graham never wanted Hatton to fight at welterweight again (vs Mayweather), after the fighter failed to convince at the weight before. Their relationship essentially ended in training for Mayweather, although they stuck it out for one more fight (Lazcano). Then Matthew Hatton (Ricky's younger brother, who can't really fight) left Graham and the writing was totally on the wall.
This is the best 'spin' Ray Hatton can put on it.
Incidentally, Billy masterminded Hatton's great win over Tszyu, when he got his man to crowd the aging Russian banger.

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Al Fenn managed a number of fighters in Arizona during Folley's era. I learned a lot about Folley and Al Fenn during the time I lived in Az. Folley's mysterious death was swept under the carpet when police listed his downing in the backyard pool as an accident. Ironic that Liston, Eddie Machen and Roger Rischer, all opponents of each other, died roughly within a year of each other, all from accidental causes.

-Rick Farris


About Folley. We all know that Zora had little chance of upsetting Ali, however, look at his KO loss. Close examination of the tapes will show that Folley took a dive. Maybe he just quit, but watch his going down, how he fell, played as if asleep and then bounced right up fresh after the ten count, is not that of a hurt boxer.

-Rick

I believe Folley loved the ladies and was flirting with a few when he (was shot) fell into the pool. You just wonder...

kikibalt wrote:
My wife and I with some friends and Santa, on a cold December day...1982 L.A. toy run

About 15 years ago there was terrible flooding in this area. Tijuana was hit very hard. The news in San Diego showed houses in TJ that had slid off the the side of hills and low sections of the city that looked like a lake. Americans were loading up their vehicles with supplies to take down there to help out the helpless. But there was a snag. When they got to the border,the Mexican Cops would direct the vehicles to a row of semi trailers. The cops told everyone to unload the stuff in back of the trucks and they'd handle the rest. The rest meaning sorting through everthing to see if THEY could use any of it, A sweater for my wife and a blouse for my girlfriend?

The school that I worked for at the time was a mile from the border. The staff and students collected a ton of stuff. Food,clothes,blankets,and medicine. I offered to take it down there. Well i knew the cop's scam,so I was ready for them. I wore my old CETYs shirt(CETYs is a prestigous private school in TJ) and had a few important and influential names I could drop on the cops.

The line of cars trying to cross was backed up pretty good. I could see the cop holding up his hand and motioning the people to drop their stuff off at the big rigs. Finally it's my turn and the hand goes up. I told this big SOB that I worked for CETYs and the principal was waiting for me and can't you see the shirt,and here's my badge. He sighed and waved me through. Why would he hassle me after all that,if I could potentially embarass him. Beside ther were 20 more cars in back of me. I'm sure none of them had worked at CETYs.

The traffic in TJ was backed up for miles. People along the sides of the road saw what was inside my van. They came up close to the van. They looked horrible. Wet,their bodies packed with mud. If I saw they had kids with them I gave them something from my van.

I was headed to Colonia Florido. It was the hardest hit area. Strange though. When I got to the mouth of the road leading into Florido,there was a huge Cali Max to the side. A giant grocery store with tons of food and people starving a few miles down the road.

I saw what looked like an elementary school. There were cars and trucks parked everywhere outside. I also saw the cop cars. I walked inside and asked if I could bring what I had inside. People were scurrying around . There was a food line. Red Cross workers were holding babies and tending to the injured. I saw someone distributing clothes, The only people not doing anything were the cops.

I went to the van and brought out a couple of sacks. A cop put himself in front of me and told me to put the sacks next to a truck that said "Policia Municipal" on the side. NO WAY. I told one of "Tijuana's Finest" that I was going to hand deliver what i had to people that really needed it. I saw a line of shivering souls along a wall. I held up a bag and motioed for them to take it. They paused. Finally I walked up to one of them and handed the bag to hom. Then the rest took his lead. The stuff I brought was gone in a flash.

Just then a helicopter soared overhead and landed in the middle of the courtyard .People scrambled to get out of the way. The rotating blades blew everything around. Out of a small building at the far end of the school,someone came out and shouted,"AQUI,AQUI!!"
One of the men in the helicopter ran out with a stretcher and went inside the building. I followed curiously and with some hesitation.

Inside there were people surrounding a table. On the table was this tiny baby. It looked like it was just born. Blood was on the side of his head. A Red Cross girl wrapped the baby in a blanket and gave it to the guy with the stretcher. Some one said an Indian woman tried to cross a slippery road with her choildren when she lost her balance and dropped her baby. The helicopter took off again and disappeared.

I was stunned. I turned to go to my car when the Red Cross girl asked if I could give her a ride into town. As we were goinmg along,I couldn't get my mind off what had happened with the baby.
"Wasn't that a terrible accident?"
The Red Cross girl loooked at me and paused. She studied my face.
she was Mexican.but spoke English well.
"What makes you think it was an accident? A woman homeless with no man and seven children."
I thought I was in a dream. I get to town. She thanked me. We hadn't spoken since she told the probable cause of what happened.

By the time i got home it was dark. My wife was cleaning hard pinto beans on a table. She asked me how it went. I started to tell her the story of the Indian woman and the baby. Before I could finish she said to me still seperating the beans,"What makes you think it was an accident?"

I went to the bedroom and tried to sleep. With the sun beginning to rise,I finally fell asleep.

There was a good size earthquake today in Southern California. A 5.8 according to the news report. Personally I think it's an aftershock from Saturday's fight between Margarito and Cotto.

Rick Farris wrote:

Bobbin & Weavin wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Henry Clark & Sonny Liston

I don't know what inspired you to post this picture but it brought back some good memories for me. I knew Henry Clark pretty well when we trained in the same gym in the 70s and was thrilled when he worked with my trainer in my corner in the Golden Gloves. Henry was truley a nice guy who if you didn't know it would never guess his occupation to be a prize fighter. Henry also worked as a carpenter at the American Can Company on third st. in San Francisco. Henry was always helping us out with pointers in the gym and spent countless hours raising money for the boys club after his career was over. I saw him spar many rounds with Geo. Foreman at Newman's in S.F. and when George opened training camp for his fight with Ali across the bay I was able to gain access because I was with Henry, I have many pictures of George training there that I will post some day. Henry could box with anyone and had a kinda rolling, weaving style with a nice jab and claimed that he was dodged by most of the rated heavies becasue he was thought of as a spoiler. I was sadened when I learned he died of a brain hemorage six or eight years ago.
Bobbin & Weavin
in Nor-Cal

Hey Bobin . . . I look forward to your sharing some of your pics. That was a great story and your memories of things up in San Fran during our era are of great interest to me. Especially the gym, was it Newman-Herman Gym? I was there once, with Mel Epstein while up north to visit a former boxer he had who lived in Burlingame. Also, my friend Ray Lunney III will likely join in on our thread in due course. I heard a lot of great first hand Bobo Olsen stories up there, as well as Charley Shipes, etc. A lot of great Foreman-Dick Saddler stories, as well. By the way, did you ever see or here about Foreman's sparring session with Sonny Liston???? Just curious.

-Rick

Rick,
I really need to get those pictures out and scan them, I was really into photography at the time and have a lot of good pictures of Foreman training for Ali. That gym I referanced was indeed Newman & Herman's gym, it was owned and operated by Billiy Newman & Joe Herman, I beleive Billy Newman managed Bobo Olson for a while among many others and Joe Herman was Henry Clark's manager among many others. Newman's was absolutly my favorite place in the world and I miss it to this day. Walking down the long hall from the street you could here guys banging away on the heavy bags and slapping the double end and my heart raced with every step closer just waiting to see who might be there that day. I orginally started there at 12 years old but moved over to the PAL gym who had a wonderful trainer named Earl Gonsolin and guys my age and skill level at the time. I went back to Newmen's & Herman's on the weekends becasue the PAL gym was closed and it was the highlight of my week. My father would take my younger brother and I there and point out the retired guys as well as the active guys. I would take pictures and get autographs and haunt the place looking for old posters and stuff to add to my collection, Billy Newman would save stuff for me when I came in on the weekends, some I still have some I donated to a boxing museum a while ago. I will share what I do have soon.
The PAL had a nice little gym in the old National Guard Armory down on 14th & Mission St. Henry Clark eventually migrated down there as well as Ray Lunny III where I sparred many rounds with him as a 16 & 17 year old; I still have some 8mm film of us boxing there as well as some pictures of Ray II, Ray III and me goofing off. The Lunny's were gentlemen of the highest caliber. I now live about 30 miles south of S.F. where Ray III was raised and would often see Ray II in around town and he would tease me about being out of my weight division. Ray III is with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department now. I sat with Ray at a Nor-Cal Vet. Boxer dinner a while back he looks to be in fighting shape except his jet black hair has turned white. Ray II died a couple years back I was very sad when I heard the news partly for me but mostly because I knew how close him and Ray III were. I hope Ray gets involved in this great forum I would love to hear some of his imput.
I don't know about the Liston-Foreman sparring session but would have loved to have been there; did that take place at Newman's? What do you know about it?
Bobbin & Weavin in
Nor-Cal