Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Tony DeMarco, Johnny Saxton & Carmen Basilio

[Expug]

Randy & Pug . . . We have a lot in common regarding our grandfathers and Jack Dempsey. Like you two, I was raised on stories of the great Dempsey, as well as Mickey Walker. Roberto Duran is also my favorite fighter all-time. When I was ten, I wrote a letter to JAck Dempsey. Not having his address, I just wrote on the envelope: to JAck Dempsey, Heavyweight Cahmp, New York, N.Y. Two weeks later I receieved an autographed 8x10, "to Rick . . . Lots of luck, pal, signed JAck Dempsey". I still have that photo.

Classic, Jack was a great guy.
I reminded now of the only time Ive written away to a fighter was in 1980 or 81. I read in Ring Magazine that the great puncher and all time wildman Lew Jenkins was gravely ill.
I always liked Jenkins , he was a very interesting carachter.A movie should also be written about his life.
Anyway, I wrote him a note wishing him well .
A couple weeks later I received in the mail the card from his wake and funeral.
His wife sent it to me.

[kikibalt]

The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Ca.

[kikibalt]

Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao discuss now-official Dec. 6 bout

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, above, has confirmed his plan to fight Oscar De La Hoya on December 6 in Las Vegas.

Purse share was not discussed during this morning's conference call making the MGM Grand Las Vegas matchup official. De La Hoya was listed as an 8-5 favorite by the Mirage.
By Dan Arritt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

After three weeks of negotiations, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao made it official this morning, agreeing to fight in a 12-round non-title bout Dec. 6 in what's expected to be a blockbuster pay-per-view event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The biggest haggling point, the share of the purse, was not announced during the conference call with both fighters and their promoters, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions and Bob Arum of Top Rank.

Manny Pacquiao, the WBC lightweight champion, was seeking 40% of the purse, while De La Hoya was offering 30%, although they apparently came to a compromise somewhere in between. The fighters will meet at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. De La Hoya has not fought at that weight since 2001, and WBC lightweight champion Pacquaio has never fought above 135 pounds.

The Mirage Hotel and Casino opened betting with De La Hoya as an 8-5 favorite over Pacquiao.

De La Hoya (39-5, 30 knockouts) has been criticized in some circles for accepting a bout against a smaller opponent, but didn't believe a fight with Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) would affect his standing. "My legacy is already cemented," said De La Hoya, a six-time world champion. "You can't take back what I've accomplished in the ring."


The match with Pacquiao was widely expected to be the 35-year-old De La Hoya's last fight of his distinguished career. But today De La Hoya was a bit vague on his retirement.

"Let's just say my foot got caught in the door," De La Hoya said when asked if he's leaving the door open for future fights.

De La Hoya, who grew up in East Los Angeles and gained fame at the 1992 Olympics, began pondering a match against Pacquiao after watching him in impressive victories over top Mexican fighters Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.

His desire intensified after reading statements from Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who was in De La Hoya's corner for his fight against Floyd Mayweather. Roach said De La Hoya would not be able to "pull the trigger" against Pacquiao.

"I felt challenged, especially from an expert trainer like Freddie Roach," De La Hoya said. "If he thinks I can't pull the trigger, then we'll see on Dec. 6."

De La Hoya admitted he'll need to work on his hand speed to counter the smaller but swifter Filipino. "I have quite a task in front of me," De La Hoya said. "We're three months away and we have to figure out, quick, how we're going to neutralize him."

Pacquiao, 29, watched De La Hoya's last fight against Steve Forbes in May, and believes he'll have more of an advantage than just speed. He predicted he would beat De La Hoya in much the same way he defeated David Diaz in his last fight, a ninth-round technical knockout in June.

"I'm faster and stronger than him, and I'm younger," Pacquiao said. "He has an advantage in the height . . . but I believe I'm stronger."

[email protected]

[Randyman]

The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Ca.

There is no place quite like it. It bugs me to this day that my fights were canceled and I never got to fight there. It should be enshrined and turned into a boxing museum. Something, anything, just don't tear it down in the name of progress.

[Randyman]

Jack Dempsey

What a contrast from the earlier photo. Dapper Jack Dempsey. He was definitely a man of his times. Dempsey personified the "Roaring Twenties".

[dagosd2000]

Clark Gable


"Gable"

By Diego

Nice, Rog. I remember reading that Gable died of a heart attack just a few days after shooting a film with Marilyn Monroe.
I'm sure her sexy presence did him no good at all.

You know Bennie ,Marilyn had this notion that Gable was her father. Gable kind of acted like that toward her. That was nice.

[Randyman]

Alexis Arguello


"El Flaco Explosivo"

By Diego

One of the greatest fighters ever, in my opinion, and also one of the classiest. When he came over to London to challenge Jim Watt for the WBC lightweight title, they screened the weigh-in on the BBC. Arguello weighed in first, as the challenger, then Watt was introduced to the scales by the MC and the fans there all started cheering and clapping. You know what? Arguello clapped Watt, too.
What a gent.

I remember how after Arguello stopped Ray Mancini, he went to Ray, held him and and rubbed his gloves on Ray's head, as if comforting a little brother. He then encouraged Ray by reminding him that he too failed in his first attempt at a title, a 15 round UD loss to Ernesto Marcel. He showed that kindness to most of his foes.

[kikibalt]

The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Ca.

There is no place quite like it. It bugs me to this day that my fights were canceled and I never got to fight there. It should be enshrined and turned into a boxing museum. Something, anything, just don't tear it down in the name of progress.

Randy,

Going to the Olympic as a kid, 11-12-13 years old, I wanted to grow up and fight there, well never did, but my boys did so, and they did while still the JRs.

My son Bobby and I worked the gloves the night of the Chacon vs Estrada fight, Norm Lockwood the glove man at the Olympic for years was out of town with a fighter that night.

[dagosd2000]

The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Ca.

There is no place quite like it. It bugs me to this day that my fights were canceled and I never got to fight there. It should be enshrined and turned into a boxing museum. Something, anything, just don't tear it down in the name of progress.

Randy,

Going to the Olympic as a kid, 11-12-13 years old, I wanted to grow up and fight there, well never did, but my boys did, and they did while still the JRs.

That may be the best pic I've seen of that old place.Surreal.

[Expug]

Randy, I remember that also.Arguello was a very classy competitor.
I also remember when he belted out Billy Costello with a right hand.
It was at the end of Alexis' career and Costello was doing real well for a couple rounds .
He got a little sloppy and Arguello hit him with that right hand of his.Out Costello went.
After the fight in the interview Arguello was real humble and told Costello, "Billy, you can do better then that".
Not really admonishing him for being a little careless, more along the lines of advising or coaching him.

[Expug]

Rog, I agree. I love that picture of The Olympic.
Something about it takes you back to the seventies in a very big way.
I dont know what it is. Maybe the car the clothes on the people, the shade of the picture, I dont know.
Takes me back in time.

[Randyman]

Randy, I remember that also.Arguello was a very classy competitor.
I also remember when he belted out Billy Costello with a right hand.
It was at the end of Alexis' career and Costello was doing real well for a couple rounds .
He got a little sloppy and Arguello hit him with that right hand of his.Out Costello went.
After the fight in the interview Arguello was real humble and told Costello, "Billy, you can do better then that".
Not really admonishing him for being a little careless, more along the lines of advising or coaching him.

I remember watching that fight too. Arguello was working on a comeback when he fought Costello, who was a pretty fair fighter himself but not in the same league as Arguello. Arguello is one of those guys that I really miss watching. He was one of those guys that would make the Main Street Gym his home whenever he was in Los Angeles. I met him in 1976, he was quiet and humble but when he was working out or sparing, he was all business.

[Randyman]

The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Ca.

There is no place quite like it. It bugs me to this day that my fights were canceled and I never got to fight there. It should be enshrined and turned into a boxing museum. Something, anything, just don't tear it down in the name of progress.

Randy,

Going to the Olympic as a kid, 11-12-13 years old, I wanted to grow up and fight there, well never did, but my boys did so, and they did while still the JRs.

My son Bobby and I worked the gloves the night of the Chacon vs Estrada fight, Norm Lockwood the glove man at the Olympic for years was out of town with a fighter that night.

It's a bygone era in the history of boxing in Los Angeles. Your boys are part of that history Frank. Man, I miss the old days!

[kikibalt]

Ray Charles


"Ray"

By Diego

[dagosd2000]

Rog, I agree. I love that picture of The Olympic.
Something about it takes you back to the seventies in a very big way.
I dont know what it is. Maybe the car the clothes on the people, the shade of the picture, I dont know.
Takes me back in time.

Pug 'ol Pal,if you close your eyes long enough you can see Art Aragon climbing through the ring ropes.

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[Randyman]

Frank, you are a living museum, a historical library, collector of top notch photos, programs and fight posters, as well as a photographer, all rolled into one. Just keep'em coming. These are classic.

[dagosd2000]

Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao discuss now-official Dec. 6 bout

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, above, has confirmed his plan to fight Oscar De La Hoya on December 6 in Las Vegas.

Purse share was not discussed during this morning's conference call making the MGM Grand Las Vegas matchup official. De La Hoya was listed as an 8-5 favorite by the Mirage.
By Dan Arritt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

After three weeks of negotiations, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao made it official this morning, agreeing to fight in a 12-round non-title bout Dec. 6 in what's expected to be a blockbuster pay-per-view event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The biggest haggling point, the share of the purse, was not announced during the conference call with both fighters and their promoters, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions and Bob Arum of Top Rank.

Manny Pacquiao, the WBC lightweight champion, was seeking 40% of the purse, while De La Hoya was offering 30%, although they apparently came to a compromise somewhere in between. The fighters will meet at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. De La Hoya has not fought at that weight since 2001, and WBC lightweight champion Pacquaio has never fought above 135 pounds.

The Mirage Hotel and Casino opened betting with De La Hoya as an 8-5 favorite over Pacquiao.

De La Hoya (39-5, 30 knockouts) has been criticized in some circles for accepting a bout against a smaller opponent, but didn't believe a fight with Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) would affect his standing. "My legacy is already cemented," said De La Hoya, a six-time world champion. "You can't take back what I've accomplished in the ring."


The match with Pacquiao was widely expected to be the 35-year-old De La Hoya's last fight of his distinguished career. But today De La Hoya was a bit vague on his retirement.

"Let's just say my foot got caught in the door," De La Hoya said when asked if he's leaving the door open for future fights.

De La Hoya, who grew up in East Los Angeles and gained fame at the 1992 Olympics, began pondering a match against Pacquiao after watching him in impressive victories over top Mexican fighters Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.

His desire intensified after reading statements from Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who was in De La Hoya's corner for his fight against Floyd Mayweather. Roach said De La Hoya would not be able to "pull the trigger" against Pacquiao.

"I felt challenged, especially from an expert trainer like Freddie Roach," De La Hoya said. "If he thinks I can't pull the trigger, then we'll see on Dec. 6."

De La Hoya admitted he'll need to work on his hand speed to counter the smaller but swifter Filipino. "I have quite a task in front of me," De La Hoya said. "We're three months away and we have to figure out, quick, how we're going to neutralize him."

Pacquiao, 29, watched De La Hoya's last fight against Steve Forbes in May, and believes he'll have more of an advantage than just speed. He predicted he would beat De La Hoya in much the same way he defeated David Diaz in his last fight, a ninth-round technical knockout in June.

"I'm faster and stronger than him, and I'm younger," Pacquiao said. "He has an advantage in the height . . . but I believe I'm stronger."

[email protected]

Yeah,someone mentioned this to me today. You know the line,"Did you hear the news?"
You got it up there Frank. I'll get around to reading it. But then again I'll get daily updates from Jorge the custodian at school. Ron the math teacher I'm sure will fill me in. I won't be searching very hrad for it. As the fight draws nearer I'll be swimming in the hype. A hunderd million. Is that for both guys? Or do they split it? Maybe that's in the srticle. I'll read it later.

I remember Archie saying old fighters get lazy. Don't like to train like they used to.Ran the ABC Boys Club on a City Salary. Marciano walked into the gym one day,smelled the body sweat and walked out. Retired.Scuffled after that signing autographs and getting paid to speak at Knights Of Columbus Dinners. Napoles just looked at films before he fought Stracey. Paid the price. Never fought again. Thought he was a salsa band leader.
Robinson lying on the training table with ice packs on his face in Pittsburgh after the Archer fight. Joey knocked him down. 45 years of age is way too old for that business.Was in a few cameos in the movies.
Ronnie Wilson's eye lids slashed and hanging down his face. Chuy Chavez bleeding from both eyes and the inside of his mouth after a fight at the Jai Lai Palace in Tijuana. Joe Louis's leg hanging on the bottom strand. Wilson,Robinson,Moore, Chavez. Legends and no names. All were fighters. Sad stories in the end.

DeLa Hoya and Manny. Don't see them having the sad ending. A hundred million dollars is a very happy number.

[dagosd2000]

Frank, you are a living museum, a historical library, collector of top notch photos, programs and fight posters, as well as a photographer, all rolled into one. Just keep'em coming. These are classic.

Show me the fight poster for PacMan and Oscar and I'll probably put on sun glasses to shield the glare. Show me the fight poster for Aragon and Williams and I'll put on the sun glasses to hide the tears.

[kikibalt]

Frank, you are a living museum, a historical library, collector of top notch photos, programs and fight posters, as well as a photographer, all rolled into one. Just keep'em coming. These are classic.

Show me the fight poster for PacMan and Oscar and I'll probably put on sun glasses to shield the glare. Show me the fight poster for Aragon and Williams and I'll put on the sun glasses to hide the tears.

I would show you the Aragon and Williams poster, but there isn't any because they never fought.

[kikibalt]

Harry Wills


"Wills"

By Diego