Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GD8TpHRaYE
Thewiseguys.



Frank, the lead singer of the Wiseguys

Another good lookin' kid. No resemblence to me however. Hey Frank ,how about puttin' on Louie Prima's "Angelina Zooma Zooma." Now there's a guy I might have been better lookin' than. But this guy had women crawlin' all over him. I'm tryin' Louie. Really, I'm tryin'. Greatest act in Vegas.

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GD8TpHRaYE
Thewiseguys.



Frank, the lead singer of the Wiseguys

My second cousin, Gabe, playing the sax with the Wiseguys

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZkCuwf-t6o

Puggy

A little Bobby Darin by some Mexican kids, btw, my cousin's son plays sax on the band.

Good for those kids. That's the way I like a band. Not all guitars,but horns. Maybe they won't drop the ball when you,me,and Pug are up in the sky. We'll all be dancin'.

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GD8TpHRaYE
Thewiseguys.



Frank, the lead singer of the Wiseguys

Another good lookin' kid. No resemblence to me however. Hey Frank ,how about puttin' on Louie Prima's "Angelina Zooma Zooma." Now there's a guy I might have been better lookin' than. But this guy had women crawlin' all over him. I'm tryin' Louie. Really, I'm tryin'. Greatest act in Vegas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIJzpdJIdmI
Here you're, diego, enjoy

[kikibalt]

Speaking of dancing, here is Connie and I, on our 50th's


Dancing with my sister, Annie.

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GD8TpHRaYE
Thewiseguys.



Frank, the lead singer of the Wiseguys

Another good lookin' kid. No resemblence to me however. Hey Frank ,how about puttin' on Louie Prima's "Angelina Zooma Zooma." Now there's a guy I might have been better lookin' than. But this guy had women crawlin' all over him. I'm tryin' Louie. Really, I'm tryin'. Greatest act in Vegas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIJzpdJIdmI
Here you're, diego, enjoy

Frank
You're a real pal. Just for that I'm going off my diet tonight. My sisters sent over some thin sliced mortadella and cappacola. Some slices of fresh provolone cheese. Put it between some nice hot Solunto Italian bread. Slice some tomatos . Wet it down with oil and wine vinegar. Just a dash of oregano. Now I'm ready to commit a sin. Just a veneal sin.

[kikibalt]

Thought you would all like to know that Alex Ramos is out of the hospital, and is walking with a cane, although he has a ways to go. He is blown away by all of the email and phone calls and cards. It is hard for me to believe that one week ago this minute, he was coming out of a 48 hour coma!!! He will be getting home health assistance (nursing) and he will also have home physical therapy. He got amazing care at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital and the nurses were sad to see him go. Alex thanks you all for your love, prayers and support, and asks that you continue through his recovery. His feet are still very painful when he walks, but that does not stop him!

Alex IS a fighter and we are all grateful for his miraculous recovery. Like I said, he's too mean to die and he is to determined to beat this thing, and I believe he will. As you would expect, he wants to run but he has to walk, first.

I would also like to thank you all for the moral support. We could not have gone through this alone. We needed to multiply our own
prayers and you were there for us. THANK YOU!

If you want to call Alex, feel free to call him on his cell phone at (805) 390-7334.

Love and hugs,

Jacquie Richardson
Executive Director
RETIRED BOXERS FOUNDATION

[dagosd2000]

AN ACT OF ROYALTY

It was sometime in the early 80's. I know because Count Basie died shortly after I saw him perform. It was at Mission Bay High School's gymnasium. I had to see this guy. He was up in years,and like any good jazz musician,probably didn't take care of himself. Mission Bay's Gym wasn't 52 Street ,or Small's Paradise, or the Blackhawk,or the Paladium. I could go on but I'd run out of paper. That night it was a high school gym. It was OK with me.

Henry Brown called me up,so I drove over to his place in Logan to pick him up. When we got to the gym,I could see Count Basie's big bus parked in front. Just like the old days,traveling by bus. I knew Frank Foster was still with him. Foster was a great tenor. I got to thinking of the others and how Basie took over when Bennie Moten died suddenly. Lester Young,Joe Turner,Walter Paige, Billie Holiday. I've got to save paper if I'm going to finish this. Basie was a giant. Him and Ellington had the greatest Black bands. They were different of course,but it's stupid to say which one was better. They played in a different style,both beautifull and unique. Memorable beyond comprehension.

Just because Basie was at the gym down by the beach,didn't mean he went unnoticed. I wish the place would have sold out,but there were the Black folk who knew the score. If Basie had booked the Concert Hall more of the White establishment probably would have gone,but on Basie's budget it was the high school gym. Christ,he could of played out in the rain and it would have been all right with me.

Archie Moore was there with his wife and kids. Him and Basie were taliking it up pretty good. Maybe Archie was asking The Count if he needed a bass player. Man,I should have got closer to those two guys.

When Basie stated playing,starting of with those "tinkly" intros,the magic was still there. i thought,why wouldn't it still be there? If he had lost his desire,Count Basie wouldn't play anymore.

Well he "Jumped At The Woodside","One O'Clock Jumped." The whole gymnasium was jumpin'. All the while Basie is lookin' up with that Captain's Hat on his head grinnin' away. He knew he had us. Take us prisoner Count. Swing. Swing. The place was shakin'. When it was over I knew I'd never see him again. He died shortly after.

Basie is gone,and so is the rest of the "cats". I drive by Mission Bay High School quite often. It's near where I live. All I know is that run down little gym never again will feature "royalty" like it did on that night almost 30 years ago.

[dagosd2000]

Thought you would all like to know that Alex Ramos is out of the hospital, and is walking with a cane, although he has a ways to go. He is blown away by all of the email and phone calls and cards. It is hard for me to believe that one week ago this minute, he was coming out of a 48 hour coma!!! He will be getting home health assistance (nursing) and he will also have home physical therapy. He got amazing care at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital and the nurses were sad to see him go. Alex thanks you all for your love, prayers and support, and asks that you continue through his recovery. His feet are still very painful when he walks, but that does not stop him!

Alex IS a fighter and we are all grateful for his miraculous recovery. Like I said, he's too mean to die and he is to determined to beat this thing, and I believe he will. As you would expect, he wants to run but he has to walk, first.

I would also like to thank you all for the moral support. We could not have gone through this alone. We needed to multiply our own
prayers and you were there for us. THANK YOU!

If you want to call Alex, feel free to call him on his cell phone at (805) 390-7334.

Love and hugs,

Jacquie Richardson
Executive Director
RETIRED BOXERS FOUNDATION

Good News

[kikibalt]

"Big Band Vegas Swing"

Hey folks! Your pals The Wisesguys are playing a "Concert in the Park" in a city near you!

Come on out, bring the family (don't forget your coolers and lawn chairs) and enjoy your favorite band The Wiseguys as they swing hard like a wreckin' ball all summer long!!

These shows are all free, courtesy of each fine city!

There are only a few of these shows left, but we're still swingin' hard all summer long. Come dance and enjoy a great family night out!!

Don't forget folks, your pals the Wiseguys appreciate a good picnic and tailgate party!!

-Salud!


Upcoming Shows ( view all )

Aug 30 2008 7:00P
PRIVATE Ribsville!
Sep 11 2008 6:30P
Montebello Amphitheatre Montebello, California
Sep 13 2008 9:00P
**PRIVATE** Santa Barbara
Oct 3 2008 8:00P
The 9th annual Festival De La Gente @ the FORD Amphitheatre Hollywood
Oct 4 2008 12:00P
Montebello Fall Festival MONTEBELLO
Oct 11 2008 4:00P
Private Granada Hills
Oct 18 2008 9:00P
**Private** Universal City
Nov 15 2008 7:30P
DOWNEY THEATRE DOWNEY
Nov 26 2008 7:00P
Steven’s Steak House-DINNER/DANCE/SHOW CITY OF COMMERCE, California
Dec 5 2008 8:00P
Lakeside Country Club Burbank
Dec 6 2008 8:00P
TBA Orange County - TBA
Dec 11 2008 8:00P
**Private** Los Angeles
Dec 15 2008 8:00P
**PRIVATE** BEVERLY HILLS
Dec 20 2008 7:00P
PRIVATE Pasadena, California
Dec 24 2008 10:00A
Christmas at The Cannon

[kikibalt]

Bennie, are you asleep?

[dagosd2000]

Did any of you guys see the Diaz/Katsidas fight? I thought it was a pretty good fight.The HBO guys had Diaz way ahead,but I thought it was closer. Diaz ,the winner.

I think what hurts boxing and all sports, is the pre hype.I remember watching the fights during the week from New York and Chicago,and wherever else there was a big fight. Or just a main event fight. No big build up.No fanfare and hoopla.No pre fight press conferences. No broadcast of the weigh in. No music played as the fighters walked down from the dressing room.No stare downs. No flashy boxing trunks. No ridiculous nicknames.

The fights today have to be good to live up to the advertising. Now I see Mayorga is going to fight again. They'll build that up. I saw Robinson/LaMotta fight for Jake's title. They didn't even look at each other in the center of the ring. They touched gloves and fought their hearts out. Two of the greatest fighters of all time. There was no big build up for that fight. You might say that TV was in its infant stages,but boxing fans didn't have to bo convinced that that bout had the makings of a great fight.

But you have to do a lot of bull shitting to sway the public that Ricardo Mayorga is worth watching again.

[bennie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWE8I9pzOz0
Amir Khan vs Breidis Prescott

Frankie is on the ball, as ever. It looks like the rumours about Khan's chin were right. All over in 54 seconds. Nervous breakdown time. Khan had just signed a deal with Sky-TV over here, for whom this was his first fight.
Ouch!

[bennie]

Thought you would all like to know that Alex Ramos is out of the hospital, and is walking with a cane, although he has a ways to go. He is blown away by all of the email and phone calls and cards. It is hard for me to believe that one week ago this minute, he was coming out of a 48 hour coma!!! He will be getting home health assistance (nursing) and he will also have home physical therapy. He got amazing care at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital and the nurses were sad to see him go. Alex thanks you all for your love, prayers and support, and asks that you continue through his recovery. His feet are still very painful when he walks, but that does not stop him!

Alex IS a fighter and we are all grateful for his miraculous recovery. Like I said, he's too mean to die and he is to determined to beat this thing, and I believe he will. As you would expect, he wants to run but he has to walk, first.

I would also like to thank you all for the moral support. We could not have gone through this alone. We needed to multiply our own
prayers and you were there for us. THANK YOU!

If you want to call Alex, feel free to call him on his cell phone at (805) 390-7334.

Love and hugs,

Jacquie Richardson
Executive Director
RETIRED BOXERS FOUNDATION

This is more like it. Good news. Alex Ramos is a fabulous human being.

[bennie]

Bennie, are you asleep?

Not any more.

[bennie]

Did any of you guys see the Diaz/Katsidas fight? I thought it was a pretty good fight.The HBO guys had Diaz way ahead,but I thought it was closer. Diaz ,the winner.

I think what hurts boxing and all sports, is the pre hype.I remember watching the fights during the week from New York and Chicago,and wherever else there was a big fight. Or just a main event fight. No big build up.No fanfare and hoopla.No pre fight press conferences. No broadcast of the weigh in. No music played as the fighters walked down from the dressing room.No stare downs. No flashy boxing trunks. No ridiculous nicknames.

The fights today have to be good to live up to the advertising. Now I see Mayorga is going to fight again. They'll build that up. I saw Robinson/LaMotta fight for Jake's title. They didn't even look at each other in the center of the ring. They touched gloves and fought their hearts out. Two of the greatest fighters of all time. There was no big build up for that fight. You might say that TV was in its infant stages,but boxing fans didn't have to bo convinced that that bout had the makings of a great fight.

But you have to do a lot of bull shitting to sway the public that Ricardo Mayorga is worth watching again.

This was always going to be a great fight, Rog. Katsidis is a face-first Aussie, exciting to watch but destined for a short career; Diaz was smarting from a surprise defeat to Nate Campbell last time out and obviously has strength and talent.
Shame we couldn't get it over here.

[bennie]

Photos and caption courtesy of Bruce Smith

Expug Said:

Nate Collins had an interesting career.
He must have been tough as he went out to Philly and stopped an undefeated Cyclone Hart.
Hart could knock a building down with his left hook.
Thanks for the story BW.

Giardello was another guy who I think of when I think of "fighters ,fighters"
Joey sounds like he could start a fight in an empty room.

Nate Collins decks Jimmy Lester

Nate certainly did have an interesting career, if you take a section of his career between Feb. 1966 & Aug. 1972 he goes 24 - 4 with loses to Andy Heilman, Rafeal Gutierrez, George Cooper and Emile Griffith and wins over Lonnie Harris, Jimmy Lester, Andy Heilman, Juarez DeLima, Orlando de la Fuentes and the afore mentioned Eugene Hart.
About Harts left hook; Nate said Hart knocked him down with it & there is no way he's getting up for more of that, but a very cocky Hart used some unpleasant verbiage towards Nate & it snapped him out of it and the rest is history.
How do you explain all of those losses before 1966 & after 1972; he was a waiter, had the big punch & boxed well so he would stick & move & move & stick looking for the right opening, let a lot of guys stay in the fight & win rounds while he waited for his opening. The Griffith fight consisted of Emile darting in & out building up points, winning round after round not taking any chances & when the bell rang at the end of the fight Nate was still looking for the opening & Emile won virtually every round.
By the way Nate is one of the nicest guys around, a real gentleman, very popular at all of the Veteran Boxer events.
Bobbin & Weavin

Nate Collins KOs Lonnie Harris

I knew Lonnie Harris and watched him train for years at the Main St. Gym. I fought on the undercard of his bout with John Claude Boutiere (spelling?) and knew he could hold his own with any middleweight of his era. He also could take a helluva punch, however, Nate Collins' was the exception. I love these Northern Cal photos, especially of the great middleweights I remember coming from up there. Nate Collins would have a field day with today's lot. No disgrace losing to an Emile Griffith. In today's world where a guy with twenty pro fights can hold six titiles in four divisions, I guess Griffith would hold twelve titles in eight divisions???? I mean, how else can we figure? Why don't they just assign boxers a world title when they sign their first pro contract, the fighting is just meaningless today when it comes to World titles.

-Rick

Nate looks like a monster.

[bennie]

Sinatra. Like his voice, like his songs, but only on the radio. He sang like an angel and looked like a weasel.

[kikibalt]

Manuel Ortiz


"Manny"

By Diego

[scartissue]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWE8I9pzOz0
Amir Khan vs Breidis Prescott

Frankie is on the ball, as ever. It looks like the rumours about Khan's chin were right. All over in 54 seconds. Nervous breakdown time. Khan had just signed a deal with Sky-TV over here, for whom this was his first fight.
Ouch!

Hopefully he doesn't lose heart like Hamed. A loss in today's market seems to spell gloom and doom for fighters. Years ago it was dealt with a shrug of the shoulders and 'get me a rematch'. If the chin is definitely his achilles heel, let's hope Team Khan can get him to lose the invincibility tag and start keeping the chin protected. Otherwise we're looking at the second coming of Errol Christie.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Frank Sinatra


"Ol' Blue Eyes"

By Diego

[kikibalt]

Archie Moore in his later years


"Ol' Arch"

By Diego

[kikibalt]

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 06: Amir Khan (L) is knocked out in the first round by Breidis Prescott during Lightweight WBO Inter continental title fight on September 6, 2008 at MEN arena Manchester, England. (Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images)

[kikibalt]

Amir Khan of Great Britain (L) lays on the canvas after being knocked out by Breidis Prescott (R) of Colombia during their Commonwealth lightweight championship boxing match at the MEN Arena, Manchester, north-west England on September 6, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images)

[kikibalt]

Amir Khan of Great Britain (R) is caught for the first knock down by Breidis Prescott of Colombia during their Commonwealth lightweight championship boxing match at the MEN Arena, Manchester, north-west England on September 6, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images)