Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

I missed all the fights last night to attend the wedding of the daughter of an old friend yesterday. The reception lasted well into the night, as I knew it would. I don’t regret it though. It was a great day and a great wedding. My Friend, Ricardo, is from Guatemala, his wife was from either El Paso, Texas or Juarez, Mexico, she was never 100% clear on that, I’m not sure she ever really knew. Or maybe I’m the one that wasn’t clear.

This family is very special to my family. Many years ago when my wife and I were renting, they lived in the house behind us, on the same lot. It’s ironic because for the first year Ricardo and I did not exactly hit it off. Our kids became friends and so did our wives but with Ricardo and I it took a while. In time we all became almost like one big family on that property. In time Ricardo became much more than my friend. He became more like family. All of them did. They were humble beyond belief. Decent, hardworking, good people. The wife, Socorro passed away a couple of years ago. She was in her late forties. It was hard on Ricardo. Their kids are the salt of the Earth. Their kids and ours have remained friends over the years. More like cousins than friends.

Years ago when I was out of work and on disability for a few months, Socorro came up to me and handed me some money. I was puzzled and asked “What’s this?” She said to me. “You are on disability, take this”. Now, you should know, that even while on disability I was making more money than Ricardo and Socorro combined. They were not people of means. They were struggling. Barely making ends meet, if even that. So naturally I couldn’t accept the money, $75.00. I tried to give it back but she wouldn’t take it. Their daughter Melina was with her. She said to me, almost pleading” Randy, you have to take the money, my mother will be hurt, she won’t understand”. So I accepted the money. I have to tell you guys. It was one of the most humbling experience in my life. This woman was an angel. They both did many acts of kindness for my family and we in turn did our best for them. There were a few times when I was really able to repay them, sometimes without them knowing.

Socorro would have been proud of her children yesterday. They raised good kids. Smart kids. Hardworking patriotic American kids. My own kids admire them. The are three of them Brian, Melina and Kevin.

So yesterday was Melina”s wedding day. It was at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Whittier. It was a traditional Catholic wedding. It was an emotional experience for everyone, friends and family. I’m not exaggerating when I say Socorro’s spirit was in that church. Now I am no sissy but I had a few tears in my eyes. Ricardo walked his daughter down the aisle and you could see the emotion coming from them. I wouldn’t have missed this wedding for all the money in the world.

Later, at the reception, Ricardo and I were reminiscing about the old days. Remembering when our kids were little and how that backyard was filled with their noise every night until we called them in to do there homework. In the summer we let them stay up late. It was a fenced yard so we checked up on them but we didn’t really worry. Those days, in that home, on that lot, were some of the best days of our lives. We saw the sadness in each other’s eyes as we realized that those days are gone forever. They will never be back. We made a toast to the past, to Socorro and to the future. I’m glad I missed those fights last night.

Randy,

You mention St. Mary's Catholic Chruch in Whittier, Ca. and it brought back memories, memories that are dear to me. In 1984 my mom and dad renew their vows after fifty years of marriage. at St. Mary's.
In 2004 my sister Mary Ellen passed away and a mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary's for her. Her two daughters attended school at St. Mary's, one is now a doctor, the other one is a public accountant.

[kikibalt]

Read this and thought I would share it with you guys

My Dad, the illegal immigrant
From a Chevy's trunk to a home in Orange County: It's still the American dream.

By Gustavo Arellano
September 14, 2008

Millions of Americans point to Ellis Island as the place where their family was first introduced to the United States. Others trace their ancestry to ships that dropped anchor centuries ago in New England. Still more greeted Lady Liberty by way of airplanes and a visa. My father? He fondly remembers the comfortable space in the trunk of a Chevy Bel Air that was his ticket to the American dream.

In 1968, Dad left his dying village of Jomulquillo, in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, to join his three older brothers in East Los Angeles. Eighteen years old, impetuous and with a fourth-grade education, Lorenzo Arellano would have had to do months' worth of paperwork to enter the United States legally -- and there was still no guarantee that he'd be allowed to enter. Youth and a growling stomach have little patience, so my father paid a white woman -- a U.S. citizen -- to sneak him into the United States. In Tijuana, he squeezed into the Chevy's trunk alongside a cousin and another man and prayed.

The Bel Air passed across the U.S.-Mexico border with no problem -- the agents just waved it through. It sped north on Interstate 5 for an hour until it came to the Border Patrol checkpoint just south of San Clemente. The car slowed to a crawl, then stopped. A moment of tension. The migra gave the Chevy the OK to leave.

"We made it!" the other man whispered to Dad and his cousin. They wouldn't speak another word until the woman finally stopped in Chinatown, where two of my uncles greeted young Lorenzo by taking him to a bar and drinking long into the night.

That wasn't the only time Papi entered the United States illegally. Twice, he climbed a fence from Tijuana and ran through the desert east of San Ysidro. Once, he spent a month in jail for using false documents. Perhaps Dad's most dramatic border crossing was when he crawled through a sewage-filled pipeline for about an hour to San Ysidro, in total darkness and with others ahead and behind him. The sewer emptied out near a McDonald's -- insert your own Big Mac joke here.

My father, now a naturalized citizen, never tires of telling these stories to anyone who'll listen -- his eyes light up, he gestures wildly and a smile always cracks wide. And, frankly, neither do I. Although millions of Americans might consider Dad a repeat violator of national sovereignty, I see in his borderland adventures the pluck of the Pilgrims, the resolve of a homesteader, the type of pioneer ethos that has fueled this country for so long. Frederick Jackson Turner was wrong; the American frontier will never close, not as long as there are people like my father who were and are willing to cross deserts, stuff themselves into cars, float across water -- just for the chance to establish themselves in this country and thrive.

Almost every Mexican family I know has followed the same trajectory we have: illegal entry, rough times, hard work leading to success and assimilation for the kids, with the 1986 amnesty helping mucho.

Twenty-nine years of living among illegal immigrants and their American-born children has taught me this truism. And that's why my father's example is crucial and I'll retell it again and again. His story isn't important because it's special; it's important because it's the rule rather than the exception, a rule few want to believe and that therefore must be repeated as often as possible.

I'm glad that my father entered this country illegally. If he had come "the right way," our family's success would've been chalked up as just another example of immigrant can-do. But as an illegal, his accomplishments (as well as mine and my siblings') contradict the conventional wisdom regarding undocumented Mexicans that's been prevalent for this decade. My father's repeated breaking of immigration law is further proof that this country can and does rehabilitate all of her huddled masses, whether legal or not.

Personally, his stories motivate me. If my father could leave his life back in the rancho and risk everything at age 18, I have no excuse to whine about anything. And his stories reward me with the pleasure of watching anti-immigrant loons stumble for words when I ask them to explain how my father and my family could've excelled considering that we come from alien stock.

Dad isn't perfect by any means -- indeed, he's suffered through most of the pathologies that many people attribute to illegal immigrants: Alcoholism. Fecundity. Lack of education. Failure to fully assimilate. It doesn't matter. The life he's crafted for himself is no different from your typical white, middle-class Valley resident who rails about the Mexican invasion.

Does my pride in Dad's outlaw past mean I support a free-for-all at the border? No. We deserve an accurate account of who enters and leaves the United States. We deserve immigrants who don't cheat the system, don't commit crimes against others, who better their communities and don't become burdens. But the traits embodied by Dad and so many more immigrants that spurred them to enter this country illegally -- courage, an indomitable spirit, the ambition to seek a better lot in this country -- are to be lauded and copied. (And spare me the letters about the illegal-entry bit; the Sooners did the same thing, yet we don't flinch when Oklahomans celebrate their spirit). To say this isn't traitorous or even an endorsement of the Reconquista, it's the truth.

We recently celebrated Dad's 57th birthday in the Anaheim home he's just a couple of thousand dollars away from finally paying off. His brothers were there, no longer scared teens running from the law but middle-aged U.S. citizens who want Barack Obama to win the presidential election but hate L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (ever since his extramarital affair was uncovered). Their children -- my cousins, almost all children of former illegal immigrants -- sat alongside the pool, feasting on carne asada and keeping an eye on their kids, who don't speak a lick of Spanish. My dad told his tales again, with my uncles corroborating each detail. When we brought out the cake, everyone sang "Happy Birthday" in English. Somewhere, Lou Dobbs cries.

Gustavo Arellano is a contributing editor to Opinion and author of the ¡Ask a Mexican! column in the OC Weekly. His new book, "Orange County: A Personal History," comes out Tuesday.

That was inspirational Frank. I'm sure many will disagree with his perspective. It was one story out of millions.

Agree or disagree, it is a great and inspirational story.

[Randyman]

Read this and thought I would share it with you guys

My Dad, the illegal immigrant
From a Chevy's trunk to a home in Orange County: It's still the American dream.

By Gustavo Arellano
September 14, 2008

Millions of Americans point to Ellis Island as the place where their family was first introduced to the United States. Others trace their ancestry to ships that dropped anchor centuries ago in New England. Still more greeted Lady Liberty by way of airplanes and a visa. My father? He fondly remembers the comfortable space in the trunk of a Chevy Bel Air that was his ticket to the American dream.

In 1968, Dad left his dying village of Jomulquillo, in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, to join his three older brothers in East Los Angeles. Eighteen years old, impetuous and with a fourth-grade education, Lorenzo Arellano would have had to do months' worth of paperwork to enter the United States legally -- and there was still no guarantee that he'd be allowed to enter. Youth and a growling stomach have little patience, so my father paid a white woman -- a U.S. citizen -- to sneak him into the United States. In Tijuana, he squeezed into the Chevy's trunk alongside a cousin and another man and prayed.

The Bel Air passed across the U.S.-Mexico border with no problem -- the agents just waved it through. It sped north on Interstate 5 for an hour until it came to the Border Patrol checkpoint just south of San Clemente. The car slowed to a crawl, then stopped. A moment of tension. The migra gave the Chevy the OK to leave.

"We made it!" the other man whispered to Dad and his cousin. They wouldn't speak another word until the woman finally stopped in Chinatown, where two of my uncles greeted young Lorenzo by taking him to a bar and drinking long into the night.

That wasn't the only time Papi entered the United States illegally. Twice, he climbed a fence from Tijuana and ran through the desert east of San Ysidro. Once, he spent a month in jail for using false documents. Perhaps Dad's most dramatic border crossing was when he crawled through a sewage-filled pipeline for about an hour to San Ysidro, in total darkness and with others ahead and behind him. The sewer emptied out near a McDonald's -- insert your own Big Mac joke here.

My father, now a naturalized citizen, never tires of telling these stories to anyone who'll listen -- his eyes light up, he gestures wildly and a smile always cracks wide. And, frankly, neither do I. Although millions of Americans might consider Dad a repeat violator of national sovereignty, I see in his borderland adventures the pluck of the Pilgrims, the resolve of a homesteader, the type of pioneer ethos that has fueled this country for so long. Frederick Jackson Turner was wrong; the American frontier will never close, not as long as there are people like my father who were and are willing to cross deserts, stuff themselves into cars, float across water -- just for the chance to establish themselves in this country and thrive.

Almost every Mexican family I know has followed the same trajectory we have: illegal entry, rough times, hard work leading to success and assimilation for the kids, with the 1986 amnesty helping mucho.

Twenty-nine years of living among illegal immigrants and their American-born children has taught me this truism. And that's why my father's example is crucial and I'll retell it again and again. His story isn't important because it's special; it's important because it's the rule rather than the exception, a rule few want to believe and that therefore must be repeated as often as possible.

I'm glad that my father entered this country illegally. If he had come "the right way," our family's success would've been chalked up as just another example of immigrant can-do. But as an illegal, his accomplishments (as well as mine and my siblings') contradict the conventional wisdom regarding undocumented Mexicans that's been prevalent for this decade. My father's repeated breaking of immigration law is further proof that this country can and does rehabilitate all of her huddled masses, whether legal or not.

Personally, his stories motivate me. If my father could leave his life back in the rancho and risk everything at age 18, I have no excuse to whine about anything. And his stories reward me with the pleasure of watching anti-immigrant loons stumble for words when I ask them to explain how my father and my family could've excelled considering that we come from alien stock.

Dad isn't perfect by any means -- indeed, he's suffered through most of the pathologies that many people attribute to illegal immigrants: Alcoholism. Fecundity. Lack of education. Failure to fully assimilate. It doesn't matter. The life he's crafted for himself is no different from your typical white, middle-class Valley resident who rails about the Mexican invasion.

Does my pride in Dad's outlaw past mean I support a free-for-all at the border? No. We deserve an accurate account of who enters and leaves the United States. We deserve immigrants who don't cheat the system, don't commit crimes against others, who better their communities and don't become burdens. But the traits embodied by Dad and so many more immigrants that spurred them to enter this country illegally -- courage, an indomitable spirit, the ambition to seek a better lot in this country -- are to be lauded and copied. (And spare me the letters about the illegal-entry bit; the Sooners did the same thing, yet we don't flinch when Oklahomans celebrate their spirit). To say this isn't traitorous or even an endorsement of the Reconquista, it's the truth.

We recently celebrated Dad's 57th birthday in the Anaheim home he's just a couple of thousand dollars away from finally paying off. His brothers were there, no longer scared teens running from the law but middle-aged U.S. citizens who want Barack Obama to win the presidential election but hate L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (ever since his extramarital affair was uncovered). Their children -- my cousins, almost all children of former illegal immigrants -- sat alongside the pool, feasting on carne asada and keeping an eye on their kids, who don't speak a lick of Spanish. My dad told his tales again, with my uncles corroborating each detail. When we brought out the cake, everyone sang "Happy Birthday" in English. Somewhere, Lou Dobbs cries.

Gustavo Arellano is a contributing editor to Opinion and author of the ¡Ask a Mexican! column in the OC Weekly. His new book, "Orange County: A Personal History," comes out Tuesday.

That was inspirational Frank. I'm sure many will disagree with his perspective. It was one story out of millions.

Agree or disagree, it is a great and inspirational story.

Agreed. They are the ultimate underdogs. There are so many success stories that need to be told.

[Randyman]

I missed all the fights last night to attend the wedding of the daughter of an old friend yesterday. The reception lasted well into the night, as I knew it would. I don’t regret it though. It was a great day and a great wedding. My Friend, Ricardo, is from Guatemala, his wife was from either El Paso, Texas or Juarez, Mexico, she was never 100% clear on that, I’m not sure she ever really knew. Or maybe I’m the one that wasn’t clear.

This family is very special to my family. Many years ago when my wife and I were renting, they lived in the house behind us, on the same lot. It’s ironic because for the first year Ricardo and I did not exactly hit it off. Our kids became friends and so did our wives but with Ricardo and I it took a while. In time we all became almost like one big family on that property. In time Ricardo became much more than my friend. He became more like family. All of them did. They were humble beyond belief. Decent, hardworking, good people. The wife, Socorro passed away a couple of years ago. She was in her late forties. It was hard on Ricardo. Their kids are the salt of the Earth. Their kids and ours have remained friends over the years. More like cousins than friends.

Years ago when I was out of work and on disability for a few months, Socorro came up to me and handed me some money. I was puzzled and asked “What’s this?” She said to me. “You are on disability, take this”. Now, you should know, that even while on disability I was making more money than Ricardo and Socorro combined. They were not people of means. They were struggling. Barely making ends meet, if even that. So naturally I couldn’t accept the money, $75.00. I tried to give it back but she wouldn’t take it. Their daughter Melina was with her. She said to me, almost pleading” Randy, you have to take the money, my mother will be hurt, she won’t understand”. So I accepted the money. I have to tell you guys. It was one of the most humbling experience in my life. This woman was an angel. They both did many acts of kindness for my family and we in turn did our best for them. There were a few times when I was really able to repay them, sometimes without them knowing.

Socorro would have been proud of her children yesterday. They raised good kids. Smart kids. Hardworking patriotic American kids. My own kids admire them. The are three of them Brian, Melina and Kevin.

So yesterday was Melina”s wedding day. It was at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Whittier. It was a traditional Catholic wedding. It was an emotional experience for everyone, friends and family. I’m not exaggerating when I say Socorro’s spirit was in that church. Now I am no sissy but I had a few tears in my eyes. Ricardo walked his daughter down the aisle and you could see the emotion coming from them. I wouldn’t have missed this wedding for all the money in the world.

Later, at the reception, Ricardo and I were reminiscing about the old days. Remembering when our kids were little and how that backyard was filled with their noise every night until we called them in to do there homework. In the summer we let them stay up late. It was a fenced yard so we checked up on them but we didn’t really worry. Those days, in that home, on that lot, were some of the best days of our lives. We saw the sadness in each other’s eyes as we realized that those days are gone forever. They will never be back. We made a toast to the past, to Socorro and to the future. I’m glad I missed those fights last night.

Randy,

You mention St. Mary's Catholic Chruch in Whittier, Ca. and it brought back memories, memories that are dear to me. In 1984 my mom and dad renew their vows after fifty years of marriage. at St. Mary's.
In 2004 my sister Mary Ellen passed away and a mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary's for her. Her two daughters attended school at St. Mary's, one is now a doctor, the other one is a public accountant.

Lot's of family history there Frank. My kids all went to catechism there, made their communions and confirmations there and my youngest daughter was baptized there. I have been to quite a few weddings there and a few funeral services as well.

I'm sorry to hear about your sister Mary Ellen, Frank. 2004 was not that long ago. my condolences.

[kikibalt]

Thank you, Randy.

[kikibalt]

Randy, my mom and dad renewing their vows at St. Mary's.
1984

[Randyman]

Randy, my mom and dad renewing their vows at St. Mary's.
1984

Frank, what a great photo. That church still looks exactly the same. It hasn't change a bit.

[kikibalt]

Randy, my mom and dad renewing their vows at St. Mary's.
1984

Frank, what a great photo. That church still looks exactly the same. It hasn't change a bit.

Randy, that me on the right (guys standing) my brother to my right, the rest are our brother's in law, married to our sisters....

[Randyman]

Randy, my mom and dad renewing their vows at St. Mary's.
1984

Frank, what a great photo. That church still looks exactly the same. It hasn't change a bit.

Randy, that me on the right (guys standing) my brother to my right, the rest are our brother's in law, married to our sisters....

I was wondering if that was you. With all the photos I have seen of you including the DVD's of the boys fights, you really haven't changed much.

[kikibalt]

Vernon Forrest was right. His loss in June against Sergio Mora was a fluke. He put on a boxing lesson against The Contender winner. Mora couldn't get his punches off and couldn't avoid getting peppered by the Forrest jab throughout the fight.

Forrest won on all three cards by lopsided scores of 119-109, 117-110 and 118-109. He showed Mora little respect throughout the fight. It started with him choosing to turn to his side for the pre-fight stare down.

Forrest outlanded Mora 231 to 83. He also landed at much more efficient clip of 36% against Mora's 17%. Mora is pretty slick but his herky-jerky motion didn't fool Forrest who stayed within his game and committed to the jab.


"That was the way I was supposed to fight to the first time," said Forrest. "This was Boxing 101. This was boxing, use the jab and the jab sets up everything."

Forrest also did solid damage with the right uppercut but it was his combos that shook Mora. Mora was blasted at the end of the 7th round when his knee touched the canvas.

Mora offered some excuses after the fight.


"I lost this fight on the scale," said Mora, who missed weight by two pounds on Friday. "I told my camp to never to get me a fight with less than eight weeks to get ready. I only had six weeks but I couldn't turn down a fight Mexican Independence weekend."

What's next for Forrest? He is 37 and should only be in major fights. He is once against the WBC 154 champ but there aren't any major fights at 154. Is a battle against WBA champ Daniel Santos a big fight? Will the winner of Ricardo Mayorga-Shane Mosley call out Forrest?

Maybe matchups at 160 against Arthur Abraham, Felix Sturm or Winky Wright are on the horizon. His promoter Gary Shaw also said maybe someone from 147 would move up to face Forrest.

[kikibalt]

Randy, my mom and dad renewing their vows at St. Mary's.
1984
Frank, what a great photo. That church still looks exactly the same. It hasn't change a bit.

Randy, that me on the right (guys standing) my brother to my right, the rest are our brother's in law, married to our sisters

I was wondering if that was you. With all the photos I have seen of you including the DVD's of the boys fights, you really haven't changed much.

I'm still the same me, just older and wiser I hope.

[Rick Farris]

Brian . . . We need you out here, and yes, I will make sure you have a ticket. Just let me know as soon as you can, so I can see that you have a seat right next to your Uncle John, who will be sitting between Frank & Roger. Seriously, let me know by E-mail ([email protected]). I regret only having one ticket for you, but the event is a sell-out already. It will take place at the Los Angeles LAX Airport Marriot Hotel on November 15th (Sat.). If you need a room, the Hotel is offering a special rate ($99 per nite) for those associated with the WBHOF. I have the tickets, and will see you are at the same table as Frank, Rog, Randy and Scar. Gene LeBell has also been invited, but he has yet to RSVP. I'd really like you to meet him.

-Rick
This is doable.
Im gonna book a room a room at the Marriott.
I'll be there.
I'll fly out Friday and leave early Sunday.
It will be great meeting the guys on the thread.
Count me in and let me know how much I owe for the ticket.
Looking forward to it.


Brian

Brian . . . E-mail me with your mailing address and I'll get your ticket in the mail for you. Also, when you book your room, be sure to mention that you are associated with the WBHOF for the special rate. There should be no problem, but if there is, be sure to notify me and I'll make sure things are taken care of. This is GREAT! I really look forward to meeting you. We have Kiki, Dagos, Scartissue, Pug, Randy & myself reping this thread.

-Rick

I am going to book a room, so Connie and I can spent the nite there and not have to drive home that nite, better safe then sorry.....Good :idea:

I'm doing the same, Frank. We may set-up a make-shift studio in my room for interviews? That way we can maintain control over the lighting and sound, something that is too difficult at the banquet & autograph signing sessions. Dan Hanley and I got some great stuff last year, but we were hurried, pulling the boxers out of their autograph signing sessions and dealing with people entering our area while we were recording sound. This year we will prepare some questions in advance for a few special interviews. I have to pull our group together and see what we are going to do in this regard. We will lso have Greg Patterson at our table, he's our cameraman and he'll do some shooting at our table, as well as the banquet. Those of you who will be there will like Greg, a real boxing fan and a great cinematographer. If you want to see a preview of his regular work in the film industry, click on the link below, when you get to his site click on: "trailers" (large format) and watch a few minutes of clips from some commercials, feature films and music videos he has photographed. I did the lighting on all but his aireal shots. It's a fun clip to check out. He'll be shooting our interviews and capturing our Boxrec group in High Definition. Dawn Paradis will also be at our table shooting stills again. So if any of you have any special shots you'd like to have taken with any of the fighters or guests, just let us know and Dawn will accomodate you.

For Greg's clip click on this link: www.pattersondp.com

-Rick

[Chuck1052]

Gustavo Arellano is an impressive young man who has written a number of interesting opinion pieces for the Los Angeles Times. When he was promoting his first book, Ask a Mexican, I saw him at a Borders bookstore in Oxnard about a year ago. After speaking to the small crowd about his background and the book, he had a book signing session. I still have my autographed copy.

- Chuck Johnston

[Rick Farris]

For Bennie . . .

Bennie, today I'm a lighting director on an American TV series that debuts here on October 14th. It's called "Eli Stone" and the star is a Brit who is a quite a boxing fan, Johnnie Lee Miller. Johnnie was married to Angelina Jolie for four years, but they divorced in the late 90's. Johnnie is also a football fan and likes the Chelsea FC team. I know that Johnny likes Amir Khan, and was unaware of his recent KO loss. I've printed out some KO photos from that fight that Frank posted here and I'm going to take them to work tomorrow to show him. When we spoke on Friday, Johnnie was unaware the Khan had been flattened in 54 seconds by the Coumbian. Are you familiar with Johnnie Lee Miller? I really don't know of his background aside from his marriage to Jolie? Just curious.

-Rick Farris

[Rick Farris]

I met Roland LaStarza in 1964, when I was 12. This was the year I started boxing, and the former heavyweight contender was an actor in those days, co-starring on a short-lived Warner Bros. TV series, "Gallant Men", which was a WW2 episodic along the lines of "Combat", which was MGM-TV's more successful WW2 series of the era. My grandfather was a Warner Bros. lighting director, close to retirement, and he knew I'd get a kick out of meeting a guy who challenged the great Rocky Marciano for the heavyweight title. LaStarza was surprised how much I knew about his career, and I remember when we shook hands, his hand was HUGE. He was a kind man, and smoked a big stogey and took the time to converse with a kid who loved boxing.

Roland LaStarza was a helluva fighter, a good actor and a class act! LaStarza is one of only five men to take Marciano the distance during the Rock's career (Ted Lowry did it twice). I think Roland LaStarza's record merits posting here?

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Here you are, Rick

Roland LaStarza

Country USA
Global Id 12212
Birthplace Bronx, NY
Division Heavyweight
Born 1927-05-12
Stance Orthodox
Height 183cm


Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1961-05-08 Monroe Ratliff San Francisco, USA L UD 10
1960-12-21 Ike Thomas Paterson, USA W TKO 3
1960-11-30 Danny Logan Paterson, USA W KO 7
1958-12-01 Larry Zernitz New York City, USA L SD 10
1957-10-08 Al Anderson Holyoke, USA W SD 10
1957-06-11 Jimmy McMillan Houston, USA W KO 3
1955-03-02 Julio Mederos Miami, USA L KO 5
1954-12-01 Charley Norkus Cleveland, USA L UD 10
1954-03-30 Don Cockell Kensington, United Kingdo L PTS 10
1953-09-24 Rocky Marciano New York City, USA L TKO 11
1953-02-13 Rex Layne New York City, USA W SD 10
1952-12-01 Fred Rocky Jones Brooklyn, USA W UD 10
1952-10-09 Fred Rocky Jones Akron, USA L UD 10
1952-05-30 Dan Bucceroni New York City, USA W UD 10
1952-04-18 Joe McFadden New York City, USA W TKO 5
1952-02-13 Ralph Schneider Miami Beach, USA W PTS 10
1952-02-01 Bill Wilson West Palm Beach, USA W KO 4
1951-12-21 Dan Bucceroni New York City, USA L UD 10
1951-08-03 Ted Lowry Long Beach, USA W UD 10
1951-06-11 Gene Felton Baltimore, USA W TKO 3
1951-05-04 Vern Mitchell New York City, USA W TKO 8
1951-03-12 Keene Simmons Providence, USA W UD 10
1951-02-05 Curt Kennedy Providence, USA W KO 6
1951-01-15 Ted Lowry Providence, USA W PTS 10
1950-10-20 Duilio Spagnolo New York City, USA W UD 10
1950-08-25 Keene Simmons Long Beach, USA W UD 8
1950-05-13 Georgie Fuller Waterbury, USA W KO 9
1950-05-01 Jimmy Walls Holyoke, USA W KO 3
1950-03-24 Rocky Marciano New York City, USA L SD 10
1949-12-02 Cesar Brion New York City, USA W UD 10
1949-10-26 Walter Hafer New York City, USA W KO 9
1949-09-02 Joe Dominic Long Beach, USA W PTS 8
1949-07-29 Jackie Lyons Long Beach, USA W TKO 5
1949-06-27 Harry Haft Brooklyn, USA W KO 4
1949-06-09 Jimmy Carollo Long Island City, USA W UD 10
1949-04-28 Eldridge Eatman Sunnyside, Queens, USA W PTS 8
1949-02-25 Gino Buonvino New York City, USA W TKO 6
1949-01-14 Bill Weinberg New York City, USA W PTS 8
1948-12-10 Gene Gosney New York City, USA W TKO 7
1948-11-06 Don Mogard Brooklyn, USA W UD 8
1948-10-20 Mike Jacobs Jamaica, USA W PTS 6
1948-09-23 Don Mogard Bronx, USA W PTS 6
1948-08-30 Mel McKinney Long Island City, USA W KO 4
1948-08-17 Teddy George Brooklyn, USA W KO 2
1948-07-27 Oscar Goode Brooklyn, USA W TKO 4
1948-07-14 Tony Gangemi Bronx, USA W PTS 8
1948-06-25 Ben Rusk Bronx, USA W PTS 6
1948-05-04 Freddie McManus Bronx, USA W PTS 6
1948-04-24 John Holloway Brooklyn, USA W TKO 5
1948-04-07 Claude McClintock Bridgeport, USA W PTS 6
1948-03-19 Steve King New York City, USA W PTS 6
1948-02-24 Jimmy White Bronx, USA W KO 2
1948-02-14 Frankie Reed Brooklyn, USA W TKO 4
1948-01-30 Mike Belluscio New York City, USA W PTS 6
1947-12-23 Luther McMillen Bronx, USA W PTS 6
1947-12-13 Fred Ramsey Brooklyn, USA W TKO 4
1947-12-01 Matt Mincey New York City, USA W PTS 6
1947-11-11 Lorne McCarthy Bronx, USA W PTS 6
1947-10-31 Jimmy Evans New York City, USA W PTS 6
1947-10-21 Matt Mincey Bronx, USA W PTS 6
1947-10-10 Zeke Brown New York City, USA W KO 1
1947-09-09 Jim Johnson Bronx, USA W KO 1
1947-08-25 Jimmy Dodd Long Island City, USA W TKO 4
1947-08-12 Al Zappala Bronx, USA W KO 5
1947-07-15 Jack Johnson Bronx, USA W KO 6
1947-07-07 Dave Glanton Long Island City, USA W PTS 6

Record to Date
Won 57 (KOs 27) Lost 9 Drawn 0 Total 66

[Rick Farris]

Gustavo Arellano is an impressive young man who has written a number of interesting opinion pieces for the Los Angeles Times. When he was promoting his first book, Ask a Mexican, I saw him at a Borders bookstore in Oxnard about a year ago. After speaking to the small crowd about his background and the book, he had a book signing session. I still have my autographed copy.

- Chuck Johnston

By the way, Chuck. If you would like to attend the WBHOF Banquet this year and join quite of few of the posters on this thread at my table, I would like to have you as my guest. I think I'm down to the last ticket, and if you'd like to join us we'd love to have you. The date is November 15th at the LAX Marriott, many of your friends and associates will be present.

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

You guys have seen Joe Chavez, cutman for Oscar De La Hoya,
here is his boxing record

Joe Chavez

Country USA
Global Id 79890
Hometown Albuquerque, NM
Division Lightweight


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1958-10-09 Nat Simon Los Angeles, USA L SD 6
1958-06-19 Enrique Arreola Los Angeles, USA D PTS 6
1958-04-26 Antonio Marcilla Hollywood, USA L UD 6
1958-02-01 Ernest Krenzek Hollywood, USA L SD 6
1957-12-05 Jimmy Jackson Los Angeles, USA L SD 6
1957-10-17 Little Firpo Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1957-04-27 Little Firpo Hollywood, USA L TKO 4
1957-03-21 Jimmy Feaster Los Angeles, USA L KO 1
1957-02-21 Questa Walker Los Angeles, USA W TKO 4
1957-01-31 Frank Jennings Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4
1957-01-24 Joe Smyer Los Angeles, USA D PTS 6
1957-01-17 Joe Smyer Los Angeles, USA L SD 6
1956-10-04 Herman Beasley Los Angeles, USA W UD 6
1956-09-08 Paul Baker Hollywood, USA L UD 6
1956-05-26 Rudy Mendoza Hollywood, USA L PTS 6
1956-05-05 Billy Blevins Hollywood, USA W TKO 2
1956-04-14 Al Barraza Hollywood, USA W UD 6
1956-04-07 Larry Rozadilla Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1956-03-29 Tony Reyes Los Angeles, USA D PTS 4
1956-03-01 Dargin McWhorter Los Angeles, USA L PTS 4
1956-02-25 Billy Blevins Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1956-02-11 Lloyd Fowler Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1956-02-09 Posey Bridges Los Angeles, USA L PTS 4
1956-02-04 Benny Robledo Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1956-01-21 Benny Robledo Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1956-01-07 Ray Copeland Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1955-10-22 Rudy Montoya Albuquerque, USA L UD 4

Record to Date
Won 8 (KOs 2) Lost 16 Drawn 3 Total 27

[kikibalt]

Sergio Mora (right) and Vernon Forrest trade blows during their
WBC super welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden
Arena, on September 13, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Forrest dominated
Mora from start to finish to regain the World Boxing Council light
middleweight title with a unanimous 12-round decision.

[Rick Farris]

You guys have seen Joe Chavez, cutman for Oscar De La Hoya,
here is his boxing record

Joe Chavez

Country USA
Global Id 79890
Hometown Albuquerque, NM
Division Lightweight


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1958-10-09 Nat Simon Los Angeles, USA L SD 6
1958-06-19 Enrique Arreola Los Angeles, USA D PTS 6
1958-04-26 Antonio Marcilla Hollywood, USA L UD 6
1958-02-01 Ernest Krenzek Hollywood, USA L SD 6
1957-12-05 Jimmy Jackson Los Angeles, USA L SD 6
1957-10-17 Little Firpo Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6
1957-04-27 Little Firpo Hollywood, USA L TKO 4
1957-03-21 Jimmy Feaster Los Angeles, USA L KO 1
1957-02-21 Questa Walker Los Angeles, USA W TKO 4
1957-01-31 Frank Jennings Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4
1957-01-24 Joe Smyer Los Angeles, USA D PTS 6
1957-01-17 Joe Smyer Los Angeles, USA L SD 6
1956-10-04 Herman Beasley Los Angeles, USA W UD 6
1956-09-08 Paul Baker Hollywood, USA L UD 6
1956-05-26 Rudy Mendoza Hollywood, USA L PTS 6
1956-05-05 Billy Blevins Hollywood, USA W TKO 2
1956-04-14 Al Barraza Hollywood, USA W UD 6
1956-04-07 Larry Rozadilla Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1956-03-29 Tony Reyes Los Angeles, USA D PTS 4
1956-03-01 Dargin McWhorter Los Angeles, USA L PTS 4
1956-02-25 Billy Blevins Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1956-02-11 Lloyd Fowler Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1956-02-09 Posey Bridges Los Angeles, USA L PTS 4
1956-02-04 Benny Robledo Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1956-01-21 Benny Robledo Hollywood, USA W PTS 4
1956-01-07 Ray Copeland Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1955-10-22 Rudy Montoya Albuquerque, USA L UD 4

Record to Date
Won 8 (KOs 2) Lost 16 Drawn 3 Total 27

Frank . . .

I see Joe once in awhile at the Lincoln Heights Jail Gym. He occasionally will work with a young boxer as a teacher. However, as you said, his big gig today is working with Oscar, wrapping his hands and taking care of cuts in Oscar's corner. I have never had anything against Oscar, and I always root for an East L.A. guy over somebody from the outside, but on December 6th, I'll be pulling for the Filippino Pac-Man to upset the bigger DLH. Manny will be giving up a lot of weight on fight night, and Oscar has a big punch, however, this is a guy who can out work Oscar. Manny fights hard for a full twelve rounds, and just might bust up Oscar's pretty face. I don't see Pac KOing a guy like Oscar, but if he can stay on his feet, I believe he'll make Ocar's life misearable for 47 minutes. Just my opinion.

-Rick

[Expug]

Brian . . . We need you out here, and yes, I will make sure you have a ticket. Just let me know as soon as you can, so I can see that you have a seat right next to your Uncle John, who will be sitting between Frank & Roger. Seriously, let me know by E-mail ([email protected]). I regret only having one ticket for you, but the event is a sell-out already. It will take place at the Los Angeles LAX Airport Marriot Hotel on November 15th (Sat.). If you need a room, the Hotel is offering a special rate ($99 per nite) for those associated with the WBHOF. I have the tickets, and will see you are at the same table as Frank, Rog, Randy and Scar. Gene LeBell has also been invited, but he has yet to RSVP. I'd really like you to meet him.

-Rick
This is doable.
Im gonna book a room a room at the Marriott.
I'll be there.
I'll fly out Friday and leave early Sunday.
It will be great meeting the guys on the thread.
Count me in and let me know how much I owe for the ticket.
Looking forward to it.


Brian

Brian . . . E-mail me with your mailing address and I'll get your ticket in the mail for you. Also, when you book your room, be sure to mention that you are associated with the WBHOF for the special rate. There should be no problem, but if there is, be sure to notify me and I'll make sure things are taken care of. This is GREAT! I really look forward to meeting you. We have Kiki, Dagos, Scartissue, Pug, Randy & myself reping this thread.

-Rick

I am going to book a room, so Connie and I can spent the nite there and not have to drive home that nite, better safe then sorry.....Good :idea:

Thanks Rick,
Im really looking forward to meeting you also . And of course the rest of the crew.
Rick I'll shoot you an E-mail tommorow with my address.
Or would it be easier to just send it via PM?

[dagosd2000]

Read this and thought I would share it with you guys

My Dad, the illegal immigrant
From a Chevy's trunk to a home in Orange County: It's still the American dream.

By Gustavo Arellano
September 14, 2008

Millions of Americans point to Ellis Island as the place where their family was first introduced to the United States. Others trace their ancestry to ships that dropped anchor centuries ago in New England. Still more greeted Lady Liberty by way of airplanes and a visa. My father? He fondly remembers the comfortable space in the trunk of a Chevy Bel Air that was his ticket to the American dream.

In 1968, Dad left his dying village of Jomulquillo, in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, to join his three older brothers in East Los Angeles. Eighteen years old, impetuous and with a fourth-grade education, Lorenzo Arellano would have had to do months' worth of paperwork to enter the United States legally -- and there was still no guarantee that he'd be allowed to enter. Youth and a growling stomach have little patience, so my father paid a white woman -- a U.S. citizen -- to sneak him into the United States. In Tijuana, he squeezed into the Chevy's trunk alongside a cousin and another man and prayed.

The Bel Air passed across the U.S.-Mexico border with no problem -- the agents just waved it through. It sped north on Interstate 5 for an hour until it came to the Border Patrol checkpoint just south of San Clemente. The car slowed to a crawl, then stopped. A moment of tension. The migra gave the Chevy the OK to leave.

"We made it!" the other man whispered to Dad and his cousin. They wouldn't speak another word until the woman finally stopped in Chinatown, where two of my uncles greeted young Lorenzo by taking him to a bar and drinking long into the night.

That wasn't the only time Papi entered the United States illegally. Twice, he climbed a fence from Tijuana and ran through the desert east of San Ysidro. Once, he spent a month in jail for using false documents. Perhaps Dad's most dramatic border crossing was when he crawled through a sewage-filled pipeline for about an hour to San Ysidro, in total darkness and with others ahead and behind him. The sewer emptied out near a McDonald's -- insert your own Big Mac joke here.

My father, now a naturalized citizen, never tires of telling these stories to anyone who'll listen -- his eyes light up, he gestures wildly and a smile always cracks wide. And, frankly, neither do I. Although millions of Americans might consider Dad a repeat violator of national sovereignty, I see in his borderland adventures the pluck of the Pilgrims, the resolve of a homesteader, the type of pioneer ethos that has fueled this country for so long. Frederick Jackson Turner was wrong; the American frontier will never close, not as long as there are people like my father who were and are willing to cross deserts, stuff themselves into cars, float across water -- just for the chance to establish themselves in this country and thrive.

Almost every Mexican family I know has followed the same trajectory we have: illegal entry, rough times, hard work leading to success and assimilation for the kids, with the 1986 amnesty helping mucho.

Twenty-nine years of living among illegal immigrants and their American-born children has taught me this truism. And that's why my father's example is crucial and I'll retell it again and again. His story isn't important because it's special; it's important because it's the rule rather than the exception, a rule few want to believe and that therefore must be repeated as often as possible.

I'm glad that my father entered this country illegally. If he had come "the right way," our family's success would've been chalked up as just another example of immigrant can-do. But as an illegal, his accomplishments (as well as mine and my siblings') contradict the conventional wisdom regarding undocumented Mexicans that's been prevalent for this decade. My father's repeated breaking of immigration law is further proof that this country can and does rehabilitate all of her huddled masses, whether legal or not.

Personally, his stories motivate me. If my father could leave his life back in the rancho and risk everything at age 18, I have no excuse to whine about anything. And his stories reward me with the pleasure of watching anti-immigrant loons stumble for words when I ask them to explain how my father and my family could've excelled considering that we come from alien stock.

Dad isn't perfect by any means -- indeed, he's suffered through most of the pathologies that many people attribute to illegal immigrants: Alcoholism. Fecundity. Lack of education. Failure to fully assimilate. It doesn't matter. The life he's crafted for himself is no different from your typical white, middle-class Valley resident who rails about the Mexican invasion.

Does my pride in Dad's outlaw past mean I support a free-for-all at the border? No. We deserve an accurate account of who enters and leaves the United States. We deserve immigrants who don't cheat the system, don't commit crimes against others, who better their communities and don't become burdens. But the traits embodied by Dad and so many more immigrants that spurred them to enter this country illegally -- courage, an indomitable spirit, the ambition to seek a better lot in this country -- are to be lauded and copied. (And spare me the letters about the illegal-entry bit; the Sooners did the same thing, yet we don't flinch when Oklahomans celebrate their spirit). To say this isn't traitorous or even an endorsement of the Reconquista, it's the truth.

We recently celebrated Dad's 57th birthday in the Anaheim home he's just a couple of thousand dollars away from finally paying off. His brothers were there, no longer scared teens running from the law but middle-aged U.S. citizens who want Barack Obama to win the presidential election but hate L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (ever since his extramarital affair was uncovered). Their children -- my cousins, almost all children of former illegal immigrants -- sat alongside the pool, feasting on carne asada and keeping an eye on their kids, who don't speak a lick of Spanish. My dad told his tales again, with my uncles corroborating each detail. When we brought out the cake, everyone sang "Happy Birthday" in English. Somewhere, Lou Dobbs cries.

Gustavo Arellano is a contributing editor to Opinion and author of the ¡Ask a Mexican! column in the OC Weekly. His new book, "Orange County: A Personal History," comes out Tuesday.

Naw,this Gustavo Arellano saw it right. I've been up to my alligators with illegal immigrants since I've been married.You think it's easy for a person to turn his back on his country? It's a nightmare for these people. I used to be in the business of smuggling illegals. The only catch was I didn't charge anyone. It was mostly my wife's side of the family. Before 9/11 it was like taking candy from a baby.

Bringing across children is the difficult part. A "coyote"(smuggler)usually won't mess with it,or if he does he'll tell the parents that the kid has to go with him alone. And the fee is doubled. Most parents won't go for this. For me ,it was easy. Before 9/11,Customs didn't ask Americans for documentation. I'd go with my wife across the border to TJ. Tijuana is the "spring board" for illegals coming to the U.S.

I'd put the kid or kids in my blue van. I'd get to the customs and with a big bravado would say,"Me and the kids are American and my wife is Mexican."
I'd show the customs guy my wife's green card,and like that ,the kids were across. However since 9/11 everyone has to now show a passport.

Here's the thing. Now,just about every Mexican can get a passport or some kind of visa from OUR State Department to come into the U.S. People I've known before that had to be smuggled in,now have documentation authorized by OUR State Department. The 2 hour lines at the San Ysidro border are 90 percent Mexicans crossing into the U.S with legal papers issued by OUR State Department. Tourism in TJ is practically nill. The lines are caused by Mexicans. Many ,who before,would have had to be smuggled in. The 28 lane border crossing is going to be doubled by the year 2010. That says more Mexicans will be given legal documentation by OUR State Department.

I know of wives in Mexico with children who are lucky to see their husbands once a year because they are illegally in the U.S. You don't think this is hard on families? These people work their asses off for bum pay. They pay into Social Security and don't get a dime back. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEY WORK JOBS AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO DO.

So Arellano you got it right. BTW amigo,Lou Dobbs' wife is Mexican. I always wondered with his ranting and raving about illegal Mexicans,how in the hell his wife can she sleep with this guy?

[dagosd2000]

Brian . . . We need you out here, and yes, I will make sure you have a ticket. Just let me know as soon as you can, so I can see that you have a seat right next to your Uncle John, who will be sitting between Frank & Roger. Seriously, let me know by E-mail ([email protected]). I regret only having one ticket for you, but the event is a sell-out already. It will take place at the Los Angeles LAX Airport Marriot Hotel on November 15th (Sat.). If you need a room, the Hotel is offering a special rate ($99 per nite) for those associated with the WBHOF. I have the tickets, and will see you are at the same table as Frank, Rog, Randy and Scar. Gene LeBell has also been invited, but he has yet to RSVP. I'd really like you to meet him.

-Rick
This is doable.
Im gonna book a room a room at the Marriott.
I'll be there.
I'll fly out Friday and leave early Sunday.
It will be great meeting the guys on the thread.
Count me in and let me know how much I owe for the ticket.
Looking forward to it.


Brian

Brian . . . E-mail me with your mailing address and I'll get your ticket in the mail for you. Also, when you book your room, be sure to mention that you are associated with the WBHOF for the special rate. There should be no problem, but if there is, be sure to notify me and I'll make sure things are taken care of. This is GREAT! I really look forward to meeting you. We have Kiki, Dagos, Scartissue, Pug, Randy & myself reping this thread.

-Rick

I am going to book a room, so Connie and I can spent the nite there and not have to drive home that nite, better safe then sorry.....Good :idea:

Thanks Rick,
Im really looking forward to meeting you also . And of course the rest of the crew.
Rick I'll shoot you an E-mail tommorow with my address.
Or would it be easier to just send it via PM?

Hey Pug
So you're comin? Great news pal. Me and Frank will make sure the Mariachis play Danny Boy for you. Rog.

[Expug]

I'll be there Rog.
I dont know about Danny Boy from the Mariachis though Rog.
You dont wanna see me freakin weeping first time we meet do ya?
Besides , Uncle John has a way of showing up every time that song starts.

[dagosd2000]

I'll be there Rog.
I dont know about Danny Boy from the Mariachis though Rog.
You dont wanna see me freakin weeping first time we meet do ya?
Besides , Uncle John has a way of showing up every time that song starts.

Pug.Don't worry about the cryin' part. When the Mariachis start playin'"Mama",all the Italians at the table will get weepy. And then when they play,"Por Un Amor" all the Mexicans will be shedding tears. I hope someone gets a picture of it.