BoxRec

bennie wrote:

Randyman wrote:The following photos are from the Johnny Chavez benefit in Azusa, California in 1993. Chavez lost his eyesight after a fight. His last fight was against Gabriel Castro at the Forum in Inglewood, California on November 6, 1092. I'm assuming that's the fight where the damage occurred. Frank will probably know more about this. Look at the autograph on the lower right hand corner. Frankie Baltazar Jr. Always a gentleman.

It was almost as difficult speaking with Mike Quarry as it was speaking with Jerry. He was very fragile by this time as Rick can probably attest to. Several of guys that Mike was speaking with were laughing at him behind his back. I pulled him away and had a good chat with him. It was painful.

I opened the show for Mike at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas on October 30, 1976 when he fought Tom Bethea. Mike won a 10 round decision. earlier that year Mike and I had sparred on three separate occasions. something I won't forget.

When I heard Mike had died and how he died, I remembered that day. He was no longer the same Mike Quarry.

R.I.P. Mike

Mike Quarry, Andrew De La O and Randy De La O

People laughing at Mike behind his back... Inevitable, I suppose, but still upsetting.

Rick Farris wrote:I don't want to be rescue, I like been a kept man, get up when I feel like it, don't have go to work, have a few bucks in my pocket, eat when I want, what can be better then that?... 8)

A night at the Boom Boom Club.






C'mon Frank . . . What if we pick-up Pug's Uncle John and have him sing "Danny Boy"?

-Rick

kikibalt wrote:

bennie wrote:

kikibalt wrote:ROCKIN’ RODNEY MOORE
KING OF THE BLUE

An Interview by Ken Hissner

One can not talk about Philly’s legendary Blue Horizon without mentioning the king of the Blue, Rockin’ Rodney Moore, the self proclaimed “one of Philly’s all time greats”. In 29 appearances he only lost once along with a draw at the classic Philly venue. He was inducted into the New Jersey International Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 2007. I caught up with Moore and he was good enough to do a Q&A with me in spite of his busy schedule as President/CEO of “Fight To Learn”, an after school program designed to help 5-12 year old boys and girls improve their lives through academics, life skills training and athletics. Past funding contributors have included HBO Sports, the Evander Holyfield and the George Foreman Foundations.

KEN HISSNER: Let’s start at the beginning. Who was your trainer, manager and what gym did you work out of?

RODNEY MOORE: Fred Jenkins was my trainer and manager. We worked out of the ABC Recreation Center, 26th & Masters, in Philadelphia. In sparring with guys like Marvin Garris, Ernest Jackson, Bryan “Boogaloo” Jones and Andre Sharpe Richardson, it taught me how to fight. I learned from those early beatings. Jenkins was quoted as saying “I took a guy with no ability and made him into a world class fighter. Adding, “he was a fighter than listened well to instruction.” To that Moore replied, “I believe my trainer Fred Jenkins saw some possible talent in me early in my career. Fighting those very rough and tough experienced guys when I was inexperienced and none of them inflicted any damage to me or really hurt me. I was put in over my head (a lot in my first 15 fights) at the very beginning and survived any serious physical beatings. Therefore, after all that Fred realized that he had a guy that can potentially become a future world champion. Fred is one of those “good” trainers that should get more recognition than he has gotten. After all he has produced so many quality fighters that came from his stable.

KH: There have been some world champions and top contenders come out of there.

RM: Olympic gold medalist and world champion David Reid, along with IBF lightweight champion Charley “Choo Choo” Brown were two of the world champions.

KH: You lost three of your first five fights. Were you discouraged?

RM: No, because I first fought Tyrone Trice, a top amateur out of Detroit’s Kronk gym. In losing a close fight to him I knew I could fight. I was also put in over my head in my fifth fight with Ricky Young in New York. That was another learning experience.

KH: Then you reeled off eight straight wins before being put in with contender Brian Baronet (29-2) of South Africa and losing a split decision.

RM: It was my first 10-rounder. I jumped from a six to a ten (rounder). (Baronet had won a WBA eliminator match the year before).

KH: You also lost to Miguel Santana (18-0) but would reverse it two years later.

RM: I was much more experienced by then.

KH: You were put in with former title challenger Terrence Ali (32-4-2) after that.

RM: By the ninth round my nose had swelled up and I couldn’t continue.

KH: You then went on a 20 fight unbeaten streak including two draws.

RM: The one draw was with Bryant Paden on four days notice and I had to lose 15 pounds.

KH: In that win streak you beat some good fighters. Names like Santana, Olympic gold medalist Jerry Page, future world champ Sammy Fuentes, Tony Baltazar and Victorio Belcher. Tell us about some of those bouts.

RM: When I was to fight Belcher (30-2-1) I overheard his manager at ringside, Lou Duva say “you’ll get him out of there quick. He’s nothing but a gym worker.” He was talking about his fighter Belcher whom he signed so he didn’t have to put his other fighter Meldrick Taylor in with him. I stopped him in the 5th. I watched Page (11-3) in the amateurs and won but just couldn’t get him out of there. (He was surprised when I told him it was Page’s last fight). Fuentes was a hard puncher. I was able to get him out of there early. Baltazar was the second hardest puncher I ever fought. (Felix Trinidad would later become the first.)

KH: After the Baltazar fight you lost what would be your only loss at the legendary Blue Horizon by split decision to a Mexican boxer named Ramon Zavala (13-7).

RM: For some strange reason I used my bathroom scale while in training. It kept showing a high weight and I believe I over trained not realizing I was on weight.

KH: You win back to back fights over Louie Lomeli (33-3) and former WBA lightweight champion Livingstone Bramble (34-9-2) to earn a title bout in 1993.

RM: I fought Charles Murray (28-1) for the vacant IBF light welter title. I trained like never before, doing more than I ever did. I think I left my fight in the gym. I made the mistake of trying to knock him out while he was scoring punches by boxing.

KH: After scoring a knockout win in your next fight you go nine months without a fight and get your second title shot against Frankie Randall (51-3-1) for his WBA light welter title in December of 1994 in Mexico.

RM: I don’t like using excuses but I had trouble making weight. It would be my last fight as a junior welterweight. Don King was my promoter and promised me if I took this fight he would get me another shot if I didn’t win.

KH: You were stopped in the 7th round. Then you beat three guys with losing record’s and are put in with IBF welter champ Felix Trinidad (27-0).

RM: That was for taking the Randall fight. Trinidad was the hardest puncher I ever fought. I knew my career was coming to an end after that loss.

KH: Over a year later you beat Tony Ortiz (8-3-1) in three rounds ending your career. Did you know it would be your last fight?

RM: I pretty much knew it because I was starting to complain to my wife about training. She said “the fire is out of your eyes.” We both knew I was finished after that fight.

KH: I have your record as 38-10-2 with 20 knockouts. I know you have it a little different, and better I must say. One thing for sure you can’t help to think about the Blue Horizon without thinking about Rockin’ Rodney Moore.

RM: I had 29 fights at the Blue Horizon losing only once. I was given the nickname “Mr. Blue Horizon”. It would be upgraded to “King of the Blue Horizon”. I’m glad we finally got together. I look forward to reading the article.

Tony was past his best - but second only to Trinidad! NICE tribute. Moore was a good fighter, a Philadelphia throwback.

Bennie,

Yes, Tony was past his best, and still he KD moore 3 time in the first round, we had the 3 KD rule in the fight and after the 3th KD the ref picked Moore up and stood him up against the ropers and gave him a chance to recover, after that it was a very close fight, had that fight been in L.A., Tony would had won by a first round ko, but he was fighting in Moore home town and as in the Howard Davis fight we knew going in that in order for Tony to win he had to score a ko.

Rick Farris wrote:

bennie wrote:

Randyman wrote:The following photos are from the Johnny Chavez benefit in Azusa, California in 1993. Chavez lost his eyesight after a fight. His last fight was against Gabriel Castro at the Forum in Inglewood, California on November 6, 1092. I'm assuming that's the fight where the damage occurred. Frank will probably know more about this. Look at the autograph on the lower right hand corner. Frankie Baltazar Jr. Always a gentleman.

It was almost as difficult speaking with Mike Quarry as it was speaking with Jerry. He was very fragile by this time as Rick can probably attest to. Several of guys that Mike was speaking with were laughing at him behind his back. I pulled him away and had a good chat with him. It was painful.

I opened the show for Mike at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas on October 30, 1976 when he fought Tom Bethea. Mike won a 10 round decision. earlier that year Mike and I had sparred on three separate occasions. something I won't forget.

When I heard Mike had died and how he died, I remembered that day. He was no longer the same Mike Quarry.

R.I.P. Mike

Mike Quarry, Andrew De La O and Randy De La O

People laughing at Mike behind his back... Inevitable, I suppose, but still upsetting.

People laughed behind Mike's back???? The key words here are, "Behind Mikes back". The chicken shit a-holes.

-Rick "wish I was there" Farris

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:I don't want to be rescue, I like been a kept man, get up when I feel like it, don't have go to work, have a few bucks in my pocket, eat when I want, what can be better then that?... 8)

A night at the Boom Boom Club.






C'mon Frank . . . What if we pick-up Pug's Uncle John and have him sing "Danny Boy"?

-Rick

Nope..... DD

bennie wrote:Philadelphia's canny Bernard Hopkins continues to cash in on his name when he takes on Youngstown puncher Kelly Pavlik in a 12-round non-title affair in Atlantic City this Saturday.
The 43-year-old Hopkins was narrowly outscored by Joe Calzaghe over 12 dreary rounds earlier this year at light-heavyweight - his third loss in his last five outings - but is still immensely durable (never stopped) and knows how to make opponents work and to 'sell' a fight. Above all, he knows how to sell himself as a former undisputed middleweight champion. Given Pavlik currently holds WBC & WBO middleweight titles, Bernard finds himself in the right place at the right time again, even though this one is made well above the middleweight limit at 12st 2lbs.
That actually suits Pavlik, who struggles to make the division limit of 11st 6lbs but destroyed Calzaghe's stablemate Gary Lockett in three one-sided rounds last time out in June in Atlantic City to take his record to an imposing 34-0 (30). Nicknamed "Ghost", Pavlik literally walks through his rivals and is still an improving fighter at 26.
Give ol' man Hopkins his due, he always wants to fight the best.

Rick Farris wrote:

bennie wrote:

Randyman wrote:The following photos are from the Johnny Chavez benefit in Azusa, California in 1993. Chavez lost his eyesight after a fight. His last fight was against Gabriel Castro at the Forum in Inglewood, California on November 6, 1092. I'm assuming that's the fight where the damage occurred. Frank will probably know more about this. Look at the autograph on the lower right hand corner. Frankie Baltazar Jr. Always a gentleman.

It was almost as difficult speaking with Mike Quarry as it was speaking with Jerry. He was very fragile by this time as Rick can probably attest to. Several of guys that Mike was speaking with were laughing at him behind his back. I pulled him away and had a good chat with him. It was painful.

I opened the show for Mike at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas on October 30, 1976 when he fought Tom Bethea. Mike won a 10 round decision. earlier that year Mike and I had sparred on three separate occasions. something I won't forget.

When I heard Mike had died and how he died, I remembered that day. He was no longer the same Mike Quarry.

R.I.P. Mike

Mike Quarry, Andrew De La O and Randy De La O

People laughing at Mike behind his back... Inevitable, I suppose, but still upsetting.

People laughed behind Mike's back???? The key words here are, "Behind Mikes back". The chicken shit a-holes.

-Rick "wish I was there" Farris

kikibalt wrote:Re, Mike Quarry, Rick and I knew Mike and Jerry since their early days in boxing, and its hard to see what happen to them and other guys that you have known up close and personal when they keep fighting too long, guys like Jerry and Mike, and my boys too, that started fighting real young and were taking punches as young kids, well you can't be surprise when they end up the way Jerry and Mike did, I just hope my boys don't get too bad in years to come.

kikibalt wrote:

Chango Carmona

Bobbin & Weavin wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Randy, post as many photos of family and friends as you want, that whats nice about this thread, thats its not just about boxing, but also about real and everyday life, now I want to see a pic. of Bennie and Tom.... :)

Yeah Randy and everyone I agree with Frank, I would love to see what the rest of you and your families look like, I feel like I know you guys and we all have so much in common we would just be getting to know each other a little better. I would like to see pictures of you guys when you were young and in your prime and now (in your older prime). I showed my 16 year old the beautiful wedding picture you posted and she stood there and really looked at it hard and commented on how beautiful a picture it was; I however am not going to show her the pictures of your son, way too good looking and she's got school to focus on.
Bruce

kikibalt wrote:
Barry McGuigan vs Eusebio Pedroza

kikibalt wrote:
Ken Buchanan vs Andries Steyn

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Re, Mike Quarry, Rick and I knew Mike and Jerry since their early days in boxing, and its hard to see what happen to them and other guys that you have known up close and personal when they keep fighting too long, guys like Jerry and Mike, and my boys too, that started fighting real young and were taking punches as young kids, well you can't be surprise when they end up the way Jerry and Mike did, I just hope my boys don't get too bad in years to come.

Frank, you don't have anything to worry about. When we were at Mando's service, Ed and I were talking with Frankie, and we were all talking about Bobby Chacon. Frankie was telling us that he was going to fight Bobby at one time but it didn't happen. I don't recall the details, maybe you can tell us. Anyway, the conversation shifted to Bobby's condition, and Frankie more or less expressed a little worry about himself. I told, Frankie, "If I didn't already know that you were a fighter I would never guess it by talking to you." I didn't mean that I didn't think he could take care of himself, what I was saying was that he showed no damage. His speech is clear and so are his eyes. There is nothing wrong with him nor will there be.

Your boys had something a lot of guys didn't Frank. A father that looked after his sons. You took them fishing, got them to enjoy that good fresh outdoor mountain air. Not to many guys had that. I don't know Mando's dad, maybe he did the same thing, maybe Bobby's dad did too, I don't want to pass judgement. My point is, you have nothing to worry about. If there was a problem it would have already showed it self. You done good Frank!

bennie wrote:Tony will probably always stay that way, Frankie.

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

bennie wrote:
People laughing at Mike behind his back... Inevitable, I suppose, but still upsetting.

People laughed behind Mike's back???? The key words here are, "Behind Mikes back". The chicken shit a-holes.

-Rick "wish I was there" Farris

Yeah, looking back maybe I should have popped one them, I don't know. As it was I pulled him away. You can rest assured, these weren't boxing people, just young pups that didn't know any better, didn't have a sense of who they were talking to. Someday they might. Mike was just happy to be there. He had a personal friend with him. A police officer. I can't recall his name but I have it in an envelope somewhere. He took that photo and mailed to me.

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Re, Mike Quarry, Rick and I knew Mike and Jerry since their early days in boxing, and its hard to see what happen to them and other guys that you have known up close and personal when they keep fighting too long, guys like Jerry and Mike, and my boys too, that started fighting real young and were taking punches as young kids, well you can't be surprise when they end up the way Jerry and Mike did, I just hope my boys don't get too bad in years to come.

Frank, you don't have anything to worry about. When we were at Mando's service, Ed and I were talking with Frankie, and we were all talking about Bobby Chacon. Frankie was telling us that he was going to fight Bobby at one time but it didn't happen. I don't recall the details, maybe you can tell us. Anyway, the conversation shifted to Bobby's condition, and Frankie more or less expressed a little worry about himself. I told, Frankie, "If I didn't already know that you were a fighter I would never guess it by talking to you." I didn't mean that I didn't think he could take care of himself, what I was saying was that he showed no damage. His speech is clear and so are his eyes. There is nothing wrong with him nor will there be.

Your boys had something a lot of guys didn't Frank. A father that looked after his sons. You took them fishing, got them to enjoy that good fresh outdoor mountain air. Not to many guys had that. I don't know Mando's dad, maybe he did the same thing, maybe Bobby's dad did too, I don't want to pass judgement. My point is, you have nothing to worry about. If there was a problem it would have already showed it self. You done good Frank!

raylawpc wrote:Tell Frankie that a fighter normally shows symptoms of dementia pugilistica within 14 to 16 years after turning professional. That info is from the AMA. Frankie Jr. turned pro in what 1975, 1976? If he wasn't showing anything by 1992, he has nothing to worry about.

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Ken Buchanan

Great Photo. It makes me sad though. You can see the brightness in his eyes. He was full of life in this photo. It has to be before Duran. After his loss to Roberto Duran. Buchanan was never the same. It was mental. The fight got into his head and he could never accept the loss. He's convinced himself but for the low blow, he might have won. Nothing and no one could have saved him from Roberto Duran that night.

That's the thing about boxers, especially champions, and even more so the very great ones. When the gig is up, they can't accept it. The very quality that got them where they are; heart, courage, determination, intestinal fortitude, desire, and that deep burning desire to never say die, the refusal to lose, betrays them at the end of their careers, it can make fools of them. The very quality the once was their best attribute is now their worst. Sad but true. Just look at Julio Cesar Chavez at the end of his career and you'll see what i'm talking about.

That's what happened to Buchanan. The fight and the loss to Duran didn't ruin the Ken's quality of life. That came from within. Over the years he became bitter. His unhappiness is evident in every interview I have ever seen.

kikibalt wrote:

raylawpc wrote:Tell Frankie that a fighter normally shows symptoms of dementia pugilistica within 14 to 16 years after turning professional. That info is from the AMA. Frankie Jr. turned pro in what 1975, 1976? If he wasn't showing anything by 1992, he has nothing to worry about.

Tom, Frankie turned pro in 1976, Frankie like Randy said is fine, clear eyes and clear head, Tony is something else, like I said he does slur his words, but he is no worse today then he was 10 years ago, so hopefully thats as bad as he will get.

raylawpc wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

raylawpc wrote:Tell Frankie that a fighter normally shows symptoms of dementia pugilistica within 14 to 16 years after turning professional. That info is from the AMA. Frankie Jr. turned pro in what 1975, 1976? If he wasn't showing anything by 1992, he has nothing to worry about.

Tom, Frankie turned pro in 1976, Frankie like Randy said is fine, clear eyes and clear head, Tony is something else, like I said he does slur his words, but he is no worse today then he was 10 years ago, so hopefully thats as bad as he will get.

Based on what I've read and learned - and I don't want to sound like a "know-it-all" but I have read about it and talked to neurologists who are clients - if Tony hasn't gotten noticably or progressively worse in the past ten years, then that should be it for him; he won't get any worse. If senility or Alzeheimer runs in your family, he might get it earlier than others, but that'll be about it.