Lionel Rose in Los Angeles
Posted: 17 Dec 2011, 00:00
Hi everyone,
I've been completely taken in by this great pic of Lionel smoking a pipe (link below). Despite a few places giving it a wrong caption, it was taken in March 1969 as he trained before his fight with Alan Rudkin at Kooyong. I've become a bit obsessed with finding out what is written on his shirt and have been hounding people all over the place (including the US) for a bit of history. Our best guess is it says "Wilshire Center Athletic Club". Wilshire Center is a collection of suburbs in downtown LA near Koreatown but I can't find any references online to a boxing club there. I have been told he trained at this gym prior to his fight with Chuco Castillo in 1968, which makes sense given he is wearing it in training less than a year later. I know Lionel trained at the Alexandria hotel at times in LA but has anybody heard of any references to the Wilshire Center Athletic Club? Or know anything about it? I think there is a clearer pic floating around of that shirt but can't track it down. Just interested in Lionel's movements in LA given he had five fights there and some very memorable ones, like his win over Castillo when they tore the joint apart. Any info greatly appreciated. Fascinating stuff.
I've been completely taken in by this great pic of Lionel smoking a pipe (link below). Despite a few places giving it a wrong caption, it was taken in March 1969 as he trained before his fight with Alan Rudkin at Kooyong. I've become a bit obsessed with finding out what is written on his shirt and have been hounding people all over the place (including the US) for a bit of history. Our best guess is it says "Wilshire Center Athletic Club". Wilshire Center is a collection of suburbs in downtown LA near Koreatown but I can't find any references online to a boxing club there. I have been told he trained at this gym prior to his fight with Chuco Castillo in 1968, which makes sense given he is wearing it in training less than a year later. I know Lionel trained at the Alexandria hotel at times in LA but has anybody heard of any references to the Wilshire Center Athletic Club? Or know anything about it? I think there is a clearer pic floating around of that shirt but can't track it down. Just interested in Lionel's movements in LA given he had five fights there and some very memorable ones, like his win over Castillo when they tore the joint apart. Any info greatly appreciated. Fascinating stuff.
