BoxRec

Dart340 wrote:And he fought two of the all time great "mystery" challengers in defense of his 154 lb title:
Sea Robinson from Ivory Coast and "KO King" Tony Gardner from the bowels of Oklahoma.

Keep it rolling, Duce.

Il Duce wrote:Friday - August 16, 1974

* Community Center - Tucson, Arizona
* Promoter - Tony Flores

"'PACO FLORES FUTURE AT CROSSROADS"

Elisha Obed ~ 49-0-1 {34 KO's} takes on Arizona's popular Frank 'Paco' Flores 19-4-0 {11 KO's}
in a Light-Middleweight Bout.

The 22 1/2 year-old Bahamian will be having his 'first' bout outside of his home base of Florida and
The Bahamas.

The 27 1/2 year-old Frank Flores, is on the comeback-trail. 'Paco' had reached the #7 Welterweight
position in April 1972, but Frank lost a 10-Round Decision to Eddie Perkins, and then suffered a shoulder
injury which put him out-of-action for 9-Months.

The hard-punching 150 lb. Arizona 'banger' has won '6-of-7' Bouts since March 1973- and Flores believes
he has the style to 'knock off' Elisha Obed, and march towards a potential Championship Bout by the
end of 1974.

Elisha Obed is ranked #7 by The Ring Magazine in the Welterweight Division. Elisha Obed's Trainer - Moe Fleisher
and Manager - Mike Dundee stated that they know very little about Frank Flores, other than he is a 'gritty fighter'.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... m7FD36lkYA

Il Duce wrote:More Press,,,,,,

June 10, 1974

"UNBEATEN ELISHA OBED SEEKS 49TH STRAIGHT VICTORY"

22 year-old Bahamian - Elisha Obed 'unbeaten' with a record of 48-0-0 {34 KO's} will be seeking his
49th victory Tuesday Night at The Auditorium in Miami Beach when he tangles with tough 29 year-old
Dominican - Dario 'Escalona' Hidalgo.

Hidalgo, a former Top 10 Welterweight only 1 year ago {#5 WBA}, has a record of 41-7-1 {9 KO's}.
The 5' 7" veteran is considered by many here as a very difficult opponent who may frustrate the young
Bahamian Bomber. Dario has a slick fast-moving style, and is also a superior-boxer with an accurate
left-jab that compliments his counter-punching skills.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... C8eIMB5v9Q

The Fight,

The 5' 11" Elisha Obed {152 lbs.} attempted to over-power the 5' 7" light-punching Dario Hidalgo {149 lbs.}
early in the bout, but the Bahamian had difficulty in getting the Dominican to stay still.

Elisha continued to press and stayed aggressive in Rounds 3, 4 and 5 - but he swung-and-missed as Dario
counter-punched with quick left jabs, and utilized his better boxing skills.

A frustrated Elisha was warned several times by Referee - Cy Gottfired for 'holding-and-hitting, and in Round 6
the Referee 'penalized' Obed '1-Point' for his continued fouling.

Over the last 4-Rounds, Elisha continued to press forward and swing with hard-punches while looking to put
the veteran down. In the meantime, Dario stayed with his fast-moving cutie style and pecked away with left-jabs
and an occasional right-hand counter-punch.

The result was a Majority 10-Round Draw.
Scorecards.........46-46 / 46-46 / 48-42

WBC Ratings "Light-Middleweight" {June 1, 1974}

*** Koichi Wajima
#1.. Miguel De Oliviera
#2.. Charkey Ramon
#3.. Miguel Castellini
#4.. Jose Manuel Duran
#5.. Elisha Obed.............{Also ranked as the #6 WBA Welterweight}
#6.. Larry Paul
#7.. Oscar Albarado
#8.. Renato Garcia
#9.. Hideo Kanazawa
#10 Jacques Kechichian

kikibalt wrote:Paco Flores v Vicente Medina
5-4-1973

In 1973I was in Tucson Arizona. for Mando Muniz’s fight against Manny Gonzalez. With Jake Horn and Louie Jauregui and others we took some amateurs to fill out the card. Vicente Medina came in from Mexico by himself and he needed a corner, I was asked if I would be chief second for him, I of course said yes. Paco Flores was the promoter’s brother and Medina was just supposed to be a an “opponent” At the start of the fight Medina is fighting Flores all wrong, following him in a straight line, throwing one punch at a time. After a couple of rounds I told him to what he was doing wrong, told him he needed to cut the ring on Flores and to put punches together. Medina was a good listener, he did as he was told and he started to win the fight. Now Flores people started to worry because about the middle of the fight a guy who I later found out was from the Arizona. Boxing commission came to talk to me and asked me “who are you?” I responded “I am Frank Baltazar” “well Frank do you have a license to work corners?”, “yes” I replied, “can I see it?” he asked, I handed him my license “but this is a California license” “of course, I am from California” I said as I played the dummy, “after the fight come to the commission table and get an Arizona. License”, “okay I will” I replied.

As the fight continued I could see that Medina was pulling ahead, but he lost a split decision. But if you are fighting the promoter’s brother a split decision means you won.

The fight been over I go to the commission’s table. I was drag over the coals for working an Arizona fight without an Arizona license, again I played the dummy, told them that I thought my California license was good enough. No sir! I was told. “You have $100?” I was asked, I replied that I did “good, let me have it” the commish told me as he handed me a license and taking my money at the same time.

Rover wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Paco Flores v Vicente Medina
5-4-1973

In 1973I was in Tucson Arizona. for Mando Muniz’s fight against Manny Gonzalez. With Jake Horn and Louie Jauregui and others we took some amateurs to fill out the card. Vicente Medina came in from Mexico by himself and he needed a corner, I was asked if I would be chief second for him, I of course said yes. Paco Flores was the promoter’s brother and Medina was just supposed to be a an “opponent” At the start of the fight Medina is fighting Flores all wrong, following him in a straight line, throwing one punch at a time. After a couple of rounds I told him to what he was doing wrong, told him he needed to cut the ring on Flores and to put punches together. Medina was a good listener, he did as he was told and he started to win the fight. Now Flores people started to worry because about the middle of the fight a guy who I later found out was from the Arizona. Boxing commission came to talk to me and asked me “who are you?” I responded “I am Frank Baltazar” “well Frank do you have a license to work corners?”, “yes” I replied, “can I see it?” he asked, I handed him my license “but this is a California license” “of course, I am from California” I said as I played the dummy, “after the fight come to the commission table and get an Arizona. License”, “okay I will” I replied.

As the fight continued I could see that Medina was pulling ahead, but he lost a split decision. But if you are fighting the promoter’s brother a split decision means you won.

The fight been over I go to the commission’s table. I was drag over the coals for working an Arizona fight without an Arizona license, again I played the dummy, told them that I thought my California license was good enough. No sir! I was told. “You have $100?” I was asked, I replied that I did “good, let me have it” the commish told me as he handed me a license and taking my money at the same time.

Wow, doesn't seem like it was hard to procure a license in Arizona.

Il Duce wrote:

Rover wrote:Was Campas a more recent Obed? 56-0 to start out...and then...

Pretty Close Mr. Rover,

A Yuri 'Boy' Campas and Nino LaRocca type activity is the way he was built up.

Elisha Obed was like a more aggressive version of Donald 'The Cobra' Curry.

A sleek-body with fast-hands and power punches.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Light Middleweight Action in January/February 1975

* January 21
World Champion {WBA/WBC} Oscar Albarado lost his Championship in his '2nd' Title Defense,
when he was upset {L Dec 15} by former Champion and #3-Ranked - Koichi Wajima in Japan.

* January 22
The WBA mandated that Koichi Wajima must sign a contract within 90-Days to face the #1 Challenger -
Jae-Do Yuh.

* January 25
The WBC stated that Koichi Wajima must face #1 WBC-ranked - Miguel De Oliveira {Brazil} within 90-Days,
or he will be stripped of the WBC Championship.

* February 5, 1975
World Champion - Koichi Wajima announced that he would require 3-Months to recover from his recent bout,
and that he would most likely defend against #1 WBA-ranked - Jae-Do Yuh in June 1975.

* February 8
The WBC announced that Koichi Wajima has until April 21, 1975 to defend against #1 WBC-ranked Miguel De Oliveira
or he will be stripped of the WBC Championship. If not, #1 WBC-ranked Miguel De Oliveira {Brazil} will face
#2 WBC-ranked Jose Manuel Duran {Spain} for the vacant Championship for sometime in May 1975.

Bill Hodge wrote:But, I'd think Donald Curry TOO MUCH for Elisha each fighters -PRIME- (then) Yori Boy Campus, OR Nino LaRocca while, both "cripplers" in their own right neither ANYWHERE EVEN 'CLOSE' to the class of Don Curry in prime.

Dart340 wrote:Duce, you do a marvelous job of fleshing out these important and yet generally forgotten fighters.

Seeing the shape Obed was in at his HOF induction- on YouTube- was sad indeed.

And hopefully, if you can't unearth a clip from Obed-Gardner, then you'll at least cover it? Even a photo would be incredible.

Il Duce wrote:Mr. Dart 340,

I'll see what I can put together, as I'm building up to the WBC Championship run.

Unfortunately, Elisha Obed and Charkey Ramon {Australian} never got together
on April 19, 1975 for the British-Commonwealth Championship.

That would have been a 'Hell-of-a-Brawl'.............

In March 1975 - the WBC stripped Koichi Wajima of his Championship, as he decided to
defend his WBA-version Championship against #1 WBA-ranked - Jae-Do Yuh {Ring Magazine; #18 Light-Middleweight}.

The WBC then announced that #1 Miguel De Oliveira {Brazil} would face #2 Jose Manuel Duran {Spain}
on May 1, 1975 and in Berlin, Germany.

Dart340 wrote:Obed was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame. Video of the award presentation is on YouTube.

Dart340 wrote:Sorry, Rover. I just watched the video a few days ago and didn't even pay attention to what "Hall of Fame" it was at the time. I had to go back and rewatch it. Obed doesn't speak at all during the presentation and his brother presents for him while Obed just sits in a wheelchair. Pretty sad.