George Blake - Revision history

Ric: deleted redundant code info

2022-05-02T01:41:08Z

deleted redundant code info

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:41, 2 May 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[File:George Blake.JPG\|left\|300px\|]]		[[File:George Blake.JPG\|left\|300px\|]]
	<human>401272</human>		<human>401272</human>
	~~'''Birthplace:''' Chicago, Illinois, USA<br>~~
	~~'''Born:''' 1881-01-06<br>~~
	~~'''Died:''' 1952-12-20 (Los Angeles, CA)<br>~~

	<br clear=all>		<br clear=all>
	[[File:GeoBlake.JPG\|right\|450px\|thumb\|29 Sep 1908 ''Los Angeles Herald'']]		[[File:GeoBlake.JPG\|right\|450px\|thumb\|29 Sep 1908 ''Los Angeles Herald'']]

Ric: updated the great George V. Blake page

2021-03-23T01:33:42Z

updated the great George V. Blake page

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:33, 23 March 2021
Line 17:		Line 17:
	Besides LaBarba, other professional boxers Blake eventually managed include 1931 World Bantamweight Champion [[Pete Sanstol]], [[Harry (Kid) Matthews]], [[Joe Salas]], [[Clayton Frye]], [[Joe Stone]], and [[Toby Vigil]].		Besides LaBarba, other professional boxers Blake eventually managed include 1931 World Bantamweight Champion [[Pete Sanstol]], [[Harry (Kid) Matthews]], [[Joe Salas]], [[Clayton Frye]], [[Joe Stone]], and [[Toby Vigil]].

	Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "		Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [[:File:SanstolLaBarba.JPG\|back in 1929]],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.'"

	By the summer of 1935, according to the August 1935 [[Ring Magazine: August 1935\|''The Ring'']] magazine, p. 51, Blake was "back in Honolulu to help revive professional boxing in the Islands. He brought with him [[Henry Moreno]], a featherweight, and [[Sonny Valdez]], a bantamweight." He promoted his first boxing show in Hawaii [[Show:1978]June 20, 1941]].		By the summer of 1935, according to the August 1935 [[Ring Magazine: August 1935\|''The Ring'']] magazine, p. 51, Blake was "back in Honolulu to help revive professional boxing in the Islands. He brought with him [[Henry Moreno]], a featherweight, and [[Sonny Valdez]], a bantamweight." He promoted his first boxing show in Hawaii [[Show:1978]June 20, 1941]].

Ric at 02:46, 11 April 2020

2020-04-11T02:46:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:46, 11 April 2020
Line 7:		Line 7:
	<br clear=all>		<br clear=all>
	[[File:GeoBlake.JPG\|right\|450px\|thumb\|29 Sep 1908 ''Los Angeles Herald'']]		[[File:GeoBlake.JPG\|right\|450px\|thumb\|29 Sep 1908 ''Los Angeles Herald'']]
	'''George Vincent Blake''' arrived in Los Angeles from Chicago ~~in 1904~~, where he had been a boxer. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1908-09-29/ed-1/seq-6/] (So far, BoxRec has not found any bouts for him. He may have used an alias.)		'''George Vincent Blake''' arrived in Los Angeles sometime during 1904, from Chicago, where he had been a boxer. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1908-09-29/ed-1/seq-6/] (So far, BoxRec has not found any bouts for him. He may have used an alias.)

	Blake started his officiating career in San Diego, then took over in [[Show:83406\|September 1908]] for [[Tommy Walsh (Referee)\|Tommy Walsh]] as the referee of preliminary bouts in Vernon. In August 1909, he started refereeing amateur bouts at the [[Los Angeles Athletic Club]] (L.A.A.C.). [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1909-07-31/ed-1/seq-12/]		Blake started his officiating career in San Diego, then took over in [[Show:83406\|September 1908]] for [[Tommy Walsh (Referee)\|Tommy Walsh]] as the referee of preliminary bouts in Vernon. In August 1909, he started refereeing amateur bouts at the [[Los Angeles Athletic Club]] (L.A.A.C.). [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1909-07-31/ed-1/seq-12/]

Ric: 1908 LA article re: Blake's previous history before arriving in California

2020-04-11T02:40:46Z

1908 LA article re: Blake's previous history before arriving in California

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:40, 11 April 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[File:George Blake.JPG\|left\|~~250px~~\|]]		[[File:George Blake.JPG\|left\|300px\|]]
	<human>401272</human>		<human>401272</human>
	'''Birthplace:''' Chicago, Illinois, USA<br>		'''Birthplace:''' Chicago, Illinois, USA<br>
Line 6:		Line 6:

	<br clear=all>		<br clear=all>
			[[File:GeoBlake.JPG\|right\|450px\|thumb\|29 Sep 1908 ''Los Angeles Herald'']]
	'''George Vincent Blake''' arrived in Los Angeles from Chicago in 1904, where he had been a boxer. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1908-09-29/ed-1/seq-6/] (So far, BoxRec has not found any bouts for him. He may have used an alias.)		'''George Vincent Blake''' arrived in Los Angeles from Chicago in 1904, where he had been a boxer. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1908-09-29/ed-1/seq-6/] (So far, BoxRec has not found any bouts for him. He may have used an alias.)

Ric at 01:58, 2 September 2019

2019-09-02T01:58:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:58, 2 September 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[File:George Blake.JPG\|left\|~~thumb~~\|~~325px\|]]~~		[[File:George Blake.JPG\|left\|250px\|]]
	~~[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee~~]]
	<human>401272</human>		<human>401272</human>
	'''Birthplace:''' Chicago, Illinois, USA<br>		'''Birthplace:''' Chicago, Illinois, USA<br>

Ric at 03:44, 1 May 2017

2017-05-01T03:44:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:44, 1 May 2017
Line 15:		Line 15:
	By the very early 1920s he and [[Charles Keppen]] were promoting monthly amateur boxing shows, on Thursdays, at the L.A.A.C., where Blake took an interest in a young, promising, and talented [[Fidel LaBarba]]--the future [[:Category:Olympic Gold Medalists\|Olympic Gold Medalist]] and [[:Category:World Flyweight Champions\|Flyweight World Champion]]. (Jan. 20, 1921 LAT.) Other young amateur boxers he took under his wing during the early 1920s were [[Joe Schlocker]], [[Manuel Martinez]], [[Julius Jessick]], and [[Hugh McDonald]]. (March 21, 1922 LAT.)		By the very early 1920s he and [[Charles Keppen]] were promoting monthly amateur boxing shows, on Thursdays, at the L.A.A.C., where Blake took an interest in a young, promising, and talented [[Fidel LaBarba]]--the future [[:Category:Olympic Gold Medalists\|Olympic Gold Medalist]] and [[:Category:World Flyweight Champions\|Flyweight World Champion]]. (Jan. 20, 1921 LAT.) Other young amateur boxers he took under his wing during the early 1920s were [[Joe Schlocker]], [[Manuel Martinez]], [[Julius Jessick]], and [[Hugh McDonald]]. (March 21, 1922 LAT.)

	Besides LaBarba, other professional boxers Blake eventually managed include ~~former~~ Bantamweight ~~World~~ Champion [[Pete Sanstol]], [[Harry (Kid) Matthews]], [[Joe Salas]], [[Clayton Frye]], [[Joe Stone]], and [[Toby Vigil]].		Besides LaBarba, other professional boxers Blake eventually managed include 1931 World Bantamweight Champion [[Pete Sanstol]], [[Harry (Kid) Matthews]], [[Joe Salas]], [[Clayton Frye]], [[Joe Stone]], and [[Toby Vigil]].

	Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "		Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "

Ric: linked to Seattle's John Ochs 3-part bio on Jack Hurley

2017-05-01T03:31:07Z

linked to Seattle's John Ochs 3-part bio on Jack Hurley

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:31, 1 May 2017
Line 22:		Line 22:

	Some of the title bouts Blake officiated included [[Max Schmeling vs. Young Stribling]], [[Henry Armstrong vs. Jimmy Garrison]], Henry Armstrong vs. [[Baby Arizmendi]], [[Joe Louis]] vs. [[Jack Roper]], and [[Jimmy McLarnin]] vs. [[Young Corbett III]]. His last assignment was the 1940 Henry Armstrong vs. [[Ceferino Garcia]] bout. [[:File:GeoBlakeObit.JPG\|''New York Times'']]		Some of the title bouts Blake officiated included [[Max Schmeling vs. Young Stribling]], [[Henry Armstrong vs. Jimmy Garrison]], Henry Armstrong vs. [[Baby Arizmendi]], [[Joe Louis]] vs. [[Jack Roper]], and [[Jimmy McLarnin]] vs. [[Young Corbett III]]. His last assignment was the 1940 Henry Armstrong vs. [[Ceferino Garcia]] bout. [[:File:GeoBlakeObit.JPG\|''New York Times'']]

			Sports writer Damon Runyon once wrote: "There are two honest managers in boxing. The one is [[Jack Hurley]]. And I can't remember the name of the other." ''[[The One is Jack Hurley]]'' (2017 three-volume biography by John Ochs). George Blake likely was the other.

	Mr. Blake died at the Brothers of St. John of God Sanitarium, Los Angeles, December 20, 1952, after a long illness, and is interred in the Calvary Cemetery. His wife was Florence.		Mr. Blake died at the Brothers of St. John of God Sanitarium, Los Angeles, December 20, 1952, after a long illness, and is interred in the Calvary Cemetery. His wife was Florence.

Ric at 05:54, 20 February 2017

2017-02-20T05:54:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:54, 20 February 2017
Line 19:		Line 19:
	Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "		Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "

	By the summer of 1935, according to the August 1935 [[Ring Magazine: August 1935\|''The Ring'']] magazine, p. 51, Blake was "back in Honolulu to help revive professional boxing in the Islands. He brought with him [[Henry Moreno]], a featherweight, and [[Sonny Valdez]], a bantamweight."		By the summer of 1935, according to the August 1935 [[Ring Magazine: August 1935\|''The Ring'']] magazine, p. 51, Blake was "back in Honolulu to help revive professional boxing in the Islands. He brought with him [[Henry Moreno]], a featherweight, and [[Sonny Valdez]], a bantamweight." He promoted his first boxing show in Hawaii [[Show:1978]June 20, 1941]].

	Some of the title bouts Blake officiated included [[Max Schmeling vs. Young Stribling]], [[Henry Armstrong vs. Jimmy Garrison]], Henry Armstrong vs. [[Baby Arizmendi]], [[Joe Louis]] vs. [[Jack Roper]], and [[Jimmy McLarnin]] vs. [[Young Corbett III]]. His last assignment was the 1940 Henry Armstrong vs. [[Ceferino Garcia]] bout. [[:File:GeoBlakeObit.JPG\|''New York Times'']]		Some of the title bouts Blake officiated included [[Max Schmeling vs. Young Stribling]], [[Henry Armstrong vs. Jimmy Garrison]], Henry Armstrong vs. [[Baby Arizmendi]], [[Joe Louis]] vs. [[Jack Roper]], and [[Jimmy McLarnin]] vs. [[Young Corbett III]]. His last assignment was the 1940 Henry Armstrong vs. [[Ceferino Garcia]] bout. [[:File:GeoBlakeObit.JPG\|''New York Times'']]

Ric at 02:22, 2 September 2013

2013-09-02T02:22:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:22, 2 September 2013
Line 9:		Line 9:
	'''George Vincent Blake''' arrived in Los Angeles from Chicago in 1904, where he had been a boxer. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1908-09-29/ed-1/seq-6/] (So far, BoxRec has not found any bouts for him. He may have used an alias.)		'''George Vincent Blake''' arrived in Los Angeles from Chicago in 1904, where he had been a boxer. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1908-09-29/ed-1/seq-6/] (So far, BoxRec has not found any bouts for him. He may have used an alias.)

	Blake started his officiating career in San Diego, then took over in [[Show:83406\|September 1908]] for [[Tommy Walsh (Referee)\|Tommy Walsh]] as the referee of preliminary bouts in Vernon.		Blake started his officiating career in San Diego, then took over in [[Show:83406\|September 1908]] for [[Tommy Walsh (Referee)\|Tommy Walsh]] as the referee of preliminary bouts in Vernon. In August 1909, he started refereeing amateur bouts at the [[Los Angeles Athletic Club]] (L.A.A.C.). [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1909-07-31/ed-1/seq-12/]

	By 1910, he had become a popular and respected referee in the greater Los Angeles area. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1910-01-30/ed-1/seq-30/] (Also in 1910, he was in Europe for some reason. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1910-05-22/ed-1/seq-34/]) He became the chief United States Army boxing instructor during World War I. (Nov. 2, 1920 ''Los Angeles Times'' (LAT).) By the early 1920s, he was the regular referee for Southern California boxing venues such as [[Jack Doyle (Promoter)\|Jack Doyle]]'s [[Vernon Arena]] and the [[Hollywood Legion Stadium]].		By 1910, he had become a popular and respected referee in the greater Los Angeles area. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1910-01-30/ed-1/seq-30/] (Also in 1910, he was in Europe for some reason. [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1910-05-22/ed-1/seq-34/]) He became the chief United States Army boxing instructor during World War I. (Nov. 2, 1920 ''Los Angeles Times'' (LAT).) By the early 1920s, he was the regular referee for Southern California boxing venues such as [[Jack Doyle (Promoter)\|Jack Doyle]]'s [[Vernon Arena]] and the [[Hollywood Legion Stadium]].

	By the very early 1920s he and [[Charles Keppen]] were promoting monthly amateur boxing shows, on Thursdays, at the ~~[[Los Angeles Athletic Club]]~~, where Blake took an interest in a young, promising, and talented [[Fidel LaBarba]]--the future [[:Category:Olympic Gold Medalists\|Olympic Gold Medalist]] and [[:Category:World Flyweight Champions\|Flyweight World Champion]]. (Jan. 20, 1921 LAT.) Other young amateur boxers he took under his wing during the early 1920s were [[Joe Schlocker]], [[Manuel Martinez]], [[Julius Jessick]], and [[Hugh McDonald]]. (March 21, 1922 LAT.)		By the very early 1920s he and [[Charles Keppen]] were promoting monthly amateur boxing shows, on Thursdays, at the L.A.A.C., where Blake took an interest in a young, promising, and talented [[Fidel LaBarba]]--the future [[:Category:Olympic Gold Medalists\|Olympic Gold Medalist]] and [[:Category:World Flyweight Champions\|Flyweight World Champion]]. (Jan. 20, 1921 LAT.) Other young amateur boxers he took under his wing during the early 1920s were [[Joe Schlocker]], [[Manuel Martinez]], [[Julius Jessick]], and [[Hugh McDonald]]. (March 21, 1922 LAT.)

	Besides LaBarba, other professional boxers Blake eventually managed include former Bantamweight World Champion [[Pete Sanstol]], [[Harry (Kid) Matthews]], [[Joe Salas]], [[Clayton Frye]], [[Joe Stone]], and [[Toby Vigil]].		Besides LaBarba, other professional boxers Blake eventually managed include former Bantamweight World Champion [[Pete Sanstol]], [[Harry (Kid) Matthews]], [[Joe Salas]], [[Clayton Frye]], [[Joe Stone]], and [[Toby Vigil]].

Ric at 04:30, 1 September 2013

2013-09-01T04:30:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:30, 1 September 2013
Line 17:		Line 17:
	Besides LaBarba, other professional boxers Blake eventually managed include former Bantamweight World Champion [[Pete Sanstol]], [[Harry (Kid) Matthews]], [[Joe Salas]], [[Clayton Frye]], [[Joe Stone]], and [[Toby Vigil]].		Besides LaBarba, other professional boxers Blake eventually managed include former Bantamweight World Champion [[Pete Sanstol]], [[Harry (Kid) Matthews]], [[Joe Salas]], [[Clayton Frye]], [[Joe Stone]], and [[Toby Vigil]].

	Blake was known as a man of impeccable character~~, and thus was a much-respected and popular referee~~. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "		Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "

	By the summer of 1935, according to the August 1935 [[Ring Magazine: August 1935\|''The Ring'']] magazine, p. 51, Blake was "back in Honolulu to help revive professional boxing in the Islands. He brought with him [[Henry Moreno]], a featherweight, and [[Sonny Valdez]], a bantamweight."		By the summer of 1935, according to the August 1935 [[Ring Magazine: August 1935\|''The Ring'']] magazine, p. 51, Blake was "back in Honolulu to help revive professional boxing in the Islands. He brought with him [[Henry Moreno]], a featherweight, and [[Sonny Valdez]], a bantamweight."

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:54, 20 February 2017
Line 19:		Line 19:
	Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "		Blake was known as a man of impeccable character. Some idea of his integrity is shown by a quote Sanstol gave to [[The Knockout\|''The Knockout'']] magazine ([[:File:KO040133.jpg\|April 1, 1933]] issue), shortly after Blake agreed to take on the Norwegian boxer: " 'I told LaBarba that I knew Blake would not have anything to do with a fighter who wasn't clean and honest and that I had set that as my ideal ever since I met him in Paris [back in 1929],' said Pete.... 'I know Blake inquired into my habits, checked up everything I had done--my fights in Montreal and elsewhere--before he gave his answer. It was the happiest day of my life when he signed me to a contract. I rushed out and cabled my mother and father in Oslo of the great news--that I was being managed by the biggest figure and the best-liked man in all America.' "

	By the summer of 1935, according to the August 1935 [[Ring Magazine: August 1935\|''The Ring'']] magazine, p. 51, Blake was "back in Honolulu to help revive professional boxing in the Islands. He brought with him [[Henry Moreno]], a featherweight, and [[Sonny Valdez]], a bantamweight."		By the summer of 1935, according to the August 1935 [[Ring Magazine: August 1935\|''The Ring'']] magazine, p. 51, Blake was "back in Honolulu to help revive professional boxing in the Islands. He brought with him [[Henry Moreno]], a featherweight, and [[Sonny Valdez]], a bantamweight." He promoted his first boxing show in Hawaii [[Show:1978]June 20, 1941]].

	Some of the title bouts Blake officiated included [[Max Schmeling vs. Young Stribling]], [[Henry Armstrong vs. Jimmy Garrison]], Henry Armstrong vs. [[Baby Arizmendi]], [[Joe Louis]] vs. [[Jack Roper]], and [[Jimmy McLarnin]] vs. [[Young Corbett III]]. His last assignment was the 1940 Henry Armstrong vs. [[Ceferino Garcia]] bout. [[:File:GeoBlakeObit.JPG\|''New York Times'']]		Some of the title bouts Blake officiated included [[Max Schmeling vs. Young Stribling]], [[Henry Armstrong vs. Jimmy Garrison]], Henry Armstrong vs. [[Baby Arizmendi]], [[Joe Louis]] vs. [[Jack Roper]], and [[Jimmy McLarnin]] vs. [[Young Corbett III]]. His last assignment was the 1940 Henry Armstrong vs. [[Ceferino Garcia]] bout. [[:File:GeoBlakeObit.JPG\|''New York Times'']]