Los Angeles Boxing legends

Frank Baltazar Sr.

By Rick Farris
                                                  

By the end of WWII, a new era in Los Angeles boxing had taken life. In the eyes of California boxing historians, such as Gabriel "Hap" Navarro, former promoter and matchmaker at the legendary Hollywood Legion Stadium, the post war years thru the 1950's, are considered the "Golden Era" of Los Angeles boxing.

At the time, L.A. headliners such as Enrique Bolanos, Manuel Ortiz, Art Aragon and dozens more, set box office records at the Olympic Auditorium, Hollywood Legion Stadium and Wrigley Field. In addition, the "City of Angeles" had a number of smaller clubs putting on regular shows, such as Ocean Park in Santa Monica, South Gate Arena and San Bernardino, to name a few.

A couple years after the war, a skinny 12-year-old would get his first taste of boxing from inside the ropes. This would be the birth of a life long journey for young Frank Baltazar, and it would take it's first breath at the beginning of Los Angeles boxing's toughest, most competitive era.

Today, six decades later, the skinny kid isn't quite as skinny, and the thick black hair not quite as dark, as when we first met, however, Frank Baltazar Sr. looks pretty much the same. Frank's handsome latino features contradict his seventy-plus years.

The first time I saw Frank was in the mid-1960's, shortly after he'd hung up the gloves, after a sixteen year amateur career. Frank's education in prizrfighting took place during the sports most glorious period in California, lessons learned in countless gyms, arenas and clubs thruout the Southland. His teachers were hardened "old school" veterans, and he practiced his skills in the ring, trading blows with some of the greats of the era

More than forty years after our first meeting, I'd have the honor of being present at a very special day for Frank Baltazar Sr., his family, and L.A. boxing in general. Last summer, Baltazar was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. Friends and family from miles away packed the event, and I have to say, the faces I saw that day took me back to a very special time, a time made a little more special for kids like myself, thanks to guys like Frank Baltazar Sr.

When I first crossed paths with Frank, he was nearly thirty, and had just taken over as director of the annual Junior Golden Gloves program, an event that had long been a breeding ground for some of the world's best boxing talent.

Superstars such as Mando Ramos, the Quarry brothers, Albert Davila, the Baltazar boys, the Sandoval's, Frankie Duarte, Randy Shields, Paul Gonzalez and Oscar DeLaHoya came out of the Los Angeles Junior Golden Gloves tournaments. All became world class professionals, some World Champions.

What Frank Baltazar Sr. brought to the Junior Golden Gloves was years of experience, not to mention three young sons; Frankie Jr., Tony and Bobby. Frank wasn't just a fighter, he was a father . . . and a master at both. Frank was a dad, a coach and a mentor.

In many ways, Frank Baltazar Sr. would prove to be a surragate father figure to many young boys over the years. Frank taught more than jabs and hooks, he taught young men about courage, charactor and common sense. These are the true hallmarks of a champion.

In retrospect, it seems as if Frank Baltazar Sr. was destined to be a part of boxing history. Frank was born in 1936, at Los Angeles County General Hospital, and grew up in the nearby city of Montebello. As a boy, Baltazar recalled listening to boxing on the radio.

"I would listen to the all the championship fights when they were broadcast", Frank remembered. "Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep. We didn't have television in those days".

Frank recalls how much he loved boxing as a kid, and how much he desired becoming a fighter. "My dad was a baseball fan, and he'd talk to me about baseball, but I was more interested in boxing". One day, 10-year-old Frankie Baltazar would get the surprise of his life.

"My father came home and told me that he had tickets for a championship fight", Baltazar remembered. "The fight was the first meeting between lightweight champ Ike Williams and Enrique Bolanos, in 1946. My dad and I went with my two uncles and sat about twenty rows back from ringside. Bolanos was up-and-down like a yo-yo that night, he really took a beating."

This would be the first of three classic bouts between the great Ike WIlliams and Mexican legend Enrique Bolanos. All three matches would be held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, between 1946-49, and Frank Baltazar would be ringside for all three.

"Only one of the three fights was close, and that was the second, with no knockdowns, Williams won on a split decision", Baltazar recalled. "In the third match, Williams gave him a beating, knocking him down twice before Bolanos corner stopped it after four rounds. His eye was closed, he was in bad shape."

Like many young boxers, Frank Baltazar started his career right in the neighborhood, thru the training of a "backyard coach", whom the kids called "Tiger". "I never knew his real name", Baltazar recalled, "But he had been a pro, and had a make-shift gym in his yard. We had a couple pairs of old boxing gloves, I remember they were from Sears.

After " Tiger" showed the boys how to punch, the kids would don the gloves and box, practicing their new skills. After boxing, young Frank would pound the heavy bag, which was actually an old navy duffel bag hanging from a tree branch. "We didn't have much equipment, but we learned how to fight."

When the boys needed stronger opposition, Tiger would take them downtown to the CYO Gym, at 9th & Figureoa. "This is where I met Johnny Flores", Baltazar smiled.

Johnny Flores was known as "Mr. Golden Gloves" in Los Angeles. A decorated WWII battle hero, Flores was the co-founder of L.A.'s Junior Golden Gloves program, along with Louie Jaurequi of the Teamsters Gym. Flores would manage dozens of top contenders during his career, including former heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry, Ruben Navarro, and Dwight Hawkins.

Baltazar continued to train with Tiger, his backyard coach, for a little over a year, before switching over to the Teamsters Gym, where he boxed under Hoyt Porter, and eventually Juarequi. At the teamsters gym, Frank would be training side-by-side with some of the best boxers in town, including a hot young flyweight named Keeny Teran.

Thinking back on Teran, Baltazar stills remembers the excitement he felt in 1951, when his two favorite fighters, Enrique Bolanos, and his friend Keeny Teran, were both featured on the same card at Hollywood Legion Stadium. "Bolanos fought Eddie Chavez in the twelve round main-event, and Teran fought Gil Cadilli in a six-round semi main.

Teran and Cadilli were both ten round fighters at the time, but the Bolanos-Chavez fight was more important, so they stepped down to fight in the six round semi. I'll never forget that night, my two favorite boxers, both fighting on the same card. I was fifteen-years-old, what could be better?"

Baltazar would see thousands of matches during his life, but none better than the six round war that took place between Keeny Teran and Gil Cadilli. "I've never seen a better six round fight. If you remember the Bobby Chacon-Danny Lopez fight, well, that was what it was like. The crowd went crazy and the match declared a draw." In the main event, Enrique Bolanos, would defeat Chavez by decision.

When Frank was eighteen, he met his wife Connie. "That was in April, 1954 and eight months later, in December, we were married", Frank said. Less than two years after they married, Connie gave birth to their only daughter, Linda.

In 1958, Frank and Connie would become parents once again, when the first of their four sons was born. The boy was named Frank Jr., and only in the young father's wildest dreams could he have imagined that his namesake would become one of Los Angeles' all-time great prizefighters, a Hall of Famer.

Nearly three years later, the second Baltazar son made his life debut, and like the first, Tony Baltazar would also become one of the greatest boxers to ever hail from L.A. The fans knew him as Tony "The Tiger", but his opponents knew him for his devastating left hook, knockout power that would take him right into the Hall of Fame, with brother Frankie Jr.

It was only natural that Frank and Connie's third son, Bobby, would follow his older brothers into the ring. Born in 1963, Bobby 's accomplishments in amateur boxing were typical of the Baltazar family. Bobby defeated several world champions during his amateur days, including future bantamweight champ Richie Sandoval. Bobby turned professional and was unbeaten after six fights, winnng five by knockout, before getting married and deciding against continuing his boxing career.

In 1974, well into the amateur careers of the Baltazar brothers, Connie would give birth to their fourth son, James. Like his older brothers, the Baltazar's youngest son was an exceptional athlete, but boxing was not his first love. James first love was baseball, and later he was a standout football player. However, James received several concussions during his football years and this prevented him from pursuing a boxing career.

A year before James was born, Frank Sr. would travel to Boston with the 1973 Los Angeles Golden Gloves team, representing Southern California in the National Golden Gloves "Tournament of Champions."

Frank was head coach for an all-star Los Angeles team that included future world champ Art Frias, and world title challengers Frankie Duarte and Randy Shields. "Roy Hollis took home the National title in his weight class. He was the only L.A. boxer to do so that year", Frank pointed out.

In 1977, Don King and ABC-TV partnered to promote a televised professional boxing tournament that would crumble under the rumor of corruption, rigged ratings, etc. The ill-fated "U.S. Boxing Championships" may have been a failure for most concerned, but it provided Frank Baltazar Sr. an opportunity to meet and visit with one of his greatest boxing idols.

In April of that year, Frankie Baltazar Jr. had nine pro fights under his belt when Don King invited him to Miami Beach to face Francisco Villegas in the U.S. Championships. Frankie Jr. would knockout Villegas, however, the most exciting part of the trip for Frank Sr. wasn't his son's victory.

"Frankie and I went to Miami with Johnnie Flores, who was one of my cornermen for the fight", Frank Sr. remembered. "We needed somebody to take us around Miami while we were there, so Don King assigned us a driver.
You won't believe who King sent to drive us . . . JOE LOUIS!"

It turned out to be quite a day, because Johnnie Flores and Joe Louis had been friends since the war. "During the fifties, Louis promoted boxing in Hollywood, at the Moulan Rouge night club on Sunset. Johnnie Flores had been matchmaker for the former heavyweight champion, so, when they met again, they had a lot to talk about".

Before Joe Louis could take his place behind the steering wheel, Baltazar insisted that Louis allow him to drive, so as the Brown Bomber could sit in the backseat with his friend Flores, and share some incredible stories. "There's no way I could let the great Joe Louis chauffer me around town, he was one of my childhood idols", Baltazar said.

Today the Baltazar kids are long grown, and Frank and Connie Baltazar are grandparents. Frank no longer trains young kids in the art of boxing, however, he's still teaching. Today, Frank Baltazar Sr. shares his experience, memorabilia, and tremendous boxing knowledge with guys like myself, L.A. boxing historians who desire to know the inside story behind the history of California boxing.

Unlike many so called historians, Frank Baltazar doesn't just know boxing history, he's lived it, and without question, is a part of it.

Speaking for all of who have benefited from Frank's participation in the Los Angeles boxing community, I wish to say, "Thanks Kiki!"

Nico Perez

A long time ago Nico Perez was fighting in Tucson Arizona. At the morning weight-in his opponent, whom only his mother can remember his name was deem unfit to fight that night. The promoter, Flores, whom last name is all I can remember, was pulling his hairs because his main event had felt apart. Not to worry, Jimmy “Super-manager” Montoya with his cape flying in the air rode to the rescue. Jimmy walked up to promoter Flores and told him “don’t worry, don’t worry, I’ll take care of things”

Jimmy than walked out of the hotel where the weight-in were been held and stood on the sidewalk looking at the people passing by ‘nope too big, nope too small’ thought Jimmy as he eyed couple of guys passing by, he than spotted a guy walking across the street that looked to be about 125 pounds. Nico’s weight!

“Hey you” Jimmy yelled at the guy

“Who, me?” answered the guy

“Yeah you” replied Jimmy

The guy than crossed the street and walked up to Jimmy

“Yeah, what do you want?”

“You wanna make some money?” Jimmy said to the guy

“How much?”

“$500.00” Jimmy told him

“Who do I have to kill?” answer the guy

“You don’t have to kill the guy, you just have to fight him” Jimmy responded

The guy than asked Jimmy if by fighting he meant boxing

Jimmy said yes, that it was boxing, and that he would fight Nico Perez

The guy told Jimmy, that yes, he would fight Nico Perez

Jimmy asked the guy if he had ever fought, the guy replied that, yes, but that only in the streets.

“Okay, but remember you are fighting Nico Perez, a top ten featherweight” Jimmy told his new fighter

“I don’t care who I fight, for $500.00 I’ll fight King Kong.

Jimmy took the guy into the hotel and introduced his “fighter” to the commissioner. A quick over by the doctor and he was given a boxing license.

Later that day my boxing partner John Martinez and I were in our 4^th floor room of the hotel we were staying at looking out the window that faced the back parking lot of the hotel, we were watching Jimmy with the mitts on teaching his new protégé how to jab.

That nigh the protégé took Nico into the early rounds of the ten rounder before the referee stopped the fight.

After the fights promoter Flores had a party at his deserted hacienda. I spotted Jimmy and his protégé huddle in a corner talking and as I was walking up to them I heard the protégé asked Jimmy “poppie, poppie, when do we fight again?”

Touching Gloves with Frankie Baltazar...By Dan Hanley

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/blog/?p=14142#more-14142

“Hell!! He Ain’t Dead, he’s asleep”

Circa 1980 there was a rumor going around the boxing gyms in Southern California that I had died. John Bayrooty, boxing writer for the now defunct Los Angeles Herald-Examiner even ran a piece on the paper “Frank Baltazar, father of boxers Frankie and Tony Baltazar has died” etc. etc.

It all started as far as I know with the late Johnny Cabrera (matchmaker for Don Fraser) Johnny told somebody that I had died from kidney failure. From there the rumor spread.

People started calling the house asking about funeral services. Connie or whoever answered the phone would tell the callers that I was not dead.

My friend Dub Huntley called, and this he told me later. He didn’t want to ask about services, so when Connie answered the phone he asked her if I was home, Connie told him that yes I was home but that I was asleep, Dud told her not to wake me up, that he would call later.

Dub got on the phone and called as many people as he could and told them “Hell! He ain’t dead, he’s asleep”!!

When Dub called me I asked him how the rumor had gotten started, he said that as far as he knew it had started with Johnny Cabrera. I then called Johnny and when he answered I said “Johnny this is Frank Baltazar” he then, in a low voice, asked me “Frank, where are you calling me from?” “From hell”!! I replied. I hope he was sitting down!!...LOL!!

1950's LA boxers

Group photo of Los Angeles-area boxers, circa 1950. Fidel LaBarba is kneeling bottom row, center, in the grey suit. Willie Pep is in the back row, center. Others include: Art Aragon, Lou Nova, Ralph Gambina, Al Silvani, Tom Kennedy, Clayton Frye, Suey Welch, and Lauro Salas (bottom right).

Paco Flores vs Vicente Medina

Paco Flores

Paco Flores v Vicente Medina
5-4-1973

Community Center, Tucson, Arizona

referee: Joe Vozdik 98-97 | judge: Joe Vozdik 97-96 | judge: Robert Ferrara 97-97

Paco Flores vs. Vicente Medina

By kiki

In 1973 I 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 an “opponent” At the start of the fight Medina was 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, and he did as he was told and he started to do better. 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.

After the fight was  over I went to the commission’s table. I was dragged 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 with one hand and taking my money with the other hand.

Received email from RG

Mr Baltazar?

Hello, I hope I have the correct address for Mr. Frank Baltazar. I saw your article on the Paco Flores vs Vincente Medina fight yesterday. I had just the day before contacted Boxrec with Paco's obit. In case you didn't know, Paco Flores passed away on June 22. I was just typing in Paco's name hoping to find any articles on him when I came to your article. I never meet Paco, but was very good friend's with his brother Tony Flores(his promoter)....We lived next door to each other in Tucson from 2006-2011. Tony passed away last year late June.

Always enjoyed talking Boxing with Tony and he had many interesting stories from Paco's fighting days and his days as a promoter in Tucson. I have been reading many of the old Tucson daily citizen articles online about Paco and his fights with Obed, Perkins, Gil King, Pugh, Rico etc...Just wondering if you had any other articles or info on Paco? I have seen some of your post on sites such as Boxrec and the West Coast Boxers page. I also remember your sons from their boxing days, mostly I remember seeing Tony Baltazar fight.......I hope you are doing well and Blessed! If you have the time, feel free to contact me back anytime.

Thanks for your time! GOD Bless you and yours! Rob.

Our condolences to the family and friends of Tony and Paco Flores. May you rest in peace.

Once Upon A Time

R.I.P Greg Beyer

Received the sad news this morning of the passing of my friend Greg Beyer. Greg (R) is seen here with Stephen Gordon, owner of the CZB web site and me.

August 21, 1921 - BUILD HUGE STADIUM. Hollywood Legion Post Prepares for Boxing Tournament.

Construction by Hollywood Post, American Legion, of a stadium to seat 8,000, has started on the post's acreage adjoining Legion Hall, 1634 El Centro avenue. The spacious inclosure is to be the scene of a boxing carnival, the 12th inst., the funds to be used for ex-service men.

This athletic tourney is indorced by club women and ministers, it is said. James J. Jeffries and "Kid" McCoy will referee several events and Dustin Farnum is slated to hold the megaphone. George Blake of the L.A.A.C., who instituted Army boxing during the war, will act on the advisory board.

Here's a little flashback to stir the memories:

Thursday, March 5, 1948 (Good Friday weekend) - Hollywood Legion Stadium Program

THE DOPE by DEAN SNYDER - Commander Jim Bradley and comrades of Hollywood Post 43 will do all in their power to lighten the sorrow and burden of the bereaved Leroy Decatur family. This is and has always been the purpose back of the Hollywood stadium enterprise. For twenty five years profits from boxing and wrestling have poured 100 percent into charities. Naturally the intent is to aid veterans of the war with Germany and their families that need financial assistance in a crisis. But the Post through the years has been among the first to help many others. So next Friday night on April 2nd the entire proceeds of the regular boxing show will go to the Decatur memorial fund, excepting that the boxers appearing will be paid.

Matchmaker Bobby Jackson, working in full cooperation with the local fight managers, is arranging a card of six six-round bouts. We think that Leroy Decatur, who lost his life trying to entertain us boxing fans, would want it just this way if he could be here next Friday--and he will be in spirit… Hugh Nichols turned over the entire gate of his Monday night wrestling show to the Crippled Children’s fund of the Hollywood Hospital. This fund is sponsored by the West Hollywood Rotary club of which Frank Gotch is an official.


Friday, April 1, 1949 - Hollywood Legion Stadium Souvenir Program

MAKING IT OFFICIAL - The Rev. Joseph P. Hill, assistant CYO director, signs an agreement to stage CYO amateur boxing bouts at the Hollywood Legion Stadium… The California State Athletic Commission wholeheartedly passed on the CYO application at the meeting last Saturday in Bakersfield. Bouts will start on April 20... Admission has been scaled at from 75 cents to $2.00.

THE CHAMP IS HERE TONIGHT - Special Guest of the evening--Joe Louis.

YOU SAID IT, GROUCHO - “Matches are made in Heaven--also at Hollywood Legion Stadium.”

THE LATIN TOUCH by “HAP” NAVARRO - Let’s open the door to the Stadium’s newly installed gym. There’s the speed bag platform… the heavy bag… the full-view mirror… The first time our gym swung open to Southern California boxers only a few showed up. Last week we counted 22. And the CYO’ers are still to come.


Friday, November 2, 1951 - Hollywood Legion Stadium Program

PRELIMSTERS BATTLE FOR “BEST OF 1951” AWARD by HAP NAVARRO - With slightly more than eight weeks remaining to be fought, the local crop of prelim stars will be firing all their guns at the opposition in hopes of hitting the tape first in the run for the “Outstanding Prelim Boxer” accolade for 1951. At the moment, and it is merely our opinion, the leaders in this merry chase though not necessarily in this order, appear to be Keeny Teran, Gil Cadilli, Willie Vaughn, Mickey Northrup, Juan Luis Campos, Tommy Harrison, Rocky Robinson, and Leroy Richards. Others who may get into the picture are Don Cloud, Pinky Martinez, Abel Fernandez, Mike Augustain, Pete Aguirre, Frankie Rivers, Eddie Hernandez, Jesse Morales and Jimmy Hayes. This group of headline hunters plus a few others who have already taken part in at least one main event, in Los Angeles or elsewhere figure to provide local fight fans with plenty of fireworks for the remainder of the year. Joe Gurrola, Sammy Figueroa, Oscar Reyes, Bobby Brewer, etc.

Harold Smith & Leroy Irvin

After doing 5 years in a country club, Harold Smith came out still having the money he stole from the bank where he was working at and started promoting again, but he couldn’t get a promoter’s license, so he used ex-Los Angeles Rams player, Elroy Irvin as his front man. Smith/Irvin promoted some of Tony’s fight in Arizona. When Irvin tried to renew his promoter’s license in California he was told that he had to show where his money was coming from. Hell, everybody knew whom he was getting the money from. He was denied. I know that Smith also promoted in Indonesia at one time or other. We were offered fights in Indonesia which I turned down.

At the time they promoted Tony’s fights in Arizona, Irvin with Jimmy Montoya’s help would get the cards ready, they both would do what was needed to be done in putting a show together. Smith would show up the day of the fights with a suitcase full of cash to pay the fighters. Always paid in cash

Boxing, back in the day

I see these Knockout magazine cover and I can understand why I feel cheated when I watch boxing now days. I grew up watching boxing in the later 1940s-early ‘50s. It was an era when topnotch prospects fought each other on the under cards and top ranked fighters fought each other in the main events at the Olympic and the Hollywood Legion and other Southern California venues. Case in point, the Kenny Davis v Al Cruz fight, here we had two of the top amateur fighters and top pro prospects of their era fighting each other to see which one would move up the ladder of their chosen profession. Sometimes we would have a winner and a loser, sometimes a fight would ended up a draw, and when it did there would be a rematch. That is why, in my opinion, the greatest fighters in the sports history came from those years. Not saying we don’t have great fighters now days, we do, but we had more of them back in those bygone years

This is not a put-down on to-days fighters they fight who their promoters pick. Now day’s managers don’t play the important part they did back in those years. When a fighter sign-up with a promoter it’s the promoter calling the shot and said promoter is just concern with the bottom line.

My rant for the day on today’s boxing.

Chente

Chente (far right) doing time in San Quentin, 1940's. He manages the boxer standing next to him, in a prison sponsored boxing match.

Vic Weiss, Louie Jauregui, Jake Horn and Mando Muniz

Vic Weiss and Louie Jauregui were co-manager of Mando Muniz....At the start of his career Muniz was manages by Jauregui and Jake Horn...Jake got in a hassle with Aileen Eaton over money...Eaton froze out Muniz until he got rid of Jake....Weiss who owned a Ford dealership bought out Jake and Mando was able to fight at the Olympic again....Weiss who was a bagman for the Las Vegas mob was murder, his body was found shot in the trunk of his car at LAX.

I worked two of Mando's fights when he was still with Horn and Jaurequi. The Ernie Red Lopez fight at the Olympic and the Manny Gonzalez fight in Arizona

Lauro Salas: The Lion of Monterrey

By kiki

Danny Garcia reminds me of Lauro Salas. Like Salas, the 1950s “Lion of Monterrey”, Garcia has minimal boxing skills, and like Salas he was still able to become a world champion nonetheless. Last night as I was watching Garcia dismember Khan, I was thinking ‘I seen Garcia fight in another life’. Than it came to me, “Lauro Salas”

Lauro Salas fought all the top featherweights of the early 1950s, winning some, losing some. He then got in a bar fight with Art Aragon when the Golden Boy called him a “fucking Mexican”. There’re many different versions of that bar fight, as to who won and who lost, but that’s a story for another day.

After the bar fight, which was played-up in the local press to epic portion, Aragon and Salas were sign by the Olympic Auditorium to a ten round fight. Salas lost a close decision. But Salas gave such a good account of himself that when the Olympic was looking for an opponent for lightweight champ Jimmy Carter they gave Salas the opportunity. Again Salas outdid himself; he gave Carter all he could handle in losing a close fifteen round decision. A rematch was in order, Carter and Salas fought the rematch and this time Salas was given the close decision. Salas was to lose the title back to Carter six months later'

I watched both of their Los Angeles fight live.

Lauro Salas

Say a pray for Alex Ramos

http://www.myboxingfans.com/2012/07/exclusive-alex-ramos-bounces-back-from-brain-surgery/

Los Angeles Golden Age of Boxing

By Frank "kiki" Baltazar

For the record I consider Los Angeles Golden Age of Boxing to have ended in 1959 with demise of the Hollywood Legion. Prior to that, we had boxing 6 days a week, sometimes 7 days. The boxing gyms were busting at the seams with talent ready to fill cards in the many venues in the southland. Starting in 1960 boxing was almost at a standstill. The Olympic became the only show in town but, at times would only go once a month. And lots of gym closed down. Things started to pick-up in the mid-60s with the emerging of Mando Ramos among others. With the opening of the Forum in 1968 boxing in the southland became close to what it had been in the Golden Age of Boxing, but to me it didn’t feel the same, something was missing, something that I can’t put my finger on. Maybe my enthusiasm was waning? Maybe so.

Going To The Fights-1951

By Frank "kiki" Baltazar

Edit by Phil Rice

Eddie Gomez was watching a boxing match on a nineteen inch TV when his dad, Rudy, came in the house and told Eddie.

“Eddie, look what I have here”

“Pops, did you get some tickets for the title fight?”



Eddie had been bugging his pop to take him to see the Art Argon vs Jimmy Carter lightweight title fight at the Olympic Auditorium for some time, but his pop thought that Eddie; being twelve years old, was too young to go to the fights.

“Yes, Eddie, I bought four tickets. Your uncles, Tony and Ray, will be going with us. Now I hope your mom doesn't get mad at me. She too thinks you are too young to go to the fights”.

Eddie's mom, Lupe, was not too crazy to see Eddie going to the fights, but she did agree with Rudy that their son would be disappointed if he was not allowed to go with his pop and uncles, so she gave her okay for Eddie to go.

Eddie couldn't wait to find his best friend, Cheno Diaz, to tell him the good news. He found Cheno tending his two cows and one goat at a nearby pasture. “Cheno, my pops is taking me to see the Aragon and Carter title fight.”

"Gee Eddie you are lucky. I wish I could go.”

“I'll ask my pop if he can get another ticket for you. Cheno. You think your mom and pops would let you go?”

“I'll ask them” said Cheno.

Eddie asked his pop if he could get a ticket for Cheno.

“Yes, I'm sure I can get one, Eddie, you tell Cheno that if his mom and pop say it’s okay for him to go; we'll take him with us”.

Next day in school, Eddie told Cheno the good news.

“Cheno, my pops said that he'll get you a ticket if your mom and pop say that it’s okay for you to go.”

“Eddie, Mom and Pop said I could go as long as your father was going, they trust your father, but not your uncle Ray. They say he is crazy, that he himself will get into a fight at the fights.”

“Yeah, Uncle Ray is a bit wild, especially when he is drinking beer, but Pops won't let him drink too much, he'll be okay”.

Two weeks later, they all piled into Rudy's 1946 Dodge and headed west from Simons on Washington Boulevard. Eddie and Cheno were so excited that they couldn't sit still and it was starting to bug Uncle Ray.

“If you kids don't sit still, we are going to stop and drop you off here; and you are going to have to wait for us to pick you up after the fights.”

“Leave them alone Ray, they are just excited to be going to the fights. After all, it’s their first time to see boxing live. You remember when you went for the first time and you got all crazy on us, wanting to fight everybody there?” said Uncle Tony.

“Yeah, but I was drunk; and let me remind you that I was doing okay until that big guy cold-cock me and knocked me on my ass,” Uncle Ray said, laughing.

The area was so packed that they had to park three blocks away. Eddie and Cheno were shadow boxing as they walked up 18th Avenue.

“Hey Eddie, Cheno, you two want to become fighters? Because; if you do, I'll train you guys” said Uncle Ray.

“Ray, what the hell do you know about training fighters?" Rudy demanded.

“Hey, Rudy, I have fighting experience.”

“Yes, you do, but it's street fighting experience, and I don't think you ever won a fight!”

“At least I've never been ko'd, always finished on my feet,” laughed Ray.



As the group approached the front entrance of the Olympic, they started seeing movie and boxing celebrities hanging around the sidewalk of Grand Avenue.

“Cheno! There’s John Wayne and Pedro Armendariz” said the excitable Eddie

“And over there is Rosemary Cooney and her husband Jose Ferrer,” said Uncle Tony

“I see Tommy Campbell, Frankie Muche, Bob Murphy, Enrique Bolanos—and Babe Herman's over there talking to two men” said Cheno

“That's Cal Eaton and Babe McCoy they are talking to. Probably talking about upcoming fights,” said Rudy

Before entering the Olympic, they all bought the Knockout program from Speedy Dado. Eddie and Cheno started getting autographs on their programs to show their friends in school the next day.

They found their seats in the second-to-last row in the peanut gallery. No sooner had they sat down when rolls of toilet paper started flying around, soon some ladies underwear were flying by too. Eddie and Cheno started making paper planes and flying them down to the ring.

“This is fun, Eddie, thanks for bringing me” said Cheno

“Thank my pop, Cheno. He is the one who bought your ticket”

The fighters for the first fight came into the ring. Rudy, Tony, and Ray started betting on the fights. They would bet one dollar on the white or black corner—whatever fighter went to the corner they had, that was their bet.

The first fight was won by Al Galindo over Bobby Brewer. Rudy and Tony won a dollar each, Ray lost a dollar.

The second fight was between Joey Gurrola and Sammy Figueroa.

“Cheno, see that big guy in Figueroa's corner? That's big Jake Horn, he's a great trainer,” said Eddie

The fight ended in a draw.

“Guess it didn't help Figueroa having Jake Horn in the corner, did it, Eddie?" Cheno said, as he threw a roll of toilet paper.

“He didn't lose did he?” Eddie retorted

“Well no, he didn't”

After a couple of more fights it was time for the main event. Art Aragon and Jimmy Carter would be coming into the ring soon.

Aragon, looking weak, entered the ring first.

“Aragon is going to lose,” said Eddie

“How do you know?" asked Uncle Ray.

“Look how pale he looks. I read in The Mirror that he was having trouble making '35,” said Eddie.

Carter came into the ring looking great. After both fighters had been gloved in the ring they were introduced by Jimmy Lennon, then referee Mushy Callahan called the fighters to the center of the ring for their instructions.

The fight started fairly even for the first four rounds, but from the fifth round on it was all Carter, who won an easy 15 round unanimous decision.

Right after the fight ended Uncle Ray wanted to leave. “Okay guys, our guy lost; let’s get out of here.”

“No! We have to stay and watch Keeny Teran fight Bobby Garza. They are fighting a six rounder,” said Eddie.

Uncle Tony agreed. “Ray, Keeny is the toast of the town, we have to stay and watch him fight.”

They stayed and watched Keeny win a unanimous decision.

On the way home Uncle Ray asked Eddie and Cheno if they wanted to box. “Guys, if you want to fight, I'll train you. After you train for a couple of months; I'll take you to the downtown CYO where Johnny Flores runs the boxing program. I'm sure we can get you some sparring. Johnny is my friend and he'll help us out.

“Ray, you don't even know Johnny Flores,” said Rudy

“Well maybe not, but I know where the CYO is at,” laughed Uncle Ray

The next day Eddie and Cheno were the toast of the school as they were holding court with their friends.

“You should have seen Aragon land that left hook of his!” said Cheno as he threw a left hook.

“Too bad he didn't landed it enough,” Eddie moaned.

“He was too weak from making weight.”

“Yes he was,” agreed Eddie

“But you should have seen that little Keeny Teran,” Eddie and Cheno said in unison.

“Guys, Cheno and I are going to start training next week. My uncle Ray is going to train us,” said Eddie.

Their lives had been forever changed by a single night at the fights.



All Right Reserved

Tony Baltazar in The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

My son Tony Baltazar, seen here with Candi Marks, representative of the Manitoba, Canada Government, was contracted by the Manitoba Government (First Nation Reserve Communities) for a speaking engagement and to talk to their youth....Tony was in The Pas, Manitoba for three days.



Tony Baltazar giving Liam Helstrom some boxing pointers in The Pas, Manitoba, Canada