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.