By Rick Farris
I started boxing at Johnny Flores' backyard gym in Pacoima, mid-60's.
Johnny taught me how to box, as well as a couple of his gym's coaches, fighters, etc.
Although pretty young, I had an strong desire to be a fighter, more important, a part of boxing.
What I didn't get at Johnny's gym, I'd have a chance to pick-up at the Main Street Gym on weekends.
Johnny would almost always be at Main Street on saturday and sundays, unless he was out of town.
If he was gone, his brother, trainer Julio Flores would watch after me.
Julio trained a few of Johnny's boxers including Ruben Navarro, Ronnie Cisneros and Johnny Quintella. All Eastside guys.
I liked Julio, he was always good to me, he was calm, low key and would speak common sense to us.
Julio's son, Larry Flores, had been a hot amateur boxer in Los Angeles during the 1950's.
I would see Larry in the gym during the 60's, a good looking guy, a sharp boxer who'd embarass top guys in the gym.
You could see his talent, but something was lacking, something inside.
I remember posters tacked to the dusty walls of Johnny Flores backyard gym.
Some were advertsing local amateur boxing cards, from venues of days gone by, such as the Valley Gardens Arena.
The Flores stable was well represented on some of those cards. Guys like Luis "The Lion" Perez, Larry Flores, Manuel Diaz.
These were the last generation, I'd be part of the next group.
Decades later, Frank Baltazar would put some perspective on what happened to Larry Flores.
"This guy was the best amateur fighter I seen come out of Los Angeles at the time, one of the best ever."
Baltazar continued, "But they pushed him to hard, over worked him, by the time he turned pro, he was burnt out."
Baltazar was careful to avoid the same when developing his own three son's boxing careers.
When I was seventeen, about a year before I turned pro, Julio became more involved in my training.
I began working out at Main Street on the weekends, and also a couple days during the week, and just two nights at Johnny's back yard gym.
I needed better boxing and that's what I got at the Main Street Gym.
Julio and I worked well together, and I began boxing with Navarro, Cisneros, and Ernie Lopez' amateur brother from Utah, Danny.
One evening, Julio and I were walking out to the parking lot behind the gym.
It was 1969, and I was driving a '55 Ford pick-up I'd just bought for $400.
Julio looked at the tires and shook his head. "Those are no good, your going to have a blow-out. I can get a you a new set, four tires for $50."
Julio worked at a tire and automotive shop on San Fernando Road near Lincoln Heights. The next day I'd call him and he'd tell me the address.
When I call, Julio tells me to park behind the building when I get there.
When I arrive, he meets me in the alley and tells me to wait there.
A few minutes later, I see a tire fall out of the back window of the garage, and then another, and two more.
I wait for Julio, as instructed, a moment later he appears and wants to hurry.
He and I pick up the tires from the alley and toss them in the bed of my pick-up.
I look the tires over and they are brand new. I hand him the money and thank him. Julio nodded, "See you later, at the gym."
I took the tires to a gas station and paid some guy to install them.
I still laugh every time I think of those tires flying out the back window. I never discussed the deal with Julio.
A few months later I'd have my pro debut. I'd close the show in a five-rounder, which was a pretty good fight.
The main event featured an up and coming Venezuelan featherweight contender and future world champ, Antonio Gomez.
In the dressing room, prior to my match, Julio asks me, "Are you nervous?" I answer, "I'm OK."
He then hands me a pill, "take this, it'll help your nerves."
The pill was a yellow & black capsule. I swallowed it and fifteen minutes later there was no way I could relax.
I never asked Julio about that pill. And he never again offered me one. But I threw a lot of leather that night.
I think of Julio every time I drive down San Fernando Road in Lincoln Heights.
Awhile back, I believe I heard Julio Flores had passed away. You'd think I would know, but sometimes we lose track of people.
Oddly, as close as I was to Julio in gym, camp, the ring, etc. I never knew much about him personally, as I did Johnny and the others.
Julio was solid, when I followed what he said, things worked. Julio worked "the basics," things that win fights. Common sense.
I recently communicated with Johnny Flores grandaughter. I remember when her mother was a little girl.
She was interested in my memories of her grandfather, and I will share some of mine.
I can't think of Johnny without so many others coming to mind. Thoughts of Julio Flores, make me smile.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Brazil police rule Gatti’s death suicide
By BRADLEY BROOKS, Associated Press Writer
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—A Brazilian police investigation has determined that the death of boxer Arturo Gatti was a suicide and a court has ordered the release of his wife, once suspected of killing him, officials said Thursday.
Lead investigator Paulo Alberes told The Associated Press authorities found that Gatti killed himself on July 11 in a seaside resort in northeastern Brazil.
When asked if police had determined the case was a suicide, Alberes said “yes.” He offered no other details, but said he would hold a news conference later in the day.
A day after Gatti was found dead, police said that his 23-year-old Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues, had strangled him with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.
But police began to back off the accusation about a week later after a coroner’s report said that Gatti may have killed himself as he was found hanged and suspended. Rodrigues’ lawyer said at the time that proved his client’s innocence because she could not have physically lifted Gatti.
A spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state court in the city of Recife confirmed that judge Ildete Verissimo de Lima ordered the release of Rodrigues.
The judge wrote in the ruling that police informed the court that “the detention of the suspect was no longer needed” as the investigation “excludes the possibility of murder.”
“The victim … committed suicide by hanging,” Lima’s ruling read, referring to the police investigation findings.
Rodrigues will walk out of jail Thursday afternoon, said her lawyer, Celio Avelino.
Gatti was found dead in the apartment he was renting with Rodrigues in the resort town of Porto de Galinhas.
The pair, who had a tumultuous marriage, had arrived there a few days before Gatti’s death for a second honeymoon. The couple brought their 10-month-old son, who was unhurt and is in the care of Rodrigues’ family in Brazil.
The 37-year-old Gatti, who captured two world titles in his 16-year pro career, retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9.
Gatti’s family and friends in his adopted hometown of Montreal have denied the accusation the boxer could have killed himself.
“Nobody believes whatsoever that there’s even a 1 percent chance of a suicide. He lived life to the fullest,” Ivano Scarpa, a close Gatti family friend, said at the boxer’s July 20 funeral service in Canada.
But Rodrigues, in a July 15 letter that she handed over to the AP from prison, said: “I’m innocent and I know that this will be proven in a few days.”
Associated Press Writer Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—A Brazilian police investigation has determined that the death of boxer Arturo Gatti was a suicide and a court has ordered the release of his wife, once suspected of killing him, officials said Thursday.
Lead investigator Paulo Alberes told The Associated Press authorities found that Gatti killed himself on July 11 in a seaside resort in northeastern Brazil.
When asked if police had determined the case was a suicide, Alberes said “yes.” He offered no other details, but said he would hold a news conference later in the day.
A day after Gatti was found dead, police said that his 23-year-old Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues, had strangled him with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.
But police began to back off the accusation about a week later after a coroner’s report said that Gatti may have killed himself as he was found hanged and suspended. Rodrigues’ lawyer said at the time that proved his client’s innocence because she could not have physically lifted Gatti.
A spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state court in the city of Recife confirmed that judge Ildete Verissimo de Lima ordered the release of Rodrigues.
The judge wrote in the ruling that police informed the court that “the detention of the suspect was no longer needed” as the investigation “excludes the possibility of murder.”
“The victim … committed suicide by hanging,” Lima’s ruling read, referring to the police investigation findings.
Rodrigues will walk out of jail Thursday afternoon, said her lawyer, Celio Avelino.
Gatti was found dead in the apartment he was renting with Rodrigues in the resort town of Porto de Galinhas.
The pair, who had a tumultuous marriage, had arrived there a few days before Gatti’s death for a second honeymoon. The couple brought their 10-month-old son, who was unhurt and is in the care of Rodrigues’ family in Brazil.
The 37-year-old Gatti, who captured two world titles in his 16-year pro career, retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9.
Gatti’s family and friends in his adopted hometown of Montreal have denied the accusation the boxer could have killed himself.
“Nobody believes whatsoever that there’s even a 1 percent chance of a suicide. He lived life to the fullest,” Ivano Scarpa, a close Gatti family friend, said at the boxer’s July 20 funeral service in Canada.
But Rodrigues, in a July 15 letter that she handed over to the AP from prison, said: “I’m innocent and I know that this will be proven in a few days.”
Associated Press Writer Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.
Monday, July 27, 2009
WBHOF
Mayweather-Marquez Raffle, Golf and Banquet in the works!
Just like the blazing July weather in Southern California, the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) is sizzling with exciting events planned in the upcoming months.
At a gathering in L.A. this past weekend, the nonprofit organization–led by President and former fighter Armando Muñiz–had a lot on the agenda as new announcements were made about future fundraisers that will be open to the public.
The second half of the year is full of plans galore, all in the name of honoring past and current boxers.
The Board of Directors just held a successful fundraising effort and is now gearing up for not one, but two golf tournaments in September and the jewel in their crown–the Banquet of Champions held in October.
First up at the luncheon was choosing the lucky Grand Prize winner in a raffle organized by board member Frank Martinez. “I had this idea to generate funds for our upcoming banquet,” the corrections officer explains. “And the great thing is…is that someone’s gonna win the tickets today!”
And what were the coveted tickets for?
The chosen one receives two tickets to the September bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez, $200 in cash and complimentary hotel accommodations at the Las Vegas Hilton. Beating the odds, the winner will see the fight (broadcast on HBO PPV) in person.
The raffle tickets turned out brisk sales with the return of “Money” Mayweather and a great undercard on schedule. The postponed and still highly-anticipated Rocky Juarez-Chris John bout will now take place on this night, along with a matchup between Zab Judah and Matthew Hatton. Word on the street is that the return of Victor Ortiz may also happen on this card. With all this action planned, the MGM Grand will be the place to be on September 19 (originally slated for July 18).
President Muñiz got a with a helpful assist from board member Richard Perry’s daughter, Rickie, who helped the former Olympian pick out the winning entry from a whopping field of 500 drawing tickets. Another board member, Alex Cornejo, videotaped the procession while the packed room waited anxiously for the name to be announced.
After a dramatic pause, Marcus Andrews is the lucky guy who will be heading to Vegas for the big fight. At the function, President Muñiz personally called this fortunate winner with the good news.
The WBHF will also be holding two golf events in the near future. On tap will be their evening golf tournament in the San Jacinto area, helmed by board members Paul Ritchie and Richard Perry. “I’m working on our golf tournament which will be on September 4,” Ritchie says. “It’s rollin’ now, and will be a great nighttime event on the Friday before Labor Day. It will be a lot of fun!”
Perry adds, “We just held our Cops4Kids night golf tournament with glow-in-the-dark golf balls. It was great! It’s all different colors of balls: blue, yellow, green, all different colors flying all over!” All ages are welcome to participate in the September 4 evening event.
On September 12, duffers will also be able to play in the 8th Annual Tournament of Champions, which will take place in the Coachella Valley. This year’s celebrity tourney will be a Pro-Am event being planned by fighter Ruben Castillo.
And mark your calendars now with the date of October 24 for the 30th Annual Banquet of Champions.
This is their main fundraiser of the year with the awards dinner to be held at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Muñiz, his Executive Committee and the Board of Directors have turned in their ballots and the Class of 2009 honorees were revealed.
Joining the roster of ring immortals will be 2009 Boxer Inductees: Bantamweight champ Orlando Canizales, WBC, NABF, and WBA titlist Rafael Herrera, “The Dutch Destroyer” Lucia Rijker and South African featherweight champ Brian Mitchell.
Voted in as Expanded Category Inductees is Showtime’s and IBN Sports’ Al Bernstein, referee/judge Dr. James Jen Kim and Argentinean trainer Amilcar Brusa.
Special posthumous awards will be presented at the fall ceremony too.
Muñiz just arrived back from a trip to Mexico where he met with WBC officials and Alberto Reyes of the famed Cleto-Reyes gloves. “Jose Sulaiman and Mauricio Sulaiman really gave us a lot of support. They held a press conference to announce our banquet,” said Muñiz. “A lot of fighters and champs came out and it was held in the tallest building in Mexico City! They are very excited about Rafael Herrera’s induction this year.
“It was held on the 51st floor of the Torre Mayor building and 15 ex-champs who live in the area came out, along with the sports press in Mexico.”
The WBHF president, who began his new term in January, is also proud to induct the first female fighter into the hall. There have been other ladies inducted, but Lucia Rijker will be the first female in the boxer category. “We’re getting a lot of interest about Lucia,” states Muñiz. “A lot of people from around the world are planning to come out to see her.”
The West Coast organization is made up of individuals who have contributed to the sport and must be voted in as a board member.
Many are current working members in the boxing industry like referees and judges Lou Filippo, Marty Denkin, Jack Reiss, and Gwen Adair, former pro fighters Muñiz and Rick Farris, boxing trainer and WBHF Treasurer Josie Arrey-Mejia (Bell Gardens Police Dept. Youth Boxing), trainer and award-winning artist Steve Harpst (Burbank Boxing Club), Richard Perry and Paul Ritchie, who help plan charity boxing shows benefiting at-risk kids, cutman “Indian” Willie Schunke, and current fighter 51-year-old Hassan Chitsaz (Iranian-American heavyweight champ).
Notable attendees at the Saturday function were former WBHF Presidents Filippo, Dr. Joe Noriega, and Adolfo Perez and Executive Vice President Julian Eget.
Founded in 1979 by Everett L. Sanders, their motto is “Where Champions Live Forever…” and plans are to build a museum to pay tribute to past and current legends of the ring.
President Muñiz has been on the board since 1980 and previously held presidency in 2005-2006. He has seen a lot of changes through the decades and the Internet and technology push is just one new way for fans to be able to follow the organization. The WBHF is now part of the Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook nation and soon you will have the opportunity to view their latest happenings.
The WBHF plans to offer live streaming videos from a few of their upcoming events. The group also announced their brand new website recently launched. Fans worldwide can now check on event and news updates at http://www.newwbhf.com
Stay tuned to this column for more exciting announcements as the WBHF continues to host events for fighters, champs, and boxing fans around the world.
Photos by Michele Chong:
Just like the blazing July weather in Southern California, the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) is sizzling with exciting events planned in the upcoming months.
At a gathering in L.A. this past weekend, the nonprofit organization–led by President and former fighter Armando Muñiz–had a lot on the agenda as new announcements were made about future fundraisers that will be open to the public.
The second half of the year is full of plans galore, all in the name of honoring past and current boxers.
The Board of Directors just held a successful fundraising effort and is now gearing up for not one, but two golf tournaments in September and the jewel in their crown–the Banquet of Champions held in October.
First up at the luncheon was choosing the lucky Grand Prize winner in a raffle organized by board member Frank Martinez. “I had this idea to generate funds for our upcoming banquet,” the corrections officer explains. “And the great thing is…is that someone’s gonna win the tickets today!”
And what were the coveted tickets for?
The chosen one receives two tickets to the September bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez, $200 in cash and complimentary hotel accommodations at the Las Vegas Hilton. Beating the odds, the winner will see the fight (broadcast on HBO PPV) in person.
The raffle tickets turned out brisk sales with the return of “Money” Mayweather and a great undercard on schedule. The postponed and still highly-anticipated Rocky Juarez-Chris John bout will now take place on this night, along with a matchup between Zab Judah and Matthew Hatton. Word on the street is that the return of Victor Ortiz may also happen on this card. With all this action planned, the MGM Grand will be the place to be on September 19 (originally slated for July 18).
President Muñiz got a with a helpful assist from board member Richard Perry’s daughter, Rickie, who helped the former Olympian pick out the winning entry from a whopping field of 500 drawing tickets. Another board member, Alex Cornejo, videotaped the procession while the packed room waited anxiously for the name to be announced.
After a dramatic pause, Marcus Andrews is the lucky guy who will be heading to Vegas for the big fight. At the function, President Muñiz personally called this fortunate winner with the good news.
The WBHF will also be holding two golf events in the near future. On tap will be their evening golf tournament in the San Jacinto area, helmed by board members Paul Ritchie and Richard Perry. “I’m working on our golf tournament which will be on September 4,” Ritchie says. “It’s rollin’ now, and will be a great nighttime event on the Friday before Labor Day. It will be a lot of fun!”
Perry adds, “We just held our Cops4Kids night golf tournament with glow-in-the-dark golf balls. It was great! It’s all different colors of balls: blue, yellow, green, all different colors flying all over!” All ages are welcome to participate in the September 4 evening event.
On September 12, duffers will also be able to play in the 8th Annual Tournament of Champions, which will take place in the Coachella Valley. This year’s celebrity tourney will be a Pro-Am event being planned by fighter Ruben Castillo.
And mark your calendars now with the date of October 24 for the 30th Annual Banquet of Champions.
This is their main fundraiser of the year with the awards dinner to be held at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Muñiz, his Executive Committee and the Board of Directors have turned in their ballots and the Class of 2009 honorees were revealed.
Joining the roster of ring immortals will be 2009 Boxer Inductees: Bantamweight champ Orlando Canizales, WBC, NABF, and WBA titlist Rafael Herrera, “The Dutch Destroyer” Lucia Rijker and South African featherweight champ Brian Mitchell.
Voted in as Expanded Category Inductees is Showtime’s and IBN Sports’ Al Bernstein, referee/judge Dr. James Jen Kim and Argentinean trainer Amilcar Brusa.
Special posthumous awards will be presented at the fall ceremony too.
Muñiz just arrived back from a trip to Mexico where he met with WBC officials and Alberto Reyes of the famed Cleto-Reyes gloves. “Jose Sulaiman and Mauricio Sulaiman really gave us a lot of support. They held a press conference to announce our banquet,” said Muñiz. “A lot of fighters and champs came out and it was held in the tallest building in Mexico City! They are very excited about Rafael Herrera’s induction this year.
“It was held on the 51st floor of the Torre Mayor building and 15 ex-champs who live in the area came out, along with the sports press in Mexico.”
The WBHF president, who began his new term in January, is also proud to induct the first female fighter into the hall. There have been other ladies inducted, but Lucia Rijker will be the first female in the boxer category. “We’re getting a lot of interest about Lucia,” states Muñiz. “A lot of people from around the world are planning to come out to see her.”
The West Coast organization is made up of individuals who have contributed to the sport and must be voted in as a board member.
Many are current working members in the boxing industry like referees and judges Lou Filippo, Marty Denkin, Jack Reiss, and Gwen Adair, former pro fighters Muñiz and Rick Farris, boxing trainer and WBHF Treasurer Josie Arrey-Mejia (Bell Gardens Police Dept. Youth Boxing), trainer and award-winning artist Steve Harpst (Burbank Boxing Club), Richard Perry and Paul Ritchie, who help plan charity boxing shows benefiting at-risk kids, cutman “Indian” Willie Schunke, and current fighter 51-year-old Hassan Chitsaz (Iranian-American heavyweight champ).
Notable attendees at the Saturday function were former WBHF Presidents Filippo, Dr. Joe Noriega, and Adolfo Perez and Executive Vice President Julian Eget.
Founded in 1979 by Everett L. Sanders, their motto is “Where Champions Live Forever…” and plans are to build a museum to pay tribute to past and current legends of the ring.
President Muñiz has been on the board since 1980 and previously held presidency in 2005-2006. He has seen a lot of changes through the decades and the Internet and technology push is just one new way for fans to be able to follow the organization. The WBHF is now part of the Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook nation and soon you will have the opportunity to view their latest happenings.
The WBHF plans to offer live streaming videos from a few of their upcoming events. The group also announced their brand new website recently launched. Fans worldwide can now check on event and news updates at http://www.newwbhf.com
Stay tuned to this column for more exciting announcements as the WBHF continues to host events for fighters, champs, and boxing fans around the world.
Photos by Michele Chong:
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Ex-boxing champion Forrest killed in Ga.
By CHARLES ODUM, AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP)—Vernon Forrest, a former three-time champion who gained stardom when he became the first boxer to defeat “Sugar” Shane Mosley, was shot to death during an apparent robbery in Atlanta, police said Sunday.
Sgt. Lisa Keyes said in an e-mail Sunday that Forrest, 38, was shot several times in the back Saturday night, which an autopsy confirmed. Keyes said there are no suspects.
“Vernon was one of the few decent people in boxing,” promoter Gary Shaw said. “I mean really decent. He cared about mentally challenged adults. He cared about kids. I just can’t believe it.”
Fulton County medical examiner Michele Stauffenberg confirmed the case was a homicide and that the autopsy showed Forrest died from “multiple gunshot wounds involving the torso and thigh.” Keyes said a police report on the shooting was not immediately available.
Forrest, a native of Augusta, Ga., who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the 1992 Olympic team. He also was a former IBF welterweight and two-time WBC junior middleweight champion with a 41-3 career record with 29 knockouts.
“He was one of the most gracious and charitable fighters in boxing and he will be missed by the entire boxing community and all of his friends at HBO,” HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg told The Associated Press.
Greenburg helped put on eight of Forrest’s fights.
“Maybe Vernon’s lasting legacy will be for Americans everywhere to rise up and end this kind of senseless violence,” Greenburg said.
Those who knew the fighter praised his role in launching the Destiny’s Child group homes in Atlanta, which work to provide homes for the mentally disabled.
“It was truly his calling,” Forrest’s publicist, Kelly Swanson, said of his work with children. “When he wasn’t boxing, this was his full-time job.
“When they would see him, they would just light up, and some of them couldn’t even talk. Vernon was very much involved. He’d have some of the kids over to his house on Sundays. They were part of his family.”
Swanson said Forrest was not married and has one son, Vernon Jr.
Inside the ring, Forrest was known for taking two wins over Mosley in 2002. On Sept. 13, 2008, Forrest reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title by beating Sergio Mora in a rematch of a fight won by Mora.
The win over Mora was Forrest’s last fight. He suffered a rib injury while training for an April fight against Jason LeHoullier, which was canceled, and Forrest had to vacate his title.
Ken Hershman, vice president in charge of boxing at Showtime, which aired Forrest’s first fight with Mora, said Forrest was a popular fighter dedicated to his charity work.
“He wasn’t looking for anything, he just did it because it was the right thing to do,” Hershman said.
“Vernon was a young, vibrant guy coming to the end of his career. He still had a lot of life ahead of him.”
There were tentative plans for a title fight against Sergio Martinez, perhaps in October, Shaw said. Plans for an August fight against Martinez were pushed back the rib injury.
“Instead of being an Olympian, a two-time world champion, a guy who beat Shane Mosley twice, the guy who did some good for boxing—maybe his legacy will be for something else,” Shaw said. “Maybe boxing will finally get around the violence outside of the ring. Maybe Vernon’s name and legacy will be for that.”
Former two-time champion Arturo Gatti, who retired in 2007, was found dead July 11 at a Brazilian resort. Gatti’s wife, Amanda Rodrigues, is being held as the prime suspect.
Another former champion, Alexis Arguello, was found dead on July 1 at his home in Managua, Nicaragua. He was elected mayor of Nicaragua’s capital last year.
“If the saying is bad things come in threes, hopefully we’re done with that for a long time to come,” Hershman said. “I hope that’s the case. I mean, ironically three great people, three great human beings, too. Not a good few months.”
Forrest’s trainer, Buddy McGirt, also worked with Gatti. McGirt said Forrest planned to start training Aug. 1 for his next fight.
“I just feel so bad. He has a son you know,” McGirt said. “Someone is going to be raised without a father because somebody wanted to rob someone.”
AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.
ATLANTA (AP)—Vernon Forrest, a former three-time champion who gained stardom when he became the first boxer to defeat “Sugar” Shane Mosley, was shot to death during an apparent robbery in Atlanta, police said Sunday.
Sgt. Lisa Keyes said in an e-mail Sunday that Forrest, 38, was shot several times in the back Saturday night, which an autopsy confirmed. Keyes said there are no suspects.
“Vernon was one of the few decent people in boxing,” promoter Gary Shaw said. “I mean really decent. He cared about mentally challenged adults. He cared about kids. I just can’t believe it.”
Fulton County medical examiner Michele Stauffenberg confirmed the case was a homicide and that the autopsy showed Forrest died from “multiple gunshot wounds involving the torso and thigh.” Keyes said a police report on the shooting was not immediately available.
Forrest, a native of Augusta, Ga., who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the 1992 Olympic team. He also was a former IBF welterweight and two-time WBC junior middleweight champion with a 41-3 career record with 29 knockouts.
“He was one of the most gracious and charitable fighters in boxing and he will be missed by the entire boxing community and all of his friends at HBO,” HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg told The Associated Press.
Greenburg helped put on eight of Forrest’s fights.
“Maybe Vernon’s lasting legacy will be for Americans everywhere to rise up and end this kind of senseless violence,” Greenburg said.
Those who knew the fighter praised his role in launching the Destiny’s Child group homes in Atlanta, which work to provide homes for the mentally disabled.
“It was truly his calling,” Forrest’s publicist, Kelly Swanson, said of his work with children. “When he wasn’t boxing, this was his full-time job.
“When they would see him, they would just light up, and some of them couldn’t even talk. Vernon was very much involved. He’d have some of the kids over to his house on Sundays. They were part of his family.”
Swanson said Forrest was not married and has one son, Vernon Jr.
Inside the ring, Forrest was known for taking two wins over Mosley in 2002. On Sept. 13, 2008, Forrest reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title by beating Sergio Mora in a rematch of a fight won by Mora.
The win over Mora was Forrest’s last fight. He suffered a rib injury while training for an April fight against Jason LeHoullier, which was canceled, and Forrest had to vacate his title.
Ken Hershman, vice president in charge of boxing at Showtime, which aired Forrest’s first fight with Mora, said Forrest was a popular fighter dedicated to his charity work.
“He wasn’t looking for anything, he just did it because it was the right thing to do,” Hershman said.
“Vernon was a young, vibrant guy coming to the end of his career. He still had a lot of life ahead of him.”
There were tentative plans for a title fight against Sergio Martinez, perhaps in October, Shaw said. Plans for an August fight against Martinez were pushed back the rib injury.
“Instead of being an Olympian, a two-time world champion, a guy who beat Shane Mosley twice, the guy who did some good for boxing—maybe his legacy will be for something else,” Shaw said. “Maybe boxing will finally get around the violence outside of the ring. Maybe Vernon’s name and legacy will be for that.”
Former two-time champion Arturo Gatti, who retired in 2007, was found dead July 11 at a Brazilian resort. Gatti’s wife, Amanda Rodrigues, is being held as the prime suspect.
Another former champion, Alexis Arguello, was found dead on July 1 at his home in Managua, Nicaragua. He was elected mayor of Nicaragua’s capital last year.
“If the saying is bad things come in threes, hopefully we’re done with that for a long time to come,” Hershman said. “I hope that’s the case. I mean, ironically three great people, three great human beings, too. Not a good few months.”
Forrest’s trainer, Buddy McGirt, also worked with Gatti. McGirt said Forrest planned to start training Aug. 1 for his next fight.
“I just feel so bad. He has a son you know,” McGirt said. “Someone is going to be raised without a father because somebody wanted to rob someone.”
AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Is that Manny Pacquiao?
By Rick Farris
The question came from Felicity Huffman, who plays "Lynette Scavo" on Desperate Housewives.
"Flicka" as she is known to the crew, had just stepped into the air conditioned video tent, located inside the "Scavo House" garage set.
On this hot July afternoon, the garage is like an oven, and the small air conditioning unit cooling the tent is cranking full bore.
The tent is full, about a half-dozen crew members sitting in fold-up directors chairs, and a handful more just standing, staring at the video monitor.
The fight is just about over, the ninth round has just started. The favorite is battered and taking a whipping.
I answer the actress' question, "No that's not Pacquiao, that's Frankie Baltazar Jr. . . ."
She steps closer to the screen, "Oh, he's a southpaw, like Pacquiao."
Suddenly Chango Cruz hits the deck, the actress' eyes grow big, "Oh look, he's down . . ."
A moment later the fight is over, Frankie Jr. runs across the ring and hugs Johnnie Flores and his father.
Before the audience in the air conditioned tent could comment on the fight, a big figure steps inside.
It's Mark Cherry, creator and Executive Producer of Desprate Housewives. He wants to review the shot we did before lunch.
We all stand up, the video-assist tech disconnects my lap top from the monitor, Flicka hugs the heavyset producer and exits with the rest of us.
A camera assistant catches up with me, "That kid was a good fighter, you said he only had five fights?"
I answer, "Yeah, he was just eighteen. Today he's in the California Hall of Fame, so's his brother Tony, and their father."
"Well, tomorrow bring in that other fight you have with Tony, OK?" he asks.
"You got it. Manana!"
The question came from Felicity Huffman, who plays "Lynette Scavo" on Desperate Housewives.
"Flicka" as she is known to the crew, had just stepped into the air conditioned video tent, located inside the "Scavo House" garage set.
On this hot July afternoon, the garage is like an oven, and the small air conditioning unit cooling the tent is cranking full bore.
The tent is full, about a half-dozen crew members sitting in fold-up directors chairs, and a handful more just standing, staring at the video monitor.
The fight is just about over, the ninth round has just started. The favorite is battered and taking a whipping.
I answer the actress' question, "No that's not Pacquiao, that's Frankie Baltazar Jr. . . ."
She steps closer to the screen, "Oh, he's a southpaw, like Pacquiao."
Suddenly Chango Cruz hits the deck, the actress' eyes grow big, "Oh look, he's down . . ."
A moment later the fight is over, Frankie Jr. runs across the ring and hugs Johnnie Flores and his father.
Before the audience in the air conditioned tent could comment on the fight, a big figure steps inside.
It's Mark Cherry, creator and Executive Producer of Desprate Housewives. He wants to review the shot we did before lunch.
We all stand up, the video-assist tech disconnects my lap top from the monitor, Flicka hugs the heavyset producer and exits with the rest of us.
A camera assistant catches up with me, "That kid was a good fighter, you said he only had five fights?"
I answer, "Yeah, he was just eighteen. Today he's in the California Hall of Fame, so's his brother Tony, and their father."
"Well, tomorrow bring in that other fight you have with Tony, OK?" he asks.
"You got it. Manana!"
“Assault in the Ring” a chilling tale
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
Antonio Margarito had his boxing license revoked by the California State Athletic Commission in February after his trainer inserted an illegal knuckle pad that contained traces of Plaster of Paris into his hand wraps before a fight against Shane Mosley on Jan. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Fortunately for Margarito, Mosley’s trainer, Naazim Richardson, suspected something was amiss and demanded that Margarito’s hands be rewrapped. Richardson’s insistence led to the discovery of the potentially lethal pad.
Had the illegal pad not been discovered, Mosley could have been seriously injured and Margarito could have had his next 25 years much like Luis Resto has lived his past 25, in agony over what had occurred in the ring.
Resto is the middling one-time junior middleweight contender who had an ounce of the stuffing pulled out of each of his eight-ounce gloves and his hand wraps tampered with before a June 16, 1983 fight in New York’s Madison Square Garden with unbeaten prospect Billy Collins Jr.
Resto and trainer Panama Lewis were each convicted of assault, conspiracy and criminal possession of a deadly weapon. Lewis was also convicted of tampering with a sports contest and both men were banned from sanctioned boxing for life, though Lewis still trains fighters in Florida.
Producer/director Eric Drath was long intrigued by the case and its aftermath and has produced a brilliant documentary, “Assault in the Ring,” which will begin airing on HBO on Aug. 1.
Collins died in an auto accident not long after the brutal, and highly unexpected, loss to Resto, a tragic end to a highly promising career. Collins was a charismatic and good-looking boxer who had an entertaining style that attracted fans by the droves.
Collins was promoted by Bob Arum of Top Rank, who knew a future star when he saw one. Arum was convinced that once Collins got past the lightly regarded Resto, a world title was in his future.
“Man, he was tremendous,” Arum said in the film. “He was a great-looking kid. He had all the moves. He punched like a mule. I mean, if this kid can make it through [the Resto fight], we have a gold mine here.”
Instead, what Collins got was a frightful beating and permanently blurred vision.
Randy Gordon, who at the time was the editor of The Ring magazine and would go on to become chairman and executive officer of the New York State Athletic Commission, was in Los Angeles preparing for a television broadcast on the day of the Collins-Resto fight.
He was walking through the Los Angeles International Airport when he was paged with a phone call. It was Ben Sharav, a New York attorney who at the time was shooting photographs for Ring.
Sharav told Gordon about the fight and about the allegations that the gloves had been tampered with. Gordon suggested that Sharav call Collins in the morning to arrange to have photographs taken.
The attorney did as he was instructed and took a now-famous shot of Collins’ battered and grotesquely swollen face. Gordon was pleased from a journalistic standpoint, though he indicated to Sharav that he wished Sharav had asked Collins to open his eyes for the photograph.
“He said, ‘His eyes were open,’ ” Gordon recalled. “The beating he took was unthinkable.”
Resto, whom Drath met in a New York gym after his release from prison, intrigued Drath. Resto was a soft-spoken sort who had steadfastly denied knowing anything had been done to his gloves or his hand wraps.
Drath, a former producer at CNN and FOX, opted to produce a film from Resto’s point of view.
“When I first met him, I found a tortured soul who was struggling every day with what had occurred and who lived with these whispers behind his back, if you will, that he’d murdered Billy Collins,” Drath said.
Drath does a masterful job not only of telling the story of the fight, but of its impact upon Resto and his family. Resto was living in near-squalor in a dungeon-like apartment, in New York apart from his wife and sons when he first met with Drath.
The personal relationship Drath built with Resto paid dividends because Resto opens up in the documentary and reveals facts about the night and what had gone on in his locker room that he had never before shared.
Among the many revelations Resto makes is that Lewis crushed a pill used to treat asthma and put it in his water bottle. The effect, Resto said, “was to open up the lungs” and allow him to get more oxygen in the latter stages of a fight.
Drath also stumbled upon many well-known trainers, who told him it was common for plaster to be put on fighters’ knuckles. Drath didn’t include that in the documentary that will be on HBO, but he did include it in the extras on the DVD that will be released in September.
Not long after the fight, Gordon did a television spot in which he showed how quickly the horsehair that was used to fill the gloves in those days could be removed from the gloves with a sharp instrument and quick fingers.
“Even with an inspector watching you, hovering over you, all you had to do was watch for an opportunity where you had just a couple of seconds and it could be done,” Gordon said.
He said it took him nine seconds a glove to stab a pair of scissors into the palm of a glove and yank out enough padding to turn the glove from a piece of athletic equipment into a weapon.
“You know, even if you have a guy really concentrating and paying close attention, 18 seconds isn’t a lot of time and if there’s even the smallest little distraction, like the guy sneezes or has to blow his nose, that’s plenty of time to get it done,” Gordon said.
Lewis declined to immediately glove Resto when the commission inspector assigned to his locker room ordered Resto to be gloved. The inspector stuck his head out the door and called for Jack Prenderville, the commission chairman. When the inspector returned, Lewis said he was ready to comply.
Lewis had a bad reputation in boxing circles even before the Collins-Resto fight said Jerry Izenberg, the wonderful sports columnist for the Newark Star-Ledger who was ringside for the bout.
Lewis was widely suspected of having tampered with the water he was giving to Aaron Pryor in his 1982 fight with the late Alexis Arguello, though nothing was ever proven and Lewis was never charged with a crime or accused of breaking a rule in that fight by the Florida Athletic Commission.
“There are a lot of low people in boxing, but even they would look down at him,” Izenberg said of Lewis.
Though Collins was getting beaten unmercifully, Izenberg said none of the reporters watching the fight from ringside initially suspected anything.
“It seemed inconceivable that anyone would pull the padding from the gloves with an inspector right there,” Izenberg said.
But when the fight ended and Collins Sr. went to shake hands with Resto, he realized the padding was missing. He shouted for help. Izenberg and several of his colleagues began to shout at athletic commission officials, urging them to grab the gloves.
Drath’s storytelling is marvelous and he intricately details the plot, the execution and its aftermath.
He brings Resto to Nashville, Tenn., to apologize to Collins Sr., and he flies him to Florida to confront Lewis.
It’s an emotionally charged film, but the saddest aspect is that more than a quarter of a century later, little has changed in boxing. Some trainers still try to alter the hand wraps in order to give their fighters an edge.
And the fighters, much like Resto, continue to plead ignorance.
If those fighters or those trainers who resort to such despicable tactics in order to win a sporting contest were to watch Drath’s marvelously done film, and see the pain it has caused Resto, let alone Collins, that alone might be the impetus for change.
Kevin Iole covers boxing and mixed martial arts for Yahoo! Sports. Click Here to read his Archive.
Antonio Margarito had his boxing license revoked by the California State Athletic Commission in February after his trainer inserted an illegal knuckle pad that contained traces of Plaster of Paris into his hand wraps before a fight against Shane Mosley on Jan. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Fortunately for Margarito, Mosley’s trainer, Naazim Richardson, suspected something was amiss and demanded that Margarito’s hands be rewrapped. Richardson’s insistence led to the discovery of the potentially lethal pad.
Had the illegal pad not been discovered, Mosley could have been seriously injured and Margarito could have had his next 25 years much like Luis Resto has lived his past 25, in agony over what had occurred in the ring.
Resto is the middling one-time junior middleweight contender who had an ounce of the stuffing pulled out of each of his eight-ounce gloves and his hand wraps tampered with before a June 16, 1983 fight in New York’s Madison Square Garden with unbeaten prospect Billy Collins Jr.
Resto and trainer Panama Lewis were each convicted of assault, conspiracy and criminal possession of a deadly weapon. Lewis was also convicted of tampering with a sports contest and both men were banned from sanctioned boxing for life, though Lewis still trains fighters in Florida.
Producer/director Eric Drath was long intrigued by the case and its aftermath and has produced a brilliant documentary, “Assault in the Ring,” which will begin airing on HBO on Aug. 1.
Collins died in an auto accident not long after the brutal, and highly unexpected, loss to Resto, a tragic end to a highly promising career. Collins was a charismatic and good-looking boxer who had an entertaining style that attracted fans by the droves.
Collins was promoted by Bob Arum of Top Rank, who knew a future star when he saw one. Arum was convinced that once Collins got past the lightly regarded Resto, a world title was in his future.
“Man, he was tremendous,” Arum said in the film. “He was a great-looking kid. He had all the moves. He punched like a mule. I mean, if this kid can make it through [the Resto fight], we have a gold mine here.”
Instead, what Collins got was a frightful beating and permanently blurred vision.
Randy Gordon, who at the time was the editor of The Ring magazine and would go on to become chairman and executive officer of the New York State Athletic Commission, was in Los Angeles preparing for a television broadcast on the day of the Collins-Resto fight.
He was walking through the Los Angeles International Airport when he was paged with a phone call. It was Ben Sharav, a New York attorney who at the time was shooting photographs for Ring.
Sharav told Gordon about the fight and about the allegations that the gloves had been tampered with. Gordon suggested that Sharav call Collins in the morning to arrange to have photographs taken.
The attorney did as he was instructed and took a now-famous shot of Collins’ battered and grotesquely swollen face. Gordon was pleased from a journalistic standpoint, though he indicated to Sharav that he wished Sharav had asked Collins to open his eyes for the photograph.
“He said, ‘His eyes were open,’ ” Gordon recalled. “The beating he took was unthinkable.”
Resto, whom Drath met in a New York gym after his release from prison, intrigued Drath. Resto was a soft-spoken sort who had steadfastly denied knowing anything had been done to his gloves or his hand wraps.
Drath, a former producer at CNN and FOX, opted to produce a film from Resto’s point of view.
“When I first met him, I found a tortured soul who was struggling every day with what had occurred and who lived with these whispers behind his back, if you will, that he’d murdered Billy Collins,” Drath said.
Drath does a masterful job not only of telling the story of the fight, but of its impact upon Resto and his family. Resto was living in near-squalor in a dungeon-like apartment, in New York apart from his wife and sons when he first met with Drath.
The personal relationship Drath built with Resto paid dividends because Resto opens up in the documentary and reveals facts about the night and what had gone on in his locker room that he had never before shared.
Among the many revelations Resto makes is that Lewis crushed a pill used to treat asthma and put it in his water bottle. The effect, Resto said, “was to open up the lungs” and allow him to get more oxygen in the latter stages of a fight.
Drath also stumbled upon many well-known trainers, who told him it was common for plaster to be put on fighters’ knuckles. Drath didn’t include that in the documentary that will be on HBO, but he did include it in the extras on the DVD that will be released in September.
Not long after the fight, Gordon did a television spot in which he showed how quickly the horsehair that was used to fill the gloves in those days could be removed from the gloves with a sharp instrument and quick fingers.
“Even with an inspector watching you, hovering over you, all you had to do was watch for an opportunity where you had just a couple of seconds and it could be done,” Gordon said.
He said it took him nine seconds a glove to stab a pair of scissors into the palm of a glove and yank out enough padding to turn the glove from a piece of athletic equipment into a weapon.
“You know, even if you have a guy really concentrating and paying close attention, 18 seconds isn’t a lot of time and if there’s even the smallest little distraction, like the guy sneezes or has to blow his nose, that’s plenty of time to get it done,” Gordon said.
Lewis declined to immediately glove Resto when the commission inspector assigned to his locker room ordered Resto to be gloved. The inspector stuck his head out the door and called for Jack Prenderville, the commission chairman. When the inspector returned, Lewis said he was ready to comply.
Lewis had a bad reputation in boxing circles even before the Collins-Resto fight said Jerry Izenberg, the wonderful sports columnist for the Newark Star-Ledger who was ringside for the bout.
Lewis was widely suspected of having tampered with the water he was giving to Aaron Pryor in his 1982 fight with the late Alexis Arguello, though nothing was ever proven and Lewis was never charged with a crime or accused of breaking a rule in that fight by the Florida Athletic Commission.
“There are a lot of low people in boxing, but even they would look down at him,” Izenberg said of Lewis.
Though Collins was getting beaten unmercifully, Izenberg said none of the reporters watching the fight from ringside initially suspected anything.
“It seemed inconceivable that anyone would pull the padding from the gloves with an inspector right there,” Izenberg said.
But when the fight ended and Collins Sr. went to shake hands with Resto, he realized the padding was missing. He shouted for help. Izenberg and several of his colleagues began to shout at athletic commission officials, urging them to grab the gloves.
Drath’s storytelling is marvelous and he intricately details the plot, the execution and its aftermath.
He brings Resto to Nashville, Tenn., to apologize to Collins Sr., and he flies him to Florida to confront Lewis.
It’s an emotionally charged film, but the saddest aspect is that more than a quarter of a century later, little has changed in boxing. Some trainers still try to alter the hand wraps in order to give their fighters an edge.
And the fighters, much like Resto, continue to plead ignorance.
If those fighters or those trainers who resort to such despicable tactics in order to win a sporting contest were to watch Drath’s marvelously done film, and see the pain it has caused Resto, let alone Collins, that alone might be the impetus for change.
Kevin Iole covers boxing and mixed martial arts for Yahoo! Sports. Click Here to read his Archive.
What I'm Finding.....
By Rick Farris
What I'm finding is that I prefer discussing "the way it was" with our group, than I do exploring "what's new" in boxing.
Not much exciting out there. To attend a match in Southern Cal, you have a handful of events that pop up during the year in town.
Once in awhile Golden Boy will put a show in the Staples Center.
Last time out, Oscar showcased the next L.A. "superstar."
I watched the young man reach an important decision in that bout, that boxing was fine as long as the other guy didn't hit back.
When other guy chose to fight back, the contemporary example of an L.A. prizefighter turned his back and "quit".
You have to respect a guy that turns the tables on the fans, they thought they were going to see a whipping, not at Victor Ortiz's expense.
I didn't care much for boxing downtown anyway. Why drive 15 or 20 minutes to attend a fight downtown at the Olympic, when today we can drive a couple hours thru the hot desert to attend a lesser event in an Indian Casino. These promoters know what they are doing. If the fights strangle the crowd they can wander into the casino and lose their paycheck on the blackjack table. If you are going to lose, you might as well do it right and lose everything.
Sometimes I desire something new in boxing and I'm really getting desperate with my options.
We used to laugh at the notion of women boxing. They are weak, can't hit hard, etc. that was the mind set.
However, today the women are offering just as much or more than they guys. More heart, anyway.
We may put our heads down in shame when we see what's happening with the guys, and the girls are quickly stepping in to fill the void, trying.
I remember the best days of my boxing life took place in the junior amateurs, L.A. was once a breeding ground for champions.
Watching today's pee-wees, struggling to supress their desire to fight and adhere to silly rules that lead to a game of tag, is depressing.
I'd like to see some of these kids matched with what we had a few decades back.
Instead, I prefer to root for something completely different, something with spirit, something trying to over come.
That's the essence of boxing, over coming difficulty, turning things around, succeeding.
I said I appreciate something different from what is common today.
Check out this junior, I'm more impressed with this boxer than most I see today.
I hope this link can be accessed here:
http://www.babelgum.com/browser.php#play/SEARCH_SIMILAR,clipID:3003029,includeClip:true,order:MOST_RELEVANT/0,3003029
God Bless East Los Angeles!
What I'm finding is that I prefer discussing "the way it was" with our group, than I do exploring "what's new" in boxing.
Not much exciting out there. To attend a match in Southern Cal, you have a handful of events that pop up during the year in town.
Once in awhile Golden Boy will put a show in the Staples Center.
Last time out, Oscar showcased the next L.A. "superstar."
I watched the young man reach an important decision in that bout, that boxing was fine as long as the other guy didn't hit back.
When other guy chose to fight back, the contemporary example of an L.A. prizefighter turned his back and "quit".
You have to respect a guy that turns the tables on the fans, they thought they were going to see a whipping, not at Victor Ortiz's expense.
I didn't care much for boxing downtown anyway. Why drive 15 or 20 minutes to attend a fight downtown at the Olympic, when today we can drive a couple hours thru the hot desert to attend a lesser event in an Indian Casino. These promoters know what they are doing. If the fights strangle the crowd they can wander into the casino and lose their paycheck on the blackjack table. If you are going to lose, you might as well do it right and lose everything.
Sometimes I desire something new in boxing and I'm really getting desperate with my options.
We used to laugh at the notion of women boxing. They are weak, can't hit hard, etc. that was the mind set.
However, today the women are offering just as much or more than they guys. More heart, anyway.
We may put our heads down in shame when we see what's happening with the guys, and the girls are quickly stepping in to fill the void, trying.
I remember the best days of my boxing life took place in the junior amateurs, L.A. was once a breeding ground for champions.
Watching today's pee-wees, struggling to supress their desire to fight and adhere to silly rules that lead to a game of tag, is depressing.
I'd like to see some of these kids matched with what we had a few decades back.
Instead, I prefer to root for something completely different, something with spirit, something trying to over come.
That's the essence of boxing, over coming difficulty, turning things around, succeeding.
I said I appreciate something different from what is common today.
Check out this junior, I'm more impressed with this boxer than most I see today.
I hope this link can be accessed here:
http://www.babelgum.com/browser.php#play/SEARCH_SIMILAR,clipID:3003029,includeClip:true,order:MOST_RELEVANT/0,3003029
God Bless East Los Angeles!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
STAY DOWN
By Roger Esty
You admire a fighter's guts when he can take it and keep comong back. Showing no quit. Pulling himself up from the canvas. I think it's those moments that stir a boxing fan into a feeling of a spiritual reverence. Time slows down dramatically as the punches ignite a spray of sweat and blood illuminated by the ring lights. It's sports drama on a life and death level. We want to see him get up.We succumb to his courage. How close is he to dying?
At the end of his career Ronnie Wilson was taking a lot of punishment. He wasn't a contender anymore. He had fought too often and too much. His last fight was in San Diego where he started. A fight against Marcos Geraldo who ,like Ronnie,was no stranger to fighting and bleeding. Geraldo's face and Ronnie's told of slugging it out in dire situations. Both had had their big opportunities in their careers. Both had come up short. Both had nothing to be ashamed of.
Ronnie's fight with Geraldo was probably a toss up with the bookies. The thing about Ronnie though at that time was his eyes. Eyes that came apart almost at the touch of the gloves.The blood would streak down into his eyes and he couldn't see. Against Marcos Geraldo Ronnie's eyes opened up early. Geraldo could sock and Ronnie was in trouble early. The blood sprayed up in the glare of the ring lights as Geraldo teed off. He could just about telegraph anything he wanted. He knew Ronnie was fighting blind.
Ronnie was going down. Before, his legs would be strong enough to keep him standing,but now he was collapsing. Crumbling and bleeding.Blood soaking into the mat. Eyes closed, Ronnie would pull himself up. You loved him for that.
But loving a fighter knowing that he could be permamently hurt,or even die, makes one gather himself and say,"Enough. Stop it." When Ronnie couldn't see the punches coming in,when we saw that he was hurt but didn't feel the pain,we wanted it to stop. This wasn't the Roman Coliseum. It was the San Diego Coliseum. We were crying for Ronnie. We wanted him to stay down. He didn't. Maybe he couldn't hear us.
You admire a fighter's guts when he can take it and keep comong back. Showing no quit. Pulling himself up from the canvas. I think it's those moments that stir a boxing fan into a feeling of a spiritual reverence. Time slows down dramatically as the punches ignite a spray of sweat and blood illuminated by the ring lights. It's sports drama on a life and death level. We want to see him get up.We succumb to his courage. How close is he to dying?
At the end of his career Ronnie Wilson was taking a lot of punishment. He wasn't a contender anymore. He had fought too often and too much. His last fight was in San Diego where he started. A fight against Marcos Geraldo who ,like Ronnie,was no stranger to fighting and bleeding. Geraldo's face and Ronnie's told of slugging it out in dire situations. Both had had their big opportunities in their careers. Both had come up short. Both had nothing to be ashamed of.
Ronnie's fight with Geraldo was probably a toss up with the bookies. The thing about Ronnie though at that time was his eyes. Eyes that came apart almost at the touch of the gloves.The blood would streak down into his eyes and he couldn't see. Against Marcos Geraldo Ronnie's eyes opened up early. Geraldo could sock and Ronnie was in trouble early. The blood sprayed up in the glare of the ring lights as Geraldo teed off. He could just about telegraph anything he wanted. He knew Ronnie was fighting blind.
Ronnie was going down. Before, his legs would be strong enough to keep him standing,but now he was collapsing. Crumbling and bleeding.Blood soaking into the mat. Eyes closed, Ronnie would pull himself up. You loved him for that.
But loving a fighter knowing that he could be permamently hurt,or even die, makes one gather himself and say,"Enough. Stop it." When Ronnie couldn't see the punches coming in,when we saw that he was hurt but didn't feel the pain,we wanted it to stop. This wasn't the Roman Coliseum. It was the San Diego Coliseum. We were crying for Ronnie. We wanted him to stay down. He didn't. Maybe he couldn't hear us.
Johnny Flores and The Brown Bomber . . .
By Rick Farris
Frank, we who trained at Johnny's gym in Pacomia during the 60's heard a lot about Joe Louis.
Johnny and the heavyweight champion of the world had met during WW2, and the following decade worked together.
Joe Louis promoted bouts in Hollywood, at the Moulan Rouge night club, and Flores was his matchmaker.
I remember as a kid, I'd see posters tacked up on the wall of Flores' backyard gym, posters from fights he and Louis had put on.
One story that Flores shared comes to mind.
One evening Johnny walked into the gym carrying an over-sized pair of REYES boxing gloves.
He was showing us a gift that had been presented to him years earlier, while in Mexico with Joe Louis.
Louis and Flores had been guests at the boxing glove manufacturer's factory.
Afterwards, both Louis and Flores were presented a pair of giant gloves.
Johnny told us he found a large plastic bag in which to wrap his gloves for the plane trip home.
When he and Louis left the hotel, he said the former champ had the gloves tied together and slung over his shoulder.
He then carried the gloves on the plane, as well. Needless to say, he got a lot of attention normally, this created more.
Johnny told us, "Joe really liked those gloves, and the attention."
Frank, we who trained at Johnny's gym in Pacomia during the 60's heard a lot about Joe Louis.
Johnny and the heavyweight champion of the world had met during WW2, and the following decade worked together.
Joe Louis promoted bouts in Hollywood, at the Moulan Rouge night club, and Flores was his matchmaker.
I remember as a kid, I'd see posters tacked up on the wall of Flores' backyard gym, posters from fights he and Louis had put on.
One story that Flores shared comes to mind.
One evening Johnny walked into the gym carrying an over-sized pair of REYES boxing gloves.
He was showing us a gift that had been presented to him years earlier, while in Mexico with Joe Louis.
Louis and Flores had been guests at the boxing glove manufacturer's factory.
Afterwards, both Louis and Flores were presented a pair of giant gloves.
Johnny told us he found a large plastic bag in which to wrap his gloves for the plane trip home.
When he and Louis left the hotel, he said the former champ had the gloves tied together and slung over his shoulder.
He then carried the gloves on the plane, as well. Needless to say, he got a lot of attention normally, this created more.
Johnny told us, "Joe really liked those gloves, and the attention."
Mexican boxer Nazareth dies of brain hemorrhage
MEXICO CITY (AP)—Mexican junior welterweight Marco Antonio Nazareth has died at a hospital in Puerto Vallarta, four days after sustaining a brain hemorrhage in a loss to Omar Chavez.
The 23-year-old Nazareth was hospitalized after the fight, in which Nazareth was knocked down in the first round and knocked out in the fourth.
Nazareth underwent surgery after the fight, but his condition steadily worsened. His professional record was four victories—three by knockout—and four losses.
The undefeated Chavez is the son of former champion Julio Cesar Chavez.
The 23-year-old Nazareth was hospitalized after the fight, in which Nazareth was knocked down in the first round and knocked out in the fourth.
Nazareth underwent surgery after the fight, but his condition steadily worsened. His professional record was four victories—three by knockout—and four losses.
The undefeated Chavez is the son of former champion Julio Cesar Chavez.
Dustin Hoffman, "Tootsie" . . .
By Rick Farris
In 1981, I get a call from Gary Holt. Gary was the best motion picture lighting gaffer in the business, one of the best ever.
Gary had huge credits, and I'd have the luck of working on many of his lighting crews.
Working under Gary Holt, I'd be on the lighting crews of "One flew over the Cookoo's Nest", "Coming Home", "Being There", "Absence of Malice", "The Right Stuff", "The Natural", "Havana", "The Addams Family", and "Lethal Weapon-2".
Gary was going to be the lighting designer on a new Sydney Pollack film, Tootsie, that would eventually win every major Oscar in 1982.
I knew that Gary had landed the feature, and when I heard his voice on the phone I expected him to ask me to join him in New York on location.
As it turns out, the entire crew except the principle camera crew would be hired out of New York.
However, they would be shooting some tests in L.A. before hand. Make-up, wardrobe, film and lighting tests.
Gary needed to assemble a small stage crew to help him light the tests that would be shot at the Culver Studios lot.
We'd film the cast in their respective wardrobe and make-up, lens's would be selected, filters, lighting concerns.
This would be my first time working with Dustin Hoffman.
My friend Ralph, one of Holt's lighting techs, had met Hoffman many years back, in the 60's, before he was a star.
Ralph's friend owned a hair salon where both got their hair cut.
The two hit it off and laughed at memories of their mutual friend, Joey, the hair stylist.
Dustin Hoffman would portray a woman, or a man dressed as a woman, in the movie.
You can imagine how the make-up and hair stylists were buzzing around the legendary actor, making everything "just right."
Standing on his mark, before we roll film, the actor patiently awaits his cosmetic team to finish.
He begins to smile and looks off-camera to our friend, Ralph.
Hoffman comments to Ralph that their hairdresser friend would no doubt like the wig he was wearing.
Ralph laughs and has an important question for the actor.
"Hey Dustin, if you win the an Academy Award for this role, will you accept your Oscar as a man, or a woman?
Ralph's question caught the actor off-guard. When it sunk in he began to smile, he then answered, "You know, that's a good question."
Less than two years later, "Tootsie" wins a load of Oscars. Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, etc.
Ironically, I just happen to be working with Ralph on the night Tootsie won it's Oscars.
Naturally, people on a film set have an interest in the Academy Awards, so they usually have a TV on set in which they can keep track of the event.
When the nominations for "Best Actor" are read, Ralph and I just happen to be standing near the TV set and move over to watch.
Dustin Hoffman wins and takes the stage for his acceptance speech.
Before he starts to speak he laughs, and then says, "You know, I didn't know whether to accept this award as a man, or a woman."
When Hoffman made the comment, Ralph and I turned to face each other, "Did you hear that?"
Others watching thought that was funny and laughed.
I told somebody that Hoffman got his line from Ralph, and they looked at me in disbelief.
Oh well, Hoffman's classic answer is now a part of Oscar Night history.
However, it was better watching him hear it from Ralph before we rolled camera on his make-up test.
It surprised him, made an impression that was lasting.
Good question, Rafael . . .
In 1981, I get a call from Gary Holt. Gary was the best motion picture lighting gaffer in the business, one of the best ever.
Gary had huge credits, and I'd have the luck of working on many of his lighting crews.
Working under Gary Holt, I'd be on the lighting crews of "One flew over the Cookoo's Nest", "Coming Home", "Being There", "Absence of Malice", "The Right Stuff", "The Natural", "Havana", "The Addams Family", and "Lethal Weapon-2".
Gary was going to be the lighting designer on a new Sydney Pollack film, Tootsie, that would eventually win every major Oscar in 1982.
I knew that Gary had landed the feature, and when I heard his voice on the phone I expected him to ask me to join him in New York on location.
As it turns out, the entire crew except the principle camera crew would be hired out of New York.
However, they would be shooting some tests in L.A. before hand. Make-up, wardrobe, film and lighting tests.
Gary needed to assemble a small stage crew to help him light the tests that would be shot at the Culver Studios lot.
We'd film the cast in their respective wardrobe and make-up, lens's would be selected, filters, lighting concerns.
This would be my first time working with Dustin Hoffman.
My friend Ralph, one of Holt's lighting techs, had met Hoffman many years back, in the 60's, before he was a star.
Ralph's friend owned a hair salon where both got their hair cut.
The two hit it off and laughed at memories of their mutual friend, Joey, the hair stylist.
Dustin Hoffman would portray a woman, or a man dressed as a woman, in the movie.
You can imagine how the make-up and hair stylists were buzzing around the legendary actor, making everything "just right."
Standing on his mark, before we roll film, the actor patiently awaits his cosmetic team to finish.
He begins to smile and looks off-camera to our friend, Ralph.
Hoffman comments to Ralph that their hairdresser friend would no doubt like the wig he was wearing.
Ralph laughs and has an important question for the actor.
"Hey Dustin, if you win the an Academy Award for this role, will you accept your Oscar as a man, or a woman?
Ralph's question caught the actor off-guard. When it sunk in he began to smile, he then answered, "You know, that's a good question."
Less than two years later, "Tootsie" wins a load of Oscars. Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, etc.
Ironically, I just happen to be working with Ralph on the night Tootsie won it's Oscars.
Naturally, people on a film set have an interest in the Academy Awards, so they usually have a TV on set in which they can keep track of the event.
When the nominations for "Best Actor" are read, Ralph and I just happen to be standing near the TV set and move over to watch.
Dustin Hoffman wins and takes the stage for his acceptance speech.
Before he starts to speak he laughs, and then says, "You know, I didn't know whether to accept this award as a man, or a woman."
When Hoffman made the comment, Ralph and I turned to face each other, "Did you hear that?"
Others watching thought that was funny and laughed.
I told somebody that Hoffman got his line from Ralph, and they looked at me in disbelief.
Oh well, Hoffman's classic answer is now a part of Oscar Night history.
However, it was better watching him hear it from Ralph before we rolled camera on his make-up test.
It surprised him, made an impression that was lasting.
Good question, Rafael . . .
Cannery Row . . .
By Rick Farris
In 1980, the film industry endured a four month actor's strike.
Prior to the strike, which began in July 1980, MGM was well into pre-production for a big budget feature, "Cannery Row".
The film was based on the John Steinbeck novel, and would star Nick Nolte opposite Debra Winger.
Before the cameras roll, SAG walks out of negotiations with producers.
They go on strike and the film industry goes dead. TV series' that had just started shooting for the new season were halted.
Film makers are artists, they love to create, and they sometimes come together to create something beautiful.
Making lemons out of Lemonade? No something better.
During the actor's strike in 1980, the Academy Award winning production designer of "Cannery Row" was in pre-production.
He would remain on the payroll during the strike and use the time to design one of the most beautiful on stage film sets ever built at MGM.
One of the most beautiful sets in the history of MGM?
That's saying a lot, and it was true.
The Production Designer's friends, some of the film world's most talented designers, were bored.
Many wanted to help transform MGM's stage 30 into a living, breathing "Cannery Row", complete with an Ocean.
They didn't care about being paid, they just wanted to play, like when a group of hot musicians get together and jam.
Stage 30 has a water tank below it's floor, this is the stage where the studio used to produce the water musicals featuring diver Ester Williams.
During the four months strike, the artists did their thing with no time pressure. This was a case when "too many chefs" didn't spoil the soup.
I won't go into the technicalities of how they built the set, but as disappointing as the film turned out on screen, the set was brilliant.
To put it on film was Academy Award winning cinematographer, Sven Nyquist of Sweden.
Nyquist was Ingmar Bergman's cameraman. His work on "Cries and Whispers" brought him an Oscar.
He was a legend in Europe, Hollywood, anywhere where fine films are made.
I joined the crew when they began filming shortly after the strike. I had just finished a Steve Martin film, "Pennies from Heaven", at MGM, and was able to step right onto Cannery Row when the strike was settled.
Nick Nolte and Debra Winger would star in "Cannery Row", but as a lighting designer, I wanted to learn how Sven Nyquist lit his sets.
He was a master with soft light, Liv Ullman was never more beautiful than before Sven Nyquists lens.
Some actresses need help, cosmetically, photographically, special lighting.
Sven Nyquist would calmly utilize subtle influences of light, to diminish, highlight, hide or expose texture.
With light, we can soften or harden features, I learned from watching and talking with this man.
Blending color is another tool.
As I said before, the movie was expected to be a great one, as was the book. Didn't quite reach it's target.
However, the beautiful sets and cinematography resulted in some brilliant images.
You could literally take a frame from any shot, blow it up into a still photograph, and it would be a work of art.
In 1980, the film industry endured a four month actor's strike.
Prior to the strike, which began in July 1980, MGM was well into pre-production for a big budget feature, "Cannery Row".
The film was based on the John Steinbeck novel, and would star Nick Nolte opposite Debra Winger.
Before the cameras roll, SAG walks out of negotiations with producers.
They go on strike and the film industry goes dead. TV series' that had just started shooting for the new season were halted.
Film makers are artists, they love to create, and they sometimes come together to create something beautiful.
Making lemons out of Lemonade? No something better.
During the actor's strike in 1980, the Academy Award winning production designer of "Cannery Row" was in pre-production.
He would remain on the payroll during the strike and use the time to design one of the most beautiful on stage film sets ever built at MGM.
One of the most beautiful sets in the history of MGM?
That's saying a lot, and it was true.
The Production Designer's friends, some of the film world's most talented designers, were bored.
Many wanted to help transform MGM's stage 30 into a living, breathing "Cannery Row", complete with an Ocean.
They didn't care about being paid, they just wanted to play, like when a group of hot musicians get together and jam.
Stage 30 has a water tank below it's floor, this is the stage where the studio used to produce the water musicals featuring diver Ester Williams.
During the four months strike, the artists did their thing with no time pressure. This was a case when "too many chefs" didn't spoil the soup.
I won't go into the technicalities of how they built the set, but as disappointing as the film turned out on screen, the set was brilliant.
To put it on film was Academy Award winning cinematographer, Sven Nyquist of Sweden.
Nyquist was Ingmar Bergman's cameraman. His work on "Cries and Whispers" brought him an Oscar.
He was a legend in Europe, Hollywood, anywhere where fine films are made.
I joined the crew when they began filming shortly after the strike. I had just finished a Steve Martin film, "Pennies from Heaven", at MGM, and was able to step right onto Cannery Row when the strike was settled.
Nick Nolte and Debra Winger would star in "Cannery Row", but as a lighting designer, I wanted to learn how Sven Nyquist lit his sets.
He was a master with soft light, Liv Ullman was never more beautiful than before Sven Nyquists lens.
Some actresses need help, cosmetically, photographically, special lighting.
Sven Nyquist would calmly utilize subtle influences of light, to diminish, highlight, hide or expose texture.
With light, we can soften or harden features, I learned from watching and talking with this man.
Blending color is another tool.
As I said before, the movie was expected to be a great one, as was the book. Didn't quite reach it's target.
However, the beautiful sets and cinematography resulted in some brilliant images.
You could literally take a frame from any shot, blow it up into a still photograph, and it would be a work of art.
BEAU JACK; A TRUE ALL TIME GREAT
By Jim Amato
The name Sidney Walker would not be very familiar to most fight fans. Mention the name Beau Jack and you would get a much different reaction. They are one and the same. Beau Jack was one of the most exciting fighters of the 1940’s and early 50’s.
Sidney Walker was born on April 1, 1921 in Augusta, Georgia. He began his professional career in 1939 fighting out of South Carolina. Later Beau Jack boxed often out of the New England area. By the time he invaded New York in 1941 he sported a 27-4-2 record. He scored a knockout win in a fight at Ebbets Field and his next bout was at Madison Square Garden. It would be the first of twenty-seven appearances Beau Jack would make at that famous venue a testimony to his popularity over the years.
Late in 1941 Beau lost two fights to tough Freddie Archer. He would bounce back to win twelve straight including victories over Terry Young and Allie Stolz. This set the stage for a 1942 match between Jack and Tippy Larkin for the vacant New York State Athletic Commission lightweight title. Beau took out Larkin in three rounds to win the title. Beau would then defeat Fritzie Zivic twice and Henry Armstrong in over weight matches.
In 1943 Beau lost his NYSAC title to the talented Bob Montgomery. Three fights later Bobby Ruffin upset him. In his next fight Beau would regain his title by beating Montgomery. In 1944 Beau beat Lulu Costantino, drew with Sammy Angott and beat Maxie Berger at The Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. He would again lose to Montgomery and his title was gone.
Jack came right back with wins over Al ” Bummy ” Davis, Juan Zurita and Montgomery with no title at stake. He then beat Willie Joyce, drew with rugged Johnny Greco and stopped Angott. In 1946 Buster Tyler upset him. In 1947 Youngstown great Tony Janiro stopped him for the first time in his career. Beau suffered a knee injury in the fight.
Back on the comeback trail Beau put together five wins but then lost to Terry Young. He then defeated Johnny Greco and Janiro in rematches. In 1948 the sensational Ike Williams halted him. Beau came right back to stop England’s highly touted Eric Boon. In eight fights after beating Boon he only lost to Greco. This led to a bout with the legendary Kid Gavilan. The ” Keed ” dominated Beau and won a lopsided decision. Jack then lost to Tuzo Portuguez and another Youngstown battler Joey Carkido.
He did stop Lew Jenkins but in his last twelve fights he went 4-7-1. He lost to Fritzie Pruden, Del Flanagan and Ike Williams. Gil Turner stopped him inside the distance and in his last bout Ike Williams kayoed him. In his remarkable career Beau Jack had 117 fights. His final ledger was 88-24-5. He scored 43 KO’s and was stopped only four times in his storied career. He was a thrilling, action fighter who met the best of his time. He truly was an all time great.
The name Sidney Walker would not be very familiar to most fight fans. Mention the name Beau Jack and you would get a much different reaction. They are one and the same. Beau Jack was one of the most exciting fighters of the 1940’s and early 50’s.
Sidney Walker was born on April 1, 1921 in Augusta, Georgia. He began his professional career in 1939 fighting out of South Carolina. Later Beau Jack boxed often out of the New England area. By the time he invaded New York in 1941 he sported a 27-4-2 record. He scored a knockout win in a fight at Ebbets Field and his next bout was at Madison Square Garden. It would be the first of twenty-seven appearances Beau Jack would make at that famous venue a testimony to his popularity over the years.
Late in 1941 Beau lost two fights to tough Freddie Archer. He would bounce back to win twelve straight including victories over Terry Young and Allie Stolz. This set the stage for a 1942 match between Jack and Tippy Larkin for the vacant New York State Athletic Commission lightweight title. Beau took out Larkin in three rounds to win the title. Beau would then defeat Fritzie Zivic twice and Henry Armstrong in over weight matches.
In 1943 Beau lost his NYSAC title to the talented Bob Montgomery. Three fights later Bobby Ruffin upset him. In his next fight Beau would regain his title by beating Montgomery. In 1944 Beau beat Lulu Costantino, drew with Sammy Angott and beat Maxie Berger at The Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. He would again lose to Montgomery and his title was gone.
Jack came right back with wins over Al ” Bummy ” Davis, Juan Zurita and Montgomery with no title at stake. He then beat Willie Joyce, drew with rugged Johnny Greco and stopped Angott. In 1946 Buster Tyler upset him. In 1947 Youngstown great Tony Janiro stopped him for the first time in his career. Beau suffered a knee injury in the fight.
Back on the comeback trail Beau put together five wins but then lost to Terry Young. He then defeated Johnny Greco and Janiro in rematches. In 1948 the sensational Ike Williams halted him. Beau came right back to stop England’s highly touted Eric Boon. In eight fights after beating Boon he only lost to Greco. This led to a bout with the legendary Kid Gavilan. The ” Keed ” dominated Beau and won a lopsided decision. Jack then lost to Tuzo Portuguez and another Youngstown battler Joey Carkido.
He did stop Lew Jenkins but in his last twelve fights he went 4-7-1. He lost to Fritzie Pruden, Del Flanagan and Ike Williams. Gil Turner stopped him inside the distance and in his last bout Ike Williams kayoed him. In his remarkable career Beau Jack had 117 fights. His final ledger was 88-24-5. He scored 43 KO’s and was stopped only four times in his storied career. He was a thrilling, action fighter who met the best of his time. He truly was an all time great.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Chavez brothers
By Edgar Gonzalez
Sad to report that welterweight Marco “Texano” Nazareth, who was taken from the ring on a stretcher after being KO’d by Omar “Business Man” Chávez last night in Puerto Vallarta, is now fighting for his life in a local hospital. Nazareth underwent a three hour operation last night to treat a cerebral hemorrhage. Doctors say the condition of Nazareth is “critical but stable,” and they expect the local fighter to show improvement over the next 72 hours. Omar Chavez is the son of Mexican ring legend Julio Cesar Chavez and younger brother of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Chavez Jr. injured!
Undefeated super welterweight contender and The Son of The Legend, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., has been forced off the card for the upcoming “Latin Fury 10″ due to a training camp injury. “Latin Fury 10” will proceed as scheduled headlined by the two world championship fights featuring undefeated #1 super featherweight contender Urbano Antillon (26-0, 19 KOs) and top ten contender Miguel “Aguacerito” Acosta (25-9-2, 19 KOs) battling for the vacant WBA interim lightweight title and WBA light flyweight champion Giovani Segura (20-1-1, 16 KOs) defending his title against Sonny Boy Jaro (30-7-5, 19 KOs).
Chavez Jr. (39-0-1, 29 KOs) suffered a rib injury last Wednesday during training camp in Big Bear. He has not been able to throw any punches effectively because of the pain and today his doctor ordered a halt of all training until it completely heals. Chavez’s return to the ring is expected to be in September or October.
A Los Angeles news conference scheduled for Monday has been canceled and a final news conference featuring the two world championship fight participants will take place Wednesday in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.
“Latin Fury 10,” will take place on Saturday July 25. In addition to the two world championship rumbles, it will also feature WBO Latino junior bantamweight champion Alberto Rosas defending his title against Alejandro Martinez in a 12-round title bout.
Produced and distributed by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, “Latin Fury 10″ will be broadcast Live on Pay-Per-View, from Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, This Saturday! July 25, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. For fight week updates, log on to http://www.toprank.com.
Sad to report that welterweight Marco “Texano” Nazareth, who was taken from the ring on a stretcher after being KO’d by Omar “Business Man” Chávez last night in Puerto Vallarta, is now fighting for his life in a local hospital. Nazareth underwent a three hour operation last night to treat a cerebral hemorrhage. Doctors say the condition of Nazareth is “critical but stable,” and they expect the local fighter to show improvement over the next 72 hours. Omar Chavez is the son of Mexican ring legend Julio Cesar Chavez and younger brother of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Chavez Jr. injured!
Undefeated super welterweight contender and The Son of The Legend, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., has been forced off the card for the upcoming “Latin Fury 10″ due to a training camp injury. “Latin Fury 10” will proceed as scheduled headlined by the two world championship fights featuring undefeated #1 super featherweight contender Urbano Antillon (26-0, 19 KOs) and top ten contender Miguel “Aguacerito” Acosta (25-9-2, 19 KOs) battling for the vacant WBA interim lightweight title and WBA light flyweight champion Giovani Segura (20-1-1, 16 KOs) defending his title against Sonny Boy Jaro (30-7-5, 19 KOs).
Chavez Jr. (39-0-1, 29 KOs) suffered a rib injury last Wednesday during training camp in Big Bear. He has not been able to throw any punches effectively because of the pain and today his doctor ordered a halt of all training until it completely heals. Chavez’s return to the ring is expected to be in September or October.
A Los Angeles news conference scheduled for Monday has been canceled and a final news conference featuring the two world championship fight participants will take place Wednesday in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.
“Latin Fury 10,” will take place on Saturday July 25. In addition to the two world championship rumbles, it will also feature WBO Latino junior bantamweight champion Alberto Rosas defending his title against Alejandro Martinez in a 12-round title bout.
Produced and distributed by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, “Latin Fury 10″ will be broadcast Live on Pay-Per-View, from Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, This Saturday! July 25, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. For fight week updates, log on to http://www.toprank.com.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL
By Edgar Gonzalez
It is not easy trying to stay cool this time of year when you reside in the desert community of North Palm Springs, Calif., where temperatures hover around or top 100 degrees nearly every day and night.
Factor in the heat former undisputed lightweight champion Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell is expected to bring on Saturday, Aug. 1, and one might expect unbeaten world junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley to be a tad on edge these days.
But less than two weeks away from the biggest and perhaps toughest fight of his career, “Desert Storm’’ not only is coping with the elements in and out of the ring, but he is relishing the opportunity to prove once again he is the No. 1 140-pounder in the world.
“There is a lot of excitement as we get closer,’’ said Bradley, who will defend his World Boxing Organization title against the always-dangerous Campbell at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The classy venue is located less than 10 miles from where Bradley grew up.
“I am very anxious to prove to myself and my fans that I am the best at 140. It does not make a difference that it is close to home, but it is actually an honor to be able to fight in a place where there will be fans that will rooting for me.’’
Headlining at home can be a distraction, but for the most part it has been business as usual for the 25-year-old Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) as he prepares for the hard-hitting Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs) of Jacksonville, Fla.
“Training-wise, not much has changed,’’ Bradley said. “I still wake up and run eight miles in the morning, eat, and then rest. Gym workout starts at noon and we do three hours there. I spar every other day and work on my strength training for three days.
“Every Monday and Wednesday, I assist with a tackle football program for kids 7-14 (that he helped start) in Cathedral City. I work with them on conditioning.
“I still find time to relax by hanging out with my children at home. We watch movies, play basketball, board games and dance and tell jokes all day.’’
The event, which includes a 140-pound world title fight between ex-world titleholder Junior Witter (37-2-2, 22 KOs of England and Devon Alexander (18-0, 11 KOs), the most highly touted fighter to come out of St. Louis since four-time world champion Cory Spinks, for the World Boxing Council title – the belt Bradley voluntarily relinquished, is the biggest, most significant boxing card in the history of the Coachella Valley.
But there is no doubt that Bradley is the star of a show promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions in association with Don King Productions and Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa.
One can’t travel too many miles without seeing one of the numerous billboards in the area promoting the event.
“Yes, absolutely, I have seen many of those billboards,’’ Bradley said. “I never thought my face would be on a giant billboard. I believe that all my prayers are being answered. I feel more and more blessed every day.’’
Bradley isn’t sure how the scheduled 12-rounder will play out with Campbell.
“It is hard to say. I can’t dissect him because I have not been in the ring with him,’’ Bradley said. “However, I think that my youth and speed will be huge advantages against him.
Like so many, Bradley was deeply saddened by the recent deaths of boxing greats, Alexis Arguello and Arturo Gatti.
“Arguello is a legend, and his death is a huge loss to the sport of boxing. He was an ambassador of good will, an amazing 3-time world champion and true gentleman inside and outside of the ring.” Bradley said.
On Gatti: “I had the pleasure of meeting him at my last fight in Montreal, Canada. He was there for my fight against Kendall Holt and came over to congratulate me after the fight. I was excited to meet one of the greatest warriors of the sport and of all time. We lost him too soon”.
“I wish his son and family continued strength as they go through the grieving process of having lost a big part of their life and we should all keep in our hearts all of the thrilling memories of him inside the ring.”
Tickets for the blockbuster event Saturday, Aug. 1 event are available for purchase online at http://www.HotWaterCasino.com/TheShow or by calling (800) 585-3737.
It is not easy trying to stay cool this time of year when you reside in the desert community of North Palm Springs, Calif., where temperatures hover around or top 100 degrees nearly every day and night.
Factor in the heat former undisputed lightweight champion Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell is expected to bring on Saturday, Aug. 1, and one might expect unbeaten world junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley to be a tad on edge these days.
But less than two weeks away from the biggest and perhaps toughest fight of his career, “Desert Storm’’ not only is coping with the elements in and out of the ring, but he is relishing the opportunity to prove once again he is the No. 1 140-pounder in the world.
“There is a lot of excitement as we get closer,’’ said Bradley, who will defend his World Boxing Organization title against the always-dangerous Campbell at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The classy venue is located less than 10 miles from where Bradley grew up.
“I am very anxious to prove to myself and my fans that I am the best at 140. It does not make a difference that it is close to home, but it is actually an honor to be able to fight in a place where there will be fans that will rooting for me.’’
Headlining at home can be a distraction, but for the most part it has been business as usual for the 25-year-old Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) as he prepares for the hard-hitting Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs) of Jacksonville, Fla.
“Training-wise, not much has changed,’’ Bradley said. “I still wake up and run eight miles in the morning, eat, and then rest. Gym workout starts at noon and we do three hours there. I spar every other day and work on my strength training for three days.
“Every Monday and Wednesday, I assist with a tackle football program for kids 7-14 (that he helped start) in Cathedral City. I work with them on conditioning.
“I still find time to relax by hanging out with my children at home. We watch movies, play basketball, board games and dance and tell jokes all day.’’
The event, which includes a 140-pound world title fight between ex-world titleholder Junior Witter (37-2-2, 22 KOs of England and Devon Alexander (18-0, 11 KOs), the most highly touted fighter to come out of St. Louis since four-time world champion Cory Spinks, for the World Boxing Council title – the belt Bradley voluntarily relinquished, is the biggest, most significant boxing card in the history of the Coachella Valley.
But there is no doubt that Bradley is the star of a show promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions in association with Don King Productions and Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa.
One can’t travel too many miles without seeing one of the numerous billboards in the area promoting the event.
“Yes, absolutely, I have seen many of those billboards,’’ Bradley said. “I never thought my face would be on a giant billboard. I believe that all my prayers are being answered. I feel more and more blessed every day.’’
Bradley isn’t sure how the scheduled 12-rounder will play out with Campbell.
“It is hard to say. I can’t dissect him because I have not been in the ring with him,’’ Bradley said. “However, I think that my youth and speed will be huge advantages against him.
Like so many, Bradley was deeply saddened by the recent deaths of boxing greats, Alexis Arguello and Arturo Gatti.
“Arguello is a legend, and his death is a huge loss to the sport of boxing. He was an ambassador of good will, an amazing 3-time world champion and true gentleman inside and outside of the ring.” Bradley said.
On Gatti: “I had the pleasure of meeting him at my last fight in Montreal, Canada. He was there for my fight against Kendall Holt and came over to congratulate me after the fight. I was excited to meet one of the greatest warriors of the sport and of all time. We lost him too soon”.
“I wish his son and family continued strength as they go through the grieving process of having lost a big part of their life and we should all keep in our hearts all of the thrilling memories of him inside the ring.”
Tickets for the blockbuster event Saturday, Aug. 1 event are available for purchase online at http://www.HotWaterCasino.com/TheShow or by calling (800) 585-3737.
Pacquiao set to fight Cotto
Arum says the bout of champions will be at a catch-weight of 145 pounds.
By Robert Morales, Staff Writer
Manny Pacquiao, the No.1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and welterweight champion Miguel Cotto have come to terms and will fight each other Nov. 14 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The fight was announced as a done deal Monday by Bob Arum, who promotes both boxers. It will be available on HBO pay-per-view.
The fight will pit two of the most popular fighters in the world in the Philippines' Pacquiao and Puerto Rico's Cotto, a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter. That and their similar styles figure to make this a highly anticipated matchup, Arum said.
"This is going to be a fight," Arum said from his offices in Las Vegas. "This is two guys who will give no quarter and will be at each other from the opening bell. This is the type of fight that people, when they see it, are so thrilled because they've really seen action.
"It is not going to be any kind of fancy boxing exhibition. These guys fight one way."
Arum said Cotto, 28, agreed to terms last week and Pacquiao did so over the weekend. Arum said they will fight at a catch-weight of 145 pounds, two under the welterweight limit.
This should not be a problem for Cotto, who weighed 146 pounds for his successful title defense against Joshua Clottey last month in New York City.
Pacquiao and his team initially had asked for the fight to be made at 143. But that would have put Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) in a situation he would have had to drain himself in order to make weight. Arum said he did not want any part of that.
"I wasn't going to do a fight just to make the fight, where one of the fighters had to jeopardize his health," Arum said.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, had no problem with 145.
"Cotto is a strong guy, so we obviously tried to get it as low as possible," Roach said. "At 145 or 143, I don't think it really matters. My job is getting him ready for that fight and that's what I'm going to do."
Pacquiao, 30, is 49-3-2 with 37 knockouts. He is coming off a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in a junior welterweight fight in May at MGM Grand.
Arum said the contracts should be signed this week. He would not divulge the split of the purse at this time.
"The fighters asked me not to at this particular point," Arum said. "But I'm sure that once the contracts are signed, at the press conference they will give me permission to reveal it because it will be a matter of public record anyway."
Pacquiao has won titles in six weight divisions from 112 to 140 pounds, cementing the Filipino national hero's status and the sport's pound-for-pound champion. Pacquiao pummeled Oscar De La Hoya into retirement last December in his first welterweight fight.
[email]robert.morales@presstelegram.com[/email]
The Associated Press contributed to this report
By Robert Morales, Staff Writer
Manny Pacquiao, the No.1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and welterweight champion Miguel Cotto have come to terms and will fight each other Nov. 14 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The fight was announced as a done deal Monday by Bob Arum, who promotes both boxers. It will be available on HBO pay-per-view.
The fight will pit two of the most popular fighters in the world in the Philippines' Pacquiao and Puerto Rico's Cotto, a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter. That and their similar styles figure to make this a highly anticipated matchup, Arum said.
"This is going to be a fight," Arum said from his offices in Las Vegas. "This is two guys who will give no quarter and will be at each other from the opening bell. This is the type of fight that people, when they see it, are so thrilled because they've really seen action.
"It is not going to be any kind of fancy boxing exhibition. These guys fight one way."
Arum said Cotto, 28, agreed to terms last week and Pacquiao did so over the weekend. Arum said they will fight at a catch-weight of 145 pounds, two under the welterweight limit.
This should not be a problem for Cotto, who weighed 146 pounds for his successful title defense against Joshua Clottey last month in New York City.
Pacquiao and his team initially had asked for the fight to be made at 143. But that would have put Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) in a situation he would have had to drain himself in order to make weight. Arum said he did not want any part of that.
"I wasn't going to do a fight just to make the fight, where one of the fighters had to jeopardize his health," Arum said.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, had no problem with 145.
"Cotto is a strong guy, so we obviously tried to get it as low as possible," Roach said. "At 145 or 143, I don't think it really matters. My job is getting him ready for that fight and that's what I'm going to do."
Pacquiao, 30, is 49-3-2 with 37 knockouts. He is coming off a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in a junior welterweight fight in May at MGM Grand.
Arum said the contracts should be signed this week. He would not divulge the split of the purse at this time.
"The fighters asked me not to at this particular point," Arum said. "But I'm sure that once the contracts are signed, at the press conference they will give me permission to reveal it because it will be a matter of public record anyway."
Pacquiao has won titles in six weight divisions from 112 to 140 pounds, cementing the Filipino national hero's status and the sport's pound-for-pound champion. Pacquiao pummeled Oscar De La Hoya into retirement last December in his first welterweight fight.
[email]robert.morales@presstelegram.com[/email]
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Monday, July 20, 2009
Waiting for Bob . . .
By Rick Farris
I've done several films with Robert Redford. The first was "The Electric Horseman" with Jane Fonda, which we shot in Las Vegas,
Saint George, Utah and on stage in L.A. Next was when he directed, "Ordinary People", then "The Natural", "Havana" in the Dominican Republic, followed by "Sneakers" with Sidney Potier and River Phoenix.
We aren't exactly old friends, but were friendly on the set, he always remembers my name and initiates a little boxing dialogue.
While in the Domincan Republic, we were staying at the Jaragua Resort in Santa Domingo.
Leonard and Duran III was going to be fought.
To assure the crew be able to watch it, he bought the fight for the entire hotel, every room.
When we speak on set, he occasionally brings up a boxer he likes, and it'll usually be somebody I'd like to see lose.
Redford liked Leonard, me Duran. I liked Chavez, he liked Whitaker. He was an Ali guy, I favored Frazier. You get the picture.
He is truly a gifted actor and perhaps, more so, a director. "A River Runs Thru It", just another example of his directorial talents.
You see different directors work different ways. Redford is an "actor's director."
He spends time sitting with the cast as they approach each scene, it's a long process, it takes time and we do a lot of waiting.
On a mega-million dollar film, you have that license to not to hurry. But on TV, you are expected to have 50 shots in the can each day.
We move fast in TV, big budget films provide more time, generally speaking.
Other directors, especially the Italians and Eastern European's, will spend more time composing a shot as a painter would a portrait.
They're background in art comes thru in how their films are photographed, they are involved with the film's overall look.
However, Robert Redford makes sure he's got the best cinematographer, production designer, etc. to create the proper look for the story.
He's about the talent.
When we were shooting "The Natural" in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1983, We'd often have a 7am set call at the baseball stadium where we were filming.
The actor's make-up call was usually a half-hour prior to crew call, even earlier on the days Kim Bassinger was working.
Redford would have a 6:30 make-up call and not roll in until about ten in the morning.
The set would be lit, the other actors had done a "dry run" rehersal, retreated to their motor homes.
Awhile later, I'm in the parking lot where our entire company of trucks has formed a small village.
I'm playing catch with a sound man, who'd grabbed a hard ball and a couple of gloves from the prop department.
All of a sudden we hear the sound of Redford's Porsche Carrera pulling into the lot.
We see the car pull up to the make-up trailer and park.
The actor pops out of the front seat, wearing a white cotton under-shirt, levi's and and scuffed cowboy boots.
A transportation coordinator approaches the actor smiling, Redford smiles, hands the man his car keyes and steps into the make-up trailer.
His hair-stylist, Sue Shwaree, and make-up artist, Gary Liddiard go to work on the sun-dried skin of the one-time "Sundance Kid."
The 46-year-old actor was obviously an outdoorsman, snow skier, former high school athlete.
He spent a lot of time under the sun. His fair complexion showed a lot of wrinkes in the back of his heavily lined neck.
When lighting Redford's close-up, his facial warts are also a concern. His rugged personna accepts the flaws, but we avoid enhancing their presence.
When his make-up is being applied and hair styled, Robert Redford usually reads. And when he's into a story, he won't stop reading until finished.
He doesn't care who is waiting or how much time is being wasted. When you are Robert Redford, you have more latitude than most.
He shows up late, and pretty much works when he's ready to work.
We on the crew could care less, we get paid by the hour and are away from home anyway. And besides, it's Rober Redford and we like him.
In the Domincan Republic, the largest set ever built for a motion picture, four blocks of downtown "Havana" was constructed for the movie.
We had crew members who'd been in the Navy in the late 50's, had visted Havana before Castro.
They were amazed at the exact reproduction of downtown Havana. "This is just how it was . . ", claimed a wardrobe supervisor.
The costumer pointed to a bar across the street from where we stood, "That's the Floridita. That was Hemmingway's hangout!"
He looked as if he had actually stepped back in time. However, the set was a facade, walls with no insides.
False fronts, but they looked real to the eye, and more important, the camera.
On set, we'd break for lunch. Afterwards, we'd throw the football as director Sydney Pollack paced in front of the camera.
The four-time Academy Award winning director was waiting for his star to emerge from his motor home. Lunch had been over an hour.
Finally, out of desperation, he walks to the motor home, enters and then returns minutes later.
"He's reading a book, just about finished with the chapter. He'll be here in a moment."
In due course, Bob Redford surfaced from his motor home.
He'd rehearse with the director and co-stars Robert Duvall and Darren McGavin for nearly an hour.
Then we'd shoot. We'd finish before sunset. Return to the hotel and do what film crews do on location.
The first film I worked with Robert Redford, The Electric Horseman, was also directed by Sydney Pollack.
On that one, same thing, Redford would keep everybody waiting at times. Pollack paced, tried to roust him, we waited and then shot.
Willie Nelson was in that one, too. A real fun shoot.
However, you'd think that Sydney Pollack would know by now (sadly he passed recently).
He directed seven Redford pics, including "Out of Africa".
It was usually a wait with Robert Redford. But as I mentioned earlier, he was worth the wait.
I've done several films with Robert Redford. The first was "The Electric Horseman" with Jane Fonda, which we shot in Las Vegas,
Saint George, Utah and on stage in L.A. Next was when he directed, "Ordinary People", then "The Natural", "Havana" in the Dominican Republic, followed by "Sneakers" with Sidney Potier and River Phoenix.
We aren't exactly old friends, but were friendly on the set, he always remembers my name and initiates a little boxing dialogue.
While in the Domincan Republic, we were staying at the Jaragua Resort in Santa Domingo.
Leonard and Duran III was going to be fought.
To assure the crew be able to watch it, he bought the fight for the entire hotel, every room.
When we speak on set, he occasionally brings up a boxer he likes, and it'll usually be somebody I'd like to see lose.
Redford liked Leonard, me Duran. I liked Chavez, he liked Whitaker. He was an Ali guy, I favored Frazier. You get the picture.
He is truly a gifted actor and perhaps, more so, a director. "A River Runs Thru It", just another example of his directorial talents.
You see different directors work different ways. Redford is an "actor's director."
He spends time sitting with the cast as they approach each scene, it's a long process, it takes time and we do a lot of waiting.
On a mega-million dollar film, you have that license to not to hurry. But on TV, you are expected to have 50 shots in the can each day.
We move fast in TV, big budget films provide more time, generally speaking.
Other directors, especially the Italians and Eastern European's, will spend more time composing a shot as a painter would a portrait.
They're background in art comes thru in how their films are photographed, they are involved with the film's overall look.
However, Robert Redford makes sure he's got the best cinematographer, production designer, etc. to create the proper look for the story.
He's about the talent.
When we were shooting "The Natural" in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1983, We'd often have a 7am set call at the baseball stadium where we were filming.
The actor's make-up call was usually a half-hour prior to crew call, even earlier on the days Kim Bassinger was working.
Redford would have a 6:30 make-up call and not roll in until about ten in the morning.
The set would be lit, the other actors had done a "dry run" rehersal, retreated to their motor homes.
Awhile later, I'm in the parking lot where our entire company of trucks has formed a small village.
I'm playing catch with a sound man, who'd grabbed a hard ball and a couple of gloves from the prop department.
All of a sudden we hear the sound of Redford's Porsche Carrera pulling into the lot.
We see the car pull up to the make-up trailer and park.
The actor pops out of the front seat, wearing a white cotton under-shirt, levi's and and scuffed cowboy boots.
A transportation coordinator approaches the actor smiling, Redford smiles, hands the man his car keyes and steps into the make-up trailer.
His hair-stylist, Sue Shwaree, and make-up artist, Gary Liddiard go to work on the sun-dried skin of the one-time "Sundance Kid."
The 46-year-old actor was obviously an outdoorsman, snow skier, former high school athlete.
He spent a lot of time under the sun. His fair complexion showed a lot of wrinkes in the back of his heavily lined neck.
When lighting Redford's close-up, his facial warts are also a concern. His rugged personna accepts the flaws, but we avoid enhancing their presence.
When his make-up is being applied and hair styled, Robert Redford usually reads. And when he's into a story, he won't stop reading until finished.
He doesn't care who is waiting or how much time is being wasted. When you are Robert Redford, you have more latitude than most.
He shows up late, and pretty much works when he's ready to work.
We on the crew could care less, we get paid by the hour and are away from home anyway. And besides, it's Rober Redford and we like him.
In the Domincan Republic, the largest set ever built for a motion picture, four blocks of downtown "Havana" was constructed for the movie.
We had crew members who'd been in the Navy in the late 50's, had visted Havana before Castro.
They were amazed at the exact reproduction of downtown Havana. "This is just how it was . . ", claimed a wardrobe supervisor.
The costumer pointed to a bar across the street from where we stood, "That's the Floridita. That was Hemmingway's hangout!"
He looked as if he had actually stepped back in time. However, the set was a facade, walls with no insides.
False fronts, but they looked real to the eye, and more important, the camera.
On set, we'd break for lunch. Afterwards, we'd throw the football as director Sydney Pollack paced in front of the camera.
The four-time Academy Award winning director was waiting for his star to emerge from his motor home. Lunch had been over an hour.
Finally, out of desperation, he walks to the motor home, enters and then returns minutes later.
"He's reading a book, just about finished with the chapter. He'll be here in a moment."
In due course, Bob Redford surfaced from his motor home.
He'd rehearse with the director and co-stars Robert Duvall and Darren McGavin for nearly an hour.
Then we'd shoot. We'd finish before sunset. Return to the hotel and do what film crews do on location.
The first film I worked with Robert Redford, The Electric Horseman, was also directed by Sydney Pollack.
On that one, same thing, Redford would keep everybody waiting at times. Pollack paced, tried to roust him, we waited and then shot.
Willie Nelson was in that one, too. A real fun shoot.
However, you'd think that Sydney Pollack would know by now (sadly he passed recently).
He directed seven Redford pics, including "Out of Africa".
It was usually a wait with Robert Redford. But as I mentioned earlier, he was worth the wait.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Great photo of two all-time greats!
Those of us who were training at the Main Street Gym in the late 60's and early 70's, would see the great Robinson almost daily,
The "real" Sugar Ray continued to train long after his career ended in 1965.
To keep his weight down, he'd wear a plastic suit like the one you see in the photo.
Ray didn't just skip rope and hit bags, he'd jump into the ring and spar with the best of the day.
I remember him doing his magic when banging it out with #1 welter, Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez one afternoon.
Of course, Ernie was a rough customer and put the pressure on, however, the slick Sugar Ray would slip, roll, pick-off and counter.
Ernie would keep pressing on, you could see him working hard, but Sugar was just cool and in control. He'd done this before.
If I could just step back into the Main Street Gym on any given saturday morning between the mid-60's-to-70's.
If that were possible, I'd see more world class action and talent throwing leather in those two rings than I will ever see again.
Randy, Frank and the rest of you who've been there know what I am saying is true.
I can visualize Rip Roseboro and Duke Holloway sitting on the bleachers, Howie behind his desk barking at someone on the phone, Memo Soto pushing a shopping cart full of equipment out from his dressing room, Gil Cadilli helping a boxer tie his gloves, Tony Marino stepping out from his room in the back holding a headgear he'd just made for a fighter, I see a smiling manager Luis Celeya (who Johnny Flores nicknamed "The King of the Mexicans), Bill Slayton putting vaseline on the face of Ken Norton, Ralph Gambina holding court in the corner, I can see Felipe Torres bouncing around the ring, working lightly with an amateur in the ring as he warmed up . . .
Just too many memories.
-Rick Farris
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Why, Arturo?
By Jon Bardelli
Life is not as it always seems and rarely is it rewarding. As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap.
Stated another way, the transforming laws of physics, as described by Newton, apply to the unfolding of human drama be it good, bad, or indifferent, in the same manner that those laws govern all motion in the Universe.
In the same respect that the immutable laws of physics apply across the board, equally, in non-discriminatory fashion, within and upon the life of every man, woman and child, those same laws of physics play themselves out in a morality play converting Newtonian laws of motion into human masks of sorrow, jealously, self pity, regret, guilt, remorse, as life weaves itself day in, day out, into a coat of varying colors and shades of meaning.
If one drinks to excess, the intangible messing with the human physiology, eventually takes its tolls in ways not known but in a predictable and steady fashion, as an ocean tide.
If one is unfaithful in a relationship, a ticking time bomb will explode…it’s only a matter of time.
If one is abusive of a loved one and oblivious to the needs of a family… the human emotion of guilt will raise its head and provide a response that the vast majority will never see evolving for they do not want to be exposed to an unfolding of the future of their own destiny. It is easier to enable and to put one’s head in the sand.
Add to the equation, the physiological damage to one’s brain from having entered that squared circle, where only Angels should dare to tread, and combine that act with the inevitable sheering of neurons taking place, therein, coupled with the sucking up of the compelling adulation, the bravado, and the cheering of the mob… all the while the forces of self-denial setting in which thereby induce the recipient to erroneously conclude that those punches are incapable of taking their toll---denial to the point of no return… and you have on your hands the making of a Shakespearean tragedy engulfing and consuming all who come within the circle of enabling denial.
History provides its answers in a manner we don’t like to reflect upon and, indeed, shun in examining in detail the closing chapters which are there for examination and reading. It is so transparent--- and so readily available for all to witness were we to look at only a few of the once glimmering and now imploded stars of the Universe:
Grim, Nelson, McCoy, Papke, Fontaine, LaMotta, Arguello, Robinson, Charles, Louis, Pep, Machen, Foley, Turpin, Mills, Chacon, Lopez, Quarry, Norton, Ali, thousands more and, … dare we say, … Gatti.
Ah Gatti… one can only wonder what demons grabbed you in your moment of extreme remorse--- a remorse for conduct transformed into guilt and shame… and a crying out for help… setting into motion conditions which took you down the road to an oblivion… where it was not bad enough to have not only assaulted the one you professed an undying love for on the night that you were about to forsake the world--- much in the same fashion Judas did when the enormity of his own transgressions sunk in and transformed Iscariot, a disciple no less, over the enormity of his own guilt and lead him to his own self inflicted strangulation,… but, indeed a state of mind which would allow you to engage in a contemptible act without foresight that your own death, taken by your own hand, would bring even more contempt and ridicule upon the same Amanda Rodrigues you professed to love and, thereafter, forever render her an obstacle of scorn and hatred by those whose lives mimic your own---wasting their allotted hours in debauchery until their souls can take no more, rendering as yourself, a plaintiff cry---”Enough” And the die is cast---the end is here-- and oh, what a tangled web we weave.
Life is not as it always seems and rarely is it rewarding. As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap.
Stated another way, the transforming laws of physics, as described by Newton, apply to the unfolding of human drama be it good, bad, or indifferent, in the same manner that those laws govern all motion in the Universe.
In the same respect that the immutable laws of physics apply across the board, equally, in non-discriminatory fashion, within and upon the life of every man, woman and child, those same laws of physics play themselves out in a morality play converting Newtonian laws of motion into human masks of sorrow, jealously, self pity, regret, guilt, remorse, as life weaves itself day in, day out, into a coat of varying colors and shades of meaning.
If one drinks to excess, the intangible messing with the human physiology, eventually takes its tolls in ways not known but in a predictable and steady fashion, as an ocean tide.
If one is unfaithful in a relationship, a ticking time bomb will explode…it’s only a matter of time.
If one is abusive of a loved one and oblivious to the needs of a family… the human emotion of guilt will raise its head and provide a response that the vast majority will never see evolving for they do not want to be exposed to an unfolding of the future of their own destiny. It is easier to enable and to put one’s head in the sand.
Add to the equation, the physiological damage to one’s brain from having entered that squared circle, where only Angels should dare to tread, and combine that act with the inevitable sheering of neurons taking place, therein, coupled with the sucking up of the compelling adulation, the bravado, and the cheering of the mob… all the while the forces of self-denial setting in which thereby induce the recipient to erroneously conclude that those punches are incapable of taking their toll---denial to the point of no return… and you have on your hands the making of a Shakespearean tragedy engulfing and consuming all who come within the circle of enabling denial.
History provides its answers in a manner we don’t like to reflect upon and, indeed, shun in examining in detail the closing chapters which are there for examination and reading. It is so transparent--- and so readily available for all to witness were we to look at only a few of the once glimmering and now imploded stars of the Universe:
Grim, Nelson, McCoy, Papke, Fontaine, LaMotta, Arguello, Robinson, Charles, Louis, Pep, Machen, Foley, Turpin, Mills, Chacon, Lopez, Quarry, Norton, Ali, thousands more and, … dare we say, … Gatti.
Ah Gatti… one can only wonder what demons grabbed you in your moment of extreme remorse--- a remorse for conduct transformed into guilt and shame… and a crying out for help… setting into motion conditions which took you down the road to an oblivion… where it was not bad enough to have not only assaulted the one you professed an undying love for on the night that you were about to forsake the world--- much in the same fashion Judas did when the enormity of his own transgressions sunk in and transformed Iscariot, a disciple no less, over the enormity of his own guilt and lead him to his own self inflicted strangulation,… but, indeed a state of mind which would allow you to engage in a contemptible act without foresight that your own death, taken by your own hand, would bring even more contempt and ridicule upon the same Amanda Rodrigues you professed to love and, thereafter, forever render her an obstacle of scorn and hatred by those whose lives mimic your own---wasting their allotted hours in debauchery until their souls can take no more, rendering as yourself, a plaintiff cry---”Enough” And the die is cast---the end is here-- and oh, what a tangled web we weave.
A "Blues Brothers" memory . . .
By Rick Farris
In 1979-80, while we filmed the Blues Brothers, the film industry was blazing, and so were many involved with the production.
If there is any proof that heavy drug and alcohol use can destroy a crew, the Blues Brothers would serve as an example.
These were wild days in Hollywood, and many things were out of control.
A typical example of life on the Blues Brothers set.
We are shooting outside a prison one morning. We have filmed all night, and are waiting for a "sunrise shot" before wrapping for the days work.
At the time, Dan Akroyd is dating Carrie Fisher, so they write in a little part for her.
After we wrap, and return to the hotel early sunday morning (our one day off during the week) I see Penny Marshall in the hotel lobby.
She had come to visit a few friends on the production.
Carrie isn't scheduled to be on camera for a few days.
She and Penny Marshall and John Belushi's wife (I think her name was Judy?) decide to drop acid together.
The three women all disappear and cannot be found.
It turns out they all have retreated to a private suite for their party, and haven't informed anybody.
It created quite a scene as the production feared foul play, however, a few hours later Marshall and Fisher are found wandering in the hotel.
When asked where they had been, Carrie answers, "We were having a 60's weekend".
When you are on a disorganized shoot tempers flare. We on the crew just sit back and watch the show, specificly, watching the crap run downhill as everybody who gets blamed for losing track of the actress.
It's really funny watching the producers trying to take the blame off of themselves and point to others. A real cowardly bunch on this shoot.
Sometimes it's great not to be in charge, especially so on a production where nobody seems to know what they are doing.
We had a lot of confusion in the 70's, much of it the product of drugs in the film industry.
Eventually, that would stop. It ended when John Belushi died. Suddenly, we had issues of liability, and the toilets of Hollywood and Beverly Hills could be heard flushing as the smart ones dumped all of their poisen down the toilet.
Today, in the film world, if you have a "problem" you better get rid of it before it gets rid of you. There is a O tolerence today.
Sadly, during all of the confusion, many of the old vets retired.
Today many of those jaded by drug use during their early days weren't listening when the "tricks of the trade" were passed down.
In many ways, film making has not improved. We have many great tools today, and many who just don't know how to use them.
In 1979-80, while we filmed the Blues Brothers, the film industry was blazing, and so were many involved with the production.
If there is any proof that heavy drug and alcohol use can destroy a crew, the Blues Brothers would serve as an example.
These were wild days in Hollywood, and many things were out of control.
A typical example of life on the Blues Brothers set.
We are shooting outside a prison one morning. We have filmed all night, and are waiting for a "sunrise shot" before wrapping for the days work.
At the time, Dan Akroyd is dating Carrie Fisher, so they write in a little part for her.
After we wrap, and return to the hotel early sunday morning (our one day off during the week) I see Penny Marshall in the hotel lobby.
She had come to visit a few friends on the production.
Carrie isn't scheduled to be on camera for a few days.
She and Penny Marshall and John Belushi's wife (I think her name was Judy?) decide to drop acid together.
The three women all disappear and cannot be found.
It turns out they all have retreated to a private suite for their party, and haven't informed anybody.
It created quite a scene as the production feared foul play, however, a few hours later Marshall and Fisher are found wandering in the hotel.
When asked where they had been, Carrie answers, "We were having a 60's weekend".
When you are on a disorganized shoot tempers flare. We on the crew just sit back and watch the show, specificly, watching the crap run downhill as everybody who gets blamed for losing track of the actress.
It's really funny watching the producers trying to take the blame off of themselves and point to others. A real cowardly bunch on this shoot.
Sometimes it's great not to be in charge, especially so on a production where nobody seems to know what they are doing.
We had a lot of confusion in the 70's, much of it the product of drugs in the film industry.
Eventually, that would stop. It ended when John Belushi died. Suddenly, we had issues of liability, and the toilets of Hollywood and Beverly Hills could be heard flushing as the smart ones dumped all of their poisen down the toilet.
Today, in the film world, if you have a "problem" you better get rid of it before it gets rid of you. There is a O tolerence today.
Sadly, during all of the confusion, many of the old vets retired.
Today many of those jaded by drug use during their early days weren't listening when the "tricks of the trade" were passed down.
In many ways, film making has not improved. We have many great tools today, and many who just don't know how to use them.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Ricky Hatton In Hospital
By Edgar Gonzalez
Ricky Hatton was admitted to Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester Wednesday morning after suffering from stomach cramps and vomiting according to press reports.
The former light-welterweight champion was diagnosed with food poisoning. Before being admitted,Hatton, 30, thought he had the swine flu but it was imminently ruled out. Hatton is said not to be seriously ill but he could be kept in hospital for a couple of days as a precaution.
Meanwhile, promoter Frank Warren said he would like to see Hatton fight Amir Khan, who faces his maiden world title challenge against Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday. So lets hope Khan wins so he could face Ricky Hatton.
Ricky Hatton was admitted to Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester Wednesday morning after suffering from stomach cramps and vomiting according to press reports.
The former light-welterweight champion was diagnosed with food poisoning. Before being admitted,Hatton, 30, thought he had the swine flu but it was imminently ruled out. Hatton is said not to be seriously ill but he could be kept in hospital for a couple of days as a precaution.
Meanwhile, promoter Frank Warren said he would like to see Hatton fight Amir Khan, who faces his maiden world title challenge against Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday. So lets hope Khan wins so he could face Ricky Hatton.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Esteban De Jesus – A Tragic Story
By Edgar Gonzalez
If ever a boxer was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, it was Puerto Rico’s Esteban De Jesus. This former one time claimant of the W.B.C. lightweight title may have been the best Puerto Rican 135 pounder since Carlos Ortiz. Unfortunately he boxed during the era of possibly the greatest of all lightweights, Roberto Duran. This occurred on November 17, 1972 at Madison Square Garden. Esteban floored Duran in the first round and then boxed his way to a decision win in a non-title bout. Then he twice whipped the respected Ray Lampkin in bouts for the American Lightweight title thus establishing himself as the top contender.
On his way to his first meeting with Duran, Esteban had lost just once and that was to W.B.A. featherweight champion Antonio Gomez in a non-title fight. He defeated Josque Marquez twice, Victor Ortiz, Lionel Hernandez, Percy Hayles, Angel Robinson, and Cleveland’s Chuck Wilburn. After his victory over Duran, Estsban defeated the classy Johnny Gant and former junior welterweight titleholder, Alfonso Frazier. These victories finally set up a title shot against Duran. On March 16, 1974 in Panama City, Esteban again decked Duran in the first round. this time though Roberto was in much better condition and he gradually wore down his formidable foe stopping Esteban in round eleven.
One year later De Jesus moved up in weight and challenged Antonio Cervantes for the junior welterweight championship. Once again Esteban faded down the stretch as he dropped a fifteen round decision. Again one year later De Jesus received yet another title opportunity. He was matched with W.B.C. lightweight champion Guts Suzuki. Showing his true class Esteban Dominated Suzuki to win an easy decision and the crown. De Jesus would defend his title successfully three times thus setting up the rubber match with Duran for the undisputed title.
Duran v De Jesus III was held in Las Vegas and this much anticipated Superfight would determine once and for all who was the world’s best lightweight. In possibly the best performance of his career Duran proved his superiority halting Estsban in round twelve. De Jesus would come back and put together another win streak that included a victory over Edwin Viruet. Once more De Jesus was granted a title shot. This time he would meet W.B.C. junior welterweight champion Saoul Mamby. The bout took place on July 7, 1980 and the signs of Esteban’s obviously eroding skills were there for all to see. Mamby finally halted an exhausted and outclassed De Jesus in round thirteen. The final chapter in this fine but yet tragic career Esteban would never gain full acceptance as lightweight champion although only the great Duran could master him. Esteban’s final ledger is as follows; 62 bouts, 57 victories, and only 5 defeats. He scored 32 knockouts and he was stopped 3 times. All of his setbacks were to world champions, Gomez, Duran twice, Cervantes, and Mamby.
The bad luck that dogged Esteban’s career was only an omen of things to come. Not long after his retirement Esteban was involved in a traffic dispute during which he shot and killed a seventeen-year-old youth. For this crime De Jesus was sentenced to life in prison. While in prison De Jesus was infected with AIDS bedridden and dying Esteban received a surprise visit from none other then his old adversary, Roberto Duran. In a moment of compassion completely out of character for the mean and macho Duran, he had come to pay his respects. He had come to show his admiration for his toughest foe. He also knew in his heart that Esteban was a true champion.
If ever a boxer was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, it was Puerto Rico’s Esteban De Jesus. This former one time claimant of the W.B.C. lightweight title may have been the best Puerto Rican 135 pounder since Carlos Ortiz. Unfortunately he boxed during the era of possibly the greatest of all lightweights, Roberto Duran. This occurred on November 17, 1972 at Madison Square Garden. Esteban floored Duran in the first round and then boxed his way to a decision win in a non-title bout. Then he twice whipped the respected Ray Lampkin in bouts for the American Lightweight title thus establishing himself as the top contender.
On his way to his first meeting with Duran, Esteban had lost just once and that was to W.B.A. featherweight champion Antonio Gomez in a non-title fight. He defeated Josque Marquez twice, Victor Ortiz, Lionel Hernandez, Percy Hayles, Angel Robinson, and Cleveland’s Chuck Wilburn. After his victory over Duran, Estsban defeated the classy Johnny Gant and former junior welterweight titleholder, Alfonso Frazier. These victories finally set up a title shot against Duran. On March 16, 1974 in Panama City, Esteban again decked Duran in the first round. this time though Roberto was in much better condition and he gradually wore down his formidable foe stopping Esteban in round eleven.
One year later De Jesus moved up in weight and challenged Antonio Cervantes for the junior welterweight championship. Once again Esteban faded down the stretch as he dropped a fifteen round decision. Again one year later De Jesus received yet another title opportunity. He was matched with W.B.C. lightweight champion Guts Suzuki. Showing his true class Esteban Dominated Suzuki to win an easy decision and the crown. De Jesus would defend his title successfully three times thus setting up the rubber match with Duran for the undisputed title.
Duran v De Jesus III was held in Las Vegas and this much anticipated Superfight would determine once and for all who was the world’s best lightweight. In possibly the best performance of his career Duran proved his superiority halting Estsban in round twelve. De Jesus would come back and put together another win streak that included a victory over Edwin Viruet. Once more De Jesus was granted a title shot. This time he would meet W.B.C. junior welterweight champion Saoul Mamby. The bout took place on July 7, 1980 and the signs of Esteban’s obviously eroding skills were there for all to see. Mamby finally halted an exhausted and outclassed De Jesus in round thirteen. The final chapter in this fine but yet tragic career Esteban would never gain full acceptance as lightweight champion although only the great Duran could master him. Esteban’s final ledger is as follows; 62 bouts, 57 victories, and only 5 defeats. He scored 32 knockouts and he was stopped 3 times. All of his setbacks were to world champions, Gomez, Duran twice, Cervantes, and Mamby.
The bad luck that dogged Esteban’s career was only an omen of things to come. Not long after his retirement Esteban was involved in a traffic dispute during which he shot and killed a seventeen-year-old youth. For this crime De Jesus was sentenced to life in prison. While in prison De Jesus was infected with AIDS bedridden and dying Esteban received a surprise visit from none other then his old adversary, Roberto Duran. In a moment of compassion completely out of character for the mean and macho Duran, he had come to pay his respects. He had come to show his admiration for his toughest foe. He also knew in his heart that Esteban was a true champion.
Gatti before Gatti
By Ted Sares -
There’s only one way you can lick [Tony] Zale—you gotta kill him. —Rocky Graziano
The proof is in the pudding when I get in the ring. -- Thompson Carl “The Cat”
I hear the cheers when I need to hear them. It feels good to know my fans are still behind me. --Arturo Gatti
It was a tough fight, but that’s the way I like to win them … I said I was going to introduce new blood to the sport, and I guess you saw a lot of new blood. —Michael Katsidis..
“Mr. Excitement.”
Danny “Little Red” Lopez was “Mr. Excitement.” He was never in a dull fight, and was most dangerous if he had been decked--which was often. Soft-spoken and humble, he was ferocious and unrelenting once the bell rang. In an era in which fights were regularly seen free on non-cable television, he was one of the greatest of the television fighters and his name guaranteed big ratings. Danny was a volume puncher who worked to set up his knockout blow which he could deliver with either hand. His fights often turned into melodramas in which he overcame knock-downs, severe punishment, and adversity to score sudden and spectacular knockouts. In this regard, he was like Matthew Saad Muhammad. He was a “Gatti before Gatti.” He would get off the canvas and roar back. Turning predator, he would hunt down and take out his opponent in savage fashion. He was heavy-handed which belied his skinny appearance and if he connected flush, it usually spelled the end. In 1979, Lopez KOd Mike Ayala in the fifteenth round in what was Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year.
Like fellow Californian Bobby Chacon, Little Red connected with his fans in an electric way. The roars started as soon as he was seen coming down the aisle with his American Native Headdress on and didn’t stop until he left the ring--usually a winner. And like Chacon, he left boxing with a reputation of being one of the most exciting fighters to toil in the square circle. Lopez was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame at age 35, the youngest man ever elected. But inexplicitly, he is not in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. One thing is certain; he was always the perennial crowd favorite and his legacy is forever secure with aficionados.
“Miracle Matthew”
Matthew Saad Muhammad was another who was extremely popular and connected with his fans in a special way..His action-oriented style guaranteed that almost every fight would be a thriller in which he would come back from the precipice to put his opening away. His rematch with another great fan-favorite, Yaqui Lopez, was one for the ages as Saad was hit with 20 unanswered hard blows in round eight, but he recovered to drop Lopez 5 times in route to a knockout win. It was Ring Magazine’s 1980 Fight of the Year.
Matthew Saad Muhammad’s signature was his ability to absorb punishment and then mount drama-filled comebacks. Indeed, he was nicknamed “Miracle Matthew,” but in retrospect, he could well have been nicknamed “Gatti before Gatti.” He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998.
For fans fortunate enough to have watched fights on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the late 70's and early 80's, the action provided by Danny Lopez and Matthew Saad Muhammad will never be forgoteen.
Arturo Gatti (1972-2009)
Most of what can be said or written about this exciting warrior has already been said (or is being said) and it is not my intention to add much except to point out that he shared something in common with Bobby Chacon, Little Red, Miracle Matthew, and a few other special people.
What made them special? Each was an all-out action fighter who possessed tremendous recuperative powers in the ring; each was known throughout his career for having unique connections with their adoring fans. In this regard, as soon as the crowd spotted “Thunder” with his Old School-style white robe, they would start the roar that would follow him into the ring and chills would go down your spine.
Maybe it was their propensity to take it to the brink each and every time out--to lay it all on the line without regard to their own wellbeing. Each participated in classics;’’ heck, Gatti participated in Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year an astounding four times (1997, 1998, 2002, and 2003). But above all, these hard men always demonstrated tremendous and immense heart, and that’s one of the most important things for boxing fans because boxers with heart never give up. They are ceaseless aggressors; oncoming warriors who will gladly absorb two or three punches just for the opportunity of landing one. Now I know I have left many valiant warriors out, and I deeply apologize for that, but in the end, only one enjoys the ultimate compliment of having another warrior being referred to as “Gatti before Gatti.”
Now, it will mean even more.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Random Flurried Ramblings of Felipe Leon
By Felipe Leon
Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com has his flurries, Dan Raphael of ESPN has his random Thoughts and Edgar Gonzalez of MyBoxingFans.com has Miscellaneous Ramblings so I am going to name my periodic stream of consciousness opinions “Random Flurried Ramblings.” On that note:
**The rumor around town is that Antonio Margarito is definitely coming back in late September or early October to the Plaza Monumental in Tijuana. If so, that might be the biggest event Tijuana has seen since the international border was put up. Margarito has been laying low for quite a while, usually he was seen at many southern California boxing events and in Tijuana. I don’t know if it is a conscious thing or he just wants to stay away for his own sake. Zanfer Promotions will be the promoter of record which is understandable since it is the south of the border arm of Top Rank. Will the California Commission consider this a slap in the face? Although it has not made it official, the commission has let it be known that it is not too happy with the fact that Margarito’s trainer, Javier Capetillo, has worked corners in Mexico and that it will not reinstate Capetillo’s license in January. We will have to wait and see.
**It was recently reported by MyBoxingFans.com that Oscar De La Hoya enjoyed a round a golf with the Puerto Rican sensation Miguel Cotto. Although PrimeraHora.com reported that no business was discussed, it can be easily be understood that De La Hoya is laying the groundwork for a possible signing of Cotto once his contract with Top Rank ends in December. Cotto has made it clear in the past that he is not happy with Arum’s support of his only conqueror, Antonio Margarito’s predicament as far as his suspension from professional boxing in the United States. I would be a bit surprised if Cotto actually signs with Golden Boy unless they make him partner. Cotto has his own promotional company in Puerto Rico and has put on quite a number of events. What I would believe is that Cotto will keep his company and co-promote with Golden Boy his future fights a la Mayweather Jr.
**Speaking of international courting, De La Hoya was in Puerto Rico where he actually lives talking to Cotto and it was known that Shane Mosley traveled to Australia to speak to the “Raging Bull” Vic Darchinyan before his contract with Gary Shaw expired about a possible signing with Golden Boy. Mosley got his answer when Darchinyan’s team put out a press release stating that he was with Shaw for life, contract or no contract. I hope that Mosley at least got a good number of frequent flyer miles for his trouble…
**As far as Mosley and Cotto are concerned, both welterweights have put their name in the hat for the possibility to be chosen as the next Pacquaio opponent. It seemed that Cotto was the front runner until he made it a point that he would not fight at a weight less than 145 lbs. after he had tentative agreed to 143 lbs. As a week ago, Mosley had withdrawn his name from the sweepstakes since he was tired of waiting for an answer from the “Pacman” but just recently has stated that he is willing to make the 143 lbs. mark. I thought that the novelas where only on Televisa… None the less, who ever the Filipinio Phenom fights, the real winners will be us, the fans.
**It is a tragedy that the boxing world has lost two true warriors in Arturo Gatti and Alexis Arguello in the last couple of weeks. What boggles my mind is how these two men could have the mental fortitude to do what they did in the ring, give and receive so much pain, but not have the mental stability to cope with every day life. It is sad the circumstances that each one of them died in and it is a lesson to all of us that although we might admire these two men for their displays of heart and courage inside the ring, the biggest lesson we might learn from them is to avoid and end like theirs.
**Last Saturday, two Tijuana fighters took a step forward in their careers. Antonio DeMarco defeated Agnes Adhajo in Florida to earn the #1 position in the WBC lightweight ranks while Cristobal “Lacandon” Cruz defended his IBF featherweight title for the second time with a unanimous decision over Jorge Solis in his home state of Chiapas. Despite the fact that these two fighters find themselves at the highest level of their sport, I watched the fights in a relatively empty pool hall in Tijuana, the city in which both fighters train and live. Usually when there is a fight which boasts a fighter from Tijuana or a Mexican as a matter of fact, you will find huge banners outside many bars, pool halls and restaurants spread out through out the city advertising the broadcasting of the bout in their establishment. This was not the case this Saturday night. Hopefully in the near future, these two fighters will get a bigger audience in their home city and become a draw.
Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com has his flurries, Dan Raphael of ESPN has his random Thoughts and Edgar Gonzalez of MyBoxingFans.com has Miscellaneous Ramblings so I am going to name my periodic stream of consciousness opinions “Random Flurried Ramblings.” On that note:
**The rumor around town is that Antonio Margarito is definitely coming back in late September or early October to the Plaza Monumental in Tijuana. If so, that might be the biggest event Tijuana has seen since the international border was put up. Margarito has been laying low for quite a while, usually he was seen at many southern California boxing events and in Tijuana. I don’t know if it is a conscious thing or he just wants to stay away for his own sake. Zanfer Promotions will be the promoter of record which is understandable since it is the south of the border arm of Top Rank. Will the California Commission consider this a slap in the face? Although it has not made it official, the commission has let it be known that it is not too happy with the fact that Margarito’s trainer, Javier Capetillo, has worked corners in Mexico and that it will not reinstate Capetillo’s license in January. We will have to wait and see.
**It was recently reported by MyBoxingFans.com that Oscar De La Hoya enjoyed a round a golf with the Puerto Rican sensation Miguel Cotto. Although PrimeraHora.com reported that no business was discussed, it can be easily be understood that De La Hoya is laying the groundwork for a possible signing of Cotto once his contract with Top Rank ends in December. Cotto has made it clear in the past that he is not happy with Arum’s support of his only conqueror, Antonio Margarito’s predicament as far as his suspension from professional boxing in the United States. I would be a bit surprised if Cotto actually signs with Golden Boy unless they make him partner. Cotto has his own promotional company in Puerto Rico and has put on quite a number of events. What I would believe is that Cotto will keep his company and co-promote with Golden Boy his future fights a la Mayweather Jr.
**Speaking of international courting, De La Hoya was in Puerto Rico where he actually lives talking to Cotto and it was known that Shane Mosley traveled to Australia to speak to the “Raging Bull” Vic Darchinyan before his contract with Gary Shaw expired about a possible signing with Golden Boy. Mosley got his answer when Darchinyan’s team put out a press release stating that he was with Shaw for life, contract or no contract. I hope that Mosley at least got a good number of frequent flyer miles for his trouble…
**As far as Mosley and Cotto are concerned, both welterweights have put their name in the hat for the possibility to be chosen as the next Pacquaio opponent. It seemed that Cotto was the front runner until he made it a point that he would not fight at a weight less than 145 lbs. after he had tentative agreed to 143 lbs. As a week ago, Mosley had withdrawn his name from the sweepstakes since he was tired of waiting for an answer from the “Pacman” but just recently has stated that he is willing to make the 143 lbs. mark. I thought that the novelas where only on Televisa… None the less, who ever the Filipinio Phenom fights, the real winners will be us, the fans.
**It is a tragedy that the boxing world has lost two true warriors in Arturo Gatti and Alexis Arguello in the last couple of weeks. What boggles my mind is how these two men could have the mental fortitude to do what they did in the ring, give and receive so much pain, but not have the mental stability to cope with every day life. It is sad the circumstances that each one of them died in and it is a lesson to all of us that although we might admire these two men for their displays of heart and courage inside the ring, the biggest lesson we might learn from them is to avoid and end like theirs.
**Last Saturday, two Tijuana fighters took a step forward in their careers. Antonio DeMarco defeated Agnes Adhajo in Florida to earn the #1 position in the WBC lightweight ranks while Cristobal “Lacandon” Cruz defended his IBF featherweight title for the second time with a unanimous decision over Jorge Solis in his home state of Chiapas. Despite the fact that these two fighters find themselves at the highest level of their sport, I watched the fights in a relatively empty pool hall in Tijuana, the city in which both fighters train and live. Usually when there is a fight which boasts a fighter from Tijuana or a Mexican as a matter of fact, you will find huge banners outside many bars, pool halls and restaurants spread out through out the city advertising the broadcasting of the bout in their establishment. This was not the case this Saturday night. Hopefully in the near future, these two fighters will get a bigger audience in their home city and become a draw.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Prizefighting Today . . .
By Rick Farris
I really don't care much for boxing today.
I love what it once was, what I experienced in my era, meeting greats from past eras.
I used feel excited about upcoming events, and we had such events every week.
Every couple months somebody would hold at major card in L.A.
Usually undisputed world championships were at at stake, or true "elimination" bouts.
Names such as Napoles, Lopez, Olivares, Quarry, Liston, Ramos, Rojas, Griffith, Chacon, etc. would be featured.
In between these mega-cards promoted by Eaton or Parnassus, were weekly bouts. These were as good as, often better, than the big ones.
Today, we can't attend boxing in L.A. as often or convenient as in years gone by.
Indian Reservations, the boxing venues of the new millenium, are located in the desert here in Southern Cal.
Occasionally, Oscar will throw a big event into the Staples Center.
His last featured his new star, a kid who didn't realize that boxers occasionally get hit.
When I fought, this was required knowledge.
In old school boxing, you were taught to defend yourself, and to accept the consequences when you couldn't.
Today, the fighters are much smarter, they just quit.
They seem not to realize that they have entered into a public contest where people are paying to see the participants get hurt.
The goal isn't a tochdown, or home run, it's a knockout. I'm no Rhodes Scholar, but I understood right off that this was a pain game.
The idea is to inflict as much of it on the other guy, and at the same time avoid allowing him to do the same.
It's not about breaking records, it's about breaking another man's spirit, to dominate. I guess it's one of those primitive things, whatever?
This past weekend I didn't expect to see anything great, maybe a little action. As expected, nothing was great and there was little action.
I watched a rough Armenian, who would try to intimidate opponents by telling the world he "hated" them.
A tougher African kid didn't care if he was hated, but he was smart enough to care who got hit, and made sure the Armenian took his share.
I thought to myself, "well, by today's standards the guys are fighting." It was a World Bantamweight title fight.
I looked at the champ and challenger and tried to compare them with the 118 pounders from my era.
We had Jofre, Harada, Olivares, Pimentel, Medel, Zarate, Castillo, Zamora, Martinez, Herrera, Anaya, etc.
I then thought about a guy from the previous era, Manuel Ortiz.
Am I just getting old, or has the quality of talent really diminsished?
Occasinally we'll see a "throw back". I think Manny Pac is a guy who "reminds" of us a better era. He'd be hard to beat at any time.
However, Pac would would not look so unbeatable a few years back, he'd be a good one, but just one of dozens that pass thru L.A. at any given time.
And he'd be fighting much more often against better fighters.
If I live long enough, there will be a time when I lose all interest in watching contemporary boxing.
When I no longer have my friends here to remind me of how special it was, then I'll just limit my involvent to teaching kids.
I won't teach boxers, I'll teach kids how to keep themselves safe, and fit.
I won't run a class, I'll just continue to workout, and I'll run into a kid who is being picked on.
He may be too small, or fat, or too white or too black, just a kid trying to deal with his pride, charactor and fear.
Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them, and then they might believe in themselves. I understand this.
There are many things I can teach about fighting. The best thing I can teach is how to avoid fighting. That was a hard lesson for me.
For now the WBHOF is of interest. I see a lot of old friends and meet a lot of idols from days gone by.
I find myself smiling more when I see my old friends, and meet some new ones, boxing people, the REAL boxing people.
In due course, today's lot will be retiring, and a few years later they'll be up for induction honors.
This is when I shall walk away. It will no longer mean anything to me.
I really don't care much for boxing today.
I love what it once was, what I experienced in my era, meeting greats from past eras.
I used feel excited about upcoming events, and we had such events every week.
Every couple months somebody would hold at major card in L.A.
Usually undisputed world championships were at at stake, or true "elimination" bouts.
Names such as Napoles, Lopez, Olivares, Quarry, Liston, Ramos, Rojas, Griffith, Chacon, etc. would be featured.
In between these mega-cards promoted by Eaton or Parnassus, were weekly bouts. These were as good as, often better, than the big ones.
Today, we can't attend boxing in L.A. as often or convenient as in years gone by.
Indian Reservations, the boxing venues of the new millenium, are located in the desert here in Southern Cal.
Occasionally, Oscar will throw a big event into the Staples Center.
His last featured his new star, a kid who didn't realize that boxers occasionally get hit.
When I fought, this was required knowledge.
In old school boxing, you were taught to defend yourself, and to accept the consequences when you couldn't.
Today, the fighters are much smarter, they just quit.
They seem not to realize that they have entered into a public contest where people are paying to see the participants get hurt.
The goal isn't a tochdown, or home run, it's a knockout. I'm no Rhodes Scholar, but I understood right off that this was a pain game.
The idea is to inflict as much of it on the other guy, and at the same time avoid allowing him to do the same.
It's not about breaking records, it's about breaking another man's spirit, to dominate. I guess it's one of those primitive things, whatever?
This past weekend I didn't expect to see anything great, maybe a little action. As expected, nothing was great and there was little action.
I watched a rough Armenian, who would try to intimidate opponents by telling the world he "hated" them.
A tougher African kid didn't care if he was hated, but he was smart enough to care who got hit, and made sure the Armenian took his share.
I thought to myself, "well, by today's standards the guys are fighting." It was a World Bantamweight title fight.
I looked at the champ and challenger and tried to compare them with the 118 pounders from my era.
We had Jofre, Harada, Olivares, Pimentel, Medel, Zarate, Castillo, Zamora, Martinez, Herrera, Anaya, etc.
I then thought about a guy from the previous era, Manuel Ortiz.
Am I just getting old, or has the quality of talent really diminsished?
Occasinally we'll see a "throw back". I think Manny Pac is a guy who "reminds" of us a better era. He'd be hard to beat at any time.
However, Pac would would not look so unbeatable a few years back, he'd be a good one, but just one of dozens that pass thru L.A. at any given time.
And he'd be fighting much more often against better fighters.
If I live long enough, there will be a time when I lose all interest in watching contemporary boxing.
When I no longer have my friends here to remind me of how special it was, then I'll just limit my involvent to teaching kids.
I won't teach boxers, I'll teach kids how to keep themselves safe, and fit.
I won't run a class, I'll just continue to workout, and I'll run into a kid who is being picked on.
He may be too small, or fat, or too white or too black, just a kid trying to deal with his pride, charactor and fear.
Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them, and then they might believe in themselves. I understand this.
There are many things I can teach about fighting. The best thing I can teach is how to avoid fighting. That was a hard lesson for me.
For now the WBHOF is of interest. I see a lot of old friends and meet a lot of idols from days gone by.
I find myself smiling more when I see my old friends, and meet some new ones, boxing people, the REAL boxing people.
In due course, today's lot will be retiring, and a few years later they'll be up for induction honors.
This is when I shall walk away. It will no longer mean anything to me.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Exclusive: The One That Got Away
By Edgar Gonzalez
Arturo Gatti’s ex speaks out to MyBoxingFans.com
With the shocking news of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti being killed in an apartment he rented with his 23-year-old Braziling wife Amanda Rodriguez in Porto de Galinhas, a seaside resort in northeastern Pernambuco state. I think it’s more shocking to know his wife strangled him with her purse strap while he drunkenly slept.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Italian Thunder and like many of you, I only know little about their personal life and though I never wish death upon anyone, we can’t point fingers and start choosing sides without knowing what forced Amanda to react with such violence.
MyBoxingFans spoke to Erika Rivera who was previously engaged to Arturo Gatti. Ms. Rivera is currently raising Gatti’s 3 year old daughter and working for the US Army as a Chemical Engineer.
MBF: what exactly do you do as a Chemical Engineer?
Erika: I work for the ARMY. I love my job. I make explosives for a living and witness a lot of the testing of munitions. It’s great. I could not have asked for a more exciting and challenging job.
MBF: you have a beautiful daughter Sofia with the former champion. What can you tell us about the relationship Sofia had with her father?
Erika: These are all of the pics from her first birthday. I don’t have the pictures from the hospital here at work. However, he is not involved in her life. He was upset Sofia was a girl. He was permitted to see his daughter whenever he wants. He had chosen not to. I took him to court after the baby was 6 months old when he refused to help me out. He was not seeing her nor paying child support. He threatened to take her to Canada and that I would never see her again. I took him to court and he was forced to pay. Our engagement was broken off when our daughter was a couple of weeks old.
It would be nice if I could say that he was a good father, but I can’t. A child needs more than just expensive clothes. Fortunately, his brother Joe and wife Vikki have been in Sofia’s life and my family is very supportive. They have two little girls so Sofia has her first cousins around for her that are close in age.
MBF: Your relationship with Gatti wasn’t perfect, but how shocking were you to hear about his death and how would this impact your life?
Erika: My daughter has not seen her father since his involvement with Amanda. Sofia made a card for her Papa for Father’s Day and I mailed it for her. She spoke to him on his birthday and on March 31 on her birthday he called her and said he was planning a trip to come visit his daughter. He always wanted a little boy. My daughter doesn’t have a father now. Nobody’s life should be taken from them. I will not tell my baby girl that her daddy was killed. I still have not told her he died. I am trying to explain to her that we become angels when something bad happens, or when we become old, or really sick to prepare for when I tell her that her Papa is in heaven with the angels.
Her Uncle Joe Gatti, wife Vikki and children Versace and Gianni, have been very supportive the last three years and have been filling the void for Sofia’s other side of the family. The girls play like sisters and Joe has been a positive influence for Sofia and will continue to be now that her daddy has passed away. He tells Sofia great stories about how great her daddy was as a child and a brother growing up.
MBF: Did you ever meet Amanda? If so what was your opinion of her? Also The New York Daily news recently released a statement from Carl Moretti, who promoted many of Gatti’s fights, where he states that he always worried about Gatti because he spent too much time in strip clubs picking up the wrong women. Was he ever like that when he was with you?
Erika: I went to dinner with her. She told me she never did drugs and didn’t drink alcohol. I proceeded to order a Margarita and she ordered the same. She told me she worked at a clothing store called Bebe in the mall and that Arturo took her virginity. He loved strip clubs and gogo bars, but most men do. He liked women. He was a very paranoid, jealous person, but she seemed to be the same way. You just have to walk away from a situation like that. He had a heart. It wouldn’t have mattered to me what her job was. It only mattered to me whether or not she was a good person to be responsible to take care of Sofia when in her father’s care. I heard from his friends that she seemed to make sure that he did not see his daughter if he wanted to be with his son.
MBF: why did you guys break up?
Erika: I left because he was too paranoid and was always falsely accusing me of infidelity. He was punchy from being hit in the head and we all felt bad for him because he was depressed and confused all the time. He did not deserve to be killed. I left because we couldn’t get along. It’s hard to come to agreement with someone who can’t agree with himself.
MBF: How would you remember Arturo Gatti?
Erika: I will remember Arturo as being funny and cracking jokes all the time calling Sofia his “little stinky butt” and “his little monkey.” I will remember him loving to dance and dancing with me asking me to teach him salsa and he’d flip me over his head and we’d fall on the floor laughing. I will remember him wanting to be a father more than anything in the world because he lost his father when he was young. I will remember the good times.
MBF: Erika Thank you so much for your time.
Arturo Gatti’s ex speaks out to MyBoxingFans.com
With the shocking news of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti being killed in an apartment he rented with his 23-year-old Braziling wife Amanda Rodriguez in Porto de Galinhas, a seaside resort in northeastern Pernambuco state. I think it’s more shocking to know his wife strangled him with her purse strap while he drunkenly slept.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Italian Thunder and like many of you, I only know little about their personal life and though I never wish death upon anyone, we can’t point fingers and start choosing sides without knowing what forced Amanda to react with such violence.
MyBoxingFans spoke to Erika Rivera who was previously engaged to Arturo Gatti. Ms. Rivera is currently raising Gatti’s 3 year old daughter and working for the US Army as a Chemical Engineer.
MBF: what exactly do you do as a Chemical Engineer?
Erika: I work for the ARMY. I love my job. I make explosives for a living and witness a lot of the testing of munitions. It’s great. I could not have asked for a more exciting and challenging job.
MBF: you have a beautiful daughter Sofia with the former champion. What can you tell us about the relationship Sofia had with her father?
Erika: These are all of the pics from her first birthday. I don’t have the pictures from the hospital here at work. However, he is not involved in her life. He was upset Sofia was a girl. He was permitted to see his daughter whenever he wants. He had chosen not to. I took him to court after the baby was 6 months old when he refused to help me out. He was not seeing her nor paying child support. He threatened to take her to Canada and that I would never see her again. I took him to court and he was forced to pay. Our engagement was broken off when our daughter was a couple of weeks old.
It would be nice if I could say that he was a good father, but I can’t. A child needs more than just expensive clothes. Fortunately, his brother Joe and wife Vikki have been in Sofia’s life and my family is very supportive. They have two little girls so Sofia has her first cousins around for her that are close in age.
MBF: Your relationship with Gatti wasn’t perfect, but how shocking were you to hear about his death and how would this impact your life?
Erika: My daughter has not seen her father since his involvement with Amanda. Sofia made a card for her Papa for Father’s Day and I mailed it for her. She spoke to him on his birthday and on March 31 on her birthday he called her and said he was planning a trip to come visit his daughter. He always wanted a little boy. My daughter doesn’t have a father now. Nobody’s life should be taken from them. I will not tell my baby girl that her daddy was killed. I still have not told her he died. I am trying to explain to her that we become angels when something bad happens, or when we become old, or really sick to prepare for when I tell her that her Papa is in heaven with the angels.
Her Uncle Joe Gatti, wife Vikki and children Versace and Gianni, have been very supportive the last three years and have been filling the void for Sofia’s other side of the family. The girls play like sisters and Joe has been a positive influence for Sofia and will continue to be now that her daddy has passed away. He tells Sofia great stories about how great her daddy was as a child and a brother growing up.
MBF: Did you ever meet Amanda? If so what was your opinion of her? Also The New York Daily news recently released a statement from Carl Moretti, who promoted many of Gatti’s fights, where he states that he always worried about Gatti because he spent too much time in strip clubs picking up the wrong women. Was he ever like that when he was with you?
Erika: I went to dinner with her. She told me she never did drugs and didn’t drink alcohol. I proceeded to order a Margarita and she ordered the same. She told me she worked at a clothing store called Bebe in the mall and that Arturo took her virginity. He loved strip clubs and gogo bars, but most men do. He liked women. He was a very paranoid, jealous person, but she seemed to be the same way. You just have to walk away from a situation like that. He had a heart. It wouldn’t have mattered to me what her job was. It only mattered to me whether or not she was a good person to be responsible to take care of Sofia when in her father’s care. I heard from his friends that she seemed to make sure that he did not see his daughter if he wanted to be with his son.
MBF: why did you guys break up?
Erika: I left because he was too paranoid and was always falsely accusing me of infidelity. He was punchy from being hit in the head and we all felt bad for him because he was depressed and confused all the time. He did not deserve to be killed. I left because we couldn’t get along. It’s hard to come to agreement with someone who can’t agree with himself.
MBF: How would you remember Arturo Gatti?
Erika: I will remember Arturo as being funny and cracking jokes all the time calling Sofia his “little stinky butt” and “his little monkey.” I will remember him loving to dance and dancing with me asking me to teach him salsa and he’d flip me over his head and we’d fall on the floor laughing. I will remember him wanting to be a father more than anything in the world because he lost his father when he was young. I will remember the good times.
MBF: Erika Thank you so much for your time.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Gatti will be sorely missed
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
Arturo Gatti was found dead of an apparently violent death at just 37 years old in the early morning hours of Saturday in a hotel in Brazil, where he reportedly was celebrating his second honeymoon.
It was needless and tragic, as is the death of any young person.
Gatti’s loss, though, will hit boxing particularly hard. He represented one of the last remaining links to the sport’s past, a fearless and feared man who was a fighter in every sense of the word.
If he was attacked, he died as he made his name in the ring, fighting to the bitter finish. Gatti was a modern day Jake La Motta, the legendary “Raging Bull.” Gatti wasn’t nearly as talented as La Motta, but he was every bit as tough and fearless and produced scores of memorable fights.
Each bout was more astonishing and hard to believe than the previous one. His 1996 come-from-behind victory over Wilson Rodriguez could have been the crowning point of his career, but he eclipsed that pulsating bout at least five times. Bouts with Gabe Ruelas and Ivan Robinson established him forever as one of the sport’s greatest action stars.
But Gatti will be forever linked with Micky Ward, the New England tough guy with whom he put on a sizzling series of fights. They rank alongside the matchups of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera and Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez as the finest trilogies in the last 50 years.
“You fight a guy, you go to war with them, and there is a respect there. But with me and Arturo, it was greater,” Ward told RingTV.com. “There was a real bond between us. It’s why hearing this, hearing what happened to Arturo is like a piece of you is gone, because we shared so much of everything in the ring. We were friends, close friends.”
Gatti literally kept boxing alive in Atlantic City, N.J., earlier this decade, where he would routinely sell out venerable Boardwalk Hall. Atlantic City’s heyday as a boxing mecca was in the mid-to-late 1980s, when Mike Tyson headlined.
Tyson moved his act to Las Vegas and fought most of his biggest fights there in the 1990s and Atlantic City struggled, boxing-wise, in the 1990s. But Gatti reinvigorated the sport in the casino town, repeatedly putting on Fighter of the Year-type shows from 1997-2005.
Gatti’s downfall as a fighter came in the latter years, when he was thrashed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gatti was not nearly fast enough or skilled enough to deal with a guy like Mayweather, who is among the most gifted men in the sport in the last three decades. Mayweather put a merciless beating on Gatti, rarely getting hit and raking him with flush shots to the face.
It was clear by the second round that this would not be Gatti’s night. It ended when Larry Hazard, the head of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, walked to Gatti’s corner and “suggested” they stop the fight at the end of the sixth.
Mayweather’s reputation as a fighter and as a pay-per-view attraction were enhanced with that win and he sadly recalled Gatti on Saturday.
“He was a terrific champion and a very exciting fighter,” Mayweather said. “It’s terrible to hear this news and I offer my prayers and sympathies to his family.”
The Boxing Writers Association of America in 1998 named its Fight of the Year Award after Harry Markson, the one-time director of boxing at Madison Square Garden.
If the organization were wise, it would find another way to honor Markson, who made numerous contributions to the sport, and rename it after Gatti.
There would be no more appropriate or prestigious honor a boxing organization could bestow on a pair of fighters than to give them the Arturo Gatti Award for Fight of the Year.
He was one of a kind and his senseless death won’t do anything to dull the memory of the rare boxer who was the epitome of a never-say-die warrior.
Arturo Gatti was found dead of an apparently violent death at just 37 years old in the early morning hours of Saturday in a hotel in Brazil, where he reportedly was celebrating his second honeymoon.
It was needless and tragic, as is the death of any young person.
Gatti’s loss, though, will hit boxing particularly hard. He represented one of the last remaining links to the sport’s past, a fearless and feared man who was a fighter in every sense of the word.
If he was attacked, he died as he made his name in the ring, fighting to the bitter finish. Gatti was a modern day Jake La Motta, the legendary “Raging Bull.” Gatti wasn’t nearly as talented as La Motta, but he was every bit as tough and fearless and produced scores of memorable fights.
Each bout was more astonishing and hard to believe than the previous one. His 1996 come-from-behind victory over Wilson Rodriguez could have been the crowning point of his career, but he eclipsed that pulsating bout at least five times. Bouts with Gabe Ruelas and Ivan Robinson established him forever as one of the sport’s greatest action stars.
But Gatti will be forever linked with Micky Ward, the New England tough guy with whom he put on a sizzling series of fights. They rank alongside the matchups of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera and Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez as the finest trilogies in the last 50 years.
“You fight a guy, you go to war with them, and there is a respect there. But with me and Arturo, it was greater,” Ward told RingTV.com. “There was a real bond between us. It’s why hearing this, hearing what happened to Arturo is like a piece of you is gone, because we shared so much of everything in the ring. We were friends, close friends.”
Gatti literally kept boxing alive in Atlantic City, N.J., earlier this decade, where he would routinely sell out venerable Boardwalk Hall. Atlantic City’s heyday as a boxing mecca was in the mid-to-late 1980s, when Mike Tyson headlined.
Tyson moved his act to Las Vegas and fought most of his biggest fights there in the 1990s and Atlantic City struggled, boxing-wise, in the 1990s. But Gatti reinvigorated the sport in the casino town, repeatedly putting on Fighter of the Year-type shows from 1997-2005.
Gatti’s downfall as a fighter came in the latter years, when he was thrashed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gatti was not nearly fast enough or skilled enough to deal with a guy like Mayweather, who is among the most gifted men in the sport in the last three decades. Mayweather put a merciless beating on Gatti, rarely getting hit and raking him with flush shots to the face.
It was clear by the second round that this would not be Gatti’s night. It ended when Larry Hazard, the head of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, walked to Gatti’s corner and “suggested” they stop the fight at the end of the sixth.
Mayweather’s reputation as a fighter and as a pay-per-view attraction were enhanced with that win and he sadly recalled Gatti on Saturday.
“He was a terrific champion and a very exciting fighter,” Mayweather said. “It’s terrible to hear this news and I offer my prayers and sympathies to his family.”
The Boxing Writers Association of America in 1998 named its Fight of the Year Award after Harry Markson, the one-time director of boxing at Madison Square Garden.
If the organization were wise, it would find another way to honor Markson, who made numerous contributions to the sport, and rename it after Gatti.
There would be no more appropriate or prestigious honor a boxing organization could bestow on a pair of fighters than to give them the Arturo Gatti Award for Fight of the Year.
He was one of a kind and his senseless death won’t do anything to dull the memory of the rare boxer who was the epitome of a never-say-die warrior.
Police detain wife of former boxing champion Gatti
By TALES AZZONI, Associated Press Writer
SAO PAULO (AP)—The wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti was detained as a suspect by Brazilian authorities Sunday following his death at a posh seaside resort.
Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation. Gatti’s body was found early Saturday in a hotel room at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil.
The former junior welterweight champion was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene with blood stains, said Milena Saraiva, a spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police. She told The Associated Press that the Canadian also had a head injury.
The investigation was not complete, but Saraiva said authorities were preparing to present a formal accusation against Rodrigues, who denied being involved in her husband’s death.
Police said Rodrigues, a Brazilian, could not explain how she spent nearly 10 hours in the room without noticing that Gatti was already dead.
Police were investigating witness reports that the couple fought and Gatti was drunk when he returned to his room Friday night, Saraiva said, adding that police were told the pair were extremely jealous of each other and that he constantly complained of her clothing when she traveled to Brazil.
Acelino “Popo” Freitas, a four-time world champion Brazilian boxer, told Globo TV’s Web site on Saturday that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife and that he “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate.”
The couple’s 1-year-old son, who was unhurt, was with Rodrigues’ sister, Saraiva said.
The 37-year-old Gatti, whose epic trilogy with Micky Ward branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.
Known for his straightforward punching and granite-like chin, Gatti captured the junior welterweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City.
SAO PAULO (AP)—The wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti was detained as a suspect by Brazilian authorities Sunday following his death at a posh seaside resort.
Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation. Gatti’s body was found early Saturday in a hotel room at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil.
The former junior welterweight champion was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene with blood stains, said Milena Saraiva, a spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police. She told The Associated Press that the Canadian also had a head injury.
The investigation was not complete, but Saraiva said authorities were preparing to present a formal accusation against Rodrigues, who denied being involved in her husband’s death.
Police said Rodrigues, a Brazilian, could not explain how she spent nearly 10 hours in the room without noticing that Gatti was already dead.
Police were investigating witness reports that the couple fought and Gatti was drunk when he returned to his room Friday night, Saraiva said, adding that police were told the pair were extremely jealous of each other and that he constantly complained of her clothing when she traveled to Brazil.
Acelino “Popo” Freitas, a four-time world champion Brazilian boxer, told Globo TV’s Web site on Saturday that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife and that he “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate.”
The couple’s 1-year-old son, who was unhurt, was with Rodrigues’ sister, Saraiva said.
The 37-year-old Gatti, whose epic trilogy with Micky Ward branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.
Known for his straightforward punching and granite-like chin, Gatti captured the junior welterweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City.
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