Johnny Flores II

Johnny Flores . . .
By Rick Farris


When discussing Classic American West Coast Boxing personalities, the name Johnny Flores is one that covers a lot of history.
I had the good luck and pleasure of getting to know Johnny as I was growing up, a young boxer in his well known stable.
Johnny was a master story teller. Maybe the best I ever heard. His words left an impression on me, and I remember most of them.

I met Johnny in early 1965. I was referred to him by his newly crowned Nat'l Golden Gloves heavyweight champ, Jerry Quarry.
Jerry was ready to turn pro, and when he did, Johnny Flores, would become a major player in the world of professional boxing.
We are talking professional heavyweight boxing during the era of Ali, Frazier, Norton, etc.

Johnny had been known for decades in Los Angeles, where he was tagged "Mr. Golden Gloves" for his amateur boxing participation, in every aspect of the sport. He also cornered and managed the careers of a number of top pros, but none with the clout afforded the manager of a "white heavyweight" during the late '60's.

Flores was tough and smart, good looking, with sharp wit and personality. Thruout his life, he strayed into dangerous territory.
During WW2, he enlisted in the Army in his mid-20's, was assigned to a platoon of immigrants that would be sent out on info seeking missions, sent out with little expectation of returning.
Flores was operating behind enemy lines, by himself, just wandering with his rifle. "Go out and capture a German" was his order.
Flores stumbled upon a farm house. Coming from the barn were voices, speaking German.

Flores peaked into a window and saw two German officers sitting at a table, talking.
Flores had an arenalin rush, took a deep breath and kicked in the door, he was spewing obsenities, in Spanish and English.
The officers were caught by surprise and Flores knocked one out with the butt of his rifle. The other put his hands behind his head and surrendered.
Suddenly, thru a back door leading to another room, another soldier appeared, hands behind his head in surrender.
Then another came out, and another. Flores captured a dozen German soldiers and four were officers.
For that he would win a Silver Star, and later a Purple Heart.
Johnny would later be seriously injured and sent home a disabled American Veteran.

Johnny Flores had balls. That's how he would describe a fighter with courage. That's how I describe Johnny.
After WW2, Johnny worked with the Disabled American Vet's and became a part of L.A. boxing history when he and another coach, Louie Jaurique, established the Los Angeles Junior Golden Gloves program.

For more than three decades, the Junior Golden Gloves would serve as a breeding ground for top professional talent.

I'll continue this during the coming week.