After doing 5 years in a country club, Harold Smith came out still having the money he stole from the bank where he was working at and started promoting again, but he couldn’t get a promoter’s license, so he used ex-Los Angeles Rams player, Elroy Irvin as his front man. Smith/Irvin promoted some of Tony’s fight in Arizona. When Irvin tried to renew his promoter’s license in California he was told that he had to show where his money was coming from. Hell, everybody knew whom he was getting the money from. He was denied. I know that Smith also promoted in Indonesia at one time or other. We were offered fights in Indonesia which I turned down.
At the time they promoted Tony’s fights in Arizona, Irvin with Jimmy Montoya’s help would get the cards ready, they both would do what was needed to be done in putting a show together. Smith would show up the day of the fights with a suitcase full of cash to pay the fighters. Always paid in cash
Monday, July 23, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Boxing, back in the day
I see these Knockout magazine cover and I can understand why I feel cheated when I watch boxing now days. I grew up watching boxing in the later 1940s-early ‘50s. It was an era when topnotch prospects fought each other on the under cards and top ranked fighters fought each other in the main events at the Olympic and the Hollywood Legion and other Southern California venues. Case in point, the Kenny Davis v Al Cruz fight, here we had two of the top amateur fighters and top pro prospects of their era fighting each other to see which one would move up the ladder of their chosen profession. Sometimes we would have a winner and a loser, sometimes a fight would ended up a draw, and when it did there would be a rematch. That is why, in my opinion, the greatest fighters in the sports history came from those years. Not saying we don’t have great fighters now days, we do, but we had more of them back in those bygone years
This is not a put-down on to-days fighters they fight who their promoters pick. Now day’s managers don’t play the important part they did back in those years. When a fighter sign-up with a promoter it’s the promoter calling the shot and said promoter is just concern with the bottom line.
My rant for the day on today’s boxing.
This is not a put-down on to-days fighters they fight who their promoters pick. Now day’s managers don’t play the important part they did back in those years. When a fighter sign-up with a promoter it’s the promoter calling the shot and said promoter is just concern with the bottom line.
My rant for the day on today’s boxing.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Chente
Chente (far right) doing time in San Quentin, 1940's. He manages the boxer standing next to him, in a prison sponsored boxing match.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Vic Weiss, Louie Jauregui, Jake Horn and Mando Muniz
Vic Weiss and Louie Jauregui were co-manager of Mando Muniz....At the start of his career Muniz was manages by Jauregui and Jake Horn...Jake got in a hassle with Aileen Eaton over money...Eaton froze out Muniz until he got rid of Jake....Weiss who owned a Ford dealership bought out Jake and Mando was able to fight at the Olympic again....Weiss who was a bagman for the Las Vegas mob was murder, his body was found shot in the trunk of his car at LAX.
I worked two of Mando's fights when he was still with Horn and Jaurequi. The Ernie Red Lopez fight at the Olympic and the Manny Gonzalez fight in Arizona
I worked two of Mando's fights when he was still with Horn and Jaurequi. The Ernie Red Lopez fight at the Olympic and the Manny Gonzalez fight in Arizona
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Lauro Salas: The Lion of Monterrey
By kiki
Danny Garcia
reminds me of Lauro Salas. Like Salas, the 1950s “Lion of Monterrey”, Garcia
has minimal boxing skills, and like Salas he was still able to become a world
champion nonetheless. Last night as I was watching Garcia dismember Khan, I was
thinking ‘I seen Garcia fight in another life’. Than it came to me, “Lauro
Salas”
Lauro Salas
fought all the top featherweights of the early 1950s, winning some, losing
some. He then got in a bar fight with Art Aragon when the Golden Boy called him
a “fucking Mexican”. There’re many different versions of that bar fight, as to
who won and who lost, but that’s a story for another day.
After the
bar fight, which was played-up in the local press to epic portion, Aragon and
Salas were sign by the Olympic Auditorium to a ten round fight. Salas lost a
close decision. But Salas gave such a good account of himself that when the
Olympic was looking for an opponent for lightweight champ Jimmy Carter they
gave Salas the opportunity. Again Salas outdid himself; he gave Carter all he
could handle in losing a close fifteen round decision. A rematch was in order,
Carter and Salas fought the rematch and this time Salas was given the close
decision. Salas was to lose the title back to Carter six months later'
I watched both of their Los Angeles fight live.
I watched both of their Los Angeles fight live.
Lauro Salas
Monday, July 9, 2012
Say a pray for Alex Ramos
http://www.myboxingfans.com/2012/07/exclusive-alex-ramos-bounces-back-from-brain-surgery/
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Los Angeles Golden Age of Boxing
By Frank "kiki" Baltazar
For the record I consider Los Angeles Golden Age of Boxing to have ended in 1959 with demise of the Hollywood Legion. Prior to that, we had boxing 6 days a week, sometimes 7 days. The boxing gyms were busting at the seams with talent ready to fill cards in the many venues in the southland. Starting in 1960 boxing was almost at a standstill. The Olympic became the only show in town but, at times would only go once a month. And lots of gym closed down. Things started to pick-up in the mid-60s with the emerging of Mando Ramos among others. With the opening of the Forum in 1968 boxing in the southland became close to what it had been in the Golden Age of Boxing, but to me it didn’t feel the same, something was missing, something that I can’t put my finger on. Maybe my enthusiasm was waning? Maybe so.
For the record I consider Los Angeles Golden Age of Boxing to have ended in 1959 with demise of the Hollywood Legion. Prior to that, we had boxing 6 days a week, sometimes 7 days. The boxing gyms were busting at the seams with talent ready to fill cards in the many venues in the southland. Starting in 1960 boxing was almost at a standstill. The Olympic became the only show in town but, at times would only go once a month. And lots of gym closed down. Things started to pick-up in the mid-60s with the emerging of Mando Ramos among others. With the opening of the Forum in 1968 boxing in the southland became close to what it had been in the Golden Age of Boxing, but to me it didn’t feel the same, something was missing, something that I can’t put my finger on. Maybe my enthusiasm was waning? Maybe so.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Going To The Fights-1951
By Frank "kiki" Baltazar
Edit by Phil Rice
Eddie Gomez was watching a boxing match on a nineteen inch TV when his dad, Rudy, came in the house and told Eddie.
“Eddie, look what I have here”
“Pops, did you get some tickets for the title fight?”
Eddie had been bugging his pop to take him to see the Art Argon vs Jimmy Carter lightweight title fight at the Olympic Auditorium for some time, but his pop thought that Eddie; being twelve years old, was too young to go to the fights.
“Yes, Eddie, I bought four tickets. Your uncles, Tony and Ray, will be going with us. Now I hope your mom doesn't get mad at me. She too thinks you are too young to go to the fights”.
Eddie's mom, Lupe, was not too crazy to see Eddie going to the fights, but she did agree with Rudy that their son would be disappointed if he was not allowed to go with his pop and uncles, so she gave her okay for Eddie to go.
Eddie couldn't wait to find his best friend, Cheno Diaz, to tell him the good news. He found Cheno tending his two cows and one goat at a nearby pasture. “Cheno, my pops is taking me to see the Aragon and Carter title fight.”
"Gee Eddie you are lucky. I wish I could go.”
“I'll ask my pop if he can get another ticket for you. Cheno. You think your mom and pops would let you go?”
“I'll ask them” said Cheno.
Eddie asked his pop if he could get a ticket for Cheno.
“Yes, I'm sure I can get one, Eddie, you tell Cheno that if his mom and pop say it’s okay for him to go; we'll take him with us”.
Next day in school, Eddie told Cheno the good news.
“Cheno, my pops said that he'll get you a ticket if your mom and pop say that it’s okay for you to go.”
“Eddie, Mom and Pop said I could go as long as your father was going, they trust your father, but not your uncle Ray. They say he is crazy, that he himself will get into a fight at the fights.”
“Yeah, Uncle Ray is a bit wild, especially when he is drinking beer, but Pops won't let him drink too much, he'll be okay”.
Two weeks later, they all piled into Rudy's 1946 Dodge and headed west from Simons on Washington Boulevard. Eddie and Cheno were so excited that they couldn't sit still and it was starting to bug Uncle Ray.
“If you kids don't sit still, we are going to stop and drop you off here; and you are going to have to wait for us to pick you up after the fights.”
“Leave them alone Ray, they are just excited to be going to the fights. After all, it’s their first time to see boxing live. You remember when you went for the first time and you got all crazy on us, wanting to fight everybody there?” said Uncle Tony.
“Yeah, but I was drunk; and let me remind you that I was doing okay until that big guy cold-cock me and knocked me on my ass,” Uncle Ray said, laughing.
The area was so packed that they had to park three blocks away. Eddie and Cheno were shadow boxing as they walked up 18th Avenue.
“Hey Eddie, Cheno, you two want to become fighters? Because; if you do, I'll train you guys” said Uncle Ray.
“Ray, what the hell do you know about training fighters?" Rudy demanded.
“Hey, Rudy, I have fighting experience.”
“Yes, you do, but it's street fighting experience, and I don't think you ever won a fight!”
“At least I've never been ko'd, always finished on my feet,” laughed Ray.
As the group approached the front entrance of the Olympic, they started seeing movie and boxing celebrities hanging around the sidewalk of Grand Avenue.
“Cheno! There’s John Wayne and Pedro Armendariz” said the excitable Eddie
“And over there is Rosemary Cooney and her husband Jose Ferrer,” said Uncle Tony
“I see Tommy Campbell, Frankie Muche, Bob Murphy, Enrique Bolanos—and Babe Herman's over there talking to two men” said Cheno
“That's Cal Eaton and Babe McCoy they are talking to. Probably talking about upcoming fights,” said Rudy
Before entering the Olympic, they all bought the Knockout program from Speedy Dado. Eddie and Cheno started getting autographs on their programs to show their friends in school the next day.
They found their seats in the second-to-last row in the peanut gallery. No sooner had they sat down when rolls of toilet paper started flying around, soon some ladies underwear were flying by too. Eddie and Cheno started making paper planes and flying them down to the ring.
“This is fun, Eddie, thanks for bringing me” said Cheno
“Thank my pop, Cheno. He is the one who bought your ticket”
The fighters for the first fight came into the ring. Rudy, Tony, and Ray started betting on the fights. They would bet one dollar on the white or black corner—whatever fighter went to the corner they had, that was their bet.
The first fight was won by Al Galindo over Bobby Brewer. Rudy and Tony won a dollar each, Ray lost a dollar.
The second fight was between Joey Gurrola and Sammy Figueroa.
“Cheno, see that big guy in Figueroa's corner? That's big Jake Horn, he's a great trainer,” said Eddie
The fight ended in a draw.
“Guess it didn't help Figueroa having Jake Horn in the corner, did it, Eddie?" Cheno said, as he threw a roll of toilet paper.
“He didn't lose did he?” Eddie retorted
“Well no, he didn't”
After a couple of more fights it was time for the main event. Art Aragon and Jimmy Carter would be coming into the ring soon.
Aragon, looking weak, entered the ring first.
“Aragon is going to lose,” said Eddie
“How do you know?" asked Uncle Ray.
“Look how pale he looks. I read in The Mirror that he was having trouble making '35,” said Eddie.
Carter came into the ring looking great. After both fighters had been gloved in the ring they were introduced by Jimmy Lennon, then referee Mushy Callahan called the fighters to the center of the ring for their instructions.
The fight started fairly even for the first four rounds, but from the fifth round on it was all Carter, who won an easy 15 round unanimous decision.
Right after the fight ended Uncle Ray wanted to leave. “Okay guys, our guy lost; let’s get out of here.”
“No! We have to stay and watch Keeny Teran fight Bobby Garza. They are fighting a six rounder,” said Eddie.
Uncle Tony agreed. “Ray, Keeny is the toast of the town, we have to stay and watch him fight.”
They stayed and watched Keeny win a unanimous decision.
On the way home Uncle Ray asked Eddie and Cheno if they wanted to box. “Guys, if you want to fight, I'll train you. After you train for a couple of months; I'll take you to the downtown CYO where Johnny Flores runs the boxing program. I'm sure we can get you some sparring. Johnny is my friend and he'll help us out.
“Ray, you don't even know Johnny Flores,” said Rudy
“Well maybe not, but I know where the CYO is at,” laughed Uncle Ray
The next day Eddie and Cheno were the toast of the school as they were holding court with their friends.
“You should have seen Aragon land that left hook of his!” said Cheno as he threw a left hook.
“Too bad he didn't landed it enough,” Eddie moaned.
“He was too weak from making weight.”
“Yes he was,” agreed Eddie
“But you should have seen that little Keeny Teran,” Eddie and Cheno said in unison.
“Guys, Cheno and I are going to start training next week. My uncle Ray is going to train us,” said Eddie.
Their lives had been forever changed by a single night at the fights.
All Right Reserved
Edit by Phil Rice
Eddie Gomez was watching a boxing match on a nineteen inch TV when his dad, Rudy, came in the house and told Eddie.
“Eddie, look what I have here”
“Pops, did you get some tickets for the title fight?”
Eddie had been bugging his pop to take him to see the Art Argon vs Jimmy Carter lightweight title fight at the Olympic Auditorium for some time, but his pop thought that Eddie; being twelve years old, was too young to go to the fights.
“Yes, Eddie, I bought four tickets. Your uncles, Tony and Ray, will be going with us. Now I hope your mom doesn't get mad at me. She too thinks you are too young to go to the fights”.
Eddie's mom, Lupe, was not too crazy to see Eddie going to the fights, but she did agree with Rudy that their son would be disappointed if he was not allowed to go with his pop and uncles, so she gave her okay for Eddie to go.
Eddie couldn't wait to find his best friend, Cheno Diaz, to tell him the good news. He found Cheno tending his two cows and one goat at a nearby pasture. “Cheno, my pops is taking me to see the Aragon and Carter title fight.”
"Gee Eddie you are lucky. I wish I could go.”
“I'll ask my pop if he can get another ticket for you. Cheno. You think your mom and pops would let you go?”
“I'll ask them” said Cheno.
Eddie asked his pop if he could get a ticket for Cheno.
“Yes, I'm sure I can get one, Eddie, you tell Cheno that if his mom and pop say it’s okay for him to go; we'll take him with us”.
Next day in school, Eddie told Cheno the good news.
“Cheno, my pops said that he'll get you a ticket if your mom and pop say that it’s okay for you to go.”
“Eddie, Mom and Pop said I could go as long as your father was going, they trust your father, but not your uncle Ray. They say he is crazy, that he himself will get into a fight at the fights.”
“Yeah, Uncle Ray is a bit wild, especially when he is drinking beer, but Pops won't let him drink too much, he'll be okay”.
Two weeks later, they all piled into Rudy's 1946 Dodge and headed west from Simons on Washington Boulevard. Eddie and Cheno were so excited that they couldn't sit still and it was starting to bug Uncle Ray.
“If you kids don't sit still, we are going to stop and drop you off here; and you are going to have to wait for us to pick you up after the fights.”
“Leave them alone Ray, they are just excited to be going to the fights. After all, it’s their first time to see boxing live. You remember when you went for the first time and you got all crazy on us, wanting to fight everybody there?” said Uncle Tony.
“Yeah, but I was drunk; and let me remind you that I was doing okay until that big guy cold-cock me and knocked me on my ass,” Uncle Ray said, laughing.
The area was so packed that they had to park three blocks away. Eddie and Cheno were shadow boxing as they walked up 18th Avenue.
“Hey Eddie, Cheno, you two want to become fighters? Because; if you do, I'll train you guys” said Uncle Ray.
“Ray, what the hell do you know about training fighters?" Rudy demanded.
“Hey, Rudy, I have fighting experience.”
“Yes, you do, but it's street fighting experience, and I don't think you ever won a fight!”
“At least I've never been ko'd, always finished on my feet,” laughed Ray.
As the group approached the front entrance of the Olympic, they started seeing movie and boxing celebrities hanging around the sidewalk of Grand Avenue.
“Cheno! There’s John Wayne and Pedro Armendariz” said the excitable Eddie
“And over there is Rosemary Cooney and her husband Jose Ferrer,” said Uncle Tony
“I see Tommy Campbell, Frankie Muche, Bob Murphy, Enrique Bolanos—and Babe Herman's over there talking to two men” said Cheno
“That's Cal Eaton and Babe McCoy they are talking to. Probably talking about upcoming fights,” said Rudy
Before entering the Olympic, they all bought the Knockout program from Speedy Dado. Eddie and Cheno started getting autographs on their programs to show their friends in school the next day.
They found their seats in the second-to-last row in the peanut gallery. No sooner had they sat down when rolls of toilet paper started flying around, soon some ladies underwear were flying by too. Eddie and Cheno started making paper planes and flying them down to the ring.
“This is fun, Eddie, thanks for bringing me” said Cheno
“Thank my pop, Cheno. He is the one who bought your ticket”
The fighters for the first fight came into the ring. Rudy, Tony, and Ray started betting on the fights. They would bet one dollar on the white or black corner—whatever fighter went to the corner they had, that was their bet.
The first fight was won by Al Galindo over Bobby Brewer. Rudy and Tony won a dollar each, Ray lost a dollar.
The second fight was between Joey Gurrola and Sammy Figueroa.
“Cheno, see that big guy in Figueroa's corner? That's big Jake Horn, he's a great trainer,” said Eddie
The fight ended in a draw.
“Guess it didn't help Figueroa having Jake Horn in the corner, did it, Eddie?" Cheno said, as he threw a roll of toilet paper.
“He didn't lose did he?” Eddie retorted
“Well no, he didn't”
After a couple of more fights it was time for the main event. Art Aragon and Jimmy Carter would be coming into the ring soon.
Aragon, looking weak, entered the ring first.
“Aragon is going to lose,” said Eddie
“How do you know?" asked Uncle Ray.
“Look how pale he looks. I read in The Mirror that he was having trouble making '35,” said Eddie.
Carter came into the ring looking great. After both fighters had been gloved in the ring they were introduced by Jimmy Lennon, then referee Mushy Callahan called the fighters to the center of the ring for their instructions.
The fight started fairly even for the first four rounds, but from the fifth round on it was all Carter, who won an easy 15 round unanimous decision.
Right after the fight ended Uncle Ray wanted to leave. “Okay guys, our guy lost; let’s get out of here.”
“No! We have to stay and watch Keeny Teran fight Bobby Garza. They are fighting a six rounder,” said Eddie.
Uncle Tony agreed. “Ray, Keeny is the toast of the town, we have to stay and watch him fight.”
They stayed and watched Keeny win a unanimous decision.
On the way home Uncle Ray asked Eddie and Cheno if they wanted to box. “Guys, if you want to fight, I'll train you. After you train for a couple of months; I'll take you to the downtown CYO where Johnny Flores runs the boxing program. I'm sure we can get you some sparring. Johnny is my friend and he'll help us out.
“Ray, you don't even know Johnny Flores,” said Rudy
“Well maybe not, but I know where the CYO is at,” laughed Uncle Ray
The next day Eddie and Cheno were the toast of the school as they were holding court with their friends.
“You should have seen Aragon land that left hook of his!” said Cheno as he threw a left hook.
“Too bad he didn't landed it enough,” Eddie moaned.
“He was too weak from making weight.”
“Yes he was,” agreed Eddie
“But you should have seen that little Keeny Teran,” Eddie and Cheno said in unison.
“Guys, Cheno and I are going to start training next week. My uncle Ray is going to train us,” said Eddie.
Their lives had been forever changed by a single night at the fights.
All Right Reserved
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