An Interview by Mike Duffau...

My thanks to boxer turned writer Mike Duffau for interviewing me recently. The interview can be found here at Mike on Boxing at BrooWaha.com. I am absolutely honored to be the subject of his interview. Thanks Mike!

Mike on Boxing

Heavyweight Travis Kauffman

I had a chance to meet promising young heavyweight Travis Kauffman. Kauffman, from Reading, Pennsylvania, is in town to spar and train with local heavyweight Chris Arreola.  Kauffman is 25 yeas old, with a record of 21-1. His next fight is scheduled for May 21 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania against a yet to be named opponent. You can read his story Here. The photo and video were taken at Indian Willie's Gym in Riverside, California.

A Visit With Bill O'Neill

Bill and I in his backyard

This past Saturday Jeri and I drove to Riverside and spent the day with Bill O'Neill and his wife Shirley. They have a beautiful home sitting on an acre filled with every type of citrus fruit you can imagine, tons of fruit. We picked enough to fill box. Bill and his wife were gracious hosts and the salt of the earth. Old school good people, the kind of people that are getting harder to find as times goes on. Bill is recovering from a hip replacement surgery, plus he took a bad fall and suffered a concussion and hurt back. Still, he gave us a tour of the property.

On the patio

Bill O'Neill has a room next to his garage that doubles as his own personal boxing museum, filled with photos, memorabilia and fight tapes. The man has a true passion for boxing. Bill is former fighter himself, fighting as a amateur boxer in his younger days. he was also a sportswriter back in the day writing a boxing column for the Daily News, as well as other newspapers and boxing magazines, over the years. Bill has tons of memories and stories, there has to be a few books in him just waiting to come out.

The Jerry Quarry Wall

Giving me the tour

We drove down to Indian Willie's gym, which is a few miles from his home. Chris Arreola was supposed to be there to spar. He didn't show up. I did have a chance to meet a young heavyweight from Reading, Pennsylvania, Travis Kauffman. Seems like a good kid, 25 years old, 21-1. also had a chance to see Jose (Josesito) Lopez and Johnathan Arrellano. Had a chance to speak a bit with Henry Ramirez. It was good being around a bunch of young boxers. All and all, it was a nice day plus the weather was good. Our thanks to the O'Neill for their gracious hospitality.

Johnathan Arrellano and Bill O'Neill at Indian Willie's Gym

Johnathan Arrellano

Jose "Josesito" Lopez

Heavyweight Travis Kauffman

For a look at all the photos from Saturday go Here

Classic Photo

Photo Courtesy of Frank Baltazar Sr.

John Liechty and Eddie 'Animal' Lopez Circa..1980
The Olympic Auditorium parking lot.

Revisiting the Main Street Gym Site

Click Photo For a Larger Image

Click Photo For a Larger Image

My wife and I were in Downtown Los Angeles recently and I thought I would I visit the site of the old Main Street Gym on Main St, between 3rd and 4th streets, for old times sake. It's been gone quite a while, having been razed in the mid 1980's, but it is still remembered fondly by west coast boxing fans and by those who trained there. Some of the best fighters of the past trained at the gym. Countless movies and television shows were filmed here, including the first the "Rocky" with Sylvester Stallone, in 1976, and at least two of the sequels, as well as countless other movies and television shows. Some of the best fighters of the past trained at the gym.

A Recap of Boxing in 2010

An excellent recap of boxing in 2010 by BorgesProduction on youtube.com

Press Conference Brawls

Watching Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal go through their little scuffle during their prefight press conference made me think of my favorite press conference fight, when Marco Antoni Barrera popped Kennedy McKinney right on the kisser for mouthing off and McKinney took it. It was too funny. Then after a tough fight Barrera kicks his ass again and stops McKinney in round 12.




In the second video Don King hosts a Top 10 Boxing Press Conference Brawls. Marco Antonio Barrera made the video along with Erik Morales. Watch how quick Morales reacts when Barrera punches him. Split second reaction. Riddick Bowe does a pretty good job on Larry Donald. I don't usually agree with Larry Merchant but he is 100% correct when he calls boxing "The Theater of the unexpected".

A Night at the Fights for my Daughter and Friends

Meranda De La O and Oscar De La Hoya

A few weeks ago my daughter Meranda won some tickets to the Juan Manuel Marquez vs Michael Katsidis fight on the 27th of last month, via a contest on Twitter (Marquez won by a 9th round KO). Oscar and Golden Boy Promotions gave Meranda the VIP treatment. My daughter and her gal pals as well as the husband of one of her friends were all given good seats, and my daughter got to spend some time with Oscar and attend the post fight press conference. They all had a great time. These are a few of the photos she took. My thanks to Golden Boy  Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya for being a true gentleman with my daughter.

Meranda (center) and friends

Oscar De La Hoya

Marquez and Katsidis moments before the fight
was stopped by Referee Kenny Bayless

Marquez speaking at the post fight press confrence

Andre Berto at the post fight conference.
Berto stopped Freddy Hernandez in the 1st round

2010 California Boxing Hall of Fame Video

2010 California Boxing Hall of Fame Video Part 2 from Randy De La O on Vimeo.

Classic Photo: Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth

Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth

Belmont Hotel, Day after Firpo fight, September 15, 1923

My wife Jeri and I stopped at an antique store earlier today and I found this classic photo of Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth. Naturally I had to get it.

Julio Cesar Chavez

All Photos Courtesy of Frank Baltazar Sr.

By Randy De La O

Whenever Julio Cesar Chavez was fighting it was always a big deal at our house. At his peak he was heads and shoulders above the rest. The left hook to the body was his bread and butter but he was the total package. It wasn't that he did everything spectacular, he just did it damned good, but putting it all together was the key for Chavez. He wasn't particularly fast but he had quick reflexes. On top of that he had a cast iron chin and an indomitable will. That's what made him great and unbeatable, at least while he was in his prime.

Two of the most satisfying wins (for me) came against Roger Mayweather, the self proclaimed "Mexican Assassin". The first fight, in 1985, ended by a 2nd round knockout of Mayweather, the second fight, four years later in 1989 ended in the 10th round of a 12 round bout.

The fight, at least in my perception that separated him from the rest of the pack was the Edwin Rosario fight. He showed exceptional patience in breaking down Rosario, round by round. He just kept getting stronger. It was a great fight.

I don't think anyone ever looked so regal in victory as Chavez. No loud boasts, graceful words for his opponents, and the manner in which he carried himself. He opened up the 1990's with a come from behind stoppage of Meldrick Taylor. Referee Richard Steele stopped the fight with just 5 seconds left on the clock, after Taylor suffered a knockdown, and in my opinion, a brutal beating by Chavez. Taylor was never the same after this fight and was stopped by Chavez in their second fight in in 1994, in the 8th round of a 12 round fight.

In the 1990's despite that spectacular win against Taylor, and victories against Greg Haugen, Hector Camacho and Terrence Alli, by 1993 Chavez' was beginning to slip. He fought to a controversial draw against Pernell Whitaker and in January of 1994 he lost a split decision to Frankie Randall. They would fight two more times, splitting the wins.

In 1996 Chavez fought a young Oscar De La Hoya. The fight was stopped in the 4th round with De La Hoya getting the win. His last fight was with Grover Wiley on September 17, 2005 in Phoenix, Arizona. Chavez was unable to come out for the fifth round. Chavez fought a total of 115 fights, he won 107 of those fights, 86 by KO, he lost six fights and had 4 draws. Chavez was a remarkable fighter and he had a great career. He remains one of my all time favorites. To steal a line from my all time favorite, Roberto Duran, "When Chavez was Chavez!"

Julio Cesar Chavez vs Edwin "Chapo" Rosario

Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas

November 21, 1987

Was Chavez great that night or what? I give all the credit in the world to Rosario, who was a damned good fighter himself. He held on as long as he could but those body shots just wore him down. Rosario, who was normally low key and reserved before a fight was uncharacteristically loud and boastful before the Chavez fight. In my opinion when someone is out of character before a fight there is usually something wrong, lack of preparation, or confidence. Great win for Chavez. A year or so earlier Rosario, more in Character lost a 12 round split decision to Hector Camacho in a fight that I thought Rosario clearly won.

Julio Cesar Chavez vs Terrence Alli

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas

May 8, 1993

Julio Cesar Chavez vs Rodolfo Aguilar

Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas

April 18, 1988

318 1/2 S. Main Street . . . Today

By Rick Farris

This is where the Main Street Gym once stood. The Gym was torn down twenty-five years ago, but it still exists in the memories of a few Today, after a quarter century as a parking lot, new construction is under way.

As I look at that driveway, I recall how it led cars thru a tunnel that took tham to a parking lot in the rear of the gym. That tunnel had once been a burlesque theatre that had closed down. The front and rear wall were knocked out to provide access to the rear parking lot. As we'd walk back thru the tunnel to the gym entrance on Main St. you could see the theatre's rusted, antique lighting fixtures still attached to the walls and ceilings. Looking at the photos, just to the left of the driveway, where the gate has opened, marks where the gym entrance was. "World's Leading Boxers Traing Here Daily", the sign in front read. As you pulled open the doors leading to a stairway that took you up into the gym, you'd immediatly here the tapping of speed bags, the sound of jump ropes hitting the floor, punches thudding against heavy bags and the bell. In three minute intervals the gym bell rang all day, until the gym closed in the evening. Main Street is evolving. It is no longer the place I remember. It's no longer a desperate place, it's more of a "trendy" place. In other words, it's no longer a place for a boxing gym. Not the type gym I respect. The street people now sip "Starbucks", the winos are long gone. 

Progress. What's the world coming too?

-Rick Farris 

Nino LaRocca vs Felipe Canela

By Randy De La O




By Randy De La O

Seeing these photos of Felipe Canela bring to mind the wisdom of Mel Epstein, and something I learned from him and applied after his death. Mel passed away in 1980. Sometime in 1980 and into 1981 I started training again at the Main Street Gym. It had been a few years for me. Larry Soto was my trainer now. Larry was Felipe's trainer. Felipe had turned pro earlier in the year and had about five or six fights by the time I met him.

Years before Mel would tell me how a fighter would come back to the gym after a long lay off. He would begin the long process of getting back in shape. On the first couple of days of sparring, his timing might be off, might be a little winded, might get hit a little more than usual, maybe a lot more. As the week wore on things might start picking up, the timing starts to come back, the wind is better and the fighter is not getting hit quite as much and his punches are landing with a little more snap, with a little more authority. Then with out realizing it everything starts to fall in place, the movement around the ring, the slipping punches, the timing, the feinting and the punches are now crisp and landing when and where you want them to and you are no longer getting winded. You are back in business.

This is what came to mind the first day Felipe and I sparred. He was pretty rough in the gym, as I would expect him to be. He had no qualms about using me as a punching bag, and he did. But I thought about what Mel had said and kept it at the forefront of my mind. I still remember the turn around. He threw several punches and most of them missed. I was slipping his punches now and countering with my own. I remember landing a several punch combination when he was on the ropes. It felt good. I got his attention and his respect. I was back in business, at least for the time being. Canela by the way was a true gentleman and he had a respectable career.

THE HISTORY OF L.A. BOXING BY HAP NAVARRO

THE HISTORY OF L.A. BOXING COURTESY OF HAP NAVARRO

Los Angeles one of the world's great boxing cities has probably developed more sensational box-office attractions than any other city. Baby Casanova, Enrique Bolanos, Art Aragon, Raton Macias, Jose Becerra, Ricardo Moreno, Battling Torres, Mando Ramos, Ruben Olivares, Jesus Pimintel, Jose medel, Jose Napoles, Carlos Zarate, Alberto "Super Fly" Sandoval, Lupe Pintor, Ruben Navarro, Alfonso Zamora, Danny Lopez, Bobby Chacon, Pipino Cuevas, etc. literally "EXPLODED" on the L.A. fight scene with "breathtaking" action performances that made them huge drawing cards.

Los Angeles' boxing tradition goes back to the days of Jim Jeffries, Tom McCarey, the famous Los Angeles Athletic Club under the direction of George Blake who developed Fidel LaBarba, Jackie Fields, Joe Salas. The names of the fighters and movers and shakers continued with Jimmy McLarnin, Gig Rooney, George Hansford, Henry Armstrong, Turkey Thompson, John Thomas, Fitzie Fitzpatrick, Chalky Wright, The Olympic Auditorium, Cal Working, Hollywood Legion stadium, Cal and Aileen Eaton, George parnassus, Manuel Ortiz, Babe McCoy, Clarence Henry, Irish Bob Murphy, Wrigley Field, Gilmore Stadium, Jimmy Lennon, Frankie Carbo, Mickey Cohen, Howie Steindler,South Gate Arena, Don Jordon, Ramon Fuentes, the tragic teenage boxing sensation-Keeny Teran, George raft, Lupe Vellez, Main Street Gym, Billy Peacock, Duke Holloway, Canto Robleto, Boots Monroe, Dwight Hawkins, Raul Rojas, Frankie Crawford, etc.

Get the picture? All great tales. I know of no other boxing town with such a colorful or exciting story to be told, and nobody knows it better than Mr. Hap Navarro......,,,,Jackie
McCoy, Norm lockwood, Harry kabakoff, Indian (Ernie) Red Lopez, the Baltazar brothers, Ralph Gambina, Hegeman Lewis, Eddie futch, Tury (The Fury) Pineda, Carlos Palomino, Inglewood Forum, Jerry Buss, Don Chargin, Genero Hernandez, the Ruelas bros., Oscar DeLaHoya, Fernando Vargas, etc. etc.

A Different Place by Roger Esty

Courtesy of Roger Esty

A DIFFERENT PLACE

Look at a boxing ring. Go to an empty gym and look at the ring. Simple structure. Strands of rope attached to ring posts and a canvas mat. A work place and theater for the sport of boxing. Inside the ring is the most unforgiving place in the world. Once you are inside the ring you are expected to accept what comes at you. It is not friendly. Sympathy is a vacuum. If you can't take what's going on in there,there's no law saying you have to go back in. But if you make the decision to get inside the ring,you are on your own. You have to find something inside yourself to survive in there. Don't look at your corner to help you. You have to punch. Protect yourself. You are on your own. When the work inside the ring is over,you leave with a satisfaction that you were tested when you had no one with you. Alone, you withstood the test. If you can do it alone,you know you can do anything.