PUNCH LINES

by Katherine Dunn

KGW Fluffs the Facts

On Monday, October 26, KGW-TV news, Channel 8 in Portland, ran a story by reporter Leslie Knopp on why professional boxing has been so rare in Oregon in recent years, and specifically whether the Oregon State Police Boxing and Wrestling Commission is preventing pro events from happening. This reporter was involved in the creation of the Commission and has always supported its aims of protecting fighters and preventing fraud, so the TV item was of interest.

Punchlines was surprised to see KGW claiming that only two professional boxing shows have taken place in Oregon since the commission was established eleven years ago. In fact, eleven professional boxing shows
have happened in that time. While Punchlines would rather have three fight cards every month in downtown Portland, we think the problem has been a lack of promoters and money. It should be noted that the Commission has never, in its history, turned down an application for a promoters license. While some people bellyache about how strict Oregon regulations are, no one has ever asked the Commission to change even a single rule. Currently, two promoters are licensed to promote boxing shows in Oregon: Ringside Ticket, Inc. of San Jose, California, which promoted the October 17 show at Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, and America Presents of Denver, which plans its first show early in 1999.

The KGW report also described the commission's executive director Bruce Anderson's "salary and all expenses" as costing "around one hundred thousand dollars" a year. In fact, the Boxing and Wrestling Commission's
entire budget for the biennium is $170,000. That's $85,000 per year. Anderson is the only employee, and his salary is less than half of that amount. The commission financing does not come from general fund tax money,
but from a direct tax on pay-per-view boxing and wrestling shows. Any money collected above the Commission's designated budget goes by law to the Oregon Children's Fund, which finances child abuse prevention and treatment programs. This year the Commission transferred close to $75,000 dollars to the Children's Fund.

In addition, KGW reported that former Commission members Frank Rivera and Lee Jenkins quit the commmission in frustration and disgust. In fact, both Rivera and Jenkins served out their terms of appointment and were not reappointed. After serving two terms, Rivera retired and he mentioned no dissatisfaction at the time. Lee Jenkins was not reappointed at the end of his final term. Both Jenkins and Rivera were involved in the design and
approval of the state rules for licensing and conducting events.

Wrassling: Crime & Politics

While the nation cheers and jeers at Jesse "The Body" Ventura being elected Governor of Minnesota, another former World Wrestling Federation star is attracting a different kind of interest in the small town of St. Helens,
Oregon. Both Ventura and Billy Jack Haynes started their pro wrestling careers on Portland Wrestling shows promoted by Eugene institution Don Owens. Both big men moved on to the WWF and national television stardom. When he left the WWF, Ventura went into movies. Haynes tried promoting wrestling in Oregon City, and crashed in a financial disaster that left him living in his car. Ventura was elected mayor of his hometown, volunteered as a high school football coach, and started his own radio sports talk show in Minnesota. Haynes made a few listless comeback attempts on Oregon shows. Ivan Kafoury, owner of Radio KXYQ AM in Milwaukee, is also the promoter of the new Portland Wrestling shows which appear all over the state. Kafoury
gave Billy Jack his own wrestling radio show, but later booted him off the air for various failings. The word is that recreational substances and fast dogs are of particular interest to Billy Jack.

Incidents of Haynes using his former stardom and his acting skills to charm loans and gifts out of trusting people have been mounting up for years. If the stories are true, his most recent caper involved conning most of the
town of St. Helens. It seems Haynes convinced a member of the Chamber of Commerce that he could bring a pro wrestling show to the entertainment starved village. This respectable citizen introduced Haynes to many
merchants and citizens who chipped in various amounts for advertising in the show program, investment loans, or the purchase of tickets. The list includes one merchant who loaned Haynes $3,500, supposedly to buy a ring,
and a waitress who borrowed $800 from her landlord to give to Haynes. There were many more. Then Haynes disappeared with thousands of dollars in cash.

The investigating detective, Terry Moss of the St. Helens Police Department, confirms these tales and says he has turned his report over to the District Attorney asking for an indictment on the charge of Theft by Deception.

Meanwhile, the lady with the Chamber of Commerce felt pretty bad about introducing a con man to her neighbors and colleagues, so she ponied up the cash to bring Ivan Kafoury's pro wrestling show to the St. Helen's high
school auditorium on Saturday, October 17. The tickets sold by Billy Jack were honored, but there are still outstanding debts. Detective Moss is interested. And Billy Jack Haynes is not about to be elected Mayor of St.
Helens.

John-John and The Manilla Mauler Try Again

The rematch is re-scheduled and Miguel "The Manilla Mauler" Arrozal (28-6-1) of Portland is scheduled to make his first defense of his new, blue World Boxing Board championship belt against Seattle prospect John-John Palaki (21-1-1) on Friday, December 11, at the Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester, Washington.

Arrozal's legendary fight manager, Mike "Motormouth" Morton says he's ready to pay all chiropractic bills for Seattle's own fistic professor, George Chemeres. "George's back will have to be in good shape for picking Palaki
up off the canvas," says Morton. Chemeres, who trains and manages Palaki, says "Motormouth's always making motor talk but he may have to eat his words this time."

The two managers have each worked with world class fighters over the years. Chemeres handled the early career of three-time world champ Greg Haugen, for example. And Morton has had #1 ranked challengers for crowns including lightweight Ray Lampkin and light heavyweight Andy "The Scappoose Express" Kendall.

The last time these two managers faced each other from opposing corners was in May of 1997 at the Lucky Eagle, when Morton's power slugger, Arrozal, fought to a ferociously controversial ten round draw with Chemeres' hard working, text-book boxer, Palaki. Chemeres still insists that original fight should have been stopped in the fourth round with Arrozal disqualified and Palaki the winner.

In that historic round, Palaki threw a body shot that had Arrozal dropping to his knees on the deck, claiming a low blow. When referee Bobby Howard started to count, Arrozal, in apparent fury at not having the foul
acknowledged, leaped up and out of the ring. He was half way to the exit door when one of his corner men caught him and marched him back into the ring at double time. The ref didn't penalize Arrozal, but seemed to accept his claim of a foul and let the bout continue. Chemeres says it wasn't a low blow. "Arrozal got hit in the solar plexus, got up on the count of four and grabbed his jewelry box," says Palaki's manager. "He was out of the
ring for 14 or 15 seconds. I've timed it on the tape. If he'd been down in the ring he'd have been counted out in ten."

By the end of that ten round war, Palaki had fractured a hand, and hasn't fought since. Chemeres says he accepted the re-match with one stipulation, that the referee be a top official from out of state.

At the age of 28, Arrozal has been in and out of the world rankings as a featherweight over the last decade, but now, just as many of us were figuring he should hang up his gloves and get a job, he's got a 131-pound title to defend. "The Mauler" arranged this coup with a tigerish performance at the Lucky Eagle Casino on October 2, when he stopped a last-minute substitute named Aaron Lopez with a TKO in the 9th round. Arrozal's opponent for the vacant title shot was supposed to be Palaki. The fans were eager for the re-match, but Palaki pulled up lame at the last minute with a chipped bone that swelled his elbow to NFL standards. The Seattle fighter had been prepping for a solid six months in Las Vegas for the re-match. Now, with his elbow in good shape, the 27-year-old Palaki is training at home in Seattle and sparring with former champ Greg Haugen, who is preparing for a November 20 re-match with Paul Nave in California.

Mike "Motormouth" Morton says Arrozal is newly dedicated by winning the belt, and is working out at the Garden Home Recreation Center gym and being trained by his brother Arnell. Morton also hopes to have Arrozal's sparring partner, Joe DeMarco, and featherweight Mike Lucero, both of Portland, in preliminary matches on this show.

Matchmaker Bennie Georgino is excited about the championship main event for December 11, and says his undercard will be solid. He expects to feature hot Seattle featherweight Martin O'Malley, heavyweight Mark Green, and Portland middleweight Chris Huntwork as well.

For ticket information call the Lucky Eagle Casino at 1-800-720-1788.

On The Road

Manager Mike Morton takes his Zillah, Washington, welterweight, Alfonse "Scooter" Meza to Denver, Colorado, for a November 12 main event against local hero Jose Lupe Lopez. On the undercard, Beaverton booker Bob Oleson accompanies Portland heavyweight James Arnett Churn who will fight Denverite Will Hinton.

Former champ Greg Haugen of Auburn, Washington, tangles with the last guy to beat him, Paul Nave of Sacramento, in Nave's home town on November 20.

Welterweight Quandray "Candy" Robertson of Portland heads to New York City for the second week of November with his trainer Fred Ryan. Robertson hopes to meet and impress prominent promoters.

Boxing Hall of Fame Dinner

The public is invited to a no-host dinner at the Grand Cafe, 832 SE Grand in Portland, when The Veteran Boxers Association of Oregon honors the newest members of Oregon's Boxing Hall of Fame on Wednesday, November 18. Festivities begin at 7 p.m. Speeches, individual placques, and inscriptions on the perpetual Hall of Fame Trophy will celebrate the careers of six remarkable figures in fistic history. The honorees are: referee Packy
Mcfarland who officiated at over three thousand bouts; the trainer, manager, fighter and dynasty founder, Harry Moyer; his son, the former junior middleweight champion of the world, Denny Moyer; former top ranked
heavyweight contender Dick Wagner; the respected trainer, manager and boxer Jack Bracke; and one of Oregon's most popular heavyweights, the late Joe Kahut. For further information call Don Roberts, 252-84440.

Seven Feathers Plans For March, '99

The October 17 pro boxing show was a roaring, standing room only success at the Seven Feathers Hotel Casino Resort in Canyonville, Oregon. And the Casino plans to go again as soon as possible. Marketing Director Ian Hay explains that the Casino's big ballroom is booked a year in advance and they are solidly booked until late January. The first weekend date available for another professional fight card is in March, and Hay says the
casino plans to bring back promoter Patrick Ortiz of Ringside Tickets, Inc. for that event. Hay says the casino plans to do four or five pro shows in 1999, and two amateur boxing benefit shows.

Amateur Results

Saturday, October 24, the Sweet Home Boxing Club hosted its first amateur show at the Sweet Home Elks Club for a full house.  Oregon Chief of Officials Harold Pakula provided the following results from this eleven bout card - 9 years, 70 lbs: Wade Marney of West Eugene Boxing won over Moises Rodriguez of the Medford Bulldogs. 9 years, 65 lbs: Ben Perez of the Bulldogs won over Ronnie Mack of Burns, Oregon. 9-10 years, 65 lbs: Jeff
Baxter of W.E.B. won over Caleb Leonard of Sweet Home. 13 years, 100 lbs: Troy Wohosky of the Bulldogs stopped Jonathan Leonard of Sweet Home in the second round. No age or weight available: Roberto Rodriguez of Dallas stopped Brandon Hoodie of Burns in the first round. 16 years, 170 lbs: Dennis Jackson of the Bulldogs won over Marco Ashe of Sweet Home. Seniors, 140 lbs: Luis Pena of Bulldogs stopped Rafael Ortiz of Sweet Home in the third. Seniors, 132 lbs: James Ramos of Salem won over Ceasar Garcia of Dallas, Oregon. Seniors, 165 lbs: Kieth Cunningham of W.E.B. won over Steve Harold of Sweet Home. Seniors, 170 lbs: Ricardo Guttierrez of Bulldogs won over Jeffrey Leonard of Sweet Home. 16 years, 129 lbs, Ricky Gallegos of Bulldogs won over Harlan Ramos of Sweet Home.

Punch Lines is a regular feature of PDXS, Portland's only real alternative
newspaper. PDXS is published on the second and fourth Friday of each month.
For more information, call 503-224-7316 or write PDXS, PO Box 10046,
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