History of California Boxing in Photos

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Joe Frazier W10 Scrap Iron Johnson

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His progressively bad record notwithstanding, Bobby Pacho was one of the most popular Mexican drawing cards developed in southern California the years between 1928 and 1933.

Perhaps the salient fact missing in his accepted ring record is that there are a number of victories , mostly knockouts, that have not been credited to him beginning in El Centro, Ca. in 1928. I have those results buried away somewhere in my files.

Bobby had migrated from his hometown of Yuma, Az. to take a field job in Imperial Valley at a time when boxing was just starting to flourish in the three top valley towns, El Centro, Calexico and Brawley.

It was there that he was spotted by Manager Bert Morse who guided him, and later, briefly, Baby Arizmendi. Pacho began his pro career under the fighting name of Kid Mexico, then opted for his true name, Robert Pacho. He soon became a local favorite in the border towns.

His overall record is spotty, to say the least, but there was a world of difference between his early ring years and the final hurrahs, when he became more of an opponent for rising stars than a contender. He was an exceptional figure when I first saw him.

Bobby was an early day Hispanic state champion, following only Bert Colima in that category. He defeated Tod Morgan to win the Ca. 135-lb title and defended successful a few times.

To this day, Bobby and Henry Armstrong are the only two California-developed fighters to clash for a world's title on foreign soil---in Cuba, during 1939.

hap navarro

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Hap

Thanks for your insight on Bobby Pacho, a fighter that I never had the chance to meet as he was a little before my time.

KiKi

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Los Angeles Lightweight Rudy Cruz...Active in the 1940’s, Cruz included among his opponents Ike Williams, Jimmy Carter and Lauro Salas.

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Kiki:

Bobby's best showing in a title fight was in his first meeting with Barney Ross at the L.A. Olympic with the world's 140-lb belt at stake. Ross got the decision, of course, but it was Barney who came out of the scrap marked up around the eyes, not Bobby.

That showing got Pacho a second shot at Ross' title I believe in Cleveland, Ohio, and Barney removed all doubt then by clearly outpointing his opponent.

Pacho might have progressed a lot better in California's ring history except for the contemporary presence of Young Peter Jackson, one of the better, under-rated 135 pounders in the state, a man who dogged Bobby all the way to defeat.

Off his early showings, Bobby Pacho has to rank among the top 20 Hispanic fighters to show in the west during boxing's golden era.

hap navarro

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Thanks Hap.

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