History of California Boxing in Photos

**kikibalt** · 01-23-2008, 12:44 PM

**kikibalt** · 01-23-2008, 05:49 PM

**kikibalt** · 01-24-2008, 05:17 PM

**kikibalt** · 01-25-2008, 04:22 PM

**kikibalt** · 01-25-2008, 07:57 PM

**kikibalt** · 01-25-2008, 08:08 PM

**kikibalt** · 01-25-2008, 08:12 PM

**kikibalt** · 01-28-2008, 12:18 PM

**kikibalt** · 01-30-2008, 11:20 AM

**kikibalt** · 02-01-2008, 11:59 AM

**Sharkey** · 02-01-2008, 06:38 PM

Frank, how good WAS Vince Martinez? As in, who would you compare him to?

**kikibalt** · 02-01-2008, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Sharkey

Frank, how good WAS Vince Martinez? As in, who would you compare him to?

Shark,

Vince Martinez who fought out of N.J. was a very good boxer with a fair punch, I seen him fight on t.v. a few time back in the day, the 1950's, and I seen him fight and beat Art Aragon live, also in the 50's, I don't know that I can compare him with anyone, at least no one that comes to mind at this moment.

**kikibalt** · 02-12-2008, 02:35 PM

**kikibalt** · 02-13-2008, 01:56 PM

**kikibalt** · 02-21-2008, 05:52 PM

**kikibalt** · 02-21-2008, 06:16 PM

Danny Valdez with Gene Fullmer

I first met Danny when he was 13 years old, we were both living in E.L.A. at the time, don't remember where I met him at, but anyway after we met I would pick him up at home since he was to young to drive and we would drive over to his trainer's house, his trainer Art Arviso, not sure of the spelling on Art's last name, Art had like lots of trainer back then a gym in his backyard, I train there with them only about 4-6 months.

Danny went on to turn pro and fought Davey Moore for the featherweight title in 1961, Danny was a very good fighter, but Davey Moore was a monster.

**kikibalt** · 02-22-2008, 01:15 AM

Caption by Hap Navarro

Fabela Chavez is getting his final check as a pro after losing a decision to Juan Luis Campos at the Hollywood Legion in March 1954.Trouble is, he "unretired" and came back to fight three more times, away from me. He had boxed my opening show at Bakersfield (Not in the record book) and we became kinda close friends. he had promised I would promote his last fight and we planned a big celebration for it but it was all for nothing when he decided to come back, the Legion Stadium manager, Jesse Smith, is handing Fabela his check (I had my hand out just in case, you know? (lol)

**kikibalt** · 02-22-2008, 01:19 AM

I received this and other photos from my good friend Hap Navarro

This photo of Hap (L) and Enrique Bolanos was taken at the Mexican Sports Writer banquet held in 1951 at the Club El Sarape, on west Sunset Blvd. Hap was the emcee that night and handed out awards to bert Colima, Manuel Oritz, Baby Arizmendi, Art Aragon and Enrique. It was the first time Mexican boxers had ever been honored that way....through popular voting in the Mexican newspaper La Opinion.

**kikibalt** · 02-22-2008, 01:29 PM

Caption by Hap Navarro

This shot is at the Moose Gym, top of Angel's Flight (after the Main St, Gym burned down) and it shows me, Luis Magana, and Enrique Bolanos, Enrique was passing by when he saw the photographer setting up to shoot Luis and me, so he smile and said "Me too" and squatted down to be in the picture. The picture we are looking at on the table is Abel Fernandez.

**kikibalt** · 02-22-2008, 06:40 PM

Yaqui Lopez

**kikibalt** · 02-22-2008, 11:27 PM

Caption by Hap Navarro

This is a historic picture because Jose Napoles had not set foot in the U.S.A when it was taken.It's 1968 and we are all gathered for dinner at Carminas in Mexicali.George Parnassus had come down to pick up Napoles after he flew in from Mexico city. George and his chauffeur at the time, Lauro Salas had stoped at my place of business in Calexico and asked me to attend the dinner. I was tired and I didn't want to go. but then Lauro phoned me and asked me to please go because Parnassus wanted me there. So I went but I had already had dinner. Ruben Navarro had also made the trip down with George and Lauro. All of the Mexicali press (about 15) were there because Napoles was hot copy for them, of course.

**kikibalt** · 03-02-2008, 10:15 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=clXu8Vy26vU&feature=related

**kikibalt** · 03-02-2008, 10:19 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6RqmM6c19T4

**kikibalt** · 03-08-2008, 08:58 AM

Rick Farris and Johnny Flores.
At Flores's Gym...1965

Photo courtesy of Rick Farris

**Sharkey** · 03-13-2008, 06:52 PM

Hey Frank, you ever meet Lauro Salas?

**kikibalt** · 03-13-2008, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Sharkey

Hey Frank, you ever meet Lauro Salas?

Yes a few times, I used to see him at the gym and I seen him fight live maybe about ten-12 times, I still remember his big fights vs Art Aragon/Jimmy Carter, plus he fought all the top LW's/FW's fighters of his era.

**Sharkey** · 03-13-2008, 08:50 PM

What a fighting face huh? That scar tissue had to be from that stuff they used to smear all over fighters faces that had the metal in it. Monsell's. (sp?)

**kikibalt** · 03-13-2008, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by Sharkey

What a fighting face huh? That scar tissue had to be from that stuff they used to smear all over fighters faces that had the metal in it. Monsell's. (sp?)

Shark,

You know when Salas was fight they used to use 6 oz. gloves, that might have something to do with the scar tissue,

I just got my hands on some of Art Aragon (4) and Manuel Ortiz (1) fights and seening them fight with 6 oz. gloves, well, it is just not the same now days.

**Sharkey** · 03-14-2008, 09:35 AM

Good point.

**kikibalt** · 03-24-2008, 08:30 PM

Thread: History of California Boxing in Photos

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