History of California Boxing in Photos

[dongee]

Hi, Kiki:

Yes, Chucho was a likable sort, always upbeat; although he couldn't break into the big time in boxing he amazed all of us when he outfought a ranking classy boxer, Jesse Flores, and even dropped his man a few times in their meeting.

I have either two or three of his recordings, and when I locate them I'll post the titles in case someone is interested in obtaining them. It's crazy that I don't have some things that I had last year, but I hold on to stuff I picked up 50 years ago!

And yes again, Kiki, that is in fact Jimmy Fitten, the man who brought Enrirque Bolanos to California around 1943. The other fighter looks somewhat like Kid Filipino, a Mexican welterweight of limited abilities.

Incidentallly, Paulino Montes, whose picture appears at the head of this page. was really Jesus Porfirio Lopez Ruiz. As a 12-year-old door-to-door menudo salesman he called at the home of Oscar Romo, Sonora's leading fight manager hoping to make a sale. Impressed by the kid, Romo began to school him in the sweet science. That's how Paulino Montes the boxer got his start.

He was popular in L.A. for a short time, mainly because he had a respectable punch. Martin Zuniga, a fine feather who had boxed under the management of George Blake in the early 1930s, booked the lad in the U.S. Montes was very slow afoot for a lightweight, so he did not go far in his local campaign.

Sadly, he met the same fate that so many old-time boxers suffer when they give in to alcohol. Paulino was struck down by a car while crossing the street in his hometown of Hermosillo, Sonora, on June 10, 1976. He was only 49 years old at the time.

regards

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[kikibalt]

Yea! MENUDO, breakfast of CHAMPIONS!!!

[dongee]

It must be said, in all fairness, that during Paulino Montes' campaign in our L.A. midst his behavior was exemplary at all times. Quietly polite, he deservedly became a Latino fan favorite.

His alleged alcoholism was reported on page 146 of Jesus A. Llanes "History of Boxing in Sonora" which was published in 1994. The author is the son of former Sonora boxer Chucho Llanes and nephew of Memo Llanes, both of whom were managed in the U.S. by ex-Hollywood Legion matchmaker Von Stumme.

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=6RT-Xv-MkNQ

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=9fHl3FLPrUE

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KING TUT (AKA HENRY TUTTLE), UNIDENTIFIED, STAN LORYZO & JIMMY HILL...1927

[dongee]

Kiki:

You're a slick one, buddy. I bet you could produce the Hope Diamond if someone wanted it enough!

As far as I know, J.J. Johnston and I are the only ones who have a copy of that historic shot which was taken sometime in the early 1920s.

It is the press row during fight night at Hollywood Legion Stadium, which was just a wooden shack in those days. That was before the working press took up all the press row seats, which used to be the sole domain of Legion big shots and movie celebrities, like Charlie Chaplin, Ruth Roland, Shirley Mason Philo McCullough and the Foy family.

Seated at the far left is oldster Theodore Roberts, my personal Legion hero, and the man mainly responsible for the Legion Stadium's existence.

It was Roberts who put on a show called "In old Arizona" with all proceeds destined for the improvements of the Legion building, at El Centro Ave. near Hollywood boulevard. He was the granddaddy of what was to become one of the most celebrated boxing stadiums in the country. There came a time later on when the two most famous fight clubs in the U.S. were Madison Square Garden and Hollywood Legion Stadium, east and west, and for entirely different reasons.

Someday soon, hopefully, I'll write the history of the Legion Stadium in book form, with illustrations, although two or three attempts have already been made but just in feature article form. Because I knew and dealt with six of the eight matchmakers in the club's history, that qualifies me somewhat. We'll see.

I sent that shot to Dan Cuocco, of IBRO, which is the last group to have used the photo in their journal.

The original picture belonged to Eddie Foy, who presented J.J. Johnston with a copy, and J.J. then sent me one. Historically unique photo.

regards

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[kikibalt]

Hap;
Thanks, I hope you don't mind me picking your brain on some of this old photos which were before my time, again thanks.

KiKi

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[dongee]

Frank:

The black program cover shows Golden Gloves featherweight champion Al Cruz in one of his early pro fights in the center of the Legion ring.

I designed the program covers for three of the 1950s programs and the story in that particular cover is that we had a dozen pictures taken on request of the Stadium board of directors, who were to decide on the ultimate choice for publication.

I battled my conscience after they got together and selected a photo I thought was all wrong for the programs. So I made my own decision as to which was best and set their choice aside. That was the result. No one on the board even complained that their selection was not used. I was young and full of vinegar, and took chances on getting reprimanded, but the board was always good and fair with me.

Just a memory.

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[kikibalt]

Thanks Hap; don't know what I would do without you.

I was around back in those years, but I was just a young guy more interesting in girls then boxing, that not to say that I didn't go to the fights, I did, but after the fights it was the girls that would have my attention.

[dongee]

Kiki:

One of the joys of lliving long and soaking up history is the experience of finding anyone who is interested enough to want to her or read what one has to say or write.......the least any oldster can do is try to share some of what he has seen along life's journey.

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