[Previous entry: "Manager of Al "Speedy" Gonzales Files Protest IL State Athletic Commission"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Gardner Picks Perez Apart over 10"]
06/24/2004 Archived Entry: "Former Champion Gonzalez, Reflects on Passing of President Reagan"
Former Champion, Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez, Reflects on Passing of President Reagan
By Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez
It has been a sad couple of days for me with the passing of Ronald Reagan, a great President who was a special friend of mine.
Back in the 60's when he was running for the governor of the state of California, I was asked by my "Uncle" Felix who was a strong supporter of his to help in his campaign. At the time, I didn't know how to read or write or for that matter I couldn't even speak more than a few words of English. My only asset was that I had an outstanding boxing record and most of the Hispanic population knew me. My "Uncle" told me that Mr. Reagan was a very honest person and wanted to help the Mexican people in California, so took me to meet him.
Soon after I was going to public meetings and even rode in a convertible car in the Cinco de Mayo parade in East Los Angeles advertising to vote for Mr. Reagan for Governor. I had no idea how dangerous this would become. The majority of the Mexican population are Democrats. Possibly 85% of them believed in me and switched to vote Republican for Mr. Reagan. However, because of my active role I had two death threats, saying they were going to shoot me. I was advised to carry a weapon at all times and was armed with a loaded gun and loose bullets in my pocket. Despite all of this we got Ronald Reagan elected.
Rodolfo Gonzalez in his prime
Then in 1967, my "Uncle" discovered that I had signed a contract with my manager for 7 years. When he told me what I had signed I told him that was wrong. I had been told by my manager that I was signing a contract for only one year. Furthermore, my manager arranged for me to fight with top world contenders and I was only paid $65 and another time when I fought at the Ceasar’s Palace in Las Vegas I was only paid $300. This angered my "Uncle" and he got in contact with Governor Reagan who sent his top representative, Mr. Nielsen to help me. We went to court and he got me free of this manager. In fact, he had his license revoked.
Later, I helped with Mr. Reagan’s presidential campaign and became a member of his Presidential Task Force. For all of my efforts and for the danger that I endured I was honored with my name on "The Wall" in Washington along with others next to the name of President Reagan.
After he was elected President, there was a banquet at the Disneyland Hotel honoring the California World Boxing Champions--Mr. Reagan was informed of this and sent a telegram to the hotel to congratulate all of us. The Master of Ceremonies read it to the audience.
As I said, to me, he was a great president and a friend and may he rest in peace. I know he is in heaven with our beautiful God where he belongs.
EDITORS NOTE: Rodolfo “Gato” Gonzalez (81-7-1, 71 KO's) is a former WBC Lightweight Champion of the World and a regular poster at the Cyber Boxing Zone in the "Old Timer's" section. For more information on him, see:
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/gonzalez_gato.htm
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/w0502-dh.html
http://p068.ezboard.com/fcyberboxingzonefrm3.showMessage?topicID=427.topic
