Classic West Coast Photos

Many thanks to Pat Ruggiero for sending me these classic old photos. Pat was one of the trainers from the old Main Street Gym in Los Angeles and learned his craft from veteran trainer and manager Ralph Gambina. Pat worked with Middleweight Mike Nixon and featherweight David Sotelo

Ralph Gambina and Heavyweight John Baca at 

the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles, California

Pat Ruggiero and Ralph Gambina

Middleweight Mike Nixon, Pat Ruggiero, Sugar Ray Robinson and 

Ralph Gambina at the Main Street Gym, Los Angeles, California

Sylvester Stallone and Pat Ruggiero at the 

Main Street Gym during the filming of Rocky in 1976

Pat Ruggiero and Bobby Chacon

Al Silvani, Frank Sinatra, Hank Sanicola, 

Ralph Gambina and Cisco Andrade, 1950's

Pat Ruggerio working the corner of David Sotelo during Sotelo's
fight with Art Hafey, April 15, 1976 at the Olympic Auditorium

Classic Photos: Charley Norkus vs Charlie Powell

Charley Norkus vs Charlie Powell

October 6, 1954

Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California

Norkus by 7th Round KO.

A reporter asked what he thinks the outcome will be with the undefeated Powell. My father said that" Lefty ODoul would be wise to advertise on the bottom of Powells shoes". The fight was on National Television."      Charles Norkus Jr.

Rick Farris-Hall of Famer

Rodolfo Gonzales, Rick Farris and Mando Muniz

Rodolfo Gonzalez and Rick Farris

Rick Farris: I'm proud to say I knew him when. There is nothing that makes me happier than to see someone get their just rewards for all their hard work. That's what happened this past weekend when my old friend Rick Farris was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame-Class of 2010. As you can see from the photos, Rick is in good company. both Rodolfo Gonzales and Mando Muniz are Hall of Famers. As our old trainer, the late, great Mel Epstein would say "Rick is a deserving guy!" Congratulations Rick!

Hall of Fame Snapshots

The Cerda Family

Roger Esty and Tom Ray

Frank Baltazar Sr, Bobby Chacon and Danny "Little Red" Lopez

Ed Hernandez, Tom Ray, Randy De La O, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Rick Farris and Frankie Baltazar

Classic Photos

The photos and captions are courtesy of Rick Farris

(Photo by Theo Ehret)

Jose "Manteqilla" Napoles vs. Emile Griffith

The Forum - October 17, 1969

This one is for Roger Esty. . .

Undisputed welterweight champ Jose Napoles scored a unanimous fifteen round decision over former champ Emile Griffith at the Forum. Griffith was down in the third round.

(Photo by Theo Ehert)

Bobby Chacon vs. Turi Pineda

February 15, 1973 - Olympic Auditorium

Jack Dempsey & Charlie Chaplin

The photo was taken at the Charlie Chaplin Studios on La Brea Ave. Hollywood. For more than half a century, it has been home to A&M Records. Dempsey lived in the neighborhood, a few miles away, in the Los Feliz area below Griffith Park.

Classic Photo: Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth

Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth

Belmont Hotel, Day after Firpo fight, September 15, 1923

My wife Jeri and I stopped at an antique store earlier today and I found this classic photo of Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth. Naturally I had to get it.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Photo

Click on the photo for a larger view

My daughter Meranda (right) and her friend Jesse were in Las Vegas recently and ran into Floyd Mayweather Jr. According to her he was a pretty nice guy and a perfect gentleman. Score one for Mayweather for being nice to my daughter.

Courtesy of ESPN Boxing

From left, boxers Sergio Mora, Joel Casamayor, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Vernon Forrest pose together after a news conference Monday, Sept. 8, 2008. Casamayor and Marquez will meet in a lightweight bout Saturday in Las Vegas. Mora and Forrest are scheduled to meet in a junior middleweight bout. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

More on Last Nights Fights

Showtime Boxing

Clinton Woods grimaces during an exchange with Antonio Tarver

Antonio Tarver connects with a left hook on Clinton Woods

Glen Johnson catches Chad Dawson with a right hand

Chad Dawson landing a right hand of his own on Glen Johnson

HBO Boxing

This was the story last night- Miguel Cotto Landing almost everything he threw at Alfonso Gomez

A warrior goes down

Antonio Maragarito's total breakdown, both physically and Psychologically of Kermit Cintron.

Kermit Cintron getting the worst of an exchange of jabs

More Photos of the Late Art Aragon

Art Aragon and Joey Olmos...12-14-2007

Art Aragon with Marilyn Monroe, Mickey Rooney and Dale Robertson

Art Aragon, Marilyn Monroe and Mickey Rooney

Photos: Larry Soto, Johnny Flores and a Young Rick Farris

The bottom photo is of Rick Farris and Johnny Flores at Flores' Gym...1965. The two upper photos are with Referee Rudy Jordan, Julio Flores, Johnny Flores and Larry Soto. All of them were part of the Los Angeles Boxing scene for years. All the photos are courtesy of Frank Baltazar Sr.

Rick Farris' professional career record can be found here at Boxrec.com

Vasquez vs Marquez III Photos

All photos courtesy of Alex Stapleton and Showtime Networks Inc.

Vasquez consistently landed the counter right hand on Marquez

Marquez knocks down Vasquez in the fourth round

Marquez lands his own right hand on Vasquez

Vasquez clinches the deal with a 12th round knockdown of Marquez

Vasquez celebrates his victory over Marquez at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California' March 1st, 2008

The Aftermath

Rafael Marquez vs Israel Vasquez III

All Photos and Videos Courtesy of Showtime and Alex Stapleton.

I expect the upcoming fight between Marquez and Vasquez to be every bit as exciting as the first two. I'll be ringside for this fight. I like both fighters. Each has proven themselves to be warriors in the ring and (in my opinion) one of the reasons that boxing will continue to thrive despite current rumors to the contrary. May the best man win. Much thanks to Alex Stapleton and Showtime Networks Inc. for the use of the photos and the videos. Here's hoping for a great fight!

The final chapter of boxing's best trilogy airs live March 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT...Only on SHOWTIME!

The non-stop, two-way action lasted for seven full rounds (March 2007, Carson, Calif.)

The first was an old-school, classic slugfest. Vazquez (L) absorbs a wicked right cross from Marquez.

''The classic shootout featured a relentless pace, two-way dramatic action, blood, a knockdown, high skill level and a touch of controversy.'' ESPN

Rick Farris and Frank Baltazar Sr.

Former Los Angeles Area Boxer turned writer and boxing historian Rick Farris and Recent California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Frank Baltazar Sr.