Classic Photo: Rick Farris vs Jose Mendoza

Jose Mendoza (left) vs. Rick Farris

The Forum - 1972

"Mel Epstein & Johnny Villaflor were in my corner. I was 20. Referee was Dick Young. The fight was televised in L.A. on KTLA Ch-5. We had a war. I got the decision. Two nights earlier, my pal actor Reb Brown, carried me out of a bar (I was too young to drink but they served me anyway) and tossed me into the back of his van.
In those days Reb Brown was known as Bob Brown, a former USC running back and amateur boxer with the Johnny Flores stable.

The next day I was a no-show at the Main Street Gym for a warm-up/loosen up session the day before the fight. I was paralyzed with the worst hangover I would ever experience. I would hear the phone ring and know it was either Mel Epstein or my girlfriend calling, no way was I going to answer. The next night I paid the price. What should have been an easy win, was a tough fight."

- Rick Farris

"Inside the Forum": Alfonso Zamora

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I found this gem at the Long Beach Coin, Stamps and Collectible Expo earlier this year. The title is "Inside the Forum", dated February 1975. It speaks briefly about  Mexico's Alfonso Zamora's upcoming bout with WBA bantamweight champ Soo-Hwan Hong of Korea, at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

Zamora would win the fight and the title with a fourth round knockout of Soo-Hwan Hong. The fight was scheduled for 15 rounds. The referee for the fight was George Latka. Zamora would run up a streak of eight wins, all by KO, including a win over future WBA featherweight Champ, Panamanian Eusebio Pedroza, stopping him in 2 rounds, and knocking out Soo-Hwan Hong in their rematch in October of 1976.

In April of 1977, 34 years ago this month, Zamora would meet fellow Mexican knockout sensation, WBC Champion, Carlos Zarate, in what would be labeled, the "Battle of the Z Boys". It would be a 10 round non-title fight. the fight would take place at the Forum. The referee was Richard Steele. Both fighters were extremely popular and had their own following.Zamora would end up being stopped by Zarate when his father threw the towel in the ring, thereby ending the fight.

Zamora would fight eight more times, including a KO by Jorge Lujan in his next fight, losing his WBA title, he would stop popular local favorite Alberto "Superfly" Sandoval in 8 rounds. He would have his last fight at the Olympic Auditorium with Rigoberto Estrada, getting stopped in the 3rd round.