Louie Burke's New Mexico Boxing Update

By Louie Burke


This weekend in Monterrey, Mexico was a success, we were blessed that the opponents weren’t much and David and Abie came away with victories. Abie’s opponent was supposed to be a little tougher than he proved to be and Davids opponent, Daniel Bispo had a problem with the body blows that David dished out. David ended up catching Bispo with a left hook to the head, dropping him.Then the end came with a barrage of punches causing the ref to put a halt to the fight in the second round. David now feels he’s ready to step it up and test his KO power against some stiffer competition and names we recognize. I feel confident that he’s more than ready for the task.

Abie made short work (60 sec.)of his guy, dropping him with a straight right after hitting him with a crushing left hook to the body, moments before. This opens the door for Abie and hopefully will give him the chance to fight soon for the Asian/Pacific title. Winning this title would give Abie a top 15 ranking with the WBC.

Austin is in good ole Youngstown, Ohio, home to great champs like Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini ,Harry Arroyo, and Kelly Pavlik. Since the Japs are avoiding him, we decided to send him to spar with Kelly Pavlik helping him prepare for the Martinez fight, scheduled April 17^th. . This is the best way for "No doubt" to stay motivated and get some good solid work and sparring, while we wait to find out when and where were going to fight Nobuhiro Ishida.

We're proud of David Pena and Tim Meek for their Golden Glove wins in Clovis this weekend!  Also, proud of Hecter Carrete and Ayana Vasquez for their hard work and good efforts. .

Siju Shabazz and I will be going to Baku, Azerbaijan March 8^th for the first event put on by the World Series of Boxing. Siju has committed to the new organization and I was lucky and blessed to be selected as a coach representing the U.S. My understanding is that I’ll also be involved in the training of fighters from other parts of the world.  This will be an exciting challange I'll look forward to.

Last but not least, I want to thank Larry Clark and Dona Ana Boxing for their help and assistance in helping these kids get ready buy allowing us to use their beautiful facility!

"Where Champions Die Together?" . . .

By Rick Farris


Last October, I stepped up to the stage with WBHOF President, Armando Muniz.
It was the 30th annual WBHOF Banquet of Champions, and Mando and I were going to honor an L.A. boxing legend, Frank Baltazar.
I'd be up there three times that night, but this was the award I most looked forward to.

As I stepped up to the platform my eyes drifted to the WBHOF banner, which was mounted on the wall behind the podium.
"Where Champions Live For Ever", is the slogan on the WBHOF logo. I smiled inside, "Yes, from now on we'll honor them properly."

That was a goal, and the first thing that needed addressing was the event program, and the ballot.
Both had been published with innacurate spelling and typos in both common words and legendary names.
For years, nobody did a thing about it. I was amazed. Even more amazing was the program, which is archived in both State and Federal museums.

When I joined the group, I told them I had historical knowledge, and the contacts to find out anything I did not know.
In 2007, the year Dan Hanley and I began interviewing legends on camera, I noticed something was off when looking over the honor roll.
Jimmy Lennon Jr.'s name was listed as an inductee in the "Announcers & Broadcasters" catagory. However, there was no Jimmy Lennon Sr.
No cut on Jimmy Jr., but his Dad is a true legend, one of the greatest ring announcers ever. I knew the old man was in, but where was he?

I then noticed Jack Blackburn (Louis' trainer) was in, but as "Mack" Blackburn. Where was Charlie Goldman (The Rock's trainer)? Teddy Hayes (Dempsey's trainer)? And how come Tommy Burns was inducted twice, the 2nd time seven years after the first? I learned that after a legend was inducted, nobody paid close attention to maintaining the "honor roll". Jake Shagrue was another missing trainer, and the list goes on. Almost three dozen WBHOF inductees, from several catagories, were not listed in the program.

I made some noise. Nobody could hear me however, because the Vice President at the time was too busy shouting.
They were trying to figure out why tens of thousands of dollars was missing. It seems the treasurer had gotten confused.
How am I going to fix the problem with all the noise and commotion that took place at the board meetings?
The 2008 program was the same rag as always, and nobody cared. These guys didn't know boxing, they were fans at best.
Well, a few of them were ousted, and I went to work with the help of some "silent" historians.
These men wished to remain anonymous, but one was not only an L.A. boxing legend in his own right, but a former WBHOF director.
He knew the organization better than those running it today.
I dug up names, and they added to those names with documentation, such as ancient programs that had accurate lists.

With the help of Dan Hanley & John Bardelli (who re-edted my editing), we were able to put out the first historically correct WBHOF Program in many years.
The 2009 edition (The 30th year) reflected the grammar and spelling of a former English teacher/Attorney (Bardelli), the cover was graced by a Roger Esty original abstract painting, and although no major names joined the Honor Roll last year in the boxer catagory, in the post humous boxer catagory, the first black world champ in history, George Dixon, was finally honored nearly a century after his death. Ad Wolgast was reunited with Barbados Joe Walcott as they re-joined other legends that had also been inducted years ago, yet dropped off the list. I must credit Tom Ray for putting me on the trail of this mystery. Tom is a true historian, he has been a part of boxing in the ring, not just libraries. And there was Randy De La O, who put together a brilliant collage of photos, and created the greatest production covering the WBHOF event on YouTube.

I personally felt proud to have our friend, Chuck Johnston (A real boxing historian), join us at our table. All of these things were going thru my mind as I took the stage.

"Where Champions Live Forever." I was kinda proud of those words, and felt our group had contributed to this in 2009.
The ballot was the only embarrassing element related to the 2009 event. I should have paid more attention to it before it went out.
I was focusing on finding the missing legends and when I first saw the ballot I was speechless. Now I really had to make the program correct.
Mando and I agreed to change the printer for the 2010 ballot, and to allow myself, Dan Hanley and John Bardelli "proof read" it before it was printed and mailed.
The printer was not changed, I guess he was a personal friend of somebody. The copy was not forwarded to be edited.
It was decided that an inaccurate ballot mailed on time, was better than waiting a couple days for editing. So to Hell with history.

When boxers are not accuratley represented, how can people remember them? To be forgotten or disrespected is when a legend truly dies.
My idea of a World Boxing Hall of Fame is a celebration, not a funeral.
I want to thank everybody here who has contributed to the WBHOF by assisting me in attempting to make things right.

Gillette Cavalcade of Sports - Friday Night Fights

The introduction to the Don Jordan vs Lahouari Godhi, August 29, 1958, Madison Square Garden, NY. Jordan wins by 10 round decision.

Vintage Hamm's Beer Commercial

Gillette’s Friday Night Fights and Boxing in the 1950's

Chico Vejar

By Randy De La O

I still remember watching the Friday Night Fights with my father back in the 1950’s. It was a ritual for my father. I remember the old beer commercials and the company that my father had at the house when we watched the fights, usually my uncle Gilbert and uncle Jimmy. I was young but I clearly remember. I didn’t know who was fighting but I just loved being there with my dad. I would ask my father “Who are you voting for?” he would laugh and say “You don’t vote for the fighters, son”. I didn’t quite get it yet. Sometimes I would see what appeared to be an opening and yell out to my father “How come he didn’t throw a punch” His answer was almost always. “It’s a lot harder to see those things when you’re in the ring”. I would run around the house throwing punches at imaginary opponents. I wanted to be a boxer. My father had some old leather boxing gloves and a speed bag in the garage. I would punch away at the bag without any real knowledge of what I was doing. I just wanted to feel like a boxer.

When I was older I came to understand that the 1950’s was one of the greatest era in boxing and some of the best fighters of that time would appear on Friday nights. Guys like Sugar Ray Robinson and Carmen Basilio, Chuck Davey, Chico Vejar, Kid Gavilan, Gene Fullmer, Johnny Saxton, Tony DeMarco, Charlie Powell and so many more that I would never be able to mention them all. It was a “Golden Age” for boxing. I was lucky enough to be born at a time when I can still remember it. A little fuzzy perhaps because I was so young but still I remember those nights in our small front room in Santa Fe Springs, California, watching the fights, my father and uncles standing and yelling at the television, their hands swinging away, beer cans in their hands, hoping to be heard by their favorite fighter. Those were special days.

Charlie Powell vs Mike DeJohn, November 6, 1959, Syracuse, New York

DeJohn KO's Powell in the first round

Sugar Ray Robinson vs Carmen Baslio, September 23, 1957, Yankee Stadium, NY

I’m not a 100% sure if this fight between Sugar Ray Robinson and Carmen Basilio was shown on the Friday Night Fights but I’m reasonably sure it was, either way it fits in perfectly with what I’m trying to say, the 1950’s was an unmatchable and remarkable era for boxing. The above video shows highlights of their September 23, 1957 fight at the Yankee Stadium, a fight won by Basilio via a 15 round hard fought split decision. Both men were still doing their best to win the fight when the final bell sounded. I can’t think of a more difficult fight to judge.

This Rocky Marciano-Hamm’s beer commercial is vintage 1950’s and early 1960’s and I can remember the Hamm’s commercial with the native drumbeats, to this day.

Erik Morales Returns to the Ring

The Main Street Gym, Angel's Flight and "Kiss Me Deadly"

I was kicking back this morning with a hot cup of coffee looking for something good on TV and as I was changing the channel I ran across this scene from the old Main Street Gym in Los Angeles from the Film Noir movie "Kiss Me Deadly"a 1955 movie starring Ralph Meeker as P.I. Mike Hammer. It was short scene but I'm always on the lookout for anything regarding the old gym. The movie itself wasn't much to talk about and I watched only because I thought they might show the gym again. They didn't.

Ralph Meeker (R) at the Main Street Gym from "Kiss me Deadly" (1955)

Also making a brief appearance in the movie was Downtown Los Angeles' famed "Angel's Flight"

"Kiss Me Deadly" on IMDB.com

Happy St. Paddy's Day

A tip of the hat to the Irish on St. Patricks day.

Mickey Walker, perhaps the most quintessential of Irish fighters.

Mickey Walker vs Tommy Milligan

Post Fight Interview With Manny Pacquiao

It's interesting to note that Pacquiao has a shiner on his right eye. Evidence that Joshua Clottey did at least throw some punches just not enough. Pacquiao also states how difficult this fight with Clottey was.

Manny Pacquiao Vs Joshua Clottey

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 13: (R-L) Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines throws a left to the body of Joshua Clottey of Ghana during the WBO welterweight title fight at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. Pacquiao defeated Clottey by unanimous decision. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

By Randy De La O


Starting today and for the rest of his life Joshua Clottey will be asking himself “Why didn‘t I? Why didn’t I listen to my corner man. Why didn’t I get mad? Why didn’t I throw more punches? Why didn’t I even Friggin try? He will relive the moment and create scenarios where he actually fights back and then he will open his eyes and finds that nothing has changed. As is usually the case in boxing he will find that he has no one to blame but himself. Oh, he might try. He’ll fire this guy or that guy but still, but nothing will have changed. It will always come down to this: Clottey never took a risk, never took a chance on victory, and therein lies the rub-you have to actually throw punches to win a fight.

The most frustrating thing about Saturday night’s fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey is that he was actually capable of winning this fight and if not win, at least capable of making a great fight. It comes down to this: It’s not that he couldn’t he just wouldn’t. I hope he can live with that.

I think I am finally prepared to place Manny Pacquiao within the Pantheon of Boxing’s greats. He deserves to be mentioned with Boxing’s greatests: with the Duran’s, the Chavez’, the Armstrong’s, the Sugars, both Robinson and Leonard. He truly is a phenomenal fighter. He is a timeless warrior and could have fought in any era. If that wasn’t plain for me to see before it is plainly visible to me today.

Pacquiao had before him a legitimately strong welterweight and a worthy challenger. A former champion that was still in the mix. Pacquiao reduced him to a man willing just to survive. Clottey had a tight defense, a sort of peek-a-boo, middle of the ring rope-a-dope. It took Manny a few rounds to figure him out. When he did he turned on the Pacquiao machine and went to work on Clottey’s body, finding the right angle and landing the right hand just below the rib cage. As Teddy Atlas likes to say “he was collecting interest, he was making an investment in his future” . Pacquiao never stopped throwing punches and while Clottey did have a few moments where he could actually break through Pacquiao’s defense, he was just too timid or overwhelmed, by the amount of punches being thrown at him.

The fight was a great showcase for Pacquiao in everyway. It was a chance to see a Zen Master at work. That alone was (more or less) worth the money, but it was not a great fight. For that you need two willing participants. My hope? My hope is that on May 1 of this year Sugar Shane Mosley knocks out Floyd Mayweather Jr in spectacular fashion thereby setting up a fight with Manny Pacquiao. Manny and Shane are cut from the same cloth. What stirs these two warriors is not the money. It’s the love of the game and that’s where true greatness lies.

Highlights of the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight

Paquiao vs Clottey Undercard

The fight at the Cowboys Stadium, Dallas Texas will be shown on HBO Pay Per View and has a dynamite undercard.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey (WBO welterweight championship)
Humberto Soto vs. David Diaz (WBC lightweight championship)
Alfonso Gomez vs. Jose Luis Castillo (welterweight)
John Duddy vs. Michael Medina (middleweight)
Salvador Sanchez vs. Jaime Villa (featherweight)
Roberto Marroquin vs. TBA (junior featherweight)
Michael Farenas vs. Joe Morales (featherweight)
Eden Sonsona vs. Mauricio Pastrana (junior featherweight)
Rodrigo Garcia vs. Noe Hernandez (junior middleweight)
Alex Trevino vs. Isaac Hidalgo (featherweight)

Manny Pacquiao Vs Joshua Clottey

Manny Pacquiao Vs Joshua Clottey Live stream
Originally uploaded by santinonoc

By Randy De La O

Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey fight tonight for Pacquiao’s WBO Welterweight title, at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Conventional wisdom says Pacquiao should win this fight and he probably will but as my father used to say “There’s no such thing as a sure thing”. Despite losing to Miguel Cotto in his last fight - losing a split decision that some felt should have gone his way - Clottey is a real fighter and not some “tomato can” brought in to fill the bill.

I’m not quite a true believer in Manny Pacquiao just yet.. Yeah, I know everybody thinks Pacquiao is the greatest thing since sliced bread but as far as I’m concerned he’s a good fighter with an impeccable sense of timing when it comes to selecting opponents. Don’t take my word for it, it’s in the record book. Clottey may just be the first real opponent that Pacquiao faces that doesn’t come in with some type of handicap, the exception being Juan Manuel Marquez. Though Clottey himself is no spring chicken, he seems to be in his physical prime and poses a real threat to Pacquiao. I’m not predicting an upset but I won’t be 100% surprised if there is one. Think Buster Douglas.

Still, having said that, Pacquiao will be a tough nut to crack. Clottey with 20 KO’s out of 39 fights is a good but not devastating puncher and though he is reasonably quick he comes nowhere near Pacquiao when it comes to speed. He will have to find some way to impose his will on Pacquiao and at this point I’m not sure he can do that.

Pacquiao has been given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the drug testing fiasco between him and Floyd Mayweather but as far as I’m concerned he is equally culpable. All he had to do was say “Okay”. It’s easy to question Mayweather’s motives for asking for the Olympic style drug testing because , let’s face it, nobody really likes Mayweather. He’s the “bad guy” in almost every one of his fights, as opposed to Manny, who is almost always the crowd favorite. As far as I’m concerned Pacquiao’s motive for refusing to be tested are just as questionable.

Clottey has proven himself to be a tough, durable fighter and has gone the distance with a couple of good fighters. I figure he’ll make it to the final bell tonight in a losing effort but I’ll be pulling for an upset. Boxing needs another shot in the arm.

Louie Burke's New Mexico Boxing Update

By Louie Burke

Like starting up a freight train from a complete stop, getting Austin and Abie fights this year has been slow, but hopefully will gain momentum as did a very productive 2009. Austin’s #1 world ranking with the WBA has been bitter sweet. Austin loves activity and will fight on a drop of a hat, but his activity level has been crippled due to the slow process of trying to pin down a fight with the Japanese, Nobuhiro Ishida, the WBA interim champ.

Our understanding was the winner of this fight would fight the winner between Foreman/Cotto. It’s been made clear to Austins management that he cannot take a "tune-up" without the possibility of losing his number #1 ranking. The frustration is that we were told the fight would be in January, then the end of February, then March, then April, now it’s supposed to be May 8th ! How in the hell do you prepare! The B.S. of boxing; nothing can be done about it but be ready right? Right! And he will be!

Abie Han will be fighting in Monterrey, Mex., March 27th against veteran Ulises Duarte, 19-21-1 on the Erik Morales/Jose Alfaro card which will be televised iNDEMAND. As always Abie is preparing hard for this figh, at this time we don’t know much about Duarte. Abies looking good in the gym after shaking off the holiday cobwebs.

We were extremely disappointed that Golden Boy wouldn’t put Abie on the Escalante show. Abie and his sister Jennifer are ticket sellers in El Paso and we were willing to give up weight and experience to get them on the card, but to no avail. Again the B.S. of boxing.
2010 should be a breakout year for Abie, there are several good fighters in New Mexico and Colorado, at or around Abie’s weight that would be barn burner fights if the matches can be made. In order to get such fights, Abie is willing to give up a little weight and a lot of experience. As long as he stays healthy, I’m looking for him to have a great year.

David Rodriguez is back on track, fighting Daniel Bispo, 22-12 on the same card in Monterrey that Abie is fighting on. David had some action packed fights last year against Manual Pucheta and Robert Davis, but was derailed when he had to handle some personal issues, including the death of his sister. He’s promised me that he will stay focused this year and will stay busy, which will enable him to secure a big fight. "Stay true to the dream"

A huge thanks for the miniature handcrafted glove that Jerry Martinez and the o’le school Roswell Pugs, gave my brother, Rocky and Myself, keep up the good work!