Revisiting the Main Street Gym Site

Click Photo For a Larger Image

Click Photo For a Larger Image

My wife and I were in Downtown Los Angeles recently and I thought I would I visit the site of the old Main Street Gym on Main St, between 3rd and 4th streets, for old times sake. It's been gone quite a while, having been razed in the mid 1980's, but it is still remembered fondly by west coast boxing fans and by those who trained there. Some of the best fighters of the past trained at the gym. Countless movies and television shows were filmed here, including the first the "Rocky" with Sylvester Stallone, in 1976, and at least two of the sequels, as well as countless other movies and television shows. Some of the best fighters of the past trained at the gym.

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

It Happened in California

This article is from 1981 and is a time capsule of boxing in Los Angeles in the early eighties. Many of the fighters mentioned in this article are the fighters we love to write about. It's a bit long but I think you'll enjoy it. Courtesy of Bigtimefighter.com. Randy

It Happened in California

By: Jess Hernandez

Boxing fans are a special kind of breed. They are totally dedicated to the manly art of self defense. The fact is many fans carry their love of the sport too far and extreme. Some fans love to argue who was the greatest fighter of all-time. Some who visit the Main St. Gym in Los Angeles even carry a boxing encyclopedia who backup their knowledge of the sport. The gymnasium is the place where old timer's argue about the fistic merits of yesterday and today's ringmen. "Was Joe Louis the greatest fighter of all-" hollers 75 year old Duke
Holloway. Holloway trained Archie Moore, Harold Dade and Sugar Ray Robinson. "No, Louis wasn't the greatest, Sugar Ray Robinson was the.best of all-time" whispers old timer Rip. Rip is the doorman at the Main St. Gym.

When discussing the greatest Mexican fighter of all time inside the gym a guy needs a security guard for protection. In the back room of the gym guys like Frank Williams and Bob Armstrong reply that Manuel Ortiz was the greatest. "Ortiz could do it all, he could box, punch and had plenty of durability. Hell, he was bantamweight champion for eight years," replied Frank Williams. If Ortiz was the best fighter of Mexican descent then who was the second best? "I would nominate Baby Arizmendi as the second best. He beat Henry Armstrong three times and fought guys like Lou Ambers, Sammy Angott, Mike Belloise. He was N.B.A.
featherweight champ in 1934," said manager Larry Soto. Soto trained Jose Becerra to bantamweight crown and also worked with Battling Torres.

The subject that comes up frequently inside a gymnasium is the subject of good trainers. One of the outstanding trainers in Los Angeles is Al DeNava. "I look for coordination and execution in a fighter. A fighter can punch hard but he needs coordination and execution to put it all together, said DeNava. Like I said, boxing fans are a special kind of breed. They will fight and argue all day about who was the best. But they are also good sports and will shake hands when all the arguments are over! Managing good fighters can sometimes be just a streak of good luck. Like being at the right place at right time. Manager Bennie Georgino seems to have been at the right place when Howie Steindler died in 1976. Georgino inherited featherweight champ Danny Lopez. It wasn't just luck that made Lopez a rich champion. It was the shrewd management of Georgino that
made Lopez a millionaire. Georgino seems to be one of the few pilots who cares what happens to his stable of ringmen when when they retire." I see to it that my fighters save their money don't let them waste it way," commented Bennie. Georgino has paid his dues to boxing. He was a pretty good amateur boxer in the 1930s and sparred with Lou Ambers when Herkimer Buzzsaw defended lightweight crown against Henry Armstrong in 1938. Georgino created some jealously because his fighters like Herman Kid Montes, Jaime Garza, Oscar Muniz, Rodrigo Aguirre, Johnny Montes are progressing. Right now, I would nominate Jaime Garza as the
ringman to inherit the prestige of retired Danny Lopez. Garza has the fire power to defeat any guy who gets in the ring with him. Jaime is the terror of the 126 pound class with 22 KOs in 24 fights. Garza is now after top notchers like Carlos Mendoza and Juan (Kid) Meza. Albert Davila seems to be just about ready to join his stablemate Danny Lopez in the retirement barn.

Hector Cortez the outstanding 130 pounder from Ecuador seems to come up with good fights when needed. He just whipped tough Rolando Navarette in Hawaii in 10 rounds. The victory could get Cortez at featherweight champ Salvador Sanchez who defended his title against Roberto Castanon in Las Vegas. Don Georgino promoted the Sanchez-Castanon for Five-Star Calvacade.

Have you ever noticed how many ex-fighters own cocktail bars? Georgie Levine who fought Pete Ado for welterweight diadem in 1927 has the popular Blackhawk Bar - in Hollywood. Georgie Latka the professor of boxing in the 30s and 40s has a bar in Huntington Beach, Calif. Tony DeMarco runs a bar in Phoenix, Arizona and Eddie Marcus who was a stablemate of Manuel Ortiz manages a cocktail bar in Las Vegas. Poor Bobby Chacon had two opponents pull out on him in fights in one week. That's one reason why so many fighters become discouraged and retire. There is too much inconsistency in getting fights and too many fighters get
injured while training. Frankie Duarte hasn't had a fight in over eight months and the minute he got a fight his opponent was hurt!

Heavyweight champ Larry Holmes maintains that this will be his last year in boxing. If Larry retires will he rate with Joe Louis and Muhammad All as an all-time champ. After all, Holmes appears to be within reach of being undefeated in his career.

Is Bazooka Limon a gentleman? Not if you ask manager Mickey Duff."Limon said he was going to kill my fighter Cornelius Boza Edwards. I was shocked by Limon's statement. But the threat backfired and my fighter won the title from Limon," replied Mickey Duff. Bobby Chacon wanted Limon to whip Edwards but it didn't happen. "I hope Limon wins so I can beat the hell out of him. I just want the chance to punish him. He's a discredit to our sport," said Chacon.

Bobby Chacon will get his long awaited shot at the world super lightweight title but it won't be against Bazooka Limon. The man Chacon will be fighting for the crown is unheralded Cornelius-Boza-Edwards who defeated Limon for the title in 15 exciting rounds in Stockton, Calif "I told Corny at the end, you've got him stay away from him, and he told me, no he was going to punch the hell out of him," said manager Mickey Duff. Bazooka Limon was knocked down in the fifth round by a lethal left hand. It appeared then that Limon would not weather
the storm of lefts and rights. But he got up determined to turn the tide of battle. Limon thought he had won the fight. "I felt that I carried the last three rounds and won the fight," Limon said. "I tried to postpone the fight
because I felt I wasn't ready. I didn't feel I was ready. This was an obligation title defense. I'm usually better prepared," Bazooka exclaimed. 25 year old Conelius Boza Edwards will defend the title against Bobby Chacon later this year." Cornelius is strong and dedicated to boxing. He can willingly win three title and get down to 126 pounds easily. We'll challenge Salvador Sanchez for title," replied Mickey Duff.

What is the price a professional fighter pays for ring inactivity? As lightweight Herman (Kid) Montes who just barely beat workhorse Jimmy Blevins at the Olympic Arena. And Blevins isn't even in the top twenty lightweights. Montes huffed and puffed to a 10 round split decision his first match in nearly 10 months. There is no substitute in boxing for ring activity. We don't know what Montes problem has been in laying off for 10 months but he'll have to remain active to challenge for the lightweight crown. "I was rusty and I got tired," said Montes. Montes has a ring ledger of 35-1-2. "I thought I was in good enough shape but I know I could have been busier in there,' added Herman. Referee Marty Denkin had the winner ahead, 96-95. Judge Jim Jen-Ken had Montes ahead, 95-84 with judge Vince Degado scoring for Montes 96-95. The surprise fighter of the night was Jolting Joe Kowalski the 135 pounder from Glendale. Joe scored a thunderous two round knockout triumph over Izy Amenta to notch his second straight win as a pro. Kowalski is trained by Manny Vasquez and gets better with every bout. He spars frequently with Herman Montes at Main St. Gym and the workouts have payed off for 22 year old Joey.

Rodrigo Aguirre ran his winning - streak to 23 wins in 26 fights with a 10 round win over veteran Roy Hernandez. Aguirre a classy 132 pounder is ready for the likes of Hector Cortez who holds the U.S. super-lightweight title. Felipe Canela, 140, stopped Eric Bonilla in five rounds to argument his ring ledger to
9-0-1. Canela is a corking 140 pounder managed by Larry Soto who developed Jose Becerra to the Bantamweight title and also trained Battling Torres to contending Carlos Ortiz for world jr. welterweight diadem. Two-fisted Felipe has the ring skills to move up the fistic ladder in months to come.

Classy Fidel Fraijo, 135, is looking for a return match with Johnny Montes who knocked him out. Fidel claims he wasn't in top condition when he fought Montes who 10-0. Jaime Garza the 122 pound terror is demanding action with veteran ringmen like Jose Cervantes, Carlos Mendoza and J uan (Kid) Meza. Kleber Viteri who had amateur record of 31-4 pulled out of his bout with Ruber (Baby Face) Castillo. Joey Kowalski scored a stunning four round win over Jose Gonzales in his professional debut. Also winning handily in pro debut was Randell Williams a corking light-heavyweight trained by Al DeNava. Ricardo Montalnado is the manager of ex-champion Bazooka Limon. What has happened to Bernardo Mercado? Eddie (Animal) Lopez is weighing around 245
pounds which is too much poundage for him. Frankie Duarte who fought a losing fight in Honolulu, Hawaii, got in trouble with manager Ralph Gambina. What happens to a fighter like Joey Olivo and Albert Davila who both fought in title matches and lost? Do they both have the same determination and desire like before? Davila fought for the bantamweight title three times and may just hang up his gloves. Olivo feels he will get a second shot at crown and win it. However, Joey must maintain a winning attitude and keep busy with winning fights to assure himself of another title match. It could be pretty tough and frustrating for a fighter losing in a championship bout. The majority of fighters seldom get a world title match in their careers.

What has happened to the career of Bruce Curry? Curry was recently kayoed by unknown fighter. Another welterweight on the downgrade is Zeffie Gonzales. Welterweight Pablo Baez is one tough hombre inside the ring. Pablo stopped Jose Palacios in two rounds and now wants Randy Shields.

The most awesome newcomer in fistic ranks is welterweight Rick Holder. Rick has notched two quick knockouts in pro career. Watch out for this kayo artist. Randell Williams the handsome 175 pounder trainer by Al DeNava scored a victory in hit initial pro debut. Six-foot Randell hat a fast-pair of hands, quick moves and a stout heart. Felipe Canela the Colton Comet is the apple of Larry Soto's eye. Felipe is 9-0-1 in his pro career. Estaban Agundez from El Monte, Calif. was 4-0 in the semifinals of Golden Gloves in bantamweight class. Estaban is a
hard puncher who likes to work the body of opponent over. He appears destined for stardom in professional field under trainer Ernie Castenada. Ex boxer Abel Fernandez a good 175 pounder who headlined at Olympic Auditorium back in 1950s is now turning movie work. Remember when Abel was starring in the gangster series Untouchables on TV with Bob Stack? Abel recently appeared in cameo role on Lou Grant show.

Publicist Van Barbieri who was the Olympic Auditorium public relations man for 13-years resigned his job to seek challenges. In a way Barbieri was a casualty in the reorganization policy of the New Olympic Sports Arena. Like promoter Aileen Eaton, Barbieri was forced to release his many duties as public relations man with the L A. press. Van was one of the best liked and most competent publicists in the business. His replacement is Bill Caplan who formerly handled the press relations for Anaheim Convention Center.

Paul (Superfly) Gonzalez is the star to watch in the amateurs. He's got all the fistic tools to make it big in the -pros. Estaban Agundez has a record of 18- wins and three losses in the amateurs. The bantamweight - star from El Monte, Calif. is trained by Ernie Castenada. Also in stable are Jesse Olivares, 4-1, Jose Rodriguez,
14-4 and Juan Rodriguez who is 4-0. Rocky Part 111 will go before the cameras at Main St. Gym with Sly
Stallone-starring. Al DeNava the impeccable trainer has finished a role in remake of fight movie Body And Soul.


Its all in the family in the boxing whirligig. Like father like son goes the boxing tradition. How many father-son boxing combinations can you recall? How about Lenny and Ray (Boom, Booms Mancini. Well the latest son of a famous fighter to launch a fistic career is Robert Folley the son of Zora Folley the heavyweight from Chandler, Arizona. Robert a dandy middleweight is 22 years old, 5-11, 160 pounds and trains at the Main St. Gym. In 62 amateur bouts Robert Folley scored victory after victory with only 4 ring defeats. He is certain to stir up some action among the world's top 160 pounders. Eddie Marcus who was a topnotch fighter and referee . in California. in the 30s and 40s is now the owner of the cocktail bar in Las Vegas. Rick Mills and Roger Braxton did a TV commercial for films at the popular Main St. Gym. Al De Nava the popular trainer of champions is now doing acting work in Hollywood. Al has a neat role in the upcoming remake of boxing film Body And Soul which won plaudits for late John Garfield. Film was shot at Main St. Gym. Sylvester Stallone and Burgess Meridith will do a sequel of the successful blockbusting film "Rocky Part II."

Promoter Tony Trudnich of Las Vegas has had tremendous success at the box office with Jorge Morales alias the "Dynamite Kid." Marshall Wright, founder of the world-reknowned Boxing Hall of Fame is launching amateur boxing at Jeffries Barn in Burbank, Calif. Jeffries Barn was the mecca of amateur boxing in 30s and 40s with Manuel Ortiz, Eddie Marcus, Red Shannon, Joey Barnum, Art Aragon launching careers in Burbank Arena. Former light-heavyweight champ Joey Maxim is working in Las Vegas' Tropicana Hotel and former champ Ralph Dupas is now a security guard in Las Vegas.

Fight manager Larry Soto is training jr. lightweight Felipe Canela who will headline for Don Georgino when Don promotes fights at Olympic Sports Center. Soto trained former bantamweight champ Jose Becerra in 1959 when Jose won the world's bantamweight diadem from Alphonse Halimi in Los Angeles. Soto who is the brother of Memo Soto also handled jr. welterweight Battling Torres who fought Carlos Ortiz the ex-lightweight titlist for jr welter title in 1959. Canela a dandy fighter has notched over ten victories and headlined the main go at San
Bernardino Arena last year. He is 10-l in his ring career and only 20 years old Ellis career appears promising under the tutelage of Larry Soto.

Rodriguez (Rod) Aguirre was born in Juarez, Mexico and his ring ledger is 25-2-l. In the amateur the 130 pounder was 21-3 and took a pair of Golden Glove titles. "Rodrigo can beat any 130 pounder in the world when he's in top physical condition, commented manager Ben Georgino.

Julio Floras is training newcomer Sonny Flores, a nifty lightweight who comes from Michigan. Sonnet once defeated Tommy Hearns in the amateurs. 21 year old Flores sparred with terror Jaime Garza at Main St. Gym. Tlie more I see of Johnny Montes Jr. the 19 year old lightweight the better I like him. If Johnny can beat fighters like Fidel Fraijo who had 40 pro fights he definitely is headed for stardom. Johnny is only 19 years old and is
12-0 in his career.

Joe Kowalski, 21, a terrific 135 pounder is managed and trained by veteran Manny Vasquez. Joe is following the footsteps of his dad who was a professional boxer. "My parents told me it was up to me to fight, if that's what I wanted. My girl friend who is a professional dancer is on my side. I think I can amount to something if I dedicated myself to boxing," said Joe. Joe was 3-3 in the amateurs and manager Manny Vasquez is optimistic that the hard socking Kowalski will surface as a good pro.

Oscar Muniz is after a shot at bantamweight crown after his stablemate Albert Davila was repulsed in bid for W.B.C. bantamweight diadem. Oscar could mount the bantam weight throne room if given a chance this year. Red Shannon is training Rudy Hernandez at Olympic Gym in his comeback attempt to regain his ring wizardry and prowess.

Rudy Hernandez the flashy ir welterweight will make his initial start for manager Red Shannon very soon. Rudy once reeled off 23 straight wins before he was upset by Jimmy Heair in a controversial 10 rounder in Los Angeles.

The new Olympic Sports Arena on the famous corner of 18th and Grand in Los Angeles has taken on an entertainment look. According to manager Bill Griffith, the Olympic Arena will not be confined to sports alone. "We expect to showcase the best entertainment in the world. Rock concerts, ice palaces, you name it and we'll feature it," said Bill. The Olympic Auditorium was founded in 1925 when Dick Donald was the promoter. One of the early ring heroes was fabled Bert Colima the "Whittier Flash." Bert was born in Colima, Mexico but moved to
Los Angeles in the late 1920s.

Manager Paddy Millon believes that Wellyn Gilliam a nifty 156 pounder will climb the stairway to fame in boxing.Other ringmen in- the Dillon stable are Jan William, 147, Lessie Powell, 135 and Dahi Williams a terrific 160
pounder.

My Sean O’Grady Story….

Sean O'Grady vs Danny Lopez

By Randy De La O

It was a day or two before he fought Danny Lopez, when Sean O’Grady and his father Pat walked into the Main Street Gym in Downtown Los Angeles. I was working out that day,. I didn’t give any thought one way or the other to Sean or his father. They were just two more guys in an already crowded gym. A few minutes later I saw my trainer Mel Epstein talking with Sean’s father Pat. Seems like Mel knew everybody . They spoke for a few minutes and then Mel walked over to me and explained who both of them were. Sean was fighting Danny Lopez in a 10 round bout at the Forum. Mel looked around and then said to me with some empathy, "Danny's, gonna hurt him".

Mel said they came to the gym and forgot to bring a towel. Mel knew I always brought two towels to the gym, one to wipe the sweat off of me during the workout and the other to dry off after my shower. He, more or less, volunteered my towel. I didn’t mind really but it meant that I would have to dry off with my “sweaty’ towel. I was done working out and showered and then I went to hang out with Mel and some of the other guys at the gym. I was also waiting for Sean to finish up with my towel. It was my mother’s towel really so I didn’t want to leave without it.

So I waited a while but I somehow lost track of Sean and my towel. I asked Mel “Where’s the guy with my towel?” “They left a minute ago”. “With my towel?” I ran out the double doors and caught up with them. I said to Mr. O’Grady “You have my towel!” He couldn’t have been more apologetic, both of them were. As hectic as things must have been for them, I knew it was an honest mistake ,still, I wasn’t about to go home without my mother’s towel. There is a picture floating around that was originally published in, either the Los Angeles Times or the Herald Examiner, that shows Sean with a towel slung over his shoulder. That was my mother's towel.

A few nights later Sean was stopped by Danny. The records say that “O'Grady's corner stopped the bout after the 4th round.”. That fight says nothing about Sean O’Grady and it says a lot. Sean was, if my memory serves me right, 17 years old when he fought Lopez. That fact says more than anything else. That took some stones.

Sean O'Grady vs Jim Watt

O’Grady would not lose again until November 1, 1980 when his fight with the ever tough Scot, WBC Champion Jim Watt, in Scotland, was stopped due to cuts in the 12th round of a scheduled fifteen round fight. He had one more fight, against Jose Cabrera, winning a unanimous 10 round decision.

His next fight took place on April 12, 1981 at Bally’s Hotel and casino in Atlantic City. He would take on Hilmer Kenty for the WBA Lightweight Championship. He would win this fight and become new WBA Lightweight Champion.

Sean O’Grady will be inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame this weekend. He’s well deserving of the award. His former corner man and trainer Tom Ray will be accepting the award in his stead.

Our congratulations to Sean O’Grady!

Sean O'Grady's Career Record

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

318 1/2 S. Main Street . . . Today

By Rick Farris

This is where the Main Street Gym once stood. The Gym was torn down twenty-five years ago, but it still exists in the memories of a few Today, after a quarter century as a parking lot, new construction is under way.

As I look at that driveway, I recall how it led cars thru a tunnel that took tham to a parking lot in the rear of the gym. That tunnel had once been a burlesque theatre that had closed down. The front and rear wall were knocked out to provide access to the rear parking lot. As we'd walk back thru the tunnel to the gym entrance on Main St. you could see the theatre's rusted, antique lighting fixtures still attached to the walls and ceilings. Looking at the photos, just to the left of the driveway, where the gate has opened, marks where the gym entrance was. "World's Leading Boxers Traing Here Daily", the sign in front read. As you pulled open the doors leading to a stairway that took you up into the gym, you'd immediatly here the tapping of speed bags, the sound of jump ropes hitting the floor, punches thudding against heavy bags and the bell. In three minute intervals the gym bell rang all day, until the gym closed in the evening. Main Street is evolving. It is no longer the place I remember. It's no longer a desperate place, it's more of a "trendy" place. In other words, it's no longer a place for a boxing gym. Not the type gym I respect. The street people now sip "Starbucks", the winos are long gone. 

Progress. What's the world coming too?

-Rick Farris 

Nino LaRocca vs Felipe Canela

By Randy De La O




By Randy De La O

Seeing these photos of Felipe Canela bring to mind the wisdom of Mel Epstein, and something I learned from him and applied after his death. Mel passed away in 1980. Sometime in 1980 and into 1981 I started training again at the Main Street Gym. It had been a few years for me. Larry Soto was my trainer now. Larry was Felipe's trainer. Felipe had turned pro earlier in the year and had about five or six fights by the time I met him.

Years before Mel would tell me how a fighter would come back to the gym after a long lay off. He would begin the long process of getting back in shape. On the first couple of days of sparring, his timing might be off, might be a little winded, might get hit a little more than usual, maybe a lot more. As the week wore on things might start picking up, the timing starts to come back, the wind is better and the fighter is not getting hit quite as much and his punches are landing with a little more snap, with a little more authority. Then with out realizing it everything starts to fall in place, the movement around the ring, the slipping punches, the timing, the feinting and the punches are now crisp and landing when and where you want them to and you are no longer getting winded. You are back in business.

This is what came to mind the first day Felipe and I sparred. He was pretty rough in the gym, as I would expect him to be. He had no qualms about using me as a punching bag, and he did. But I thought about what Mel had said and kept it at the forefront of my mind. I still remember the turn around. He threw several punches and most of them missed. I was slipping his punches now and countering with my own. I remember landing a several punch combination when he was on the ropes. It felt good. I got his attention and his respect. I was back in business, at least for the time being. Canela by the way was a true gentleman and he had a respectable career.

More on the Main Street Gym

I ran across the first two photos of the Main Street Gym, in Downtown Los Angeles while searching trough the web. The first photo is the same photo used in an article from the Los Angeles Times that I posted on the message board a while back. It's a great shot of the front of the gym, in all it's humility. It was ratty and seedy and yet beautiful. The second photo shows the inside of the gym on what appears to be a slow day. The third and fourth photos are of the original Main Street Gym (Newsboy Gym) that burned down in 1951. It was located across from the "Newer" gym, where the old Johnnie's Shrimp Boat used to stand.

Photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

The gym was located on the second floor. You walked up a flight of stairs and past Howie Steindler's office to get to the gym. As you entered the stairwell you would here the sounds of the speed bags, the heavy bags being hit, the ropes hitting the floor and the sounds of the fighters sparring. I can still hear it. I bought a pair of Ortiz boxing gloves in the luggage store. It didn't advertise but it sold boxing gear. I also got my haircut at the barber shop on a regular basis. The entrance to the parking lot is to the left, They must have removed all the bums from the sidewalk before they took this shot.

Photo Courtesy of The los Angeles Times

I sparred in both of these rings and they were rarely, if ever, empty. The ring on the right is the ring that Monroe Brooks and I are sparring in, in "Rocky". I'll never understand why "the powers that be" in Los Angeles' boxing world did not rally to save the gym. It was and is an irreplaceable part of L.A's boxing history. It stands with both Gleason's and Stillman's as boxing's historic and iconic gyms.

The above photo of the original Main Street Gym / Newsboy Gym was posted by Frank Baltazar Sr.


The above photo shows fighter Tony Chavez at the original gym.

Rick Farris

The following photos were sent to me by Frank Baltazar Sr, who has been more than generous with his photos. Rick Farris, as I have mentioned before is a former amateur and professional boxer back in the 1960’ and 1970’s. He was, for a time, trained by Mel Epstein, my former trainer. Farris’ is a boxing historian and writer and much of his writings on boxing in Los Angeles, Southern California and the Main Street Gym can be found at Cyber Boxing Zone.

Monica Farris, Lucia Rijker, Rick Farris

This was taken at Main St. Gym in 1967.

Amos "Big Train" Lincoln, Johnny Flores, Ricky Farris, unknown, Jerry Quarry, Joe Shelton

Rick Farris Sugar Ray Robinson Unknown - 1969- Main St. Gym

Felipe Torres

Last Sunday, March 2nd, 2008, the following letter was posted on our message board on the Main Street Gym entry. It is from the brother of Felipe Torres, Epifanio Z. Torres. You may or may not remember but I wrote briefly about my experience sparring with him during the 1970's. They didn't make them any tougher than Felipe. Mr. Torres informs me that his brother Felipe passed away in 1993 under difficult circumstances. Our condolences to the entire Torres family.

My time with Felipe was brief, a couple of years at best. I never forgot him. How do you forget a man that taught you some of life's hardest lessons. He forced me to learn to stand my ground, taught me how to endure pain, forced me to learn how to slip a punch, and out of desperation taught me how to use the jab to keep an opponent off of me. More than anything he taught me humility, and to never judge a man by his appearance. I never made that mistake again and I have carried his memory and that lesson around with me my entire life. I have passed that lesson to my children.

I have no idea how much his family knows about his career or if they have an insight into the mind of a fighter, but I can tell them without even speaking to Felipe that he was proud of his days in the ring. Every fighter is. You carry that pride all of your days. It never leaves you, whether you had a couple of fights or a hundred. Whatever work you do after that, you are still a fighter. With that in mind you should know that when Felipe fought Roberto Duran on March 28, 1970 in Mexico City, he did not just fight another fighter, he fought a legend. How many men have passed that can make that statement? Just a handful, trust me. When Duran was young, and knocking out everyone that was put in front of him, Felipe fought him and went the distance. He went the distance with a legend!

I hope that someone who reads this will be able to provide a photo for the family, or perhaps a personal story. I'll be happy to print it. When Mr. Torres and family provide more about details about Felipe, I'll pass them on to you. Below is the letter by Epifanio Z. Torres

Rest in Peace, Felipe

Dear Sir,

My name is Epifanio Z. Torres. I live in El Centro, Ca. I am Felipe Torres' brother. My mom is right next to me right now, and I was translating to her the part of the article that you wrote about my brother Felipe. It almost brought tears to my mom and I. You probably don't know, but Felipe died in 1993. As you were saying, he was a tough little fighter, but like many of them, he died in very difficult conditions. I'd really appreciate in other information, pictures articles that you might have about him. My mom is 83 yrs. old and she'd probably love to see some of that stuff you and your readers might have about him. I have found, in some other websites, a partial boxing record of his. From what I remember, he fought with the best featherweights of his time: He fought Roberto Duran in Mexico City: Kuniaki Shibata in Japan (he lost split decision there which is equal to a victory), he also fought with Shozo Saijo in Hawaii and lost split decision; Ricardo Arredondo, was another one of his rivals, and I am not quite sure, but I think he fought a boxer named Cesar Sinda who died after their fight. I believe I saw his name on the WBC classifications as being the #7 featherweight of the world in the 1970's. A cousin of mine sent me this link, which I am planning to bookmark. I hope you, or some of your readers might have some more info. about my brother, or other links related to him.


Thank you,

Epifanio Z. Torres

Below are the links to Felipe Torres Boxing Record and the article where I wrote briefly about Felipe and the Main Street Gym.

Roberto Duran at the Main Street Gym

The following newspaper clippings are from the long gone Los Angeles Herald Examiner (my favorite newspaper) January 4, 1978, and written by Jack Disney. When in Los Angeles Duran almost always used the Main Street Gym for his training. At the time this article was written Duran was in his prime, or as the saying goes "When Duran was Duran". At his peak Roberto Duran was the best, period.

Click on any of the following for a larger,
more readable view

Compliments of Frank Baltazar Sr.

Much thanks to Frank for sending me these two articles on Larry Soto and Howie Steindler. Click on the articles for a larger and more readable view.

Larry Soto Photo

Below is a photo posted by Frank Baltazar Sr. on the message board. Larry Soto trained me for a short time in 1980 and 1981 and I referred to him in an earlier post. Larry was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame earlier this year for his contribution to boxing in the Golden State. If any one else has any photos of Larry they would like to share, please contact me. I'll be happy to post them.

Seated L to R Tommy Noel and Larry Soto,

Standing Denny Abenellia and Mickey Davies

Felipe Canela

Felipe Canela was a main event fighter throughout Southern California, including the Olympic Auditorium and the Forum, and Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1980's and was managed and trained by California hall of fame trainer Larry Soto. He had a respectable career with 36 fights; 26 wins with 16 KO's, he lost 7 fights and had 3 draws.

Felipe was a regular at the Main Street Gym during the 1980's and I sparred with him regularly when I returned to the gym in 1980. My brother Dennis sparred with him a year or two later when he was also trained briefly by Larry. According to my friend, Frank Baltazar Sr., Felipe Canale was his son Tony's (Tony "The Tiger" Baltazar) last amateur opponent.

Above two photos: Felipe Canela vs Nino LaRocca, March 30, 1984

Felipe training at the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles


Felipe's career record can be found here at Boxrec.com

More on Howie Steindler

I have had these newspaper clippings of Howie and the prayer book from the funeral, hidden away in a scrap book for thirty years (the accompanying photo was taken from the web). I have never seen these articles or the articles from the preceding post, on the web. Seems like time has not been as kind to Howie's memory as he deserves. He was a iconic Los Angeles boxing figure at one time and deserves to be remembered, for boxing history's sake. Trainers like Howie and Mel Epstein are becoming extinct. I have other various newspaper clippings that I will be posting from time to time.

Howie at his beloved Main Street Gym in Los Angeles

Click on the article below for a larger readable view

Howie Steindler

Click on any photo for a larger readable view

Deleted "Rocky" Scenes at the Main Street Gym

All photos courtesy of Jimmy Gambina and totalrocky.com

All of the following scenes take place at the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles, California

In the above scene Rocky and Dipper (Stan Shaw) actually get in a street fight in the gym. They should have left it in.

My trainer/manager Mel Epstein can be seen on the above photo on the extreme left, with the white shirt and white hair, standing directly behind Jimmy Gambina (son of manager Ralph Gambina). I was standing to the right of Mel. Not only did they cut the scene from the movie but they cut me from the photo! In fact I was in the two scenes above as well. I still don't know why they were cut, they were actually pretty good.

This gym scene from Rocky V is actually a mock up of the gym. The gym was torn down in the mid 1980's and the movie was released in 1990. They did a fantastic job with the set. That's Jimmy Gambina holding the bag.

Duran, Arguello and Robinson at the Main Street Gym

Remembering the Main Street Gym

By Randy De La O

My earliest memories of the old Main Street Gym in Los Angeles are of my father and I going there to watch the fighters workout and spar. This would be in the 1960’s. My father bought all his clothing from the haberdasheries that were found up and down Broadway Street at that time, including Mickey Cohen‘s haberdashery, but that was before my time. I went with him knowing that a trip downtown meant a visit to the Main Street Gym, on Third and Main. My father was a boxer in the army during the 1940’s and remained a fan all of his life, perhaps equaled only by his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers. We would spend a few hours there while my father pointed out the fighters and explained the finer points of boxing to me. We would stop at Crony’s on Whittier Blvd, in East Los Angeles and grab a hot dog or two, before heading home. It was a great time and a great memory.

I would think about those days years later while working out at the gym. At that time I was training under Mel Epstein, who eventually became like the grandfather I never knew. Mel was a trainers trainer, old school and hard core. When I met Mel he was 75 years old and was managing middleweight Mike Nixon, and another young fighter Gary Pittman. His most noted fighter was light heavyweight "Young Firpo", whom he managed and trained in the 1930’s. He also managed and trained boxing writer and historian Ricky Farris. Despite the fact that Mel was a west coast figure, no one evoked a more “Runyonesque” aura. He had been involved in every facet of the fight game at one time or another, including promoting and matchmaking.

The Main Street Gym was managed by that other “Runyonesque” character, Howie Steindler. Howie ran that gym with an iron fist and rarely, if ever, tolerated any bullshit in his gym. Howie managed Ernie “Red” Lopez, Danny “Little Red” Lopez and Alberto Davila. The trainers that I remember from that time are Larry Soto, Memo Soto, Gil Cadilli, Benny Georgino, Teddy Bentham, Bob Armstrong, Frankie Williams, Phil Silvers, Ralph Gambina and Harry Shapiro, who had the habit of reaching over and talking into your ear. It was the only way he would talk. Occasionally other trainers and fighters would come by, usually for some sparring. Joe Ponce and Bobby Chacon would stop by regularly. One of the greatest moments during those years was a spectacular sparring session with Chacon and “Little Red”. It was one of those “You had to be there” moments. These two were true cross town rivals, but they kept it friendly outside of the ring.

I can’t remember the name of the first guy that I sparred with, only that he was a “Main Event” fighter at the Olympic Auditorium. I do remember the bloody nose, split lip, bruised body and black eye that I got. I came back the next day for more. In time I gave as good as I got. I had the opportunity to spar with some good welter and middleweights at that time, as well as some lightweights, and a few light heavies, including Mike Quarry. I was a 147 pounds give or take a few. The toughest guy I ever sparred with, hell, the toughest guy I ever traded punches with period, in or out of the ring was Felipe Torres. Torres had lost a decision to Roberto Duran a few years earlier. Torres was a natural lightweight, but when I met him he was around 165 pounds and working on a comeback. At that time he was managed by Glen Williams, although I think it was more of a friendship than a true manager boxer relationship.

I had turned down an offer by Williams to leave Mel and sign with him. He promised me the world, but I was happy with Mel and declined. I think after that he kind of had it in for me, maybe I’m wrong, who knows. I know that when I had a fight at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Felipe was my sparring partner. I had two weeks to get ready. It was only my second fight and it was a six round fight with a ten round fighter named Eduardo Barba from Mexico. I had misjudged Felipe, thinking that because he was a little over weight, and older than me, I would be able to handle him fairly easy. As the saying goes, “when the student is ready, the master will appear“. Well, I suddenly found myself in the ring with a Master, with a capital “M’. He literally tore me apart the fist round. In the second I was determined to get my shot in. I landed a right hand that really seemed to tick him off, he ripped off his head gear and seemed to scratch the ring floor as a bull would, and just tore into me. Every time I stepped into the ring with Felipe, I felt as if I was fighting for my life. This went on for two weeks. What made it worse was that Mel wanted me to spar without head gear, he seemed to think that it toughened a fighter up. I’m not so sure he was right. By the time I got to Vegas for my fight I was bruised , worn and battered on the inside. I lost the decision but it was good fight. It was on the under card of the Mike Quarry - Tom Bethea fight. My fight was the only prelim that night. Bethea lost that night too. Howie Steindler got me that fight, and I remember the night before I left for Vegas, Howie said to me “ You picked your profession, now get out there and do your best”. Some of the guys from the gym said they had seen the fight and thought I had won, but I have to admit, Barba won that fight, fair and square, but I gave as good as I got.

One of the things that I really liked at the gym was the way the heavy bags were set up. There were five or six bags in a row set over raised wooden floors. What was different than most gyms is that the ceiling was so high, a really long chain was needed for the bags. This gave the fighter the opportunity to sway the bag in
circles, follow it or duck under it, something you can’t do on a short hung bag. It makes a difference when training. There were two rings set up and they were always busy. There were two mirror set up for shadow boxing, and a locker room with an old wooden sit up table made by Norman Lockwood. Mel had an ongoing squabble with most of the trainers there over the windows. He wanted them wide open when his fighters were training and every other trainer in the gym wanted them closed. Sometimes he won the argument, sometimes he lost.

There are a lot of great memories from my time at the gym, none more memorable than meeting the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson. He was there quite often in the mid 1970’s. My first contact with him was on a weekday afternoon. I was shadowboxing in front of the mirror. Not the mirror by the door when you waked in, the mirror opposite of the doors, by the windows, near the speed bags. If you trained there you know which mirror. I could see Robinson jumping rope behind me as I shadowboxed. He was watching me. He stopped jumping and just stared at me. After a minute or so, he walked over to me and tapped my shoulder and said “ Excuse me son, do you mind if I give you a little advice?” I looked over at Mel, knowing how he felt about anyone bothering his fighters. Even he recognized the magnitude of the moment for me. He smiled and nodded to me. Do I mind if Sugar Ray Robinson gives me advice? Do birds fly? He gave me a good piece of advice about not drawing my right hand back when I jabbed with my left. He told me to “think of my right as a catcher’s mitt and the other guys fist as a baseball. Just relax and catch it.” To this day when I pass that advice on to someone and they question it, I tell them that Sugar Ray Robinson told me that. It’s almost always good enough. During the time he was working out there we got to be somewhat friendly. we would talk almost every day he was there. One day he stopped coming and I never saw him again. Years later when I heard on the news that he had passed away, I felt bad. I read a few biographies on him over the years and there have been some unflattering things said about him, but to me he was a class act and a nice guy. That’s how I remember him.

The Main Street Gym has been used for so many television shows and movies that I would never be able to list them all, but perhaps the most memorable (to me) is the original “Rocky” with Sylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith and Talia Shire. The reason it is so memorable to me is that I was an extra in the movie. I’m sparring with Monroe Brooks in the movie. Brooks was stopped by Roberto Duran a few years later. Monroe and I became friends and when I had a fight scheduled with local welterweight Chris Gonzalez, at the Forum later that year he stopped by to wish me luck. The fight was canceled just minutes before it was scheduled to start, still I appreciated him coming by. He was another class act. Brooks is currently a trainer in Los Angeles. Mel and I had lunch with Burgess Meredith, and I remember Meredith picking Mel’s brain for any and all information. I see some of Mel in Mickey.

I had the opportunity to meet so many fighters and famed trainers during those days. It’s been so long that I can’t remember them all, but I do remember meeting and shaking hands with Henry Armstrong, Alexis Arguello and so many others.

After the fight at the Aladdin Hotel, I never fought again. It wasn’t a choice, it just worked out that way. I ended up with a family to support and got a job at Mc Donnell Douglas Aircraft Company. Like most fighters I never really got it out of my system and in 1980 I tried one more time. Things were different now. Mel had passed away that year, Howie Steindler had been murdered a few years earlier and the gym just had a different aura about it. Larry Soto was training me now. Larry was training a fighter by the name of Felipe Canela at the time. I got along well with Larry but he was a completely different type of trainer than Mel, and was pretty vocal about it. His style of training seemed more assembly line as opposed to Mel, who seemed to bring out an individual style. Maybe it was just me. At any rate it didn’t make a difference. That year my father became sick with cancer and I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. So between raising a family, working a full time job with overtime, and going to the hospital daily, something had to give, and it was the gym.

I have great memories of the Main Street Gym. It was a great time in my life and I met some great people there. It was, at it’s peak,, the “Mecca of Boxing” on the west coast, rivaling the best of them, including Stillman’s and Gleason’s in New York. The Gym closed down in the mid ‘80’s and was eventually razed and the spot were the legendary gym once stood is now a parking lot. It was an honor to climb up the flight of stairs, passing Howie’s office, look up and see the sign that read “The greatest fighters in the world train here” and enter the doorway. The sounds and smell of that gym still live in me.

Bobby Chacon

Bobby Chacon was another fighter that trained at the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles from time to time. I happened to be working out one day when Bobby and Danny "Little Red" Lopez sparred. Danny was managed by Howie Steindler, the owner of the gym. Bobby was managed by Joe Ponce. Bobby had KO'ed Danny a few years earlier and his career soared. By this time in 1975 Danny's star was rising and Chacon was struggling to keep his career alive (this was before his great Rocky like comeback in the 80's).

The gym had come to a screeching halt and everyone crowded the ring apron to see these two crosstown rivals go at it. we were not disappointed. I would have paid good money to have seen these to do battle, but as it was I got a free show. These guys would not give an inch, and I can tell you, this was not a sparring match, this was a fight. If I had to choose a winner, I think I would have given the edge to Chacon, but not by much.

Bobby Chacon had an amazing career. It had three stages. The early seventies when he first won the featherweight title. The floundering years in the mid to late seventies, and his amazing comeback as Lightweight Champ in the early eighties, culminating with his blood and guts fights with Cornealeas Boza-Edwards and Raphael Bazooka Limon. Bobby gave his all in the ring and real boxing fans will always have a place in their hearts for this little giant. The last I heard he was suffering from pugilistica dementia (punch drunk). I wish him the best of luck. Lopez of course went on to have great career himself until he ran into a kid by the name of Salvador Sanchez. You can see Bobby's record here and Danny's here.