By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

This is a story about Ray Owens, my friend and an amazing man who in 1968 was the founder of GATHERING OF ANGELS. This group is now known as the Golden State Boxers Association, and is the longest running organized boxing club in the United States.

As a member of the Golden State Boxers Association, I met Ray Owens at a meeting several months ago and I was just simply overwhelmed by the man. He is humble, sensible, and so knowledgeable about boxing.

So for those who don’t know, let me present a capsule look at what started thirty almost thirty nine years ago.

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I free-lance & write boxing feature stories & fight result articles for Ring Sports Magazine – so let it be my pleasure to introduce my good friend & editor-in-chief Rusty Rubin into my boxing website … hopefully you will enjoy his column & input – as I do each & every month!
David Martinez

Boxing Historian

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In Rusty’s Corner

Rusty Rubin is the editor-in-chief of Ringsports.com, the publication and website advisor, and is the author of three acclaimed boxing books!

‘Therapeutic’ and ‘helpful in dealing with a life threatening illness’, are the words that seem to be most used when readers write to me about “Woozel, Boxing and Me” (Authorhouse.com #31810). This book has been given 4½ stars at Amazon.com (read the reviews) and was awarded “Boxing Book of the Year, 2006” by 13thround.com.

Woozel, Boxing and Me is far more than just a compilation of many funny and true boxing stories, oddities and quotes. The book serves as a final tribute to the memory of Susiey Walker, my zany best friend of more than 25 years, who loved life and knew how to live it to the max. This book has helped many people deal with terminal illness and death, although that was never my overt intention in writing this book. I am now working on a follow up.

Wuz traveled and attended many West Coast boxing events with me and by so doing created many of those unforgettable moments with her positive, but often zany attitude and always bubbly personality. Sue passed away in Feb. 2004, at age 54, after a tough 5-year battle with colon cancer. Although she never got into the ring, She was a true fighter with the (body of a model and) the heart of a champion.

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Welcome to your newest boxing website – David Martinez Boxing.com … I am absolutely delighted to be able to provide you with boxing stories, photos, updates, events, interviews, personal opinions, videos, questions & anwsers, ratings of past & current fighters, and plus I will take you into my own world of experiences & memories that I have seen & lived in these past 47 years of my involvement in boxing!

Here’s my “capsule” bio:

Boxing Historian, writer: Santa Barbara News Press, World Boxing Hall of Fame Newsletter, Boxing Globe, Ring Sports magazine, Golden State Boxers Assc Newsletter

Boxing Analyst: KIST Radio 1340AM, KDB 1490AM, KTYD 99.9FM, KEYT 1250AM, KVEN 1450AM, ESPN Radio, KCOX TV, KEYT TV / ABC, London England Radio, Los Angeles media TV news reports, Pinnacle Sports Radio, Time Warner Cable TV,

Former member of USA Amateur Boxing, Inc / judge & referee 1988-94

Volunteer work to various boxing shows: La Casa De La Raza, Primo Boxing, Los Angeles Diamond Belt, the “inaugural” UCSB boxing fight night, Bell Gardens Youth Boxing, Simi Valley Kids Boxing, Ventura Amateur Boxing, P.A.L. Santa Barbara Boxing Club

Awards:
2003 World Boxing Hall of Fame recipient of Everett L. Sanders Lifetime Achievement Award,

World Boxing Council Hall Of Fame: Historical Supervisor; contact to answer worldwide Web site questions for World Boxing Hall of Fame

Served as Boxing Historian & member of Board of Directors for World Boxing Hall of Fame 1997 to 2007. Voting ballot member to all fighters being inducted into hall of fame.

Served as Vice President of Golden State Boxers Association 2005/2006, current member of Golden State Boxers Association, and co-event coordinator for “Gathering of Angels” boxing event on August 12, 2007. Inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on September 22, 2007.

Personal Quote: “Boxing is my blood life – line”

Favorite Fighter Past: Marvelous Marvin Hagler

Best Fighter All Time: Sugar Ray Robinson

Most Underrated Fighters Past: Carlos Monzon – Vicente Saldivar – Harry Greb

Best Boxing Movies: Raging Bull (1980), The Set-Up (1949)

Favorite Boxing Fighter Friend: Ernie Terrell / WBA Heavyweight Champion (1965-1967)