( Winter 2012 Edition )

On a quarterly basis, I always write to thank and acknowledge the people that make this website the success that it is. My producer is John Boitnott, the main person who is simply my right hand man with his professional expertise regarding this website. Other key people are: Bob Quackenbush (Proof Reader and Photo Editing), Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader), Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner column), Tom Donelson (Boxing Correspondent Writer), Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer), and Ray Luna (Media Photographer). I am so grateful to have these wonderful people that contribute to this website in a positive manner.

My t-shirt, hat, and tank top products are a huge part of this website and the girls that pose wearing these items have all added a personal touch with their beauty and support.

As a boxing historian and avid collector for over fifty years, I strive to bring everyone the best in boxing in a most respectable and professional way. The fan mail that I receive is greatly appreciated and I respect your views and opinions.

One change on this website has been my RING TRIVIA, which had been monthly and is now offered quarterly in March, June, September, and December. I have added more questions (formerly three and now five) with the answers available for viewing sooner in a two-week time frame. I have always been fascinated with boxing trivia, and as a young boy growing up I would pick the minds of my older generation boxing friends to learn for myself the history of boxing that they knew and lived. When this website was born in July 2007, I knew that RING TRIVIA would be a main feature and I intend to keep it so.

On a personal note, many of my closest friends know that I have been helping kids in local gyms for many years – it is such an honor to help the youth. A gym that I go to here on a regular basis in the Santa Barbara, California area is Duke’s Boxing and Fitness. The owner, 34 year old Henry Calles, a former outstanding amateur boxer, does a great job with the kids that come into his gym. Mark Lee also adds a special touch with his expertise as a trainer and whom I’ve known since the early eighties when we contributed to another local gym. He now teaches the youth at a top level of boxing at Duke’s Boxing. For further information regarding the gym you can go to: www.dukesboxing.com

I get tons of fan emails and I enjoy reading all your opinions and answering many of your questions. In the past couple of years there has been one person that has surfaced to the top of that list. My friend Harold Lederman at HBO World Championship Boxing connected me with his friend Steve Corbo. Harold knew through boxing that we would “instantly” become friends and was he ever so right.
Steve lives in Chicago, knows and has lived boxing as long as me, and has become my number one boxing friend with his input and expertise. He does professional ring  announcing for major boxing venues in Europe and sends me tape of his work and the fight action from these matches. Although we have never met in person, I certainly hope that we will one day, as I consider myself truly blessed to have Steve as my friend.

To answer a commonly asked question regarding the best heavyweight champions of all time, my opinion, in order, are: (1) Jack Johnson, (2) Muhammad Ali, (3) Joe Louis, (4) Jack Dempsey, (5) Rocky Marciano, (6) Gene Tunney, (7) James Corbett, (8) Larry Holmes, (9) Jim Jeffries, and (10) Ezzard Charles. And in no particular order the next set of five to round out my top fifteen are: Bob Fitzsimmons, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson.

Now that the New Year 2012 has arrived, I will continue to offer you the best in boxing. Your support is much appreciated as you continue staying connected to dmboxing.com

Thank You!

(ABOVE PHOTO) Mark Lee (black trunks) and David Martinez (Referee)
… La Casa De La Raza Amateur Boxing Show, 1983 …
Santa Barbara, California / promoted by Art Carbajal

How Kermit Cintron was granted a title shot to fight Saul Canelo Alvarez is beyond me, considering in 2010 and 2011 he had lost two of three coming into this fight; but on Saturday night at the Plaza Mexico in Mexico City, this bout took place, and was televised by HBO.

From the opening bell, Canelo was in complete control. In round four Canelo dropped Cintron with a right hand from which Cintron barely made it back to his corner as the bell sounded to end the round. A friend watching the fight with me said that Cintron’s corner never should have let him come out for round five.  My only comment to that was that his corner should never have let him come out to this fight to begin with.  The predictable end came at 2:53 of the fifth round, when referee Hector Afu stopped the bout with Canelo completely dominating the round and the fight.

Canelo retains his WBC junior middleweight championship and, at this point in his career, certainly needs to step up the competition at 154 pounds. After four rounds, my scorecard was 40-35 or 4 rounds to none in favor of Canelo.

I have met so many wonderful people in boxing over the years. Working with the younger generation at the gym is always a delight for me. As the kids grow up, come and go, and maneuver their way in life, I try to stay in touch. Though with some I seem to lose track, there is one young lady I will always keep in contact with: Desiree D’Alessandro. I have previously posted her on my website and would like to update on her current whereabouts. Desiree graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara this past June 2011 and has relocated to her home town of Tampa, Florida. She accomplished her schooling with a Master of Arts degree and has continued her boxing training with her busy work schedule. Below is a chapter I wrote for her (forthcoming) collective publication regarding her graduate studies and boxing while attending UCSB. I would like to share with you my chapter on UCSB boxing history and my involvement. Desiree and I have stayed in touch on a regular basis even though we live 3,000 miles part. Our maintained true friendship and communication closes the distance.

Boxing from David Martinez / Boxing Historian

My love for boxing started back in the early sixties and has been an integral part of my life for the last fifty years. I have written many boxing articles for various publications and reported for radio and television. I was the former director of the World Boxing Hall of Fame board, have refereed USA Boxing amateur bouts, and was the recipient of the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award in boxing. I was inducted in to the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007, and I currently devote my time to working with local boxing gyms and maintaining my informative boxing website: dmboxing.com.

My involvement regarding UCSB boxing occurred with two major highlights in the eighties. On September 16, 1981, I wrote the front sports page feature story for the Santa Barbara News-Press preceding the World Welterweight unification title fight between WBC champion Sugar Ray Leonard (30-1) and WBA champion Thomas Hearns (32-0). The bout was shown live on a closed-circuit telecast at Robertson Gym. I was in attendance for this event in front of a sold out standing-room-only crowd. It was an event for the ages at that time because it was a first in boxing for UCSB in the arena of a professional fight. The fight was voted “1981 Fight of the Year” in every boxing circle worldwide.

The following year in 1982, at the same Robertson Gym, I was a referee and judge for the inaugural Fight Night, a 12-bout boxing exhibition. The show was promoted by Art Carbajal, the founder of La Casa De La Rasa Boxing Club before it became known as Primo Boxing Club, an organization in which the proceeding Fight Night fundraisers have benefited. I remember well that evening was again a sold out standing-room-only crowd. It was an event that rocked the entire UCSB campus and boxing community of Santa Barbara––a live boxing show! George Calderon highlighted the show and fought a three-round exhibition bout that night. Interestingly, Calderon is the uncle and trainer of Henry Calles, current owner of Dukes Boxing in Isla Vista, CA. George went on later to win various coveted amateur titles and Henry won the Southern California Golden Gloves champion of the Open Division in 2001. Migrating from the Robertson Gym to the Thunderdome, there have since been 17 Fight Night boxing events staged on UCSB campus up until the event’s controversial cancellation in 2009. To me, however, there will be nothing like reminiscing the moment of the very first show.

These last three years, I have been directly involved with Henry Calles at Duke’s Boxing Gym. I have had the pleasure to coach and offer my expertise to many UCSB students that come to the gym on a daily basis. My greatest pleasure is interacting with the youth on a personal level that attend daily workout and boxing classes. In August of 2010, I met artist Desiree D’Alessandro, a particularly determined and lively young woman looking to box for the first time. I remember the eagerness in her introduction, saying she wanted to learn, lose weight, and ultimately compete. Her confidence and conviction made our first meeting memorable.

This past year, I was delighted to assist Desiree on two occasions that brought me back to the UCSB campus since the aforementioned events of thirty years ago. The first being her display of boxing at Open Studios at Harder Stadium on Feb 5, 2011. She displayed her boxing skills at every level and entertained many that attended her studio-turned-training-facility that night. I acted as her promoter, narrating her 4-hour relentless endurance performance. The other occasion was a tribute to her thesis work, staging a boxing event that exceeded expectations beyond the comprehension of many. Art in Athleticism: The Form and Physicality of Boxing took place in the UCSB campus Old Gym Gallery 479 on April 22, 2011. Many were delighted to participate and witness this conjoined art exhibition/exhibition bout which was new and unique to the campus and community.

In closing, I feel honored to have worked with such a devoted and hard working person as Desiree, my friend. Her willingness to improve in boxing and to help others in the sport, that she has vastly learned (and is still learning), is truly a reflection of her courage and character.

Job well done, Desiree D’Alessandro!

 By John Boitnott / producer dmboxing.com  

Since knowing David Martinez for the past decade, it’s tradition that he dresses up in his favorite costume on Halloween to portray legendaey Mexican wrestler Mil Mascaras.

On behalf of David and myeslf, we wish everybody a Happy “SAFE” Halloween 2011, and thank you for chosing this website in boxing!

Rick and Frank (September 22, 2007)

By the end of WWII, a new era in Los Angeles boxing had taken life. In the eyes of California boxing historians, such as Gabriel “Hap” Navarro, former promoter and matchmaker at the legendary Hollywood Legion Stadium, the post war years thru the 1950′s, are considered the “Golden Era” of Los Angeles boxing.

At the time, L.A. headliners such as Enrique Bolanos, Manuel Ortiz, Art Aragon and dozens more, set box office records at the Olympic Auditorium, Hollywood Legion Stadium and Wrigley Field. In addition, the “City of Angeles” had a number of smaller clubs putting on regular shows, such as Ocean Park in Santa Monica, South Gate Arena and San Bernardino, to name a few.

A couple years after the war, a skinny 12-year-old would get his first taste of boxing from inside the ropes. This would be the birth of a life long journey for young Frank Baltazar, and it would take it’s first breath at the beginning of Los Angeles boxing’s toughest, most competitive era.

Today, six decades later, the skinny kid isn’t quite as skinny, and the thick black hair not quite as dark, as when we first met, however, Frank Baltazar Sr. looks pretty much the same. Frank’s handsome latino features contradict his seventy-plus years.

The first time I saw Frank was in the mid-1960′s, shortly after he’d hung up the gloves, after a sixteen year amateur career. Frank’s education in prizrfighting took place during the sports most glorious period in California, lessons learned in countless gyms, arenas and clubs thruout the Southland. His teachers were hardened “old school” veterans, and he practiced his skills in the ring, trading blows with some of the greats of the era

More than forty years after our first meeting, I’d have the honor of being present at a very special day for Frank Baltazar Sr., his family, and L.A. boxing in general. In 2007, Baltazar was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. Friends and family from miles away packed the event, and I have to say, the faces I saw that day took me back to a very special time, a time made a little more special for kids like myself, thanks to guys like Frank Baltazar Sr.

When I first crossed paths with Frank, he was nearly thirty, and had just taken over as director of the annual Junior Golden Gloves program, an event that had long been a breeding ground for some of the world’s best boxing talent.

Superstars such as Mando Ramos, the Quarry brothers, Albert Davila, the Baltazar boys, the Sandoval’s, Frankie Duarte, Randy Shields, Paul Gonzalez and Oscar DeLaHoya came out of the Los Angeles Junior Golden Gloves tournaments. All became world class professionals, some World Champions.

What Frank Baltazar Sr. brought to the Junior Golden Gloves was years of experience, not to mention three young sons; Frankie Jr., Tony and Bobby. Frank wasn’t just a fighter, he was a father . . . and a master at both. Frank was a dad, a coach and a mentor.

In many ways, Frank Baltazar Sr. would prove to be a surragate father figure to many young boys over the years. Frank taught more than jabs and hooks, he taught young men about courage, charactor and common sense. These are the true hallmarks of a champion.

In retrospect, it seems as if Frank Baltazar Sr. was destined to be a part of boxing history. Frank was born in 1936, at Los Angeles County General Hospital, and grew up in the nearby city of Montebello. As a boy, Baltazar recalled listening to boxing on the radio.

“I would listen to the all the championship fights when they were broadcast”, Frank remembered. “Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep. We didn’t have television in those days”.
Frank recalls how much he loved boxing as a kid, and how much he desired becoming a fighter. “My dad was a baseball fan, and he’d talk to me about baseball, but I was more interested in boxing”. One day, 10-year-old Frankie Baltazar would get the surprise of his life.

“My father came home and told me that he had tickets for a championship fight”, Baltazar remembered. “The fight was the first meeting between lightweight champ Ike Williams and Enrique Bolanos, in 1946. My dad and I went with my two uncles and sat about twenty rows back from ringside. Bolanos was up-and-down like a yo-yo that night, he really took a beating.”

This would be the first of three classic bouts between the great Ike WIlliams and Mexican legend Enrique Bolanos. All three matches would be held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, between 1946-49, and Frank Baltazar would be ringside for all three.
“Only one of the three fights was close, and that was the second, with no knockdowns, Williams won on a split decision”, Baltazar recalled. “In the third match, Williams gave him a beating,
knocking him down twice before Bolanos corner stopped it after four rounds. His eye was closed, he was in bad shape.”

Like many young boxers, Frank Baltazar started his career right in the neighborhood, thru the training of a “backyard coach”, whom the kids called “Tiger”. “I never knew his real name”, Baltazar recalled, “But he had been a pro, and had a make-shift gym in his yard. We had a couple pairs of old boxing gloves, I remember they were from Sears.

After ” Tiger” showed the boys how to punch, the kids would don the gloves and box, practicing their new skills. After boxing, young Frank would pound the heavy bag, which was actually an old navy duffel bag hanging from a tree branch. “We didn’t have much equipment, but we learned how to fight.”

When the boys needed stronger opposition, Tiger would take them downtown to the CYO Gym, at 9th & Figureoa. “This is where I met Johnny Flores”, Baltazar smiled.

Johnny Flores was known as “Mr. Golden Gloves” in Los Angeles. A decorated WWII battle hero, Flores was the co-founder of L.A.’s Junior Golden Gloves program, along with Louie Jaurequi of the Teamsters Gym. Flores would manage dozens of top contenders during his career, including former heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry, Ruben Navarro, and Dwight Hawkins.

Baltazar continued to train with Tiger, his backyard coach, for a little over a year, before switching over to the Teamsters Gym, where he boxed under Hoyt Porter, and eventually Juarequi. At the teamsters gym, Frank would be training side-by-side with some of the best boxers in town, including a hot young flyweight named Keeny Teran.

Thinking back on Teran, Baltazar stills remembers the excitement he felt in 1951, when his two favorite fighters, Enrique Bolanos, and his friend Keeny Teran, were both featured on the same card at Hollywood Legion Stadium. “Bolanos fought Eddie Chavez in the twelve round main-event, and Teran fought Gil Cadilli in a six-round semi main.

Teran and Cadilli were both ten round fighters at the time, but the Bolanos-Chavez fight was more important, so they stepped down to fight in the six round semi. I’ll never forget that night, my two favorite boxers, both fighting on the same card. I was fifteen-years-old, what could be better?”

Baltazar would see thousands of matches during his life, but none better than the six round war that took place between Keeny Teran and Gil Cadilli. “I’ve never seen a better six round fight. If you remember the Bobby Chacon-Danny Lopez fight, well, that was what it was like. The crowd went crazy and the match declared a draw.” In the main event, Enrique Bolanos, would defeat Chavez by decision.
When Frank was eighteen, he met his wife Connie. “That was in April, 1954 and eight months later, in December, we were married”, Frank said. Less than two years after they married, Connie gave birth to their only daughter, Linda.

In 1958, Frank and Connie would become parents once again, when the first of their four sons was born. The boy was named Frank Jr., and only in the young father’s wildest dreams could he have imagined that his namesake would become one of Los Angeles’ all-time great prizefighters, a Hall of Famer
Nearly three years later, the second Baltazar son made his life debut, and like the first, Tony Baltazar would also become one of the greatest boxers to ever hail from L.A. The fans knew him as Tony “The Tiger”, but his opponents knew him for his devastating left hook, knockout power that would take him right into the Hall of Fame, with brother Frankie Jr.

It was only natural that Frank and Connie’s third son, Bobby, would follow his older brothers into the ring. Born in 1963, Bobby ‘s accomplishments in amateur boxing were typical of the Baltazar family. Bobby defeated several world champions during his amateur days, including future bantamweight champ Richie Sandoval. Bobby turned professional and was unbeaten after six fights, winnng five by knockout, before getting married and deciding against continuing his boxing career.

In 1974, well into the amateur careers of the Baltazar brothers, Connie would give birth to their fourth son, James. Like his older brothers, the Baltazar’s youngest son was an exceptional athlete, but boxing was not his first love. James first love was baseball, and later he was a standout football player. However, James received several concussions during his football years and this prevented him from pursuing a boxing career.

A year before James was born, Frank Sr. would travel to Boston with the 1973 Los Angeles Golden Gloves team, representing Southern California in the National Golden Gloves “Tournament of Champions.”

Frank was head coach for an all-star Los Angeles team that included future world champ Art Frias, and world title challengers Frankie Duarte and Randy Shields. “Roy Hollis took home the National title in his weight class. He was the only L.A. boxer to do so that year”, Frank pointed out.

In 1977, Don King and ABC-TV partnered to promote a televised professional boxing tournament that would crumble under the rumor of corruption, rigged ratings, etc. The ill-fated “U.S. Boxing Championships” may have been a failure for most concerned, but it provided Frank Baltazar Sr. an opportunity to meet and visit with one of his greatest boxing idols.

In April of that year, Frankie Baltazar Jr. had nine pro fights under his belt when Don King invited him to Miami Beach to face Francisco Villegas in the U.S. Championships. Frankie Jr. would knockout Villegas, however, the most exciting part of the trip for Frank Sr. wasn’t his son’s victory.

“Frankie and I went to Miami with Johnnie Flores, who was one of my cornermen for the fight”, Frank Sr. remembered. “We needed somebody to take us around Miami while we were there, so Don King assigned us a driver.
You won’t believe who King sent to drive us . . . JOE LOUIS!”

It turned out to be quite a day, because Johnnie Flores and Joe Louis had been friends since the war. “During the fifties, Louis promoted boxing in Hollywood, at the Moulan Rouge night club on Sunset. Johnnie Flores had been matchmaker for the former heavyweight champion, so, when they met again, they had a lot to talk about”.

Before Joe Louis could take his place behind the steering wheel, Baltazar insisted that Louis allow him to drive, so as the Brown Bomber could sit in the backseat with his friend Flores, and share some incredible stories. “There’s no way I could let the great Joe Louis chauffer me around town, he was one of my childhood idols”, Baltazar said.

Today the Baltazar kids are long grown, and Frank and Connie Baltazar are grandparents. Frank no longer trains young kids in the art of boxing, however, he’s still teaching. Today, Frank Baltazar Sr. shares his experience, memorabilia, and tremendous boxing knowledge with guys like myself, L.A. boxing historians who desire to know the inside story behind the history of California boxing.

Unlike many so called historians, Frank Baltazar doesn’t just know boxing history, he’s lived it, and without question, is a part of it.

Speaking for all of who have benefited from Frank’s participation in the Los Angeles boxing community, I wish to say, “Thanks Kiki!”

photo courtesy, Ray Luna

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

         In August 2007, former WBC / WBO super bantamweight (122 lbs) champion, WBC featherweight (126 lbs) champion, IBF junior Lightweight (130 lbs) and WBC super featherweight (130 lbs) champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales retired from boxing and the end career of a great champion fromMexico was put to rest.

But after a two year, seven month retirement, and to the disagreement of many boxing experts including myself, Erik made a comeback.

So, after a few fights against mediocre opponents, last April Erik fought the hard-puncher Marcos Maidana in a junior welterweight (140 lbs) bout.

Again, the boxing experts, including myself, were in agreement that it was a huge mistake and risk by an older Morales.

In a shocker, Erik took the younger Maidana the full 12 rounds in an interim title fight, and lost by decision in what I consider a candidate for fight of the year.

This week, September 17, 2011, the 35 year old Morales was to have fought hard-punching Lucas Matthysse for the vacant WBC super lightweight (140 lbs) title, but Matthysse withdrew from the bout last week because of a viral infection.

In not canceling this title fight opportunity, Morales will focus on a replacement opponent:  top contender, hard-punching and undefeated Pablo Cesar Cano, who has 17 career knockouts in his 22 wins.

This bout is a featured attraction on the under card of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz WBC welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, and will be shown live on HBO / pay-per-view.

In closing, Erik has certainly made a believer out of me as he steps into the ring on Saturday night in this title fight with the younger, 21 year old, Cano and, win, lose or draw, he has already cemented his greatness as a true Mexican ring warrior.  After all, he is the last man (in 2005) to defeat today’s best “pound for pound” fighter in boxing, Manny Pacquiao.  The great ones never cease to amaze me!

Although there were many speakers that day, I want to thank Armando Ramirez and John Palminteri shown in this short clip. Also thanks to Bob Quackenbush for taking this video and Desiree D’Alessandro for editing.

Sincerely, David Martinez

NOTE: this video is also available on YOU TUBE under title: David Martinez Retirement Roast Excerpt

Johnny Ortiz, Dub Harris, David Martinez

( photo taken October 18, 2002 )

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

Last month the boxing world lost a friend, Maurice “Dub” Harris, who passed away peacefully on June 27, 2011 at the age of 94. He was a highly decorated veteran of the United States Army serving in both World War II and the Korean War.

Dub, along with Everett Sanders (original founder), Charlie Casas, and Gordon Del Faro, was one of the charter members of the World Boxing Hall of Fame that started in 1980. Dub served five terms as president (1982), (1985), (1989-1990), (1995-1996), (1997-1998). Dub remained active as Chairman of the Board and President’s Advisor until failing health in 2005 forced him to depart the World Boxing Hall of Fame after twenty five years of dedicated service with the goal to always strive for excellence.

I officially met Dub in November 1996 when Deborah Sutherland set up an appointment to have him interview me to become a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame. I was not shy about telling him about how I wanted to serve and offer my boxing expertise to the organization. He was delighted with my interview and I was always remember what he told me, “Don’t let me down,” which became the motivating sprit that he sincerely embedded in me and lit the torch I burned for the next ten years I served the World Boxing Hall of Fame. We often kidded about “Don’t let me down” between us, in which he would always look at me with that smile he had for the chosen ones whom he considered on his team.

From that moment forward we became close friends in service, Dub being president and me being a director of the board. Later he personally appointed me as his boxing historian. Dub was respected by everyone on the board and many others within the boxing circles he traveled. He gave much to the community, supporting such organizations as the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Youth Foundation, Shriner’s Hospitals, and the John R. Wooden Award hosted by the Los Angeles Athletic Club just to name a few.

Trudie Latka, who has severed honorably with the World Boxing Hall of Fame since 1992, says “Dub knew all about the things he didn’t know, and knew how to use others talents to unite to solve, which made him a great leader in all aspects of the word”.

Joey Olmos, a life-long icon in boxing for over sixty years and who served as Los Angeles Boxing Commissioner for many years, says, “Dub was one of a kind, dedicated, friendly, humble, and knowledgeable. He was well loved and will be missed immensely.”

Johnny Ortiz, who served with nothing less than 100 percent support to the World Boxing Hall of Fame for 12 years, says “In all my years not many have had my utmost respect. Dub Harris was a man who commanded my respect from the very moment we met. He emitted a radiance, a brightness, that went out to all that were fortunate enough to be around him. He is now in a much better place, a place he richly deserves.” To quote William Shakespeare, “We will not look upon his like again.”

With the passing of Dub, I personally will never forget him as my president and the opportunity he gave me in his trust, and in return to fulfill my commitment to never let him down. I consider myself blessed to have known such a wonderful man. May his soul rest in peace in heaven – Maurice “Dub” Harris.