Category Archives: R.I.P.

Rusty Rubin R.I.P.

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Glove2Glove, R.I.P., Rusty Rubin

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on November 13, 2014

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By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

When I think about the many friends I have met in over fifty years of being involved in boxing – one name surfaces to the top – Rusty Rubin.

This week, on Tuesday November 11, 2014, Rusty, age 72, passed away peacefully at his home in Reno, Nevada.

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I met Rusty back in the late nineties upon my entry into the World Boxing Hall of Fame as a Director of the Board.  He would always come to our annual banquet and we “instantly” became friends from that point forward in life.  I wrote articles for his RingSports Magazine and when I founded my website dmboxing.com in July 2007; he offered and was my first feature writer with his award winning column “In Rusty’s Corner”.

Continue reading Rusty Rubin R.I.P. →

Bobby Chacon R.I.P.

David Martinez, Obituary, R.I.P., Steve Corbo

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By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

On September 7, 2016, one of the most exciting, fan friendly boxers I have known, in my 55 years in boxing, passed away – two time featherweight champion Bobby Chacon. He was a friend to many, including myself, and was 64 years old at the time of his passing.

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Bobby engaged in some of the best fights of his era, during his brilliant career (1972-1988) 59 wins, 7 losses, one draw, with 47 wins by knockout. He fought all comers, to name a few: Tury Pineda,  Jose Luis Martin Del Campo, Frankie Crawford, Chucho Castillo, Ruben Olivares, Danny Lopez, Alfredo Marcano, Rafael Limon, Alexis Arguello, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, Ray Mancini, Freddie Roach and Arturo Frias.

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Bobby’s fight vs. Danny Little Red Lopez at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, on May 24, 1974, can arguably be considered one of the greatest intracity rivalries in the history of boxing. I was ringside that night and witnessed a great fight, with Bobby winning by knockout in round nine. I remember sitting next to Bryant Gumbel who was working as a sports newscaster for KNBC channel 4 at the time. We both had two things in common – a love for boxing and being born in the same year.

Continue reading Bobby Chacon R.I.P. →

Muhammad Ali – R.I.P.

Ali, David Martinez, Heavyweights, R.I.P.

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Nickname: The Greatest / aka Cassius Clay

Professional Ring Record: 56-5 / 37 by KO

Held Heavyweight Championship: 1964-1970, 1974-1978, 1978-1979

Famous Quote: “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”

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By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

Muhammad Ali peacefully passed away due to respiratory complications in a Phoenix-area, Arizona hospital on June 3, 2016. He was 74 years old.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali – R.I.P. →

Abel Fernandez – R.I.P.

David Martinez, Obituary, R.I.P.

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By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

On May 3, 2016 a friend to many, former actor, and professional boxer, Abel Fernandez, passed away at the age of 85.

Abel played Native American Federal Agent William Youngfellow on the hit TV series, “The Untouchables” (1959-1963). The show’s star was Robert Stack, who played Eliot Ness.

Abel was born in East Los Angeles on July 14, 1930, and attended Belmont High School. At the young age of 16 he enlisted in the United States Army, where he became a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. While serving in the military, he won the Asiatic Forces middleweight championship.

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After his discharge in 1950, Abel won the Los Angeles Times Golden Gloves Tournament and was runner-up at the National Golden Gloves in Chicago. He later boxed professionally in the light heavyweight division from April 1950 to March 1953.

Continue reading Abel Fernandez – R.I.P. →

Rubin “Hurricane” Carter R.I.P.

FLASHBACK, Harold Lederman, Middleweights, R.I.P., Video

Rubin Carter

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com 

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on May 7, 2014

I remember watching the “Friday Night Fights” on TV with my father and friends back in the early sixties, seeing Rubin “Hurricane” Carter as a top middleweight contender.

On April 20, 2014, Easter Sunday, Rubin passed away at the age of 76 after suffering from prostate cancer.

Rubin was nicknamed “Hurricane” because of his ferocity and punching power. He never achieved the title of world champion, but is always remembered for stopping two-division champion Emile Griffith in the first round in 1963. He fought for the middleweight title in 1964, losing a unanimous 15 round decision to Joey Giardello. Rubin had a professional ring record of 27 wins, 12 losses, and 1 draw with 19 knockouts.

Continue reading Rubin “Hurricane” Carter R.I.P. →

Bill Connell ‘aka’ Hot Dog Man / R.I.P.

David Martinez, Obituary, R.I.P.

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By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

My friend, everybody’s friend, Bill Connell ‘aka’ the Hot Dog Man, age 61,  passed away on February 5, 2016.

A New Jersey native, he moved to Carpinteria, California, in 1992 and opened up his “All American Surf Dog” hot dog cart stand just off the 101 freeway at the Bailard Avenue exit. He served hundreds on a daily basis and always with a smile and an open heart.

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Continue reading Bill Connell ‘aka’ Hot Dog Man / R.I.P. →

Bob Foster and the Light Heavyweight Division

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, R.I.P.

*** FLASHBACK ~ this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on January 15, 2013

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IN MEMORY OF – on November 21, 2015 Bob Foster passed away, may his soul rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord … R.I.P. (4-27-38 / 11-21-15)

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By David Martinez  /  Boxing Historian

I consider myself truly blessed to have seen over the past fifty years all the boxing greats. I have written various articles ranking different boxers in their primes, but I feel compelled to write now about a division in boxing that hardly anyone ever talks about – light heavyweight.

Continue reading Bob Foster and the Light Heavyweight Division →

Saying Goodbye to My Friend George Garcia ~ R.I.P.

David Martinez, George Garcia, R.I.P.

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By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

This past week, I said my final goodbye to a wonderful human being and best of friends,  George Garcia. I was honored as a pallbearer and to speak about him at the funeral service. My focus was his kindness which, besides boxing, is what attracted me most and made us the true, everlasting  friends that we were for about the past twenty years.

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Continue reading Saying Goodbye to My Friend George Garcia ~ R.I.P. →

George Garcia R.I.P.

David Martinez, George Garcia, R.I.P.

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By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

My dear best of friends George Garcia, age 60,  passed away peacefully at his home in Montebello, California on August 13, 2015 after his battle with cancer.  George was a special friend because he was giving and the kindest of people that I have ever known.

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We met about twenty years ago through the boxing circles.  He attended many World Boxing Hall of Fame banquets during my ten year (1997-2007) tenure on the Board of Directors.

Continue reading George Garcia R.I.P. →

My friend, my best friend, Frankie Rivas ~ R.I.P.

David Martinez, R.I.P.

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By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

It’s been six years since my friend, my best friend, Frankie Rivas, passed away.  The date of his passing was April 7, 2009.  I tearfully, but honorably, delivered the eulogy at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, Santa Barbara, California, for his funeral service.  Frankie was involved in boxing as an amateur boxer, referee at many local boxing shows, and gave his support to the kids in boxing gyms in our community.  I have known Frankie since my childhood days and he  was the truest boxing fan I have ever known.  May his soul rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord … my friend, my best friend, Frankie Rivas.

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