By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / World Boxing Hall of Fame
On Saturday March 5, 2005 the Stevens Steak House in the city of Commerce was the sight for the annual California Hall of Fame Inductee ceremonies.
This year’s class includes: ( boxer category ) Oscar Muniz, Paul Gonzales, Monroe Brooks, Ruben Navarro, Stan Ward, Terry Norris, Joey Obillo, George “Scrap Iron” Johnson, Jose Luis Cotero, Frankie Duarte … ( non-boxer category ) Julian Eget , Bud Furillo, Lee Espinosa, Howard Bingham, Joe Chavez, Robert Byrd, Debbie Garcia, Mack Kurihara, Jerry Roth, Esq … ( posthumous category ) Jim Healy, Canto Robledo, Rudy Garcia, Bill Slayton, Jack Johnson … ( special lifetime achievement ) Lilly and William “Blinky” Rodriquez.
The program is well constructed and organized by Don Fraser ( president / Golden State Boxers Association) and Julian Eget ( vice president / Golden State Boxers Association ) and as a board member myself – I can honestly say that I sure didn’t think they could top last years show with the appearance of Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez … but this year they surpassed that with the “surprise” appearance of Muhammad Ali.
“Ali, Ali, Ali, Ali, Ali” … the 600 plus SRO crowd chanted as the former three time heavyweight champion entered the room and it was so electric,” “It was as if the Pope” himself had walked into the room … it was one of those moments in time that one just had to be there to witness and feel.
The look on people’s faces was priceless – that I just can’t remember the last time in my 44 years being involved in boxing that I had seen just ONE person generate so much excitement at a public forum.
Even as he left the banquet room and walked to his car outside the venue with an array of fans following behind … the traffic came to a complete stop – the police at the intersection had to assist traffic for their own safety with people chanting Ali, Ali, Ali, Ali, Ali.
Personally that sure ranks as one of my most exciting times ever where I have been any where to see anybody – maybe when I was five years old watching Santa Claus enter the toy section at the old Montgomery Wards.
Muhammad Ali … simply the most recognized sports figure in the world – in the last century and his fight on March 8, 1971 vs Joe Frazier ( two undefeated fighters ) for the heavyweight championship – without a doubt the “fight of the century” and the1965 photo of Ali standing over Sonny Liston is certainly one of the top sports photos of the century.
I was very fortunate and along with the many others that attended this year’s spectacular show – congratulations to all the California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductees!