Category Archives: History

Jerry Quarry – REVISITED

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Heavyweights, History, Jerry Quarry, Jim Amato

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

FLASHBACK ~ One of my favorite article pieces from Jim Amato that I would like to share is this one regarding Jerry Quarry. In loving memory of our friend, I am reposting this for viewing. Jim Amato was truly respected by many that knew him as simply a top-notch boxing historian and expert overall sports collector, he passed away on February 22, 2022, after a lengthy bout with cancer at the young age of 66 years old. He came on board to dmboxing in 2008 with excellent contributions in boxing … may his soul rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord.

I personally knew Jerry Quarry, and he was always kind towards me. He told me many amazing stories and I saw him fight many times. Here’s sharing two photos from my collection, attending his fight with Scrap Iron Johnson on March 19, 1970 at the Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California.

Pictured: Referee Dick Young / Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon Sr. / Trainer Johnny Flores

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Gathering of Angels – REVISITED

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Gathering Of Angels, Golden State Boxers Association, History

“Gathering of Angels”

FLASHBACK — This historic article feature was originally published back on July 23, 2007 … in which it certainly generated many views of interest and now reposting with the addition of two rare photos for viewing on www.dmboxing.com

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

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.

On August 23, 1968, the Don Hotel. 105 E. “I” street, Wilmington, California, was the stage for the first Los Angeles-based gathering of boxers past and present. The intent of this gala event was to just renew old acquaintances, and, for chairman Ray Owens to begin to take the necessary steps for the creation of a pension plan and trust fund for retired boxers.

Some of the boxers that were present were Ace Hudkins, Noble “Kid” Chissell, Ever Hammer, Jimmy McLarwin, Tommy Nelson, Bobo Olson, Mushy Callahan, Tommy Randell, Georgie Levine, Gil Cadilli, Kenny La Salle, Clarence Henry, Goldie Hess, Rudy Garza, Davey Gallardo, Dado Marino, just to name a few.

Other boxing greats such as Max Schemeling, Ralph Dupas, Jack Sharky, Ray Lunny, Fridel La Barba, Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Archie Moore, Ring Magazine editor Nat Fleischer, and ring announcer Don Dunphy sent letters and telegrams that were read expressing their support.

The first ever top honor trophy given by the organization was presented to oldest ex-fighter alive – a man who had lived in the nearby San Fernando Valley – former Heavyweight Champion Jess Willard. However, because of his declining health at 88 years of age, Jess was not able to attend. Noble “Kid” Chissell, a dear friend of Willard’s, accepted the trophy, as a standing-room only crowd of over 200 people applauded in his honor.

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THE RING – A Boxing Venue, Not To Be Forgotten

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, History

FLASHBACK *** This article was originally published January 14, 2020 on www.dmboxing.com

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

Although, I wasn’t even born, nor were my parents, an old boxing venue that has always intrigued me is The Ring at Blackfriars, in London, England.

The building, built in 1783, was formerly a Nonconformist chapel and was octagonal in shape with the intent that no devils could hide in the corners. When it was no longer used as a place of worship, it was taken over by former Commonwealth British Empire lightweight champion Dick Burge and he transformed it into a boxing arena in May 1910. Several shows would take place there on a weekly basis.

Burge passed away a few short years later, on March 15, 1918, after contracting pneumonia at the age of 50. Before his death, he asked his wife Bella to ensure that their venue would be kept intact. She did, and kept the shows coming, which essentially resulted in her becoming the world’s first female boxing promoter.

Bella did an excellent job and was loved by the local community, where the pioneering lady promoter would earn the nickname “Bella of Blackfriars“.

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Primo Carnera – REVISTED

David Martinez, Heavyweights, History, Movies

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

I have had several inquiries regarding Primo Carnera, with people asking if I have any untold stories from the old timers that lived in his era. Well, there have been three that have told me various stories of interest that I can share. The three men were Emil De Loreto, Joe Campos and Tim Cobos, all respected friends that have passed away (R.I.P.) that knew boxing at its best.

Emil DeLoreto / Acknowledged from his sources that Primo had many fixed fights with most of them leading up to his title fight, when he won the heavyweight championship on June 29, 1933, defeating Jack Sharkey by 6th round knockout. DeLoreto also elaborated that some of his closest friends witnessed Primo losing the title to Max Baer on June 14,1934, taking eleven brutal knock downs in their fight which ended by 11th round knockout. On June 25, 1935 at Yankee Stadium, New York, DeLoreto witnessed a young, upcoming Joe Louis defeat Primo by 6th round knockout.

Joe Campos / Acknowledged seeing Primo as a young kid himself in several wrestling matches at the old Mission Arena in Santa Barbara, California in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Campos said his father, a boxing trainer at the venue, took him to the matches and they actually met Primo in the dressing room area; he said his handlers used the name “Satchel Feet” referring to his huge feet – a quote that I never forgot.

Tim Cobos / Acknowledged knowing Babe McCoy, who was instrumental in starting Primo’s wrestling career, after he retired from boxing. Cobos also saw Primo wrestle several times at the historic Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, and met him at a local show in Santa Barbara, California. An amazing fact is that Primo engaged in over 3,000 bouts in his sixteen-year wrestling career.

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Jeff Smith – Not To Be Forgotten

David Martinez, History, Middleweights

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

My friend, the late Boxing Historian Al Nelson, who was much older than I and who lived at the turn of the 20th Century, told me back in 1969 about a fighter named Jeff Smith, saying “This guy was as tough as nails” … this was a quote in which I took great interest. So, I did some research of my own on this middleweight boxer.

I was amazed at the crop of high level fighters that he faced in his career which included Harry Greb, Gene Tunney, Mike Gibbons, Georges Carpentier, Les Darcy, Tommy Loughran, and George Chip.

Smith began his boxing career in 1910, and engaged in 183 bouts, until his retirement in 1927. In that 17 year span he compiled 141 wins, 34 losses, and 5 draws, with 3 no-contests.

In retirement, he became a physical education instructor with the Bayonne Board of Education and the Fort Dix (New Jersey) Army Base, and also taught boxing lessons at a local YMCA.

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Tommy Ryan

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, History, Middleweights

*** FLASHBACK ***

This article was originally published on www.dmboxing.com (June 16, 2021) for viewing

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

One of the greatest boxers at the turn of the 20th century was certainly Tommy Ryan. Born on March 31, 1870 in Redwood, New York by the name Joseph Youngs, he later changed his name after running away from home at a young age.

He worked in lumber yard camps, where he learned his boxing skills. On January 1, 1887, at the age of 17, he turned professional and scored knockout wins in seventeen of his first eighteen fights.

In his career he would engage in a five fight series with the tough Mysterious Billy Smith, and after two draws, Ryan would win a 20-round decision in their third fight to capture Smith’s welterweight title on July 26, 1894.

On January 18, 1895, Ryan defeated top contender Jack Dempsey (The Nonpareil) by a third round stoppage to retain his title.

Ryan would fight Smith again in their fourth encounter on May 27, 1895, but the police interfered in the eighteenth round and the result was ruled a draw.

The following year on March 2, 1896, Ryan suffered his first career loss to Kid McCoy by a 15 round stoppage.

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Official Boxing Record

Boxing Books, David Martinez, History

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

Back in the late 1970’s, I was introduced to a man that was the outstanding editor and publisher of the monthly Official Boxing Record, Dick Mastro. Although I did not know Dick personally as he was based out of Hollywood, California, I always admired his dedication to a publication that offered boxers’ ring records, world ratings, international champions, the mail box, a classified directory, and my favorite features, Down Cauliflower Alley by Noble “Kid” Chissell and Squaring the Round by Dick Mastro. 

Through the years, I have subscribed and collected over 100 copies of his fine (digest size) product. I have always contended that the greatest boxing historians that I have met are Al Nelson, Nat Fleischer, Bert Sugar, Hank Kaplan, Don Fraser, and Emanuel Steward; but it just might be appropriate to add Dick Mastro to that list of men who collectively knew boxing to the highest degree.

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Rudy Garcia / Boxer … A Look Into The Past

David Martinez, History

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

When I was a young boy, I was blessed to have spoken to the older men who saw and lived boxing before my time. It was an education that I consider priceless, learning from the old timers about their days following the sport.

In the early 1960’s, my uncle would take me to the boxing and wrestling matches at the historic Olympic Auditorium. It was a 100 mile trip down south on the Greyhound Bus, from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, and I consider this to have been my grand introduction to the sport, and the time I fully began to enjoy the live moments of professional boxing.

My uncle once told me about a boxer he liked back in the 1950’s that he saw fight many times at the Olympic and at the Hollywood Legion Stadium. He a was young featherweight of Mexican descent, Rudy Garcia, who was born in East Los Angeles on April 12, 1929, and attended Roosevelt High School. Rudy was an outstanding amateur, winning 56 of 58 bouts, including the California Golden Gloves featherweight title.

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Dick Sadler / Boxing Manager – Trainer

David Martinez, History

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

I was first aware of Dick Sadler back in the early sixties when he was trainer and manager of Sonny Liston. I didn’t know him personally back then, but knew about him.

Later, in my tenure with the World Boxing Hall Fame, we became friends. I found him very delightful and a kind, funny man.

Dick was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1915. He moved to Hayward, California, and at the age of 24, he began his professional career. It was unremarkable, with ten bouts to his credit, winning only two.

He would go on to study religiously the sport of boxing with a great passion, to becoming a top trainer. Along with Liston, he trained Archie Moore during the last ten years of Moore’s lengthy career. He also trained Charley Shipes, Joey Lopes, Freddie Little and took George Foreman from an amateur to winning the heavyweight title in 1973 by knocking out Joe Frazier.

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Mando Ramos / The Youngest Lightweight Champion

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, History, Lightweights, Mando Ramos

**** FLASHBACK **** this article previously appeared on dmboxing.com on October 29, 2007 and October 8, 2016 for viewing

mando-3

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

I first met Armando (Mando) Ramos in the fall of 1969, when I drove to Santa Monica to watch him train at the Surf Rider Hotel in his preparation to defend his Lightweight title against Yoshiaki Numata.

mando-4

What I saw was, not a fighter in serious training. Earlier that year Ramos won the Lightweight Championship via knockout over Teo Cruz, to become the youngest to win the Lightweight title at the age of 20 years old.

But, to my surprise, I found trainer Jackie McCoy completely frustrated with Mando and his lack of concentration in the gym. He verbally chastised Mando and scowled at him for his poor training practices. That was my initial contact with Mando Ramos, which was like a teacher bawling out a student.

Mando Ramos, a personal friend of mine, was an alcoholic at the age of 13, made the drug scene at the age of 15, and was a boxing idol by the age of 18 years old. His father, Ray, a former fighter, was instrumental in starting Mando’s boxing career, working with older son Manuel and also with Mando at an early age. Mando was 5 years old fighting in the junior Golden Gloves.

mando-xxx

In November, 1965, when Mando was only 17 years old, he had his first professional fight. He was a kid with so much natural ability that he became an instant success, winning his first 17 fights, 11 by knockout, and was packing large SRO capacity crowds into the Los Angeles, California, Olympic Auditorium.

He would become LA’s darling, and literally take boxing in L.A. to newer heights, not seen since the Golden Days of Art Aragon and Enrique Balonos. Danny Lopez and Bobby Chacon would come later.

In 1968, Mando would lose to Teo Cruz in his first bid for the championship. But the following year in a rematch, he would win the title from Cruz and go on to defend it once, in a spectacular knockout over Numata, before losing to Ismael Laguna in 1970.

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