Category Archives: Obituary

Enrique Bolanos / R.I.P.

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Johnny Ortiz, Lightweights, Obituary, R.I.P.

*** FLASHBACK – this article first appeared on dmboxing.com on June 27, 2012 and again on April 11, 2018 for viewing.

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

On June 4, 2012, at the age of 87, Enrique Bolanos, top lightweight contender, passed away.  I never saw him fight, but had the pleasure of meeting him and his lovely wife Ruby at various boxing venues.  According to people I know that saw him fight, he was a magnificent boxer that packed southland arenas and stadiums in the Los Angeles area like no other in the golden era of boxing (the 40’s and 50’s).

He engaged in over 100 bouts, winning 79, and fought all the best boxers of his time. Some of the top fighters he faced were Manuel Ortiz, Chalky Wright, Ike Williams, Jackie Wilson, Joey Barnum, John Thomas, Art Aragon, Maxie Docusen, Jimmy Carter, and Paddy DeMarco. 

Continue reading Enrique Bolanos / R.I.P. →

Dr. Joe Noriega – R.I.P.

David Martinez, DMBoxing News, Obituary, R.I.P.

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

I was saddened to learn this past week that a dear friend of mine, past president and member of the executive VP board of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, Dr. Joe Noriega, passed away on February 18, 2019.

Joe was well known in the Los Angeles area for his outstanding work in the chiropractic field.

He is survived by his lovely wife Nelly, and sons Dr. Jess, and Chris.

May his soul rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord.

Funeral services will be held on March 9, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California  90601.

Enrique Bolanos – R.I.P.

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Johnny Ortiz, Obituary, R.I.P.

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on June 27, 2012

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com 

On June 4, 2012, at the age of 87, Enrique Bolanos, top contender, passed away.  I never saw him fight, but had the pleasure to meet him and his lovely wife Ruby at various boxing venues.  According to people I know that saw him fight, he was a magnificent boxer that packed southland arenas and stadiums in the Los Angeles area like no other in the golden era of boxing (the 40’s and 50’s).

Continue reading Enrique Bolanos – R.I.P. →

Jake LaMotta – R.I.P.

David Martinez, Middleweights, Obituary, R.I.P.

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

On September 20, 2017 Jake La Motta, middleweight champion whose epic fights with Sugar Ray Robinson are legendary, passed away at the age of 95.

LaMotta was known as the Raging Bull and he fought in 106 bouts in a 14 year colorful brawling career. His Fame led to Martin Scorsese’s 1980 movie Raging Bull, that was nominated for eight Academy Awards and in which Robert DeNiro won best actor for his portrayal of LaMotta.

He fought, who I and top boxing historians consider the greatest fighter of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson six times – twice in a three week span in 1943.  LaMotta won only once, in their second fight which was a 10 round decision, giving Robinson his first loss after 40 straight wins.  This would be Robinson’s only loss in his first 132 professional fights. Their final fight was a grueling intriguing slugfest known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, in Chicago on February 14, 1951, in which LaMotta lost his middleweight title. Robinson won when the referee stopped the fight in the 13th round while LaMotta was hanging on the ropes, helpless and beaten. As the bout ended, LaMotta would say to Robinson “You didn’t put me down Ray, you didn’t put me down Ray!”

Although foes in the ring, he and Robinson were friends outside it. Robinson served as his best man in LaMotta’s sixth wedding.

Continue reading Jake LaMotta – R.I.P. →

Sugar Ramos – R.I.P.

David Martinez, Obituary, R.I.P.

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

Boxing has lost a great champion. On September 3, 2017, Cuban featherweight Ultiminio “Sugar” Ramos passed away in Mexico City from cancer complications. Born in Matanzas, Cuba, he was 75 years old.
 
Ramos is most remembered for two ring deaths, one inspiring a Bob Dylan song.  On March 21, 1963, Ramos and champion Davey Moore traded vicious punches in a scheduled 15 round featherweight title fight at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, that was witnessed by 26,142 in attendance.
 

Continue reading Sugar Ramos – R.I.P. →

Lou Duva – R.I.P.

David Martinez, Obituary, R.I.P.

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

On March 8, 2017, Lou Duva  passed away from natural causes at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Patterson, New Jersey. He was 94 years old.   

Lou had a remarkable career as a trainer, handling nineteen world champions. Some of the boxers, just to name a few, that Lou was involved with were Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, Michael Moorer, Arturo Gatti, Mark Breland, Lennox Lewis, Rocky Lockridge, Bobby Czyz, Johnny Bumphus, Tony Tucker, Mike McCallum, Vinny Pazienza, Hector Camacho, Fernando Vargas, Andrew Golota, Alex Ramos, Livingstone Bramble, Tony Ayla Jr., and Joey Giardiello who was his first world champion  in 1963.

Continue reading Lou Duva – R.I.P. →

Johnny Ortiz … My Friend … My Best (Boxing) Friend

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Johnny Ortiz, Obituary, R.I.P.

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on September 7, 2014 … In Loving Memory, I am re-posting in honor and respect to my friend Johnny Ortiz.

JO 1
By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

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On September 3, 2014, we laid to rest my best (boxing) friend – Johnny Ortiz, at All Souls Catholic Cemetery in Long Beach, California.

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Continue reading Johnny Ortiz … My Friend … My Best (Boxing) Friend →

Bobby Chacon R.I.P. (Revisited)

David Martinez, Obituary, R.I.P.

NOTE: This article was originally posted last month on September 10, 2016 … re-posting in honor and remembrance to a friend and great boxing champion of his recent passing … may his memory be with us all now and forever!

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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.

bobby-5

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.

bobby-danny

Chacon Lopez 2

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. (Revisited) →

Aaron Pryor – R.I.P.

David Martinez, Obituary, R.I.P.

aaron-pic-2
By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

This past week on October 9, 2016 boxing lost a great champion, Aaron Pryor, at the age of 61 due to heart failure.

Pryor won the WBA junior welterweight title from Antonio Cervantes on August 2, 1980. After ten successful WBA/IBF title defenses he briefly retired in 1985 with a undefeated record of 35 wins.

aaron-pic-1

I consider his first bout with Alexis Arguello on November 12, 1981 to be one of the greatest fights that I have ever witnessed in my 55 years in boxing. Being behind on two of the three scorecards, Pryor rallied to stop Arguello in the 14th round.

Continue reading Aaron Pryor – R.I.P. →

Bobby Chacon R.I.P.

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

bobby-lead
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.

bobby-5

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.

bobby-danny

Chacon Lopez 2

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. →