Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves

A Couple of Thoughts on Marquez and Pacquiao

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Whatever I might think about who won the fight last and the decision, both fighters have conducted themselves like professionals throughout their careers. Both are good guys in a tarnished sport. Enjoy them for whatever time they have left. Their type of fighter is a dying breed.

 Last night's decision was no fault of Manny Pacquiao. He did what he was supposed to do, they both did. If we can look past all the rest we can recognize that we saw a great fight last night. With all that goes on outside the ring, what happens inside of the ring is still what makes it the greatest sport in the world, however tarnished it may be. (That was sort of a contradictory statement but so what)

Juan Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquiao: Marquez Robbed!

Juan Manuel Marquez en route to a royal screwing

By Randy De La O

Last night's majority decision, favoring Manny Pacquiao, was an injustice to Juan Manuel Marquez, as well as to boxing fans. The fight itself was close, but there was a clear winner in this fight and it was Marquez. Thirty-six of the best rounds of boxing in three fights, between two great fighters, that should go down with the best trilogies in boxing, forever marred by – take your pick – incompetent or criminal judging.

More than anything, a man has been denied his rightful place in boxing history. As time goes on and memories fade, he will just become someone who lost three fights to Manny Pacquiao. His children will know, and so will his grandchildren, and so will the true fans of boxing but that will fade with time. By next year the rest of the sports world will have moved on as they prepare for Pacquiao vs Floyd Mmayweather Jr.

I believe that just about everyone on the planet, except for Juan Manuel Marquez and his camp, thought he was over the hill, ripe for the taking. I believe Pacquiao did to Marquez, what almost everyone, believes Mayweather is doing to Pacquiao, and that is he waited til he thought “it was safe to go back into the water”. Marquez at any age, but even at 38, has always been more than enough for Pacquiao, maybe just a little too much.

Marquez has proven himself to be a fighter for the ages, as much or maybe more so than Pacquiao or Mayweather. Never the recipient of a close fight, never given the benefit of the doubt and always in the shadow of other, more well known, but not necessarily better fighters.

Well liked but never truly taken in by his countrymen in the same way his contemporaries; Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales have been, or more recently, the way Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has been, unproven though he is.

He had only his belief, that he was among the very best of his era. Since 1993 he has plied his trade, like a craftsman, learning through trial and error, until he has mastered the art of boxing and counter punching like few others. His progress can be measured in small increments, in small nuances.

The talk before going into last night's fight with Manny Pacquiao was the degree to which Pacquiao had improved, both physically and technically since their first two meetings. Unseen and unnoticed were the improvements made by Marquez. The changes were more subtle and learned mostly through losses and tough fights with young, prime fighters. The changes that took place were inside of an already courageous fighter. He was ready for this fight with Manny Pacquiao.

I'm not going to go over every single round, you saw the fight just as I did. Overall it was Marquez who seemed to control the pace, making Manny work harder or spend energy just by virtue of his own slower paced counter punching style. Pacquiao's own face told the story throughout the fight; frustrated, worried, befuddled and bewildered at times. He was given at times to wild lunges, throwing himself off balance unable to back down a determined foe in Marquez, who stood his ground, as he always had, against anything and everything Pacquiao has in his arsenal. He got the best of the exchanges and it was almost always Pacquiao who pulled away from those exchanges. Marquez was the more accurate and sharper puncher.

The HBO announcers as always, seem to favor the house fighter (Pacquiao). As soon as each round ended, and especially those rounds that favored Marquez, Jim Lampley as quick as he could, made sure we knew what the compubox stats were, and that they favored Pacquiao. Somebody needs to tell these guys, fights are not won by compubox stats. Fights are won, with skill, technique, heart and so many other things that will never register in compubox.

Both Max Kellerman and Jim Lampley gave it their best shot in trying to convince us that Marquez lost because trainer Nacho Beristain told him he was winning. That's a stretch. You could just as easily look to the corner of Pacquiao as trainer Freddie Roach, continually told Pacquiao to get in there and “knock him out, get him out of there”. He knew.

There is no doubt in my mind that Juan Manuel Marquez won the third fight. There is no doubt in my mind that Manny Pacquiao waited for the right time to fight Marquez, before attempting to prove he was the better man. There is no doubt in my mind who the better fighter is. However razor thin that difference may be, that man is Juan Manuel Marquez.

Make no mistake about it, like it or not, Floyd Mayweather Jr is the best "pound for pound" fighter in the world today. Juan Manuel Marquez, even if I'm the only guy on the planet that recognizes it, fills the number two slot.

More Thoughts on Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez III

By Randy De La O

Jeri and I were at the hospital earlier visiting our granddaughter Maddie (she was doing good), we walked over to the cafeteria for some coffee. While we were sitting down talking she asked me, “So who do you think is going to win the fight tonight?” Referring to the Pacquiao vs Marquez fight tonight. She already knows, so it was really just a rhetorical question. Still, I wanted to answer it honestly. “Well, you really have to go with Pacquiao, he's been a great fighter”. “They fought before, right?” she asked. “Yes, and they were very close.” “Was Marquez robbed? She asked me. “No, there was no robbery, some just feel that the decision could have just as easily gone to Marquez but there was no robbery.”

That's pretty much how I honestly feel. There was no robbery involved, no one stole the victory from Marquez. Both fights were very close. They were close enough and exciting enough to warrant a third fight. But at 38, Marquez chances are much slimmer now than, say, three years ago. Still, Marquez has always been the type of fighter that I admire; a tremendous heart, great boxing and counter punching ability, a willingness to mix it up, and a refusal to quit.

His quiet demeanor has sometimes worked against him. In some ways he reminds me of the great Alexis Arguello, not so much that both were great counter punchers, but in the way that both approached their sport. Arguello was, and Marquez is, the type of fighter that comes to work, clocks in, does his job to the utmost of his ability, then clocks out and goes home. No bull shit about either fighter. Perhaps too, like Arguello, Marquez will never beat his greatest rival but it won't be because he didn't try.

There is a type of fighter that really gets to me. The late Joe Frazier, of course, was the epitome of that type. I'm talking beyond style. I've mentioned before that heart is the quality that I admire more than any other in a fighter. Sometimes it will take a fighter to hell and back, sometimes to victory and sometimes to defeat. So what it comes down to, to me, is not always so much how a fighter wins but also in the way he loses. Even in defeat some men are magnificent.

I was trying to explain to Jeri too, on what makes a champion. There have been so many great champions over the years (not so much lately) but what sometimes defines a great champ is not so much that he was better than everyone but that when facing a bigger, stronger, better fighter, he still finds a way too win. That's what true champions do.

So, that's Juan Manuel Marquez' task tonight. To find some kind of way to beat a younger, faster, better fighter, with an equally big heart and with a mission that will rival his own, These are the fights that become legend.  

Austin Trout Stops Frank La Porto

Photo Courtesy of Showtime Boxing

By Randy De La O

Austin Trout thoroughly and completely dominated the fight last night against Frank La Porto, at the Cohen Stadium in El Paso, Texas. The fight ended as Trout had hoped but the fight went differently than expected. La Porto was a tough nut to crack, especially when, after being dropped in the first round, he seemed to be in survival mode. He did however, show a lot of heart and courage but he was outclassed by a superior fighter in Trout.

My one fear, after watching Alfredo Angulo punch himself out last week, after almost knocking out James Kirkland, was that Trout would do the same thing. I needn't have worried, Trout was in excellent shape. He looked like he could have gone 15 rounds last night.

Trout's corner, led by Louie Burke, was calm between the rounds as they kept their fighter focused on the job at hand. Trout, who lives in nearby Las Cruces, New Mexico, had the home court advantage last night. The pro-Trout crowd was on it's feet the entire fight. The knockout never came but by the 6th round, La Porto, a thoroughly beaten fighter, his will and heart gone, was saved by merciful referee, Rafael Ramos. I don't believe La Porto would have lasted another round. After the fight, La Porto's face looked brutally beaten but it was expression that said it all.

More than anything else, I was impressed by Austin after the fight, during the post fight interview. When asked to rate his performance and his future, Trout's reply was, “I felt like I did my thing. If anybody feels like I don’t deserve this belt, please come and take it.”

Mostly though, I was impressed by the way Trout conducted himself; confident and sure of himself but without the usual braggadocio and trash talking so common in young fighters and other athletes. Trainer Louie Burke and company have done an outstanding job. Congratulations Champ!

Pacquiao vs Marquez III

Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez III: Third Time's the Charm for Marquez?

By Randy De La O

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquezwill go at it again tomorrow night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. They will be fighting for Pacquiao's WBO Welterweight title. I can't find too many people to agree with me but I think that Marquez has a chance to win. Regardless, I'm throwing my support behind him. Marquez, arguably, the best counterpuncher fighting today, has always had the right style to go up against Pacquiao. He has always found a way to upset Pacquiao's rhythm. I'm hoping he can do it again. Still, this is a fight that should have been made a few years ago but it is what it is.

Pacquiao and Marquez have fought twice before; a draw in 2004 and a split decision in 2008. The fights, the rivalry and the results have been discussed ad nauseum and there's no point in going over every detail again except to say that the difference between the two has always been razor thin. Given the closeness of both fights I don't understand Pacquiao's irritation at Marquez for believing that he won the fight, especially since a large part of the boxing world feels the same way.

Pacquiao seems to be concerned about the fight too. By his own admission, he is training harder for this fight than for any other. So he at least is giving Marquez some due respect. There is also a rematch clause that was added.......just in case. On the other hand, he seems to be looking past Marquez and to a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometime next year.

Pacquiao has momentum on his side, and he is a good fighter, no doubt (I'm still not sold on his greatness) and of course the odds and circumstances favor him, including the weight. If he has taken Marquez for granted, if he makes a mistake, if he has done one thing wrong during training, Marquez is the man that will make him pay.

I know that a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is good for boxing. But the way see it, if Pacquiao can't get past Marquez, than who cares about it? Not me. I believe that if this fight meets any and all expectations, regardless of who wins, it's a big shot in the arm for boxing. The future will take care of itself.

Throughout most of his career, Marquez has fought in the shadow of his countrymen, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Now, he has out lasted both of them and has established his own legacy. Because of his draw and split decision loss (Both controversial), he has also fought in the shadow of Manny Pacquiao. I'm hoping that tomorrow night he steps out of the shadow.

I honestly don't know who will win tomorrow but I do know that Marquez will give every ounce of himself in this fight, they both will. I also know that Manny Pacquiao has never convincingly beaten Marquez. They both have something to prove to each other, and to themselves. Both are confident. No matter how you look at it, both men have been remarkable.

That loud shouting you hear coming from Whittier will be me screaming for Marquez to win, any kind of way.

As always, let the best man win, but here's hoping, that for Marquez, the “third time's the charm”.

The fight will be shown on HBO PPV.

Joe Frazier’s Funeral

Monday November 14, 2011
9-11am Calling – Closed Casket
11am – Service Starts

Calling and Service will be held at
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
2800 West Cheltenham Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19150
Get Directions 

In Lieu of Flowers, the Frazier family asks you to send donations to
The American Cancer Society. Make checks payable to ACS, Inc.
8400 Silver Crossing,  Oklahoma City, OK 73132.
Please include in your memo: In Memory of Joe Frazier.

Please leave a comment on JoeFraziersCorner.com  if you’d like to pay your respects.

Fight Night Champion - Still Standing: Joe Frazier

Courtesy of EASPORTS on Youtube.com

The Fight

By Randy De La O

I'm trying to find some kind of way to describe to a younger generation just how big the first fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali was. If ever there was a fight that could accurately be deemed “The Fight of the Century” this was the one. It is often, just simply called “The Fight”. No explanation is needed.

Oh, there were other so called“Fights of the Century” but in terms of historic epic heavyweight fights, only Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling II, and perhaps Jack Johnson vs James J. Jeffries come close. But this fight had something that no other heavyweight fight before it had; two undefeated heavyweights, each with a legitimate claim to the heavyweight title, the biggest prize in all of sports, perhaps the biggest prize anywhere. Add to that all the media attention that was not available to those other fights. The timing was right.

So big was the fight across the world that countries shut down and a war was put on hold – Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali were going to fight. Celebrities, politicians, anyone and everyone wanted to be part of the act. Frank Sinatra himself was to cover the fight as the photographer for Life magazine (I have that issue).

I was a junior in high school when this fight took place. When I think, talk or write about this fight, or either fighter, it is always through the eyes of a 16 year old boy, I can't help it. As I write this my eyes are welling up with tears as I remember. Both of these guys were my boxing heroes. It was hard for me to think of them fighting each other.

If you have read anything I have written before you know that my heart sometimes-No, make that always-overrides my head. I wear my heart on my sleeves. There is no hiding who I like and who I dislike. So when it was announced that Frazier and Ali were going to fight, I was besides myself, trying to decide where to place my loyalty. Ultimately, I put my $5.00 weekly lunch money on Smokin' Joe (I didn't tell my parents).

My father, a fighter in the army, was an old school fight fan and came from a time when fighters fought, not talked, and so he was not a fan of Ali. His guys were; Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Jerry Quarry and of course, Joe Frazier. Many from that generation could never quite warm up to Ali's bombastic style of boasting. Me? I ate it up. I knew it was all an act. Still, Joe Frazier; stoic, fierce and with a determined scowl, pacing back and forth like a wild cat, anticipating his prey, really grabbed me.

Ali had a way of getting inside a fighter's head. He would find out what another fighter's button was and than push it, and no one could push it like Ali. Frazier had built a wall around himself and Ali was never able to penetrate it. What we know now, that we didn't know then, or at least I didn't, was that Ali's words did hurt Joe. The “Uncle Tom” and “Gorilla” tags hurt Joe to the core of his being and he carried that resentment and anger throughout his life.

Somehow, Joe was able to channel that anger inside the ring. Relentless, forward moving and constantly throwing punches, but always in control.

Ali, as almost everyone already knows, was coming back from a three year exile. His last fight before he was stripped of the heavyweight title was a 15 round title defense against Zora Folley, stopping Folley in the 7^th round and defending his WBA title.

It would be three years before Ali would fight again. In his comeback Ali had taken on a new persona. He was now a genuine folk hero. He had taken a stance against the U.S. Government and the Viet Nam War and he won. As much as he was hated, or disliked before the exile, the political and social change that had swept the country made him bigger than ever. Not to say that there were no longer any Ali haters, but they were no longer the majority.

Ali fought again on October, 1970 when a fight was finally secured in Atlanta, Georgia against popular and ever tough West Coast favorite, “Irish” Jerry Quarry. Ali would stop Quarry in the 3^rd round. Officially the fight was a TKO due to cuts.

His next bout was with Argentina's Oscar Bonavena in December of 1970, at Madison Square Garden, New York. Ali stopped Bonavena in the 15^th round after knocking the Argentinian down three times in the final round. Ali had dominated the fight. Next up: Joe Frazier.

In June of 1969, Frazier defeated Jerry Quarry – in Ring Magazine's fight of the year- to win the New York version of the heavyweight title by stopping Quarry in the 7^thround of their scheduled 15 round fight.

Next on Frazier's hit list was Jimmy Ellis, for the vacant WBC title, as well as the WBA heavyweight title, also at stake was Joe's NYSAC heavyweight title. Ellis had won his version of the heavyweight championship by defeating Jerry Quarry a year earlier to win the heavyweight tournament. Ellis would be TKO'ed in 5 rounds. The fight was scheduled for 15 rounds. Joe Frazier was now the Heavyweight Champion of the world. Joe made quick work of his next opponent, light heavy king, Bob Foster, as Foster attempted to take the crown from Frazier. Foster was knocked out in the 2^nd round. Next up: Muhammad Ali.

Back at school, as the fight was approaching, those that followed boxing, and even those that didn't typically follow the sport, were broken into two camps: Frazier or Ali. It wasn't just school though, it was like that everywhere. I stayed out of any arguments. Despite the fact that I had picked Frazier to win, I was still a fan of Ali. I picked Frazier because, at that time and from what I had seen. I thought him invincible. As far as my heart was concerned, I was loyal to both. I would say nothing bad about Ali. Both were the heavyweight champions.

This was all taking place before cable and PPV television. So we had to depend on the news from the radio and of course, from the paper the next day. The fight took place at Madison Square Garden, in New York. The Garden and New York were still the epicenter of boxing in those days. The referee was Arthur Mercante. Joe Frazier beat Ali by unanimous decision and was now the absolute undisputed heavyweight champion of the word. Ali was down in the 15^th round as a result of a Frazier left hook. I still have the newspaper from that day, forty plus years later. It's wrinkled, fragile and yellow now. It's in a box somewhere. The fight was front page news all across the globe.

I had bragging rights at school, but really as happy as I was that Frazier had won the fight I was equally unhappy that Ali had lost. I was going to feel that way regardless of who won and lost. It's the price you pay for loving your fighters.

Over the years I have seen the fight on rebroadcasts and later on Youtube (a boxing fans best friend). Ali seemed in control in the early rounds but Joe was smoking and he just was not going to lose. I never tire of watching it.

They fought three times in total. Their last fight , in 1975, was “The Thrilla in Manilla” which might have even surpassed the first fight. That fight ended in the 14^thround when trainer and cornerman, the late and great Eddie Futch refused to let Joe come out for the final round. It's said that both men were near death that day. Whether that's true or not, I couldn't say. What I do know is that both men damaged each other. They fought each other with every fiber of their beings. They took each other to a place that most of us will never see or imagine. Neither of them were never again the same. Their fights with each other were of epic, almost mythical proportion. They were giants.

Their rivalry and trilogy was one for the ages. Their feud transcended the ring. In the last couple of years, they finally made peace with each other. Joe forgave Ali for the words, and belittlement. God Bless him for that.

I was lucky to be a fight fan when giants still fought in the ring. Smokin' Joe Frazier, a fighter's fighter and a man's man. Goodbye Joe, I'll miss you!

A Tribute to Smokin' Joe Frazier

Smokin' Joe Frazier Has Died

Smokin' Joe Frazier 1944 - 2011

R.I.P. Champ

By Randy De La O

Joe Frazier has died. A little piece of my past has gone with him. He was one of my boyhood idols. Hard to believe. To have been a young fan of boxing during one of the greatest era of heavyweight boxing is something I will never forget. That was at a time when the heavyweight title was the biggest prize in all of sports, maybe bigger than just about anything. On March 8, 1971 Joe Frazier beat my other boyhood idol, Muhammad Ali in their epic 15 round championship fight. On that night Joe Frazier was king of the world.

My condolences to the Frazier family. Go with God Joe!

Austin Trout Promo

James Kirkland Stops Alfredo Angulo

Photo Courtesy of HO Boxing

By Randy De La O

As anticipated, Saturday night's fight on HBO between Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo and James Kirkland, in Cancun, Mexico, was a real barn burner. Kirkland immediately took the fight to Angulo and thirty seconds into the round he was dropped and hurt by a right hand.  Angulo looking to finish Kirkland never stopped punching. He should have, or at least stepped back a bit and been a little more selective with his punches.

So sure was Angulo of a first round KO victory that he punched himself out. You could almost see it coming. Many of the shots missed their mark. Near the end of the round Angulo was knocked down, almost as much from exhaustion as from Kirkland's punches.

In the second round Angulo's legs were unsteady and his punching lacked any real zip. It was the beginning of the end for Angulo as Kirkland, 100% back in the fight, dominated the rest of the fight. Angulo was taking a beating. You got the sense that both fighters were willing to die in the ring. When the referee stopped the fight in the sixth round, it was unchallenged. It was a great, hard fought victory for Jame Kirkland. He attributed his win to his hard training and preparation. It gives credence to the old boxing adage, "Fights are won and lost in the gym". Regardless of the outcome both men proved their mettle Saturday.

Smokin' Joe Frazier has Cancer

“Life doesn't run away from nobody. Life runs at people.” 

-Joe Frazier

Legendary heavyweight and all around good guy, Smokin' Joe Frazier has Liver Cancer. Joe has always been a bigger than life man and champion to his countless and loyal fans, and that includes my entire family. 

Joe is in God's hands now, and is in the fight of his life, we will continue to pray for his recovery. Joe as well as his family are in our prayers. God Bless you Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Past articles on this site on Joe Frazier.

A Fighter and a Friend . . .

By Rick Farris

I was twelve when my family moved back to Burbank in 1964. This is where I would begin junior high school. I came from Orange County, where I grew up having more than my share of school yard fights. I expected being the new kid in class, somebody was going to try me, and I was ready, but it never happened. The kids in Burbank were a lot more mellow than I was used to, so I rarely had a fight.

I was one of the smaller guys in my class, but I was pretty much an athlete, and I'd meet another kid who was the same. He was my size and a great athlete, good runner. His name was Frankie Santillan, and he and I kind of hit it off.

At the time, I was totally into boxing. I dreamed of being a boxer and was looking for a place to make my dream come true. I would find out that Frankie also liked boxing, and that his dad Max was also a boxing guy. After school, I'd bring my boxing gloves over the Frankie's house and we'd box in the backyard. Frank's younger brother Maxie would referee. Afterwards Frankie would grab a couple of his dad's boxing magazines and we'd talk about some of the fighters of the era. I remember us discussing Joey Giambra one day. About twenty-five years later I'd meet Giambra, and as we discussed his career, I thought about the day Frankie mentioned it to me. We also talked about Davey Moore, the featherweight champ who had died in the ring a couple years earlier, in the only boxing event to ever be held at Dodger Stadium.

 A couple years later, my parents bought a home on the other side of town and we moved. After that I didn't see Frankie, we would attend different high schools. Shortly after moving I began my boxing career, training under Johnny Flores who managed heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry. I fought in the Junior Golden Gloves for nearly three years before I would see my old pal Frankie Santillan again. As we began the 1968 Jr. Golden Gloves tournament, I was fighting in the 96-105 pound weight class, in the Open division. As I looked over a program for the upcoming round of eliminations, I see a name that caught me totally by surprise, Frankie Santillan. Frank was fighting out of Canto Robledo's "Crown City Boxing Club" in Pasadena. He was fighting in my same weight class, but in the Novice division. Like me, Frankie Santillan was on a path that would one day lead both of us to make our professional boxing debuts while still attending high school.

 I won the Open division championship that year. And Frankie Santillan won in the Novice division. Frankie was flashy, fast, a solid puncher that liked to box but was more than willing to stand and punch. Although we were a bit different in style, we shared the same spirit, and we were both used to winning.

I remember that my dad and Frankie's father became friends as they sat together watching us fight. And they sat together, Frankie's family and mine, when the two of us finally fought. We would fight four times, and I truly believed that every fight was very close. I would lose two of those fights. We were friends outside the ring, but in the ring we were all business. We took nothing personal, but in the ring we were out to KO one another. But that never happened, we both stayed on our feet, and we both went toe-to-toe.

We both traveled to Las Vegas for the1970 Golden Gloves Nationals. Frankie's dad snapped a photo of the two of us in the dressing room prior to our fighting opponents from the Nevada team. I fought somebody from Arizona, and I forget who Frankie whipped that night. About two months later, we'd both turn pro a few weeks before graduating from high school.

We'd both fight at the Olympic Auditorium, and make our pro debuts on TV facing the same opponent, Antonio Villanueva, just a couple weeks apart.

After a few years, Frankie left boxing suddenly. I never saw him again. He and I had both worked as a sparring partner for the great bantamweight champ, Ruben Olivares. And we'd both boxed with world champs Bobby Chacon, Danny Lopez and others. I fought a bit longer before quitting for good when I was 24. I often wondered about Frankie Santillan. We shared a unique history, we walked the same path, and we both came out about the same career wise.

One day I get a Facebook friend request - from Frank Santillan!

In the late 90's, I began writing about boxing and I became involved with a few veteran boxer organizations and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. During the past dozen years I was able to reconnect with many of the great boxers I knew way back when. Frank told me he just walked away from boxing, but now he is back. In a few weeks, Frank Santillan, a good fighter and a good friend will return to a place where his star shined for awhile. And best of all, he'll be with all of us who knew him well, long time friends. We are no longer teenage prizefighters, we are a couple of old men. But on December 10th, we'll join some other old men we once knew and we are going to take a nice little step back in time.

Frankie and I never won a professional championship, but I can honestly say that we have traded punches with some of the greatest boxers of all-time. And it all started in a back yard in Burbank.

-Rick Farris