805 Boxing Pictures - Page 1
Here are some pictures that tell you about the long history of boxing in Ventura County. If you have pictures and stories you want to share, you can "Contact Us" on the top or bottom of each page on this site. This page and its pictures would not be possible without the help of the people who shared these like Melanie Ley, Martin Noriega, Manuel Herrera, Salvador Santacruz, ect.
(These pictures are in no certain order.)
Frank Thomas Fields fought from 1901 to 1913 and had 58 known fights during that time. He was born on March 9, 1881 in Tomales, CA and was a stablemate of another Oxnarder named Sam McVey (McVea). With his knowledge of the sport, he would referee, promote, train, and manage other fighters. In later years, Fields was sent to stay at the Camarillo State Hospital until his death on February 16, 1965. He is buried at the Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura, CA.
Sam McVey fought several of his first pro fights in Oxnard from 1901 - 1903. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.
This is the burial spot of Frank Fields at the Ivy Lawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home in Ventura. I posted on the FindAGrave site many years ago. If you'd like to see the exact location in the cemetery Click Here.
Mack House was born in Ventura, CA in 1905. His first recorded fight was in 1922. He fought a few fights in El Rio and Ventura during his career. In the 1940's, House enlisted into the military and was a sergeant in World War 2. He died at the age of 70 in 1976.
Sam McVey left Oxnard in February of 1903. His last fight in town was on January 31, 1903. On February 26, 1903, he fought Jack Johnson for the "Colored" Heavyweight title at Hazard's Pavilion in Los Angeles. McVey lost by decision. Johnson would become the first black World Heavyweight champion on 12/26/1908.
From about 1963-1964. We met in the hall next to Christ the King church on Cooper Road in La Colonia.
Left to Right (top row) : Coach Raul M., John Cortez, Victor Jaramillo, Tony Mestas, Freddy Saldana, Frank Garcia, Ray Balades, Joe Reveles, Manuel Banuelos, Coach (?)
Bottom row - Left to Right : Danny Velasco, ?, Alex Zaragoza, Ronnie Elazaldi, David Balades, Joe Puga, and Refugio Banuelos.
Oxnard Opera House event fight poster.
In 1906, the Dreamland Skating Rink was remodeled and became known as the La Petite Theatre. On April 15, 1909 it reopened as the Oxnard Opera House. It was located at 551 South C St. in between 5th & 6th St. in Oxnard's downtown area.
The El Rio Legion Arena that held fights for three decades beginning staging boxing and wrestling events in 1921 to 1954, when construction for the 101 Freeway began. It was a 1,500-seater outdoor style arena. It was one of the most popular boxing places from its location to San Francisco.
The Filipino-Irish fighter known as Ray McIntyre fought out of Ventura. He fought many of his 69 pro fights at the Ventura Athletic Club and at the El Rio Legion Arena.
The old Oxnard City fire Station #2 becomes La Colonia Boxing Club in the late 1970's thanks to the help of Louie "Tiny" Patino.
Ray "Windmill" White of Ventura, CA was the original "Clown Prince of Boxing". He fought from the late 1950's to the mid-1970's. A few of his pro fights were locally at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Louie "Tiny" Patino trains fighter at the Squire Drive Park. Patino helped the youth building a ring in a backyard before there was anything for local fighters to go.
Graciela Casillas from Oxnard was on the first ever all-Female card at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on July 13, 1979.
Louie "Tiny" Patino ( in the middle). Owner of the Los Angeles' Main Street Gym (Left), and former champion Danny "Little Red" Lopez on the right in front of the Boys Club on Seventh Street in Oxnard.
Frank "Panchito" Ontiveros was a coach at the La Colonia Boxing Club. He was known to be a tough fighter while locked up at different prisons.
New assistant coach Kevin Pentalow and Louie Patino outside of the Oxnard Boys Club on Seventh Street.
"The Wichita Wildcat" Leroy Gibson Sr. (aka Chocolate Flash) fought many fights at the Ventura Athletic Club. He lived in Ventura and was the founder of Gibson Barbeque on Figueroa Street.
Louie Patino standing outside of the Oxnard Boxing Gym which was located at 154 East Sixth Street in Oxnard. On the corner of Sixth & Meta street.
Boxing trainer Ruben Juarez fought out of the city of Ventura and was very successful as an amateur. he fought in the box-offs and lost to Oscar De La Hoya to make the 1992 USA Olympic team in which De La Hoya won the gold. Before turning pro, Juarez was shot outside a shop in Ventura which prevented him to continue as a fighter. He became a trainer.
Left to right : Moses Perez, Ernesto Chavez, Danny Perez, Robert Garcia, and Ramon Villanueva.
Left to Right : Martin Noriega, Rolando Reyes, Henry Prado, ?
Roger "Vargas" Romo against Matthew Doucette. You can see Fernando on the right cheering on his kid brother.
Ramon Villanueva was a true fighter out of the La Colonia Boxing Club. He was religiously at the gym training.
Noe Avitud in training!
Martin Ojeda gets the win with his hands up! La Colonia!
Mariano Solorio walking alongside the Mexican group of boxers hoping to make the 1988 Olympic team to represent Mexico in Seoul, South Korea.
Lupe Aquino was Ventura County's first world champion. Lupe was born in Mexico, but raised in Santa Paula.
Boxing trainer Ruben Juarez fought out of the city of Ventura and was very successful as an amateur. he fought in the box-offs and lost to Oscar De La Hoya to make the 1992 USA Olympic team in which De La Hoya won the gold. Before turning pro, Juarez was shot outside a shop in Ventura which prevented him to continue as a fighter. He became a trainer.
Fernando Chavez and Danny Perez do some sparring.
Boxing and wrestling at the Oxnard Opera House.
Soper was a good friend of then-Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. He supposedly took about 50 bottles of the Matilija spring water with him to Chicago for the infamous rematch against Gene Tunney that is known as "The Long Count" fight. Tunney again lost that fight by decision.
Soper's Ranch was a hot spot for boxing enthusiasts. Many top names in the sport showed up there frequently. Jack Dempsey, Mickey Walker, Jack Johnson, and Max Baer to name a few.
Clarence "Pop" Soper owned many acres of land in the Matilija Canyon in Ojai. He set up a resort there for fighters to use as a training camp.
"El Alacran" Felipe Campa makes his way to the ring for a pro bout. That's trainer Danny Garcia in the black shirt, and his brother Robert behind him.
Left to right : Ramon Villanueva, Sal Lopez, Javier Garcia, Mariano Solorio, and Henry Prado.
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