Interview With Author Gene Aguilera
Los Angeles has long been a hotbed of boxing. The City of Angels has embraced the colorful world of boxing–along with its cast of characters. I’ve loved the sport for years and I’m also fascinated with the past eras of the sweet science.
Whether you are a casual boxing fan or a diehard boxing purist, there’s a new book out just for you. The newly-released Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles (Arcadia Publishing) is the latest in their Images of America series. This sleek new tome by author and noted boxing historian Gene Aguilera chronicles the Mexican warriors that punched their way through the Southland.
This unique book (21.99 softcover) is a beauty with more than 200 rare and vintage images leaping off of the pages. With its sepia-toned cover, this tome is great from start to finish. I got a sneak peek of this ode to boxing at Olympian Paul Gonzales’ birthday party in April. At the fiesta, cover boy Herman Montes reenacted his pose of victory with Aguilera while Gonzales had a blast checking out his own photos in Gene’s new book.
And after its official release, I caught up with the author Aguilera, a big boxing buff and also a well-regarded music expert.
His new book is really a labor of love for the SoCal author. It is an insider’s look at the the young, fresh faces of a bygone era; gladiators from a golden age. They say “every picture tells a story” and this publication begins with photos of Aurelio Herrera and ends with Oscar De La Hoya. And in between the pages, you will be transported back to a time that can never be duplicated…but the images have been captured forever.
Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles is a gem of a read and I took my time turning the pages and soaking up the history with glimpses of some never-before-seen photos. Whether the men were fighting for fame and glory, a way of out the means streets of L.A. or slugging out the demons within, each picture tells a story. From poignant to comical to beautiful, the black-and-white snapshots featured in the book opens a door to the past.
In the following interview, I hear from author Gene Aguilera how this pictorial came together, what the reaction of the boxers and champs has been like, and having him narrow down his choices for his all-time great and current favorite fighter in the game.
Michele Chong: Hi Gene, congratulations on the release of your new book! In a previous conversation with you, you had mentioned that your book took two years to write. What were the most challenging aspects in completing this labor of love?
Gene Aguilera: Thank you, Michele! The fact that this book is the first book to place all the great Mexican American boxers of Los Angeles in one place, I felt an immediate pressure that I could not let each and every one of these boxers and their families down. In other words, this had to be a quality product, well written, and well researched book as I was representing their boxing legacy and the whole historical sociological boxing heritage of Los Angeles. You hear people talk about how their lives revolved around going to the Olympic Auditorium and watching all-time greats like Manuel Ortiz, Enrique Bolanos and Art Aragon fight, so I felt the heat was on to make this the best book I could about the subject matter. There are thousands of boxing books that have come out through history, and I did not want my book just to be “another boxing book.” I wanted to choose the correct pictures that depicted the boxers personalities, lives and careers. I wanted the boxers to tell their own true stories and heartfelt confessions through their quotes and interviews.
You’re right, this was a labor of love, never did I feel that it was a grind to write, because I love boxing so much. I was always excited to sit down at the lap top and write, or go to a boxer’s home and look through his boxes of pictures and scan them. My only regrets were that I had to spend so much time away from the family (whether it was locking myself away in my home office and/or scheduling appointments on the weekend) and the fact that I could not include some Mexican American boxers in the book (that deserved
to be in there) due to space constraints.
MC: The cover of your book is a photo of Herman Montes and his team. What was it about this particular photo that made it as the cover shot?
GA: I submitted 10 photo choices for the cover shot of the book, and the book company (Arcadia Publishing) chose the winning shot of Herman Montes to make it on the cover. Even though this was not a championship fight (nor the evening of when Montes knocked out Pipino Cuevas at the Olympic Auditorium), it showed an attitude, and it made a statement of a young Mexican American fighter, early in his career, claiming victory in the ring. Also there with Montes in the photograph are referee John Thomas raising his
hand signifying a win, Olympic Auditorium legend Jimmy Lennon announcing the results, John Montes Sr. (father/trainer) amongst others. I had a guy the other day tell me: “Just by looking at the cover, I know it’s going to be a good book!”
MC: As well as being a boxing historian, you are also a vintage record collector. When did this love of nostalgia begin?
GA: I guess the 1960s is my “sweet spot.” This was when I grew up and enjoyed music and sports the best. My record collection has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Goldmine Magazine, and the L.A. Weekly. Growing up, I loved to read the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner and Los Angeles Times because they frequently wrote about my favorite Mexican American boxers. I cut the articles out as well as collected those gorgeous “floating head” boxing posters that adorned the telephone posts around the city. It was a natural for me to write my new book “Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles” because all those glorious boxing stories were stored in my head and I just had to match them with my lifelong photo collection. A lot of the boxers in the book are friends of mine, so I visited them and scanned some of the great pictures that you see in the book.
MC: Your passion for boxing is evident. Tell me what watching your first live pro boxing match was like?
GA: My first live professional boxing match was at the Olympic Auditorium during the early 1970s. Luckily for me, I used to live in East Los Angeles, so the Olympic Auditorium was just a hop, skip, and a jump from my “Mama” Carmen’s home. I used to go see Carlos Palomino, Mando Muniz, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Bobby Chacon, Alberto Davila, Frankie Duarte, Alberto “Superfly” Sandoval, Herman Montes, Johnny “Wito” Montes, Oscar “The Boxer” Muniz, etc. That was “my era.” I bemoan the fact that the Olympic Auditorium is not in business anymore. The Olympic was the rallying point for Los Angeles boxing, that’s where everyone went for boxing (along with The Forum). Now
everything is spread out. The Olympic was the real deal, the place where champions were made. When you left the Olympic Auditorium after an evening of boxing, you left satisfied that you watched real boxing being made.
MC: If you could name just one past fighter and one current fighter as your very favorite, who would you name and why?
GA: Ruben Olivares (two-time Bantamweight World Champion and two-time Featherweight World Champion and Hall of Famer) is my favorite fighter of all-time. In his prime, he mowed down all bantamweight contenders in his way and destroyed Lionel Rose to win his first title. He had an angel on his shoulder that protected him in the ring, but unfortunately Ruben wasn’t real keen at training or taking care of himself during down-time. Had he taken better care of himself (without the partying), nobody would have beaten him. I take Ruben to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York every year. The Hall of Fame opened up in 1990 with Ali and company, and Ruben was inducted in 1991. That should give you a good idea of his stature in boxing history. My favorite current fighter is Marcos “Chino” Maidana. I have seen him win and lose, but he fights with a hunger that is a throwback to the good old days of boxing. I just wished he could have been just a little more aggressive against Mayweather, but I guess it’s hard to fight someone who is in constant defensive mode.
MC: What has kept you a loyal boxing fan through the decades?
GA: Boxing is like a good novella. You can’t shake it loose. I actually love those 24/7 programs that show the personalities of the boxers or the little segments they show on the boxers before the main event. I really believe the relationship between boxers and fans is the best in any sport. But boxing must beware at the current moment. When the current crew of Mayweather, Pacquiao, Marquez, Canelo, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez retires, who is going to take their place? The well is going dry. Promoters better go out and groom the next generation of boxers, because right now a lot of the new guys are pretty faceless.
MC: You recently had a book signing event with some of the fighters and have another event coming up on June 21. What has the reaction been from both the boxing community and new fans?
GA: Yes, we have a book signing coming up at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood on Saturday, June 21 from 3-5 p.m. with special guest former welterweight champion and Hall of Famer Carlos Palomino. The reaction has been great on the book at the book signings, Facebook, and boxing websites. I am doing promotion the “old school” way, selling books out of my truck, taking the book to the streets, and reaching out to people who want to buy the book. Any local buyers, please call me at 323-697-7197. Thank you.
MC: Your book ends with Oscar De La Hoya. Any plans on writing a sequel?
GA: The book ends with the most famous and most successful boxer to ever come out of East L.A.–Oscar De La Hoya. In fact, the last chapter is named, “There’s A New Golden Boy in Town.” Arcadia Publishing is a historical book company that preserves and celebrates American cities and communities and they wanted the bulk of the book to be pre-1980, so I made a decision to stop at Oscar. I would love to do a sequel. There are so many more colorful and interesting boxing stories to tell, so I am hoping I get a
chance.
MC: And finally, how can people order the book?
GA: People can order the book at Amazon, eBay, Barnes & Noble, Arcadia Publishing, Sounds of Music (East L.A.), Seite Books (East L.A.), or mail order through Gene Aguilera, P.O. Box 113, Montebello, Calif. 90640–please send $25.00 to cover shipping and handling.
MC: Thanks for your time, Gene, and continued success with Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles!
GA: Thank you Michele. I admire your constant promotion of boxing (local and other) and all your great photography. If I am at a boxing event, and Michele Chong is not there, it just doesn’t feel right.
MC: (Laughs) Thank you, Gene! I do love boxing. Great talking to you!
Be sure to check out Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles found online and in your local bookstore. It truly is a “knockout.”
Photos by Michele Chong