Induction Ceremony with the Legends
The 2016 West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame (WCBHOF) Banquet of Champions is now in the history books.
This year’s awards ceremony was an epic event with many showstopping moments. The Southern California organization was founded just last year by President Rick Farris and Vice President Dan Hanley and since then the group continues to impress with its inductions of boxing’s best.
On Sunday, September 25, a cavalcade of champions, prizefighters and members of the boxing community gathered together at the storied Garland Hotel Event Center in North Hollywood. Here is my special report from the day along with snapshots from this Hall of Fame gala!
The noted honorees for 2016 were Israel Vazquez, Mike Weaver, Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, Lucia Rijker, Mauricio Sulaiman, Bill O’Neill, Jun Aquino, and posthumous honors to Bobby Chacon, Don Jose Sulaiman, Genaro Hernandez, Mando Ramos, Jerry Quarry, Henry Armstrong, Aileen Eaton and Fidel LaBarba. A 2016 “Book of the Year” award was also presented to Jeff Bumpus (“Becoming Taz”).
The luncheon featured vintage film clips, a surprise unveiling of the late Bobby Chacon’s rare boxing robes (from his “Bazooka” Limon and Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini fights) with Farris, Hanley and Jacquie Richardson (Retired Boxers Foundation), VIP guests from all over the world, famed Hollywood actors, a beautiful art exhibit with legendary Filipino painter Jun Aquino and Team Pacquiao family members, a book signing with Jeff Bumpus, a unique film tribute to the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Don Jose Sulaiman, and more. The WCBHOF and Sky Event Production did a dandy job in planning this boxing extravaganza.
The WCBHOF’s Farris, Hanley and the Board of Directors made sure to cover all the bases during this prestigious awards show. Last year’s inaugural show was a truly memorable one and this “sophomore” edition somehow even managed to top the 2015 ceremony. Always a first-class production, Farris and his team pay tribute to these gladiators of yesteryear while adding touches of show business glamour that makes for an intriguing program. Jim FitzGerald was the official emcee and this awards induction just happened to also be his birthday. The noted ring announcer told me there was no place he’d rather be then with these luminaries of the boxing world.
And nabbing a seat to the banquet was the “Golden Ticket” to have; this soirée sold out weeks in advance. The intimate hall holds 327 guests and this was a “must-attend” for boxing aficionados. The room was filled with so much positive energy it felt like there were a thousand people there!
When I arrived early to the venue, there was already a large crowd hanging out and socializing at the check-in area. It was a fun reunion for everyone; many had traveled from other states and countries to attend this September bash. The steady stream of attendees was a veritable “Who’s Who” in the sport at the check-in table helmed by Shelley Williams, Deborah Wilcox and Dave Wilcox.
Besides the inductees, familiar faces spotted on the scene included iconic actors Ryan O’Neal, Paul LeMat and actor/tennis player Nels Van Patten, boxers/champs Carlos Palomino (2015 inductee), Randy Shields, Paul Banke, Loreto Garza, Andy Nance, Richard “Trino” Savala Sr. (“Mr. KO”), the boxing Weaver Triplets (Troy, Floyd and Lloyd), Frankie Duarte, Rodolfo Gonzalez (2015 inductee), Herman Montes, Irichelle Duran (daughter of legend Roberto Duran), Mando Muniz, Ronnie Essett, Mathew Porcellino, Frankie Santillan, Robert Ortiz, Burney Spencer, “Judo” Gene LeBell (son of Aileen Eaton), famed promoter Don Chargin (2015 inductee), PR guru Bill Caplan, promoter Paco Damian, boxing trainer/sculptor Steve Harpst, filmmaker Alan Swyer (2015 honoree), WBC’s Deborah Hawkins, boxing historian/author Gene Aguilera (“Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles” and 2015 honoree), Beautiful Brawler’s Blanca Gutierrez (accepting Lucia Rijker’s award), The Olympic Auditorium Project’s Steve DeBro and Kelly Cunningham, Cleto Reyes’ Mike Serrano, the Henry Armstrong Foundation’s Edward Scott Jr. and Kimberly Dubose-Scott, author Steve Springer, boxing officials Jack Reiss, Eddie Hernandez and John Liechty, trainer Sonny Shapiro, Joe Robledo (Canto Robledo’s son), WBF’s West Coast Supervisor John “Guapo” Maresca, Bill and Linda Young (National Boxing Hall of Fame) and so many more.
The induction ceremony was a celebratory one with uplifting vibes throughout the day. While many of the posthumous honors were bittersweet ones for the loved ones of those we’ve lost, the loving tributes were rock solid and spot on. President Farris and this WCBHOF team made sure no stone was left unturned. Rick is a longtime lighting technician and his work in Hollywood is an asset to this production. His associates John Raspanti and Dan Hanley both spoke highly of Farris’ work ethic and dedication to making their WCBHOF awards one for the ages.
President Farris was proud to honor “15 legends and nine world champs” into his organization. He knows the ins and outs of the sweet science well; Farris had 19 pro fights 
in his career and grew up in and around the classic boxing gyms in California. The fight game is a tough career for anyone. The business can chew you up and spit you out. Many veteran pugs are long forgotten once the lights dim and the reflexes fade. And after the last checks have been cashed and the phone stops ringing, it can be a lonely existence out of the limelight. But organizations like the WCBHOF choose to honor these individuals, securing their legacy in the sport. These fighters literally leave it all in the ring and many are left with nothing. Awards banquets like this pay tribute to past champs, giving them–and their families–one more round of well-deserved glory.
The West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame respects–and reveres–these boxing heroes past and present. Never forgotten, they will be remembered with dignity and class.
There were countless showstoppers during the four-hour extravaganza. There were speeches filled with humorous anecdotes (Jeff Bumpus, Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, etc.), a humble Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez thoughtfully accepting his award while choosing to speak in English, an emotional Mike Donohue accepting Bobby Chacon’s award, Jerry Quarry’s wife taking the microphone and speaking with passion and heart, and seeing Mando Ramos’ family (wife Syvia “Chiquita” Ramos and Mando Ramos Jr.) representing the late “Mr. BAAD,” and catching up with beloved warrior Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez’s family (Lilly Hernandez and their two kids Amanda and Steven and Genaro’s brothers Victor and Joe. Brother Rudy Hernandez (cutman/cornerman) was in the U.K. for the Jorge Linares-Anthony Crolla fight.
Seeing and listening to the speeches was a treat for everyone; all of the inductees received standing ovations from the audience. Many were moved to tears when the tributes began.
And it was priceless for me to watch the fight highlights on the big screen of the inductees while the living immortals were also watching right by me! I was fortunate to be seated near Israel Vazquez, Pepe Sulaiman, Mike Weaver and their families and watching their reactions (while film clips of Vazquez, Don Jose Sulaiman and Weaver rolled on the screen) was incredible. Their families beamed with pride as the inductees watched on with eyes open wide.
Other highlights for me, personally, was seeing the newly-restored Bobby Chacon robes (donated by champ Alex Ramos and RBF’s Jacquie Richardson) up close. Farris mentioned they were beautifully restored by his friend (Hollywood costumer) Michael “Mickey” Castellano. Team Chacon was there including his stepfather John Banegas and sister Roberta “Birdie” Banegas-Hewitt. I also enjoyed talking to Gene LeBell, his wife and Kelly Cunningham about the days of the Olympic with his mom Aileen Eaton. She was a pioneer in the sport and Gene has also cemented his own legacy in the world of wrestling and martial arts. “Judo” Gene was wearing his famous “Cauliflower Ear” pin (made by sculptor Steve Harpst, who reconnected with Gene at the banquet).
I had a blast meeting Tina Quarry, the widow of “Irish” Jerry Quarry. The spirited blonde is working with Jewel of the Nile Productions’ Ryan Adams in bringing her 
husband’s life to the big screen. I also had a chance to spend some time with the Sactown team, all there in support of Tony “The Tiger” Lopez. Tony now runs a successful bail bonds company and is also involved in city politics. His fellow fighters, wife, mom and compadres all made the trek down to L.A. to take part in the festivities.
Team Weaver was great too. The boxing family was there to see Mike “Hercules” Weaver receive his 2016 induction. His little brothers Troy, Floyd and Lloyd (The Weaver Triplets) were all there to represent. All four men were professional boxers and still look to be in fighting shape! Fighter and author Jeff Bumpus was also cool to meet. He and his son Michael said they had an incredible day. “I had so much fun yesterday it had to have been illegal!” Jeff quipped the day after the fiesta.
The mood was joyous throughout the day with veteran sluggers reconnecting with once-bitter rivals, old champs meeting younger punchers, and new connections made. There was plenty of joking around and lively banter and I even witnessed a “mock” staredown between two WBC Super Bantamweight champs. Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez and “The Real” Paul Banke went face to face for a classic photo op!
And I was very happy to see writer Bill O’Neill again; he is one of my early mentors. The journalist and former World Boxing Hall of Fame President is a throwback to a Golden Era in pugilism. His vivid descriptions in his work is a craft that can’t be duplicated. Long before Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram or Twitter even existed, O’Neill penned articles for print media. It was a time when words mattered and when reading newspapers and magazines brought the wars to life and Bill was right in the mix of it all. It was so nice to see my buddy Bill again. And these moments will be cherished forever.
The camaraderie at the 2016 awards was very, very special. A couple of days after the event, social media is still trending with photos and comments from the inductees and spectators at the banquet. And now September 25 is in the history books–one for the ages.
Congratulations to President Rick Farris, the WCBHOF squad and all of the new 2016 Inductees!
Photos by Michele Chong
