Remembering Past Champs & Boxing Organizations
The Southern California boxing community will gather on October 14 to reminisce about past boxing organizations/associations and to remember storied venues that have closed through the years. They will also celebrate prizefighters who have passed away and reconnect generations of boxing fans. While there may be many bittersweet moments, the day will definitely be a joyous one filled with good vibes and positive energy with guests flying in from all over the world.
Bill and Linda Young (National Boxing Hall of Fame) are hosting this unique luncheon (“15 Rounds Down Memory Lane”) that will showcase videos and photos from decades of memories, live entertainment, and meet-and-greets with a KO group of boxing champions. They are planning on showing the rich history of Hall of Fame groups and local organizations in the Southland.
I caught up with Linda to hear all about what the couple have planned at their upcoming event, how it came to fruition, what their favorite highlights are and who will be attending the celebration in person!
Michele Chong: Hi Linda, your event is coming up soon! How did you and Bill get the idea for “15 Rounds Down Memory Lane”?
Linda Young: Hi Michele, on October 14 at Steven’s Steakhouse we are hosting “15 Rounds Down Memory Lane.” We talked about how special our boxing community is and the way it has carried on throughout the years. We don’t know if there are any other organizations in the boxing world that has the legacy like ours? We trace back to a club named The 
Cauliflower Alley Club (CAC) which was a combination of boxers and wrestlers and the world around their sports. Marshall Wright, one of the CAC’s founders, represented the boxers. However, they parted company a few years later and individually continued on their own with the name change for the boxing group known as the Golden State Boxer’s Association (GSBA) in 1968. Hugh Sublett, a boxer, was the President of the GSBA for a number of years until Don Fraser became President.
Bill’s father (referee Dick Young) was honored by the club for his contributions as a boxing referee and judge as well as President of the Referee’s Association. Dick would go to the special luncheons accompanied by his son Bill, who had trained and boxed out of Johnny Flores’ Pacoima gym. Bill really enjoyed those luncheons. When Bill’s father, Dick Young, passed away Bill missed him very much. I encouraged him to attend one of the luncheons. He did and he felt the presence of his Dad in a special way and he was hooked! Over twenty years later, he is still hooked. And I soon learned the ropes, enjoying the gathering of the boxing community.
MC: And the day will celebrate so many LA highlights and memories from the California Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF), the Golden State Boxers Association (GSBA) and the Cauliflower Alley Club (CAC) too?
LY: Yes, Bill and I talked about that “someday” we will have a luncheon with the boxing community of memories of Tuesday luncheons we attended at the Old Spaghetti Factory, and the Dunes Cafe. Other venues were held at the famous Steven’s Steakhouse, the Luminarias Restaurant, Taix, Honeybaked Ham, etc. It is difficult to sort through all the photos and downsize the stack to bring to the screen memories back in the day. Once we started developing the “15 Rounds Down Memory Lane” event, it surprised us that it was 20 years ago when we assisted Don Fraser with his first California Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) event sponsored by the Golden State Boxer’s Association.
MC: You and Bill were a big part of the CBHOF (Don Fraser) and the GSBA (Larry and Elsa Montalvo). How did you two first get involved with those organizations?
LY: The GSBA decided to have a Hall of Fame event to be named “California Boxing Hall of Fame” which would be received very well as Don Fraser was now the President of the GSBA. Don was hesitant but was convinced with his name it would work. The first GSBA sponsored the first California Boxing Hall of Fame in March of 2003. We designed the program and artwork/layout. Rick Resnick provided the bios of the Inductees and it was a stellar event!
From that day forward, we had annual award ceremonies with various titles such as “Tender Heart Awards,” “Ladies First Awards” and various awards at our annual Christmas luncheons. Once again, we were having a great time with our boxing family.
Through the years of GSBA and the CBHOF, we didn’t miss one HOF event. Don asked if we would take over the CBHOF and keep the legacy alive. We sponsored the last CBHOF event and were so happy we did. Don was thrilled and–not to brag here but–he said it was the best Hall of Fame event he had ever seen. Family and friends, boxers and fans filled the room. It was a great day of celebration as Don retired with a smile and a fond memory. And by then, it became common knowledge that the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHOF) was gone. There were so many wonderful people involved right up to the end. It was heartbreaking. Enter the National Boxing Hall of Fame…We created the NBHOF in 2014 and had our first event in 2015.
MC: What are some of your own favorite memories and recollections from the CBHOF and GSBA events?
LY: As Bill and I have continued all these years it is just mind-boggling of how involved we were and didn’t realize this until we started looking through the years of photos and videos. As we comb through our computers and storage of boxing photos, it has brought so many great memories and hilarious moments to mind. We also have the FIRST video of California Boxing Hall of Fame (sponsored by the GSBA) from March 2003! Don Fraser on the mic and the greats including Jimmy Lennon Jr., Ken Norton, Gwen Adair, Tom Kelly, etc. with guest champions in attendance at the Old Spaghetti Factory.
MC: On October 14, the attendees will enjoy a live jazz band, see boxing memorabilia, meet the champs and more. Who are some of the boxing champions and boxing notables that will be there in person?
LY: This event will have several champions in attendance and more boxing family guests and boxing enthusiasts will be in attendance. A great jazz band, our son Drew’s stellar guitarist and talented musicians will be playing music as the guests arrive. There will be plenty of time to meet and greet, and explore the displays.
Invited guests include Carlos Palomino, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Art Frias, Albert Davila, Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas, Michael Nunn, Paul Banke, Mike Weaver and the Weaver Triplets, Frankie Duarte, Eva D. Jones-Young, Armando Muniz, Henry Tillman, Randy Shields, Rocky Pepeli, Greg Puente, Dee Collier, Andy Price (celebrating his 70th birthday!), Zack Padilla, Sumya Anani, Jimmy Gambina, Carol Steindler, and others.
There will also be Creative Auction on display and a silent auction. Surprise items including a trip to London (which is the tour of the Beatles homes) and more where they performed, etc. We will also have a fun prize raffle too. The NBHOF merchandise table will also be available for fans to purchase collectible items.
There will be photo streaming for the screen and a video playing on another screen. Many posters of collages will be displayed. Memories of Steven’s Steakhouse of the GSBA, CHBOF and the birth of the NBHOF in 2015. Bill and I continued 20 plus years with the boxing organizations.
MC: Eva D. Young Jones will also be receiving a special award. Can you talk a little about that?
LY: A special WBC belt will be presented to Eva D. Jones-Young, 3x World Champion. Eva is an amazing woman with a gift of passion and dedication to the boxing world. She is an inspiration to so many people and especially her students whom she trained at St. James Boxing Club for 20 plus years. The WBC’s Mauricio Sulaiman and Pepe Sulaiman have a special video message for her and Nancy Rodriguez and another special guest will be there in person to present the belt.
MC: Tickets for your event have been selling fast. How can people buy tickets?
LY: Tickets can be bought online on website: www.NationalBoxingHallofFame.com $50 each with New York Steak and Chicken banquet meal.
MC: Many of the venues from those events like The Old Spaghetti Factory in Hollywood are now permanently closed and the Sportsmen’s Lodge has been completely remodeled so the day will be filled with emotions for those attending. What are you (personally) looking forward to the most?
LY: Bill said his fondest memory of the Old Spaghetti Factory was when he felt these two big hands from behind gripping between his shoulders and his neck delivering a strong but gentle message of approval and turning to see the big warm smile of Willie Bean. I’ve never felt more welcomed than I did at that moment.
And I will remember all the joy and love at the Old Spaghetti Factory, the Dunes, and the events as I reflect about so much love and respect amongst the boxing community. I wish we could capture it all. So here we are going down “Memory Lane.” Looking forward to seeing everyone!
MC: And thinking ahead, your own organization (National Boxing Hall of Fame) will have its induction awards next April 28, 2024?
LY: Yes, our NBHOF Class of 2024 will be held on April 28, 2024. We announce our Class of 2023 soon!
MC: Thank you, Linda, and see you soon!
LY: Thank you my sweet Michele! You are amazing in keeping boxing memories alive and well!. See you soon!
Photos by Michele Chong/Poster courtesy of Linda Young
2023 NBHOF AWARDS:
2022 NBHOF AWARDS: