WBC & WBF Honor Trainer John Montes Sr.
Trainer John Montes Sr. passed away on July 23 after a valiant battle with throat cancer. The Southern California boxing coach and manager was honored at a special tribute and fundraiser hosted by the World Boxing Council (WBC) Legends of Boxing Museum, the World Boxing Federation and the Montes family, including his two prizefighting sons, Herman and John Jr.
Here’s my exclusive report and photos from the fiesta held this past weekend at Rudy’s Baja Grill in Los Angeles where champions and fighters John Montes Jr., Herman Montes, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon, Paul Banke, Paul Gonzales, Frankie Duarte, Oscar “The Boxer” Muñiz, Jacob Giuriceo, Universal Boxing Hall of Fame’s Louis Herrera and World Boxing Hall of Fame’s Steve Harpst all came out to lend a helping hand (or glove) to raise funds to help cover the mounting bills from Montes’ hospital care and funeral expenses.
Montes Sr. was a longtime trainer who was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in June. “He trained Albert Davila, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Jaime Garza, Genaro Hernandez, Oscar Muñiz, so many others,” his son John told me. As his father’s illness took hold, Montes Sr. returned to Nevada, where he passed away.
So the Montes brothers and their sister Stephanie organized the event to honor their beloved father. World Boxing Federation’s West Coast Rep Alan Santana (who was the day’s emcee) and the World Boxing Council (WBC) Supervisor Rudy Tellez also stepped in at the lively function attended by their family, friends and fans. Tellez and emcee Santana (who everyone was calling “Jay Leno Jr.”) got the crowd cheering with trivia and brain busters that stumped the boxing aficionados in the crowd.
Guests enjoyed a Mexican buffet by owner Rudy Lopez and also took part in a prize raffle, trivia contest and silent auction for a bounty of treasures including autographed boxing gloves, framed posters, golf clubs, fine jewelry, Laker, Dodger and Raider memorabilia and more.
Lopez’s eatery is a boxing mecca for any fan. Lining the walls are countless 8 x 10 glossy photos of past and present gladiators and familiar faces in the sweet science. He is related to Rudy Tellez, who is also a longtime veteran of the fight game. Stating he’s been with the WBC for over three decades, Tellez shared tons of anecdotes from his many years in the sport. “I was the youngest boxing manager at the time,” Rudy says to me. “This was back in the Main Street Gym days. I’ve seen a lot through the years.”
And through the years, the boxing fraternity can create some very strong bonds. This was clearly evident to me as I observed Danny “Little Red” Lopez and Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon gazing up at the TV screens which were playing their old fights for all to see. At times, Chacon stood up, shadowboxed and cheered while reliving his ring wars.
“Foes inside the ropes, friends outside the squared circle,” I thought to myself as I saw Chacon and Lopez joking around with each other and the other pugilists in attendance, who kidded around about wanting rematches between some of them–after all these years.
While some had faced each other in the gym or center ring, the sluggers were all united on Sunday to support their own. Montes Sr. and his sons were part of the boxing-rich history of L.A. The trainer was also the director or the International Youth Boxing Club in the San Gabriel Valley. Dedicating decades to a sport he was passionate about, the local boxing community paid tribute to him with an emotional “Ten Count” by the champs on stage.
His daughter Stephanie was touched by the outpouring of support for her father. “He also had a stepdaughter Anna Lisa, whom he loved,” she mentioned to me. “And he had 28 grandkids too!’
Chatting with all the champions, they said they were happy to show support for the Hall of Fame trainer. I also met a new young boxer, Jacob Giuriceo, from Youngstown, Ohio. He’s been training with Frankie Duarte at Wild Card. “Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini first introduced us,” Duarte said. “So I go back and forth to L.A. and Ohio for his training. He’ll be fighting August 13 in Struthers, Ohio.” Giuricio, who is an unbeaten pro with 12 victories, had a great time sitting in the “House of Champs” while soaking up any sage advice given by the veteran prizefighters.
Once a champ, always a champ goes the saying.
And the boxing trainer’s champion sons will continue to fight in keeping their dad’s memory alive.
Speaking with John Montes Jr. toward the end of the event, the former WBC, IBF and USA titleholder was impacted by the huge wave of support.
“I really miss him and this was a great day to honor him,” John said to me as he got a little teary-eyed. “All the champions who told me would come, did show up. The champs came–and I’m really impressed with the turnout.”
Once a champ, always a champ.
The memorial service for John Montes Sr. will be held THIS Saturday, August 6 at the St. Bernard Parish (9647 East Beach Street) in Bellflower, California, 90706. The service begins at 10 a.m.
Photos by Michele Chong
