Son honors new Hall of Famer with book
Bert W. Colima has spent years honoring the memory of his father Bert Colima, a popular fighter in the bygone era of the ’20s and ’30s.
For the younger Colima, it was a labor of love in piecing together his dad’s prizefighting history from decades past. His book “Gentleman of the Ring: The Bert Colima Story” offers boxing fans a glimpse into the life of one of Los Angeles’ most popular fighters in that generation. His father passed away in 1979 at the age of 77 but his son continues to honor the Mexican-American slugger who amassed a 141-37-21 record with 52 knockouts during his career.
Bert Jr. has held book signings at various boxing events and is also the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) Legends of Boxing Museum’s “Historian of the Year.” The son is a chip off the old block, so to speak. In visiting with Bert, his love of boxing, kindness and warmth stand out as a gentleman outside of the ring too. Now less than a week after Father’s Day was celebrated, Bert Jr. will witness his father’s memory enshrined in the California Boxing Hall of Fame. The ceremonies will take place at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.
With the paperback title bringing new interest to his father’s contributions to the sport, Bert and his family, including wife Rose, their three children, six grandchildren and one great grandchild, will also be celebrating this special milestone this weekend. On Saturday, as the late Bert Colima is inducted into the organization’s posthumous category, it will be an honor well deserved.
After looking at Colima’s ledger on BoxRec, I notice his career spanned from 1919 to 1933 (although the family has said that they only began listing his fights from 1919 on) and there were reportedly many other bouts logged in before this time. The Southern California middleweight fought many champions of his time, even though he never captured a world title himself. The Whittier pug fought the majority of his bouts in California, but also battled in New York, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Illinois, and Mexico.
While checking out the paperbook penned by his son, I learn more about this humble warrior of long ago, who grew up on a ranch in the town of Los Nietos. In the 21 chapters carefully constructed by Bert Jr., there are vintage photos, personal letters, recollections and more recounting the history of the boxer, whose given name was actually Epifanio Romero. Born in 1902, Epifanio later changed his name to his ring moniker of “Bert Colima” to honor his grandmother from Colima, Mexico.
Preserved for posterity, the author researched over 100 articles written about his dad while traveling back in time poring over scrapbooks revealing fight tales, funny anecdotes, family folklore and more. The boxer also had tablets he had jotted down notes and stories in longhand which helped his son piece together the sequence of his life.
What made this fighter so special?
The West Coast contender was a fan favorite with thousands cheering “The Gentleman” on. “He had an aura, a charisma. He had a personality that people showed affection to,” shares his son, “much like Genaro Hernandez, who reminded me of my father. My father was so down to earth; people just loved him.” As an old poster touts, the pugilist was known for being a “straight puncher with a wonderful left hand, fast with feet and hands, a willing mixer and a great crowd pleaser.” First in the Roaring Twenties and later during the Great Depression, he gave the beleaguered population a reason to cheer. Colima gave the fans an appreciation for the art of boxing and in the process earned a Pacific Coast Welterweight Championship and a Mexican Middleweight title.
“He was a really good boxer,” his son tells me. “And he came out of it with all his faculties; he made it all the way through!”
After his long career inside the ropes, he hung up his gloves in the year 1933. In the book, we learn that Colima had a successful career after retiring from the ring. The pugilist went on to spend 30 years working for the Department of Water and Power. Bert Sr. also opened a cafe in Whittier and in later years had a brush with Hollywood glamour while accepting a role in the famed “Fat City” boxing film.
The tome is an interesting read with an easy style as you comb through photos, letters and pages of history come to life. His son provides plenty of insider details in chronicling the boxer’s life story including the biggest tragedy that occurred in their family–the tragic accident that killed the fighter’s beautiful daughter Eleanor.
But the family carried on and now Bert W. Colima and another relative, cousin Ralph Romero, keep their strong links close to the boxing world.A few months ago, Bert Jr. donated some photos and a life-size portrait to WBC Supervisor Rudy Tellez and the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum located in San Bernardino, ensuring that his legacy lives on.
And since writing “Gentleman of the Ring: The Bert Colima Story,” Bert has been featured on TV shows and has accepted posthumous awards and accolades in the name of his father. Ralph remembers his beloved uncle by giving back in the sport of amateur boxing. Romero’s father Ray and Bert were brothers.
Ralph is the founder of the famed Desert Showdown, a huge event in the Coachella Valley that features some tough competition amongst boxing’s best young amateurs. The BCR World Amateur Championships is named for Bert Colima. Romero and is a nonprofit organization founded by his nephew, and it is a great tribute to his fighting uncle. I have seen the special BCR belts given to the youth boxers that inspires the SoCal kids to continue working hard and I know the July competition is a fierce one each and every year.
California’s Colima laced up at the legendary Olympic Auditorium 15 times throughout his career so it’s fitting that an icon from that venue will be ushering him into this year’s Hall of Fame.
California Boxing Hall of Fame Founder and President Don Fraser will honor the Class of 2011 Inductees, including Bert Colima in the posthumous category. Junior also shares a history with Fraser, a well-regarded boxing veteran in the Southland and beyond. “I knew Don from ‘The Knockout’ (KO magazine) and I wrote some stories for him back then,” Bert remembers. “He knows so much about boxing. I really looked up to him–and I still do!”
This newest honor from Don and his Hall of Fame brings a special sense of pride to Bert’s family.
After accumulating the news clipping and pictures of his dad, Bert Jr. says it took him about a year and a half to actually write the book once he dedicated all of his attention into this literary ode to his father. He also mentions that he wrote it while battling scapula bone cancer, which has been slowed down by chemotherapy. The youthful author and historian says he’ll be 80 in September and is happy to have had his book come to fruition. During his illness, he says many stepped in to help him. “During my cancer crisis, I felt like giving up,” he admits. “But a lot of people helped me and I got through it, and finished the book. They deserve a lot of credit for their support.”
“What’s been the reaction from the boxing community?” I ask the San Gabriel Valley resident.
“It’s been very, very good!” he answers. “I am very fortunate it has gone so well. I wanted to get his name back in the limelight and I wanted to bring his story to life.”
And now with this Saturday’s induction, it is the perennial icing on the cake for the appreciative son. “This is all for him. I did the book for him, everything,” Bert says softly. “I am so humbled and honored that the California Boxing Hall of Fame is inducting him.”
The tribute appears to be complete.
After being a “Gentleman of the Ring,” Bert Colima becomes a true Hall of Fame Champion this weekend.
California Boxing Hall of Fame
2011 Induction Ceremonies
Saturday, June 25
Sportsmen’s Lodge, Studio City
For ticket info: (818) 761-4887
Buy the book on Amazaon click here.
Photo of Bert W. Colima and Ralph Romero by Michele Chong
Images of Bert Colima courtesy of Bert W. Colima