Group Gathers at Goossen Tutor Card
The Golden State Boxers Association (GSBA) had a knockout night at “The Return” live fights featuring Andre Ward vs. Edwin Rodriguez. The HBO championship broadcast was held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on November 16. The packed card was presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions and featured nine bouts of action in Ontario, CA.
GSBA President Bill Dempsey Young and GSBA Vice President Linda Young have known famed promoter Dan Goossen and his family for decades and were honored to be able to attend the fights with a group of champs and boxing luminaries. Bill also had the chance to visit the storied Ten Goose Boxing Gym to watch John Molina Jr. and Juan Funez (both on the undercard in separate matches) work out. Ward, Molina Jr. and Funez all won their matches on Saturday’s card.
“Dan and his brothers are great people,” Linda commented. “And Dan was so generous to invite some of our champs to the fights. It was an awesome night!”
The GSBA group included heavyweights Chris Byrd and Mike Weaver, champs and prizefighters Bobby Chacon, Paul Banke, Alex Ramos, Paul Gonzales, Zack Padilla, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Andy Price, John Montes, Herman Montes, trainer Luis Tapia, sculptor/trainer Steve Harpst, amateur boxer Danny Garcia, boxing historian/author Gene Aguilera, Retired Boxers Foundation’s Jacquie Richardson and many more. There was also a dynamic trio of female warriors in Layla McCarter, Jolene Blackshear and Sue Fox who traveled from Vegas, San Diego and Portland to attend the SoCal fights. McCarter and Sue were recently inducted into the GSBA’s “Ladies First” Hall of Fame awards.
The champs and boxing vets were announced in the stadium. They all said they had a good time reuniting with those in the boxing circles, meeting new fans and catching the thrilling action in the ring. HBO’s “unofficial” ringside scorer Harold Lederman also visited with some of the attendees. And during the night, the champions got to meet heavyweight superstar “Iron” Mike Tyson, actor Rob Schneider and other familiar faces seen in the crowd. Champion Gabe Ruelas was also at the fights and remains a fan favorite.
The GSBA crew was thrilled to be at this event. GSBA President Bill Young’s family showcases four generations involved in the sweet science. His father Dick Young was a legendary ring official known for his work at the local Olympic Auditorium, the Fabulous Forum, the L.A. Sports Arena, Reseda’s Country Club, Woodland Hills’ Valley Music Theatre and more during a golden era in the sport. He also worked bouts across the U.S. and internationally.
With roots in the San Fernando Valley, Bill and Linda have continued their strong bonds in the fight community. “Bill’s grandfather was the State Champ in Missouri,” Linda tells me in regards to the origins of boxing in the Young family. “Our sons R.C. and Willy both boxed and Bill’s cousins started the “Guns ‘N Hoses” (fireman and police) in St. Louis.”
Their son Willy Young was also there to catch the battles at the Goossen Tutor fights.
Bill had a long career in the fire department while maintaining his strong passion for boxing through the years. “Bill fought too!” his proud wife says. “He beat the West Bavarian Champion of Germany. He was on a boxing team during the Army in the Vietnam era. He also fought a heavyweight named “Bull Edwards” in a main event.”
The military vet went on to win this bout even though he weighed about 20 pounds less than the “Bull.”
“It was like a heavyweight versus light heavyweight,” Linda chuckles. “They were the main event and the service guys went nuts as all the U.S. boxers lost except two of their fighters. And then Bill won the main event!”
The husband and wife team were honored by the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum in September. They meet with the GSBA members every Tuesday in Hollywood where they pay tribute to the past champions and talk boxing. I visited with the organization this week where Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon, California Boxing Hall of Fame’s Don Fraser, past GSBA President Larry Montalvo and more chatted about the Ward-Rodriguez fight.
And during the GSBA’s “Women in Boxing” gala, a pair of VIP tickets to the Ward-Rodriguez matchup was the grand prize in the fundraising raffle. The fight was one the GSBA had been looking forward to for weeks.
“It was such a great night!” Bill and Linda spoke. “We had some of the best champions at the fights with us and we thank Dan Goossen for his generosity!”
Photos by Michele Chong