Exclusive: “Legends of the Olympic Auditorium” Awards

Fight fans in Southern California are in for a treat come Sunday, April 26 as the newest boxing organization kicks off its first-ever awards show.

Here’s an exclusive scoop from the “Chatter Box” about the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame gala taking place at Vitello’s new E Spot Lounge in Studio City!

The inaugural honorees will be: Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Carlos Palomino, Rodolfo “El Gato” Gonzalez, the original “Golden Boy” Art Aragon, Don “War-a-Week” Chargin, Jimmy Lennon and Jimmy Lennon Jr. plus special awards presented to Alan Swyer (“El Boxeo”) and Gene Aguilera (“Mexican Boxing in Los Angeles”). This awards luncheon will be a sell out, so be sure to get your tickets now!

This will be an exclusive, intimate gathering with the champions and boxing aficionados all celebrating their love and respect of the sweet science.

As the event nears, I touched base with the West Coast Boxing HOF founder, Rick Farris. A former pro, the longtime boxing supporter will see his dream become a reality on April 26. The ex-fighter, boxing historian, and San Fernando Valley resident can’t hold back his excitement and passion for honoring a select group of ring heroes.

While many current boxing fans seem only interested in the Mayweathers and Pacquiaos superstars of the sport, Farris wants to also remember the icons from past decades. I know we’ve all seen the black-and-white photos and sepia-toned images from bygone years, right? Now Rick is bringing those remembrances back to life–if only for a day. It’s a great way for the veterans to relive the past and also for novice boxing fans to learn more about the history of the fight game. His brainchild has come to fruition and will come to life this month on one special Sunday.

“This organization has been a dream of mine for several years, a West Coast Hall of Fame that is honors true boxing legends, the best of the best,” Rick told me.

“Our first event is a big one, but it is being held in a smaller venue than usual, upstairs in Vitello’s in their world-famous Jazz Lounge. In due course, our events will be larger in scope with regard to venue, but no inductees could be better known or more accomplished than those among our first class.”

The day will be packed with an award ceremony, luncheon and special guests.

“To help us kick off the event will be an audience of not only boxing champions, but also a large contingent from the film industry,” Farris comments, “including actor Ryan O’Neal (a talented boxer in his own right), who was the manager of former welterweight contender Hedgemon Lewis.”

And what sets this non-profit Hall of Fame apart from other organizations?

“With all respect to other veteran boxer organizations, we ware going to be a little bit different and very strict with regards to Hall of Fame qualification,” Farris, a former bantamweight explains. “The goal here is to build into an organization that will give the West Coast a Hall of Fame that falls more in line with the strong organizations from the East Coast. We are the first California organization to bond with New York’s VBA Ring #8, The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.

These are organizations that have remained strong for generations, and are supporting us in our efforts, as we are supporting them. We will adhere strictly to inducting only boxers who have been retired for a minimum of five years, and who have reached a level of success that equates to that of a true “Hall of Famer.”

And even though it’s tabbed as a “Left Coast” event, Rick says they will branch out–and reach out–to the entire boxing universe.

“Despite the ‘West Coast’ designation, we are a national and international organization that will honor boxers from all over the world, those with a West Coast connection,” he expresses. “Naturally, we will concentrate on our local legends first.”

What is Farris looking forward to during his first-ever awards bash?

“As for this year, I am excited to honor one of the biggest box-office attractions of West Coast history, the original “Golden Boy” Art Aragon! Art’s son, Audie, will be on hand to speak of his late father and to share some classic momentos from his career, such as his championship belt, several scrapbooks, and boxing gloves the Golden Boy used in bouts with lightweight champ Jimmy Carter, Enrique Bolanos and Mario Trigo.”

Paying tribute to the prizefighters of the past is a labor of love for Farris, who also works in the entertainment industry.

“The theme for our kick-off event is “Legends of the Olympic” and all but “Boom Boom” Mancini are true “Legends of the Olympic,” the HOF president nods. “For a few hours that Sunday, we will step back in time!

We will also show classic footage of all the inductees in action. Our venue has a new “State-of-the-Art” sound system, lighting and video projection. As a member of the film community in Southern Cal, I could not sponsor an event without some film footage.”

In a personal note of my own, one thing I’ve noticed after attending many awards shows is that after the awards have been handed out and the speeches have ended, the crowd wants to hang out and chit chat but oftentimes, we are ushered out the door as the venue has been rented for only a certain amount of time. The nice thing about Rick Farris’ Hall of Fame luncheon is that he addresses this and has even planned an after-event so that ticket holders can enjoy more one-on-one time with the luminaries and VIPs joining the festivities.

“After the event closes, we will hold an after-party downstairs in a private back bar,” he tells me. “This will be a great opportunity for guests to get autographs, and just sit down and visit with the legends. During the event, the show will be broadcast via closed-circuit TV into the downstairs private back bar–and can be replayed during the party.”

The E Spot Lounge is a cool, new place the locals have been flocking to, but this cozy space only hold a smaller audience.

“Next time out, we will use a larger venue, but I don’t know of any better than what we will have at Vitello’s,” Rick relays. “This is our ‘introduction’ and our goal is to remind the inductees of just how great they are, and just how much we appreciate all they gave to us.”

Farris is a longtime and loyal historian of pugilism, to say the least. He shares some insight on why he and his committee chose this year’s inductees.

“Rodolfo ‘El Gato’ Gonzalez holds a record that has NEVER been equaled by any boxing champion in history. Rodolfo holds the consecutive KO record among world champions, 35 straight KOs; #2 on that list is Wilfredo Gomez, but KO legends such as Olivares, Tyson, Louis, Archie Moore, etc. are not even close. It is a record that has not been equaled (even with the advent of all the alphabet champs fighting 2nd class opposition) and likely never will be,” Farris states. “Also, Don Chargin is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘Longest active boxing promoter.’ He achieved this designation three years ago Today he is still active (not to mention Oscar’s advisor) with 64 years of promoting under his belt.”

Rick Farris’ passion for the sport led to this new Hall of Fame and April 26 promises to be a memorable day for those in attendance.

Don’t miss out on this inaugural event with some of the “Best in the West”!

West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame
Sunday, April 26, 2015 12-4 PM
Tickets 75.00 (Must be purchased in advance) 310-482-1811

Photo by Michele Chong
Flier courtesy of Rick Farris