Thread: Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ 'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

A good kid, and a tough Los Angeles-based Mexican Super-Featherweight.

Born on June 22, 1949 in {Western Mexico}
Vista Hermosa de Negrete, Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico.

Felipe had a very good Amateur career, where he went 53-9 {19 KO's},
including winning several Regional Tournaments.

Felipe eventually relocated to East Los Angeles in 1967.

A 5' 5" boxer-puncher, with a quick right-hand. Though not a big-puncher,
Felipe had sneaky power. He was labeled as a 'tough kid' when he started
as a Professional on June 27, 1967 at {Age; 18 years old}.

When he started, Felipe was a lightly-toned built fighter, but he fought aggressively
which the 'fans' loved.



Felipe quickly became a popular preliminary fighter at 'The Olympic', where
he fought '9-Times' in just 7-Months.

He was a favorite of Promoter - Aileen Eaton and Olympic Boxing Club Matchmaker - Mickey Davies

By February 1968, Felipe {Age; 18 years, 8 months} had comprised an impressive
record of 11-1-0 {3 KO's}, by battling other up-and-coming 130-Pound fighters in
4-and-6 Round 'preliminary' bouts.

Felipe's only loss was a 'close' 4-Round Decision to talented Chino, California - Super-Featherweight
Bobby Sedillo back on July 20, 1967 - which was only Felipe's '2nd' Professional bout.

Thursday ~ February 29, 1968

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

"Co-Feature"

10-Round Lightweight Bout {with 2-Minute Rounds}

'Nationally Televised"

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ 11-1-0 {3 KO's}
vs.
Al 'Scooter' Meza ~ 10-1-0 {7 KO's}

Felipe Torres is billed as a {'tough 18 1/2 year-old kid'} from East Los Angeles.

Al 'Scooter' Meza is a highly regarded 'hard puncher' from Granger, Washington
who is currently based out of Fresno, California.
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The Bout

Felipe, now stockily-built at {136 lbs.} took it right to 'Scooter' {137 lbs.}, and
sent the Washington bomber back on his heels in Round 1.

Felipe deposited 'Scooter' on the canvas in Round 2, when he landed a hard
right-hand to the chin.

From that point on, it was an equally battled 'give-and-take' scrap in Rounds
3 and 4.

'Scooter' had good rallies in Rounds 5 and 6 to take those sessions. And Felipe
had solid session in Round 7.

Both Lightweights let it all out for the last 3-Rounds, as both slugged each other
at Center-Ring.

Scorecards
* Referee - George Latka ..... 6-4 {Felipe Torres}
* Judge - Dick Young ........... 6-5 {Al Maeza}
* Judge - Lee Grossman ....... 5-4 {Felipe Torres}

"Felipe Torres Edges 'Scooter' Meza By Split-Decision Over 10 Spirited Rounds"

Liked the post, a lot!
Sorry to say I don't remember the fight, but the names of George Latka, Dick Young, and Lee Grossman brought back some long ago memories of me sitting in front of the TV watching Friday Night Fights from the Olympic.

Thursday ~ March 28, 1968

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California
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"Main Event"

Raul Rojas vs. Enrique Higgins {For the 'vacant' WBA Featherweight Championship}
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"Main Undercard"

* Felipe Torres ~ 12-1-0 {3 KO's}
vs.
* Len Kesey ~ 19-3-0 {10 KO's}

Felipe, who is very popular now, is put on the undercard of the Championship
Bout.

Len Kesey is a tough 23 year-old 'banger' from Eugene, Oregon who is
managed by Mike Morton. Len usually fights at Lightweight.

Attendance....... 10,400
Gate Receipts.... $64,381
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'The Bout'

Felipe {135 lbs.} and Len {136 lbs.} battle evenly thru the first 3-Rounds.

Felipe finds out that Len is not only tough, but strong and difficult to
out-muscle.

Felipe gets off some good punches in Round 4, but he cannot slow Len down.

Len starts working close and inside, and hammers Felipe with short hooks to
the mid-section during Rounds 5 and 6.

Len controls the Middle-Rounds as he is too strong for the 18 1/2 year-old
East Los Angles Lightweight.

Behind on Points after 6 Rounds, Felipe rallies in Round 7, as he lands his best
punches on a forward-pressing Kesey.

But it is not enough, as Len charges forward in Round 8, to take the session by
mauling Felipe with a bullying-style.

The last 2-Rounds are fought at Center-Ring, but it is Len Kesey who gets the
better of the exchanges, as he is a bit too strong and experienced for Felipe.

Len Kesey earns a close and hard-fought 10-Round Unanimous Decision.

Scorecards
* Referee - John Thomas ...... 6-3 {Len Kesey}
* Judge - Dick Young ............ 5-3 {Len Kesey}
* Judge - George Latka ......... 5-3 {Len Kesey}

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

A regular at the Main Street Gym.

At 5' 5", had a light-tone build. But he could really punch to the body.

They said 'he could smack'.

Felipe was one of those busy straight forward pressing fighters, who
who was not only fast, but was clever and elusive.

Thursday ~ July 4, 1968

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

"Co-Feature"

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ 12-2-0 {3 KO's}
vs.
Bobby 'The Flea' Sedillo ~ 9-1-0 {2 KO's}

10-Round Lightweight Bout

The was a 'rematch' of their bout 1-Year earlier {July 20, 1967}

Bobby Sedillo was a 'lightning-fast' 20 year-old fighter from Chino, California.

For Felipe Torres, this would be his '12th-Bout' at the Olympic Auditorium in
12-Months.
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'The Bout'

Both fighters came in at {136 lbs.}.

Felipe got off to good start in Round 1, when he sent Bobby flying across the Ring
after nailing him with a 'left-right' to the head.

But Bobby re-grouped in Round 2, and out-sped Felipe for the next 3-Rounds.

Felipe got back on track in Round 5, and landed several hard body shots to take the
session.

But it was not enough, as Bobby used his fast footwork and quick moves over the
late Rounds to edge out Felipe in winning a well fought 10-Round Decision.

Scorecards
* 5-3 > {Bobby Sedillo}
* 6-3 > {Bobby Sedillo}
* 6-3 > {Bobby Sedillo}

Saturday~ August 3, 1968

Civic Arena ~ Ventura, California

'Undercard'

6-Round Lightweight Bout

Felipe Torres ~ 12-3-0 {3 KO's} ~ 134 lbs.
vs.
Chamaco Lopez ~ 4-3-0 {0 KO's} ~ 136 lbs.

Felipe, after suffering 'back-to-back' losses, takes a quick-filler 6-Round bout.
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'The Bout'

Felipe has an easy time, as he has way too many skills for the inexperienced
Chamaco Lopez.

Chamaco is schooled in every Round, as Felipe pitches an easy 6-Round shut-out.

__________________________________________________ _______________________

Friday ~ August 9, 1968

The Arena ~ San Bernadino, California

'Main Event'

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ 13-3-0 {3 KO's} ~ 133 lbs.
vs.
Raul 'Lobito' Montoya ~ 45-5-1 {29 KO's} ~ 132 lbs.

Raul Montoya is a 5' 3" power-packed hard-punching bomber from Zacatecas, Mexico
who is smartly managed by Fred Cole.

'Lobito' {Age; 21 years, 9 months} is listed as a solid {3-1} Betting-Favorite
over the tough 19 year-old kid Felipe Torres.

Raul who campaigned out of Jalisco, Mexico - was ranked as the #6 WBA
Featherweight back in late-1967.

But 'back-to-back' losses to Dwight Hawkins and Petey Gonzalez has set
the hard-punching machine backwards.

This bout is billed as an 'important' Junior-Lightweight bout.
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'The Fight'

The hard-punching Montoya takes command early, and slams Felipe with
his hard hooks.

Felipe is on the defensive, and has to rely on his elusive style to avoid
the aggressive attacks from Raul thru the first 4-Rounds.

But Raul slows down during the Middle-Rounds, and the action is 'even'
during Rounds 5 and 6.

In Rounds 7 and 8, Felipe starts to take over by using an assortment of
left-hooks to the body and straight right-hands to the face.

Felipe, slightly behind on Points after 8-Rounds, rallies strongly in Rounds
9 and 10 to squeeze out a 10-Round Draw.

Scorecards
* 4-4 {Even}
* 5-4 {Felipe Torres}
* 5-4 {Raul Montoya}

"Lobito Montoya and Felipe Torres Battle To Exciting Draw At The Arena"

Thursday ~ October 3, 1968

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

'6-Round Undercard Bout'

Felipe Torres ~ 13-3-1 {3 KO's} ~ 131 lbs.
vs.
Francisco Valenzuela ~ 6-0-0 {1 KO} ~ 129 lbs.

'The Bout'

Felipe finds 18 year-old 'undefeated' Francisco Valenzuela an elusive-foe the
first 3-Rounds, and has to chase the fleet-footed Mexican Junior-Lightweight
around the Ring.

But in Round 4, Felipe finds the range and traps Francisco in a Neutral-Corner,
and unloads with a body bombardment dropping him for a '6-Count'.

Felipe doesn't let Francisco off the hook, and floors him again with a hard right-hand
to the chin and a left-hook to the liver.

Francisco is counted out @ 1:11 of Round 4.

"Felipe 'The Flash' Flores Scores Impressive Knockout, In A Battle Of Prospects"

Thursday ~ November 14, 1968

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles California

"Companion Junior-Lightweight Bout"

Felipe Torres ~ 14-3-1 {4 KO's} ~ 132 lbs.
vs.
Centavito Antonio Hernandez ~ 23-2-0 {17 KO's} ~ 132 lbs.

Felipe is to take on Centavito Hernandez, a big-swinging {21 year-old} Junior-Lightweight
from San Luis, Sonora, Mexico.

"The Bout"

A wild '1st-Round', as both boys trade bombs. Each fighter is rocked by right-hands
to the chin.

In Round 2, Centavito lets it all hang-out. The 'Sonora Slammer' throws bombs,
but Felipe takes everything that Centavito can dish out.

In Round 3, Felipe shows the better the skills, and by the end of the Round he is in command.

In Round 4, Felipe is having it all his way as Centavito is gassed-out. Felipe drops
Centavito at the end of the Round with '2' left-hooks to the body. Centavito gets
up at the '9-Count'.

In Round 5, Felipe pours it on and batters Centavito with 'left-right' combinations.

Referee - Larry Rozadilla calls a halt to the bout @ 0:49 of Round 5, as Centavito
is defenseless and is getting battered along the Ropes.

"East Los Angeles' Flash Torres Scores Impressive Win, KO's Sonora's Centavito Hernandez"

Monday ~ January 13, 1969

The Coliseum ~ San Diego, California

"Main Event"

'Over-the-Weight Featherweight Bout'

Bobby Valdez ~ 22-5-4 {8 KO's} ~ 128 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 1 month}
vs.
Felipe Torres ~ 15-3-1 {5 KO's} ~ 128 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 7 months}

San Diego's favorite son, Bobby Valdez takes on tough-kid Felipe Torres.

Bobby is a World-Rated Featherweight {#5 Ring Magazine / #7 WBC / #7 WBA}.

Bobby, a former Amateur Navy Champion in 1964 and 1965, turned professional
in June 1965. Bobby has been a 'Top-Rated' Featherweight since 1967.

In May 1968, Bobby reached a level of the #3 WBC-ranked Featherweight. And fought
Australian - Johnny Famechon for the 'vacant' World Featherweight Championship
on May 20, 1968.

Bobby fought well, but was 'Disqualified' in Round 13 for excessive 'head-butting'.

Bobby, won the California State Featherweight Champion on August 17, 1967 -
and is still the current Champion.

The {3 1/2} year Professional, is managed by Wes Wombold.

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres is getting some 'hot' attention as a tough kid on the rise
from East Los Angeles, and is coming off an impressive TKO 5 over 'highly-regarded'
Centavito Hernandez.

Monday ~ January 13, 1969

Coliseum ~ San Diego, California

"Unrated Felipe Torres Scores Upset Over World-Rated Bobby Valdez'

Unheralded Felipe Torres of Los Angeles scores an impressive 6th-Round TKO over
local hero Bobby Valdez last night at the Coliseum.

Bobby Valdez had entered the Ring as the #5 World-Rated Featherweight and was
the heavy betting-favorite over Felipe Torres.

Both fighters came in at {128 lbs.}, which was an agreed upon weight by both
Managers. Bobby's California Featherweight Championship was 'not' at stake.

The action was 'even' and spirited during the first 4-Rounds, as both exchanged
medium left-hands, mixed in with an occasional combination.

In Round 5, the pace was the same again over the first half of the session. But,
during one exchange at the {1:45 Mark} Torres caught Bobby flush with a straight
right-hand to the chin dropping him to the canvas.

Bobby was up at the '4-Count', but looked shaken. Moments later, Felipe dropped
Bobby again with a solid 'left-right' to the chin.

This time, Bobby took the '8-Count' before rising. Bobby who was hurt badly, did
all he could to scamper away from the charging Flores. Bobby was rocked badly
again, and just managed to survive Round 5.

Coming out for Round 6, Bobby still looked badly shaken and had not fully recovered
from the previous Rounds pounding. Torres attacked quickly and slammed Bobby with
a series of 'lefts-and-rights' to the head.

Referee - Hal Rickards jumped in and called a halt to the bout @ 0:38 of Round 6.

January 28, 1969

Valley News ~ Van Nuys, California

East Los Angles has a new Boxing-Hero. His name is Felipe Torres,
who goes by the nickname of 'The Flash'.

The 19 1/2 year-old 5' 5" tall Junior-Lightweight has emerged as one of the
better young boxers seen at the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles.

Felipe who is fast, is known for his 'Cat-Quick' elusive skills, and
has steadily improved his punching-power.

Felipe, with a record of 16-3-1 {6 KO's} is now ranked as the #10
WBC Super-Featherweight following a 'big upset' {TKO 6} win over
the #5 World-Ranked Featherweight - Bobby Valdez only 2-weeks ago.

Tuesday - January 28, 1969

Valley Music Theatre - Woodland Hills, California

Promoters > 'Monarch Boxing Club'
Maximum Capacity .............. 3100
Maximum Gate Receipts ..... $13,500

Felipe Torres ~ 16-3-1 {6 KO's} ~ 134 1/4 lbs. ~ #10 WBA Junior-Lightweight
vs.
Jesse Corrales ~ 6-6-1 {0 KO's} ~ 133 lbs.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally, Heavyweights > Joey Orbillo and Joe Hemphill were scheduled
as the 'Main Event'.

But both Heavyweights pulled out.

Then popular Featherweight - Petey Gonzalez was brought in to be the 'Main Event'.

But Petey caught the 'flu' and pulled out.

At the last minute >
Promoter - Pete Kokon and Matchmaker - Hal Benson got in touch with Jack Shugrue
who furnished fighters to local Los Angles fight promoters.

Felipe Torres, who had fought only 2-Weeks earlier was available.

And as a 'last-minute' fill-in opponent, they found Jesse Corrales, a {20 1/2 year-old}
Lightweight based out of Phoenix, Arizona.
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Attendance ........ 2045
Gate Receipts .... $9000

Felipe Torres had little trouble with 'last-minute' replacement Jesse Corrales.

Felipe 'dazzled' the crowd of 2045 at the Valley Music Theatre with lightning
combinations and fancy footwork during the 1st-Round.

Near the end of the session, Felipe 'split'' Corrales nose wide open with
a straight right-hand, and blood splattered both boxers.

In Round 2, Felipe unleashed his heavy right-hand, and shook up the Phoenix
Lightweight several times and had him reeling.

Felipe continued his fast 'two-fisted' attack, and opened up a cut over
Jesse's right-eye after slashing him with sharp right-hand just past the {1:20 Mark}.

Jesse Corrales was now defenseless.

Moments later, Referee - Dick Young called a halt to the bout @ 1:37 of Round 2.

"Torres 'Cuts Up' On Boxing Card"

Dangerous-punching Lightweight - Felipe Torres carves up substitute Jesse Corrales.

March 4, 1969

Valley Music Theatre - Woodland Hills, California

Petey Gonzalez ~ 29-14-5 {8 KO's} ~ 132 1/4 lbs. ~ Age; 28 years, 1 month}
vs.
Felipe Torres ~ 17-3-1 {7 KO's} ~ 133 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 8 months}

A 'highly' anticipated bout between two popular and highly-regarded 130 pounders.

Petey Gonzalez, is ranked as the #7 Junior-Lightweight by Ring Magazine, and as the
#8 WBA Featherweight.

Petey, a Professional since August 1964 is from Portland, Oregon - but is now based
out of San Diego.

Since May 7, 1968 > Petey has gone {8-1-3} in the last 10-Months, losing only to
Bobby Valdez by a close 12-Round Decision for the California State Featherweight
Championship back on December 16, 1968.

In Petey's last bout {January 16, 1969} - he scored an impressive win {TKO 6} over
undefeated {20-0-0} sensation Bobby Rodriguez.

Petey is listed as a {10-8} Betting-Favorite by the Van Nuys News.
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Felipe 'The Flash' Torres is now rated as the #7 Featherweight by Ring Magazine and
the #10 WBA Featherweight.

Felipe is on a roll, and has gone 5-0-1 {4 KO's} in his last 6-bouts since August 1968.

Tuesday - March 4, 1969

Valley Music Theatre - Woodland Hills, California

Attendance ............ 3000
Gate Receipts ....... $13,345

"Felipe Torres Upsets Petey Gonzalez Over 10-Rounds"

East Los Angeles' Felipe Torres exhibited fine boxing skills to edge out
Petey Gonzalez over 10-Rounds at the Valley Music Theatre last night.

Felipe found himself behind early, as 'The Spoiler' Petey Gonzalez {132 1/4 lbs.}
got off to his usual fast start by scoring with quick 'left-right' punches in Rounds
1 and 2, and then dancing away before Felipe could counter.

But Felipe {133 lbs.} took control in Rounds 3 and 4, and scored with lightning
fast combinations himself, to stall any early charges from Petey.

Petey came back with a charge in Round 5, and nailed Felipe with several
fast left-hands to take the session.

The action was 'even' during Rounds 6 and 7, as both boxers exhibited fine
left-jabs and quick footwork.

But, Felipe was the better one down the stretch, and took command in Round 8
when he shook up Petey with a right-hand to the head.

Felipe was the stronger fighter over the last 3-Rounds of the bout, en-route to
winning a 10-Round Majority Decision.

Scorecards
* Referee - Dick Young ...... 6-4 {Felipe Torres}
* Judge - Bob Dossey ........ 6-3 {Felipe Torres}
* Judge - Larry Rozadilla .... 4-4 {'Even'}
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Both, George Parnassus of The Forum, and Mickey Davies of the Olympic Auditorium
are interested in bringing Felipe in for a Main Event.

George Parnassus >
"This young kid just loves to fight. He's as good as any young Junior-Lightweight
out there. He's fast and excites the crowd."

Mickey Davies >
"Felipe is a hot attraction right now. He's got the best footwork of any young
fighter in the West Coast."