* CutMeMick visits the World Boxing Hall of Fame 2008 *

What's going on fellas & fellarates...

Yesterday was the 29th Annual World Boxing Hall of Fame induction celebration. I again, was not able to attend the dinner ceremony due to a family engagement I had last night...
However I was able to attend the Memorabilia event which was held early morning into mid afternoon

The inductees this year were:
Lennox Lewis
Pernell Whittaker
Marvin Johnson
Greg Haugen

Both Lennox & Pernell were a no show... I was gutted at that but said to myself fuck it, just make the best of it. And I did I quickly forgot all about those 2...

I gotta say it was fucken amazing man... I had an oppourtunity to talk and meet one of my all time favorite fighters. A fighter whom I've learned a lot about since becoming a hard core fan. A fighter whom I've defended time and time again. He's an ALL TIME GREAT and fighter who fought them all. A fighter who beat adversity and when he lost he came right back and got himself back to the top.

Tell you what I'll stop typing here and just post the pictures and put some words to it...

Alright so I'm saying hello to Armando Muniz as I walk he happened to be at the door. So were talking about the event and were talking about the Martinez-Bunema fight as he was there in attendance that night.

Then right in the middle of our conversation I see none other the the man, the myth, the legend....

"Terrible" Terry Norris. It was fucken mind blowing to see him. It was really surprising to see him there. He was great man, I told him I had nothing but love for him. He shook my hand and we took a picture. Then I saw he had Terry Norris gloves so I bought one from him and he autographed it for me. I quickly chatted with him about his fight vs. Mugabi. He said he was so excited when he caught with the shot and he felt he was flying in the sky from excitement. We also talked about his fight with Curry briefly...
Terrys condition is good, he does slur but you can still understand him and you can see his hands/fists are pretty stiff from the punching.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box001.jpg

The glove...

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box014.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box015.jpg

After chatting with Terry, I put my glove in my bag and wish him well.
Turn around and I see Paul Gonzalez, someone who I read a lot about and heared a lot about growing up in East L.A.
For those who don't know Paul was part of the 1984 US Boxing team and the Light Flyweight gold medalist. He was team mates with Steve McCrory, Pernell Whittaker, Mark Breland, Tyrell Biggs, Meldrick Taylor, Frank Tate, Henry Tillman and Holyfield.

As a pro he did not have the same success as he did in the Olympics having a short lived career. He did get a shot at the title vs. Orlando Canizalez but lost via TKO on cuts as Canizalez was able to catch him early on and cut him up to force the stoppage.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box009.jpg

After meeting and chatting with Paul for a bit I made my way straight away to the table were all the boxers sit...

There I 1st met "cut man" Miguel Diaz I'm sure you've seen him. He's one of the best around. I couldn't stop telling you how many times I've seen him in a corner. He's been with Cotto for yrs. and he will be working Pacquiaos corner vs. ODLH come Dec.

Diaz was great man, we spent easily about an hour talking about boxing and some of the worst cuts he's had to work on. He talked to me about how he got started and were it's taking him. He really is great to talk with and was all laughs.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box006.jpg

Next up I met Alberto Reyes, he's the 4th son of Don Cleto Reyes the creater of the greatest glove ever made. He runs the company now and was there as he along with Miguel Diaz were inducted in the expanded catagory.

Albertos a very smart man, I asked him a few questions about his dad and how his father got started with boxing gloves. He said his dad was always into boxing and then he realized that in gyms gloves had only a certain lifetime span and gloves would get busted easily then they either threw them away or tried to fix them, he soon began to take gloves and was reparing them and he learned about the stitching and how the gloves were being made and realized he could make them become more durable and better and he did. Today Cleto Reyes is easily known as the best and the premier boxing glove. I love me some Everlast and I know it's been around longer then Cleto but if you've ever put on some Cleto and some Everlast gloves you can feel the difference. Cleto is the punchers glove and the way they are made are with a precise fight.

I even served for Alberto Reyes as a translater for him I'll tell you more about that later.
(For my services he gave me a that Cleto Reyes glove you see me holding)


http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box005.jpg

Right next to him was one of my favorites to watch a fighter who always gave it his all and fighter who was a fan favorite and whom we recently had a good chat about when Danny_G posted one his more famous pictures.

It was Danny "Little Red" Lopez, wow! what a treat it was to talk with him about his fights with Salvador Sanchez I probably talked to him for another good hour, asking him about the fight and how he felt as the fights went on. He said he felt he had enough to come on strong late in the fight but that his body just did not respond to him like he would have wanted. I aksed him about his fight Olivares he smiled and said what a fight that was, I said I agree it was a sweet battle he said the Forum was just jammed packed to the top that night. He said Olivares shots were hard but he said he knew he hit harder them him and that he knew if he caught him with the right shots he'd win.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box003.jpg

I had Lopez sign one of my gloves...

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box016.jpg

After giving a quick walk through the table of boxers, the crowd was bigger there so I decided to give the room a complete walk through since I hadn't done that yet so I wasn't sure what else or who else was there.

As I start walking I notice from a distance Tommy "The Duke" Morrison.
No shit!!! I was like holy shit this is the day of surprises I'm just seeing people whom I did not even expect here.

I didn't really chat with the Duke as he was real quiet and just pretty straight forward. I just asked if he was fighting again and he said he wasn't sure. I did notice he had 2 HUGE slits/scars on his arms/biceps.
Anyone know anything about that?

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box010.jpg

Last and def. not least I met one of my all time fav. fighters.

Someone who honestly I never thought I'd meet since I knew he's based in NY and now with his age the traveling becomes harder and harder to do. But my god what a moment this was for me...

My heart stopped beating and I put my bag down on the floor and just stared in amasement. I just could not believe my eyes that he was there...
A fighter whom epitimizes the word boxer in every sense of the word. Someone who saw it all and someone who fought the best and premier fighters of his era and as we discussed has one of the best resumes all time in boxing.

When his family 1st migrated from the Virgin Islands he was forced to get a job from a very young age. He started working at a hat factory and there one day it was hot and he asked his supervisor if he could take off his shirt cause he was hot. His supervisor said go ahead, he takes off his shirt and he sees this kid who's fucken built like truck. Thick neck, broad shoulders, wide chest... Just built, well his supervisor just happened to be friends with Gil Clancy, Gil began training the kid and Gil over the years did not enter any of his amateurs into tournaments on the 1st year of training but he saw this kid was something special so in 1957 he entered the kid into the NY Golden GLoves and the kid lost in the finals.
The next year he entered the kid again int he NY Golden Gloves and this time he took it all he won the tournament...
That very same year he turned pro and with just 24 fights and a record of 22-2 he fought for the World Welterweight title and won via TKO in the 13th round and would begin one of the best/most tragic trilogy ever.

Seeing him was just something very special to me and getting to talk to him and meet him was mind blwoing...
THE LEGEND that is Emile Griffith...

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box002.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box007.jpg


It was hard to understand him but I got most of it as I tied words with one another... It was great to see him it really was.

Now here's where I served as a translater for Alberto Reyes as he talked with Emile. Alberto just wanted to meet him and exchange some words him so I served as a translater for Alberto as his English is not good.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box011.jpg

All in all it was a great day for me, having met all these people and talk and have them share some moments of their lives with me is always something I appreciate it...

I also have a short video that I'll upload today.

Amazing stuff.

I'm so jealous of you for this stuff, you have no idea.

very cool stuff mate... i was gonna post when you were making it but relised it was locked and what you were doing ;)

Interesting stuff Mick, thanks for posting.

Good stuff Mick!

Awesome stuff Mick, I bet you had a blast.

Cool t-shirt as well you're wearing ;D

Sweet Rawdigga,

Looks like a blast, I'm gonna have to head out one of these days.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

After chatting with Terry, I put my glove in my bag and wish him well.
Turn around and I see Paul Gonzalez, someone who I read a lot about and heared a lot about growing up in East L.A.
For those who don't know Paul was part of the 1984 US Boxing team and the Light Flyweight gold medalist. He was team mates with Steve McCrory, Pernell Whittaker, Mark Breland, Tyrell Biggs, Meldrick Taylor, Frank Tate, Henry Tillman and Holyfield.

As a pro he did not have the same success as he did in the Olympics having a short lived career. He did get a shot at the title vs. Orlando Canizalez but lost via TKO on cuts as Canizalez was able to catch him early on and cut him up to force the stoppage.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box009.jpg

---

Man, I am one jealous cat. Was Frank Baltazar there? Did you remeber to say hello for me? Also, Haugen is a good friend and a great guy. I plan to put one of your photos up on my site if its ok with you.

Again, thanks for sharing. :appl::appl::appl::appl::appl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Youngblood

Amazing stuff.
I'm so jealous of you for this stuff, you have no idea.

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Right on kid...
You shouldn't be jealous man one day you'll get your chance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saddo

very cool stuff mate... i was gonna post when you were making it but relised it was locked and what you were doing ;)

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Cheers mate... :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CGM

Interesting stuff Mick, thanks for posting.

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Thanks CGM for the taking the time...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by C-Lo

Good stuff Mick!

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You know the deal C-Lo, it's how we do it.
Saddos coast to coast. :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leftylee

Awesome stuff Mick, I bet you had a blast.

Cool t-shirt as well you're wearing ;D

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Cheers lee, I just got that shirt on Friday so it was my 1st time wearing it.
It came at a good time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

After meeting and chatting with Paul for a bit I made my way straight away to the table were all the boxers sit...

There I 1st met "cut man" Miguel Diaz I'm sure you've seen him. He's one of the best around. I couldn't stop telling you how many times I've seen him in a corner. He's been with Cotto for yrs. and he will be working Pacquiaos corner vs. ODLH come Dec.

Diaz was great man, we spent easily about an hour talking about boxing and some of the worst cuts he's had to work on. He talked to me about how he got started and were it's taking him. He really is great to talk with and was all laughs.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box006.jpg

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I believe Miguel Diaz was adarn good fighter as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Right next to him was one of my favorites to watch a fighter who always gave it his all and fighter who was a fan favorite and whom we recently had a good chat about when Danny_G posted one his more famous pictures.

It was Danny "Little Red" Lopez, wow! what a treat it was to talk with him about his fights with Salvador Sanchez I probably talked to him for another good hour, asking him about the fight and how he felt as the fights went on. He said he felt he had enough to come on strong late in the fight but that his body just did not respond to him like he would have wanted. I aksed him about his fight Olivares he smiled and said what a fight that was, I said I agree it was a sweet battle he said the Forum was just jammed packed to the top that night. He said Olivares shots were hard but he said he knew he hit harder them him and that he knew if he caught him with the right shots he'd win.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box003.jpg

I had Lopez sign one of my gloves...

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box016.jpg

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They have been stiffing this great warrior for years by not inducting him into the IBHF. If Saad was Gatti before Gatti, Little Red was Saad before Saad!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by killersheep

Sweet Rawdigga,
Looks like a blast, I'm gonna have to head out one of these days.

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Def. Greg you should man...
Next year 2009 in mid Nov. save the date...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holmcall

Man, I am one jealous cat. Was Frank Baltazar there? Did you remeber to say hello for me? Also, Haugen is a good friend and a great guy. I plan to put one of your photos up on my site if its ok with you.
Again, thanks for sharing. :appl::appl::appl::appl::appl:

---

I did not see the Baltazars there at the memorabilia event, they might have attended the dinner...
Of course you can use the picture.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holmcall

I believe Miguel Diaz was adarn good fighter as well.

---

You know he did mention that he fought but did not go into details...
He mainly talked about the Pac-ODLH fight.

Wow, looks like you had a great time!!

It's too bad that Lennox and Pernell were no shows, that would have been nice to meet them as well, but it looks like your were in heaven without them anyways.

Meeting Emile must have been pretty emotional, it would have been for me. I'll admit, I didn't know much about him or his career until I watched Ring Of Fire, and what an amazing story. I got emotional, and felt the torment he felt about the death of Benny Paret, and I was a crying mess when he met Benny's son at the end. I only hope that he is more at peace with what happened.

Thanks for sharing. ;D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Violent Ds Next Baby Mama

It's too bad that Lennox and Pernell were no shows, that would have been nice to meet them as well, but it looks like your were in heaven without them anyways.

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Rumors had it that Lennox was there in the hotel but did not want to participate in the Memorabilia event. I'm still not even sure if he was there for the ceremony or not...

Also Pernell I know was not there at all, story goes that he wanted to fly 1st class. But the WBHF is a non-profit orgnization and gettting Pernell a 1st class plane ticket would be steep for them. They gave him a flight number for his flight incase he changed his mind but he said he did not fly coach...
Now how true that story is I'm not sure. But that's what was being talked.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Violent Ds Next Baby Mama

Meeting Emile must have been pretty emotional, it would have been for me. I'll admit, I didn't know much about him or his career until I watched Ring Of Fire, and what an amazing story. I got emotional, and felt the torment he felt about the death of Benny Paret, and I was a crying mess when he met Benny's son at the end. I only hope that he is more at peace with what happened.

Thanks for sharing. ;D

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Really was emotional for me seeing him and sitting there next to him and talking with him you could see it in his eyes and you could hear it in his voice when he talked that there was soo much history there and so much to still know about him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by killersheep

Sweet Rawdigga,
Looks like a blast, I'm gonna have to head out one of these days.

---

Def. Greg you should man...
Next year 2009 in mid Nov. save the date...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holmcall

Man, I am one jealous cat. Was Frank Baltazar there? Did you remeber to say hello for me? Also, Haugen is a good friend and a great guy. I plan to put one of your photos up on my site if its ok with you.
Again, thanks for sharing. :appl::appl::appl::appl::appl:

---

I did not see the Baltazars there at the memorabilia event, they might have attended the dinner...
Of course you can use the picture.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holmcall

I believe Miguel Diaz was adarn good fighter as well.

---

You know he did mention that he fought but did not go into details...
He mainly talked about the Pac-ODLH fight.

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Thanks, mate.

It was Miguel's father who was the good fighter. Junior only had one pro fight. I had that wrong.

Holy crap man. I bet you hated to see that day end. Awesome stuff there.

Here is my favorite one.

http://i37.tinypic.com/6dwo0g.jpg

:o

;D

All I can say is thanks for sharing that with us, you certainly get about mate. You have so many pics with all these boxing greats/legends it makes me insanely jealous :mad:

Who takes all the pics anyway?

Great pics. but i know u wanted those pics with Pernell and Lennox which would have been insane.

did u speak to Haugen, i always enjoyed his fights with Vinny. i would have loved to hear wat he thinks of him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

After chatting with Terry, I put my glove in my bag and wish him well.
Turn around and I see Paul Gonzalez, someone who I read a lot about and heared a lot about growing up in East L.A.
For those who don't know Paul was part of the 1984 US Boxing team and the Light Flyweight gold medalist. He was team mates with Steve McCrory, Pernell Whittaker, Mark Breland, Tyrell Biggs, Meldrick Taylor, Frank Tate, Henry Tillman and Holyfield.

As a pro he did not have the same success as he did in the Olympics having a short lived career. He did get a shot at the title vs. Orlando Canizalez but lost via TKO on cuts as Canizalez was able to catch him early on and cut him up to force the stoppage.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ick/Box009.jpg

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Simply put,these are absolutely out-f!!!!-standing Mick.Great pics and it sounds like a blast.Count yourself lucky my man,many would give a lesser limb to have that experience.Your enthusiasm comes through,love the Norris Pic especially.Glad he is doing well after a career of excitement.

I love to see these events,The past older greats meshing & blending with the current greats really puts the huge greatness of this sport into one focus....and why we love it ;D.Anything On Marvin Johnson,Did he show up for induction?Love watching his battles with Saad,Lopez etc.Just classics.

Griffith looks great...Happy!!Good to see Gonzalez as well.I thought he got shafted a bit in second fight with Canizales,butting heads like billy goats.Seemed injury prone but solid,just did not pan out.Just noticed Danny Lopez...man he looks like he is ready to answer the bell in that one ;D. Thanks for sharing dude.Awesome insight as always.

Thanks for sharing mate, what a day; you meet in one day more fighters than we get to in our whole lives and you get to meet not just fighters but the legends! :cool:

Yeah thanks for sharing. Thats great stuff right there.

Excellent stuffs again CMM!!!:cool:

Good stuff.. Just keep living the dream:cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deanrw

Holy crap man. I bet you hated to see that day end. Awesome stuff there.

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Thanks Dean.
I really was gutted when I had to leave especially since I wanted to see if I could talk some more with Emile but I had to get going...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danny_G

Here is my favorite one.

:o

;D

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Seriously Danny_G,
I like the Troll and all and it's fucken funny...
But how in the FUCK did you change the picture like that? :confused:
How did you swith us sides and how did you chage our hands? ???
I'm fucken getting dizzy thinking about it...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kel

All I can say is thanks for sharing that with us, you certainly get about mate. You have so many pics with all these boxing greats/legends it makes me insanely jealous :mad:

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Cheers mate, I just take advantage of every opp. that comes my way and I live it up and make the best of it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kel

Who takes all the pics anyway?

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I've got a personal photographer with me all the time. :cool:

;D seriously, I just ask anyone whos standing around near by. For the most part everyone knows the rule that if someone asks you can you take a pic. for me you say yes and at one point or another someone will return the favor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kingfrnk

Great pics. but i know u wanted those pics with Pernell and Lennox which would have been insane.

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Well yes but honestly man, having seen Terry Norris, Danny Lopez and to top it all off one of my all time favs. Emile Griffith...
Forget it man, I was like Lennox who? Pernell who?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kingfrnk

did u speak to Haugen, i always enjoyed his fights with Vinny. i would have loved to hear wat he thinks of him.

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Briefly, I did... I met him last year and I talked to him more on that year but I did not talk Paz with him. I talked to him about him being a trainer and running a gym. He signed my Hall of Fame program.

Question for you CMM. Did Diaz mention anything about the Pavlik Hopkins fight?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

Simply put,these are absolutely out-f!!!!-standing Mick.Great pics and it sounds like a blast.Count yourself lucky my man,many would give a lesser limb to have that experience.Your enthusiasm comes through,love the Norris Pic especially.Glad he is doing well after a career of excitement.

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You know the deal Spicoli, I make the best of it and just take it all in.
Norris is doing good and it also showed in how busy he's been touring.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

I love to see these events,The past older greats meshing & blending with the current greats really puts the huge greatness of this sport into one focus....and why we love it ;D.Anything On Marvin Johnson,Did he show up for induction?Love watching his battles with Saad,Lopez etc.Just classics.

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Marvin was there and was busy as hell signing autographs. Unfortunately I did not manage to get a pic. with him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

Griffith looks great...Happy!!Good to see Gonzalez as well.I thought he got shafted a bit in second fight with Canizales,butting heads like billy goats.Seemed injury prone but solid,just did not pan out.Just noticed Danny Lopez...man he looks like he is ready to answer the bell in that one ;D. Thanks for sharing dude.Awesome insight as always.

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Gotta love Emile...
Gonzalez was fun to talk with and was up for the pic. moment sharing a good story.
Danny Lopez was solid man, and serious but at the same time very talkative...