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

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'



Interview From 1976

> Tell us about the time you faced your 'first' World-Ranked fighter.

That was back on March 28, 1968.

I was in the Gym at the time helping Raul Rojas prepare for his World Championship
bout with Enrique Higgins. It was to be for the 'vacant' WBA Featherweight Title.

Originally I was not on the 'fight card', which was to take place at the Olympic Auditorium.

On the 'main undercard' > which was a Television Bout {Channel 5; KTLA}, hot shot
and World-Ranked Featherweight - Bobby Valdez was supposed to fight Len Kesey
in Junior-Lightweight bout.

But, Bobby got hurt in the Gym, and pulled out 3-Days before his bout. They looked
for a 3-Day replacement fighter, and found me.

I was in great shape, so I jumped at the offer.

I was to fight Len 'KO' Kesey. He was a tough 'club-fighter' from Oregon, who was
ranked as the #10 WBA Junior-Lightweight. Len had come down to Los Angeles to
get in a good bout to show off his skills. He was a really tough guy, who had a record
of 19-3-0 {10 KO's}.

He had a lot of experience for a 23 year-old guy, as Len had been in the Ring with
> Mando Ramos, Baby Cassius and Petey Gonzalez.

I was only {Age; 18 1/2}, and I only had fought in 'one' 10-Rounder before this bout,
but my Manager felt that I was ready.

The Olympic Auditorium was buzzing that night, as there was a screaming crowd of
over 10,000 there. The noise sent chills down my spine.

As for my bout with Kesey. It was a good fight. I fought well and kept it close up to
the 8th Round. But Len was a stronger than me down the stretch, and he won a
close 10-Round Unanimous Decision.

After Len Kesey beat me, Ring Magazine ranked him as the #10 Junior-Lightweight.
So that must have meant something about me as well.

I really didn't feel all that bad about the loss. It was more of a learning experience.
But I still looked good, and impressed a few of the Los Angeles Boxing Matchmakers.