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

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ May 20, 1971

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

"Lightweight Showdown at the Olympic"

Jimmy Robertson ~ 22-2-0 {12 KO's} ~ Harbor City, California
vs.
Felipe Torres ~ 22-10-1 {9 KO's} ~ Vista Hermosa, Mexico
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Popular Lightweight - Jimmy Robertson {Age 25 years, 4 months} is currently
the NABF Lightweight Champion, and World-Rated as the #4 WBA Lightweight.

The 5' 7" fast-handed Boxer/Puncher is on the edge of getting a WBA World
Championship bout.

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres is hot again, after posting '3-Straight' impressive wins.

The 5' 5" Torres {Age; 21 years, 11 months} is the California Lightweight Champion.

Neither boxer's Championship is on the line.

[Bill Paxtom]

Jimmy Robertson vs. Felipe Torres

Thursday ~ May 20, 1971

"Robertson Jabs His Way To Decision"

It was expected to be an evenly matched bout, and a dangerous fight for
the Olympic house fighter - Jimmy Robertson to take.

But Jimmy came out quickly, and used a variety of punches to stall any attacks
from Felipe Torres.

Jimmy {135 1/2 lbs.} won a surprisingly easy 10-Round Decision over the normally
tough Felipe Torres {134 lbs.}.

From Round 3 and on, Jimmy used an assortment of left-hands to baffle Felipe.

By the 8th Round, Felipe was hopelessly behind, and only Felipe's courage prevented
him from being KO'd over the last 2-Rounds.

Scorecards
* Referee - John Thomas .... 9-1 {Jimmy Robertson}
* Judge - Larry Rozadilla ..... 9-1 {Jimmy Robertson}
* Judge - Dick Young ......... 10-0 {Jimmy Robertson}

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ June 22, 1971

International Convention Arena ~ Honolulu, Hawaii

Felipe Torres ~ 22-11-1 {9 KO's} ~ 134 lbs.
vs.
Masataka Takayama ~ 13-1-1 {2 KO's} ~ 135 lbs.

Felipe Torres travels to Hawaii to tangle with 25 1/2 year-old Japanese Lightweight
Champion - Masataka Takayama. Masataka is a highly-regarded Lightweight on the
rise, and is ranked as the #12 WBA Lightweight.

Felipe Torres is on the 'undercard bout', as his stable-mate Jesus Pimentel is in
the 'Main Event'.

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

'The Bout'

An 'even' and entertaining scrap over the first 4-Rounds, as the muscular Takayama
matches Felipe's left-hand jabs with short bursts to the body.

Mastaka has a solid Round 5, as he shakes Felipe with a hard right-hand lead
to the head, and follows up with bursts to the upper-body.

The action resumes to an 'even scrap' at Center-Ring during Rounds 6 and 7,
as both fighters trade with numerous exchanges, rocking each other with looping
right-hands to the head.

The International Arena fans are on their feet cheering the wild-action in the Ring.

Masataka picks up the pace even faster during Rounds 8 and 9, and out-hustles
Felipe with 'quick' two-fisted bursts, before backing out and away.

Behind on Points entering Round 10, Felipe goes for 'broke' and swings with
right-hands on Masataka who backs away and holds until the Bell.

Mastaka Takayama is awarded a Unanimous 10-Round Decision.

Scorecards
* Referee ...... 47-45
* Judge ......... 46-44
* Judge ......... 48-45

[Bill Paxtom]

September 11, 1971

Devonshire Downs ~ Northridge, California

The '1st' ever Boxing Event held here.

"California State Lightweight Championship"

Time; 9:00 PM
Television; Channel 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Felipe Torres ~ 22-12-1 {9 KO's}
vs.
Juan Collado ~ 28-9-2 {10 KO's}

"Torres 10-8 Pick To Beat Collado"

Felipe Torres, now of Pacoima, California ~ is out to reverse his last 2-Bouts
{Decision losses}.

The rugged little fighter is still regarded as a 'top-notch' fighter by the
Los Angeles Fight Promoters. Only {Age; 22 years, 3 months}, Felipe has
never been stopped in his career, and he has faced the best Featherweights,
Junior-Lightweights and Lightweights out there.

Felipe is the {10-8} Betting-Favorite for tonight's 12-Round bout.

Juan Collado {Age 24 years, 4 months} of the Dominican Republic is now
campaigning out of Santa Ana, California. Juan was trained by Angelo Dundee.

Juan, at {5' 7 1/2"} is a solid boxer/puncher with a good right-hand. Juan has
been in the Ring with the following World-Rated fighters;

* Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez
* Leo DiFiore
* Ruben Navarro
* Shinichi Kadota
* Jimmy Robertson
* Antonio Gomez

Promoters > George Parnassus and Don Fraser {The Forum Boxing Club}
Matchmaker > Mickey Davies

The winner of this bout has been guaranteed a 'good money' Fight Purse to
face Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez - the #6 World-Rated Lightweight on October 2nd.

http://img2.newspapers.com/img/thumb....jpg?cs=604800

http://img2.newspapers.com/img/thumb....jpg?cs=604800

[Bill Paxtom]

September 11, 1971

"Juan Collado Wins California Lightweight Title, Defeats Felipe Torres"

24 year-old Dominican - Juan Collado {134 lbs.} used hard left-hooks and short right-hand
power punches to take a hard-fought and close 12-Round Decision over Felipe Torres {133 lbs.}
to capture the California State Lightweight Championship.

Collado, now a resident of Santa Ana, controlled the early Rounds by using hard left-hooks
and short power right-hands to keep Felipe Torres on the defensive.

Collado nearly dropped the 22 year-old Torres in Round 5, when he caught the Los Angeles-based Lightweight with '2' left-hooks to the chin.

But the elusive Torres danced his way out of danger, and countered with left-jabs to keep Collado
at bay.

Torres was able to shake out the cob-webs in Round 6, and then rallied some during Rounds 7 and 8
as Collado slowed down.

But Collado stalled the momentum that Torres had built, and the Dominican caught his 'second-wind'
and swept Rounds 9 and 10 by landing crisp-punches to Torres' face.

The last 2-Rounds saw each fighter score with left-hands, but it was Juan Collado who was the stronger fighter at the end.

Scorecards
* Referee ...... 6-4 {Juan Collado}
* Judge ......... 7-4 {Juan Collado}
* Judge ......... 6-4 {Juan Collado}

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ November 17, 1971

"Meza ~ Torres Rematch Tops Ring Card"

Goodyear Building
Avenue C
Kennewick, Washington

Promoter > Herman Morantes

Al 'Scooter' Meza ~ 20-5-0 {17 KO's} ~ {Age; 27 years, 3 months}
vs.
Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ 22-13-1 {9 KO's} ~ {Age; 22 years, 5 months}

A 'rematch' of their bout nearly '4' years earlier, back on February 29, 1968 at the
Olympic Auditorium, where Felipe had won a 10-Round Majority Decision.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al 'Scooter' Meza of Granger, Washington is a popular 27 year-old fighter,
who holds the Pacific Northwest Lightweight Championship.

'Scooter' had temporarily retired back in September 1970 after getting stopped
{L TKO 9} by Pajarita Corona. But 'Scooter' returned in August 1971, and has won
'2' straight by impressive Knockout's.

'Scooter' has been working very hard in 'pre-fight' training, and he looks to be in the
best shape of his boxing career.

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres, is a now a crafty ring veteran with '36-Bouts' under
his belt, being despite being only {Age; 22 years, 5 months}.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark West {Felipe Torres handler} >

"Felipe was only a 'kid' when he first fought 'Scooter' Meza. He still knocked him down
and won a 10-Round Majority Decision. But now, Felipe's 'stockier' and much stronger,
and he has a lot more experience."

"Ask anyone at the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles, and they will tell you that Felipe
is as good as any Lightweight in the Top 10. Yes, he has some losses. But all those
bouts were very close, and in each bout he was giving as good as he got."

"When Felipe is not fighting, he works at a Pants Factory in Los Angeles. But, he's
always in great shape and works out all the time. This kid just loves to fight, and he'll
take a bout on a 'days notice'. He's afraid of no one."

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ November 17, 1971

"Torres Stops Meza In 3rd Round"

Felipe Torres of Los Angeles, California exploded with a lightning-fast combination
near the end of Round 3, and dropped Al 'Scooter' Meza in a heep.

'Scooter' got to his feet at the '6-Count', but staggered back into the Ropes.
Referee - Jim Jiiley kept on counting after the Bell had sounded, as Meza was
still dazed.

The Referee 'counted-out' Meza @ 3:03 of Round 3.
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The first 2-Rounds were action-packed, as Meza charged forward winging punches
from all angles into the Los Angeles Lightweight. 'Scooter' continually bored in, and
traded sharp punches with Torres who fought with his back to the Ropes during
Rounds 1 and 2.

In Round 3, Torres spent the first-half of the Round with his 'spine-to-the-twine' again,
as Meza bullied him back into the Ropes and dished out punishment at a steady-pace.
But 'Scooter' was unable to hurt Torres.

At the {2:00 Mark}, Felipe was finally able to work himself off the Ropes, and drove Meza
backwards to Center-Ring after landing '2' lightning-fast combinations.

There, both fighters traded blows during even exchanges. Then at the {2:50 Mark}, Meza
attempted to bore straight in. Felipe then quickly schuffled to his right, and fired a
straight-left, and then brought up a 'short-and-lethal' right-hook to the Meza's jaw.

'Scooter' went down as if 'pole-axed' at the {2:53 Mark}.

Meza struggled up at the '6-Count', but wobbled backwards towards the Corner
as the Bell sounded.

Referee - Jim Jiiley issued an '8-Count' but saw that Meza was still dazed.

The Referee deemed that 'Scooter' was in too much trouble to make it back
to his own Corner, and he called the bout over @ 3:03 of Round 3.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 'Felipe Torres Camp' claimed that their fighter is now 31-9-1 with {20 KO's}.

The handsome-and-unmarked Felipe Torres was excited after the win, and said
that he hopes for a World Title bout in early 1972.

Felipe Torres {Interpreter} >
"He never hurt me. He threw all those punches, but he never shook me. Then he
made the mistake of coming straight in 'head-first'. I was worried that he would
'butt me', so I side-stepped and cold-cocked him with a right-hook to the jaw."

"That 'dead-ahead' approach is just foolish. He never saw what hit him."

Al 'Scooter' Meza >
"I never the saw the punch. I just didn't see it coming. I won the first 2-Rounds
easily, and I was winning the 3rd. I'm completely disgusted in myself to lose like this."