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

[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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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."

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ November 27, 1971

Municipal Auditorium ~ Long Beach, California

"Felipe Torres To Fight Cesar Sinda in 10-Rounder"

"Torres - Sinda Vie For State Lightweight Title, Clash Tnight"

Felipe Torres ~ 23-13-1 {10 KO's} ~ {Age; 22 years, 5 months}
vs.
Cesar Sinda ~ 14-2-2 {10 KO's} ~ {Age; 22 years, 1 month}

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres of East Los Angles will take on Cesar Sinda of the
Republic of Congo in a 10-Round Lightweight bout.

Felipe, who is now ranked as the #11 WBA Lightweight, is coming off an
impressive and devastating win {KO 3} over Al 'Scooter' Meza only 10-Days
ago {November 17th} in Kennewick, Washington.

Cesar Sinda, from Congo in Africa, is now based out of Los Angeles after
spending 1-year fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico.

Cesar, a fast-working boxer with good power in his right-hand, has been
campaigning as a Lightweight.

Cesar was the African Amateur Boxing Champion at 60 Kg {132 lbs. Lightweight}
in 1968, and was the Congolese representative at the 1968 Olympic Games in
Mexico City.

Cesar had posted an amateur record of 55-1 {40 KO's}, before turning professional
at {Age; 20} in Mexico in early-1970. Cesar had won his first 6-Bouts {all by Knockout}
in Mexico, before being foolishly over-matched - where he lost '2-Straight' by Knockout.

At the tail-end of 1970, Cesar moved to Los Angeles. Since then, he has gone
unbeaten in '10-Bouts' by posting a record of 8-0-2 with {4 KO's}. He is now
Managed by - Cuco Conde.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ November 27, 1971

Municipal Auditorium ~ Long Beach, California

"Felipe Torres Behind On Points, Records KO In 10th"

Felipe Torres rallied from the 8th Round on, and scored a Knockout with just
13-Seconds left in the bout, in the 10th and Final Round against Congolese
Lightweight - Cesar Sinda.

Things were rough for Felipe {137 lbs.} over the early going, as Sinda {133 lbs.}
scored repeatedly with fast '4-Punch' combinations, and avoided any of Felipe's hard
counters.

In Round 5, Sinda cut Felipe under his left-eye with a hard right-cross, and had
things going all his way. Cesar appeared to be on his way to an easy Decision
victory as he led {4-0} in Points after 5 Rounds of action.

Round 6 was fought on 'even' terms, as Cesar slowed the pace some, and Felipe
again waited to counter.

But in Round 7, Felipe started to fight back aggressively, and slowly started to
come on, as he backed up Cesar with stiff left-jabs over the last-minute of
the Round.

Felipe kept up the pressure on Cesar during Round 8, by scoring with hard
left-hooks to the body that took some of the steam out of Cesar.

But Sinda rallied late in the Round 8, when he shook Felipe with a sharp 'left-right'
to the nose, and then boxed nicely from mid-range by using right-hand leads
and fast left-hooks to the head.

In Round 9, Cesar again used quick one-two's to pepper Felipe before he could
counter. Cesar was in control, as Felipe was too slow with his counters and right-hand
crosses.

But Felipe again came on late, and during the last 20-Seconds of Round 9, he dug
left-hooks into Sinda's body that had the 22 year-old Congolese Lightweight
bending over to avoid the punches.

It was obvious that the African was tiring.

After 9-Rounds, Cesar Sinda had a lead on all 3 Scorecards.
* Referee .... Abe Cohen ...... 5-2
* Judge ...... George Latka ... 5-2
* Judge ...... Lee Grossman .. 6-2

In Round 10 {Final Round} >

Felipe came out, and immediately fired left-hooks into the mid-section of Cesar,
who was forced to back away. By the {1:00 Mark} it was apparent that the Congolese
fighter could not withstand Flores hard blows, and he turned side-ways to avoid
the body attacks.

But Felipe kept up the pressure, and at the {2:20 Mark} Cesar's legs buckled from
'2' hard left-hooks to the ribs by Felipe.

Then at the {2:35 Mark}, Felipe landing a crushing left-hook to Sinda's body, and
then followed with a hard right-hand to the head.

Cesar Sinda went down hard, and was counted out by Referee - Abe Cohen @ 2:47 of Round 10.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This bout was supposed to be for the 'vacant' California State Lightweight Championship,
but Felipe Torres could not make weight and the bout was dropped from 12-Rounds to
10-Rounds.

[Bill Paxtom]

December 28, 1971

"Felipe 'The Flash' Torres Seeks Bout With Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez"

Felipe Torres, the 'crowd-pleasing' 22 year-old Los Angeles boxer/puncher is now
ranked as the #11 WBA Lightweight and #14 WBC Lightweight.

Felipe just scored 'back-to-back' Knockout wins within 11-Days in November, by
stopping quality opponents in > Al 'Scooter' Meza and Cesar Sinda.

Felipe is now looking forward to a West-Coast Lightweight Showdown with Rodolfo
Gonzalez for early in 1972.

Felipe Torres >

"That bout should be for a World Title Eliminator, with the winner getting a
chance at either WBA or WBC Champion, who-ever he is."

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ January 15, 1972

Municipal Auditorium ~ Long Beach, California

Torres Favored '9-5' In Long Beach Feature Bout'

Felipe Torres ~ 24-13-1 {11 KO's}
vs.
Vil Tumulak ~ 32-7-1 {16 KO's}

Felipe Torres {Age; 22 years, 7 months} will battle Filipino Lightweight -
Vil Tumulak here at the Municipal Auditorium.

Felipe 'The Flash' is looking for his 3rd-Straight win, and hopes to move up the
Lightweight ladder. The Torres Camp claim that Felipe's record is at 35-10-3
with {18 KO's}.

Vil Tumulak {Age; 28} is a former Philippine Lightweight Champion. Vil is
a 9-Year pro and has been fighting since 1963. In '40-Bouts', he has only been
stopped 3-Times.

Vil has recently relocated to Long Beach, California from his native home
in Manila, Philippines.

Tumulak who is an aggressive-puncher, recently scored an 'upset' win over talented
Jose Luis Martin Del Campo at the Olympic Auditorium on September 9, 1971.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ January 15, 1972

Municipal Auditorium ~ Long Beach, California

Attendance ...... 700

"Felipe Torres Edges Filipino Vil Tumulak"

In a bout between '2' fighters with similar styles, Felipe Torres edged Vil Tumulak
by a Split-Decision over 10-Rounds.

Both fighters who have the same aggressive offensive-style were anything but that over
the first 7-Rounds.

The action was lackluster, as both compact boxers were cautious and tentative,
as they parried each others punches. There were only brief exchanges, and neither
fighter exhibited any power.

Felipe Torres {135 1/2 lbs.} was looking to counter with his lethal left-hand, while
Vil Tumulak {135 lbs.} was trying to counter with his right-cross.

It was a very difficult bout to score, as both counter-punched and focused on
defense thru 7-Rounds.

But, 'All Hell Broke Loose' in Round 8.

The Filipino came out charging, and attacked Torres with a wild 'two-fisted' attack
which consisted off crunching right-crosses to the face and left-hooks directed at
Felipe's mid-section and ribs during the first-half of the session.

But at the {1:50 Mark}, Felipe acted as if he had been attacked by a hive of Bee's,
and wailed away at Tumulak with a series of lefts-and-rights. The action was
non-stop and brutal, as each fighter slugged away with everything they had until
the Bell sounded as the small crowd of 700 rose to their feet and cheered wildly.

The action was so vicious, that at the end of Round 8, both battlers retreated to
their respective corners showing scars. Vil Tumulak was bleeding from both the
nose and a cut over his right-eye. Felipe sported a left-eye that was swelling
like a balloon.

In Round 9, it was Felipe who came out 'bombing' {like Vil had started the 8th Round}.

Immediately he went after the Filipino with a volley of hard-punches, and 'staggered'
Vil with a series of left-hooks to the head. Felipe then backed up Tumulak, and sent in
rapid left-jabs to Vil's face.

But suddenly, Vil rallied and blasted away with both fists, and eventually sent Felipe
into the Ropes with a barrage. Vil then nearly sent Felipe through the Rope-strands
when he blasted him with several right-hooks to his head.

In the Final Round, both fighters met at Center-Ring, and went 'toe-to-toe' turning
the action into a wide-open slugfest. Both blasted each other with their best shots,
as the Municipal Auditorium 700 fans applauded loudly while on their feet.

Scorecards
* Referee - Larry Rozadilla ...... 6-4 {Felipe Torres}
* Judge - Geoge Latka ............ 5-4 {Felipe Torres}
* Judge - Lee Grossman .......... 5-4 {Vil Tumulak}

Reporter - Hank Hollingworth of the Independent-Press scored it {4-3} for Vil Tumulak.