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

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ March 4, 1972

"Torres Bows to Sinda"

"Sinda Avenges Defeat By Decisioning Torres"

Cesar Sinda {135 lbs.} piled up the points by using a sharp left-jab and strong
left-hooks to easily outscore Felipe Torres {137 lbs.} over 10 Rounds.

Sinda did have some difficulty getting through Torres tight-defense at times,
but continued to throw rapid-punches.

Cesar Sinda dominated the action, by using quick left-jabs and fast feet, which
kept Felipe Torres off-balance for the entire night.

Scorecards
* Referee - Lee Grossman ..... 6-2 {Cesar Sinda}
* Judge - Larry Rozadilla ....... 7-1 {Cesar Sinda}
* Judge - Bob Rings .............. 6-3 {Cesar Sinda}

Cesar Sinda >

"I have been working with Johnny Flores as my trainer. Our strategy was to
attack Torres with quick lefts, and then back-off. Johnny didn't want me to
stand and trade with Felipe, because he has a good left-hook to the body
and a powerful straight right-hand.

"That was my mistake in our 1st fight. I had the bout won, but then I stood
and traded with him over the last 3-Rounds, and he caught me in the last
Round."

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ June 22, 1972

Multnomah Expo Center ~ Portland, Oregon

"Lightning Ray To Take On 'Flash' Torres"

Unbeaten 'Lightning' Ray Lampkin 16-0-1 {6 KO's} will take on Los Angeles
Lightweight Felipe 'The Flash Torres.

Ray is already the #7 WBA Lightweight.

This will be Ray's toughest opponent to date. The 24 year-old Lightweight
is marching up the 'Lightweight Ladder', and claims the fastest hands in
the 135 lb. division.

Felipe Torres, younger at {Age; 23}, but with a tremendous amount of
experience {46-Bouts} claims a record of 35-10-1 {20 KO's}. Felipe has
been in-and-out of the Top 15 for the past 3-Years.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ June 22, 1972

Multnomah Expo Center ~ Portland, Oregon

"Lightning Ray To Take On 'Flash' Torres"

Unbeaten 'Lightning' Ray Lampkin 16-0-1 {6 KO's} will take on Los Angeles
Lightweight Felipe 'The Flash Torres.

The 24 year-old Portland Lightweight is marching up the 'Lightweight Ladder',
and claims to have the 'fastest-hands' in the 135 lb. division.

His opponent, Felipe Torres, is a young 23 year-old Lightweight, but has a
tremendous amount of experience {46-Bouts}. His Manager claims Felipe has
a record of 35-10-1 with {20 KO's}. Felipe has been in-and-out of the Top 10
for the past 3-Years.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ June 22, 1972

Ray Lampkin Looks Like Lightning In Win Over Felipe Torres"

'Lightning' Ray Lampkin improved his unbeaten record to 17-0-1 by winning
a convincing and one-sided 10-Round Decision over tough Los Angeles
Lightweight - Felipe Torres.

Ray {136 lbs.} used a scorching left-hand to build a wide points lead over
Torres {136 1/4 lbs.} who was unable to get untracked.

When Torres did get close, he was met by quick right-hand leads and
lightning-fast '3-Punch' combinations.

Ray won 9-Rounds, and held Torres even in one other.

Scorecards
* Judge - Jim Cassidy ..... 100-91
* Judge - Bob Hyle ......... 100-91
* Judge - Phil Moyer ....... 100-93

Felipe falls to 25-14-1, as per Ring Magazine.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

Retired from the Ring in July 1972, at the ripe old age of {23 years, 1 month}.

Felipe campaigned tor 5-Years {June 1967 thru June 1972}.

During that time, he comprised a record of 25-14-1 {11 KO's}.

His Manger claimed that Felipe had a record of 35-11-1 {20 KO's}, along
with a few other fabricated wins and a few less losses.

During his 5-Year career of '40-Bouts', Felipe was never stopped, and only
visited the canvas 'twice' in his entire career.

Felipe's major highlight was, winning the California State Lightweight Championship
on March 13, 1971 by defeating {W Dec 12} Raul 'Lobito' Montoya.

He successfully defended his Title once, by stopping {KO 6} Lovelle Franklin
on April 17, 1971.

After retiring in July 1972, Felipe spent time helping train other boxers at the
Main Street Gym in Los Angeles, and at the YMCA in Pasadena.

Felipe was a respected boxer, who was always in great physical shape and
came to fight. He was a local hero, who was a fan favorite with his exciting style.

Mainly a swift-boxer in style, Felipe was both elusive and quick, and had lightning fast
hands along with excellent footwork. He could also take a great punch and keep
on coming. To say he was 'durable', would be an understatement.

His best punches were a left-hook to the body, and a quick straight right-hand
to the chin that he called 'El Crujido' {The Crunch}.

Standing only 5' 5 1/2", the stockily-built boxer was rugged, and the Fight Promoters
called him a 'tough little fighter'.

He loved to fight, and was always ready to take a bout on a moments notice.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

"A Good West-Coast Kid"



Interview from 1976

> Tell us about your 1st big fight. >

It was back on February 29, 1968. It was at the 'Olympic Auditorium'. I was on the
main undercard against Al 'Scooter' Meza.

I was only a teenager {Age; 18 1/2}, and had a record of 11-1-0 {3 KO's}.

Our bout was broadcast on Television. And it was the 'first' 10-Round bout for the
both of us, so we only fought 2-Minute Rounds.

I was so nervous during introductions, I nearly pissed in my boxing trunks.
My corner told me to be careful, because 'Scooter' had a big right-hand. He was
older than me {Age; 23 1/2} and was 10-1-0 with {7 KO's}. He was a 'true'
Lightweight, and could really whack.

But, once the bout got started, I calmed down and went to work.

In the 2nd-Round we both traded punches, and I nailed him with a straight right-hand
and dropped him. But 'Scooter' was tough, and he got right back up. We both fought
real hard for the full 10-Rounds. Neither one of us took a rest.

It was good fight, and I won a 'razor-thin' 10-Round Split-Decision. The Olympic Auditorium
fans applauded the decision.

I think I received $750 for that bout. It was the most money that I had ever seen in one pile.

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'



Interview from 1976

> Tell us about your Boxing contacts >

Well, I first started off at the Olympic Auditorium fighting 4-Round and 6-Round
Preliminary bouts.

The Olympic Auditorium Fight-Promoter was Aileen Eaton, and the Matchmaker
was Mickey Davies.

Mickey really liked me, and he loved my style. So they signed me up, and I fought
there '16-times' from June 1967 thru November 1968.

Many of the bouts were televised on KTLA ~ Channel 5. They called me a crowd
pleasing fan-favorite. I really had a good following of fans.

I had a 'great night' at the Olympic on November 14, 1968.

They brought in this 21 year-old 'bomber-kid' from Sonora, Mexico. His name was
Centavito Antonio Hernandez, and they called him 'The Sonora Slammer'. He had
an impressive record of 23-2-0 {17 KO's}.

He was supposed to be a 'real test' for me, and he was slightly favored {10 to 7}
by the Newspapers to beat me. He came in with about 200 of his relatives.

Well, it was a 'war' for 3-Rounds, but then he just 'gassed-out'. Then, I took
him apart and the Referee stopped it {TKO 5}. I got a big write up in the papers,
and they said I was a 'rising star'.

That made my record 15-3-1 {5 KO's}, and I got ranked as the #3 California
State Super-Featherweight in the 'new' December 1968 ratings.