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

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Who was the 1st World Class Fighter that you faced >

That would be Bobby Valdez. He was ranked as the #5 Featherweight
by Ring Magazine, and {#7 WBA and #7 WBC}. He was also was the
California State Featherweight Champion.

We fought on January 13, 1969.

He was from San Diego, and had been World-Rated for 3-Years. He was
a well-schooled 'ring technician', as he was experienced {Age; 26}, and had
a record of 22-5-4 with {8 KO's}.

He was looking for a good tune-up bout in trying to get another chance at
the Featherweight World Championship.

I went to his hometown {San Diego Coliseum} to fight him. He had a big
following, and they all expected him to easily out-box me.

We agreed on {128 lbs.} as the fight weight, so the State Championship
was not at stake. I was 131 lbs. on Sunday, and had to lose 3 lbs. to
make weight for the Monday Night bout.

Well I stayed 'even' with him thru the 4th Round, as he wasn't doing much
more than flicking out left-jabs. In the 5th Round I stepped in, and caught
him with a big right-hand to the chin and dropped him. He got up, and I
dropped him again with a 'left-right'. He was hurt bad, and barely got up.
He just made it out of the Round.

But I finished him in the 6th Round, as the Referee {Hal Rickards} stopped it.
I was really hurting him.

After the bout, he came up to me and said that he was never hit harder
by anyone. He said that I was a very good fighter, and that I had a chance
to make to the top. He was a 'class guy'.

The 'San Mateo Times' and 'The Fresno Bee' wrote nice articles about me,
mentioning that an 'unknown and unheralded' East Los Angeles fighter
scored a major upset.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, when did you first get ranked in the Top 10 >

Right after I stopped {TKO 6} Bobby Valdez.

In the February 1969 Ratings, Ring Magazine listed me as their #10 Featherweight.
But, I wasn't really a Featherweight, as I couldn't make 126 lbs. anymore.

The WBA listed me as their #10 Featherweight, and the WBC listed me as
the #10 Super-Featherweight.

I was most comfortable at around 132 lbs.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> What was your highest ranking from Ring Magazine >

It was right after I upset {W Majority Decision 10} Petey Gonzalez
at the Valley Music Theatre on March 4, 1969.

Petey 'The Spoiler' was ranked as Ring Magazine's #7 Junior-Lightweight,
and he was really a good fighter. I beat him in a great tussle. The bout was
an 'over-the-weight' Junior-Lightweight fight, and I weighed in at 133 lbs.

But still, Ring Magazine listed me as their #7 Featherweight.

I was only {Age; 19 years, 7 months}, and only had been a professional
for 21-Months {less than 2-Years}.

My record was now 18-3-1 {7 KO's}, and George Parnassus was looking to
promote me in a bout at The Forum in Inglewood.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Who were your Manager/Handlers >

That would be Larry and Memo Soto of the Main Street Gym. They moved me
well, and got me a lot of bouts.

They hooked me up with Mickey Davies who was the Boxing Matchmaker at
the Olympic Auditorium. That is where I had nearly all of my early fights.
By fighting all those bouts at the Olympic Auditorium, I built up a pretty good
following real fast.

Then they got me a deal with the Monarch Boxing Club, with Promoter - Pete Kokon
and Matchmaker - Hal Benson. They promoted bouts at the 'new' Valley Music Theatre
in Woodland Hills, California. I fought there '5' times, and they paid me well.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Who labeled you 'The Flash' >

It was 'The Van Nuys Valley News'. They said that I was a 'flashy fighter' after I beat
Bobby Valdez in January 1969. After that, 'The Flash' became my nickname.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, what was your biggest pay-day early in your career >

Back on March 17, 1969. It was $2500 to fight at the Forum.

George Parnassus wanted me as a Nite-Cap bout, after the 'Main Event'
between Ruben Olivares vs. Ernie De La Cruz.

They pulled in a Gate of $44,722 and with an attendance of 8495. It was
a good night there.

They brought in this guy {Miguel Herrera} to fight me. He was the Ecuadorian
Featherweight Champion, and he had a record of 41-5-2 with {25 KO's}.
He was a 3-Day replacement fighter who was co-managed by Gil Clancy.

We didn't know that much about him, other than he was 27 years-old, and had
never been knocked-out in '48-Bouts'. We really had no idea how good he was
either. Only that he'd been around for awhile {since 1960}, and was a 9-Year pro.

We fought as Junior-Lightweights. I got off to a real slow start, and the next thing
I know I'm behind by 3-Points. He was a real good in-fighter, and he smothered me
with short-hooks. And, he was real cagey. He knew how to fight inside.

I did my best to rally in the Middle-Rounds, but I got tired near the end. I just came
up a little short, and lost to him by a Split-Decision over 10-Rounds.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

"A Good West-Coast Kid"

Interview from 1976

> Were you ever in line for a Championship Bout >

Yes. Back in April 1969 I was mentioned as a possible opponent
for WBA Featherweight Champion - Shozo Saijo.

Despite me losing to Miguel Herrera {on March 17, 1969}, I was
still ranked in the Top 10 Featherweights by Ring Magazine in April and May.

*** Johnny Famechon
#1 . Shozo Saijo
#2 . Jose Legra
#3 . Dwight Hawkins
#4 . Cruz Marcano
#5 . Fighting Harada
#6 . Jose Jiminez
#7 . Felipe Torres
#8 . Fernando Sotelo
#9 . Jimmy Revie
#10 Miguel Herrera

But, I couldn't get down to Featherweight {126 lbs.} anymore. So my Managers
told the WBA that I would be campaigning as a Junior-Lightweight.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Your first '23-Bouts' were all in California. When was your 1st bout away from California >

Yes, my first '23-Bouts' were all in California. After nearly 2-Years, I hadn't had a single
bout outside of California.

In May 1969 {May 10th}, they brought me down to Mexico City to the Arena Coliseo
to take on Ray Vega. He was a real 'hot-shot' Junior-Lightweight who was a stable-mate
of Sugar Ramos.

It was to be a 'Main Event' that was to be broadcast on Mexican Television.

They were trying to build him up, and they said that if he beat me, he would get
a Junior-Lightweight Title bout against the WBA Champion - Hiroshi Kobayashi.

They thought that I would be a good opponent for him. He had a good looking record
of 31-5-1 with {19 KO's}, and he was ranked as the #2 Mexican Junior-Lightweight.

He was on a great 'streak', where he had won 19-of-20 bouts over 2 1/2 years.
He was supposed to be a real tough-guy to fight. A real hombre' who could punch good.

Well, I got off to a fast start and out-boxed him good over the first 6-Rounds. I then
cruised for a few Rounds while trying to set him up.

In the 10th and Final Round, I poured it on and slammed him all over the Ring.
I dropped him just before the Bell. That was the 'Exclamation Point'.

The Arena Coliseo fans all threw coins in the Ring after I beat him. I must have
picked up another $50 in coins.

Those fans were really appreciative.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> What happened after you defeated Ray Vega in Mexico City on May 10, 1969 >

Well, I had hurt my right-hand in that bout. But, they wanted me back for another
'Main Event' bout right away. But the problem was, that I couldn't throw a right-hand
without any power because of the throbbing-pain.

My Doctor told me that I had to take at least 2-Months off for the cracked-bone to heal.

But on a good note, on July 26, 1969 - the 'new' WBA Ratings came out for Lightweight,
and there I was at #10.

**** Mando Ramos
#1 .. Ismael Laguna
#2 .. Carlos Teo Cruz
#3 .. Carlos Hernandez
#4 .. Eugenio Espinoza
#5 .. Ken Buchanan
#6 .. Pedro Carrasco
#7 .. Arturo Lomelli
#8 .. Frank Narvaez
#9 .. Yoshiaki Numata
#10 . Felipe Torres

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash'' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Do you think you would have fared well against Mando Ramos >

In mid-1969 he was the WBA Lightweight Champion, and I was ranked #10.

I sparred with him a few times, and he was really strong. And if you weren't
careful, he could drop you with one of his bombs. He was a big Lightweight at
{5' 9"} with a real long reach, but he was not that fast.

I was just a small Lightweight at {5' 5 /2"}, but I was quick enough to avoid
his big-bombs.

But I think I could have made it a good fight for 10-Rounds. Nobody ever
knocked me out.