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

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> You were on a roll and in good position in mid-1969. Then what happened >

I had gone 7-1-1 with {4 KO's} since August 1968 {1-Year}. I was only a little
over 20 years-old, and was ranked as the #10 WBA Lightweight.

My record looked good too at 19-4-1 {7 KO's}.

Then I had '4' incredibly tough bouts in a row.

* September 13, 1969 ...... Ricardo Arredondo
* November 4, 1969 ......... Shozo Saijo
* February 4, 1970 ........... Kuniaki Shibata
* March 28, 1970 ............. Roberto Duran

That was '4' hard bouts in just 5 1/2 months.

I lost a close 10-Round Decision to Ricardo Arredondo in Mexico City. He went
on to win the WBC Super-Featherweight Championship in October 1971.

I lost a 10-Round Majority Decision to Shozo Saijo in Hawaii. He was the WBA
Featherweight Champion, and it was non-title bout.

He was the '1st' guy to ever knock me down {2nd-Round}. But I got up, and gave
him a good battle right until the end.

Then I fought Kuniaki Shibata in Tokyo. He was very strong. He went on to win
the WBC Featherweight Championship in December 1970, and also went on to
win the WBA Super-Featherweight Championship in March 1973, and the WBC
Super-Featherweight Championship in February 1974.

Then for the 'topper', I fought Roberto Duran in Mexico City. Of course, he went
on to win the WBA Lightweight Championship in June 1972.

After those '4-Bouts' {all 10-Round Decision losses} I dropped to 19-8-1 and
out of the World Ratings.

That's '4' World Champions in just 175-Days.

I was burnt out after that. I needed some time off, and I moved to Mexicali and
rested for 5-Months.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Of those '4' World Champions, who was the best at the time >

Well, Ricardo Arredondo was the same age as me {Age; 20} at the time.
We were both young and evenly matched. He was a good puncher, and
stayed busy the entire 10-Rounds. He really surprised me on how good
he was. I just underestimated him that day.
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Shozo Saijo was an accurate and pin-point puncher. He wasn't a big-puncher,
but he floored me in the 2nd Round. He jumped in and caught me with a
beautiful 'left-right' to the chin. He was the only to floor me up to that point.
He was only {Age; 22} and was a Champion already. He was a true World-Class
boxer.
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Kuniaki Shibata was really strong. He was powerfully built, and could punch
real hard. He was also {Age; 22}, and was a World-Class fighter as well. He
was good, real good. He beat me up pretty good that Night, and won just
about every Round.
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On Roberto Duran. Well, he was only {Age; 18 1/2}. He was raw, only had a
record of 15-0-0 {13 KO's}. I was his 'first' real test. We fought in Mexico City
at the Arena Coliseo.

He got off to a quick start, and won the first 2-Rounds. But I started to nail
him coming in during the 3rd-Round. He bounced back and threw everything he
had at me. Rights, lefts and combinations. But he couldn't hurt me at all.

Then I came on in Round 6, and I stunned him with a 'left-right'. Then I
smashed him good with a right-hand and he wobbled backwards. I had him
in big trouble, but he snuck away.

In Round 7, I caught him again. And he 'staggered' sideways and into the Ropes.
I tee'd off on him, but he took everything that I threw. I almost had him out.

But Roberto was tough, and had a lot of heart. He came roaring back during
the 8th and 9th Rounds, and took the play away from me.

The last Round, he played it smart, and boxed cautiously. He ended up winning
a close 10-Round Decision.
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Overall, I would have to say that Kuniaki Shibata was the best fighter of those
'4' at the time.