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.