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

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> After you took some time off {5 Months} did you come back stronger >

Well, I got a new Handler. He got me a good bout in September 1970, but
it was against Enrique Jana.

He was ranked as the #6 Light-Welterweight, and he was an experienced guy
who really knew how to fight, especially on the inside.

Enrique was too strong for me, and wiped the floor with me. He won an easy 10-Round
Decision. That was my 5th-Straight loss.

9-months later, Enrique was fighting for the WBC Light-Welterweight Championship.
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Then in late-October, I got another bout. It was against Al Robinson in Oakland.
He was a 'rising star', as he was the 1968 Olympic Silver Medalist in the Featherweight
Division.

He was a tall and lanky guy. Well, he out-boxed me pretty good over the first 6-Rounds,
and won every Round. But he started to fade, and I rallied strongly over the last 4-Rounds.
I hit him with some solid head punches, and nearly knocked him out in Round 10. He just
barely made it.

He won the Decision, but he was in bad shape at the end of the bout.

He suffered from a bad headache after the bout, and he couldn't fight for 6-Months
after that.

He started training for a comeback in April 1971, and he suffered an injury in the Gym
on April 30th and fell into a coma.

He was in a coma for 2 1/2 years, and died on January 24, 1974.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, that's a lot of losses you had in a row >

Yes, I lost 6-bouts in a row, and 7 of 8 by the end of 1970. My
last win was 21-Months earlier back in March of 1969.

At the end of 1970, my record was 19-10-1.
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> Did you get discouraged about continuing >

No, not really. In every bout that I lost, I was right there and was
competitive.

The Boxing Matchmakers still knew I was a good fighter, and nobody
gave up on me, despite losing all those bouts.
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> How was the fight purse situation for you >

Well, it dropped off a little. I couldn't demand the {$2000 plus} Fight Purses
that I got earlier. I had to take what was offered.

But, I still had a good job at the Los Angeles Pants Factory, and I was
always available as a sparring-partner for the top Featherweights and
Lightweights in Los Angles.
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> So you were no longer considered a future Title Challenger >

Correct.

Back in November 1968 they called me a rising star, after I stopped {TKO 5}
Centavito Hernandez.

Then in January 1969, I was called the 'flashy junior lightweight', and a
future Title challenger after I stopped {TKO 6} Bobby Valdez.

Then in March 1969, I was East Los Angeles 'newest hero' after I upset
Petey Gonzalez

And then by the end of 1969, I was the 'tough and rugged little fighter'
from East Los Angeles.

And by the end of 1970, I was only {21 1/2 years old}, but I was now labeled a
tough-nosed trial-horse for other Lightweights.