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

[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.