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

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> You had a big win when you Knocked Out - Al 'Scooter' Meza. >

Yes, the Tri-City Herald posted our action, and I had a good write up.

'Scooter' came right at me, and threw bombs. But he came in straight ahead
and wide open.

I timed him coming in during Round 3, and side-stepped his charge and
cold-cocked him by comimg up with a right-hook.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> So Felipe, you were 'hot' again after stopping 'Scooter' Meza >

Yes. It was like I was on a Roller-Coaster ride.

Just 10-Days later {Saturday ~ November 27, 1971} - I was down in Long Beach
at the Municipal Auditorim to fight Cesar Sinda.

My Managers {Larry and Memo Soto} got me a decent fight purse {$2000} to take
on African - Cesar Sinda.
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> Did the Promoters list you with your 'new-and-improved' record. >

Yes, they had me listed with a record of > 31-9-1 with {17 KO's}.
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> Who was Cesar Sinda. >

Well, he was a 20 year-old Lightweight from Congo in Africa. And he was managed
by Mexican - Cuco Conde and trained by - Johnny Flores.

He had a record of 14-2-2 {10 KO's}, and was the African Amateur Champion {60 Kg}
back in 1968.

He was also in the 1968 Olympics at Mexico City. He stayed in Mexico City after the
Olympics, and turned professional where he went 6-2-0 {6 KO's}. Then he moved to
Long Beach, California at the end of 1970, and had gone 'unbeaten' at 8-0-2 with
{4 KO's} while campaigning here in the States.

Cesar was powerfully-built, and was an extremely fast-handed fighter who had
excellent footwork. He too, was another really good fighter.

We were supposed to fight for the California State Lightweight Title, but for some
reason I could not make weight and get down to 135 lbs. I ended up coming in
at 137 lbs.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> I saw that bout with Cesar Sinda. You made a tremendous comeback to win. >

Well, Cesar was really fast. He would come in and unload a barrage, and then
slide outside.

He won the first 4-Rounds easy. Then he cut me 'bad' under my left-eye in
Round 5 with a sharp 'left-right'.

He thought that he was on his way for an easy win, and he got a little too confident.

I started to come on in Rounds 7 and 8, as I worked his body with some of my
left-hooks. He started to slow down.

But, he came back in Round 9, and he boxed me silly. But at the end of the Round,
I sunk a great look-hook into his mid-section, and he nearly caved in.

When he came out for Round 10, he was up by {3, 3, and 4 Points} on the Scorecards.

In Round 10 > He tried to move and circle, but I hunted him down. Then real late, I
caught him with a great left-hook to the ribs, and I came over the top with a big
right-hand to his chin. He went down and out.

There were only 13-Seconds left in the bout. It was an unbelievable comeback to win.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview for 1976

> Felipe, you got a lot of good press from that win over Cesar Sinda. >

Yes, the 'Independent-Press' in Long Beach gave me a nice write up. That
got me some more attention in the Lightweight rankings.

I was hoping for a big money bout with Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez at the
Olympic Auditorium after that.

There was talk and some preliminary negotiations, but they stalled.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, after you beat Cesar Sinda you back near the Top 10 World Ratings. >

Yes, the WBA and WBC both listed me as their #11 Lightweight in the December 1971
Ratings.

Then I got another good offer for a bout at the Muncipal Auditorium Long Beach.

I signed a contract on Friday ~ December 17, 1971.

It was set for Saturday - January 15, 1972. And it was to broadcast by KTLA-TV
Channel 5.
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> Who was your opponent. >

They had me take on Vil Tumulak, who was the former Philippine Lightweight
Champion.

He was a pretty good fighter, and had a style similar to mine. He was an aggressive
puncher who was tough-nosed.

He was 28 years-old, and had been around for a while {since 1963}. He brought in a
record of 32-7-1 with {16 KO's}. He had just relocated to Long Beach from
Manila, Philippines.

The boxing program listed me with a record of 35-10-3 {18 KO's}.

I was made the Betting-Favorite at {10-7}, but then they changed it to {9-5}.
But I knew that this would be a tough battle.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview ffrom 1976

> Felipe, I saw that TV bout with Vil Tumulak. It was a wild last 3-Rounds. >

Yea, it was kind of dull and lack-luster for the first 7-Rounds. You see, we both
had the same styles, so we kind of neutralized each other.

But all Hell broke loose in Round 8. And we spent the last 3-Rounds smashing
each other. We both were staggered several times.

I edged Vil by a 10-Round Split-Decision. It was close for sure. It could have
gone either way, and it could have easily been ruled a Draw.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, were you hoping for a bout with Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez. >

Yes. He was ranked as the #8 WBC Lightweight. We were supposed to fight
on March 4, 1972 at the Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach. It was to be for
the California State Lightweight Championship.
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> What happened. >

Well, 5-days before our Saturday Night bout he pulled out. He said it was because
he got 'a better offer' from the Olympic. But I highly doubt that. He just didn't want
to fight me because I was too much of a risk for his #8 WBC ranking.
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> Did the Fight Promters get a replacement opponent that was acceptable for you. >

I was willing to fight the Filipino - Vil Tumulak in a rematch, but he had a bout down
in Mexicali. So he was locked up.

Then they got a hold of the African - Cesar Sinda. He was willing to fight me again,
and on short notice. He had been training with Johnny Flores, so he was in shape and
ready for a rematch.

Cesar hadn't fought since I beat him {KO 10} back in late-November 1971. So he had
not been in the Ring for 3 1/2 months. I figured that he'd be rusty.
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