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

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, were you worried about fighting a fast guy like Cesar Sinda again. >

Well, the 1st-time we fought, he set a very fast pace. He didn't know how to
slow down.

He built up a big lead. He had me by 5-Points after the 6th Round. But then he
slowed down, and I was able to work his body. I finally caught him in the 10th,
and put him down and out with only 13-Seconds left.

I figured that he would come out the same way, and that the fight would be a
replay of last time.

It was another bout to be broadcast on KTLA-TV {Channel 5}, and I was the
{10-8} Betting-Favorite.

The 'winner' was promised a bout with Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez, so I wanted
to be impressive on TV.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> What happened the rematch with Cesar Sinda. >

Well, Cesar had been training with Johnny Flores. And he had him working
on jumping in with quick-flurries, then moving back outside.

This time, he paced himself much better and didn't stand and trade with me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> What happened in the bout. >

He basically out-sped me, by using fast left-hands and quick footwork. I had a
tight defense, but I couldn't get going offensively.

I just couldn't hit him, as he was too quick and wouldn't trade with me. He
won by scores of {6-2, 7-1 and 6-3}.

This time, he had a lot left in the 'gas-tank' during last 3-Rounds. He fought a
real smart fight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> What was next for you. >

Well, my bout with Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez was gone. And I dropped to #16
in the Lightweight rankings.

I thought that it was about time for me to get out of fighting in the Ring, and focus
on training other fighters.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, I guess the loss to Cesar Sinda was the end of the road for you. >

Yea. I really thought it over. And I wanted to quit after that loss on March 4, 1972.

I still worked out at the Gym {Main Street Gym}, and stayed in shape. I sparred
with some good Featherweights and Lightweights.

But, I wasn't looking to continue. I felt that I had gone as far as I could go.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, you did come back for one more bout. >

Yes, I was just working out in the Gym to stay in shape. Then I got a call
for an offer to go to Portland, Washington for a bout on June 22, 1972.

It was to take on 'Lightning' Ray Lampkin who was managed by Mike Morton.

The Fight Promoter - Sam Singer offered me a nice fight purse, so I took it.

At the time, Ray was 16-0-1 {6 KO's} and he was the #7 WBA Lightweight.
They were expecting big things from Ray. He was lightning-fast, and was a
well-schooled 24 year-old boxer.

I hadn't fought in 3 1/2 months, so I was a bit rusty. But I figured that I just
might get lucky, and catch him late.

Well that was foolish thought. Ray was too good, and he boxed my ears off.
I never laid a glove on him, and he won 9 of 10 Rounds.

[Bill Paxtom]

Felipe 'The Flash' Torres

'A Good West-Coast Kid'

Interview from 1976

> Felipe, everyone will remember you as 'The Flash' >

Well, that is nice. But I would like to be remembered as the 'tough little fighter'
from East Los Angeles.

I'm most proud of campaigning for 5-Years, and never being stopped in '40-Bouts'.

My overall record is not overly impressive at 25-14-1 with {11 KO's}, but I gave it
'my all' everytime that I stepped into the Ring. And I was a crowd favorite that was
always in an entertainging bout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> What were your toughest opponents. >

Well, I fought one World Champion {Shozo Saijo}, and '3' fighters who went on to
become World Champions {Ricardo Arredondo, Kuniaki Shibata and Roberto Duran}.

I fought those guys all in-a-row, and none of them could stop me. Only Shozo Saijo
'dropped me', but that was a 'flash knockdown'.

They were all tough and very good fighters.

I also can lay claim, to being the 1st-fighter to hurt {stagger} Roberto Duran. I really
had him in 'bad-shape' several times in our bout.