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

[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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[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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.