POWERBROKER DENKIN KO’D AT PUBLIC MEETING
At a recent meeting of the California State Athletic Commission, former referee and current judge Marty Denkin, long one of the (if not the) most powerful man in state boxing, Denkin was KO’d after the three-knockdown rule saved the now impotent Denkin from further damage and public humiliation. The man who put Denkin, long the head of the Southern California Referee’s Assn. in check, this was none other than Commission Executive Officer Armando Garcia.
ROCKY REF “LUMPED UP LIKE ROCKY” BALBOA
Now in his mid 70’s, Denkin, who had prominent roles as referees in a bunch of Rocky movies, and of course in Raging Bull, I was told he approached Garcia and asked him to address his Southern Calif. Ref’s Assn. Garcia, he in turn politely refused. Undaunted to this point anyway, Denkin began to press Armando both verbally and in writing. When that failed, Denkin tried to intimidate Garcia in an open Commission meeting when he asked the Commission Chairman if he “recognized the Southern Calif. Ref’s Assn.?”
CHAIRMAN SAID HE “RECOGNIZES” MARTY’S GROUP!
This is a move that Marty will go to his grave regretting, as what transpired clearly showed Denkin’s lack of power in California today. With many of his cronies and lackeys in the house, Marty asked Garcia, himself one the best referees in boxing before taking his position in May, if the Executive Officer recognized his association? Garcia, a former Miami Policeman said among other things that. “No. The group has been used to intimidate people, (when it comes to selecting officials for fights). And it has blackballed officials from northern California.”
WHO CALLED DENKIN’S CREW THE MAFIA?
To show you how serious Denkin was about his control of California boxing, Dr. Smith Ketchum was in Los Angeles at a card in which Denkin was an official. There was some discussion, and Marty told Ketchum to call him, “Godfather.” When the MD tried to play it off Denkin went further. “I’m the Godfather of the So Calif. Mafia!” The fine Dr. repeated such in a recent phone call. Ketchum said Denkin was dead-serious. He added, “Denkin and his people, I don’t think they’re good for California boxing.”
GARCIA JUST THE GUY CALIFORNIA NEEDED!
Having told you that Armando Garcia would not back down in this firefight (anticipated by yours truly) with Denkin, this is why I felt he was the far better candidate for Executive Officer position than the guy who didn’t get the gig Pat Russell. The reason being, Russell is joined at the hip with Denkin. Thus, in my opinion he would never go against Denkin, the man who has been instrumental in Russell becoming a world-class (but overly brave) referee.
ARMANDO CONFIRMED THAT & LUISITO STORY
Having heard of the dust up between Denkin and Garcia at the Commission meeting, I asked Garcia to confirm the aforementioned, and he did. On the Luisito Espinosa saga, Garcia said that he, “never said” the Filipino could fight. “And seeing he was knocked out cold and into a state of unconsciousness in his last fight, I thought he should go through a battery of tests to determine whether or not he should be fighting.”
FILIPINO TV IN COMMISSION OFFICE WEDNESDAY
Garcia, having just concluded an interview with Philippine TV, he went on to say. “Somebody who claimed to Espinosa’s manager, a Joe Robles, he called me and said Espinosa needed the fight. He then said things that made me ask him why, if Espinosa is in the dire condition that Robles was claiming, then why would he want him to fight?”
SAD STORY OF LUISITO & THE CONTROLING EX-WIFE
Robles is telling people Luisito has a problem with thirst, that his wife left him and took the kids back to the Philippines, once his bank account was empty. Having met Mrs. Marie Cherrie Espinosa, and worked around her a number of times in the gym, her acting as manager was certainly a detriment to Luisito the professional fighter. At the end of the day, if Espinosa wants to fight again, he’ll have to take the MRI, and the other medical tests being mandated in California.
THE “END OF THE ROAD” FOR LOUIE
Last I heard, the former “King Louie” didn’t want to take the battery of exams. If that’s the case, and I certainly hope it is, then www.RingTalk.com has prevented another worn and weathered fighter from playing Russian roulette, and possibly getting killed. In case you didn’t know it, the fight that Joe Robles had arranged for the 38-year old Espinosa, who had been knocked out in four of his last six fights, was with none other than the pugilistic equivalent of a piranha in former super feather and lightweight champion Lakva Sim.
