Avila Perspective, Chap. 103: The 50th Anniversary of East L.A. Riots

Avila Perspective, Chap. 103: The 50th Anniversary of East L.A. Riots

When steely-eyed Jose Carlos Ramirez defends the WBC and WBO super lightweight titles against Ukraine’s human tentacle Viktor Postol on Saturday, it marks an important date for a large segment of the population that loves boxing.

On August 29, this Saturday, it’s the 50^th anniversary of the East Los Angeles Riots that took place along the Whittier Boulevard corridor in the heart of “East Los.”

When Ramirez (25-0, 17 KOs) meets the taller Postol (31-2, 12 KOs) on Saturday at the MGM Grand Bubble in Las Vegas, it will be exactly 50 years since a peaceful anti-war demonstration was met with police violence at Laguna Park. Several lives were lost.

Here we are a half century later and excessive police violence remains a problem.

That date, August 29^th, is burned in memory of thousands and resulted in me taking the long-winding course that led me here to boxing. It’s a very long story.

Back in 1970 anti-war demonstrations against American participation in Vietnam were occurring all over the country. Some say it mushroomed due to one man, Muhammad Ali, a heavyweight world champion, who refused induction to the U.S. Military in 1966 because of religious beliefs. He was stripped of his boxing titles and unable to earn a living in the prize ring. All states banned him.

Ali would not return to the prize ring until October 26, 1970 when he fought Southern California’s Jerry Quarry.

Unrest was taking place throughout the 50 states especially after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Most large urban cities like Detroit, Washington D.C. and New York City experienced rioting when King was killed on April 4, 1968. Los Angeles also rioted and had endured earlier riots in Black neighborhoods like Watts in 1965. The violence started because of police brutality.

There are always a few bad apples in every occupation including law enforcement.

Anti-war demonstrations were common in 1970 when more than 10,000 people marched several miles through East Los Angeles from Belvedere Park to Laguna Park on August 29, 1970. I remember it well.

As they passed by Eagle Street and Atlantic Boulevard near the infamous Kennedy Hall, marchers of all races and ethnicities were joyful and unaware that they would be under attack later that day. It was the furthest thing from their mind. I remember their faces.

East L.A. has always been a “Chicano” neighborhood. That’s a term used by Mexican-Americans to describe themselves for the past 80 years. After days of burning and violence, the riots subsided, then ignited again during the Mexican Independence Day celebrations.

Los Angeles County and the rest of California finally realized a large segment of the population truly mattered. Things began to change in education and employment opportunities. Significant changes.

Among those with East L.A. ties during the riots are brothers Oscar De La Hoya and Joel De La Hoya, and also their neighborhood friend Eric Gomez. All of them lived blocks away from Whittier Boulevard within the heart of the uprising but were not born yet.

Chicanos are comprised of many ethnicities, not just Mexicans. They also consist of every Latin American country with the common thread being Native American blood. Chicanos are mestizos, mixed Latinos living in the USA. Not everyone calls themselves a Chicano, only those that really know their roots and understand they are part of America. It’s a political statement and a way of thinking.

One thing about Chicanos, they love to fight and they love watching fights.

Professional boxing has always been popular in Los Angeles. Even while most newspapers refuse to acknowledge it, prizefighting continues to thrive without support from major media. Latinos love prizefighting whether they consider themselves Chicano or otherwise.

Here’s another secret; whether they live in East Los Angeles or the East Coast, Latinos as a whole love boxing.

Top Rank on ESPN+

Whether Ramirez calls himself Chicano, Mexican or Latino, one thing is certain the prizefighter from Avenal, California has not fought in over a year despite being red hot.

“After the big win against Hooker, I am ready to go and continue my journey to become undisputed champion. I know Viktor Postol stands in the way of that, and he is a very experienced fighter,” said Ramirez, whose last fight was a knockout win over Maurice Hooker for the WBO super lightweight title.

Earlier this year Ramirez was expected to defend the WBC and WBO titles against Postol but the coronavirus pandemic forced two postponements,

Postol has been lurking like a vampire. He’s got that boa constrictor style to cause problems for anyone with his penchant for holding.

“Jose is a good fighter. He is a good champion, but I know I have a good chance to win this fight. I have the motivation because this fight is for two belts. I’ll be ready,” said Postol who’s trained by Freddie Roach.

It’s one of the best male fights so far this year. So far, female fights have dominated male fights in terms of quality matchups. This Ramirez-Postol match is a true elite clash.

Other fighters on the card are Southern California’s Arnold Barboza (23-0, 10 KOs) another super lightweight contender zeroing in toward challenging for a world title. His foe will be Canada’s Tony Luis (29-3, 10 KOs) a 32-year-old fighting for his own place in line.

Barboza seems to have found his power and has four knockouts in his last five fights.

The Top Rank fight card can be seen on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. PT.

PBC on FS1

Cuba’s slick Erislandy Lara and Mexico’s Alfredo Angulo meet in the boxing ring at Microsoft Center in Los Angeles, but not at the same time. Too bad. Television coverage begins at 3 p.m. PT on FS1.

The last time they engaged Angulo forced Lara to stand and fight at the StubHub Center back in 2013. Lara was floored twice in their bloody and brutal fight but rallied to stop Angulo in the 10^th round in a crazy encounter. It was probably the last time Lara was in a 50/50 fight until he ran into Jarrett Hurd in 2018.

Aside from the Hurd and Angulo fights, Lara never could attract a large following due to his non-fighting style learned in the amateurs. It’s ingrained in him. That served him well in the amateurs but fans attending a pro fight want to see some fisticuffs.

Lately, some are saying he has finally learned how to fight in the pro style. Is it too late?

Lara defends the WBA super welterweight title against Greg Vendetti (22-3-1, 10 KOs) who upset Japan’s Yoshehiro Kamegai two years ago and won’t be a pushover.

In the semi-main event, “El Perro” Angulo (26-7, 21 KOs) meets Caleb Truax (31-4-2, 19 KOs) the former super middleweight world champion. If fans were allowed the Los Angeles arena would be packed with spectators.

Angulo always had a very rabid fan base. Even when it seemed he was heading to the scrap heap during losses to Freddie Hernandez and James De La Rosa, the fans still showed up. When he lost to Sergio “the Latin Snake” Mora after falling behind early, the rally he drummed up convinced his promoter that he still had something left. He did.

Angulo knocked out Evert Bravo in his next fight and then upset Peter “Chocolate Kid” Quillen by split decision in one of the great comebacks in boxing.

Now here we are.

Mexicali-born Angulo just loves to fight and now trains with Abel Sanchez in Big Bear. He’s also proof that whether Mexican or Chicano, fighting is one of the things we love to do. Whether on the streets or in the prize ring you can count on fists flying.

Here’s a toast to all the Chicanos and especially to the memory of slain L.A. Times journalist Ruben Salazar who died 50 years ago during the East L.A. Riots.

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