Hall of Fame Inductee Don Chargin
San Francisco, CA– If you were to ask Don Chargin what his greatest moment in his 60 years of promoting boxing, he would probably tell you that the fights were nothing compared to his nearly five decade marriage to his late wife Lorraine Chargin. That being said, having promoted world heavyweight championship bouts, title fights in every weight class both in the United States and abroad, his place in the Hall of Fame and an anticipated spot in the Guinness Book of World records having promoted boxing longer than any other person in history, what keeps the 82-year old “Boy Promoter” as he was dubbed beginning in 1951, what keeps him going? Having watched Chargin bite his nails at times over the years, become flush with excitement as well, I wonder how he still gets the drive.
THE RUSH STILL FUELS “WAR A WEEK” CHARGIN
A quiet man for the most part, Chargin was a known as a tough guy when he worked as the matchmaker for the weekly shows promoted by Eileen Eaton at the famed Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Although he probably won’t admit it, Don had his share of skirmishes with managers and the like during the Olympic days. Tonight on Fisherman’s Wharf in this City by The Bay, Chargin brings Telefutura TV and a solid main event to the Longshoreman’s Hall on the San Francisco waterfront. On top is Eloy Perez, a 20-0 fighter from Salinas, CA who is nicknamed “The Prince.”
TALK SHOW HOST RENAMES “THE PRINCE”
Fellow Sports Byline Network radio talk show host Rick Tittle has dubbed Perez, “The Meanest From Salinas,” as Perez hails from the central valley city of Salinas, CA. Tonight, Perez will be tested by Alejandro Rodriguez, a 12-1 fighter with six stops from Guadalajara, Mexico. While he is still in the developing stages, BoxRec.com’s computer ranks Perez the #3 super featherweight (130 lbs) fighter in the United States.
CHARGIN’S GOT LOTS OF “LOCAL YOCALS” UNDERNEATH
Stealing that subtitle from the great Hall of Fame writer Jack Fiske, Don has stacked the undercard with local prospects including ticket seller Joey Gamina, 1-0, 1 KO, whose family is in with Alioto’s famed restaurant just two blocks from the arena where the fight will be held. There will be six bouts in all, with the first bell clanging at 7:30 PM PT.
“YORY BOY” CAMPAS FIGHTS ON AT HOME
In Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico, a fighter that Don Chargin handled and who knocked down Felix Trinidad back in 1994, Ramon “Yory Boy” Campas, now 39 with a record of 96-15-1, 76 KOs, fighting at home takes on ham & egger Octavio Castro (14-6-1, 9 KOs) in a scheduled middleweight (160) dime (ten rounds). Campas, who has filed a $43 million suit against the once corrupt Arizona Boxing Commission, fights on because he was screwed out of most of the money he made by deceitful managers and Top Rank promotions. One can only hope that “Yory” wins the suits that his attorney Edward Moriarity expects to file besides the one vs. Arizona. His fighting at nearly 40 is necessitated by his being victimized by the aforementioned scoundrels.
Pedro Fernandez