Boxing legends return to Temecula to talk history and boxing

A century ago, boxing legend Jack Dempsey trained for a big fight in Old Town Temecula.

Another boxing legend will appear in Temecula from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Hendo’s Barrel House, 27901 Jefferson Ave., to promote his new boxing book.

Eddie Martinez, 91, is the father of Annette Brown, chief marketing officer for Visit Temecula Valley.

He was born and raised in Los Angeles and now lives in Colorado. He’s returning to Southern California to share the story behind his 1972 painting, “The Golden Age of Boxing,” and the newly released book inspired by it, “The Art of the Square Ring: Painting the Golden Age of Boxing.”

He’ll be joined by another boxing legend, Jimmy Gambina, the trainer who famously trained Sylvester Stallone for the original “Rocky.” Gambina appeared in the movie as the character Mike.

Rudy Tellez, another longtime Southern California boxing figure and chairman of the WBC Legends Boxing Museum, will also be there.

If the local lineup were a fight card, it would be a classic.

“This isn’t a typical book signing,” Norma Marlowe, public relations director for Visit Temecula Valley, said in a news release. “It is a chance to meet a 91-year-old artist who turned decades of boxing history into a painting, hear firsthand stories from a man who trained Stallone for one of Hollywood’s most iconic boxing films, and talk with a longtime boxing insider dedicated to preserving the sport’s history.”

It’s a rare opportunity for area residents “who grew up watching ‘Rocky,’ follow boxing, appreciate fine art, love Southern California history” or for those who like to hear people share their stories, she said in the release.

Temecula’s boxing history extends beyond Dempsey, who trained upstairs in a building now home to the Temecula Olive Oil Company in Old Town.

Pechanga Resort Casino started hosting championship fights in the late 1990s. Julio Cesar Chavez, considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world for many years, was in the crowd at an early fight.

In 2000, Pechanga spokesperson Ciara Green said Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran were special guests at a casino fight. The well-known retired boxers will appear again on Nov. 27. She also has a long list of other prestigious boxing events at Pechanga.

Local historian Jeffery Harmon shipped me an old newspaper article that indicated Dempsey and another famous boxer, Gene Tunney, appeared in Lake Elsinore.

Another local historian, Rebecca Farnbach, co-author of a book about Murrieta Hot Springs, said many big-name boxers trained at the resort in the 1930s and ’40s because boxing legend Jim Jeffries was friends with Hugo Guenther, who owned the local attraction.

Martinez has his own local connections, his daughter, Brown, said.

She’s lived here since 1992 and her father has visited many times. “He absolutely loves it,” she said. “He loves the history most of all. Pechanga, Old Town, all of it.”

The Temecula Valley Museum displayed his works about 20 years ago. He also gave a talk, and Farnbach met him. “Annette’s dad is a terrific guy,” she said. “He is also a talented illustrator.”

He made a historical map of the area called “The Journey of Nahachis and How He Named the Places,” which included the names of many communities in southwest Riverside County and their Native American roots.

Martinez, quite friendly when we talked on the phone, said he first came to Temecula about 60 years ago and has enjoyed it ever since, especially its history.

“It is really beautiful … I’m looking forward to being there again.”

He’ll bring with him the considerable history of both boxing and our community.

From the source Reach Carl Love at [email protected].