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David & Goliath · **7 Likes**

Not long after my discharge from the Navy, I worked for McClatchy News Services in 1970 and was assigned to photograph the California State Bantamweight Championship fight, held in Stockton, Ca. It featured two very slight, tough little fighters, Rojelio Lara (L) and Rudy Villagonza. The fighter on the left won in a split decision, with a monstrous riot following the announcement! One fighter was Filipino, the other Hispanic.... and in Stockton, there was a lot of racial tension at the time. Perhaps the best boxing match I've ever seen..... but the riot was ugly.

**whammerhead** · 10-15-2019, 10:32 AM

Raging Bull-esque

Dewman · 10-15-2019, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by whammerhead

Raging Bull-esque

I've seen a lot of fights in my life and this was the most intense, slam-bang slug fest I've ever witnessed. These two warriors never stopped..... one thunderous punch after another. They were so quick, with their punches coming so fast, it was hard to keep up with the action. The jabs were viscous.

A little side note about the fight that helps set the scene..... the Filipino fighter entered the ring in an old, tattered bathrobe with his name scribbled on the back with a magic marker.... just him and his trainer. The Hispanic kid came into the ring wearing a stunning silk robe with his name in glittering sequins on the back, and he was surrounded by his manager and several his entourage. Then the bell rang and all hell broke loose.

The Squirrel Mafia · 10-15-2019, 10:56 AM

Quite intense.

**sergysergy** · 10-15-2019, 03:04 PM

what a great angle. B&W works very well.

**Ash** · 10-15-2019, 03:07 PM

Great story behind the intense scene. Thanks for sharing.

**ToddK** · 10-15-2019, 03:23 PM

Great shot and even better with the background information you provided! Thanks for sharing this.

MarkJerling · 10-15-2019, 03:28 PM

Great shot Dewey!

Flanoman · 10-15-2019, 04:35 PM

The physical presence of the fighter on the right hand side makes it look like different weight divisions. David and Goliath definitely or dare I say , beauty and the beast. Great photo Dewman

lesmore49 · 10-15-2019, 11:21 PM

Has a Cinéma vérité appeal to this picture. Gritty, but in a very good way. Great angle you used.

**Kerrowdown** · 10-15-2019, 11:44 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

David & Goliath

Great shot, great viewpoint from the days of "real" photography, which IMHO was a great deal harder.

Dewman · 10-16-2019, 08:20 AM

Thanks for all the wonderful comments and allowing me to post something that I photographed 50 years ago. It so much fun reliving the past via these old images and I enjoy so much your comments on them.

SSGGeezer · 10-16-2019, 08:48 AM

Amazing shot Dewey! Did it get used in the paper, or did they use other images from your roll?

Dewman · 10-16-2019, 08:53 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

Amazing shot Dewey! Did it get used in the paper, or did they use other images from your roll?

Yes, Tom..... it was on the front page of the Sports section. It was a long, long time ago, but I still have the entire roll of film, tucked away in my archives. A guy can accumulate one heck of a lot of photographs in 50+ years of this hobby of ours. I'm STILL trying to get them all scanned and digitized.

**Archimedes the Dog** · 10-16-2019, 09:55 AM

Wow, this is fantastic.

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10-15-2019, 10:32 AM	#2
whammerhead Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belfast Posts: 128	Raging Bull-esque

10-15-2019, 10:50 AM	#3
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Originally posted by whammerhead Raging Bull-esque I've seen a lot of fights in my life and this was the most intense, slam-bang slug fest I've ever witnessed. These two warriors never stopped..... one thunderous punch after another. They were so quick, with their punches coming so fast, it was hard to keep up with the action. The jabs were viscous. A little side note about the fight that helps set the scene..... the Filipino fighter entered the ring in an old, tattered bathrobe with his name scribbled on the back with a magic marker.... just him and his trainer. The Hispanic kid came into the ring wearing a stunning silk robe with his name in glittering sequins on the back, and he was surrounded by his manager and several his entourage. Then the bell rang and all hell broke loose.

10-15-2019, 10:56 AM	#4
The Squirrel Mafia Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,058	Quite intense.

10-15-2019, 03:04 PM	#5
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	what a great angle. B&W works very well.

10-15-2019, 03:07 PM	#6
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Great story behind the intense scene. Thanks for sharing.

10-15-2019, 03:23 PM	#7
ToddK Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,566	Great shot and even better with the background information you provided! Thanks for sharing this.

10-15-2019, 03:28 PM	#8
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,423	Great shot Dewey!

10-15-2019, 04:35 PM	#9
Flanoman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 216	The physical presence of the fighter on the right hand side makes it look like different weight divisions. David and Goliath definitely or dare I say , beauty and the beast. Great photo Dewman

10-15-2019, 11:21 PM	#10
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,350	Has a Cinéma vérité appeal to this picture. Gritty, but in a very good way. Great angle you used.

10-15-2019, 11:44 PM	#11
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,864	Originally posted by Dewman David & Goliath Great shot, great viewpoint from the days of "real" photography, which IMHO was a great deal harder.

10-16-2019, 08:20 AM	#12
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Thanks for all the wonderful comments and allowing me to post something that I photographed 50 years ago. It so much fun reliving the past via these old images and I enjoy so much your comments on them.

10-16-2019, 08:48 AM	#13
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Amazing shot Dewey! Did it get used in the paper, or did they use other images from your roll?

10-16-2019, 08:53 AM - 1 Like	#14
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Originally posted by SSGGeezer Amazing shot Dewey! Did it get used in the paper, or did they use other images from your roll? Yes, Tom..... it was on the front page of the Sports section. It was a long, long time ago, but I still have the entire roll of film, tucked away in my archives. A guy can accumulate one heck of a lot of photographs in 50+ years of this hobby of ours. I'm STILL trying to get them all scanned and digitized.

10-16-2019, 09:55 AM	#15
Archimedes the Dog Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,146	Wow, this is fantastic.

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