TheBoxingBar.com's podcast

Gilbert Esquivel is what you would call a real "O.G." in the comedy world, especially in the Latino stand-up comedy scene. Gilbert started as an actor being an extra on TV shows and films. He is one of the most respected comedians around. He mostly does private shows today, but if you happen to hear he will be performing, go check him out! We had a great time talking to him on the podcast. Check out our new episode with Mr. Gilbert Esquivel !

If you don't recognize his face, you probably don't watch boxing too much. Jacob "Stitch" Duran is one of the most respected and popular cutmen in decades. He's even been on many films like all the Creed movies working Michael B. Jordan's corner in those films. Duran is from a small town in the Central Valley in California, Planada. Recently, he was inducted into the National Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2025. Check out his books and upcoming documentary. Cheers to "Stitch" Duran!

Many years ago, I had a boxing page called Oxnard IsBoxing in tribute to my local boxing community. At that time a Facebook friend stood out by the name of John Bray of Van Nuys, CA.  In time, we got to talk one-on-one about boxing and he would share his story in the sport. It was pretty amazing! At one time he was supposed to be the face of the sport. He was a young good looking “White-Latino” from Southern California that was supposed to be the prospect to take the heavyweight division by storm first in the amateurs and hopefully in the professional ranks thereafter. But it didn’t happen as planned. Through his admission in this interview, life and bad decisions got in the way. In his time, he got to work with some of the best of the best including the likes of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, and Tommy Morrison just to name a few. Due to some injuries related to boxing he can no longer participate physically in the sport that he loves. But his love for the sport is still there and the people that remember him, love him. On June 22 of this year, he will be inducted into the WBC’s “Legends of Boxing Museum”. Congratulations, John! Well deserved. Check out our interview with Mr. John Bray!

It was a real honor to have legendary comedian/actor Paul Rodriguez on TheBoxingBar podcast recently for an "Outside the Ropes" episode. Paul is in the movie "Holy Cash" which was released in October featuring many familiar faces. You can watch it on "Must See Movies with Mario" (Lopez). We talked about his career, shows he did visiting prison, and his movies like D.C. Cab and Ali. Listen to what he is up to, and the new projects he is working on. Check this interview out!

Here is our new episode of TheBoxingBar podcast with ring announcer, Christian Schmidt. In this interview, Schmidt talks about all the announcing experience he has which includes pro wrestling, MMA, bare-knuckle fighting, and boxing shows. He is a real professional, and a great guy. If you don’t know who he is, get to know him as my cousin Ricky and I did during this interview. Thank you, Christian! Click the link below …

“Dangerous” David Rodela was a tough fighter from the Oxnard P.A.L.. Rodela was originally born in East Los Angeles but moved to Oxnard when he was about nine years old. Right before making his pro debut, Rodela walked into the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood to get some sparring. Trainer Freddie Roach asked David what his height and weight was. David said he was close to 6 foot tall. Roach thought it would be good to put him with Manny Pacquiao who was there training for an upcoming fight with “El Terrible” Erik Morales. After the session Pacquiao asked David how many pro fights he had on his record. Rodela responded that he wasn’t a pro yet. The two became close friends and many years later Pacquiao help him pay for his current home in Oxnard as a gift. The two worked together in the gym for over thirteen years. Rodela fought many terrific fighters during his career including names like Kevin Kelley, Terence Crawford, Jorge Linares and Ronny Rios. David came on to say “Hi” to the fans of TheBoxingBar … Check it out!

  Dr. Roger Anderson is the most popular chiropractor in Ventura County. His office on First Street in Oxnard neighbors the popular La Colonia Boxing Club and for decades he has helped the people in that area which is pretty much an all-Mexican community in the Eastside of town. In time, he started helping many of the fighters that were making some noise in the boxing community starting with Oxnard’s first world champion, Robert Garcia. Not only has he worked with local boxers, but many fighters from out of town that were here to train like Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez and Marcos “Chino” Maidana.  Today, you can still see him walking out with fighters during fight cards on TV to work their corner. Prior to this interview, I got a few short comments from both Robert Garcia and Fernando Vargas on what they think of the “Doc” which I read to him during this chat. Check out this interview to see why is a respected member of the local community, the local Mexican community, and the boxing community. Cheers to you Dr. Anderson!  https://www.theboxingbar.com/

Sindy “La Alacrana” Amador was a very tough fighter during her career. She made her pro debut on October 28, 2010. In her twelfth professional fight, she won the vacant IBA World Light Flyweight title against Amaris Quintana in 2013. Only two fights later, she was forced to retire due to a detached retina in 2014. Today, it would not be a surprise to see a female match on a televised boxing card but during her career it was rare. Amador was inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF) in Las Vegas earlier this year. The former still hits the gym as hard as ever to stay physically and mentally strong. A few months back, she came on TheBoxingBar podcast to tell her story about her journey in boxing. I also want to thank her husband, Paco Perez, for joining us during this conversation to share his point of view on his wife’s life and career of a fighter. Check out this interview!

“El Magnifico” Israel Vazquez recently passed away. Vazquez was an action-packed type fighter who never disappointed when it came to fight time. He had come on our podcast several months back. During the interview we discussed his life and career as usual. In this interview, he also explains his illness and all the symptoms leading up to the diagnosis in detail. In closing the interview, I asked him how he wants to be remembered to his fans. It was emotional hearing his response at the time, and listening to it today. Rest in peace, Israel. This interview was done in Spanish.

It was great to have Orlando Canizales of Laredo, Texas on TheBoxingBar podcast. Canizales was inducted into The International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. Orlando’s older brother, Gaby, was also a former bantamweight champion. Orlando holds the record with the most defenses in this weight class at sixteen. It was great listening to him tell his story. Check out the interview!

Dr. Randy Roberts is a very well-respected historian on many subjects including boxing. You might remember him from documentaries like “Unforgiveable Blackness: The Rise & Fall of Jack Johnson”, “Joe Louis: America’s Hero … Betrayed”, or different episodes of ESPN’s Sports Century. He is a distinguished Professor at Purdue University, who at times, teaches a class on boxing history. He has written almost a hundred books in his career on a variety of historical topics and has received many awards for all his achievements. A few minutes after the interview, Dr. Roberts sent me an e-mail to tell me he had a great time and he would always be happy to come back on. It was a great honor to have him on. Check out this interview!

“The Pittsburgh Kid” Paul Spadafora was a very slick boxer. “Spaddy” came on TheBoxingBar podcast to say, “hello” to the boxing fans and to talk about his life as a boxer. He discusses the ups and down in his colorful life and career in a brutally honest way. Just like when he was in the ring, Paul didn’t hold back. It was a great honor to have him on the podcast. I’d like to thank his wife, Nadine, for making this interview possible. Check it out...

It was great chatting it up with Buffalo’s “Baby” Joe Mesi recently on TheBoxingBar podcast. The former top heavyweight contender came on to talk about his boxing career. He had a great run as an amateur almost making the 1996 USA Olympic team. As a pro, “Baby Joe” got so popular that people thought of him as Buffalo’s third franchise after their two professional sports teams. Mesi left the sport as an undefeated fighter with a record of 36-0. I never quite knew exactly why he had left the sport. He came on to explain it in detail! Since his retirement, Mesi became a politician in New York and is an award-winning salesman of medical implants spending a lot of time in operating rooms with neurosurgeons. It was a real pleasure for Ricky and I having Joe Mesi on to interview. Check it out!

Joel Diaz has been one of the best boxing trainers for many years. Joel is the older brother of Julio “The Kidd” Diaz and Antonio “Tono”, both had stellar boxing careers. In the early 90’s, Joel had a tremendous amateur resume but was not able to represent the United States since he was not a citizen. His professional career was cut short due to a detached retina. After a few years of struggling to find out what he was going to do with his life, he took his mom’s advice to help guide his brothers in their path in boxing. Diaz has guided a couple of his fighters to defeat two of the biggest name fighters in this era, Manny Pacquiao and “Canelo” Alvarez. Due to a late start for this interview, we were only able to cover his childhood through his boxing career. He agreed to do a “Part 2” anytime to cover his training career. I can’t wait for it! This story of his upbringing will explain to you exactly who and why he is, who he is. Cheers to “The Coach from Coachella” Joel Diaz!

“The Bulldog” Scotty Olsen was a very tough boxer during his era. The Canadian boxer represented his country in the ’88 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea in which he defeated “The Pocket Rocket” Wayne McCullough, but lost to American silver medalist Michael Carbajal. He fought many of the best fighters during his career. It was a pleasure having him on to interview on TheBoxingBar podcast! Listen to him talk about his career …

Clarence “Bones” Adams was one tough guy! Whether he won or lost he always proved that he was a game fighter. Many remember him in his bouts with guys like Orlando Canizales, Paulie Ayala, Nestor Garza, and Kevin Kelley. Today, “Bones" trains pro and amateur fighters. It was a true honor to have him come visit us on TheBoxingBar podcast.

Junior “Poison” Jones was on TheBoxingBar podcast recently. Jones fought many of the top fighters during his time like Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Orlando Canizales, Kennedy McKinney, Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson, and Tracy Harris Patterson to name some. He was a tremendous puncher that was very fun to watch. Thank you, Mr. Jones, for coming on to talk to us!

Augie “Kid Vegas” Sanchez came on TheBoxingBar podcast. As a pro, he had a fan friendly style with teriffic punching power and he had a stellar amateur career. Sanchez is also remembered as the last guy to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the amateurs, not counting his controversial loss in the 1996 Olympics. Today, Sanchez still trains pro and amateur fighters in the Las Vegas area. Check out this interview with “Kid Vegas”!