BOXING BROUGHT A WELCOME RESPITE FROM THE WW II YEARS

Browntown Bomber Boys of ‘48

(L to R): Eddie Torres, beginner, Dagoberto Barrera, flyweight school champion, Tony Morales, finalist in the school program, Eloy Zarate, school champion and undefeated in summer program and Arnoldo Vera, beginner.

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

While sporting equipment was scarce right after WW II because of rationing—this did not stop the craving for recreational activities among the youth of America.

In South Texas, it was no different.

By 1948, in Brownsville and throughout the Valley, social groups and school officials made sure that the boys of then had something to do during the summer months.

While the core sports were always on the scene, boxing proved to be a very popular sport among the youth of that era.

In ’48, Coach Bob Martin, Brownsville High School football mentor, was in charge of the Brownsville City Summer amateur boxers. The program was never short of participants as city kids took a liking to the sport.

It was in July of the same year that the cream of crop from Raymondville invaded Brownsville High’s Memorial Gym for a night of boxing. The card included a 12 bout program that brought some boxers from Donna as well. As the 7:30 p.m. event drew closer, hundreds of fans were seen jamming into Memorial Gym to witness the best of youth boxing in the city.

The event was free to the public and it was estimated that the about 1,000 pugilist fans gathered at ringside.

Much interest and excitement was added when it was announced that three Negro (Afro-American in today's political correct term) boxers from Raymondville would circle the ring against our local lads. The visiting black boxers included: John I. Flowers, who fought at 135-pounds, Herbert Jones, who weighed in at 150 pounds and Alonzo Flowers fighting at 145 pounds.

The Brownsville camp featured four Zarate brothers— Constantino, Eloy, Italo and Rene, all w for many years were fixtures around boxing rings in the city.

Little Rene Zarate, fighting at 47 pounds, brought the fans to their feet as he opened the "fite nite" with his first career win, scoring a unanimous decision over Raul Garcia from Brownsville. The mighty mite swung at will with gloves that were just as big as he.

The fans witnessed one clear knockout and a pair of TKO’s in an evening that was dominated by the Brownsville mitt men.

In one of the feature events, Cristelo Pardon from Brownsville scored a knock-out in the first round over Raymondville’s Negro slugger, Herbert Jones.

Pardon’s upper-cut had so much force that the visiting boxer was lifted off the floor taking a dive to the deck injuring his head. Jones was revived after the ten-count and assisted out off the war zone in great pain.

Battling Jose Barrera, from Brownsville, attacking with lefts and rights was too much for his opponent, Tavo Longoria. Barrera scored a TKO as the challenger went down twice in the second round and the like number of times in the following frame.

The only win for the visiting team came when in the second round John Flowers opened up a cut on the top of Alex Flores’ head, forcing the referee to stop the fight.

Other Results

Name, weight, and town in that order:

Lupe Sanchez, 89 (B) and Frank Sanchez, 75 (B) fought to a draw. Ramon Leal, 70 (B) won a unanimous decision over Armando Castro, 60 (B). Italo Zarate, 66 (B) took unanimous decision over Adolfo Perez, 68 (B). Ismael Bryan, 80 (B) gained split decision over Arnoldo Vera, 82 (B). Silverio Maza, 116 (B) was awarded split decision over Robert Herod, 105 (B) Eloy Zarate, 80 (B) won unanimous decision over Clyde Roberts, 90 (R). Rodolfo Barrera, 92 (B) took unanimous decision over Angel Flores, (R) 108. Meliton Maza, 144 (B) won unanimous decision over E. M. Biggs, 150 (R)

The “Brown Bombers,” with a will to win, looked impressive in the ring. The amateur boys scored a 6-1 win over the Raymondville boxers. The visitors were quick to announce that they wanted a rematch.

For some boxers, the “summer of ’48,” met a departure from boyhood into manhood, but thanks to the sport and Bob Martin, all were much better for it.