Jimmy Lennon Jr. relives Forum memories

Jimmy Lennon Jr. relives Forum memories

INGLEWOOD, Calif.–Thursday afternoon saw Juan Manuel Marquez and Mike Alvarado have their final press conference ahead of Saturday night’s HBO fight where the winner will likely face Manny Pacquiao to end the year.

Though the fight itself is rather compelling, it has almost been overshadowed by where the event is taking place. The fight will mark the return of boxing to the recently renovated Forum in Inglewood, which hosted some of the best fights on the west coast over the last half century.

It’s a place where Marquez himself cut his teeth on the US circuit for the first time and he’s 12-0 at the venue.

On Thursday, Marquez was far from the only person reminiscing and reliving old memories. Bob Arum and Fernando Beltran (Marquez’s promoter at Zanfer) both shared memories of The Forum during the press conference. Also in attendance was ace scorer Harold Lederman as well as the highly underrated commentator Rich Marotta and the recent BWAA Good Guy Award winner, the always Classy Jimmy Lennon Jr.

Lennon and Marotta have as much personal history with the Forum as anyone, Marquez included. Though neither is working the fight, they showed up Thursday as their interest has piqued in boxing making it’s return to the famed venue.

“I’ve done so many fights here,” said Lennon after the press conference to Behind The Gloves.

“Actually, my very first fight that I announced was right here at The Forum. I remember wearing a brown suit and standing close to the ring ropes. I announced a number of fights with my father here so that’s very special and a great memory.”

“I came today because I’m so interested in it,” said Lennon.

“I’m booked out in Mexico but I’ll be closely watching the results of the fight. I think it’s a great fight. It’s important for boxing, for Southern California to have boxing return to The Forum so I’m very excited.”

Lennon is Showtime’s regular ring announcer and boxing’s Cold War has proven it doesn’t affect just the fans and fighters. For Lennon, he’ll have to wait until the Cold War thaws to get a chance to return to where it all started.

Despite the uncertainty that exists because of the Cold War, Lennon doesn’t doubt he’ll get an opportunity to announce a fight there in the future.

“No question about it,” said Lennon.

“I’m sure I will and I look forward to that very much. We’ll see what happens with the Cold War, will it be patched up or what happens. But it’s good for boxing to see the best competitive fights. I think competition is a great thing but working together is a great thing too.”

“I’ve worked for Showtime for so many years but periodically I did HBO fights, about a half dozen a year. That’s been separated a little bit because of the Cold War, I think. I’m still friends with all sides. Top Rank, Golden Boy, Showtime, HBO, I love the people and a lot of us really get along well.”

Lennon announced all of Marquez’s fights at The Forum, where the future first ballot Hall of Famer is 12-0.

“I did all of Marquez’s fights here so I have a great connection with him,” said Lennon. “Both him and his brother Rafael fought here on the same card all the time so I have a lot of connection to them.”

Considering Marquez pulled out all the stops to try and beat Floyd
Mayweather (including drinking his own urine), one might have thought that Marquez would demand Lennon work the fight. Against the tough and rugged Alvarado, it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega
-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com
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