Mexican Joe Rivers

Mexican Joe Rivers (March 19, 1892 - June 26, 1957) was a lightweight boxer whose ring career lasted from 1910 to 1923.

Biography

He was born Jose Ybarra, in Los Angeles, California on March 19, 1892 to Andrew Ybarra. He was a fourth generation Californian. He was of Spanish-Indian descent.[1]

On January 1, 1912 he knocked out fellow boxer Frankie Conley.[2]

On July 4, 1912, he fought Ad Wolgast for the lightweight title. At the beginning of the thirteenth round, he and Wolgast both landed punches that sent the other down.[1] Wolgast fell on top of Rivers, and referee Jack Welch helped Wolgast to his feet and began the count on Rivers. Welch declared Wolgast the winner by a technical knockout, in one of the most controversial decisions in the history of boxing.

His father, Andrew Ybarra, died at aged 58 years on January 23, 1913 of tuberculosis. On March 1, 1913 he married Pauline Slert of Santa Monica, California.[3]

By 1955 he was living alone, in a windowless room on West Second Street in Los Angeles, California. His only possession of value was his father's 200-year-old violin, which he played daily.[1]

He died on June 26, 1957 in Inglewood, California.[4][5][6] He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles.[1]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "A Real Deal Called Mexican Joe Rivers". Los Angeles Times. June 25, 1999. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  2. ↑ "Joe Rivers Gives Wisconsin Lad Severe Beating in California.". New York Times. January 2, 1912. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  3. ↑ Mexican "Mexican Joe Rivers". Boxrec. Retrieved 2010-10-05. His father, Andrew Ybarra, died at aged 58 years Jan. 23, 1913 of tuberculosis. Per the March 1, 1913 Tacoma Daily News, he was married to Miss Pauline Slert of Santa Monica (a Latina) by Justice J. W. Summerfield in his courtroom March 1.
  4. ↑ "Joe Rivers Dead at 65. Boxer Lost to Wolgast in 1912 Double Knockdown". New York Times. June 26, 1957. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  5. ↑ "Death Takes Ring Great Joe Rivers". Los Angeles Times. June 26, 1957. Retrieved 2010-10-05. Old-time Boxer Joe Rivers, who with the late Ad Wolgast figured in one of the ring's rare double knockdowns, died yesterday after a lengthy illness in an Inglewood Sanitarium. He was 65.
  6. ↑ "Double Kayo Fighter Rivers Dies At 65". Associated Press. June 26, 1957. Retrieved 2010-10-05.