Mexican Joe Rivers

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

Biography

Rivers was born in Los Angeles on March 19, 1892, to Andrew Ybarra. He was a fourth generation Californian. He was Amerindigenous.[1]

On February 22, 1911, he defeated Jimmy Reagan, a former Bantamweight World Champion by a technical knockout in the thirteenth round of a scheduled twenty. Reagan took a "terrific beating" and was knocked down four times prior to the thirteenth round when he was knocked down twice more by Rivers before the fight was called by Referee Eyeton. The bout took place in the Arena in Vernon, California, in Los Angeles County. The referee was Charles Eyton.[2][3][4]

On January 1, 1912, he knocked out former World Bantameight Champion Frankie Conley.[5]

At the time, Rivers was described 'as fast as chain lightning, and a stinging puncher to boot', and 'is a Mexican. His appearance tells that, but his accent does not differ from that of any other American stripling. He is a product of the Los Angeles fight game, and is probably the best youngster they have turned out down that way.'[6] Annecdotally, he was 'christened Ybbarranda, or some other Mexican patronym with the customary deckload of Y's and R's' when asked his name by a southern US boxing announcer prior to a bout, he was then asked where he lived. Replying 'Down the river', he was announced as Joe Rivers.[6]

Johnny Kilbane took on Rivers in 1911 and outboxed him in the twenty-round bout. A rematch also went to Kilbane. Rivers was described as 'a regular bear-cat scrapper, a hit-and-miss, hammer-and-tongs battler, who took a lot of stopping'.[7]

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.[8]

Rivers was cited incorrectly to have died in 1918 when, after enlisting in World War I, the SS Tuscania was torpedoed.[9]

By 1955 he was living alone, in a windowless room on West Second Street in Los Angeles. 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.[10][11][12] He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles.[1]

References
  1. "A Real Deal Called Mexican Joe Rivers". Los Angeles Times. June 25, 1999. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  2. "Jimmy Reagan". BoxRec. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  3. "Young Rivers Gets Decision", The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., pg. 8, 23 February 1911
  4. "Jimmy Reagan Takes a Tremendous Beating", Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah, p. 11, 23 February 1911
  5. "Joe Rivers Gives Wisconsin Lad Severe Beating in California". New York Times. January 2, 1912. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  6. "Our America Budget". The Referee. Sydney. 15 May 1912. p. 1. Retrieved 16 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "The Story of Johnny Kilbane". Sunday Mail. No. 281. Brisbane. 8 September 1935. p. 27. Retrieved 16 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "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.
  9. "Joe Rivers went down with the Tuscania". The Arrow. No. 1154. New South Wales. 10 May 1918. p. 6. Retrieved 16 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia. See detailed list of bouts and accomplishments.
  10. "Joe Rivers Dead at 65. Boxer Lost to Wolgast in 1912 Double Knockdown". New York Times. June 26, 1957. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  11. "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.
  12. "Double Kayo Fighter Rivers Dies At 65". Associated Press. June 26, 1957. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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