Joe Rivers

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Mexican Joe Rivers born Jose Ybarra March 19 1892 June 26 1957 was a lightweight boxer whose ring career lasted from 1910 to 1923 Rivers was born in Los Angeles on March 19 1892 to Andrew Ybarra He was a fourth generation Californian He was of SpanishIndian descent 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 considered in the city of Los Angeles The referee was Charles Eyton On January 1 1912 he knocked out former World Bantameight Champion Frankie Conley 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 Annecdotally he was christened Ybbarranda or some other Mexican patronym with the customary deckload of Ys and Rs 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