Baldwin Park: July 2008 Archives

I saw this story on ESPN about a Baldwin Park restaurant owner who has turned his establishment into a haven for area boxing fans. The main event this weekend?

Miguel Cotto defends his welterweight championship in Las Vegas against Antonio Margarito of Mexico on Saturday.

Here's the lede:

BALDWIN PARK, Calif. -- Old fight posters do not adorn the walls of El Siete Mares, a Mexican restaurant and bar just outside Los Angeles. But make no mistake, the establishment is a haven for Mexican boxing fans.

Instead of posters, six televisions are strategically placed so that no matter where a customer sits, the fights are visible.

It's a tradition for Rafael Chavez, who owns eight El Siete Mares restaurants as well as five other Mexican restaurants in the Soutern California area. If there's a fight on the tube, Chavez will show it.

Chavez was born in Mexico, but has been a Southern California restaurant owner for the past 25 years.

"I like all sports, but my main love is boxing," Chavez said. "I did a little bit myself and I've followed guys like [brothers] Rafael and Gabriel Ruelas, locals that fought around here. I also have a lot of friends who come here who are boxing fans. It is something we can relate with because we love it.

Bethania Palma writes the latest chapter in the Sergio Corona story:

The District Attorney's office Monday filed misdemeanor charges against a school board member who was Tased and arrested last month, authorities said.

Sergio Corona, 34, was charged with three counts stemming from a May 22 incident in which police Tased him twice and took him into custody, authorities said.

He faces one count each of vandalism, resisting or obstructing an officer and driving without a license.

Corona allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana and methamphetamine earlier that night, according to a police report.

The DA's office last month sent a toxicology report back to police to confirm results but did not file drug-related charges.