October 15th was a very special day for former NABF champions Frankie Duarte and Randy Shields as they were inducted into the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame.
Duarte turned pro in 1974 after spending 7 weeks as a standby opponent at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. He then proceeded to run up a record of 17-1. In 1984, he signed with a new promotional company, Ten Goose Boxing. Frankie won the NABF Bantamweight title in 1986 when Jesus Salud was forced to retire on his stool. The belt was successfully defended the following year with a TKO victory over Albert Davila. Winner of the 1987 Ring Magazine’s Comeback of the Year Award, Frankie Duarte called an end to his fighting career in 1989.d
Shields began his professional career in 1974 and won his first 26 fights, all before the end of 1975! He fought at Lightweight, junior welterweight, and finally Welterweight. He fought the likes of Wilfredo Benitez, Sugar Ray Leonard and Pepino Cuevas before winning the NABF Welterweight belt in 1980. The following year, it took a serious cut to stop him in the 13th round of a tough contest with the great Tommy Hearns. Retirement for Randy came in 1983.
We congratulate Frankie Duarte and Randy Shields on their induction into this prestigious group! Others inducted this year included Dick Enberg, Bill Caplan, Blanca Gutierrez and Paul Banke.