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Excerpts from Abe Peña's  popular publications

All material used with the kind permission of the author, given to me personally.

from VILLAGERS

“The Farmington Flash packed a devil of a punch”

“Bantam weight Abe Chávez wins battle against Battling Chico in a popular decision in Farmington, New Mexico.”

Abe Chávez was christened Abrán Chávez and was also known as Abie and Abrancito. He was born in the village of San Mateo on August 3, 1912 to Abrán Chávez and Dubijinia Montoya Chávez. Abe was one of 11 children: Miguel, Leonore, Salomon, Calistro, Juan, Perfy, Duby, Lala, Eliza, and Filemon. In the mid-1920s, the family moved to Farmington, N.M. searching more opportunities for the children.

Abe took up boxing more or less by chance. Carl Dourte, a no-nonsense fellow of German origin from Farmington, told Abe Chávez, Jr., the oldest son of the boxer, “In the 1920s, I was asked to get a group of boys to box at nearby Kirtland. Since I didn't know any boys that boxed, it was suggested to get some boys in a basketball game and select the ones that were the fastest on their feet.

“Your Dad was the fastest, and, when we put gloves on him, he knocked down the first contender, then the second, and was on his third one when I stopped him and told him I wanted to give him lessons. Not only was he fast on his feet, he was a fast learner, trained hard, and was a very friendly boy. He weighed only 112 pounds, but packed a devil of a punch!”

Chávez, always a crowd favorite, once wrote a note to Checker Hildebrand, a noted boxer. “I have just read your challenge in the Herald Democrat, and don't ever think I won't accept it. I'll fight you outside of Durango, anywhere, any time, from one to twenty rounds, the winner to take all of the purse, with or without gloves.”

A Durango sportswriter wrote, “Chávez fought Checkers Hildebrand in Durango at the Gem Theatre. Hildebrand failed to stop Chávez in their eight-round main event. Fans feel Abe will continue his onward march of victory by way of the k.o. route.”

Before long, he was in demand all over New Mexico and southern Colorado. In the 1930s, he married the beautiful Rose Ulibarri of Farmington. He became a hero to the people of the San Juan valley, and his fame spread throughout the southwest. An Albuquerque reporter wrote, “Abe is a crowd pleaser wherever he goes. In time, he was rated third in the world.”

Abe Jr. says, “In the beginning, he fought many fights in a tent in the outskirts of Farmington and later at the American Legion Arena Hall. The people of Farmington loved him and called him 'The Farmington Flash.' Originally, the area was settled by Mormons. When my grandparents came from San Mateo with their family in the 1920s, they were one of the first Hispanic families in town.”

The Amarillo Daily News of January 19, 1934: “Chávez & Blunke fight for Southwest Leadership Tonight.” A subsequent story reported, “Abe Chávez, the 118-pound bantam weight champion of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas is now the Southwest champion by virtue of a technical knockout over Billy Blunke in Amarillo, Texas.”

When Chávez defeated Thurman Murdock, considered one of the fastest on two feet, the Lubbock Texas Sportsmeter wrote, “Chávez is one of the best scrappers in the game and one of the smoothest little smoothies we've seen in battle in a long time.”

A Spanish-language newspaper wrote, “Chávez Gano!!! Chávez gano el campeonato de peso gallo del estado de Texas contra Thurman Murdock de esta ciudad por decision en 10 rounds.”

Perry Fisher from Grants remembers seeing Chávez box in the 1930s. “I saw the Farmington Flash box and beat the well known Wally Masters at Colombo Hall in Albuquerque. He was fast and he was good.” Then adds, “I was a skinny teenager and sometimes wrestled in exhibitions in that same hall.” He finished, “Later, I wondered why with his boxing skills he hadn't gone on to the big time.”

Abe Jr., owner of the famous Abe's Motel & Fly Shop at Navajo Dam, has collected several bulging albums of newspaper clippings about his father's exploits. He says, “When the legendary heavyweight champion of the world, Jack Dempsey (The Manassa Mauler), refereed three of Dad's fights in Las Vegas, New Mexico, he wanted to take him back east to train and to fight. Dad refused for a couple of reasons. One, he did not want to leave Carl Dourte, his loyal trainer, behind, and, second, he did not want to leave his family alone. Later on, he told me he regretted his decision.”

Abe was a skilled plasterer and builder. He and his wife Rose Ulibarri Chávez, daughter of Doroteo and Ruben Ulibarri, had five children, Abe Chávez, Jr., twins Marilyn Chávez Haynes and Carolyn Chávez Goodwin, Diana Chávez Pacheco, and stained glass artist Kenny Chávez.

On February 12, 1970, Abe Chávez, the “Farmington Flash,” died a tragic death. His house caught on fire in an explosion and he died in the fire.

When I asked his grandson, Tim Chávez, owner of “Born 'n' Raised on the San Juan River,” a fly-fishing guide and outfitter, what he remembered most about his grandfather, he said, “My Grandpa loved to fish and to hunt. I loved my grandpa.”

Abe was a great outdoorsman who was a success in life and “packed a devil of a punch” in the boxing ring.”