Remarkable Boxing History Coming To Hendo’s Barrel House In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — The history of boxing, art, and Hollywood cinema are coming to Hendo's Barrel House in Temecula.

Renowned Los Angeles-born artist Eddie Martinez, 91, will be on hand at the gastropub from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, for a book signing and meet-and-greet. He will be joined by two prominent figures in Southern California combat sports history: Jimmy Gambina, the boxing trainer and actor who trained Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers for the original 1976 film "Rocky," and Rudy Tellez, chairman of the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum.

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The appearance of the trio marks the release of Martinez's new book, "The Art of the Square Ring: Painting the Golden Age of Boxing." The work details the story behind his iconic 1972 painting, "The Golden Age of Boxing."

Martinez's delve into boxing began more than 50 years ago following visits to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, where he researched historical fight archives preserved inside the park's James J. Jeffries Barn museum. The trove included original photographs, fight posters, plaques, ticket stubs, and other pieces of boxing history. The collection became an important research resource for Martinez on his "The Golden Age of Boxing."

Over a five-decade career, Martinez has worked as an illustrator and production designer for 20th Century Fox, NBC, Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios, and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He is now retired in rural Colorado.

Gambina adds to the boxing color. Now 83, he portrayed the character Mike in fight flicks "Rocky" and returned for "Rocky V," and served as a fight choreographer, stunt coordinator, and technical consultant on films including "Raging Bull," "The Champ," and "Planet of the Apes."

Tellez, also in his golden years, is a longtime trainer, manager, and custom mouthpiece maker known in combat sports as the "Mouthpiece Doctor." He co-founded the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum and the Alhambra Youth Boxing Club.

Books and collectible boxing posters will be available for purchase at the event. Hendo's Barrel House is located at 27901 Jefferson Ave., Suite 100, in Temecula.