Richie Lemos, 84; Native of Los Angeles Won Featherweight Boxing Crown in 1941

Richie Lemos, a former world featherweight boxing champion, died Monday in Covina after a lengthy illness, according to a granddaughter, Julie Starnes. He was 84.

When Lemos stopped Petey Scalzo on a fifth-round knockout at the Grand Olympic Auditorium on July 1, 1941, he became the second Los Angeles-born fighter of the modern era to win a world title.

Although born in Los Angeles, Lemos was known during his fighting days as the “Plaza Mexican” and the “Mexican Tiger.” In actuality, it was his parents who were from Mexico, mother Michaela from Guadalajara and father Feliciano from Michoacan.

After taking the title, Lemos won five non-title fights over the next four months.

But in his first title defense, against Jackie Wilson of Pittsburgh on Nov. 18, 1941, Lemos lost his belt in a 12-round unanimous decision at the Olympic. They fought again a month later with the same result and Lemos never again wore a championship belt.

“He was an underrated champion,” said Don Fraser, a local boxing historian. “When he fought in the ‘40s, there was just one champion and eight divisions. It’s kind of a lost era for those guys.

“He wasn’t a champion for a long time, not like today where you can manipulate the system and keep guys waiting and get the money shot.

“If he was fighting today, he’d be a champion and making some money.

“He was a perfect gentleman,” Fraser said.

Lemos, who was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989, was the Oscar De La Hoya of the zoot suit era -- though he said he never wore the baggy outfits -- and he competed in a time when boxers fought as often as 18 times a year, as he did in 1942.

Lemos fought professionally from 1937 to 1943, finishing with a record of 55-23-3 with 27 knockouts.

“It seemed like I’d fight Tuesday at the Olympic and then Friday at Hollywood [Legion Stadium],” Lemos said in an interview with The Times in 2000. “I had to make good money to survive, to make ends meet. It wasn’t too much, but at least it was good money coming in.”

A big payday for his time and less-than-glamorous division was $3,500.

Lemos considered himself more brawler than boxer. He was a natural left-hander who began bouts fighting on his right side before switching to southpaw in mid-fight to bewilder opponents. It was a strategy that worked to perfection when he defeated Scalzo for the featherweight crown.

“Scalzo attempted to backpedal, but Lemos caught him with another scorching left and the titleholder crumpled to his knees for a nine-count,” The Times’ account of the 1941 title bout read. “Arising, he was greeted at once with still another murderous, arching left to the chin and he dropped like a log.... Scalzo lay still until ‘eight,’ then made a pathetic effort to stand, only to collapse after getting part way up.”

Scalzo was counted out at 2:02 of the fifth round by referee Benny Whitman, giving Lemos the title.

Lemos is survived by three daughters; 15 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.