Charley Burley

[joeandthebums]

Are there any Burley scholars here who are able to "school" me on the man.

I've only just started taking more than the customary glance at him, primarily because his name always comes up when any there's any form of discussion on Robinson.

Any information or opinions?

[Ben Bolt]

[joeandthebums]

Thanks for the link, somehow I hadn't come across that page and it's got some good info.

[Ben Bolt]

Just for fun-comparison 1946:

Mar 4: Sugar Ray (147 lbs; 62-1-1) decisions Sammy Angott (143 lbs; 78-22-7).

Apr 24: Charley Burley (160 lbs.; 74-10-2) decisions Oakland Billy Smith (172 lbs; 30-12-3). I believe this is their second meeting.

According to cyberzone, a Robinson-Burley fight was close in 1946. And vs a Freddie Wilson three months after the Angott victory, SRR weighed in at 156 lbs (boxrec).

[Ben Bolt]

Wiki: "There exists only one near complete film of Burley in action: his second fight with Oakland Billy Smith in 1946. It shows a conservative counter-puncher taming a much larger opponent with relative ease."

[The Old LefHook]

Wiki: "There exists only one near complete film of Burley in action: his second fight with Oakland Billy Smith in 1946. It shows a conservative counter-puncher taming a much larger opponent with relative ease."

Burley was exciting and dangerous in the tenth, he was really hauling off. Burley against Robinson or Cerdan would be a great dream match. Actually, Burley against anyone in the top ATG middleweights would be a dream match, since he never got to fight any of them. It is easy to have sympathy for poor Charley. But look at it this way: Most ATG's fight few, if any, ATG's from their division. That is just the case. Maybe because ATG's by their nature are normally spread out a little bit in time.

Poor ol' Charley, though, the extraordinary fighters were around in his era, but somehow he ended up not fighting them. He beat Moore before Moore was such a great fighter, but perhaps those fights with Burley were a big part of the reason Archie became so great himself.

I would never hold it against anyone if they could not beat Ezzard Charles as a middleweight.

Burley and Holman Williams seem to have run neck and neck, going 3-3 with each other, with one NC. They were apparently a close contest every time. One thing is evident, Burley never mastered Williams, and the reverse is true as well.

On the other hand, Williams was more or less mastered by Cocoa Kid as long as their careers conicided, going 3-8-2 with him. What's that mean? I don't know. Cocoa kid is a fighter more obscure than Burley or Williams.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Wiki: "There exists only one near complete film of Burley in action: his second fight with Oakland Billy Smith in 1946. It shows a conservative counter-puncher taming a much larger opponent with relative ease."

How good was oakland billy smith???

[joeandthebums]

How good was oakland billy smith???

He got matched with all the top guys of the day. He was considered a title contender. Though his most memorable moment was walking out of his last fight with Archie Moore.

[joeandthebums]

According to cyberzone, a Robinson-Burley fight was close in 1946. And vs a Freddie Wilson three months after the Angott victory, SRR weighed in at 156 lbs (boxrec).

Would be great to hear more details about the negotiations.

Poor ol' Charley, though, the extraordinary fighters were around in his era, but somehow he ended up not fighting them.

I've only just started looking at Burley, so far from a complete picture but his career trajectory seems completely wrong at the moment.

An example;

He fought at Forbes Field five times. Twice he headlined, that was in 1939, against Zivic and Leto.

The other three, Charles 1942, Boyd and Wade in 1945 he fought after or before the main contest.

- Trying to figure attendance and gate gross/net figures, but not much luck so far. His California period seems be best for details.

Cocoa kid is a fighter more obscure than Burley or Williams.

Why is that? Cocoa Kid was classed as one of the guys in boxings "Murderer's Row" wasn't he?

[The Old LefHook]

Why is that? Cocoa Kid was classed as one of the guys in boxings "Murderer's Row" wasn't he?

Yes, that is what made him obscure.