Robinson Didn't Have The Option Of Taking On Light Touches

[jrosales13]

Any version of Oscar would be very sorry (physically), if he ever met a SRR in the ring. He wouldn't look quite so "Golden".

That wasn't the point but thank you for the reply.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Poet isn't really criticizing him for fighting Oscar alone. I think hes pretty much saying that Floyd has only had theses kind of pay day fights (that hes expected to win) rather than fighting the best in the division. Where was he when Cotto was running through all of the welterweights? Cotto did a lot more than Ortiz before he lost to Margarito, so why didn't he fight him? Cherry picking at its finest.

[Greatest1942]

I can't comment on the offer to fight Burley because I don't ever remember having read anything of that, but Burley was definitely quoted in the book "Charley Burley and the black murderers row" as saying he couldn't blame Ray for not fighting him given the financial situation and economics of this fight compared to the ones Ray was fighting.

As far as giving up weight.....I think Ray could have handled the weight just fine. Even by todays standards he was a very big welter and had the advantage in height over Burley who even in 1942, 43' and 44' was still weighing in the low 150's for many fights and only exceeded 160lbs on 10 occasions on a 98 bout career.

Yea, Burley actually was quoted as saying that he would have done the same as Ray...


In 1941 Ray was ranked a light weight I think while Burley was welter...yes Burley ranked in the low 1950;s in 42, 43 but that is still more than what Ray did during the same period.

I dont know who will win, but if I was Ray I would not fight a dangerous prospect for little money who was probably the bigger one.

Burley is very hard to rate he actually did enough to win mostly, but I think he would have been a stern test for Ray, more than Lamotta was.

And Yea Ruben, giving up weigh to Burley, with not adequate compensation (to Ray's mind) was not the same...remember this guy wrecked Moore. The guy was skillfull and a much better hitter than Lamotta....a skillfull guy with a good punch is always dangerous.

[RubenSonny]

And Yea Ruben, giving up weigh to Burley, with not adequate compensation (to Ray's mind) was not the same...remember this guy wrecked Moore. The guy was skillfull and a much better hitter than Lamotta....a skillfull guy with a good punch is always dangerous.

I agree Burley is more dangerous than Lamotta, I was just taking some weight away from the idea that Ray was facing Lamotta over Burley due to a significant financial difference.

[Greatest1942]

I agree Burley is more dangerous than Lamotta, I was just taking some weight away from the idea that Ray was facing Lamotta over Burley due to a significant financial difference.

Thats okay...

[Kid McCoy]

Robinson was offered what would've been a career high pay day to face Burley.

Burley and his people did make lots of offers to Robinson but they could never actually come up with the money. Burley was undoubtedly a wonderful fighter but he couldn't draw flies and simply wasn't bankable. Robinson was all about the money, and he wasn't going to risk his reputation (and future earning power) against someone like Burley unless it was made worth his while. I honestly believe if Robinson could have got a "career high pay day" against Burley the fight would have happened, because his resume is clearly not that of someone ducking tough fights. He fought LaMotta (no walk in the park either) so many times because he was well paid for it.