The Black Murderers Row + Charles, Moore, And Robinson

[Holywarrior]

say what?...

Wouldn't fight Burley and jumped down from Light Heavyweight not to fight Moore even after he tried to cherrypick Maxim.

[ShoulderRoll]

How could he cherry pick Maxim if Maxim was the word champion at light heavyweight?

[Holywarrior]

Because he wasn't as scary as Moore or Charles.

[joeandthebums]

Wouldn't fight Burley

Do you have any info on this beyond the standard fare? Would appreciate your reasoning behind this.

and jumped down from Light Heavyweight not to fight Moore even after he tried to cherrypick Maxim.

Robinson was never a Light Heavyweight, not even when he challenged for the crown.

You could say Maxim cherrypicked Robinson. Neither were interested in the logical fight in their own weight class, so decided to meet one another.

Because he wasn't as scary as Moore or Charles.

There was never a relevant period in Robinson's career that he and Ezzard Charles could have met at Light Heavyweight. To put it in perspective, Robinson-Maxim occurred only six months after Maxim failed in his bid to become Heavyweight champion against Charles.

[MrRolltide91]

1959 the fight was a serious consideration.

Moore had not defended his Light Heavyweight crown apart from the Durelle contest, against opposition of much class. He was as young as 42 or as old as 49, depends on which report you read. We all know how the fight with Durelle went. Despite lower class he fought in 1958, Moore still walked away with the Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year award.

Robinson, 38, had last fought in the 1958 Fight of the Year when he once again claimed the Middleweight crown, this time against Carmen Basilio. He was barely active at the time of the talks, he was engaged in singing appearances on television and spoke with statements like "If I fight again..."

Both were at their peak of their popularity, both had just fought in hugely exciting contests that had caught the imagination of the general public, not just fight fans.

The IBC wanted Robinson-Basilio III, Robinson wanted the money. Moore said immediately after Durelle fight that he would give Durelle a rematch or fight Robinson.

It was rumoured for Yankee Stadium in the summer, with guess work saying it could do as well as Robinson-Turpin II, the then current record for a non-Heavyweight title fight.

Both fighters had good bargaining power, Robinson had the possibility of the third Basilio fight, Moore the Durelle rematch.

Ultimately the two could never agree, maybe Robinson lost interest or over negotiated on his part, similar reasons it seems for Robinson-Basilio III never coming off.

good info...

[ShoulderRoll]

Because he wasn't as scary as Moore or Charles.

But the goal is always to be a world champion. Especially in those days when there was only one champ.

You can't say a guy is cherry picking if he's going after the belt. Even if it's true that Moore and Burley were scarier.

[Holywarrior]

yeah I was just trolling about Robinson not fighting Moore or Charles. His team wanted no part of Burley though. A quick search through google news will show this.

[joeandthebums]

His team wanted no part of Burley though. A quick search through google news will show this.

Only information I have yet to come across is fourth-or-fifth hand "I'm too pretty to fight Charley Burley" comment that apparently came from Robinson when ringside at a Burley contest, it is almost a mythical story now and is even repeated on Burley's official website

As yet I have not found anything to support this and am interested if anybody does have anything what-so-ever written from the time.

The general story goes; when Robinson and Burley both fought on the same card in Minnesota April, 1942. Robinson was ringside and said those now famous words to his manager.

Two issues I have are that Robinson was the main event and even if Burley was the walkout eight, it just seems unlikely that Robinson was ringside watching - same for undercard fight. Not impossible, just unlikely.

The second issue could just be sloppy reporting, or generic fabrication. Robinson only had one manager in his career, Curt Horrmann, he was out of the picture some point in 1942, I have yet to pin the date down. So it was either Horrmann or not. If Gainsford, then it was his trainer. All well-known facts.

As for the 1946 arrangement - I have yet to get to that date so cannot comment with any real knowledge other than the standard;

Robinson initially signed for a May 1946 fight, but raised the price to close to $25,000 when he wanted an out.

But not putting much stock after first mythical story until I learn more.

If anybody knows more, can add info or point me in right direction be brilliant.

[Holywarrior]

Only information I have yet to come across is fourth-or-fifth hand "I'm too pretty to fight Charley Burley" comment that apparently came from Robinson when ringside at a Burley contest, it is almost a mythical story now and is even repeated on Burley's official website

As yet I have not found anything to support this and am interested if anybody does have anything what-so-ever written from the time.

The general story goes; when Robinson and Burley both fought on the same card in Minnesota April, 1942. Robinson was ringside and said those now famous words to his manager.

Two issues I have are that Robinson was the main event and even if Burley was the walkout eight, it just seems unlikely that Robinson was ringside watching - same for undercard fight. Not impossible, just unlikely.

The second issue could just be sloppy reporting, or generic fabrication. Robinson only had one manager in his career, Curt Horrmann, he was out of the picture some point in 1942, I have yet to pin the date down. So it was either Horrmann or not. If Gainsford, then it was his trainer. All well-known facts.

As for the 1946 arrangement - I have yet to get to that date so cannot comment with any real knowledge other than the standard;



But not putting much stock after first mythical story until I learn more.

If anybody knows more, can add info or point me in right direction be brilliant.

I'll try and find excerpts from a guy who spoke with Robinson first hand, maybe you know him? Joe Rein? He passed recently, sadly though

I know there is stuff in his book as well

[joeandthebums]

I'll try and find excerpts from a guy who spoke with Robinson first hand, maybe you know him? Joe Rein? He passed recently, sadly though

I know there is stuff in his book as well

Sure I've read a few of his articles. Haven't come across anything new on Robinson-Burley angle, but will look again thanks.