harry kid matthews vs joey maxim...

Mathews manager Jack Hurley twice turned down a title shot against Maxim , when Mathews was the number 1 challenger,surely if they fancied their chances against him it would have made sense to fight him win the LH title and get a big gate against the HVy Champ .I think Hurley was a wise old bird who knew exactly what he had ,[and didnt have in Mathews].

 

Matthews was highly underated...he was an excellent fighter.....Maxim overall had the better resume vs ATG's but in a closer look I would not be suprised if Matthews pulled it out over Joey in a Dec....Joey had good wiskers and was durable...Matthews had more POP and also good ring generalship...this one is tight

 

1. I am not aware of the second one by Matthews. A fight in 1951 in which both fighters would recieve $50,000, to be on the west coast, was rejected by the IBC for Maxim.

2. Hurley rejected a shot at Maxim in 1952. An article in THE RING, June, 1952 issue written by Barney Nagler, profiles Jack Hurley and gives his reasons for rejecting the bout:

A. Matthews would have to sign an exclusive contract with the IBC.
B. Matthews would get $20,000 of a $100,000 purse, with $40,000 going to Maxim and $40,000 going to the IBC. Hurley claimed he would have accepted the fight if Matthews got $40,000.

"Over a year ago I asked Doc Kearns if he'd fight Matthews." Kearns replies he would for $50,000. Hurley goes on to relate in detail that amount was reasonable for a west coast fight, even with Maxim, who Hurley does not consider box-office. When the IBC vetoes that fight, Hurley contacts US Senator Harry P Cain from Washington State. There is soon an investigation, not only by congress, but also by the Justice Department, of the IBC. Hurley meanwhile has begun negotiating with Walcott for a crack at the heavyweight title, Walcott to get $250,000. In the midst of this, the IBC and its representative, Al Weill, offer Hurley an ultimatum to accept a fight with Maxim.

"They didn't make the offer until after I announced I wasn't interested. They didn't make it until they were sure I wouldn't accept. My job is to get money. Matthews ought to be a professional, he never had an amateur bout, but even if he isn't, I am.
"With the radio and television, The IBC figured Maxim-Matthews would do $100,000 net. They say they must give Maxim 40%, which is all right because he is champion. They are willing to give Matthews 20%. For the use of the hall, the IBC has to get $40,000.
"What's wrong with giving each fighter $40,000 and the IBC taking 20%. The IBC doesn't appear on television that night. Nobody cares if it stays home."

3. Nagler has this to say about Hurley's campaign which got the Justice Department involved investigating the IBC:

"It wasn't as though Hurley wanted to put the IBC to the expense of defending itself against a monopoly suit. He was simply trying to ignite the white light of truth in behalf of Matthews, whom he candidly believes is the greatest fighter in the world and so wanted all to know."

4. I think a key factor here which is obvious reading the whole article is that Hurley hated the IBC crowd in general, and Al Weill in particular. I get the impression that this was not just a new hatred but one which went back years. It might have clouded his judgement about taking the short end of the purse, but the clause turning Matthews over to the IBC certainly also might have been a deal breaker.

5. My own take is to accept that Nagler was close enough to Hurley to probably know what he thought of Matthews. Hurley might have been bullshitting about his high assessment of Matthews, but who can tell at this distance. But logic does back up that he actually thought Matthews could go all the way at heavyweight. It doesn't make that much sense that he would match Matthews with Layne and Marciano but be afraid of Maxim, whose record was always spotty. Even more compelling, would he have matched Matthews with Weill's fighter Marciano if he didn't think Matthews would win? Hurley really hated the arrogant Weill. I can't see Hurley putting himself in a position in which Weill would end up gloating over him.

 

"Oh what a tangled web " , etc.