California middleweight around 1939 to 1942. Murderer's Row. Retired at 21, after several stoppage losses to top fighters, seven losses in his last 10 months, but prior to that had been beating them or holding them the distance. It looks like Burley was the man he couldn't beat, and after being stopped by him his form dropped off. A phenomenal record considering his age and the brief career. Maybe he was prone to cuts, because boxrec mentions two losses to Tommy Garland early on, both seem to be cut-related. Maybe he just peaked too young, "burned out". I wonder if Stonehands has done anything on him? [url]http://boxrec.com/boxer/9985[/url]
During a pro career of only three-and-a-half years, Shorty Hogue had a total of 65 known bouts and fought quite a few top fighters. After his astoundingly rapid downfall starting with his loss to Charley Burley and retirement from boxing, it appears that Shorty served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. - Chuck Johnston
Thanks, Chuck. Yeah, I figured he would have joined the armed forces at the time. It's incredible how young fighters were put on such tough schedules in those days. I guess they needed the money, and I guess some of them didn't know how to say "no" to certain opponents. These days, if a young boxer was to lose a fight to an outstanding fighter, they'd give him 5 or 6 months off and bring him back with a series of easy matches. They'd try to keep him away from tough fights for the next 2 or 3 years !
Shorty Hogue was a tough, tough MW in a tough age of fighting. He was at a young age thrown in against some great fighters deemed "murderers row " as Archie Moore, Lloyd Marshall, Eddie Booker etc. Shorty was not considered a "member" of murderers row " as he and his twin brother "Big Boy Hogue" were Caucasians of Irish descent...Tough birds were the Hogue twins...
"I remember when I was a middleweight, it was 1940, there was a fella something like Marciano, only not so powerful. Fella named Shorty Hogue, not to hard to hit, powerful for a middleweight. About the sixth round I thought I had him and i let go with everything, trying for a knockout. I was hitting him up here around his head until his head got all lumped up but he kept his hands up in front of his chin and I couldn't put him away. Then I was finished. Seventh round about even and he went the last three. I still don't know how they could do it, him winning three rounds, but they gave him the fights." Archie Moore.
Burley beat both Hogue twins and was the only fighter to knock both of them clean out - neither were the same afterwards. Every other defeat the suffered was either on cuts or being out on their feet. Shorty lost only twice as an amateur (one of those on cuts) - both were national amateur champions. I have a book on their careers coming out later this year.
BURT "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you........ And heres to JOHN GARFIELD BOTH MISSED
The Tragedy of the Hogue Twins [url]https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tragedy-Hogue-Twins-Boxing-Files/dp/0473443783/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=harry+otty&qid=1566111797&s=gateway&sr=8-1[/url]
Thanks. You answered nearly one full year after I asked. Should've just waited another two days to make it a clean anniversary.
I thought about it - LOL. Due to unforeseen circumstances the release date ended up being a few months later than expected.
