Article from The Ring June '94. Bob Sherrick- (New York based boxing historian and fight film collector) Burley was a great fighter---one can look at him and you could tell that. I only know of one film of him, a decison win over light heavyweight Billy Smith, so I can analyze him solely on the basis of that fight. He was awkwardly clever, with tremendous head and shoulder movement. Unlike some of today's fighters who need to run from you he could make you miss without moving his feet. He had a great, sneaky overhead right, and was also a great bodypuncher. Cerdan's greatest strength was his heart. He just kept coming at you. He was a good mechanic, and by that I mean in a defensive sense. His elbows were always tight against his body and he was compact. By the time he got to the U.S. after WWII, he was maybe a little past his prime. This is a very tough call to make, but it would certainly be one helluva fight. From what I've seen, I'd have to go with Burley, who was just too good defensively. Burley by close but unanimous decison. Larry Kent- (Kent is a veteran trainer who has worked with, among others, Sugar Ray Robinson, Beau Jack, Jimmy Carter, Phil Terranova, and Fred Pendleton) Burley should have been called "surley". But who could blame him? No one would fight. He was the only man I didn't want Sugar Ray Robinson to fight. he was a great defensive fighter, the best of that era. No one could hit him. He could also punch with great power in either hand, and his boxing skills were marvelous. Cerdan died in his prime. He was a huge hit when he came over to the U.S., a real gentleman and a true professional. he resembled Harry Greb, with a windmill style of coming forward and firing punches, but he could also box if necessary. He loved to fight;he kept coming at you, and he was all arms and elbows on defense. For the first five rounds it would be a real war, with each fighter pounding away on the inside and scoring. After that, Burley's masterful skills would take over--he always ate up those walk-in style guys. He'd be able to sharp shoot Cerdan fromteh outside. I see Burley winning a somewhat easy unanimous decison. Eddie Futch- (Futch trains among others former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, He is generally regarded as one of the top two or three trainers of all time) Burley had everything you could want in a fighter. He could box and punch, and he was very clever. he didn't move around the ring a whole lot, but made punchers miss by about a half-inch and was always in position to counter. He was very precise and had great power. I know when he knocked out J.D. Turner in 1942, Turner weighed over 215 pounds and Burley weighed just 152. Cerdan was a complete fighter as well. He could outbox the boxers and out fight the fighters. He had good power in both hands, but didn't win with quick knockouts. i would equate him with a Carlos Monzon, wearing people out for the later rounds. Burley would have too much of everything. The fighters who beat him were always bigger, usually light heavyweights. Burley wouldn't have kayoed Cerdan, who might have given him troulble from time to time with his forward style. Still, I like Burley by unanaimous decison. What is the board's opinon on this fantasy match-up?
Tough fight for Burley but his superior defense and sharper counters and more accurate shots would be the difference. Maybe it would look like Mayweather-Hatton
There is a story that Cerdan-Burley was almost made. Cerdan came to watch Burley, who was notoriously hard on sparring partners. No fight. Cerdan left the gym and stopped returning calls.
I've hear two stories one that when Cerdan saw Burley spar he wasn't impressed and decided to fight someone else and the second is the one McGrain mentioned that he decided it was too big of a risk. Don't know if either is true but this would have be an amazing fight.
IMO the three experts have got it absolutely right. Marcel Cerdan was a great fighter. But Burley was a genius. Win for him in a good, competitive fight.
Burley was a GREAT boxer with power. Burley also was never stopped in his pro career and beat alot of larger fighters. Burley, in my opinion, would have taken Cerdan in a tough fight. Burley would have also beaten Graziano quite handily, most likely by KO. Grebfan9 www.firstroundboxing.com
This is a pick-em fight for me, Charley Burley could and would win out a safe points decision, such was his ring craft and skill, however Cerdan could just as easily win out a more punishing points victory. I think there's too much lore put into the Legend that is Charley Burley, but not to take one ounce of his greatness away.
