Bob Mee on Charley Burley

:good :good

 

What A Legend!!!

 

True, true, true! In Pittsburgh at least, where I grew up, alot of people, fight fans anyway, knew the legend of Charley Burley, who if I'm not mistaken ended up a garbage man up in the Hill District. But once, back in the late 70's, I was in a club in Pittsburgh' Market Square and walked into the men's room and there was an argument taking place, between a few white yuppie types, and one short slight black kid who looked desperate to make a point. As I stood in the stall, doin' what I'd gone in there to do, I realized that this black kid, he looked to be in his early 20's, was trying to convince them of who he was and more importantly of who is father was; I can't quote it after all these years, so I'll paraphrase; 'No, I'm telling you, my father's the greatest fighter to ever come out of this town, he was one of the best fighters there ever was," etc., etc.,
'Yeah, right, uh-huh, sure,' something to that effect, is what he got.

I had missed the beginning of the conversation, but as I walked out and bent over to wash my hands and the argument(more like pleading to be given credibility, and a scoffing-off, diminishing dismissal on the part of the two white kids, who acted like they'd either rolled into the city from one of the prestigous campuses in Oakland or had borrowed their daddy's Cadillac to drive in from the suburbs for a night of slumming), I turned to look back at the black kid and I asked him, "Are you Charley Burley's son?"
"Yes, yes, I am, you know him, you know who he is?"
"Yeah, I know who he is," I said as I straightened for a paper towel, and said looking at the white kids, "Charley Burley was one of the greatest fighters to ever come out of this town, one of the greatest fighters there ever was anywhere. The two white kids looked disappointed, busted, but they accepted it and shrank out of the mens room with their tails between their legs, and I gotta say, the Burley kid, he looked so grateful for the affirmation. He thanked me and asked me who I was. I shook his hand and told him I knew all about his dad, that anybody who knew anything about boxing, knew about his dad.

 

Good story!

 

Great info from McGrain and thats an interesting story about Burley's kid Chinxkid. I doubt the Charles fight was a fix, Ezzard was a relative unknown who was coming off a loss and was a late subsite for former champ Ken Overlin. Also I believe Charles knocked Burley down in ther first fight which was meant to be very exciting.

 

Great human-interest story, beautifully told, Ck.

Wish more of the Stone Agers, like me, would jog their memories. Think posters would eat-it-up.

 

I read the 'life and hard times of an uncrowned champion' book. Great, great read. I like the part at the end where Burley was asked if he was bitter about not fighting Robinson, he replied with something to the feect of 'no, God asked me and Walker Smith, which one of you 2 wants to be Sugar Ray Robinson then? I just never raised my hand fast enough'. (something like that)

 

Thanks, Teeto, that says volumes about Burley's character. That one line may have revealed more than most fans knew.

 

No problem, really gets to ya sometimes that Burley never got his chance. Its the 1 thing that bothers me about Robinson that they never fought. I know he didnt fight the rest of the murderer's row, but Burley campaigned for it and this would have been a prime and fair match-up at 147.

Do you think Robinson might have not been confident of beating him, or just it wasnt a good business venture?? I dont know what to think about it

 

I think the exact phrase was "the finest all-around fighter I ever saw." High praise, but he didn't actually say he was the best or most effective fighter per se. You might be able to further educate me tho.

 

I didn't know you liked to hit up mary jane now and then john! were gonna have to get together some time! jk jk