Bob Mee on Charley Burley

Mine was the official quote i think. Interesting fighter, that's for sure.

 

Thanks very much ,for that! Burley's name should be kept alive on this forum .

 

Thanks for posting this...Nice info.
Burley is a facinating fighter and seems such a humble man. His style just might have been Robinson's krytonite...it would have been very close. Burley's style and talent just may have been MORE than troublesome to alot of middleweight greats. I'm impressed with the footage of the older Burley against Oakland Smith.
McGrain, do you have both the Otty and Rosenfeld books on Burley?

 

Good thread. Burley is fun because he's got some killing wins over big names but he was avoided enough for us to have to speculate.

Ezzard Charles' greatness was confirmed early in his win over Burley. Charles was just a kid. I do think that Ezzard's style (as well as Bivins') was a foil for him. Now when you consider that Robinson and Ezzard's style's were not dissimilar, I think that it is not too much to say that Robinson would be favored.

 

Sure, and I'd give you more than that: Burley would be the stronger man and not by a little. But Robinson would be wary of Burley, wisely so, and I see him boxing him like Bivins and Charles did with success. Robinson would compensate for the size/strength difference with serious speed and serious legs.

Burley would be very much of a live underdog because he was awfully hard for a boxer to time. He was unorthodox, awkward, and those leaping shots were something else. Robinson would have to fight a conservative and careful fight -straight punching behind the jab for example. If he fought Burley the way he did Lamotta in 51, I'd favor Burley.

 

One of the main reasons why Burley never 'made it' was because of his un-fan friendly style of fighting, he was predominantly a defensive spoiler.

A question to some of the proper historians on this board: How high was Burley ranked (The Ring, of course) in a given division? and How long did he retain that ranking?

 

Thank you :good

 

Well...actually...no...Was thinking about getting one of them or maybe both. Are they different or fairly repetitive?

 

A Burley/Robinson go is a heck of a fight to envision...I see it as a close one all the way. I agree with you and McGrain that Charley is the stronger fighter, and Burley's power would be felt and definitely respected by Robinson...On the other hand, Robinson would have Burley's attention as well...Charley's serpentine swivel would throw off Robinson's timing, and Robinson's mobility are problematic for the Pittsburgher. If Burley attempted that leaping hook, he could possibly be countered very hard, against a quick handed puncher (left hook) like Robinson...and those looping rights that Burley threw could possibly be countered if Robinson slips that...Burley's body is wide open for an instant...Robinson had the capability to capitalize on such actions like lead right hands.
Burley certainly has great tools and instincts I'm sure as well, like I said before I'm impressed with the film against Smith...The only reason I go with Robinson is that he is more offensively oriented, with the fight being very close. Another fight that really intrigues me is Monzon/Burley...What if Burley's movement is able to take away Monzon's dictating left jab?...What then?

 

Thanks McGrain.:good