Charley Burley Rejected Dive, For Title Shot?

Versus Robinson.

Charley tells a story where he was offered a trilogy with Sugar if he agreed to chuck the first one. I don't know if it's true or not, I do know that Burley told it apparently without biterness and that he wasn't given to wild stories generally, or even being loud about the things he did generally. Probably there is a kernel of truth to it.

Burley also opined that Robinson knew nothing about the proposed deal.

Burley probably should have played ball. He could have ended up being another Cocoa Kid, repeatedly wearing the cuffs for possibly very little reward but there's also a chance he could have been given a chance and taken it. But I suppose his flat out refusall to tank, at least (and it seems he did carry fighters...should have carrie McQuillan) is a part of what makes him special.

 

Burley was just a monster. It's amazing how often people who saw him described him as amongst the best there were. He spooked people with his ability. Absolultely spooked them.

 

Well he didn't have the protection or the value.

Robinson accidently KO'd an opponent he had agreed to carry (i forget who) and Blinky let it slide. But then Robinson was a cash cow. My best guess is that Burley would have been offered the chance to ditch the title to a longshot to make it up to the powers that be. Drowning a world champion isn't the kind of exposure these guys were after. The direct threats would likely have been to those associated with Burley.

 

Fighter's definitely found him hard to fathom, if that is what you mean?

 

He's definitely unique and special. Must be hard, hard looking back upon all of that.

 

I think Burley adapted for his opponents. He seemed to fight differently against the bigger men he was in the ring with and that's the only footage we have of him - versus the bigger Smith. He certainly hadn't a hefty bag of tricks he could go to if he needed to. I think he should have been more aggressive at times, things may have been different for him then.

 

But Burley was essentialliy a counter-puncher.

 

To hear them tell it, Burley was the best feinter that ever did it. He certainly finished Archie Moore's education.