Was just skimming through the Eddie Futch interviews and I found one interesting part on Charley Burley, whom Futch helped get into the Hall of Fame. 14) You helped Charlie Burley get elected into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Right. I worked one fight against Charlie Burley with Holman Williams. That was a classic. It was at Soldiers Field in Cincinnati in ‘42. Burley won that fight, but they fought seven times. Nobody wanted to fight Burley once, and Williams fought him seven times, and they split even. Burley won three and Williams won three, and one was called a “no-contest” because they were doing anything out there. They had fought each other so many times and each man knew what the other fellow was going to do, so they couldn't do much. Burley had the edge because he knocked Williams out once in his three wins, and Holman had defeated him by decision in each of the three times that he won. Burley had knocked out J.D. Turner, the fellow who had fought Billy Conn two fights after Conn lost to Louis. Turner went the distance with Conn. Burley at 152 pounds knocked out Turner who weighed 215. I asked Turner, and I'm not getting this from anyone else, I asked Turner when he was the referee for a flight I had down in Texas. I used to have a fighter named Paul Andrews who boxed in Texas, and J.D. Turner was the referee. So after the fight, I asked Turner, "How much did you weigh the night you fought Charlie Burley?” He laughed and said, “I weighed 218 pounds and that little sucker hit me with a left hook in the sixth round, and I woke up in the dressing room.” [laughs] Somrack, F. Daniel; Strain, Geoff. THE EDDIE FUTCH INTERVIEW: A Conversation with Boxing Legend and Trainer of Champions (p. 17). The Art and Sport of Boxing. Kindle Edition.
Burley epitomizes a whole host of great & feared fighters whom couldn't get the title fights & shots they deserved, and there are a good few of them too, whom champs & fellow contenders - their managers & money backers avoided. it's a shame too, because boxing is one of them sports that has that power to elevate some & shelf others, it would be nice if honest elimination fights & opportunity was equal for all. it's not and never has been and never will be. look at the Fury's and Sideshow Boxing Contests - Disgusting. Fight you're Real Top Contender(s).
