Overview of Charley Burley's career.

Thanks for this.

 

Yes, Luke Carney managed both Fritzie Zivic and Charley Burley at the same time. It would have been natural for Carney to favor Zivic over Burley. Zivic was a far better gate attraction and much more in demand among promoters and matchmakers than Burley.

It appears that Carney managed Burley only during 1941. Zivic won the world welterweight title from Henry Armstrong during 1940. If Carney didn't manage Burley until 1941, that means such move was not made to prevent Burley from getting the shot at Armstrong's world welterweight title before Zivic.

Could it be that Carney was sandbagging Burley's career while he was managing him? That is possible. But it may be that Carney simply had trouble getting bouts for Burley. Keep in mind that Burley's other managers also had a very tough time getting bouts for him, especially lucrative bouts. As far as Burley getting a shot at Zivic's title with Carney managing both fighters, that would be very awkward. It may be that Burley was willing to forget about such a title shot if Carney could get him some lucrative bouts. It that is so, it didn't work out for Burley.

- Chuck Johnston

 

It's a shame he's not more widely known.

 

Charley Burley was a fairly well-known fighter during his career, but his bouts turned out to be "stinkers" much of the time. For one thing, Burley was known as a "cute" fighter, which made it hard for his opponents to make a good showing while fighting him. As a result, Burley was not much of a gate attraction for a fighter of his stature.

- Chuck Johnston