Had these two met a third time how do you think it would have gone? They each had a split decision victory over the other in the first two battles. I think that at that point in their careers Robinson had more left in the tank than Carmen and would have won a third fight. Although with Carmen's dislike of Ray he would have dug down deep and given 200% so who knows. I just watched Basilio's 1961 fight with Gaspar Ortega that was held in Madison Square Garden. They introduced Robinson during the prefight introductions and Ray went over to shake Basilio's hand. As he walked away Basilio glared at Robinson and gave him a look that could kill.
Gene Fullmer once said: "Carmen and I fought hard against each other, but we both hated Robinson". If Basilio had gotten Robinson before his 2 hard fights with Fulmer, he might have pulled out a SD again. But the 2 Fullmer fights were brutal and took a lot out of him.
I give Basilio a good chance in a 3rd fight. But as said before, it has to be before Basilio got the tar beat out him by Fullmer. After that fight, it was only a while before Basilio retires. Pendler gave Basilio a bad beating in Carman's last fight.
