Was Charley Burley ever ranked number 1...

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Nemesis, Jul 11, 2011.


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  1. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    by the Ring / NYSAC / NBA, in any of the divisions in which he fought?
     
    Nemesis, Jul 11, 2011
    Nemesis, Jul 11, 2011
    #1
  2. kmac

    kmac On permanent vacation Full Member

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    kmac, Jul 11, 2011
    kmac, Jul 11, 2011
    #2
  3. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    my mate was telling me about this, he said no, I think he's right but I haven't checked thoroughly myself.
     
    teeto, Jul 11, 2011
    teeto, Jul 11, 2011
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  4. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Interesting.

    I'm sure, if given the opportunity to fight the likes of Lamotta, Cerdan or Graziano; Burley could have been the number 1 contender.

    It could be argued that Holman Williams was more deserving of a title shot than Burley @160.
     
    Nemesis, Jul 11, 2011
    Nemesis, Jul 11, 2011
    #4
  5. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    This thread prompted me to search for at an old interview I had with Burley (and because you're a good blue an' all ;)). I probably have a fair few Burley articles but can't pinpoint them off the top of my head, but remembered the issue this one was in, as it was just after Ray Robinson died. In that, it claims Burley was the #1 contender at 160 for close on a year, between 42 and 44. Looking at the timelines, if this is true, i'd say it was after Old Archie lost to Jack Chase in the summer of 43 (thus pushing Burley up to the top spot).
     
    My dinner with Conteh, Jul 12, 2011
    My dinner with Conteh, Jul 12, 2011
    #5
  6. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    What got me thinking was I was reading the Rosenfeld Auto on Burley and at no point does it mention Burley as nr1 (which would've obviously been an important thing to mention!). He probably inherited the status as number 1 in that timeline without any organisation formally announcing him as it.
     
    Nemesis, Jul 12, 2011
    Nemesis, Jul 12, 2011
    #6
  7. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    have you got a link mate or is it a physical copy? Would be nice to read that.
     
    teeto, Jul 12, 2011
    teeto, Jul 12, 2011
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  8. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Is the Rosenfeld book the one entitled 'The Life And Hard Times of an Uncrowned Champion'? That's the one I have, I lent it out a few years ago and haven't seen it since but my mate has it in his house. That's maybe my favourite book, loved it so much.
     
    teeto, Jul 12, 2011
    teeto, Jul 12, 2011
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  9. hhascup

    hhascup Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Charley Burley was rated in the top 10 for exactly 100 months, from September 1938 to August 1947, and his highest rating was #1.
     
    hhascup, Jul 12, 2011
    hhascup, Jul 12, 2011
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  10. Jorodz

    Jorodz watching Gatti Ward 1... Full Member

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    appreciated hh. what's the ranking/source? i've heard for years that burley was never actually rated #1 in any division and despite the briliance of his contemporaries, it always seemed sketchy
     
    Jorodz, Jul 12, 2011
    Jorodz, Jul 12, 2011
    #10
  11. hhascup

    hhascup Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ring Magazine ratings.
     
    hhascup, Jul 12, 2011
    hhascup, Jul 12, 2011
    #11
  12. klompton

    klompton Boxing Addict banned

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    One must keep in mind that Ring magazine ratings are not official. At that time a far more important rating in terms of whether or not a person got a title shot was the NBA rating, which Ring also published.
     
    klompton, Jul 12, 2011
    klompton, Jul 12, 2011
    #12
  13. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Burley's failure to gain a title shot cannot be wholely attributed to his skin colour. You could fit his fanbase into a telephone booth. His style of fights and the many occaisions in which he stunk fights out were too numerous.

    I think if Burley had actively persued Zale (ala Jack Johnson) and fought more aggressively in his fights against ranked opponents, he would have forced the governing bodies into making the fight.

    Lest we forget Robinson was ranked number 1 for going on 5 years consecutively at 147 before receiving his title shot.
     
    Nemesis, Jul 12, 2011
    Nemesis, Jul 12, 2011
    #13
  14. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Interesting, is that consecutively?

    How long a period was he ranked number 1?
     
    Nemesis, Jul 12, 2011
    Nemesis, Jul 12, 2011
    #14
  15. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Yep.

    Very interesting read, well sourced etc. Not very well written IMO, lacking flow or discussing much of his private life (I would assume the writer is not a writer by trade). I dont think it matches upto auto's done on Ali or Robinson in comparison.

    The book make me think this is how a modern fan would write a book on his favourite fighter (studying the fighters record on Boxrec and then scrolling through articles of his fights from the local journalist/paper men after each contest.

    His referencing to CBZ seemed unnecessary / a tad unprofessional.

    That probably sounds harsh, it was still a good book to read.
     
    Nemesis, Jul 12, 2011
    Nemesis, Jul 12, 2011
    #15
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