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i On Second Thought Writer Advised To Pick Charles 1 By BARNEY NAGLER NEW YORK, N. Y., June 11. This was on the sidewalk in front of the state athletic commissions offices in West 47th street, street, where where Broadway Broadway i street, street, where where Broadway Broadway meets the boxing beat, and it was natural as seven to hear talk about Ezzard Charles chances against Rocky Marciano Th u r s d a y night. Harry Levy, a fight manager who has been around for a long time, was saying, "I think this guy has a hell of a chance. chance. Matter Matter of of fact fact chance. chance. Matter Matter of of fact fact Im picking him." "I would too if I had the guts," a fight writer said. "Be smart," Levy said. "Pick; Charles. Theyll remember the good picks you made not the mistakes. A lot of guys made reputations that way." "I remember once;" the reporter said, "when Louis was fighting Schmeling the last time, they had four or five guys picking the winner of the fight. You know, the cartoonist and the columnist and the fight writer and editor." "They all picked Louis," Levy remembered. "Thats right," the reporter agreed, "they all picked Louis and then the editor thought it would ,be a good idea to have somebody on the staff pick Schmeling. Papers got to be on the safe side, you know. So the day after the fight the guy that was delegated to pick Schmeling, he was the hero. The cartoonist, the columnist, the fight writer and the editor were bums, but this other guy, he had it dead right." "Make two picks under dtfferent names," Levy suggested. "A schizoid selection," the writer said. "Whod he ever fight?" Levy asked. "Anyway, let me tell you about this fight. I see guys going up to Marcianos training camp and they look at him. What are they seeing? They write about a guy trying a left hand and body punches and all that. What does it matter? It dont make sense. Marcianos the kind of guy that doesnt look pretty. Hes a puncher who keeps throwing. He hits you and thats it." "Hell hit Charles, wont he?" "The guys been in the camp for more than five months," Levy totaled up the days, "and a guy can get awfully stale in that time. It wouldnt surprise me if he came into the fight overtrained." "Like LaStarza for his fight with Marciano?" "Like that," Levy agreed. "The fight might have been different if the kid doesnt come in weighing a light 184. He goes six good rounds and then hes tired and Marciano gets him on the ropes and its over. You cant let Marciano get you on the ropes. Its murder there." "Thats Charles problem," the writer suggested. "Thats the only problem," the old manager said. "If Charles can stay at mid-ring and keep hitting the guy where he wants to hit him and keep him bothered, hes going to win the title back." "Would be the first to do it, if he did." "That stuffs the bunk," Levy said. "Theres always got to be a first time and Charles might just as well be the guy. Hes got the equipment, I want to tell you, and hes a guy that knows how to fight. Pick him." The reporters countenance took on the gray aspect of indecision. "Im a pretty good picker," Levy said. "Ive got a lot of them on the nose and this is one Im pointing out for you. Like I said, this guy has been training too hard, too long. He gets up the morning of the fight and he finds he isnt able to do the things he wants to do. Hell be vulnerable, like he was the night against Walcott in Philly. He had a tough time of it." , "He knocked the guy out, didnt he?" "The old fellow was so tired, he went into the ropes and thats where Marciano got him. I tell you, this fellow Charles stays off the ropes, he cant miss winning back the title." "What makes you think Charles will be in shape?" "A veteran like him, 15 years in the business, he knows ,how to come up in shape for a fight like this one, his last chance if he doesnt make it. Hell make it, believe me. Hes got the weapons to beat this fellow." The reporters rebutt was never entered on the record.
