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On Second Thought Still Talking About Rocky, Ez By BARNEY NAGLER NEW YORK, N. Y., June 22.-Five days afterward, in the -quiet of an afternoon, they were still talking about Rocky Mar- cianos throttling of Ezzard Charles. They were saying it was a great fight, of course, and that Charles had gained stature. So, for that matter, had Mar-ciano, who had proved through 15 rounds that .he has more balance and poise than ever before. Harry Marksoh, the International Boxing Clubs busybody, said, "I keep thinking of Bob Pastors first fight With Joe Louis. Remember it?" The other one said no; he wasnt around at the time and, please, could he be excused" for being so young. "Well, anyway," Markson said, "that was the fight in which Pastor moved and ran for 10 rounds, the distance, and made Louis look a little silly." "Bicycle Bob?." "Thats what they called Pastor when it was over, but Jimmy Johnston was. his manager and hes the one that should get credit for the fight Pastor did or ] didnt make. Anyway, Johnston had Louis figured pretty good and he was so sure Pastor would win he bet a great deal of money on him." "At a good price, no doubt." "Im not interested in odds," said Mark-son, the IBCs- man in charge of precepts, j "But I do remember the day after the fight. . Johnston could have kicked himself. He should have bet that Pastor goes the distance instead of winning. Would have made a bundle." This was in the IBCs counting room in the. Garden, and who should come along but Tom Tannas, Charles co-manager. He listened for a while and then said:, "If Charles had gotten through, two more rounds without getting hit in the Adams apple," Tannas said, "we would have breezed in. Wed have coasted through the 11th and 12th and put on a real show in the last three rounds. It was a tough break." Tannas was reminded of Jimmy Johnstons mistake in the Pastor bout with Louis. "Youre telling me,"" Tannas said. The one who had been listening to Markson surmised. Perhaps Charles agents had bet a considerable sum on their man to win. "The price," Tannas continued, "was only a point or so difference on the decision or Marciano scoring a knockout. Some guys are real jerks missing a thing like that, but how can you tell?" j Tannas went to the phone and asked Rose Cohen, who was at the switchboard, for a number; "Hi, Ez," he *said, after a brief wait. There was another pause. "Well, tonight you see legs and hear laughs." Tannas said to Charles, on the phone. "Youll like the show, Im sure." There was more conversation on the phone and then Tannas hung up and rejoined the one with whom he had been talking. "That Ez, hes a real nice kid," the manager said. "They dont come any better. Hes* got a real nice wife and their kid, Deborah, shes the smartest around." "How old is she?" "Shes three," Tannas said. "Theyve got a real good relationship all around, including his mother, Mrs. Moss. Theyre real fine people." "Has Ez saved any money?" the other one asked. "Not much," Tannas said. "He hasnt really made much. He owns the apartment house in which his mom lives up there by Riverside rive. He owns the house his great-grandmother and grandmother live in in Cincinnati and he owns the house he lived in out there. I think hes got another one." Thats pretty good." "Sure," Tannas agreed. "Whats more, . he doesnt owe a single cent in taxes. Hes clear up to January, 1954. Im going to take enough out of the purse for the Marciano fight — say 0,000 — and pay it in advance taxes on his estimated. Thatll put us in good shape." "Hes not like Joe Louis." "Not at all," Tannas agreed. "Weve taken good care ,of his tax problems. We get Marciano back in September — well knov, about that fh% about 10 daysr-rWandll be all right, real good." "By the way, what show is Charles seeing tonight?" "Oh," Tannas said. "Hes seeing Can-Can. Saw Wonderful Town last night. Really liked it. Hes a real nice kid, believe me." Tannas walked toward the door, on his way out into the bright light of afternoon. "We get that Marciano back," he said, leaving, ?well do all right." He went without hearing the reply. None was forthcoming.. , , , , , T , .
