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AT THE RINGSIDE By Barney Nagler NEW YORK, N. Y., May 10.— When Bob Baker, the problem fighter, beat up Johnny Holman in Miami night before .last, he . became a piece of problem property for the International Boxing Club. The IBC has Baker on its hands v and, some will tell you, theyre stuck with him. A demurrer is entered herewith. Baker, it is submitted, has turned over to a new trainer. It could make a king-size difference in the career of the Pittsburgh vet eran. Bakers new conditioner is Dan Florio, veteran exhorter, the loudest voice this side of Mike Quill. Florio was in Bakers corner vis-a-vis Holman. Between rounds he must have leaned all over Baker, constantly pressuring him to press the attack-, but television viewers couldnt be sure. The messages each intermission were concerned with beer and B.O:, or was it B.O. and beer, in that order? I knowing Florio, however, it is less than venturesome to suggest that he is putting welts on Bakers psyche. Florio was Jersey Joe Walcotts trainer during the wonderful schoolboys amazing rise from old age to the world championship. He got more out of Walcott than any other trainer. He can" do the same with Baker. AAA All Baker has ever needed was a ringside analyst to bestir him. Florio is eminently qualified. He convinced Walcott that Jersey Joe was the greatest thing to come down the Black Horse Pike since Felix Bocchicchio. He can do the same for Baker. Through his career, Baker has been surrounded by pliant citizens. His current manager, Dusty Bettor, is a nice enough guy, perhaps as nice as they come, but he lacks the sock needed to hot-foot Baker. The only time Baker moved Bettor to anger was a night at Eastern Parkway, when the Pittsburgher lost in 10 rounds to Clarence Henry. Baker was a lackadaisical loser, and when it was over, Bettor walked into his fighters dressing room, fire in his eyes and brimstone iri his beard. "Ill take 5 for your contract," he screamed at Baker. "Anybody calls me by tomorrow morning gets you for 5. First come, first served." There were no takers. AAA Thereafter, Baker was knocked out by Continued on Page Forty-Three I AT THE RINGSIDE By BARNEY NAGLER Continued from Page Two Archie Moore, ran up a string and then flopped against Hurricane Jackson. Then, down in Miami, he took on Hol-man in the first of what the authors call an elimination tournament to determine a successor to Rocky Marciano, the Brockton liermit. Experts viewing the event on television — some of them, at least— came away with the notion that Baker was truly in an elimination, eliminating himself. Said brief is rejected here. Baker fought af ine bout, whipping Hol-man with his jab and solid right crosses. One exchange convinced this viewer that Baker had learned to take chances. In the seventh round, at mid-ring, he swapped straight rights with his victim. This indicates a revival of the spirit that generated Bakers early victories, back in the pristine days when he was regarded as a most promising heavyweight. No matter what, Baker is still to be contended with in the race for Marcianos vacant chair. Jim Norris wants him in the tournament. Possibly against Moore, perhaps against Johnny Summerlin or Eddie Machen or Floyd Patterson or Hurricane Jackson. . For sure, hes a member of the lodge.
