The Arctic Marine - 30.10.1941, Side 6

6
THE ARCTIC MARINE
The Big Build Up
(Continued from page 1)
thousand dollars for half of
Carnera and a percentage on
the gates collected during a
tour of the United States. The
syndicate was sad about the
low state of boxing in the Unit-
ed States, Max Schmeling was
champion, and wished to im-
port a real fighter.
As I have indicated See was
no Sunday School teacher. Rut
he got in the big leagues when
he joined forces with the syn-
dicate. Among its brighter
lights were Maxie “Boo Hoo”
Hoff, wlio figured largely in
the first Dempsey—Tunney
fight, “Good Time Charlie”
Friedman, “Slap” Magliaro
and several other pious citiz-
ens. The money man was Ow-
ney Madden, then the authent-
ic big' shot in New York gang'-
dom.
Carnera, amiable and smil-
ing Iiis snaggle toothed grin,
was imported to New Yorlc
amidst tremendous publicity.
This was spoiled by one sour
note. Paul Gallico, one of the
ablest sports writers, had seen
Carnera fight in Paris and not-
ed his inability to take a punch.
He warned the rest of the boys.
AIl were suitahly unimpress-
ed and the great W. 0. McGee-
han labeled Primo “the lean-
ing tower of Gorgonzola”..
Primo’s first fight in New
York was a dilly. Some hap-
less ham and egger waltzed
through three rounds and then
succumbed to a light tap on
the head. The crowd was big
despite newspapers warnings
that the thing was fixed. The
syndicate counted its large pro-
fits and the tour was launched.
This was advertised as a
“take all comers” affair. Actu-
ally the opposition was care-
fully picked. Most of the “div-
ers” were fading heavyweights
only too glad to drop grace-
fullv to the canvas after a few
rounds of Carnera’s pawings.
— They werc paid and that
was that. Another “victory”
was added to Carnera’s string.
If the opposition sliowed fight,
well there were more lethal
weapons than Primo’s fists in
the house.
Bombo Chevalier, a hard
hittings negro, after gazing fas-
cinated at Primo’s big jaw for
some rounds sighted and let
go. The effect was magnificent.
Primo fell as thougli shot and
only a “quick” bell ending the
round saved him.
Bombo’s ardor was cooled
between rounds by a stranger
who sliped up to his corner
and asked him to look at the
interesting piece of machinery
invented by Colt which he had
in his pocket. A couple of
rounds later Bomho coiled
gracefully on the canvas.
Carefully avoiding any fight-
er who could not be fixed, the
syndicate brought Primo up to
tlie heavyweight champion-
ship. Jack Sliarkey was cham-
pion, having' won the Jitle
from Schmeling on x>ne of the
rawest decisions ever made in
New York state.
Many claim the Garnera-
Sharkejr fight was fixed. Usu-
allj" a heavyweight champion-
ship fig'ht can’t be fixed. The
title means a million dollars
and very few people liave a
million in change in their
jeans.
Sharkey was much the bett-
er fighter. Some of the real
managers who know fighters
better than percentages or gat-
es, claim lie Would have been
one of the great lieavyweights
had he been able to overcome
a tendency towards wild and
erratic behaviour in the ring.
Whether the fight was fixed
or not, Sharkey, who had given
Jack Dempsev, a terrible whip-
ping for six rounds, fell before
Carnera’s prize punch, a riglit
uppercut, and Primo was
champion of the world. Shark-
ev took his defeat lightly. Lat-
er that night he was dancing
at the old Silver Slipper witli-
out a mark on his face.
The masqueijade continued
merriljr. Another tour knock-
ed the syndicate’s profits up
to over a million and a half.
Primo was given enougli to
live on, dress gaudily and buy
expensive automobiles and
women.
Flaws appeared in tlie plan
however. No honest fighter
would fight Carnera and the
gates grew smaller. After a
six months interval the moh,
desperate hy now, agreed to a
square fight witli Tommy
Loughran. Loughran was one
of the great boxers of his time
but a cream puff liitter.
The fight was the tip off.
Outweighing Tommy by eighty
pouds Primo never even mark-
ed him with his supposed “leth-
al” punches. Tommy outboxed
him, played witli him and rock-
ed him witli his punches which
were, as I say, far from heavy.
That convinced the syndic-
ate. For a thirty five thousand
dollars purse, they tossed Pri-
mo in with Max Baer to defend
his title. Baer, who was in terr-
ible shapei krtocked Primo
down twelve times and won
the championship.
By now the syndicate was
fed up. Pirimojs purses were
getting smaller and smaller
and suitable, that is crooked
opponents, fewelr and fewer.
Mike Jacobs then starting out
on his career as a promotor
hrought Joe Louis east for his
first big litle fight and wanted
Carnera. The Syndicate tossed
him in there “on the level” for
six tliousands of wliich Primo
got eleven liundred.
Carnera was poorly trained;
the syndicate didn’t bother to
get more than one sparring
partner. He went in there ag-
ainst Louis with only his great
courage, first shown in the
Baer right, to sustain him and
tlie calm brown man cut him
to bits.
After the fight tlie syndicate
cut him loose. Carnera wand-
ered around aimlessly, was
knocked cold by one, LeRoy
Haynes, and ended up in hosp-
ital with a paralyxed leg and
eleven dollars. All the rest of
the million seven hundred
thousand he had earned, was
safe in the pocket of tlie synd-
icate.
LETTERS
to Pvt, McNish
(In order to maintain tlie
high morale of the Marine
Corps, there must be a clear-
ing-house of “peeves” and
“beefs” where the enlisted
man may vent his wrath.
There must also be a Liaison
between the public and our
branch of the service. Pvt.
McNish herewith renders his
service for what it may be
wortli.)
Dear McNish:
Could you tell me what a
MGy Sgt’s duties are? We liave
one in our Company, but I
never happened to he around
wliere he is working'.
Signed
Pvt. P. I. Boot.
ií
Dear Pvt. Boot:
No. You never will.
Y'our trulv,
McNish.
Dear McNish:
I am a young marine, away
from home for the first time.
I miss my mother’s cooking
very much. Could you please
make them quit feeding us
Spam; also, why don’t they
salt the food?
Signed
Pvt. Plattermouth III.
My Dear Pvt. Plattermouth:
No doubt your C.O. is sorry
to have to keep you awav
from your mother. I have
never heard of a food called
Spam. Could you be misin-
formed as to its proper name.
The Mess Dept. is allowed
only $.42 per man per day for
food, and a highly priced
commodity like salt could not
possibly be used. Tbink of the
expense to the poor taxpayer.
Y'our trulv,
McNish.
K
Mv Dearest Mr. McNish:
Mv sweetheart Billie ran
away and joined the Marines.
He said he loved me, but he
doesn’t write to me, doesn’t
come to see me, or anything.
I am red-haired, my figure is
considered excellent, and Bil-
lie always called me “Beauti-
ful”. Please tell me what I
should do.
Sincerely,
Ima Belle.
5?
Dear Miss Belle:
Come to mg office as soon
as possible.
Your truly,
McNish.
Dere Mr. McNeeche:
Iz ut troo dat I gotta take
a curse in brokken inglish ta
be gunnrv sargint. Ime frum
Bruklun an I wanna git mary-
eed an I kneed mor munev.
Yers reflectively,
Sargint Wottasock.
S!
Dear Sergeant Wottasock:
Tlie Marine Corps does not
offer. the course to whicli you
refer. This office feels, witli-
out a doubt, that your langu-
age will be well fitted to the
rank of Gunnerv Sergeant.
‘What does the Bride-to-be
think? Mav the good Lord
help vou hoth.
Yrour truly,
McNish.