The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-03
MANAGER TROUBLE BEHIND GAMER ! AND SHUCCO FLOP
Negro Has No Intention of Meeting BOstonian for Some Time, He Tells Writer

That Al Gainer of New Haven, listed as Connecticut's best profess sional fighter from 175 pounds up. has no more intention of boxing Tony Shucco of Boston now or two weeks from now, than he had a year ago, is quite evident from ali interview yesterday in which Dun Mulvey, sports editor of the New Haven Register and Gainer were the principals.
 Last night, Promoter George Mulligan of the Waterbury A. C. announced a postponement of the Gaincr-Shucco bout until February 18th. in reply to the negro's re- quest for additional time to train. Which is just about in direct con- tradictlon to what he was quoted by Mulvey as saying yesterday, would remedy the situation. Gainer is reported as replying: "No, I don't want Shucco for the first bout and that's all there is to it."
 Which is just another time that a boxer or manager has put Pro- moter Mulllgan in the middle. aft CT he has gone to the expense of making all arrangements for a boxing show. In this case, there is quite evidently some manager trouble between Gainer and his handler, Dick Gray, as one might gather from the following account by MT Mulvey:
 Tho battle front at Shanghai is likely to be just a pink tea party in comparison with the barrage to be put down on the Connecticut pugilistic front during the next few days when the matter of Al Gainer, listed to meet Tony Shucco for the New England light heavyweight championship at Waterbury on Thursday night, has no intention of going through with the bout an that score.
 Can't Agree?
 Just how far tho notification of Gainer's withdrawal has travelled is not known, but Gainer said last might that he had notified Dick Gray, his manager, and that he expected Gray to despatch the news to all the necessary points. Just what the conversation was between Gray and Gainer is a mat ter of doubt, but there Is a feeling that the session was more than just trIfie stormy.
 just trife stormy. saying that he Couldn't get ready 1 for Shucco in a short time' and more than that he had not agreed to meet the Italian.
 He went on to explain that when ever q bout was to be signed for Gray always approached him on the subject and they talked 1t over. If the opponent looked too formld- able Gaincr had the right to cast a negative vote. This system al- ways worked well in the past. Gainer Said, but did not hold true | in the present case.
 Doesn't Want Tony
 T just got back from tEe South | and am all ready to go into the ring" Gamer said, but after n Iayoff of three months the idea of tackling Shucco Is out of the ques- ton. If I had been fighting right | along, the bout with the Italian | would be all right. But the first | contract was with Joe Nelinski. That bout was 0. k. with me. Something happened to Ielinski and he had to pull out and the first tihng l knew they had Shuc- co listed. They didn't ask me about him. they just put him in there. And I won't fight him."
 Asked if a pOstpOnemcnt would rcrucdy the situation, Gnincr said, No, I don't want ShuccO for the first bout and that's all there Is to it."
 What action will be taken by Commissioner Thomas E. D0nohuc nn n. More than likely Gainer will be suspended for his failure to go through with the bout, although an many quarters there Is com mendation for his honesty in stat ing that Shucco is too formid- able after the long lnyoff.
 Tho fact that Gainer was not go- ing through with the bout was all news to Gray when called to-day.
 In the Dark
 "Gainer didn't tell me 2 thing about this. You know more about 1t than I do," Gray said. He went on to explain that he hasn't seen Gainer since last week and was uh- der the impression that he was training for the bout.
 "He knew that he was 10 fght Shucco, I told him that Ielihski could not go tnrouBn WI" '"" . because of q bad hand and that Shucco had been signed. Galner said that was all right with him. Gray added.
 Gray gaid that 1t was not nec- essary for him to confer with Gainer on opponents. They hnd never followed out that system, ne eaid. T am Gainer's managcr- mot 6 secondhand manager--ana I make the contracts.' Gray ex- plained. "Gainer is supposed to flght when and where I sign him. There Is Il contract In this case with George Mulligan and Gamer ia obliged to go through with the bout. If he hasn't trained and he insists on not fighting then I sup. pose MullIgan will demand that Commissioner Donohue VIII sns- pend him, maybe for life. He has q right to do that