Evening star., 1936-09-06


cent gag that he was offered
$1,000 to lose to Cary Wright
~ here more than year ago Is
as overworked as store clerks at
Christmastide, but the Camden well
terweight's attempt to gain publicity
definitely has finished him here as a
fighter.
Blair got his publicity, but with
Matchmaker Goldie Ahearn he is
through. Frankie's insinuations and
assertions in his recent quiz here By
the District Boxing Commission would
seem to substantiate Goldies reason
ing.
Without the opportunity of defend
ing himself. Ahearn has been placed
on a spot. Blair, among other things,
claims he fought Harry Dublinsky
with the verbal agreement that if he
won he would gain a bout with
Barney Ross. You can't prove that
agreement wasn't reached. but then
again, you can't prove it was.
Logic would seem to dictate
that Go.die, who has elevated
local boxing to a plane above
that Of any city in the East,
never made that offer.
Blair is a preliminary fighter. He
has been beaten by preliminary fight
ers, some of which are none too pleas
ant to witness. Phil Furr, who OBJ
tained the match with Ross, is a local
attraction. He is the District welter-
weight champion and while he admit
tedly is as unpopular as he is popular,
he nevertheless is drawing card.
Still After "Short, Fat Man."
THE reason for Blair's so-called
run around" here dates back to
a fight when Gabe Menendez piloted
him into action. Menendez, who has
letters and kilograms in his possession
to prove that Blair begged him to
become his manager, was assaulted by
Mickey Blair, Frankie's brother, when
seeking to collect 10 per cent, not the
managers usual 331s per cent, after
the fight. He has witnesses who will
testify to that.
Blair's challenge to Furr-he would
meet the local champion in a title
fight-will be recognized by the COM
mission. His statement that a would
be briber here offered him five times
as much money to take dive" as
he ever received for fighting a single
bout has been honored.
Detectives now are chasing
around trying to find the
short, fat man" with $1,000.
The fact that Blair has been sus-
pended go days by the local boxing
body and the 80 States affiliated with
the National Boxing Association for
jumping contract to fight Lew Ray
mond in a special attraction to the
Cowboy Howard Scott-Lew Feldman
battle, generally has been overlooked
by the boxing public.
When he withdrew from the Ray
mond fight he claimed he had
broken hand. He later admitted he
refused to go through with the bout
because the $3.50 guarantee was an
insult to his boxing ability. Yet he
had agreed to the match.
PERHAPS Blair is not entirely to
blame. He has been managed by
so many men, some Of whom are not
exactly reputable characters, that he
is bit dizzy from it all. Certainly
the idea to bring the $1,000 bribe
charge before the local boxing board
was not his. Blair will regret the
fact that he ever mentioned it, how
ever.
Menendez intends to prefer charges
of assault with the boxing commits
sion. If he can prove that fact-and
Gabe says he can-Blair will be sus-
pended and charges preferred against
him that may mean court trouble.
Blair's suspension will not be
lifted until he fulfilIs his CON-
tract with Raymond and as
long as Ahearn Is matchmaker
there Is little, chance that he
will have the opportunity.