The Washington times., 1936-03-20
Primo Odd
Critter of
The Ring
Bv KIRK MILLER
Times Sports Editor

wa AA = "SAS4SSAS |
pugilism was closed this week
in q Philadelphia ring when
Ponderous Primo Carnera, the
Pride of the Pyrenese, folded
up completely in less than three
rounds of fighting against Le-
roy Haynes, a slow-punching
ebony aspirant to the fame
which has become Joe Louis.
Primo earned the highest title IN
fistiana in spite Of himself and
in spite of his handlers.
It is nothing short Of a CO.
Incidence that Cameras crazy
American ring career should have
practically started in Philadelphia
and positively ended in the same
place.
His First Serious Bid
If you recall, it was in midsum-
nner of 1890 that Carnera, after
having been carried around the
country almost like bear with
ring in it's nose by his first man
ager. Leon See, more Of an exhibit
than will. any pretense as a
fighter, was given a shot at the
fast-fading George Godfrey in q
Philadelphia ball yard.
Godfrey fouled Carnera in the
fifth round in as palpable ano
plain a ring violation as II 1t mao
been rehearsed. Cameras first
step UP the ring ladder had been
accomplished - in Philadelphia
His last, faltering step was taken
there MONDAY night, when ne
verified a suspicion that many
have mad for a long time, the
same being that he never was q
good fighter, couldn't give IT,
couldn't take it and was too cum
bersome to even get out OF the
way of the telegrapher, Leroy
HAYNES. who, like a rattler, gives
plenty of warning before striking:
In between those events and
during a span of approximately
five years. the good-natured 1tal'
ian was manipulated and man.
aged and bunked into and OUT OF
the worlds championship. IT he
has much more than his scars
and a heavy heartache to show 1or
it he has been dealt with more
sincerely by his handlers than
many suspect.
In Spite of Everything
Rut the marvel Of this Car
nera, who vies with Max Baer
for having the worst fighting
form of any of the worlds heavy
weight champions, is found in
the fact that he achieved the
top rung Of the ladder at all.
He wrestled more than he
fought, he leaned on bis foes, ne
cIubbed them with short, choppy
downward swings and he shook
them and he ratified them. Then,
at times, in spite of himself, ne
would connect, such as he dld
on Sharkey, and for a moment
look like a great fighter.
So Camera had the public
guessing all along as to whether
he was just Exhibit A in Ten
nessee monkey trial or a man
fit to wear the diadem which
had been Sullivan's, Corbett's,
Dempseys, yes, and a Tunney's.
The kindly big fellow, who
never acted out of the ring, and
seldom in it, as though he could
get mad at anyone, was strictly
q made fighter. If you recall
his background before he ap-
peared on the American heavy
weight horizon, he was a freak
in a European carnival. He had
size. that was all.
Out of a Side Show
Leon See, his little French
manager who later gave way to
Louis Soresi, spotted Carnera in
what amounted to a side show
and captured him as natures
gift to pugilism. Outside Of the
street scuffling that all boys have
mastered at one time or another,
Carnera knew nothing about fight
ing.
He resorted to such Scuffling
many, many times when he was
desperate up there in the ring.
Indeed, he often die everything
except pick his opponent up,
cross him over his knee to give
him a good, sound spanking.
That was the penalty of being
a. manufactured fighter. When
his wits left him as the compe-
tition became heated, his boxing
instructions naturally deserted
him, and he reverted to his primi-
tive instincts back there as
boy in Sequals.
He would paw and then protect
his face with those huge fore
' arms. His fighting stance was
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