Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-02
.Cur|ey' S Life
Like Character
Fiction

AZ some time or other every one
wishes that he could live the life
of some fiction character but Don
Curley. the new matchmaker at
FairVieW Gardens, doesn't need 10
express any such wish.
His life story reads better than
that of most characters in fiction.
Curley as fighter. matchmaker
and promoter has roamed the con-
tinent. and. al some time or an
other. participated in or has seen
the best fistic fracases on record.
In hts heNday As ore of the ma
tons leading lichtweights he
boxed in the Indiana stable that
included Jack Dillon. Gus Christy,
Ray Bronson and Milburn Saylor.
Sam Murbager was the manager
Of the group. Don was one of the
headliners on Michigans first lie.
galized fight card in 1919.
BEATEN BY WHITE
There were three 10-round bouts
that night at Arena Gardens and
Benny Leonard. then lightweight
champion, was featured against
Charlie Metric OF Milwaukee.
Charlie White and Curley were
two of the leading contenders for
Leonard's title and were matched
against each other with the win
ner to get a crack at Leonard.
George Chip VS.. George knock
OUT Brown were principals in the
third bout. Leonard k. o. d his OPP
ponent and White beat Curley on a
technical knockout in what was
as the worst piece of
tough luck A fighter could have.
AS fight manager Curley has
had an enviable career. He guided
the destinies Of the late Tiger
Flowers. ex-middleweight cham
pion; Tiger Jack Fox. Cowboy"
Padgette, Cowboy Jack Willis,
Jimmy Byrne, Tony Herrera. Tile
Kid Herman, Pancho Flores. Chuck
Burns, Chief" Jack Elkhart. Pal
Moore and several other nationally
Known Title contenderS.
PARTED COMPANY
Curley is given credit for dis
covering Bud Taylor. one OF the
greatest bantamweights to ever
climb in the ring. He found Taylor
as a 16-year-old .youngster during
the time that he was headiiningt
bouts in Terre Haute, Ind. DonI
took the youngster under his wing
and made a polished boxer out of
him during The next three years
Eddie Kane then came along and
Taylor $4,000 bonus toI
join his stable and Taylor and Cur
ley parted company --
In the premetienal and match
field. Don was also a sue
cess. He has promoted shows in
Texas. Mexico and Indiana and
once had string OF fight clubs
throughout the Southwest and
Mexico.
Curleys promotional ability
earned him fame and fortune inI
San Antonio, Houston. Austin and
Dallas, Tex; Mexico City and
Monterey in Mexico and in 1ndi-
annapolis, South Bend and Terre
Haute, Ind. 1t was in Monterey on
one of Don's cards that the longest
fight in history of boxing since
the Marquis of Queensberry rules
were accepted was recorded. Mercy
Montez met Jimmy Dundee in a
lightweight match that went 53l
rounds before Montez won on a !
knockout.
BUFFALO ON NEXT
Don is coming back after six
years to. do the matchmaking for
promoter Steve Graf at Fairview
Gardens.
His first card featured Billy
Bengal and Buster Peaks two
weeks ago. Don has signed Gene
Buffalo to be one Of the headliners
on his next attempt which will be
out Of doors in Mack Park on June
ID or 20. 1t is likely that Johnny
Ryan or Joey Sutka will meet Buff
falo on that occasion.
Tiger Flowers. ex-middleweightI
champion, was on one of the first
outdoor boxing shows ever held in
Mack Park. He was the title
holder and was managed by Curleyl
at that time.
Don hopes that continued sue
cess at Fairview Gardens andI
Mack Park will helm the calse Of