Evening star., 1956-12-21
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
When They Go, It's Fast

THIS is HARDLY the psychological time to be toung
old fist fighter in match with young one 1t is much TOO
after Archie Moore disassembled by 2-year-old
Floyd Patterson in Chicago But operative from New
York insists that January the middeweight champion
of the world still will Sugar Ray Robinson 36.
"Gene Fullmer is nice kid" our man comedies but
Robinson not only will able to the round but the
punch"
1.-THE moment Challenger Fulmer from West Jordan,
Utah. is the favoe chiefly due to the 1year age spread
opened the choice and the Odds temporarily at least
were stabilized after 40 AZ year old Moores destruction
by youth approximately half his Another reason for
liking Fumer those five fghts-al vctories-he had
this year against Rocky Castean Gil Turner, Tiger JONES'
Charles Humez and Moses Ward.
Robinson had only two 5e fights His fourhround kayo
Olson last May deded because Bobo proved to be
all washed Last month"; for kicks Sugar Ray allowed one
Bob Provizzi to last 10 rounds.
ROBINSON HAS NEARLY Is years of ring experience,
Fumer only Sugar Ray have been the top boxing
artist of his tme far more so than Moore whereas Fume
fights "rockhead STYLE" as they say in the trade
The tip out that Robinson picked Fulmer as his cha-
enger after exhaustive study of all claimants Sugar Ray
and his numerous advisers settled the Utahan being
easiest the weakest puncher although in his
40 pro fights Fumer has stopped 20 opponents while dec
sonng II.
Most of the ocaled smart operators figure that Robin
will atten Fumer in order to retain the only
title aside from the heavyweight that amounts to much
today They can't Robinson going Is rounds on his
aging and figure that Fumer lasts 10 he will wn The
theory makes Fortunately for Sugar Ray he was
fighting patsy Olson the last two times and able to
finish Bobo hurry When he has gone 10 rounds either
by necessity design Robnsons lack of spyness has been
noticeable.
After ALL Ray has made 146 pro fights the years
and the mileage his legs must be incredible despite his
80 knockous This plus that December 49, 1882
he retired" and did not come back until 1854
FUIIMER's RECORD LOOKS GOOD paper but. as
usual there people who ask: Who did he lick? Well,
certainly hasn't fought the cabe of fighters Robinson
has met On the other hand 1t wasn't so long that
Patterson being faulted for the Even
Moore spoke up He's young snake, Archie put it, but
I'm an old mongoose."
History on the side of Fulmer The danger Of back
ing old fighters that few fade gradually One night they
may have it and the next they may have nothing And
Moore far from the first to hear the bell and discover
that he had no skills with which to answer it.
Jim Jeffries, for example, was year younger than
Robinson 35 when his comeback attempt against Jack
johnson ended in abect failure Even earlier John L. Sui
lvan exposed tired old when Jim Corbett took
away his title Then Corbett himself found wanting
when he met Bob Fitzsmmons, match that held up
for two years-tme that detrimental, perhaps, to
Corbett.
JESS WILLARD WAS 81 WHEN Jack Dempsey all but
beheaded him at Toledo He had the size and the experience
but reexes cope with the speed Of DempSeys fists In
fact confident Doc Kearns, manager Of Dempsey,
that he bet $4,000 at 10 to that his smaish tiger would
finish Willard in the first round Technically, he did,
own Jimmy Lake insists and actually left the ring
thinking he hrst-round winner Dempsey called
back and recovered from his disappointment he
pleed the Job when Willard failed to the bell for the
fourth round
Then it Dempseys turn to grow old in the ring
his two fights with Tunney. And then Jim Braddock's
when he lost his title to Joe Louis and course Louis later
made the appalling discovery against Ezzad Charles and
Rocky Marciano
Jersey Joe walcott did reach his peak
until his mid and late sos But when he did become
raveled in Chicago facing Marcano the second time 1t
with Rockys FIRST punch and the nght in two
minutes.