Evening star., 1959-12-04
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Only lingo Runs the Show

IN ONE OF THE national sports magazines there is
story, authorized with trace of bleeding heart which
purporS to tell how Floyd Patterson has much faith
as ever in Gus DAmato, his dsbarred manager.
His loyalty is even stronger" it is written "He is
for Gus right or wrong, win lose. Completely IT.
revocaby Patterson, in his conversations with friends
almost suggests that he would like something concrete
to be proved against DAmato that prove his
continued loyalty to his manager"
In the light of this interview, presumably accurate
1t should be interesting to how Patterson handles
affairs when Ingemar JohanSson, his conqueror formally
sets date for Floyd to challenge for the heavyweight
title he held until June 26 Will Patterson coverty
seek DAmatos counsel? Will he slip his cut under
the table?
Or will Patterson try to look after his interests both
in and out of the ring all by himself?
SOME TIME AGO Patterson went on record as saying
he would not take himself manager If memory
serves, he was quoted saying why should pay
body else 33b per cent?" Yet the prospect Of Floyd
managing himself seems remote
Ever since DAmato appeared in his life, which was
quite early Patterson had been the most puppetke of
all heavyweight champions, than Joe Louis Most
questions directed at Floyd by suspicious
dStruStful manager with the pous facade When Patter
son did speak, it usually after sidelong glance
Gus, like small boy apoogeticay asking for second
helping,
Patterson never had voice as concerned his oppon-
en or his long periods of ideneSS while DAmato raned
and raved at the International Boxing Club and looked
for soft touch and dpicked stooge to promote
the bout His opponents his sparrng partners his train
ing sites his training routi2es dictated by DAmato
His dependence on Gus has been boundless. In frank
moments Floyd has gone record saying he if
he would have graduated from the amateurs if it
had not been for DAmato Gus allows him to say this
IN SHARP CONTRAST, JohansSon can and does
manage himself. Ingy has no manager; only adviser
named Edwin AhlquiSt also Swede. JohansSon and
Archie Moore may be the only topght fighters today
who actually think for themselves outside the ring Even
Sugar Ray Robinson listens his chief manager George
(The EMPEROR Gainsford.
Not many heavyweight champions have spoken for
themselves modern heavies anyway Jack Dempsey did
the fighting but Doc Kearns controlled the old Manassa
Mauer All down the line this the format starting
with Dempsey and running through Gene Tunney, Max
Schmeling, Jack Sharkey, Primo Carnera Max Baer
Braddock Joe Louis Ezzard Charles Jersey Wacott
Rocky Marciano and Patterson.
Toward the end of his career Tunney denoted his
manager, Billy Gibson and when Jack sharkey was by
passed in favor of Tom Heeney for TunneyS final fight
that Genes doing. But Johansson starts his reign
as champion with unprecedented independence Ingy
wears mans collar
HISTORY SHOWS THAT, whereas about every cham
pon since Dempsey oheyed the orders of his manager
the latter in turn controlled by the prime promoter of
the In Dempsey time Tex Rckard stood alone and
virtually ran the entire fight because Kearns and
Dempsey subservient to him. 1t the when
Mike Jacobs controlled Joe Louis and after Mike retired,
when Jim Norris pulled the strings the subsequent
champions. Until Patterson.
With Floyds ascent, DAmato attempted to set him
self the ruler Ambitious greedy suspicious DAmato
blew the whistle Norris and then proceeded to pull off
stuff far raw than the IBC dreamed of pulling.
Gus got away with it for time but his papers finally
have been picked up
Now the boss of the heavyweights and in
sense the keynoter of all boxing, is Johansson. He is
in position 70 fight whom he chooses and for whom he
chooses He may defend his title where he wishes and
to a certain degree when he wishes. His Ahlquist
handle the details but lingo is running the show.
And maybe it's better this way.