Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-28
SEGH AT LARGE
Minis Ever Ready
To Answer Bell
By MORRIS SIEGEC

YOU WON'T FIND the name of Holly Minis listed in
the Yellow Pages along with the other -hour emergency
services but it ought to be- He's the "Ca CARR of the
boxing business, always ready.
The other day saw typical example Of Hollys avail
ability At pm. last Saturday he was at home dabbng
with Sonny Lston cooring book listening to Pablo
CasaleS bosSa nova album he forgetS which, when the
phone rang.
1t was Teddy Bremen the Madison Square Garden
promoter Teddy usual had problem fighter with
the ncongruous of Gomeo Brennan popped up with
a mysterious pox at the noon weighin He had to be
scratched from that evenings rendezvous with Reuben
Carter on the Saturday TV boxing program.
Could Minis substitute on such short notice? Bren-
wanted to know Show biz you know Holly had Moth
ing better to do he packed up, arrived in New York
at $780, fought lost and left the Garden by 1880 and was
back home several hours later He was unhur tired but
consoed by quick pickup of $4,000 for extra Christmas
shopping.
HOLLY, AS USUAL, was in pretty good shape" He
works out every day in Billy Edwards Seventh street gym
Il train just waiting on something to come up.
1.-TWO weeks ago quit going to the gym every day. just
maybe twice week 1t getting Christmas and fig
ured amt nohn going to happen, took easy Then
this thing came up"
Most boxers out fighting only when they hear
the sound of the bell jingle of the telephone Is all Holly
requires.
I'm always in good enough shape to take of my
SELF" he explains That's about all you need today al
got out for the phone too It's about the only
way fighter can get any work these days"
AT IS and after IA years IN the racket, Holly is still
looking for the big" break He doesn't think it will
come, but doesn't cost anything to hope The Washing
ton mddeweght has had good share of breaks but has
failed to cash in big the several opportunities that have
come his way in career that spans IS or more pro fights
HE LOST A SPLIT decision to Sugar Ray Robinson II
years ago when Ray wasn't the tired old washedup GARTER
he is today. In 1855 he lost his biggest chance.
He was matched with Rocky Castelan, powder
puffer in Cleveland. The winner guaranteed crack
mil
handlers told him to out and pounce Castelan like
tiger He didn't He acted like meek little kitten and lost
dull fight.
On the subject of tigers Holly is we'll acquainted with
the current middleweight boss Dick Tiger Met him in SO
and lost split decision there also He remembers the fight
best because he broke his hand in the second round and
fought the Ngeran one-handed the last eight innings
The injury cost him 10 months of his fistghting
Holly has met most Of the big names in the middle
weight and senior welterweight divisions Spider Webb
(won and los Robinson Johnny Bratton Castelan joey
Gardelo Bobby Boyd and Willie Troy his Washington
rival until Holly unzpped him in eight rounds before
local audience nine years ago.
HOLLY ALSO HAS MET a few of the not-so-big names
in the business He contacted Gypsy Prince II years
ago and contacted him well at old Turner's Arena that
he knocked out Gypsy in the first round They brought
Minis back the next Monday night against an equally
anonymous chap named Charlie Purvs and Purvs equaed
the Gypsy's staying power, one round also.
Before Prince there another one-round Job over
Pat ByerS giving Minis nice little streak Of three
round victories in three weeks Neither opponents nor wins
quickly these days however.
Before his instant appearance against Carter Minis
last fought in October against Ike White in Phlade
pha $500 Job That's about the most you get for
club fight" he says uncomplaingly
Nothing interferes with Minis boxing career. He
doesn't work He doesn't have to, not yet anyway He's
been on Tv 10 times and that pays about $4,000 crack
He doesn't cat around like other local fighters he knows
and admits, II got a little put away"
Holly quite content with life So far he has answered
the bell every time in the ring and the phone In Jer-
sey the number is "Bgelow. etc."