Charley Burley boxer

Charley Burley boxer
bouts
98
won
83
lost
12
draw
2
Status
inactive
Division
welterweight
Debut
1936-09-29
Height
5′ 9″/175cm
Reach
75″/191cm
Age
75
Born
1917-09-06
Death
1992-10-16
Nationality
USA

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Charley Burley (September 6, 1917 – October 16, 1992) was an American boxer who fought as a welterweight and middleweight from 1936 to 1950. Archie Moore, the light-heavyweight champion who was defeated by Burley in a 1944 middleweight bout, was one of several fighters who called Burley the greatest fighter ever. Burley was the penultimate holder of both the World Colored Welterweight Championship and the World Colored Middleweight Championship.He was born Charles Duane Burley in Bessemer, Pennsylvania on September 6, 1917 to a mixed-race couple: his father was a black coal miner and his mother a white Irish immigrant from County Cork. Raised in Bessemer, the only son of seven children, the family moved to Pittsburgh when his father was killed in an industrial accident in 1925.He began boxing at the age of 12 at a Boys Club and, as a lightweight, won city, state and national junior boxing titles and a Golden Gloves junior title. As a welterweight, he won a Golden Gloves Senior and lost the 1936 National Senior Championship finals. That same year, he refused an invitation to participate in the Olympic trials due to his objection to the Nazi regime. He did accept an invitation to attend a scheduled 'Workers Games' to be held in Republican Spain as a protest to the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, but the games were cancelled by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.Burley had also excelled at baseball. He reportedly was offered a contract by the Homestead Grays, the local Negro leagues franchise.The 5'9 ½ Burley fought at weights between 145 and 162 lbs. He made his pro debut on September 29, 1936, fighting as a welterweight at 150¾ lbs., at Pittsburgh's Moose Temple. He knocked out George Liggins in the fourth round of a four-round bout. Less than two years later, on August 22, 1938, Burley met the Cocoa Kid at Hickey Park in Millvale, Pennsylvania for the World Colored Welterweight Championship. He won a unanimous decision in the 15-round bout, knocking the Kid to the canvas three times and defeating him decisively, taking his title.Burley did not defend that title, possibly as part of a strategy to win a shot at Henry Armstrong's World Welterweight title. He won the World Colored Middleweight Title in a ninth round technical knockout against Holman Williams at Victory Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana on 14 August 1942. In their rematch for the title two months later at the same venue, Williams won a 15-round decision. Jack Kincaid of the Times-Picayune reported that Burley had won nine rounds of the fight and had been the aggressor throughout.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1950-07-22 Pilar Bastidas LWWLWD Plaza de Toros de Acho, Lima WIN
Points
1950-03-02 Buddy Hodnett WLLLWL Aragon Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1950-02-02 Chuck Higgins WWLWWW Aragon Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1949-07-25 Willie Wright WWWLWW Zivic Arena, Millvale WIN
Points
1949-04-03 Charley Doc Williams WWWLWD Coliseum Arena, New Orleans LOST
Points
1948-03-24 Battling Blackjack LLWLLW Madison Square Garden, Phoenix WIN
KO
1947-08-08 Larry Cartwright WLWWWL Huntington WIN
Technical knockout
1947-02-17 Bert Lytell LWWWWW Coliseum, Baltimore LOST
Unanimous decision
1946-08-05 Bert Lytell WWDWWW Zivic Arena, Millvale WIN
Unanimous decision
1946-07-16 Charley Banks WWWWWW Zivic Arena, Millvale WIN
Points
1946-04-24 Oakland Billy Smith WLWWLW Auditorium, Oakland WIN
Points
1946-04-08 Paulie Peters DDWWDW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
Technical knockout
1946-03-14 Charley Dodson WWWLWW Aragon Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Technical knockout
1945-10-08 Oakland Billy Smith WWWWWW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
Points
1945-09-28 Speedy Duvall LWWWWW Coliseum Arena, New Orleans WIN
KO
1945-09-04 Dave Clark WWLWWW Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati WIN
KO
1945-08-20 Aaron Wade DWLWLW Forbes Field, Pittsburgh WIN
Unanimous decision
1945-07-26 Oscar Boyd LWWWWW Forbes Field, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1945-07-11 Holman Williams LWWWWW Civic Stadium, Buffalo LOST
Unanimous decision
1945-03-12 Joe Carter WWLWDW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
Unanimous decision
1944-09-11 Jack Chase LWWWDW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
Technical knockout
1944-08-28 Young Gene Buffalo WDWLLW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
Technical knockout
1944-06-23 Frankie Nelson WLWWLW Legion Stadium, Hollywood WIN
Technical knockout
1944-05-12 Al Gilbert LLLLLL Coliseum, San Diego WIN
Technical knockout
1944-04-21 Archie Moore LWWWLW Legion Stadium, Hollywood WIN
Points
1944-04-06 Jack Chase WLLLWW Legion Stadium, Hollywood WIN
KO
1944-03-24 Aaron Wade WWWWWW Coliseum, San Diego WIN
Points
1944-03-03 Bobby Berger LWLWLL Coliseum, San Diego WIN
KO
1943-06-26 Bobby Birch LLLWWW Lane Field, San Diego WIN
Points
1943-05-14 Holman Williams WWWWWW Legion Stadium, Hollywood NC
No Contest
1943-04-19 Cocoa Kid WWLWLW Pelican Stadium, New Orleans DRAW
Points
1943-03-03 Aaron Wade WWWWWW Auditorium, Oakland WIN
Points
1943-02-19 Jack Chase WWLWWD Legion Stadium, Hollywood WIN
Unanimous decision
1943-02-03 Harvey Massey WLLLL Auditorium, Oakland WIN
Technical knockout
1942-12-11 Lloyd Marshall WWWWLW Legion Stadium, Hollywood LOST
Split-decision
1942-11-13 Cecilio Lozada WLLDLL Coliseum, San Diego WIN
Technical knockout
1942-10-16 Holman Williams WLWWWL Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans LOST
Unanimous decision
1942-08-14 Holman Williams LWLWWW Victory Arena, New Orleans WIN
Technical knockout
1942-06-29 Ezzard Charles WWDWLW Hickey Park, Millvale LOST
Unanimous decision
1942-06-23 Holman Williams WLLWLW Crosley Field, Cincinnati WIN
Points
1942-05-25 Ezzard Charles WWWDWL Forbes Field, Pittsburgh LOST
Unanimous decision
1942-04-30 George Wilson LLLLLL Armory, Minneapolis WIN
KO
1942-04-24 Joe Sutka WWWWLL Coliseum, Chicago WIN
KO
1942-04-20 Phil McQuillan LLLLLL St. Nicholas Arena, New York WIN
KO
1942-04-09 Cleo McNeal WLLLLW Armory, Minneapolis WIN
KO
1942-03-13 Jay D Turner LWLLLW Armory, Minneapolis WIN
Technical knockout
1942-02-26 Holman Williams WWWDWW Armory, Minneapolis WIN
Unanimous decision
1942-02-13 Big Boy Hogue WWWWWL Coliseum, San Diego WIN
Corner retirement
1942-02-06 Milo Theodorescu LLWLLL Coliseum, San Diego WIN
Technical knockout
1942-01-23 Jackie Burke LWDWWL Armory, Minneapolis WIN
Technical knockout
1942-01-09 Shorty Hogue WWWWWW Armory, Minneapolis WIN
Technical knockout
1941-12-23 Jerry Hayes WLLWLL City Auditorium, Eau Claire WIN
KO
1941-12-12 Ted Morrison LLLWLL Armory, Minneapolis WIN
Technical knockout
1941-09-25 Antonio Fernandez WLLWD Convention Hall, Philadelphia WIN
Points
1941-08-25 Otto Blackwell WWWWWW Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Points
1941-07-14 Young Gene Buffalo WWDWLL Gardens, Philadelphia WIN
Technical knockout
1941-06-02 Ossie Harris LLWWLW Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Technical knockout
1941-04-18 Eddie Ellis WLWWWL Boston Garden, Boston WIN
Technical knockout
1941-03-31 Babe Synnott LLDLWL Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Technical knockout
1940-11-11 Vince Pimpinella WLLLLL Turner's Arena, Washington WIN
Points
1940-10-17 Eddie Peirce WLWDLL Butler Street Sports Arena, Pittsburgh WIN
Points
1940-09-03 Jimmy Bivins WWWWWW Hickey Park, Millvale LOST
Unanimous decision
1940-08-19 Kenny LaSalle WDDLLL Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Unanimous decision
1940-07-29 Georgie Abrams DWWWWW Hickey Park, Millvale DRAW
Points
1940-06-17 Carl Dell LLLLWW Valley Arena, Holyoke WIN
Points
1940-04-26 Sam Edwards WWLWLL Coliseum Arena, New Orleans WIN
KO
1940-04-12 Baby Kid Chocolate LWLWDL Coliseum Arena, New Orleans WIN
Technical knockout
1940-02-12 Nate Bolden WWWWWL Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Points
1939-12-01 Holman Williams WWWWWW Coliseum Arena, New Orleans LOST
Points
1939-10-23 Mickey Makar WLLDWL Moose Temple, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1939-08-28 Jimmy Leto DLWWWW Forbes Field, Pittsburgh WIN
Points
1939-07-17 Fritzie Zivic WWLWWW Forbes Field, Pittsburgh WIN
Unanimous decision
1939-06-20 Jimmy Leto WDLWWW Hickey Park, Millvale LOST
Split-decision
1939-01-10 Sonny Jones DLWDWW Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh WIN
Technical knockout
1938-11-21 Billy Soose WWWWWL Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh WIN
Unanimous decision
1938-11-03 Werther Arcelli LLWWLW Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1938-08-22 Cocoa Kid LWWLWL Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Unanimous decision
1938-08-02 Leon Zorrita WWWWDW Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Technical knockout
1938-06-13 Fritzie Zivic WWWWWW Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Unanimous decision
1938-06-01 Mike Barto LLWDWW Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Technical knockout
1938-03-21 Fritzie Zivic WWLWWW Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh LOST
Split-decision
1938-03-03 Art Tate L Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1938-02-10 Carl Turner LLLLWL Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Unanimous decision
1938-02-03 Johnny Folio WDLLWL Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Points
1938-01-27 Tiger Jackson WWWWLW Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1937-09-09 Eddie Dolan WWWWWW Hickey Park, Millvale LOST
Unanimous decision
1937-08-16 Sammy Grippe LLWLLL Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Technical knockout
1937-08-09 Remo Fernandez WDDLWD Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Technical knockout
1937-06-24 Mickey O'Brien LWWWLL Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Points
1937-05-27 Keith Goodballet WWWLLW Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Technical knockout
1937-05-03 Sammy Grippe WLLLWL Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Points
1937-04-19 Ray Gray WW Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh WIN
Points
1937-04-15 Johnny Folio WWDLWD Palisades Rink, McKeesport WIN
Technical knockout
1937-02-08 Ray Collins LWLLLL Oil City WIN
Technical knockout
1937-01-22 Ralph Gizzy WWLLWW K. of C. Hall, Oil City WIN
KO
1936-11-09 Eddie Wirko debut Moose Lodge, Pittsburgh WIN
Technical knockout
1936-10-22 Ralph Gizzy WLWWWL Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Points
1936-09-29 George Liggins LLLWL Moose Temple, Pittsburgh WIN
KO

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