I Just Talked To Burke

dagosd2000 · Post by **dagosd2000** » 30 Dec 2007, 16:43

My buddy Expug wanted some info on a Canadian fighter in the 50's by the name of Johnny Greco. Down the street from me Burke Emery owns a bar. He was the Canadian Light Heavy champ in the 50's and trained a lot of fighters here in San Diego. I thought I'd take a walk and see if he was there.

Well there's Burke sweeping up a little outside. "Hey Burke," I says to him.
He looks around to me with a big smile. "Haven't seen ya' in a while. Where ya'been?" The sun lights up his face. Burke was in a lot of tough fights. He wears it on his face. I don't like to bother him too much because a lot of the guys that drink in his place are always talking about how much they know and Burke doesn't mind. They make their points and gets no argument from Burke. Who's a bum? Who's the greatest?Burke just smiles and then he'll start talking about something like how he was in Mexico with Art Hafey and Art caught Ruben Olivares with a solar plexus punch and Olivares was trying to groan but the punch paralyzed him so much he couldn't groan.

Burke was telling me and this other guy the story when the other guy cuts Burke off to say "I think Archie Moore was best fighter to come out of San Diego" I look over to Burke and he smiles and says. "Yeah Archie was a good one all right"

Just then Burke's girlfriend Shirley comes outside and says to Burke,"I thought you said we had a case of Scotch?" She's very pleasant and has a friendly voice. Burke and Shirley have been together for a long time. "Oh" Burke says,"I was just talkin' to the boys" Shirley looks at me and the other guy with that a nice smile and says"Everyone wants to talk with Burke" Just then the other guy says "Shirley,How about making me one of your special screwdrivers?"

He goes inside with Shirley. I look at Burke. "Johnny Greco used to train with a fighter named Gus Mell. We used to kid him and call him Gus Smells." I shake Burke's hand and says I'll be back. "Don't be such a stranger" says Burke. He's leaning against his car. The sun lights up his face. The scar tissue is old. He was in alot of tough fights. You could tell he must have been very handsome one time. He wears it on his face.

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 31 Dec 2007, 00:39

Thats classic stuff .
Thanks Dagos.
Its guys and places like that which make boxing the best sport around really.
The stories, the charachters ,its what makes it all great.

Goodnight, Irene · Post by **Goodnight, Irene** » 31 Dec 2007, 01:22

I have to admit I am envious of America's comparative adoration for boxing next to my own country's general disinterest. You guys must have stores with shelves stocked full of boxing DVD's & merchandise. Nothing like that here, just a few tid-bits here & there, most of it Ali-based.

Thank God for online shopping.