Robinson vs Basilio. Should they have fought again?

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 24 Aug 2006, 14:33

As we all know Ray Robinson and Carmen Basilio fought each other twice for the Middleweight Title. The first in 1957 the rematch in 1958 both won a fight each, both were split verdicts and both were Fight Of The Year for The Ring Magazine.

Carmen Basilio wanted a third fight but it never happened. Do you think it should have?

Any thoughts opinions or information on this fight fans?

AndreWardFan2006 · Post by **AndreWardFan2006** » 24 Aug 2006, 23:42

Another one of those "what if's," but I think it's better left unsaid. a third fight might change the importance of their two close fights.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 25 Aug 2006, 01:32

..there was no third match because robinson asked for such a huge purse no promoter would offer it. basilio was furious about this...he said both of them would have made a lot of money if it had been made.

it's just possible that the first two fights were so tough that at that stage of his life the sugarman deliberately priced him self out of the possibility of its happening.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 25 Aug 2006, 13:14

Jaclem wrote:..there was no third match because robinson asked for such a huge purse no promoter would offer it. basilio was furious about this...he said both of them would have made a lot of money if it had been made.

Thansk Jaclem.

That's pretty much what I had assumed happened. I knew Basilio wanted the fight and payday bad. But I assumed Robinson at that age would have wanted a HUGE purse to go through all that again.