CARNERA HAS PRAISE
FOR BEATEN RIVAL
Felt Early He Would Win, Italian
Says - "I Forgot to Duck,"
Sharkey Explains.
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Primo Carnera was almost at a
loss for words when he reached his
dressing room after the fight last
night. The young giant was so ex-
cited and happy that that it was diffi-
cult to get anything coherent from
him. His English was almost en-
tirely lost and whatever comments
he made were in Italian.
As far as the bout was concerned,
Carnera had nothing but praise for
Sharkey. "He fought much better
than he did in his last fight," said
the Italian, "and he hurt me much
more than he did then. But he
didn't reach me as often, and when
I discovered that, early in the fight,
I knew I could win."
Bill Duffy, Carnera's American
representative, and Louis Soresi,
the new titleholder's manager, had
high praise for Sharkey and the
fight he waged.
"I knew Sharkey was tough,"
Duffy declared, "But I was sure he
wouldn't be able to hurt Primo.
Carnera has shown more improve-
ment than anybody can imagine,
and he certainly has learned to
hit."
Soresi said Carnera would soon be
ready to meet the outstanding chal-
lenger. When asked if that meant
Max Baer, the manager replied,
"maybe," and refused to say more.
With his head up, his chin out
and a cheery "I'll be seeing you,"
Jack Sharkey walked out of his
dressing room, ex-champion and
without and definite ring plans for
the future.
The consensus among those close
to Sharkey, who have felt that he
has had enough of the ring, is that
he will retire to his petunias and
the bosom of his family and the
quite life of "a country squire" on
his beautiful estate in Chestnut
Hills.
Sharkey's first words to his man-
ager, John Buckley, when he came
to in his corner were, "Well, it's
a long time since a thing like that
has happened. Now he can have
the headache."
In the dressing room, when he
had put aside his feeling of bitter
disappointment, and the dullness
had left his voice, he smilingly re-
peated Jack Dempsey's famous re-
ply to his wife's query as to what
happened.
"I forgot to duck," said Sharkey.
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NOTABLES WATCH
BATTLE IN BOWL
Farle, Copeland, Tunney and
Dempsey Among Figures of
Prominence Present
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Carnera's Career Began at 16 in
Circus;
Feats as Strong Man Led Him Into
Boxing
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Primo Carnera reached the world's
heavyweight championship throne
by way of a circus side-show. The
giant Italian, whose great size has
been his outstanding characteristic
ever since childhood, harbored no
intentions of becoming a boxer un-
til four years ago. He was content
to go his own placid way, some
times occupying himself as a mosaic
worker, other times as a carpenter,
but never thinking of trying to cap-
italize his size and strength in the
professional arena.
He was born in Sequala, Italy, on
Oct. 25, 1907, and as a lad of 12
was steadily engaged as a carpen-
ter. He paid little attention to
school, preferring to spend his
spare time in wandering about the
countryside.
When he was 14 he made his way
to France, trying his hand at many
occupations, but finding none that
proved fascinating enough to keep
him stationary.
During one of his periods of un-
employment, Carnera, then 16 years
old, chanced to stop in front of a
street circus in a French Province,
and this action was the turning point
in his career. For his great size
made him conspicuous, and the cir-
cus manager, on the lookout for
a new attraction, picked him out of
the crowd and offered him a job
as a strong man, with bed, board
and an opportunity to see the coun-
try as his reward. The youth took
the job.
He traveled thoughout France
for several years. One of his ap-
pearances carried him near Paris
where Leo see, a sports promoter,
saw him. see promptly asked the
young giant if he would consider
a boxing career. Carnera hesitated
but, after much persuasion, con-
sented.
This first bout was with Leon se-
billo, a 200 pound experienced box-
er, on Sept. 12,1929. Carnera knew
little about boxing, but he managed
to reach Sebillo with a two-fisted
barrage and scored a knockout in
the first round.
A string of ten knockouts and
three victories by decisions fol-
lowed and he was matched to fight
Young Stribling. He won on a foul,
but in a return match, held in Lon-
don, the verdict was reversed, with
Stribling winning on a foul.
Following his bouts with Strib-
ling, Carnera came to this country,
were his size gained for him a tre-
mendous amount of publicity. He
finally rose to the ranks of top-
flight heavyweights and eventually
was matched with Sharkey. The
fight took place at Ebbets Field on
Oct. 12, 1931, and the Boston ex-
sailor won easily.
The Italian took his defeat gra-
ciously, but declared that he would
beat Sharkey in a return bout.
When he knocked out the late
Ernie Schaaf in thirteen rounds at
Madison Square Garden last Win-
ter he earned the right to meet
Sharkey again.
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HUMPHREYS MISSING
FROM FAMILIAR ROLE
Place of Veteran Announcer, Ill,
Taken by Balough, Who Sets
New Sartorial Style
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One familiar face was missing at
the ringside. Joe Humphreys, the
veteran announcer who has intro-
duced the contestants in most of
New York's big boxing bouts, did
not work at his customary duties.
He was taken ill several weeks ago
and was not recovered sufficiently
to work last night.
His place was taken by Harry
Balough, who has appeared at the
various armories and small clubs
in the metropolitan district for sev-
eral years. Balough set a new sar-
torial standard for announcers, ap-
pearing in a dinner coat, stiff shirt
front and braided trousers.
The spectators who bought tick-
ets for the outer rim did not wait
long before staging a rush for bet-
ter seats. At 8:10, just after the
second round of the first prelimi-
nary was over, about 2000 persons
charged as if at a given signal,
and ushers were powerless to pre-
vent their advance to the $10 sec-
tions.
When Jack Dempsey entered the
arena, he diverted attention from
Innocente Baiguerra and Chester
Matan, who met in the first pre-
liminary. The former Manassa
Mauler had to force his way
through a crowd of admirers before
reaching his seat in a front row.
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