Marginal notes - Gene Burton 1944

 ===1944===

Mar 13 Charley Davis     W6 Arena, Trenton, NJ, USA

1944-03-13 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
Also on the card, although Trenton fans can't figure out why, is an all-New York bout between Ed. Cooper and Gene Burton. If past form holds true, this will be either a slow waltz or a fluke knockout. These all-New York bouts, sometimes carefully rehearsed in advance at Stillman's gymnasium, have an alarming tendency to wind up in either one or the other of these two unsatisfactory ways. Matchmaker Brown would be doing Trenton fans a favor if he would eliminate all-New York affairs completely from his Trenton shows.

1944-03-14 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
The preliminaries, in keeping with the action-packed pattern of the windup, were among the best of the Trenton season. Eugene Burton, of New York, scored a smash hit with the fans by outpointing Philadelphia Charley Davis in a lively six-rounder.
Burton, a stablemate of Francis, is a former New York Daily News Golden Gloves champ, released recently from the army after 11 months in the service. Gene closed with a two-fisted flurry of punches to take a close verdict over Davis. The Philadelphian is a protege of Trentonian Jesse Goss. Burton weighed 141 and Davis 143.


Apr 3 Charley Davis     W6 Arena, Trenton, NJ, USA

1944-04-03 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 14)
Eugene Burton, Jim Foster, Jimmy Green and Jose Torres probably will rule slight favorites to win in the four scheduled six-round bouts.
Burton, erstwhile New York Daily News Golden Gloves champ, will seek a second straight Trenton victory over Charlie Davis, Philadelphia Negro welterweight. Burton shaded Davis on the Ike Williams-Leo Francis show three weeks ago. Davis took that fight on short notice, but still made a fine showing. Tonight, having had the benefit of more training, Charlie hopes to turn the tables on his New York rival.
Burton, recently released from the army after 11 months of service, is managed by Charley Goodman, the pilot of Leo Francis. Davis is trained by Trentonian Jesse Goss.

1944-04-04 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
Burton, New York 142-pounder, scored his second straight win over Charlie Davis, 142, Philadelphia, in another six-rounder. This bout had its flashes of good action, but wasn't nearly as lively as the previous sizzler between the same pair. They seemed to have gotten too well acquainted with each other in the intervening three weeks.


Apr 24 Johnny Cool W-KO4/6 Arena, Trenton, NJ, USA

1944-04-24 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
A second eight-rounder on tonight's program pits Johnny Cool, former Philadelphian, against Eugene Burton, classy New York lightweight and former Daily News Golden Gloves champ. Cool, who now lives in Bayonne, bids fair to test Burton's two-fight Arena winning streak to the limit. Burton recently was released from the army after 11 months in the service.

1944-04-25 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
Burton, former New York Golden Gloves champ, exploded a sudden left uppercut in the fourth round to dispose of Johnny Cool, Garfield 139-pounder. Cool found Burton an elusive target and grew careless about his defense as the fight progressed. Burton found just the opening he wanted in 1:32 of the fourth. Cool didn't stir until after Referee Valentine had tolled the fateful "10."


Jun 12 Bobby Root     W6 Queensboro Arena, Long Island City, Queens, NY, USA

1944-06-13 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 35)
in sixes, Eugene Burton, 137 1/4, defeated Bobby Root, 138.


Sep 12 Santiago Sosa     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA
Sep 12 Barry Carubia     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA
Sep 14 Barry Carubia     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA
Sep 19 Barry Carubia     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA

1944-09-07 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
Featuring the show will be an eight-round scrap between Santiago Sosa of Cuba and Eugene Burton of New York, a pair of slugging welterweight. Santiago made a dazzling debut in this country when he battled to a draw with Roy Peterson of the British West Indies in a punching bee at Union City a few weeks ago.

1944-09-08 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 14)
Barry Carubia, former amateur star, who is the new hope in Manager Bill Daly's stable, will oppose Eugene Burton, undefeated New York welterweight, in the eight-round feature of the USO boxing show Tuesday night at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City.
Carubia signed with Promoter Frank Paula yesterday to replace Santiago Sosa of Cuba after Sosa's managers had informed the promoter that the Cuban has taken a run-out on them. Rather than wait to see if Sosa could be located or if he were in shape if his handlers did find him, the promoter signed the new opponent for Burton.

1944-09-09 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 7)
When Gene Burton and Barry Carubia meet in the eight-round feature of the USO benefit boxing show Tuesday night at Union City's Roosevelt Stadium, two of New York's leading welterweight prospects will make their first appearance in Hudson County.
Burton, who combines colorful, slam-bang fighting with smartness, has not stuck close to home like his rival. He has been getting around, and in recent starts pleased Trenton and Hartford fans while upsetting Charlie Davis and Bobby Root, both formidable battlers.

1944-09-11 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
While Carubia and Burton are strangers in Hudson, their records indicate they will maintain the reputations newcomers have made on the county's fistic stage this summer. And the incentive to headline the inaugural indoor show may serve to push them on a bit faster.
How pleasing Burton and Carubia have been so far can be gleaned from the big followings they have. Gene has done slightly better than Barry as far as winning is concerned, for he never has lost in 32 professional engagements. Carubia has suffered two losses in 27 "pro" fights after an illustrious amateur career, in which he won Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt titles.
The scrap shapes up as Carubia's toughest test so far. While the Italian idol has passed some difficult ones, it's questionable whether he ever tangled with a mixer like Burton. Gene operates much in the fashion of Joey Sulick, who maintained his undefeated status in Hudson last year. Like Sulick, Burton is a busy battler who throws punches tirelessly and at the same time mixes his slugging with skill. His clean slate is evidence enough of how well his combination of science and slug has been functioning.
Unlike Carubia, who has stuck close to Gotham, Gene has been getting around. He recently visited Trenton to beat Charlie Davis and invaded Hartford, Conn., to likc Bobby Root, a big favorite up that way.

1944-09-12 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
Eugene Burton will test Barry Carubia in an eight-round clash of highly-regarded New York welterweights tonight at Union City's Roosevelt Stadium.
The scrap looks like Carubia's biggest test since he left his amateur titles behind him and went out to seek further fame and fortune in the professional ranks. He already has done well enough to be stamped as one of New York's best prospects, having held Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt titles and having won 25 of 27 fights as a professional. But now he faces a fighter with a better record.
Burton enters the scrap with a perfect slate. Unbeaten in 12 bouts, he comes here much as Joey Sulick did last year--not only with a spotless record but also with the reputation of being a rapid-fire puncher who supports his colorful slugging with plenty of savvy.
Gene has made himself known outside his home town. He recently visited Trenton and beat the capable Charlie Davis for the second time. Then he startled New England by conquering Bobby Root, new rage of Hartford, Conn., at Hartford.
While the busy Burton presents a problem for Carubia, the Italian idol is confident he will be able to solve it with his own combination of slug, speed and skill. He isn't worried over his first appearance outside of New York, for he expects to have a big delegation of rooters who will make him feel right at home.

1944-09-13 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
Gene Burton, Barry Carubia and the other boxers in the USO benefit show at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, will have to wait until tomorrow night to do their pegging of punches.
The rain forced a postponement of the program last night. At first, Promoter Frank Paula said the bouts would go on tonight, but one look at the weather this morning prompted him to hold over the card for another day.

1944-09-14 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 17)
Weather permitting, Eugene Burton and Barry Carubia will do their delayed battling tonight at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, in the boxing show for the benefit of the Union City Servicemen's Club.
Burton and Carubia, the promising New Yorkers who collide in the eight-round feature, and the other boxers on the program are required to weigh in again today, according to state regulations. They will do it regardless of the weather, for Promoter Frank Paula intends to wait until the last minute before contemplating another postponement, even if rain threatens to wash out the show again.
In the event the weather man fails to cooperate once more, the promoter will hold over the complete card until next Tuesday night. He has lined up a bout between Freddie Dawson, unbeaten Chicagoan, who is one of the country's leading lightweights, and Charlie Davis of New York for next week, but would set that event--one of his best attractions of the season--back until the following Tuesday, if it is necessary to postpone the Carubia-Burton match again.

1944-09-15 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
The inclement weather this week was rough on the boxers. It again forced a postponement last night of the Union City Servicemen's Club benefit show, originally slated for last Tuesday at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City. Promoter Frank Paula decided to hold the program over until next Tuesday night, with Barry Carubia and Eugene Burton, both of New York, mixing in the feature.


Sep 19 Johnny Bellus     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA
Sep 20 Johnny Bellus     W8     Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA

1944-09-18 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 12)
That Union City Servicemen's Club boxing program has been nothing but a headache to Promoter Frank Paula and he'll be the happiest individual in this locality tomorrow night when--and if--it is staged at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City.
Paula originally had Santiago Sosa and Eugene Burton paired for the feature bout but had to revise his plans when the first named boxer refused to go through with the bout. Barry Carubia was substituted but rain last Tuesday night forced a postponement until Thursday and the hurricane that night made it necessary for Paula to shift the show over until tomorrow evening.
Last night, Paula was advised that Carubia would be unable to go through with the bout tomorrow night for he was originally scheduled to box at New York's Broadway Arena tonight and can't fill his date with Burton.
Undaunted by the many setbacks he has encountered, Paula secured Johnny Bellis, a rough and rugged New York ringman, to oppose Burton.

1944-09-19 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 14)
If the weather man cooperates, the third annual boxing show for the benefit of the Union City Servicemen's Club will be held tonight at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City.
Featuring the program is an eight-round bout between Eugene Burton and Johnny Bellis, both of New York. Bellis is the third opponent to be named for Burton since Promoter Frank Paula originally arranged the program, which has been hounded by tough luck.
Misfortune started to flirt with the show when Santiago Sosa, the first foe named for Burton, took a run-out on his managers, who notified Promoter Paula in plenty of time to obtain a new opponent. The promoter then signed Barry Carubia, who was all set to compete last week but had to honor a previously-signed contract when the Union City show was rained out.
The wet weather last week forced three postponements of the bill, which had to be carried over until tonight. Since Carubia had signed to box last night at Brooklyn's Broadway Arena, he couldn't go through with the Burton bout. So Bellis was lined up. Now the promoter and Mayor Harry Thourot, who has been counting on the show to help support Union City's popular servicemen's headquarters, hope nothing new comes up to prevent the card from going on tonight.
The rugged Bellis, a seasoned scrapper, has his eyes on the new big arena Paul will have in Jersey City next month, and accepted the substitute's role against Burton with the hope of becoming a leading attraction at the modern indoor club. The promoter promised the winner of tonight's fight will get consideration for a place on the inaugural indoor card.

1944-09-20 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
Maybe you heard this before, but the boxing show for the benefit of the Union City Servicemen's Club has been postponed. It will be held tonight at Roosevelt Stadium Union City, provided the skies are clear. The proviso has been connected with the show for more than a week now.
Yesterday's rain forced Promoter Frank Paula to postpone the program for the fourth time. He said last night that if the weather man doesn't make room for the card to go on this evening, he will hold it over until Friday night.
Eager to get the show out of the way, the promoter will disregard any threatening signs of the weather today, and wait until the last minute before reaching any decision about another postponement.
The program, which probably will be the county's last outdoors this year, will be featured by an eight-round bout between Eugene Burton, undefeated New York welterweight, and Johnny Bellis, also of New York.
Bellis, a seasoned battler who has made a habit of spoiling the rises of up-and-coming youngsters like Burton, is the third opponent named for Gene since plans originally were made for the show. However, he has had plenty of time to get ready, and expects to be in his best condition. In fact, his shorter training grind may have been more beneficial than the one Burton had. Gene has been in and out of the gym for extra workouts ever since the first postponement a week ago.

1944-09-21 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 14)
Eugene Burton's name today was added to the list of newcomers who have made good on first appearances in Hudson County boxing. Only his name wasn't Eugene Burton; it was Jean Bart.
Confusing? Well, after Burton had beaten Johnny Bellus, veteran from New Haven, Conn., in his Hudson debut last night at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, his manager revealed the New York youngster is taking the name of Jean Bart for pugilistic purposes.
Bart, a former amateur star, won his 33rd straight bout when he outpointed the bald Bellus in an eight-round bout that featured the third annual show for the benefit of the Union City Servicemen's Club. He said after the fight there is a slight mistake about his record. He isn't unbeaten, he declared, for he lost his first professional fight--a six-round fray in which Ike Williams of Trenton, now one of the top lightweights, outpointed him at White Plains. Since then, though, nobody has beaten Jean.
The New York colored youth, who served in the army 11 months and received an honorable discharge last spring, is a smart, fast boxer with a good left hook. He seemed a bit rusty at times, probably because of the off-again, on-again training routine he had to follow in preparation for the fight, which was postponed four times. However, he still had plenty on the ball--and too much youth and speed for Bellus.
The New Haven veteran, who dropped a close decision to Billy Beauhuld and knocked out Joey Costa, when he visited Jersey City in 1937, wasn't as sharp as he was in his prime, but he made a gallant stand against Bart, and received plenty of cheers for his game, though losing, effort. He repeatedly troubled Jean with his smart work at close quarters, and Bart had to go at a sizzling pace in the last two rounds to put down a Bellus rally.
For a while in the fifth frame it didn't seem as though the veteran would be able to stand the pace, for Bart let go a furious assault that had the New Englander reeling. Then Bellus came out and surprised by winning the sixth. He kept tying up his younger foe and pounding him inside.
Bellus continued to be threatening in the seventh, but Bart stepped up the pace, forced most of the milling at long range, and won the session. That just about clinched the verdict for Jean, but he made sure of Referee Gene Roman's official award by winning the eighth, the most lopsided round of the fight. The New Yorker shot the works in the closing heat. He really poured it on with a stream of left hooks and occasional bolo rights.
Bart weighed 140, a half pound more than Bellus.


Oct 23 Johnny Chatman     SCH6         Casino Hall, Scranton, PA, USA
Oct 23 Jimmy Buzzelli      W-TKO3/6 Casino Hall, Scranton, PA, USA

1944-10-24 The Scranton Tribune (Scranton, PA) (page 13)
By CHIC FELDMAN
The failure of Johnny Chatman of Buffalo to catch the train resulted in a last minute substitution of Jimmy Buzzelli, the Old Forge teacher, as the foe of Eugene Burton, an ebony hued New York, and Jimmy did his best to make a fight out of it until early in the third when a left hook to the body dropped him. Referee Johnny Kelly didn't hesitate to count, which was the smart thing to do under the circumstances.
Burton, six pounds heavier at 140, lived up to the glowing advance notices from Harlem (where they rate him 'better than Ray Robinson') and can come back with the best talent in the region.


Nov 20 Buck Streator     SCH6       Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Nov 20 Billy Nixon        W-KO3/6 Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1944-11-21 The Philadelphia Inquirer and Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA) (page 25)
By JOHN WESTER.
Gene Burton, 140 1/2, Scranton, snapped a winning streak for Billy Nixon, 148 1/2, Philadelphia, when he twice floored him, and heard him counted out at 2.30 of the third. Rights to the body and head did it. Burton was a Golden Glover in Scranton, later in New York.


Dec 4 Bobby Winters     W6 Laurel Garden, Newark, NJ, USA

1944-12-05 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 14)
NEWARK (AP) -- In six-round bouts Midget Mayo, 125, Philadelphia, won over Johnny Beaton, 118, Bay Head, by a technical knockout in 2:58 of the fourth round and Eugene Burton, 140, New York, outpointed Bobby Winters, 148 1/2, Philadelphia.


Dec 12 Jimmy Hatcher     W-MD8 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1944-12-13 The Philadelphia Inquirer and Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA) (pages 30, 31)
By JOHN WEBSTER
With bursts of shelling in the sixth and seventh periods, Gene Burton, 138, flashy New York Negro, gained a split decision victory over stubborn Jimmy Hatcher, 138, Lake City, S. C., veteran, in the eight-round semi-final. One judge called the bout a draw.
Hatcher, a fistic "cutey," made the going very tough for young Burton prior to the sixth when the latter's lashing left hooks to the head slowed down the Southerner. Burton's hooking was even more effective in the seventh, and Hatcher's grim battle in the eighth couldn't alter the result.


Dec 15 Ralph Walton     W6 Boston Garden, Boston, MA, USA

1944-12-16 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 2)
By CLIF KEANE
In the preliminaries, all six-rounders, Gene Burton, New York, defeated Ralph Walton, Portland, Me.

1944-12-16 The Boston Herald (Boston, MA) (page 4)
By W. A. HAMILTON
Gene Burton, New York lightweight, and a handy man with his fists, punched out a convincing six-round decision over Ralph Walton of Portland in a contest that held the fans' interest.


Dec 25 Dorsey Lay     W-UD10 Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1944-12-25 The Philadelphia Inquirer and Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA) (page 16)
By JOHN WEBSTER
Lay, a graduate of the Diamond Belt Tournament, is a flashy boxer-hitter who has knocked out Dusty Brown, Maxie Starr, Vince Dell'Orto, George LaRover and Tommy Sloan in that period. It appears that he will draw a much more heated argument from Burton, who came out of New York Golden Gloves, however.
In his two showings here, Burton has knocked out Billy Nixon, an improving welter, and defeated Jimmy Hatcher, tricky and troublesome. Just a short time before Burton, a protege of Ray Robinson, outfought Hatcher on the Robinson-Sheik Rangel program, Hatcher had held Lay to a draw in the Garden.
From all indications, the meeting of the Negro striplings, both of whom are former G. I.'s, should develop into a stirring battle. Burton is rated a slight favorite off his two triumphs here, and we pick him as the probable winner.

1944-12-26 The Philadelphia Inquirer and Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA) (page 18)
By JOHN WEBSTER
Consistently taking the play from a nimble fellow who resolutely brought the battle to him, Gene Burton dealt out a sound beating to Dorsey Lay last night in the 10-round feature of the holiday boxing program at the Met before 1900 fight fans who paid $3447.
For six rounds, it was nip-and-tuck; then the harder, cleaner hitting of Burton, 138, New York, began to tell in the meeting of Negro lightweights. Though Lay, previously unbeaten in 1944, fought back furiously to the last bell, the last three periods were bitter ones for the Philadelphian, 138 1/2, who was waging his first at 10 rounds.
In gaining his third victory in as many tries here, Burton took the unanimous decision of Referee Dave Beloff (5-3-2) and Judges Charles Cunningham (7-1-2) and Eddie Loughran (5-4-1). On our scoresheet, Lay was credited with the second and fifth rounds, the other eight went to Burton.
Lay operated at top speed for six rounds; invariably he darted into action, stabbed, stuck and slashed with left hooks. He missed frequently when Burton, 7-5 favorite, rolled under hooks, and the latter countered to excellent advantage. Burton's hooks and crosses to head and body lashed Lay in most rounds, but Dorsey, a graduate of Diamond Belt battles, outmoved and outboxed the New Yorker in the second and fifth.
Exploding punches to the body in the seventh, Burton hurt the local lightweight, smashed him against the ropes with a head shot at the bell. In the eighth, Lay's spurts checked only briefly the stream of leather he stopped; it was his worst round, though a storm of left hooks to the head sent him spinning to the ropes in the ninth, and more head blows discouraged his valiant offensive notions in the 10th.