Ray Robinson's Victory

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28559, 12 April 1958, Page 5

Ray Robinson's Victory

> Carmen Basilio won everything but the middle-weight title, according to the New York sportswriter, Red Smith, in the New , York “Herald Tribune.” “The loser walked wearily into his hotel convoyed by two cops and a knot of handlers.” said Smith. “A big white patch covered the left side of his gaunt, high-boned face. He dropped on to a settee in the lower lobby, let his head droop clear down between his knees, and sat there shaking lhe head slowly, over and over, in a transport of dejection. “The winner was receiving the press in another hotel about the same time. He lay in bed answering questions, too exhausted to be exultant, uninterested in lhe telephone messages pouring m. “The job of whipping one side of Carmen Basilio \had drained away the last of Ray Robinson s strength. In the last round nis punches had nearly stunned his half-blind adversary, had doubled him up and made his knees sag. Basilio wobbled but didn't go down, and as they swayed into the ropes Robinson held and leaned heavily on the smaller » man.