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Carrying a concealed weapon. Thore has Problems of a Fight Managen been talk of an elimination tournament Among these hangers-on was gambler among. Patterson, twice heavyweight Joseph "Pep" Barone, once part owner of champion, Doug Jones, Eddie Machen, and Liston's contract along with Frank Cleveland williams, all top-ranked fight- "Blinky" Palermo, who now is appealing ers, to determine the next challenger. a Federal conviction for shaking down a The subcommittee members 'were in-. California boxing manager. "Sonny thinks terested in other of the organization's an awful lgt of Mr. Barone," Nilon said. pre-ight activities, also. Much of their "He thinks Barone is good luck. Sonny's interest centered on Liston's gift of more very superstitious--he won't let you throw than half his shares of Intercontinental. a straw hat on the bed, for example."' Promotions to Margolis, a' long-time. This interested Sen. Philip Hart, Dem- friend. when the corporation was formed, ocrat of Michigan, the subcommittee chair- Liston received 500 shares---50 per cent-- man. "Isn't it a manager's duty to train with the Nilon brothers getting most of his fighter and get rid of the hangers-on?" the rest. Before the fight Liston gave he inquired. "You don't know Liston, he's 275 of these shares to Margolis, which a very difficult man," Nilon sighed. "you will yield him an estimated $ioo,o00 after have to be around him to appreciate him." taxes of the Liston-Clay fight income. The hearings were something of a "It sounds to me like Liston was break for Ed Lassman of Miami Beach, fleeced," Sen. John McClellan commented the president of'the World Boxing As- acidly. Cherry heatedly denied the sena- sociation. Two days before they started, tor's' allegation. Liston, he contended, Lassman announced that the association "made a better deal with Intercontinental was considering taking Clay's title away than has ever been made in the history from him because of his agreement allow- of boxing." Liston's share, he estimated, ing Intercontinental Promotions to handle will still total about $500,o0o after taxes. his next fight and because his conduct, The gift, he continued, was payment for Botn berore and after winning the champ- Margolis' services in introducing Liston ionship, was a liability to boxing. "He is to Jack Nilon and in helping to form a detriment to the boxing world and a Intercontinental. "Isn't that a rather poor example for the youth of the world," large finder's fee?" the senator inquired. Lassman charged. Cherry conceded that it was. Nilon, who testified after Cherry, ap- Lassman Makes a Hasty Retreat peared to be considerably less con- He got little encouragement from most cerned about Margolis than the sub- of the rest of the boxing world. Spokes- committee members. "Personally, I feel men for the lllinois and New York state that anyone who can put up with Mr. boxing commissions promptly declared Liston's antics--even if he got the whole that as far as they were concerned, the thing--he'd be underpaid," he said. Lis- only way Clay could lose his title' was ton "dogged it" in training, Nilon said, in the ring. complained of minor allments ("if he When the hearings began, Lassman caught cold he acted as if he were retreated from his stand and said his as- dying'), and surrounded himself with sociation would withhold action until the hangers-on who assured him that Clay subcommittee had finished considering would be too frightened to get off his its proposed legislation. He is scheduled stool. to testify this week and nas indicated that he, too, will urge the establishment of a Federal boxing commissioner. Wheth- er this is ever realized, many can agree with Senator Hart's statement that box- ing has become "the object of general public disrespect and distrust.' JAMES R. DICKENSON