Luigi Musina ~ "I beat Primo Carnera 3-Times in a row."

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ November 22, 1945

Milan, Italy

Associated Press

~ Primo Carnera Says He Was Forced To Quit By A Spectator With A Gun ~

Former Heavywoeght Champion - Primo Carnera who was stopped last night by Luigi Musina
in the 7th Round in his come-back bid, claimed he was forced to quit by gun-point.

Primo Carrnera
"In the dressing room before the bout, we were told that the bout was cancelled, due to
unruly fans. I was told to get dressed, and to forget about the fight. Then 15-Minutes later,
we were told that the bout was back on, so I took off my clothes and put back on my boxing
gear."

"Then the Promoter told us that he didn't have my final purse payment, and that I had to
wait another 30-Minutes for him to get the money from a local banker. While I was waiting,
it got real cold in the Dressing Room, so I had a large glass of Cognac to warm me up. Then
I had '2' cigarettes."

"Then we were told that the bout was on, as the Promoter {Aldo Viasco} had gotten the rest
of my fight purse. When I walked out of the Dressing Room, the Arena {Sports Palace} was
real cold, almost freezing. All the spectators had their coats on. As I was walking down the aisle
and got near Ring, a 'drunk spectator' opened up his coat, and pulled out a pistol, and pointed
it at me."

He said > "You better not win Primo, or you'll never get out of the Ring alive."

"I was un-nerved, and got real upset. I was really nervous when I got up in the Ring. When the
fight started, I was not worried about my opponent, as I was looking at the people at Ringside,
trying to see if anyone was aiming a pistol at me."

"Next thing I know, I was on the canvas. Then again a 2nd-time in the 1st Round. I didn't even
try to fight, as I was worried about getting shot in the Ring."

"At the end of the 6th Round, I didn't want to go on anymore, but my cornermen pushed me
out to fight at the start of the 7th Round. I let Luigi hit me at will, and finally I went down. I
told the Referee that I didn't want to fight anymore."

"I want a rematch. This time with protection, and under proper circumstances. I want a return
bout. I was in good shape last night, but the conditions were not proper."