Why were Murderers Row ducked so much?

[Spicoli]

I think risk-reward just about sums it up. The risk was real while the reward wasn't immediate, only to come later as people appreciated and respected how good they actually were. I believe just facing a Wills by Dempsey aka Rickard would be looked back with more respect then resting on his arse after the Firpo demolition. Every generation has tons of guys who never get a shot...politics, money, fans with tunnel vision on only only one or two "known" guys or the fact the camp knows there is a solid chance they get an ass whooping.

[IamInuit]

[CutMeMick]

I just don't see the "greatness" in him...
Correct me if I'm missing any but he defeated: Zivic, Cocoa Kid, Holman & Moore.
On a lower level: Billy Smith, Lytell, Chase & Wade.
Out of that bunch Moore & Zivic are the only I can without a doubt say they are great.
Cocoa Kid has a solid arguement on it. The rest no...

[Master]

I do not know about their history thought it was a rap thing.

[IamInuit]

I just don't see the "greatness" in him...
Correct me if I'm missing any but he defeated: Zivic, Cocoa Kid, Holman & Moore.
On a lower level: Billy Smith, Lytell, Chase & Wade.
Out of that bunch Moore & Zivic are the only I can without a doubt say they are great.
Cocoa Kid has a solid arguement on it. The rest no...

Interesting. I think he's in the top 5 middleweights that ever lived. Based on the footage I have been able to watch and what I have read by many accomplished historians.
He's a perfect example of why records need to be scrutinized. In some cases they are full of "names" but short on quality because of when those names appear.
In Burleys case he has a shortage of recognizable names because nobody would fight him. Not just the white establishment either. Its why he and the rest of the row had to fight each other. Just like Moore he probably fought his fellow crew about 20 or more times. Moore was the only one to have broken out of obscurity and it took him 160 fights to do it.

[smashup]

Im just about to order this book about Burley from Amazon.

Very highly rated book and fascinating subject.

There must be a reason other than 'race' that they were so avoided

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0954392426?pc_redir=1401717129&robot_redir=1

[smashup]

For those who wanna read up on it

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murderers'_Row_(boxing)

[holmcall]

Actually, the question is the answer!

[Vendettos]

I just don't see the "greatness" in him...
Correct me if I'm missing any but he defeated: Zivic, Cocoa Kid, Holman & Moore.
On a lower level: Billy Smith, Lytell, Chase & Wade.
Out of that bunch Moore & Zivic are the only I can without a doubt say they are great.
Cocoa Kid has a solid arguement on it. The rest no...

Well Cocoa was in murderers row.

I heard about 3 of them as individuals and though they were ok. Then I found out they were a group type thing.

If I'm honest I've yet to see or hear anything that solidifies them as very good fighters.

Excluding Burley, as its obvious to see his skill set.