Percy L. Bassett was born in Virginia, son of #481B Carrie Bassett. I currently have no more information on his ancestry.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wednesday Morning, May 4, 1955
Eye Injury May End Bassett’s Ring Career
Percy Bassett’s wife, Lois, and his manager, Mike (Bananas) Sokoloff, expressed complete surprise yesterday when informed by The Inquirer that Bassett, leading contender for Sandy Saddler’s world featherweight title, was flying home from Paris to undergo an operation for his eye sight which probably will end his professional career.
Mrs. Bassett resides at 5310 Chancellor st. in West Philadelphia with their three children, Valerie, 4; Denise, 2, and Percy, Jr. 18 months.
“Percy left for his third European tour March 21,” she said, “and while we have been in contact with each other he never said anything about his eyes bothering him.”
HELD INTERIM TITLE
Sokoloff was equally upset. “Of course,” he said, “I won’t be able to do anything until I get the full details. But if it’s as serious as it sounds, I’ll do everything in my power for that wonderful boy. I’m crazy about him. He’s been supporting a family of 10, including brothers and sisters and their children, and he bought his parents a home out of his ring earnings a few years ago. He had a bad break four months ago when his mother passed away.”
The 26-year-old boxer, who held the “interim” world 126-pound championship while Saddler was in the Army, was examined by Dr. Louis Negre, a Paris ophthalmologist, after complaining his eyes were bothering him. Negre’s diagnosis was a very serious case of retina detachment of the right eye.
“I have very grave doubts that Bassett ever will return to the ring,” he said.
WON LAST BOUT BY TKO
When informed that in immediate operation was necessary, Bassett and his trainer, Quincell McCall, decided to fly home and have it done at Philadelphia’s Wills Eye Hospital.
In his last start, in Paris, Bassett defeated French light-weight champion Seraphin Ferrer by TKO in the 10th round.
French boxing writers indicated Bassett’s eye injury was incurred against Joe Lopez to whom he lost on a TKO in the third round because of an eye injury, in Sacramento, Calif., on Feb. 22. When Bassett arrived in Paris following this bout, he was wearing eye glasses for the first time.
Percy began his pro career six years ago and in 77 fights he won 64, lost 12 and drew once.
Percy’s championship belt
Percy Bassett on the cover of “The Ring”