![\"percy1\"](\"http:\/\/www.bassettbranches.org\/newsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/percy1.jpg\")
<\/a>\nAdvertisement for upcoming Percy Bassett boxing match<\/p>\n
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wednesday Morning, May 4, 1955
\nEye Injury May End Bassett\u2019s Ring Career<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Percy Bassett\u2019s wife, Lois, and his manager, Mike (Bananas) Sokoloff, expressed complete surprise yesterday when informed by The Inquirer that Bassett, leading contender for Sandy Saddler\u2019s world featherweight title, was flying home from Paris to undergo an operation for his eye sight which probably will end his professional career.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Bassett resides at 5310 Chancellor st. in West Philadelphia with their three children, Valerie, 4; Denise, 2, and Percy, Jr. 18 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cPercy left for his third European tour March 21,\u201d she said, \u201cand while we have been in contact with each other he never said anything about his eyes bothering him.\u201d<\/p>\n
HELD INTERIM TITLE<\/p>\n
Sokoloff was equally upset. \u201cOf course,\u201d he said, \u201cI won\u2019t be able to do anything until I get the full details. But if it\u2019s as serious as it sounds, I\u2019ll do everything in my power for that wonderful boy. I\u2019m crazy about him. He\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old boxer, who held the \u201cinterim\u201d 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\u2019s diagnosis was a very serious case of retina detachment of the right eye.
\n\u201cI have very grave doubts that Bassett ever will return to the ring,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
WON LAST BOUT BY TKO<\/p>\n
When informed that in immediate operation was necessary, Bassett and his trainer, Quincell McCall, decided to fly home and have it done at Philadelphia\u2019s Wills Eye Hospital.<\/p>\n
In his last start, in Paris, Bassett defeated French light-weight champion Seraphin Ferrer by TKO in the 10th<\/sup> round.<\/p>\n French boxing writers indicated Bassett\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Percy began his pro career six years ago and in 77 fights he won 64, lost 12 and drew once.<\/p>\n Percy L. Bassett was born in Virginia, son of #481B Carrie Bassett. I currently have no more information on his ancestry. Advertisement for upcoming Percy Bassett boxing match The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wednesday Morning, May 4, 1955 Eye Injury May End … Continue reading <\/a>
\nPercy’s championship belt<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nPercy Bassett on the cover of \u00a0“The Ring”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"