Change of Tune

Okon Bassey Asuquo is the son of a Nigerian farmer and a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He received this accolade from Queen Elizabeth last year, after, as Hogan ("Kid") Bassey, he reduced a French-Algerian pugilist named Cherif Hamia to bloody stupor and became the featherweight champion of the world. In the measured tones appropriate when speaking of an M.B.E., his English manager George Biddles declared, shortly after Bassey's first title defense: "I rather fancy that Hogan will be about some time as featherweight champion." In Los Angeles last week, the prophecy foundered in a sea of blood.

The compact (5 ft. 3 in., 125 lbs.) Bassey has one of the fastest pairs of fists in boxing, but he is also a bleeder who cuts easily around the eyes. He lost two fights earlier in his career when cuts were opened up. Davey Moore. 25, a minister's son and ex-Golden Glover from Springfield, Ohio, was just the kind of fighter who spells bad news for Bassey--a rugged slugger with a darting left and a clubbing right. The fight crowd knew it, and Bassey was no better than even money at the opening bell.

The champion started well, nicked jabs that confused Moore, won four of the first five rounds. But in the sixth he walked into a staggering left-right combination. The champion began to bleed around the eyes. As early as the ninth round, he was beaten. His seconds asked politely if he was giving any thought to "retiring." Gamely the Kid rejected the idea, pawed the blood from his eyes for four more rounds. Finally, after the 13th, he retired, explained simply: "I just couldn't see." Manager Biddles' tune had changed in a year's time. "I wouldn't send him out to be murdered," he said, "champion or not."

If he had won, Hogan planned to make his next title defense in 1960 in Lagos. Nigeria, to celebrate the scheduled independence of his homeland. Now he will have to get the title back first.

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