Chapter 7 Back in the Ring
Long Island City, New York, June 14, 1934
Jim's name wasn't even on the sign, but he didn't care. Two
hundred and fifty dollars and the chance to punch something real
were the only things on his mind.
Joe Gould didn't know what to think about the fight. The
manager had tried to get Braddock back in the ring since the time
Jim had walked around the boxing club with his hat in his hand.
Joe had pushed his way into Jimmy Johnston's office again and
again, trying to get Jim a fight.
He had been outside Johnston's office when the fight organizer
got the bad news about Griffin's opponent, just two days before
the big fight. This left Johnston with a problem. Griffin was a
promising young star in the boxing world, and Johnston wanted
to get the New York sports world interested in him. The young
Southern boxer needed to beat a fighter in the city who had once
been a big name. Now it seemed that Jim Braddock was the right
choice—especially as Braddock's manager was waiting outside
Johnston's office.
Joe had accepted the offer, but now, on fight night, he was
worried. He knew that Jim hadn't fought in over a year. Except
for today, he hadn't trained in a long time. He had even sold his
boxing gloves and shoes. Joe had to borrow some so that his boxer
could fight. As the manager bent to tie up his boxing shoes, Jim smiled. "We
both know what this is, Joe. It's a chance for me to earn some
money for my family. And it's a chance to say goodbye to boxing
in a big fight in front of a big crowd."
Suddenly, there was a loud noise from Jim's stomach.
"What was that?" cried Joe.
"We got to the soup line too late this morning," said Jim. "The
food was all gone."
Joe jumped to his feet. "How are you going to fight with an
empty stomach?" he shouted. He ran from the room and appeared
a few minutes later with a bowl of thick meat soup in his hand.
"Eat fast," he said.
"Where's the spoon?" asked Jim. He began to put one hand
into the bowl.
"Stop!" cried Joe. "I don't have time to tape your hands again.
I'll find a spoon!"
Joe rushed out again, but Jim couldn't wait. He pushed his face
into the bowl and began eating. He didn't notice the changing
room door opening.
"I don't believe it! Am I seeing a ghost?" said a voice. Jim
looked up, with food on his chin. A young man at the door was
giving Jim an unpleasant smile. "Isn't that James J. Braddock?
When I saw the name, I thought it must be a different guy." The
man stepped into the room and took out a reporter's notebook.
"How's your right hand now, Jim?"
Jim's eyes narrowed as he recognized the reporter. He said the
man's name: "Sporty Lewis."
Jim remembered what Lewis had written about his fight with
Tommy Loughran. He repeated the reporter's words to himself:
"Loughran destroyed the unskilled New Jersey fighter. The fight
was a funeral with the body still breathing."
Lewis saw the look in Jim's eyes and stopped smiling. "I don't
fight the fights, Braddock. I just write about them."
Jim stepped up to Sporty, toe to toe and eye to eye. "Save that
garbage for your readers," he said.
Suddenly, the door opened and an official pointed at Jim. "It's
time," he said.
Jim left the room, keeping his eyes on Sporty Lewis's. Sporty
stared after him, pale and shaken.
"That guy," he said to the official. "What a loser!"
Minutes later, Sporty was back in his seat by the side of the
boxing ring. A young reporter next to him asked, "Who's Jim
Braddock?"
"Get your pencil out, kid," Sporty Lewis said. "I have your story
for you: 'The walk from the changing room to the ring was the
only time tonight that Jim Braddock was seen on his feet.' "
•
"In this corner, Corn Griffin!"
Griffin jumped to the center of the ring and lifted his thick
arms above his head. The tall young boxer wore a confident smile
on his face. He was young and powerful, a natural heavyweight
with long arms and a big punch.
"And in this corner . . . from New Jersey . . .Jim Braddock!"
The crowd were silent.
When the bell rang, Griffin came out punching hard and
fast. Braddock danced and dodged, doing everything possible to
keep away from Corn's powerful punches. After thirty seconds,
Braddock decided that this fight was a bad idea. His opponent had
trained hard and was ready to fight. He timed his jabs and punches
to Braddock's body perfectly. Jim's only goal now was to finish the
fight without getting hurt. He had to be able to work at the docks
the next day.
Suddenly, a big left-hand punch from Griffin hit Braddock on
the side of the head. He went down. As he lay there, the clocks
seemed to stop.
"Braddock's down!" cried the announcer over the crowd's
boos.
"One . . . two . . . three . . ." counted the referee. Braddock
tried to get to his feet. "Four . . . five .. . six . . ."
Braddock was on one knee, but the referee continued counting.
"Get up and use your left!" Gould called to his fighter.
Finally, Braddock stood. The referee walked over to him and
checked his eyes and the cut in his mouth.
"It's finished, Braddock," he said.
Braddock looked across the ring at his opponent and joked,
"He doesn't look so bad." But the referee began to lift his hand to
end the fight. Jim held his arm with two gloved hands. "Please. Let
me fight."
The referee paused, looking hard at Jim, and then he stepped to
the side. The fight could continue!
Griffin was waiting to continue his attack. Braddock answered
one punch with a left-hand jab. It didn't hurt Griffin, but Jim was
surprised that he could throw a left-hand punch at all.
In the second round, Griffin continued to chase Braddock
around the ring. The young fighter wanted to win by a knockout,
and Jim had to keep moving to dodge Corn's punches.
At the end of the round, Jim sat heavily in his corner. Joe
poured water in the fighter's mouth. When it ran out again into
the waiting bucket, it was pink with blood. Jim hardly heard his
manager's words, though they were screamed into his face.
"He's half a step behind you!" shouted Joe. "Move to the side
and see what happens. Hit him with two jabs and then the big
punch."
The bell rang for the third round. Braddock moved out of his
corner slowly; Griffin came out punching. Remembering Gould's
advice, Braddock moved his shoulders to one side. Griffin didn't
see the move and Braddock hit him with a right that sent Griffin
to the floor. The referee started counting.
"That's it!" screamed Gould. The little manager started to dance
and throw punches in the air.
"Three . . ." The referee's count continued.
Joe's eyes, shining with happiness and surprise, met Jim's.
"Where have you been, Jimmy Braddock?"
Griffin was back on his feet, but now Jim was the one moving
with confidence. Braddock rushed forward, throwing punch after
punch.
Gould was screaming. "That's it! Send him home. Send him
back South or wherever he comes from!"
The punches didn't stop. They fell like rain on the soup line,
like snow on the Newark docks. Finally, Braddock delivered a hard
right punch and stepped away. The crowd just watched as Griffin
fell forward. He landed on the floor and stayed there.
In the silence that followed, Jim saw Sporty Lewis next to the
ring. The reporter's eyes were big with surprise. The next second,
the crowd went wild.
"I can't believe it!" the radio announcer was saying. "Corn
Griffin, the number two challenger for the heavyweight title, has
been knocked out by Jim Braddock in the third round!"
•
Before he left the dressing room with Joe Gould, Jim finished the
bowl of food.
"Imagine what I could do if I had steak," he joked.
On their way out, they paused to watch the end of the evening's
main event. The heavyweight champion of the world, Primo
Carnera, was defending his title against a strong, young boxer
called Max Baer. Baer's punch was so powerful that he had once
killed a man in the ring. This was the fight the crowd had really
come to see.
In the last round of the fight, Max Baer's powerful punches
were falling on Camera without end. Carnera fell to the floor.
35 "Imagine a punch like that hitting you," Joe said.
Camera was an enormous man, but Baer was much faster. All
night he had danced and dodged Camera's fists. Now, Camera was
bloody and beaten as he got to his feet, holding the rope with
one glove. Baer just laughed at the defending champion, knocking
away his weak punches easily.
"Primo Camera has been knocked down eleven times!" the
radio announcer was saying. "And Max Baer looks sure that he
will be the next champion!"
Camera moved his tired body toward his opponent for a final
attack. The challenger waited patiently with an ugly smile on his
handsome face. When Camera reached the center of the ring,
Baer decided to end the fight, throwing punch after punch at the
champion. It was so terrible that even Joe couldn't watch.
บทที่ 7 กลับในแหวนเมืองเกาะยาว นิวยอร์ก 14 มิถุนายน 1934ชื่อจิมไม่ได้แม้แต่บนเครื่อง แต่เขาไม่ได้ดูแล สองร้อย และ 50 ดอลลาร์ และโอกาสตะบันอย่างแท้จริงมีสิ่งเดียวในใจของเขาGould โจไม่ทราบว่าคิดการต่อสู้กัน ที่ผู้จัดการพยายามรับแบรดด็อคในแหวนตั้งแต่เวลาจิมได้เดินรอบ ๆ คลับมวยกับหมวกของเขาในมือของเขาโจได้ผลักเขาทำงานจิมมี่จอห์นสตันอีก และอีก พยายามที่จะรับการต่อสู้ของจิมเคยอยู่นอกสำนักงานของจอห์นสตันเมื่อผู้ต่อสู้มีข่าวร้ายเกี่ยวกับฝ่ายตรงข้ามของกริฟฟอน เพียงสองวันก่อนการต่อสู้ขนาดใหญ่ จอห์นสตันนี้ซ้าย มีปัญหา กริฟฟอนถูกหนุ่มสัญญาดาวในโลกมวย และจอห์นสตันต้องไปนิวยอร์กกีฬาโลกสนใจเขา หนุ่มสาวนักมวยภาคใต้ต้องชนะการรบในเมืองที่มีครั้งเดียวชื่อใหญ่แล้ว ตอนนี้ มันดูเหมือนว่า จิมแบรดด็อคด้านขวาเลือก — โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งกับผู้จัดการของแบรดด็อคนำสำนักงานของจอห์นสตันโจได้ยอมรับข้อเสนอ แต่ตอนนี้ ในคืนต่อสู้ เขากังวล เขารู้ว่า ไม่ได้สู้จิมในปีที่ ยกเว้นสำหรับวันนี้ เขาไม่ได้รับการอบรมเป็นเวลานาน เขาก็จะขายของเขามวยถุงมือและรองเท้า โจได้ยืมบางส่วนเพื่อให้นักมวยของเขาสามารถต่อสู้ เป็นผู้จัดการงอล่ามของเขารองเท้ามวย จิมยิ้ม "เราทั้งสองรู้ว่านี้คืออะไร โจ จึงเป็นโอกาสที่จะได้รับบางส่วนmoney for my family. And it's a chance to say goodbye to boxingin a big fight in front of a big crowd."Suddenly, there was a loud noise from Jim's stomach."What was that?" cried Joe."We got to the soup line too late this morning," said Jim. "Thefood was all gone."Joe jumped to his feet. "How are you going to fight with anempty stomach?" he shouted. He ran from the room and appeareda few minutes later with a bowl of thick meat soup in his hand."Eat fast," he said."Where's the spoon?" asked Jim. He began to put one handinto the bowl."Stop!" cried Joe. "I don't have time to tape your hands again.I'll find a spoon!"Joe rushed out again, but Jim couldn't wait. He pushed his faceinto the bowl and began eating. He didn't notice the changingroom door opening."I don't believe it! Am I seeing a ghost?" said a voice. Jimlooked up, with food on his chin. A young man at the door wasgiving Jim an unpleasant smile. "Isn't that James J. Braddock?When I saw the name, I thought it must be a different guy." Theman stepped into the room and took out a reporter's notebook."How's your right hand now, Jim?"Jim's eyes narrowed as he recognized the reporter. He said theman's name: "Sporty Lewis."Jim remembered what Lewis had written about his fight withTommy Loughran. He repeated the reporter's words to himself:"Loughran destroyed the unskilled New Jersey fighter. The fightwas a funeral with the body still breathing."ลูอิสเห็นมองตาจิม และหยุดยิ้ม "ฉันไม่ต่อสู้ต่อสู้ แบรดด็อค ฉันเขียนเกี่ยวกับพวกเขา"จิมก้าวขึ้น Sporty เท้าเพื่อเท้า และตา-ตา "บันทึกที่ขยะสำหรับผู้อ่านของคุณ เขากล่าวว่าทันใดนั้น ประตูเปิด แล้วอย่างเป็นทางชี้ที่จิม "ก็ได้เวลา เขากล่าวว่าจิมซ้ายห้อง เก็บตาบนของลูวิสสปอร์ต สปอร์ตเริ่มหลังจากเขา ซีด และหวั่นไหว"หมอนี่ เขากล่าวว่า เพื่อเป็นการ "อะไรเป็นใคร"นาทีต่อมา Sporty รับหลังเขานั่งอยู่ริมมวย ผู้สื่อข่าวหนุ่มติดเขาถาม "ใครเป็นจิมแบรดด็อค"ลูอิสสปอร์ตกล่าวว่า "ได้รับดินสอของคุณออก เด็ก "มีเรื่องราวของคุณคุณ: ' เดินเปลี่ยนห้องให้แหวนมีการเฉพาะ เวลาคืนนี้ว่า จิมแบรดด็อคที่เห็นเท้าของเขาด้วย ' "•"มุมนี้ กริฟฟอนข้าวโพด"กริฟฟอนการศูนย์กลางของแหวน และยกหนาของเขาแผ่นดินอยู่เหนือหัวของเขา นักมวยหนุ่มสูงสวมรอยยิ้มมั่นใจบนใบหน้าของเขา เขาเป็นหนุ่ม และมี ประสิทธิภาพ เฮฟวี่เวทธรรมชาติแขนยาวและหมัดใหญ่"และ ในมุมนี้...จากนิวเจอร์ซี่... จิมแบรดด็อค"ฝูงชนเงียบได้เมื่อระฆังรัง กริฟฟอนออกมาเจาะยาก และรวดเร็ว แบรดด็อคเต้น และ dodged ทำทุกอย่างให้ห่างจากของข้าวโพดมีประสิทธิภาพเจาะ หลังจาก 30 วินาทีแบรดด็อคตัดสินใจว่า ต่อสู้นี้เป็นความคิดที่ไม่ดี คู่แข่งของเขาได้ฝึกหนัก และพร้อมที่จะต่อสู้ เขาเวลาเขา jabs และเจาะการแบรดด็อคของร่างกายอย่างสมบูรณ์แบบ เป้าหมายเดียวของจิมตอนนี้ได้เสร็จสิ้นการต่อสู้โดยไม่ได้รับบาดเจ็บ เขาต้องให้สามารถทำงานที่การท่าในวันถัดไปทันใดนั้น หมัดซ้ายใหญ่จากกริฟฟอนตีแบรดด็อคในด้านข้างของหัว เขาไปลง ขณะที่เขาวาง นาฬิกาดูเหมือนจะ หยุด "แบรดด็อคของดาวน์" ร้องเรียกผู้ประกาศข่าวที่ผ่านของฝูงชนboos"หนึ่ง...สอง...สาม... การ" นับชก แบรดด็อคลองเข้าไปที่เท้าของเขา "สี่...ห้า... 6 .. "แบรดด็อคที่บนเข่า แต่ชกต่อนับ"ลุกขึ้น มาใช้ทางด้านซ้ายมือ" Gould ที่เรียกว่าการรบของเขาสุดท้าย แบรดด็อคยืนอยู่ ชกเดินผ่านเขา และตรวจตาและตัดในปากของเขา"จบ แบรดด็อค เขากล่าวว่าแบรดด็อคมองข้ามแหวนของคู่แข่ง และ joked"เขาดูไม่เลว" แต่ชกเริ่มยกมือของเขาจบการต่อสู้ จิมขึ้นแขนของเขา ด้วยมือสอง gloved "กรุณา ปล่อยให้ฉันต่อสู้"กรรมการผู้ตัดสินจะหยุดชั่ว คราว หายากที่จิม และจากนั้น เขาก้าวไปด้านการ สามารถทำการต่อสู้กริฟฟอนไม่รอการโจมตีของเขา แบรดด็อคตอบหมัดเดียวกับ jab ซ้าย มันไม่ได้เจ็บกริฟฟอน แต่จิมประหลาดใจที่เขาสามารถโยนหมัดซ้ายทั้งหมดในรอบสอง กริฟฟอนต่อไล่แบรดด็อครอบวงแหวน นักรบหนุ่มที่ต้องการชนะ โดยการชนะน็อกโดยเทคนิคและจิมได้ให้ย้ายไปหลบของข้าวโพดเจาะในตอนท้ายของรอบ จิมนั่งหนักในมุมของเขา โจเนอร์ในปากของรบ เมื่อมันวิ่งออกมาอีกเป็นthe waiting bucket, it was pink with blood. Jim hardly heard hismanager's words, though they were screamed into his face."He's half a step behind you!" shouted Joe. "Move to the sideand see what happens. Hit him with two jabs and then the bigpunch."The bell rang for the third round. Braddock moved out of hiscorner slowly; Griffin came out punching. Remembering Gould'sadvice, Braddock moved his shoulders to one side. Griffin didn'tsee the move and Braddock hit him with a right that sent Griffinto the floor. The referee started counting."That's it!" screamed Gould. The little manager started to danceand throw punches in the air."Three . . ." The referee's count continued.Joe's eyes, shining with happiness and surprise, met Jim's."Where have you been, Jimmy Braddock?"Griffin was back on his feet, but now Jim was the one movingwith confidence. Braddock rushed forward, throwing punch afterpunch.Gould was screaming. "That's it! Send him home. Send himback South or wherever he comes from!"The punches didn't stop. They fell like rain on the soup line,like snow on the Newark docks. Finally, Braddock delivered a hardright punch and stepped away. The crowd just watched as Griffinfell forward. He landed on the floor and stayed there.In the silence that followed, Jim saw Sporty Lewis next to thering. The reporter's eyes were big with surprise. The next second,the crowd went wild."I can't believe it!" the radio announcer was saying. "CornGriffin, the number two challenger for the heavyweight title, hasbeen knocked out by Jim Braddock in the third round!"•Before he left the dressing room with Joe Gould, Jim finished thebowl of food."Imagine what I could do if I had steak," he joked.On their way out, they paused to watch the end of the evening'smain event. The heavyweight champion of the world, PrimoCarnera, was defending his title against a strong, young boxercalled Max Baer. Baer's punch was so powerful that he had oncekilled a man in the ring. This was the fight the crowd had reallycome to see.In the last round of the fight, Max Baer's powerful puncheswere falling on Camera without end. Carnera fell to the floor.35 "Imagine a punch like that hitting you," Joe said.Camera was an enormous man, but Baer was much faster. Allnight he had danced and dodged Camera's fists. Now, Camera wasbloody and beaten as he got to his feet, holding the rope withone glove. Baer just laughed at the defending champion, knockingaway his weak punches easily."Primo Camera has been knocked down eleven times!" theradio announcer was saying. "And Max Baer looks sure that hewill be the next champion!"Camera moved his tired body toward his opponent for a finalattack. The challenger waited patiently with an ugly smile on hishandsome face. When Camera reached the center of the ring,Baer decided to end the fight, throwing punch after punch at thechampion. It was so terrible that even Joe couldn't watch.
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