Chapter 1 A Lucky Man
Madison Square Garden, New York, November 30, 1928
There were nineteen thousand boxing supporters around the
center ring in Madison Square Garden, and most were waiting
for just one thing—for one fighter to murder another. Tonight
they were waiting for Gerald "Tuffy" Griffiths, the "Terror from
out West," to destroy New Jersey's Jim Braddock.
At the sound of the bell, Braddock stood under the hot lights
and watched Griffiths rush out into the ring. Tuffy Griffiths had
come to New York after winning fifty fights. He had won his last
fight with a knockout in the first round. Everybody knew that
he would do the same to Braddock—everybody except Braddock
and his manager, Joe Gould. Gould believed in Braddock.
A sudden jab from Braddock knocked Griffiths back. The
fighters started moving around the ring, throwing and blocking
punches. Griffiths threw the same punches that had easily beaten
his other opponents, but Braddock stayed on his feet. Blood and
sweat poured into his eyes.
None of the reporters around the ring expected the New Jersey
boxer to reach the end of the second round. But by round two,
Braddock had timed his opponent's rushes. Within one minute,
he hit Griffiths with his big punch—his right cross—and Tuffy
went down. The crowd stood, shouting. But the referee had only
counted to three before Griffiths was back on his feet and the
fight continued.
Time stretched for Braddock now, and his opponent's slightest
move seemed enormous. Braddock paid no attention to the
screams of the crowd, to the pain he felt. This was his chance to
finish Griffiths. He threw his big right punch again, and again
Tuffy was on the floor.
1
"One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . ." the referee counted.
For a second time, Griffiths got to his feet. But Braddock was
ready, stepping in close and throwing punch after punch. Then
his right hand flew forward and found Griffiths' chin for the last
time. The big fighter hit the floor again. He tried to stand, but
his legs were like rubber. No more punches hit him, but he went
down—and stayed down.
"And from the great state of New Jersey, by a knockout,
tonight's light heavyweight winner . . .Jim Braddock!"
The crowd was back on its feet. The local boy had won!
Braddock had been born in Hell's Kitchen, a poor neighborhood
of New York just a stone's throw from Madison Square Garden.
Braddock punched the air in celebration. He looked at the crowd,
at the men in their suits and ties and the women with their
fashionable haircuts and expensive clothes. It was Friday night, the
world seemed to be having a party, and Jim Braddock's win was
one more reason to celebrate!
Griffiths was Braddock's eighteenth knockout since his first
professional fight in 1926. His twenty-seventh win. The fight
organizers had had big plans for Griffiths. After this surprise win,
maybe Braddock would have his chance to fight for the title of
heavyweight champion. That was every boxer's dream.
Inside the ring, Joe Gould rushed out of the corner and jumped
onto his boxer's back. Both men looked at the crowd and listened
to its shouts. Jim smiled. He was a winner . . .
•
The tall boxer and his manager stepped out through the side
entrance into a crowd of about a hundred well-dressed supporters.
"Just sign your name for a few of them," said Joe. "Leave them
wanting more."
"Do you want to sign my name for me, too?" Jim asked his
manager with a smile.
2
Chapter 1 A Lucky ManMadison Square Garden, New York, November 30, 1928There were nineteen thousand boxing supporters around thecenter ring in Madison Square Garden, and most were waitingfor just one thing—for one fighter to murder another. Tonightthey were waiting for Gerald "Tuffy" Griffiths, the "Terror fromout West," to destroy New Jersey's Jim Braddock.At the sound of the bell, Braddock stood under the hot lightsand watched Griffiths rush out into the ring. Tuffy Griffiths hadcome to New York after winning fifty fights. He had won his lastfight with a knockout in the first round. Everybody knew thathe would do the same to Braddock—everybody except Braddockand his manager, Joe Gould. Gould believed in Braddock.A sudden jab from Braddock knocked Griffiths back. Thefighters started moving around the ring, throwing and blockingpunches. Griffiths threw the same punches that had easily beatenhis other opponents, but Braddock stayed on his feet. Blood andsweat poured into his eyes.None of the reporters around the ring expected the New Jerseyboxer to reach the end of the second round. But by round two,Braddock had timed his opponent's rushes. Within one minute,he hit Griffiths with his big punch—his right cross—and Tuffywent down. The crowd stood, shouting. But the referee had onlycounted to three before Griffiths was back on his feet and thefight continued.Time stretched for Braddock now, and his opponent's slightestmove seemed enormous. Braddock paid no attention to thescreams of the crowd, to the pain he felt. This was his chance tofinish Griffiths. He threw his big right punch again, and againTuffy was on the floor.1 "One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . ." the referee counted.For a second time, Griffiths got to his feet. But Braddock wasready, stepping in close and throwing punch after punch. Thenhis right hand flew forward and found Griffiths' chin for the lasttime. The big fighter hit the floor again. He tried to stand, buthis legs were like rubber. No more punches hit him, but he wentdown—and stayed down."And from the great state of New Jersey, by a knockout,tonight's light heavyweight winner . . .Jim Braddock!"The crowd was back on its feet. The local boy had won!Braddock had been born in Hell's Kitchen, a poor neighborhoodof New York just a stone's throw from Madison Square Garden.Braddock punched the air in celebration. He looked at the crowd,at the men in their suits and ties and the women with theirfashionable haircuts and expensive clothes. It was Friday night, theworld seemed to be having a party, and Jim Braddock's win wasone more reason to celebrate!Griffiths was Braddock's eighteenth knockout since his firstprofessional fight in 1926. His twenty-seventh win. The fightorganizers had had big plans for Griffiths. After this surprise win,maybe Braddock would have his chance to fight for the title ofheavyweight champion. That was every boxer's dream.Inside the ring, Joe Gould rushed out of the corner and jumpedonto his boxer's back. Both men looked at the crowd and listenedto its shouts. Jim smiled. He was a winner . . .•The tall boxer and his manager stepped out through the sideentrance into a crowd of about a hundred well-dressed supporters."Just sign your name for a few of them," said Joe. "Leave themwanting more.""Do you want to sign my name for me, too?" Jim asked hismanager with a smile.2
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