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!