****
Fact or Fiction; you
be the Judge!
****

Excerpt from
Chapter
1
Peter Knight
George Martin
The Fight
On
March 3, 1965
, Peter Knight was standing in the
middle of the boxing ring waiting for the presenter to announce the winner
of the light heavyweight championship fight. The State Golden Glove
Championship fight was held in the city of
Grand Rapids
,
Michigan
. Peter
had just finished a battle that he would never forget. His opponent was
George Martin, someone Peter knew of, but didn’t really know. George
was supposed to be this bad ass white boy from the eastside of town who
had just been released from a reform school somewhere upstate this year.
The crowd was yelling and screaming for more action. Peter was glad this
fight was over. Peter and his brother, Carl Knight, had been in boxing
training ever since they had been old enough to put on a pair of gloves.
This
fight was the most important fight Peter had since he had been boxing. This
fight was for the State Golden Glove Lightweight Championship. Out of twenty
fights, Peter had never lost a single one. Now,
for the first time, he wasn’t sure. Peter gave this worthy opponent everything that he had and more. Carl
had won his fight earlier during the night. He took the
Heavyweight
State
title with a knock out of his opponent. Peter
could have fought heavyweight but he decided to lose a few pounds so that he
and Carl could both have titles. Maybe
that was a mistake, as Peter was not sure if he won this fight tonight. The
announcer asked everyone to be quiet over the loud speaker so he could
announce the winner of the three-round title fight.
Peter
was standing on the left side of the referee and George Martin, his
opponent, was standing to his right. Everyone in the auditorium was
standing. Peter could see his father Gregory J. Knight and Mama Cooper in
the crowd of hundreds of excited spectators. Carl was standing in Peter’s
corner with the trainer. The only thing that Peter could think of was how
this guy named George had whipped his ass. He didn’t knock me down, but I sure could feel the pain every time he
landed a punch on me. He thought about how he had wanted to give up
every time George would hit him; how all he could think was, this guy sure can hit hard!
Peter’s
right side was in pain; his face felt swollen. He was thinking that he could
have gone on forever; only, his body was saying he had had enough. Peter’s
pride would not let him believe that he got his ass whipped. He did not want
anyone to know what he was thinking. Peter could hear everyone in the
auditorium yelling and screaming George Martin’s name repeatedly. Peter
just knew that he had lost and George had won.
Peter
could hear everyone in the auditorium yelling and screaming George
Martin’s name repeatedly. Peter just knew that he had lost and George had
won. All of a sudden, Peter felt his right arm being raised into the air and
he was hearing his name coming
from the crowd. “Peter Knight! Peter Knight!” The crowd was yelling.
Peter looked around the referee to the other side. He noticed that his
opponent, George Martin’s arm was also being held by the referee. Peter
could not believe what happened next. The announcer said it was a DRAW. We
have both won the fight. We have to split the State Lightweight title,
thought Peter. George and Peter walked toward each other and hugged in the middle of
the ring. The crowd went crazy as the announcer said over and over on the
loud speaker that these boxers had given the best golden glove performance
ever seen; round for round, non-stop action. While
they were hugging and congratulating each other, George whispered in
Peter’s ear. “Great fight, Peter; I was sure you had won. The way you
were hitting me I felt as though you won the fight, my man.” Peter laughed
and said, “Back at you.” Leaving the ring, Carl said to Peter, “Man,
you two guys were kicking each other’s asses really well.”
“Carl,” Peter said, “that George Martin is one bad ass white
boy.”
Peter’s
father grabbed him in a bear hug. “Son,” he said, “I am proud of you.
You did well.”
It
isn’t often that my father attends any of my fights. Hell, he really
didn’t have time for me or Carl. I am just glad that he was here,
thought Peter, as he smiled and said instead, “Thank you, Dad.” Mama
Cooper smiled warmly at Peter and blew him a kiss. Peter knew that she
didn’t like Carl and him fighting or getting hurt in any kind of physical
contact sports.