Excerpt
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. 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.