12 Sports Aces, January 1943 — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— 52 12 SPORTS ACES TF DO Bee ee Ore Deen eS Di-Dee Bea Wae yes BE be Devi sors OHO G nee Ds BI Bi DDD Fe Br Bene oe DOr Beer Or 1 Dee DOr Dees De De Peres OHO t ere Ber Oe ee ty far down on the list of eligibles—but Rowdy had wanted a chance at the heavy- weight crown and the champ had been big enough to give it te him. That was why Rowdy couldn’t hate the guy. The champ had worked hard and he’d laid his title on the line at every meet- ing with an opponent. He’d turned over his dough to the army fund, asking noth- ing but the satisfaetion of giving the crowd a good show. That was the champ. Rowdy wanted to whip him, bué down inside he had to ad- mire the guy. . The ref broke that tie-up and then, for an instant, Rowdy Madden thought he Saw an opening. He forgot his previous experience, The champ’s chin was un- - eovered. Rowdy cocked his right and swung it. Bam! Rowdy landed the right, And then, suddenly, he was on the back of his neck again. The ring was spinning crazily and Rowdy was holding on to the floor with both hands. His mouth was bleeding again. It felt like a piece of raw steak. He tried to get up but he couldn’t Rowdy swore at himself for stepping into that trap. But it was too late to do anything about it. The ref was counting. “.., four... five... six.,..” Rowdy heard the scream of the crowd, the delirium of it. “Where’s the kill-crazy kid? He’s yellah! He’s had enough!” That did something to Rowdy. He shoved hard on his arms, and his chest came off the canvas. The blood was pour- ing fast from his mouth and he saw the ref take a step toward him. Rowdy yelied, “I’m okay! Don’t stop it!” The ref said, “... eight... nine... .” Rowdy shoved again and he was up. But | the ring was still spinning. He saw the champ move toward him, The champ’s eyes were steady now, and his arm was cocked, There was a blur of fog around the champ’s body. It was like a picture oat of focus, The champ stepped in close and swung. Rowdy was too far gone to do anything but: take it. The blow landed glancingly. Then, swiftly, something happened, Rowdy didn’t see it, He was in too much of a fog. But the crowd saw it. The champ had stepped in for the kill. But his ring shoe had hit the little slick spot on the canvas where Rowdy had lain bleeding. The champ had tried to catch him- self, but he was off balance. His arms went up to grab a rope. His jaw was completely uncovered and he was falling away from Rowdy Madden. Rowdy Madden moved instinctively. He did not question that opening. He knew only that it was there. Somewhere a little bell rang a warning in his mind, He threw everything he had. He hit the champ as he was falling toward the ropes. It was not a hard punch, buf it sent the champ sprawling between the ropes. The champ went out backwards, His head banged the corner of a sports writ- er’s typewriter. A blue gash turned quick- ly red above the champ’s temple. He kept falling, slid off the edge of the press tabie and landed on his head upon the concrete floor. The crowd’s silence thundered like a gathering storm. A woman screamed, The ref, bewildered at first, counted the champ out. The champ was down on his face and his eyes were closed. The ref conferred quickly with the boxing com- missioners. Their faces were white, their eyes bitter. They nodded very unenthusi- astically. The ref came over, held the be- wildered Rowdy Madden’s hand above his head. He said, tightly: “The winnah—and new champeen of the world—Rowdy Madden!” Rowdy felt a burst of wild elation. He’d done it. It was too early for him to won- der how. His elation burned higher. He stared at the crowd. His chest came back and his chin went out. He was the champ! He’d made good his boast. He’d blasted his way to the championship with two fists and a heart that wouldn’t admit de- feat. Now he was in. He waited for them to accept him. “Get that kill-crazy kid! Get that dirty—” Rowdy couldn’t believe his ears, They hated him! He saw that crowd rise as a man. He saw the aisles disappear as four streams of humanity surged down toward Gomicbooks (E@)