Pulp Fiction, 1943 · page 25 of 100
12 Sports Aces, May 1943 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This page contains story prose from a pulp fiction boxing narrative titled "The Ghost in the Ring." The text describes an intense prizefight between two boxers named Steve and Salbo, detailing their combat through multiple rounds. The passage focuses on the physical brutality of the match—exchanges of punches, knockdowns, and recoveries—culminating in the eighth round where Steve dominates a weakening Salbo. The narrative emphasizes the crowd's reactions and Steve's growing realization about his opponent's character and endurance. This appears to be page 23 of the story.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE GHOST IN THE RING 23 +O launched a two-fisted barrage to Salbo’s body. Salbo pounded back without giving ground. Steve took the battering with gritted teeth. Salbo could keep on pound- ing away. One or the other would wear eut from the grind. Salbo’s steam would disappear from his punches when Steve’s body blows took their toll. Both men rocked each other with vio- lent rights. The crowd was wild. Steve slammed a vicious uppercut to the jaw near the end of the round and Salbo tot- tered. Steve rushed in, but Salbo recov- ered and lanced a right to the nose which drew blood. Steve went to his corner with the crowd cheering. He was panting when he sat down. HEY kept up the punishing pace through the third and fourth rounds. Steve snarled and fought with every- thing he had in an effort to make Salbo give ground. But Salbo stubbornly re- fused to give way and punched right back. Steve’s arms were punch weary in the fifth. He slowed down a bit to rest them. Salbo whistled a looping right to the jaw and Steve flew back against the ropes. Salbo tore in. Steve dodged and staggered Salbo with a long right to the jaw. The round ended with the crowd on its feet. Steve went to his corner fighting for air. His face was hot and his heart pound- ed. Dorgan said, “How you feel?” Steve snarled, “The guy must be made outa steel!” Steve was the first to feel the gruelling pace in the sixth. He let up with his body attack and Salbo recked him off balance with jolting lefts and rights. Steve tried to get set for a counterattack, but Salbo kept his fists going like brown pistons. Steve jabbed a long left to the head and cocked his right. He saw an opening and shot his right for Salbo’s jaw. Too late he saw his mis- take. Salbo had craftily left that opening. Salbo beat him to the punch with a ter- rific right to the jaw. Steve flew off his feet and hit the canvas on his back. He rolled over on his side and laid there. The crowd roared. He was down! The champ was down! Steve looked up and saw the referee’s white-shirted arm flash over him. He heard the count above the crowd’s roar: “Two! Three!” Steve scrambled to his feet. Salbo eame in fast. Steve was ready for him. He beat Salbo to the punch and pounded him back with the fury of his attack. He looped a wild right to the jaw and it was Salbo’s turn to hit the canvas. Salbo was up without a count. The bell rang. Steve turned towards his corner on ansteady legs. The crowd was wild. Dor- gan took a look at Steve’s bloodshot eyes and was quiet. Steve said, “I’ll soften him up yet. When I do—” Salbo lagged a little coming out for the seventh. Steve tere in and connected with a terrific right to the jaw. Salbo hit the canvas and rolled over. The crowd screamed. Salbo was up groggy at eight. Steve eame in fast. Salbo tried to paw into a clinch. Steve shoved him away and banged a right off his jaw. Salbo wobbled, but stayed up. Steve jumped in pumping lefts and rights to the jaw. Salbo staggered and rocked, but kept his feet. Steve snarled and pounded Salbo all over the ring. Salbo reeled drunkenly, but the only time he went down was when he slipped to one knee. He took a count of six before he got up. The bell rang before Steve could get to him. Steve went to his corner with burning muscles in his arms and legs. Salbo had taken everything he had and still was on his feet. The guy was a human punching bag. Steve had to give him credit for guts, plenty of guts. Certain matters began to get a little clearer for him. He could un- derstand now why Salbo had beaten Joe. The guy was fairly fast, had a kick like _a mule in both fists and was a glutton for punishment. No other man had taken all that from Steve and still stayed on his feet. Steve came out fast for the eighth round. Salbo was slow.: Steve knew all he had to do to gain the decision was box now, but he didn’t want it that way. He wanted to knock Salbo kicking. For Joe. Gomichbooks (EO)