Cinderella Man

Cinderella Man
Written By
MARC CERASINI
Based on the Motion Picture Screenplay By
CLIFF HOLLINGSWORTH and AKIVA GOLDSMAN
Motion Picture Story By
CLIFF HOLLINGSWORTH
Level 4
R e t o l d by Paul Shipton
Series Editors: A n d y Hopkins and Jocelyn Potter
Magazines and other test resources -

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1933, there were 15 million people without jobs in the country, Mae was a strong woman at a time when many women had no
one in every four working people—and the 1930s continued to voice at all. "She's never afraid to tell Jim what's in her heart, even
be hard for many Americans. when it's not what he wants to hear," said Zellweger.
The true story of Jim Braddock was similar to the story of Before the movie could be made, Russell Crowe had a lot of
many Americans. He made a lot of money in the 1920s as a work to do. After his last movie, the actor weighed 103 kilograms.
successful boxer, and he and his family had everything they Jim Braddock fought at 81 kilograms and he was taller than
wanted. But for Braddock, too, the good times couldn't last. Crowe, so the actor had to lose weight. He did this by methods
He lost all of his money in 1929, and he experienced bad luck from Braddock's days—swimming, running, riding a bicycle, and
in his professional life when he began to lose fights. Like many climbing.
Americans, Braddock had to take any work he could find. He had He also had to study boxing, working long hours at the
to fight just to put food on the table for his family. Most people punching bag and in the ring. He was helped by the most famous
believed that his life as a professional heavyweight boxer had trainer in boxing's history, Angelo Dundee, who has worked with
ended. The story of his second chance is one of the sport's greatest Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, and the greatest champion of
stories. them all, Muhammad Ali. The trainer helped Crowe to box, and to
It was a story that the writer and boxing supporter Cliff box just like Jim Braddock. Dundee spoke of the actor's speed and
Hollingsworth knew well. Thinking that it would make a great skill in the ring. "Best of all, he has learned to think like a fighter,"
movie, he spoke to Jim Braddock's sons in 1994. They told him said the famous trainer.
that their father had been a national hero, but that now most Crowe was also not afraid of pain. He was knocked down
people hadn't heard of him. Hollingsworth wanted to change that several times and suffered loose and broken teeth; one week before
situation so "this forgotten hero will be remembered once again." filming began, his shoulder was badly hurt. When the movie was
Actor Russell Crowe became interested in making a movie made, some of Braddock's opponents were played by real boxers,
of Braddock's story. Crowe, who was born in New Zealand and who had to learn to throw punches that didn't hurt so much. They
grew up in Australia, told how Braddock did everything possible didn't always remember! In one scene, boxer Mark Simmons hit
to support his family. "I just wanted people to hear this true Crowe so hard that actor Paul Giamatti, playing Braddock's
American story," said the actor. manager, heard the boxing glove hit Crowe's head. Giamatti's
Filmmaker R o n Howard learned more about the possible look of shock in the film wasn't acting! "I don't know how he
movie when he made A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe. continued with the fight," said Giamatti.
Howard already knew about Braddock—when he was little, his In the end, Cinderella Man is not just a story about boxing. It is
father had told him about the fighter. the story of a family who stayed together in hard times—the story
It was clear to the filmmakers that Braddock's wife and family of a man who fought for what he loved and believed in.
were the most important things in his world, so they knew that
the character of Jim's wife, Mae, was very important to the movie.
Actress Renee Zellweger was interested in playing Mae because
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"One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . ." the referee counted. People crowded around Jim. He liked them; he liked the fact
For a second time, Griffiths got to his feet. But Braddock was that they loved him.
ready, stepping in close and throwing punch after punch. Then "You win some, you lose some, Johnston," said Joe.
his right hand flew forward and found Griffiths' chin for the last Jim looked up. His manager was talking to a big man who had
time. The big fighter hit the floor again. He tried to stand, but come out of the same side entrance. Jimmy Johnston organized
his legs were like rubber. No more punches hit him, but he went the fights at Madison Square Garden. No boxer fought there
down—and stayed down. without his permission. Johnston and men like him ruled the
"And from the great state of New Jersey, by a knockout, world of boxing. Tonight Johnston had wanted Griffiths to win
tonight's light heavyweight winner . . .Jim Braddock!" the fight. Braddock was supposed to be an easy win for Griffiths.
The crowd was back on its feet. The local boy had won! Jim touched his manager's arm. "Leave it," he said.
Braddock had been born in Hell's Kitchen, a poor neighborhood But Joe continued talking. "Maybe you support the wrong
of New York just a stone's throw from Madison Square Garden. guys? Griffiths was heavier than my boy, and what happened? Jab,
Braddock punched the air in celebration. He looked at the crowd, cross . . ."
at the men in their suits and ties and the women with their "Actually, it was jab, jab, cross," said Jim. He didn't like to see Joe
fashionable haircuts and expensive clothes. It was Friday night, the arguing with a man as powerful as Johnston. But the little manager
world seemed to be having a party, and Jim Braddock's win was had always supported Jim, and the fighter couldn't let his manager
one more reason to celebrate! stand alone now.
Griffiths was Braddock's eighteenth knockout since his first "Jab, jab, cross!" repeated Joe. "And then your boy's out! So
professional fight in 1926. His twenty-seventh win. The fight maybe no one's a loser? Right, Johnston?"
organizers had had big plans for Griffiths. After this surprise win, Loser. Jim hated that word. Some people had said that his early
maybe Braddock would have his chance to fight for the title of opponents were no good. Easy fights. Losers. So what did that
heavyweight champion. That was every boxer's dream. make Jim? But after tonight. . . after Griffiths . . . what could
Inside the ring, Joe Gould rushed out of the corner and jumped they say now?
onto his boxer's back. Both men looked at the crowd and listened Joe Gould and Jimmy Johnston stared hard at each other. Just
to its shouts. Jim smiled. He was a winner . . . like inside the boxing ring, time seemed to stretch. And then
Johnston turned and walked to his waiting car.
•
Jim shook his head. His little manager had no control over his
The tall boxer and his manager stepped out through the side mouth. "I'll get us a taxi," he said.
entrance into a crowd of about a hundred well-dressed supporters. But Joe pointed to a big, shiny new car across the street. "You
"Just sign your name for a few of them," said Joe. "Leave them have to show you're doing well," he said. The manager organized
wanting more." his life by this belief—expensive clothes, the best restaurants, and
"Do you want to sign my name for me, too?" Jim asked his now this car. A uniformed driver opened the back door, and the
manager with a smile. two men got in.
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Through the car's windows, New York seemed alive. The city's "I was this morning," answered Jim.
bright lights shone and people laughed and talked as they went "I'll come in another time," said Joe. "And tell her I didn't
to shows and clubs. It was an exciting time to live in the city. Tall charge you for the towels."
buildings were going up everywhere, and everybody seemed to be As Jim climbed out, he forced himself not to laugh. Joe Gould
getting rich. Jim Braddock and Joe Gould wanted a piece of that was afraid of nothing in the world of boxing, but he turned and
success, too. They had even started their own taxi company. ran from Jim's wife, Mae, with her hard questions about the prize
"Let's go to a club," said Joe. "You should be seen in the right money and Jim's share of it.
places . . ." The front door of the house was open now, and there, in the
But Jim just said, "Home, Joe." golden light of the hall, was Mae. Her pale face was serious as she
With a shake of his head, Joe told the driver, and the car turned waited. From the first time he had met her, Jim had loved her.
toward New Jersey. This had been Jim's home since soon after his He moved toward her now, telling himself he was a lucky man to
birth. His parents had moved from Ireland to New York, looking have a wife like Mae.
for a better life. Later, for the same reason, they had moved their
family across the Hudson River to New Jersey.
Here Jim had grown up a typical American boy. By the time When Mae Braddock saw her husband, the dark cloud of worry
he stopped going to school, his older brother had started to box. disappeared. She could breathe again. Feel again.
One day he and Jim began to argue, and soon they were fighting. Fight night was always like this for Mae. In the afternoon,
Although his brother was bigger and had much more experience, Jimmy kissed her goodbye. Then she just watched the clock and
Jim didn't do badly. That's when he realized—-maybe he could be hoped that he was safe. The long hours full of fear only ended
a winner in the boxing ring. when Jim came home.
Not long after this, he had first met Joe Gould in a local gym. She knew that men died in the ring. Not often, but it
Joe needed someone to train with one of his boxers, and he happened. And if they didn't die, they were hurt, badly. Mae didn't
offered five dollars to the tall teenager. Jim had gone into the ring understand the sport. To her it was a world of pain and danger. But
and given Gould's boxer a lesson. The manager had stayed with she loved her husband, and so she tried to support him.
Jim since then, through one hundred amateur fights, and then Mae Theresa Fox had grown up near the Braddock family in
through all his professional fights. New Jersey. She had always liked big Jim Braddock, and he loved
Now the car turned onto Jim's tree-lined street in a nice, quiet Mae from the time he first met her. But Jim was shy, and it took
neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey's biggest city. Joe pulled him a long time to ask Mae to marry him. He said that he wanted
some cash out of his pocket and began to count out Jim's share of to wait until he had enough money to buy a nice home. When he
the prize money. had $30,000 from his prize money—a small fortune—he finally
'Do you want to come in?" asked Jim as the car stopped asked. As he waited nervously for her answer, Mae noticed the
outside his house. "The kids would love to see you." sweat on Jim's face. She couldn't stop herself from laughing. The
Joe paused. "Are you still married to the same girl?" money didn't matter to her—of course she would marry him!
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Now Mae looked at her husband. She knew that Griffiths had Now she looked at her husband. "Were there any girls waiting
been expected to win tonight's fight. Her eyes asked the question, outside after the fight?"
and Jim's answer was a slow shake of the head. Mae looked away. "Maybe," said Jim with a smile.
She hated to see Jimmy in pain—that's why she never went to the Mae moved around the table. She spoke in a different voice
fights—and she hated to see him like this. But then she looked up now, pretending to be one of the women. "Oh, Mr. Braddock,"
and saw Jimmy smile. He had won! she said. "You're so strong. Your hands are so big."
"I could kill you," said Mae, kissing her husband. Mae moved in close, and she wasn't joking now when she said,
Jim's two sons ran into the hall. They jumped around their "I am so proud of you, Jimmy."
father's legs, shouting with excitement. That night, as he got ready for bed, Jim stood in the bedroom of
"Daddy, did you win?" cried four-year-old Jay. his beautiful home. He looked at their wedding picture. Then he
Howard, who was only three, was just happy that Daddy was took off the gold cross from around his neck and kissed it, looking
home. Jim picked the boys up and kissed them. My little men, he at his own face in the mirror. It was the face of a lucky man. A
thought. His eyes met Mae's. My little family. lucky man and a winner.
Jim told them all about the fight, acting it out punch by punch.
It wasn't easy for Mae to put the boys to bed after that. When she
Chapter 2 Hard Times
had checked their sleeping baby girl, Rosy, she sat down to eat
dinner with Jimmy. Newark, New Jersey, September 25, 1933
"So did Griffiths have a big punch?" she asked.
"You could come and watch me fight," suggested Jim. Jim Braddock looked through the drawers below the same mirror
But Mae looked away. "You get punched, and it feels like I'm that had shown him the face of a lucky man. Dressing was quick
getting punched. But I'm not as strong as you . . ." She forced these days: he just put on what Mae had washed or fixed the night
herself to smile. "And who wants newspaper stories about me before. He didn't have to kiss his gold cross for luck. He had sold it
running out from a fight again?" years ago. Everyone's luck had gone now—even Jim Braddock's.
Jim remembered when this had happened. His opponent had Something moved outside the window, probably a rat. This
knocked him down that day, and Mae had seen it. Jim still was just a part of life when you lived in a single room in a dirty,
remembered the look of fear on her face. It didn't seem to matter crowded apartment building. Behind Jim, his three hungry
that Jim had won the fight in the end. After that, Mae bravely children shared a bed in the cold family bedroom. Mae had hung
continued coming to watch Jim box. He didn't know how painful a blanket across the room to turn one room into two.
it was for her until a few fights later. Jim was having a bad night He looked again at his and Mae's wedding picture. In the last
and he took a lot of punishment. Not able to watch anymore, few years they had lost their house and most of their furniture, but
Mae had run off before the final bell. A reporter saw her go, they would always have this. In the picture, Mae looked beautiful;
and the story was in the newspapers. Mae never went to a fight Jim stood next to her, wearing a suit he didn't own now. The
again. couple in the photo smiled, not knowing the hard future that was
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ahead. But Jim liked to look at the picture every day. It reminded I'm just not hungry now." He spoke more quietly to his daughter.
him of the good things in his life. "Can you help me? Mommy cooked this, and I don't want to hurt
He stepped into the kitchen, where Mae was cooking breakfast. her feelings."
She looked different now—thinner, with dark circles under her Rosy wasn't sure whether to believe him, but Jim moved the
eyes. But to Jim she was still beautiful. meat from his plate to hers. With wide eyes, the child immediately
"I can't find my socks," he said. began to eat.
"Jim!" whispered Mae, but it was too late. "Jimmy—" Mae began, but he silenced her with a kiss.
"Mom, I want to eat, too," said little Rosy, pushing through the You can't work on an empty stomach, her eyes said to him.
blanket. Mae began to cut another thin piece of meat. Jim's answer was simple. "You're my girls."
"Sorry," said Jim. When Jim stepped outside, he remembered that things weren't
Rosy couldn't remember living in a big house, surrounded by so bad for him and his family. Times were even harder for many
nice things, with new clothes and plenty of food. The girl climbed other people. He walked past old, broken cars next to trash can
onto her father, and Jim held her close to him. He hated seeing his fires. Those useless cars were homes now, homes to people with no
children grow up like this; it was harder than any fight. jobs and no hopes.
"We got a final bill," said Mae, "for the gas and electricity." This part of Newark was very different from Jim's old leafy
Jim's shoulders fell. He took down a jar from the shelf, where neighborhood. Most of the dirty brown and gray buildings around
they kept their money for a "rainy day." He shook it and listened here had broken windows and paint coming off. Most of the
to the few coins in the jar. stores were closed, and garbage cans lay empty in the street. People
"It's clearly been raining more than I thought recently," he said. threw nothing away these days.
Mae picked up three dishes and put a thin piece of hot meat on Ten thousand factories in the New York area had been closed
each one. Jim began to cut up his daughter's food. down. Everywhere Jim looked, he saw people without jobs.
"I'm fighting Abe Feldman tonight," he told his wife. He didn't Businessmen, teachers, office workers, lawyers, bankers . . . all were
tell her that Feldman had lost only one fight in nineteen. Instead, looking for work. There were men in four-year-old suits, happy
he told her what he would earn—fifty dollars, more than he could to clean a yard for a dollar. Others stood in line at employment
earn in one whole week on the docks. offices from morning until night.
Mae couldn't hide the old fear in her eyes. Since hard times had Disaster had struck on October 29, 1929. Some people called it
hit their family—and the whole country—she had started to hate Black Tuesday, others the Crash. It was the end of America's good
the ring, with its punishments and its empty promises. times in the 1920s. The economy failed, and suddenly millions of
"Mommy, I want some more," said Rosy. people were out of work. At first, Jim thought that the problem
Jim looked at Mae and Rosy with their empty plates. "Mae, wouldn't last long. But then his bank closed and his taxi company
I had a dream last night," he said, standing from the table. "I went out of business. By 1932, the Braddocks had lost every cent
dreamed that I was having dinner at an expensive hotel, and I had of Jim's boxing money
a big, thick steak." He put on his old coat. "I had so much food, New York wasn't a city of bright lights and happy party-goers
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now. The city was filled with a gray crowd of people without him to the ground. That was the end for Ben now. How could he
hope. They stood in endless lines for soup or bread; they froze on help his wife and kids from prison?
street corners; they looked for work and found none. Hungry, Jim spent the whole day walking from place to place and
empty, hopeless people. looking for work, without luck. Hours later, he returned to the
Jim's only hope had been boxing. The prize money was less, but apartment building. His eight-year-old son, Howard, was outside.
boxing was still popular, cheap entertainment. But, after the crash, Jim gave his son a smile. How could a young boy understand that
Jim's success as a boxer had ended. In 1930, '31, '32—and now one in four working Americans had no job? An eight-year-old
1933—he lost more fights than he won. It was harder and harder child didn't need to know that.
for Gould to get him good fights. Suddenly, another child ran up to him. It was Rosy.
Jim had to look for other work. With so many factories closed, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" she cried. "Jay stole!"
he tried Newark's busy docks. Early every morning, he joined the Jim carried his daughter to their apartment, where Mae was
crowd looking for work there. In the dark and the cold, they standing over their oldest son. The ten-year-old's face was red.
waited by the locked gate of a high fence. Jim put Rosy down. "What's all this about?"
At last, the foreman pulled open the gate. He looked at the Rosy pointed at the meat on the table. "See?" she said.
tired, hungry faces of the men there. This man had the power of There was enough to feed the family for a whole week.
life or death; he could change the luck of every man here. "It's from the butcher shop," said Mae. "He refuses to say a word
"I need nine men," he said. about it. Don't you, Jay?"
Men began pushing forward—Me! Pick me!—as the foreman "OK," said Jim to his son. "Pick it up. Let's go."
counted out workers. "One, two, three . . ."Jim pushed forward, Jay looked up at his father and the message in his eyes was clear.
too, but then:". . . nine." Don't make me do this. Can't you see that we need it?
Jim closed his eyes. After all of that waiting, it had ended in less "Right now!" said Jim.
than thirty seconds. He hadn't been picked. Then he was out of the building and marching to the butcher
"I've been here since four o'clock," said a man's voice. shop without another word. His son followed slowly behind, with
The man had stepped forward to complain. Jim had spoken to the stolen food in his hand. At the butcher's, Jay had to give the
him once. His name was Ben and, like Jim, he had a wife and three meat back and apologize. Jim met the butcher's eyes. I am not
kids to support. bringing up my son to be a thief.
The foreman began to turn away, but suddenly Ben was holding The butcher nodded. Father and son left the shop. As they
a gun and pointing it at the foreman's heart. His hand shook and walked, Jim was silent, giving his boy time.
his eyes were wild. "I was here first." At last, Jay spoke. "Marty Johnson had to go and live with his
The foreman lifted his eyes from the gun to Ben's face. "My uncle. His parents didn't have enough for them to eat."
mistake," he said. "I need ten men." Jim turned toward his son. "You were scared," he said. "I
Ben stepped through the gate. Jim wanted to look away but he understand that. But we don't steal. It doesn't matter what
couldn't. Ben had just put the gun away when several men fought happens. Promise me."
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Jay managed a nod. "I promise," he said.
The little manager thought of Mae and the children. "OK," he
"Here's my promise." Jim was eye to eye with his son. "We're
said. "I'll tape your hand double." Gould knew that double-taping
never going to send you away, son."
was against the rules, too. "Keep your left hand in his face and,
The tears came pouring from the little boy's eyes. Jim pulled Jay
when you can, hit him with a big right. If you finish early, I'll buy
into his arms and held him as tight as he could.
you an ice cream!"
He led the boxer past the crowd toward the ring. This crowd
Chapter 3 An Embarrassment was very different from the one at Madison Square Garden years
earlier. These people looked poorer and hungrier.
Mount Vernon, New York, September 23, 1933 As Jim climbed into the ring, a radio reporter spoke into a
microphone. "Just five years ago, Jim Braddock was thought to be
The dressing room was a mess. The floor was dirty and the doors
ready to fight for the world heavyweight title. But he has lost ten
were broken. The air smelled of old sweat.
fights in the last year."
"He's a slow guy," said Joe Gould. "My grandmother could beat
The crowd started to shout louder when Abe Feldman walked
him! It'll be an easy fight."
toward the ring, punching the air.
Joe was wearing one of his usual fine brown suits. Jim knew
"Now Braddock fights Feldman," continued the radio man, "a
nobody else who hadn't been ruined by the Crash.
young fighter who has won seventeen times and lost just once."
The manager was taping up Jim's hands before the fight. He
Jim froze. This was the boxer Joe's grandmother could beat?
squeezed Jim's right hand, then saw the look of pain on the
Feldman was the crowd's favorite. He was young and
fighter's face. He played with the hand, examining it carefully.
handsome, like Braddock had been years earlier when he had an
"This break needs a couple of weeks to get better," he said.
unbroken nose and two pretty ears. Braddock's gloves fell to his
"Why didn't you tell me, Jim?"
sides.
Jim didn't look up. He had fought in March, although his right
Joe pulled Jim's gloves back up. "Jimmy, what are you going to
hand was still hurt from a fight in January. His opponent was
do?"
good, and Jim, fighting with a bad hand, had lost in four rounds.
Jim closed his eyes and everything went away—the crowd's
But he couldn't stop fighting because he needed the prize money
shouts, Mae's worried looks, Ben's gun, Jay's silent tears, all the
for his family. He fought several more times, hurting his right
mistakes of the last four years. He opened his eyes.
hand again and again. By now he had to use drugs to control the
"I'm going to get an ice cream!"
pain. There was never enough time for it to get better before the
next fight. •
Joe Gould knew that it wasn't legal to let a boxer fight in this
Feldman's glove hit Braddock in the face, a hard punch. Jim tried
condition. If something went wrong in the ring, it could mean the
to hit back, but Feldman blocked his punches.
end for both Joe and Jim.
'Come on, Jimmy!" cried Gould from the corner. The manager
"I can't get any work," said Jim quietly. "We need the money."
was sweating almost as much as Braddock, as he jabbed the air
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and shouted advice. But Braddock could only think about the hit him back, and again Braddock held on to his opponent. He
pain of Feldman's punches. The younger man hit him again and almost fainted from the pain.
again, but none of Braddock's punches seemed to hit Feldman, The angry boos from the crowd were so loud that he almost
who danced around his opponent easily. Suddenly, Feldman threw didn't hear the bell.
a combination of punches that threw Braddock back onto the
•
ropes. The crowd began to boo.
"Don't just stand there!" shouted Gould. "An embarrassment! That's what it was. An embarrassment!"
Braddock saw an opening in Feldman's defenses and threw a Jimmy Johnston, the big fight organizer, was shouting angrily
right cross. It hit the fighter's chin and knocked him back. Jim at Joe Gould, 'who was unusually quiet.
stepped in to finish his opponent, but Feldman put his head down Thirty minutes earlier the referee had ended the fight,
as Braddock threw his big punch. The leather glove hit the top of announcing that nobody was the winner because Braddock
Feldman's head. There was a sound of bone on bone. The pain wasn't fit to continue.
in Braddock's right hand was terrible. He held on to Feldman as "OK, OK, so he's fighting while he's hurt," said Joe. "Maybe
the bell announced the end of the round. The referee had to send your fighters can afford to have a month's rest between fights."
both fighters back to their corners. "He almost never hits his opponents any more," answered
Gould quickly took Braddock's right glove off. Even under all Johnston. "And now the referee has to stop the fight. A fighter like
the tape, he could see that the hand was really broken. that keeps the public away. Ticket money will fall." The big man
"I can't let you continue," he said. paused. "We're taking away his boxing license. Whatever Braddock
Jim thought of the prize money. "I can use my left," he said. was going to do in boxing, he's done it."
"Don't let Feldman get too close," said Gould, quickly tying the When Jim heard the bad news from his manager, he couldn't
glove back up. "Do what you can with your left." move, couldn't breathe. The dressing room was small and dirty, so
But Braddock had never had a left-hand punch. Now he Joe led his boxer back into the hall. The lights threw long shadows
couldn't even block with his right, and his feet felt heavy and slow. on the empty ring. Joe began taping a piece of wood to Jim's
Punch after punch fell on him. broken hand. "Until you get to the hospital."
Time usually slowed down for Jim in the ring, but now it was As he taped the hand, Joe couldn't hold back the memories, all
flying past. He began to throw out his left hand in wild jabs. These the fights and all the dreams. All the hopes that Jim Braddock
missed, but then one punch hit Feldman on the chin and hurt would be champion one day. Now those hopes lay as broken as
him. Again, the two boxers held on to each other. The crowd the fighter's hand.
began to boo again and shout insults: "Go home!" Joe cleared his throat. "Jimmy . . . sometimes you just can't
Braddock decided that maybe he had one more good right change things. I'm telling you . . . It's finished."
punch in him. He pulled his arm back and threw the punch. It The boxer didn't jump up, shout, or scream. He was quiet for a
hurt Feldman, but the pain was much worse for Braddock. Under long time. His face was wet with tears. "Get me one more fight,
the double tape, his right hand was completely broken. Feldman Joe," said the fighter. "We're down to our last dollar."
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"I . . . I'm sorry, Jimmy." •
After all they had been through together, Joe really was sorry.
They had stayed the best of friends through good times and bad. It was early morning and Jim was standing outside the familiar
Now it really was the end. Tonight. This was goodbye. locked gate at Newark docks. As the sun appeared in the east, the
Jim didn't even look up as his manager walked away, leaving foreman, Jake, walked up. Jim put his broken hand behind him.
him on the seats beside the dark ring. Alone. The doctor had said it would be useless for months.
"One, two, three . . ." As usual, Jake walked along the group,
pointing to the workers he wanted. " . . . five, six, seven . . ."Jim
Chapter 4 A N e w Life
stood tall.". . . eight. . ."Jake's eyes fell on Jim, then the foreman
"Oh, dear God . . ." pointed at him: "Nine."
Jim knew that this was the last time he would see this look on A win! Jim stepped forward, knowing that he was one of the
Mae's face after a fight. "I don't have the money," he said, too tired lucky few who had work that day.
to find the words to make it easier. "They refused to pay me, took Minutes later, Jim was meeting his new partner. The young,
away my license. They said that I'm finished as a boxer." handsome man introduced himself as Mike Wilson.
The fear in Mae's eyes turned to anger. She didn't care about "What happened to you?" he asked Jim, staring at the black and
boxing licenses or fight rules. She only cared about her husband. blue marks on his face.
"Jimmy, what happened to your hand?" "I got into a fight," Jim told the man.
"It's broken in three places." Together the two men had to move a mountain of sacks from
Mae wasn't thinking about boxing now. "If you can't work, we one area to another. It took two strong men to lift each sack, using
won't be able to pay the bills, buy food . . . We'll have to send the big hooks to pick the sacks up.
children to stay with my sister." Jim found the work very difficult. He had never really used his
"Mae, I can still work," Jim said. "Get the black shoe polish left hand for anything. It was really hard using the hook with it,
from the cupboard. Nobody will give me a job if they see this cast while trying to hide the cast on his right hand.
on my hand, so we'll cover it up." "There was a fighter called Jim Braddock," said Mike. "I
Mae saw it in her husband's eyes then—Jim Braddock wasn't listened to his fights on the radio. There's another fighter using the
going to be beaten. "I'll cut your coat so you can put it on over name now, but this guy's no good."
the cast," she said, opening the shoe polish and spreading it on the Jim saw the smile on Mike's face. He almost laughed himself,
white cast. "Now we just need a piece of steak for your face, Jim but then the sack fell from the hook in his hand.
Braddock!" she laughed. Mike saw Jim's cast. "This isn't going to work," he said. "You
Six-year-old Rosy's face appeared around the blanket. Jim can't do this job with a bad hand, and you can't slow me down.
smiled at her, deciding, not for the first time, that he was a lucky I need this job."
man to have Mae as his wife. Jim gave his partner a quick look. "Listen, I can do this."
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Suddenly, a new voice shouted, "What's happening here?" It He saw the tears in her eyes. "Go home. I'll stand in line."
was the foreman, and he was staring at Jim's bad hand. She handed him the empty pot and took the children home.
Instead of trying to explain, Jim sank the hook back into the Jim's eyes followed them, and then he looked forward again,
sack with his left hand. Then he waited, unable to do anything turning his collar up against the wind. The soup truck seemed far,
until his partner moved. After a few terrible seconds, Mike sunk far away, but Jim had become good at waiting.
the hook into his end of the sack. The two men lifted the heavy Hours later, familiar sounds greeted Jim's ears—-jump ropes
sack together and carried it across the dock. Then they moved for hitting the wooden floors, leather gloves hitting punching bags.
another sack, then another, and another. This was the gym that Jim had trained in for years. It was the place
Jake, the foreman, stood there with arms crossed, watching where he had first met Joe Gould. Even now, part of him wanted
every move. Finally, he walked away to get into the ring and fight.
Jim lifted his face to Mike. "Thanks," he said. As he entered the gym, the usual smell of leather and sweat hit
him. He looked at all the boxers training hard.
•
"Jimmy!" said a friendly voice. "Have you come to train?"
It was raining hard, but Mae didn't move. Her place in this soup It was Joe Jeannette, the owner of the gym. The old fighter had
line was too valuable. Hundreds of people were ahead of her, but a never been a champion, but he had always been a hero to Jim. A
lot were behind her, too. They were all waiting for free soup and great boxer with quick hands and a knockout punch, Jeannette
bread from the truck at the head of the line. Mae held Rosy in her had been one of the best heavyweights in the country. But he was
arms. The two boys ran around playing. a black man, and few white boxers agreed to fight him. Jeannette
"You need to stand for a few minutes, Rosy," said Mae. never had the chance to fight for the title. But Jeannette couldn't
"I don't want to!" cried Rosy. "The sidewalk's wet!" stay away from the fight game. He had become a referee, and he
"Who's making all this noise?" had opened this gym. He was never too busy to give advice to a
Immediately, Rosy's crying stopped. Her father appeared beside young boxer.
her, big and strong and with a smile on his face for her. Jim tried to return Jeannette's smile, but he couldn't. He put the
As he lifted Rosy, Jim told Mae, "I got a job at the docks." soup pot down and pulled his boxing shoes out of his coat.
Mae noticed something inside Jim's coat. His boxing shoes. She A few minutes later, Joe Gould stepped onto the gym floor. He
wasn't surprised to see them. A few boxing organizers in expensive was here to see a new boxer, not Jim Braddock. Joe watched as Jim
suits couldn't stop her husband from fighting, even if they had handed his boxing shoes to a young, black boxer, who paid Jim ten
taken away his license. cents. Then Jim picked up his soup and bread and turned toward
"Are you training today?" she asked him. the front entrance.
"I was thinking of selling them," said Jim. "Then we can pay the Joe Jeannette looked up and saw the manager standing at the
grocer by the end of the week." back of the gym. His eyes held a question for Joe, but Joe just
Mae didn't know what to say. At last she said, "Don't take less shook his head and stepped behind the door.
than a dollar, Jim." It's better for both of us if Jim doesn't see me, Joe thought.
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Chapter 5 Broken Promises "You can't," said Mae. "We have kids. Please."
"If I don't, I'll lose my job," said the man sadly.
Jim sat at the kitchen table reading out President Franklin Delano Work at the docks finished early that day. Jim and his work
Roosevelt's speech from the newspaper. He tried to find hope in partner Mike started walking around local towns, looking for
the President's words. According to Roosevelt, there was only one work. There was none anywhere that day. Tired and cold, they
thing for Americans to fear—"fear itself." Mae counted out coins started for home.
from the rainy-day jar. "We have until tomorrow," cried a loud voice.
Jim's week had become an unending string of gray mornings Jim's steps slowed. Across the street, a young man was arguing
and sweaty afternoons of hard work at the docks. Jim and Mike with two city police officers. His wife stood beside him, fighting
worked together every day, and Jim did all the work with his left back tears. The couple's furniture was on the sidewalk all around
hand. In the evenings, he had another job—more long, hard work them. The officers were moving them from their apartment.
with only his left hand. Mae was usually asleep on the sofa by the The two officers wore fine, new uniforms. The younger of the
time Jim got home at night. two was polite. The older man had heard every excuse before, and
That night she was woken by the sound of coins dropping into he was tired of listening.
the jar. She saw her husband walk toward their bed. Jim watched as the young husband tried to pull a piece of paper
Jim looked down at the clean, white sheets. He wanted nothing out of the officer's hand.
more than to fall into them, but then he looked down at his own "This says we have another day," he cried.
dirty, sweaty body, and lay down on the floor. "Come on," said Mike, pulling Jim's arm. But Jim was already
"Jimmy," Mae whispered. "We can wash the sheets." moving across the street and Mike went with him.
But Jim was already asleep. Mae pulled the covers off the bed "You can't do this," the young woman was saying. "We'll never
and lay down on the floor, beside her husband. get back in."
Her husband jumped in front of the officers as they moved to
•
fit a new lock to the building's front door. "Please, I'm starting a
The winter of 1933—34 was one of the coldest in recent memory. factory job next week . . ."
One morning, Mae and Rosy walked with the boys to school. The officers pushed him away and put the lock on.
They were walking back down the snowy street when Mae saw a "Excuse me," said Mike politely, then louder:"Excuse me!"The
shiny new car outside their building. officers stared at him. "Please can I have a look at that notice? The
"Mommy, who's the man at our house?" asked Rosy. law says that I'm allowed to." He stepped forward. "Let me just
Mae walked up to the man, whose uniform showed that he was have a look at the date on it. If everything's OK with it, we'll just
the gas and electricity man. "Can I help you, sir?" walk away."
"I'm sorry, ma'am. You haven't paid the bills, and I have to cut "Or else what?" demanded the younger officer. The older
your electricity off." officer was looking at Jim.
The man was in his thirties, but his eyes looked older. Mike smiled. "You guys know Jim Braddock, don't you?"
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The older officer's attitude changed immediately. "I've seen you won't be enough." Jim seemed suddenly weaker. He looked at
fight, Jim," he said. Mae. "Think of all the other guys who wanted to marry you."
Mike looked down at the document in the older man's hand. "What happened to those guys?" joked Mae, then she squeezed
"What do you say, guys? Mistakes happen all the time." his hand. "I married the guy I love."
The officer nodded. "Maybe we got our days mixed up," he A wet cough from across the room interrupted them. "It's
said, removing the lock from the door. Howard," said Mae sadly. "He's been sick since this afternoon."
As the two officers walked away, Mike and Jim began to help When Mae woke up the next morning, Jim had already gone
the couple move their furniture back inside. out into the terrible cold. She spent the morning trying to keep
"So you're a lawyer?" asked Jim. the children warm, burning pieces of wood they had taken from
Mike shook his head. "A banker, but I hired enough lawyers to signs in the street. Howard lay close to the stove, his face red with
have a good idea of the law. It doesn't matter now . . . I lost it all fever. Fighting back the tears, his mother held a glass of water to
in '29." He looked Jim in the eyes. "You know, there are people his lips. The boy was getting sicker.
living in Central Park. The government has failed us. We need to Not wanting her children to see her cry, Mae rushed out the
organize. Fight back." door and stood in the snow. Bitter tears ran down her face.
Jim shook his head. "Fight what? Bad luck? You have to trust She cared only about keeping this family together. Jim was
that the government will solve things in the end. I like what killing himself trying to do this, but it wasn't working. Now they
President Roosevelt says." had lost their heat and electric power. Mae knew what she had
"Forget Roosevelt!" shouted Mike. "He hasn't given me my to do. She rushed inside to dress her children warmly for the trip
house back yet!" across the river to New York City.
Jim looked in surprise at the terrible anger in his friend's eyes.
•
•
As Jim stepped through the door, the apartment was as cold as the
The blanket didn't hang in the middle of the room. Now the air outside. He met silence. No little bodies ran to him with open
three children had it around them, as they lay in bed. Jim could arms. By the stove, Mae sat alone, staring into the dying flames.
see their breath in the cold air. Every piece of clothing in the She couldn't meet his eyes.
apartment was piled on top of them. "Howard was getting worse," she explained. "Then Rosy
He crossed the room and threw a piece of a wooden sign onto started to get sick."
the fire in the stove. Mae emptied the rainy-day jar onto the table.. "Where are they, Mae?"
She began to push the coins around. "The boys are at my father's house. Rosy's going to stay with
"Six dollars and seventy cents," said Jim, joining his wife. "How my sister. We can't keep them warm, Jim."
much would it cost to turn the electricity back on?" Jim's emotions were almost too strong for words—fear, sadness,
Thirty-three dollars and ten cents," whispered Mae. anger. He pointed a finger at Mae. "You don't decide what
If I work twenty-six hours out of every twenty-four, it still happens to our children without me."
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Mae stood and held his arms. "Jimmy, if they get really sick, we against Tommy Loughran. It was July 1929—-just four months
don't have the money for a doctor." before the Crash. Jim was fighting for the title of light
"If you send them away, this has all been for nothing," he said heavyweight champion, but it was the fight that turned Braddock
angrily. "It means that we lost." He shook Mae's arms off. "I made into a boxer of "failed promise."
a promise to Jay, do you understand? I promised that we would The New York crowd had wanted Braddock to win, and the
never send him away." fight had started well, too. But things changed in the second
Without another word, he turned and walked across the round. Loughran began to dance around the ring, dodging
freezing room and out of the door. Braddock's punches easily. He had discovered Braddock's biggest
Later that afternoon, he stood at the wooden counter of the weakness—no left-hand punch.
Newark relief office. An unsmiling woman counted out twelve In the rest of the fight, Braddock had hit the champion with a
dollars and eighty cents, which she placed in a white envelope. few good punches, but it wasn't enough. The judges all decided
Jim's hand shook as he signed for the money, trying not to blame that Loughran was the winner. The newspapers weren't kind to
himself for what he had done. Ashamed, he put the envelope into Braddock, who had looked slow in the last three rounds. His
his pocket. dream of winning the title seemed to be at an end.
He pushed his way through the unhappy crowd. They were Now, years later, Jim stood in the shadows in Madison Square
lawyers and dock workers, teachers and factory workers. Bankers Garden and said the same words that he had said after the
and builders. Now, unable to earn money themselves, they were Loughran fight: "I don't know what went wrong."
here to receive money from the state. Some were so ashamed that, He opened the side door and started up the stairs. The climb
like Jim, they looked only at the floor. Others looked straight to the Madison Square Garden boxing club was the hardest of his
ahead with empty stares. life. The club was a place where the rich money-makers of New
After Jim crossed the river to Manhattan, he walked past all the York's boxing world could relax and do business. It wasn't high
homeless people in the city who seemed to have no hope. The above street level, but it was like another world.
story was the same everywhere: No work. No money. At first, nobody noticed as Jim Braddock walked into the
At last, Jim reached the streets around Madison Square Garden. smoky room. He went up to two men in the center of the room.
There were no bright lights now, no people in expensive clothes "Mr. Allen . . . Phil. . ."
waiting outside. Instead, homeless people searched for anything The men looked up at the fighter. Others noticed and
they could use. conversations around the room died. Jim cleared his throat.
Jim went to the familiar side door. The sign for the next fight "I'm here because we can't afford to pay the heating bills. We
showed two boxers standing with gloves up. Jim remembered had to send our kids away . . . I just need enough money to get
when his picture had been on signs like this. He remembered the my children back." Jim took off his hat and stretched it out.
fight with Tuffy Griffiths, the dream of that night when the future The whole room was silent now. Mr. Allen put his hand in his
looked bright for Jim Braddock. pocket. "Sure, Jim." He placed a few coins into Jim's hat.
But then another, less happy memory came to mind—the fight "Thank you," replied Jim. Then he offered his hat to the others
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around the room. Everybody gave some money—even Jimmy Chapter 6 O n e Fight Only
Johnston, the man who had taken away Jim's license.
Finally, Jim stopped in front of Joe Gould. "I'm sorry, Joe," he Spring had come to Newark at last, and the Braddock family had
told his old manager. joined other families at the local church. Once a month the priest,
"What do you have to be sorry about, Jim?" said Joe. "How Father Rorick, organized a birthday party for all the children
much more do you need?"
whose parents couldn't afford a party.
"One dollar and fifty cents, I think," whispered Jim. Joe placed
Jim and Mae watched as their children joined all the others
the exact amount in Jim's hat.
around a large wooden table with two big cakes. Everybody
When Jim left the club, it was dark outside and streetlights lit
starting singing, "Happy birthday to you . . . Happy birthday to
the icy sidewalks. Jim walked past a store that had gone out of
you . . ."
business. His face looked back at him from the dark glass of the
Jim put his hand around Mae, happy that the cast was off at last.
store window. He had seen that look before. It was on the face of
When it was time to sing the names, the different families all sang
the man in his old suit selling apples on the street corner. It was on
a different name.
the face of the banker waiting in line for hours at the Newark
"Happy birthday, dear Jay," sang the Braddocks. "Happy
relief office.
birthday to you!"
Jim had never understood how a proud man could sink so low. Howard pulled his father's arm. "It was better when we had our
Now, with the money in his pocket to get his children back, Jim
own cake," he said.
knew. He finally understood.
Father Rorick heard him. "Do you know I boxed your father a
• long time ago?"
Howard couldn't believe it. He looked at his father in surprise.
The next night, Mae opened the apartment door and turned on
"You hit Father Rorick?"
the electric light. Jay and Howard ran inside, followed by Jim, who
"As often as possible," said Jim with a big smile.
was carrying the sleeping Rosy.
Mae Braddock joined the two men. She looked worried.
Jim was happy to see his family together and home again, but
"Jimmy . . ." She looked across the road. Mike, Jim's work partner
he felt other emotions, too. He knew now how easily their world
at the docks, was sitting at the end of a long table. His wife, Sara,
could be destroyed.
held their baby daughter in her arms and she was shouting at
He couldn't sleep that night. When the sun finally appeared, he
Mike.
got up and dressed silently. Before he left for another long day of
"You're always trying to fix the world!" she shouted. "Why
work, he stood at the door and looked at his family. A boxer
don't you fix your own family? What kind of father are you? Too
entered the ring alone. If he was knocked down, he alone could
proud to let people know that our daughter can't have her own
stand up and continue fighting. Jim was alone now, as he left the
birthday cake . . ."
house and went looking for work.
Mike stared back angrily. "Are you joking, Sara?"
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Everybody watched the argument. Even the children at the •
party stopped playing.
Jim walked over and separated the angry couple. "Hey, where's Jim returned from work one afternoon and found his children
the referee?" he asked. playing in front of the apartment building.
"This is between husband and wife, Jim," Mike said angrily. Rosy looked up at him. "Teach me how to fight," she said.
"How can you call yourself that?" cried Sara. "I can't," said Jim. "I'll get in trouble with Mommy."
Mike jumped up angrily, and Jim stopped him with a strong Rosy just looked at her father with the same stare that Mae
hand in the middle of his chest. had. Jim couldn't say no to that look.
"Calm down, Mike," he said. "Have a rest." "OK," he said. "It's all about how you hold your body. Put your
But Mike couldn't calm down now. He pushed Jim. right hand here and your left here . . ." Jim positioned her until
"There's no need for this," said the boxer. she was standing like a little boxer. Then she threw a punch,
"Jim Braddock, big fighter . . ." said Mike, and he threw a which Jim caught in his big hand.
punch at his work partner. "Look at that!" he cried. "You have a better jab than I did!"
Jim knocked it away and then held Mike's arm. "Mike, I don't As he and Rosy laughed, a familiar car stopped outside the
want to fight you," he said. building.
"You couldn't do it in the ring . . ." said Mike angrily. "You're a brave man," called Joe Gould.
He rushed at Jim again. Jim pushed him to the side and Mike Jim smiled. "Not really. Mae's at the store."
fell, hitting his head on the sidewalk. Rosy, who wasn't yet finished with her boxing lesson, threw
"Jim, no!" screamed Sara. another punch. It hit Jim right on the chin.
As Mike got to his feet, blood ran down his face. Sara went up "OK, Rosy," he said. "Good punch. Now go and box shadows
to him, still holding their baby. Mike pushed her away. while I talk to Uncle Joe."
"Leave me alone," he said to her and Jim. He turned and ran Jim looked at the manager's fine, new suit. "Still looking
down the street. fashionable, I see," he said.
When he had gone, Sara turned to Jim. Tears poured down her "You have to show you're doing well," answered Joe. He gave
face as she cried, "He wasn't going to hit me, Jim!" Jim a friendly punch on the arm. "Good to see you, Jimmy."
Sara began to chase her husband down the street. Jim looked up Then: "I've got you a fight."
at Mae, who had tears in her eyes, too. Jim wasn't sure. "What about my boxing license?"
'Why was it so hard just to come over for cake?" she asked. "The organizers will let you fight one time only," said Joe.
"Maybe he just needed a little time," said Jim angrily. "It's not Jim asked the most important question: "How much?"
always easy . . . Maybe he just needed a little time!" "Two hundred and fifty dollars," Joe replied. "You're on the
Mae shook her finger at him."Not at me, James Braddock!" she big show at the Madison Square Garden Bowl in Long Island
cried. "Do you hear? I know it's hard. But don't get mad at me!" City . . ." He paused.". . . tomorrow night."
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Jim turned and walked away. He couldn't believe that his old "I need a piece of meat, please, sir," she said. "Steak."
friend and partner would play a joke like this on him. "Do you have any money?"
Joe chased after him. "You fight Corn Griffin, Jimmy . . . the Rosy shook her head and the look in Sam's eyes became softer.
number two heavyweight in the world. He needs a fight before "I can't just give the meat away."
he boxes for the title." "It's not for me . . . It's for my dad," Rosy replied. "He needs it
Jim's eyes were dangerous. "Joe, this isn't funny." to win a boxing fight."
"No one's trying to be kind to you. Griffin's opponent got cut
and can't fight. They needed someone they could throw in the
Chapter 7 Back in the Ring
ring immediately. Nobody will take a fight against Griffin without
training, so . . ." Joe looked away. "I . . . told them that Griffin Long Island City, New York, June 14, 1934
could knock out a guy who has never been knocked out before
. . . You're meat, Jimmy . . . They just need somebody to stand Jim's name wasn't even on the sign, but he didn't care. Two
in that ring and be knocked out." hundred and fifty dollars and the chance to punch something real
Finally, Jim smiled and put a hand on Joe's shoulder. Then he were the only things on his mind.
looked his manager in the eye. "Joe. For two hundred and fifty Joe Gould didn't know what to think about the fight. The
dollars, I'd fight your wife." manager had tried to get Braddock back in the ring since the time
When Mae got home later, she wasn't happy about the news. Jim had walked around the boxing club with his hat in his hand.
Jim talked more—about how it was only one fight, about how Joe had pushed his way into Jimmy Johnston's office again and
long he would have to work at the docks for so much money. again, trying to get Jim a fight.
In the end, Mae told Jim to take the fight. But that night she sat He had been outside Johnston's office when the fight organizer
on the sofa in the dark and watched her sleeping husband through got the bad news about Griffin's opponent, just two days before
eyes red from crying. the big fight. This left Johnston with a problem. Griffin was a
promising young star in the boxing world, and Johnston wanted
• to get the New York sports world interested in him. The young
Southern boxer needed to beat a fighter in the city who had once
The next morning, the three children were outside early, but they
didn't go out to play. They walked to the local butcher shop. Rosy been a big name. Now it seemed that Jim Braddock was the right
knocked on the window. choice—especially as Braddock's manager was waiting outside
Johnston's office.
Sam, the butcher, looked down at the three children. "We're
closed today." His eye fell on Jay, remembering the time when the Joe had accepted the offer, but now, on fight night, he was
boy had stolen from his shop. "Well, look who's here. Shall I lock worried. He knew that Jim hadn't fought in over a year. Except
everything up?" for today, he hadn't trained in a long time. He had even sold his
Jay's face was red, but he bravely stood by his sister, who walked boxing gloves and shoes. Joe had to borrow some so that his boxer
up to the counter. could fight.
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As the manager bent to tie up his boxing shoes, Jim smiled. "We Jim stepped up to Sporty, toe to toe and eye to eye. "Save that
both know what this is, Joe. It's a chance for me to earn some garbage for your readers," he said.
money for my family. And it's a chance to say goodbye to boxing Suddenly, the door opened and an official pointed at Jim. "It's
in a big fight in front of a big crowd." time," he said.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise from Jim's stomach. Jim left the room, keeping his eyes on Sporty Lewis's. Sporty
"What was that?" cried Joe. stared after him, pale and shaken.
"We got to the soup line too late this morning," said Jim. "The "That guy," he said to the official. "What a loser!"
food was all gone." Minutes later, Sporty was back in his seat by the side of the
Joe jumped to his feet. "How are you going to fight with an boxing ring. A young reporter next to him asked, "Who's Jim
empty stomach?" he shouted. He ran from the room and appeared Braddock?"
a few minutes later with a bowl of thick meat soup in his hand. "Get your pencil out, kid," Sporty Lewis said. "I have your story
"Eat fast," he said. for you: 'The walk from the changing room to the ring was the
"Where's the spoon?" asked Jim. He began to put one hand only time tonight that Jim Braddock was seen on his feet.' "
into the bowl.
•
"Stop!" cried Joe. "I don't have time to tape your hands again.
I'll find a spoon!" "In this corner, Corn Griffin!"
Joe rushed out again, but Jim couldn't wait. He pushed his face Griffin jumped to the center of the ring and lifted his thick
into the bowl and began eating. He didn't notice the changing arms above his head. The tall young boxer wore a confident smile
room door opening. on his face. He was young and powerful, a natural heavyweight
"I don't believe it! Am I seeing a ghost?" said a voice. Jim with long arms and a big punch.
looked up, with food on his chin. A young man at the door was "And in this corner . . . from New Jersey . . .Jim Braddock!"
giving Jim an unpleasant smile. "Isn't that James J. Braddock? The crowd were silent.
When I saw the name, I thought it must be a different guy." The When the bell rang, Griffin came out punching hard and
man stepped into the room and took out a reporter's notebook. fast. Braddock danced and dodged, doing everything possible to
"How's your right hand now, Jim?" keep away from Corn's powerful punches. After thirty seconds,
Jim's eyes narrowed as he recognized the reporter. He said the Braddock decided that this fight was a bad idea. His opponent had
man's name: "Sporty Lewis." trained hard and was ready to fight. He timed his jabs and punches
Jim remembered what Lewis had written about his fight with to Braddock's body perfectly. Jim's only goal now was to finish the
Tommy Loughran. He repeated the reporter's words to himself: fight without getting hurt. He had to be able to work at the docks
"Loughran destroyed the unskilled New Jersey fighter. The fight the next day.
was a funeral with the body still breathing." Suddenly, a big left-hand punch from Griffin hit Braddock on
Lewis saw the look in Jim's eyes and stopped smiling. "I don't the side of the head. He went down. As he lay there, the clocks
fight the fights, Braddock. I just write about them." seemed to stop.
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"Braddock's down!" cried the announcer over the crowd's "That's it!" screamed Gould. The little manager started to dance
boos. and throw punches in the air.
"One . . . two . . . three . . ." counted the referee. Braddock "Three . . ." The referee's count continued.
tried to get to his feet. "Four . . . five . . . six . . ." Joe's eyes, shining with happiness and surprise, met Jim's.
Braddock was on one knee, but the referee continued counting. "Where have you been, Jimmy Braddock?"
"Get up and use your left!" Gould called to his fighter. Griffin was back on his feet, but now Jim was the one moving
Finally, Braddock stood. The referee walked over to him and with confidence. Braddock rushed forward, throwing punch after
checked his eyes and the cut in his mouth. punch.
"It's finished, Braddock," he said. Gould was screaming. "That's it! Send him home. Send him
Braddock looked across the ring at his opponent and joked, back South or wherever he comes from!"
"He doesn't look so bad." But the referee began to lift his hand to The punches didn't stop. They fell like rain on the soup line,
end the fight. Jim held his arm with two gloved hands. "Please. Let like snow on the Newark docks. Finally, Braddock delivered a hard
me fight." right punch and stepped away. The crowd just watched as Griffin
The referee paused, looking hard at Jim, and then he stepped to fell forward. He landed on the floor and stayed there.
the side. The fight could continue! In the silence that followed, Jim saw Sporty Lewis next to the
Griffin was waiting to continue his attack. Braddock answered ring. The reporter's eyes were big with surprise. The next second,
one punch with a left-hand jab. It didn't hurt Griffin, but Jim was the crowd went wild.
surprised that he could throw a left-hand punch at all. "I can't believe it!" the radio announcer was saying. "Corn
In the second round, Griffin continued to chase Braddock Griffin, the number two challenger for the heavyweight title, has
around the ring. The young fighter wanted to win by a knockout, been knocked out by Jim Braddock in the third round!"
and Jim had to keep moving to dodge Corn's punches.
•
At the end of the round, Jim sat heavily in his corner. Joe
poured water in the fighter's mouth. When it ran out again into Before he left the dressing room with Joe Gould, Jim finished the
the waiting bucket, it was pink with blood. Jim hardly heard his bowl of food.
manager's words, though they were screamed into his face. "Imagine what I could do if I had steak," he joked.
"He's half a step behind you!" shouted Joe. "Move to the side On their way out, they paused to watch the end of the evening's
and see what happens. Hit him with two jabs and then the big main event. The heavyweight champion of the world, Primo
punch." Carnera, was defending his title against a strong, young boxer
The bell rang for the third round. Braddock moved out of his called Max Baer. Baer's punch was so powerful that he had once
corner slowly; Griffin came out punching. Remembering Gould's killed a man in the ring. This was the fight the crowd had really
advice, Braddock moved his shoulders to one side. Griffin didn't come to see.
see the move and Braddock hit him with a right that sent Griffin In the last round of the fight, Max Baer's powerful punches
to the floor. The referee started counting. were falling on Camera without end. Carnera fell to the floor.
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"Imagine a punch like that hitting you," Joe said. Jim looked at the meat. "Where did you get this?"
Camera was an enormous man, but Baer was much faster. All "They all went to the butcher shop," said Mae. "I tried to take it
night he had danced and dodged Camera's fists. Now, Camera was back, but the butcher says he gave it to her."
bloody and beaten as he got to his feet, holding the rope with "It's a steak," said Rosy. "It'll fix your face."
one glove. Baer just laughed at the defending champion, knocking Jim held the thick steak up. He could almost smell it, hear it
away his weak punches easily. cooking. He went down on his knees to speak to his daughter—
"Primo Camera has been knocked down eleven times!" the fighter to fighter. "Rosy, we have to eat this."
radio announcer was saying. "And Max Baer looks sure that he But Rosy shouted, "No! You have to put it on your face."
will be the next champion!" Jim knew that it was useless to argue. He lay back and placed
Camera moved his tired body toward his opponent for a final the cool steak across his eyes. He waited a few seconds, and then
attack. The challenger waited patiently with an ugly smile on his lifted one edge of the meat.
handsome face. When Camera reached the center of the ring, Jay turned to his mother. "Do the announcer's voice, Mom."
Baer decided to end the fight, throwing punch after punch at the "Come on, Mae," said Jim with a smile. "Do the announcer."
champion. It was so terrible that even Joe couldn't watch. Mae's voice became loud. "Introducing the holder of the
amateur title for light heavyweight and heavyweight. . . from
New Jersey . . . the future heavyweight champion of the world
Chapter 8 A Second Chance . . . James J. Braddock."
These last words were shouted. The kids went wild, laughing
Jim stepped out of the car in front of his apartment house. and jumping around the room. Jim took the steak from his face.
"Are you sure you won't come in and say hello?" he asked. "This really worked," he told his daughter."Let's eat!"
"Are you still married to the same girl?" asked Joe. He crossed to the stove and started cooking the meat. Soon the
Jim gave the usual answer. "I was the last time I looked." sound and the delicious smell filled the apartment.
Joe smiled. "Good night, Jimmy." "Jim," Mae whispered. "Is it really just one fight, or are they
The car drove off, and Jim stood outside the building. The letting you back in?"
Braddocks had sold their radio, so Mae and the kids didn't know Jim kissed her head. "It was just the one fight."
the result of tonight's fight. Relief swept through Mae. As she went to the stove to get the
The door opened and Jay, Howard, and Rosy looked up at him steak, she said silent thanks that her husband would never step
with hopeful faces. Mae stood silently. inside the ring again.
"I won," he said.
•
The children screamed and rushed toward him. Rosy pulled on
his arm. "Daddy, Daddy, you have to see what I got you!" She ran The early morning walk to the docks was the same as usual, but
to the ice box. "Put it on your eyes," she said, pushing a thick steak Jim felt different. His body ached, but his steps were quicker than
into her father's hands. they had been in months.
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He joined the group of men at the fence. Finally, the foreman •
Jake appeared and began pointing to men. A week later, Mae was walking back from the stores with Rosy
"Six, seven, eight. . ." Jake's eyes passed Jim, then returned to when she saw a shiny new car drive away from their apartment
him. The foreman said Jim's name and everybody turned to look. house. Joe Gould's car.
"Nine." She found Jim standing in the yard behind the building. He
Jim closed his eyes in relief. As he passed through the gate, Jake looked so happy, so handsome and confident in the sun, with his
said to him, "I listened to the fight last night." He took out his square chin and his bright eyes up to the blue sky. Then he turned
newspaper. Jim's eyes ran over the words: and Mae felt her heart stop. She saw it in his eyes—the old
excitement.
BRADDOCK KNOCKOUT OVER GRIFFIN IN 3
"Joe was here," said Jim. "He thinks they'll let me box again."
Jim shook his head, not believing it. A few men crowded round It was hard for Mae to speak. "You said it was one fight."
to hear what he had to say. They seemed surprised that he had "It's my chance, Mae, to make you and the kids proud."
come to work today. Mae fought to control her fear and anger. "I am proud . . .
"It was one night only," explained Jim. "My share was a and grateful. But what would we do if something bad happened
hundred and twenty five dollars. We had bills of one hundred to you? Something worse than a broken hand, so you couldn't
and twenty to pay. That left me with five dollars." work?"
Jake laughed. "That makes you a rich man." Then he said She couldn't even tell her worst fear: What will happen if you're
seriously, "Good fight." killed?
Jim could see that these men around him, with their old clothes "What would happen to us?" demanded Mae. "To the children?
We're hardly managing now."
and tired faces, had found hope watching him fight. He had
Jim shook his head sadly. He waved a hand at the broken
fought something real, something he could see—they all wished
building, the empty yard. Couldn't she see? He was already killing
for that chance.
himself-—and for what? A few coins at the end of a long day's
He joined his partner, Mike. Words weren't necessary. The two
work? "I have to do better than I'm doing," he replied.
picked up their hooks and began to work, moving the heavy sacks.
Mae stepped closer. "Things are better now. Please, Jim . . ."
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to win again?" said
He wanted to take her in his arms, but he stopped himself. He
Mike. "I didn't put any money on you."
had to think about the family's future. The strength was clear in his
Mike smiled, but it wasn't the smile Jim remembered. It was voice. "I can still take a few punches. At least in the ring you know
tired. Less happy. who's hitting you."
"Come on," Mike said. "Talk me through that last round." Mae felt helpless as she watched him walk to the building's dark
Jim started describing the events of the last round again. Since back door. This isn't over, James Braddock, she promised.
the cast had come off his arm, he worked with both hands.
Without thinking, he moved the hook to his left hand and •
continued working with smooth, strong movements.
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The next morning Jim left early for the gym. Mae left the "Sometimes you see something in a fighter, something to hope
apartment house, too. She took the kids to her sister's house, and for," answered Joe. "Jimmy's what I hope for."
then she crossed the Hudson River to New York City. Mae shook her head. "This is crazy. You don't even know if you
She was going to the small part of the city known as the Upper can get him a fight, do you?"
East Side. It was an area of beautiful houses, expensive apartment "I'll get him a fight," Joe said, "if it's the last thing I do."
buildings, and fine hotels. Some of the richest people in the
country lived on the blocks along the city's Central Park.
Two streets away, the buildings weren't quite so beautiful, but Chapter 9 Not the Same Guy
they were still home to wealthy people. In front of each apartment
building, a uniformed doorman stood guard. The gym owner, Joe Jeannette, looked pleased. "You've been
When she reached the tall building, she looked up, trying to training, Jimmy.''
guess how many floors it had. She went through the beautiful "I've been working, Joe. Not training."
entrance hall to the elevator. On the fifteenth floor, she moved "Show me what work you did."
down the line of doors. "I was lifting sacks at the dock," explained Jim. "We used a
She knocked on one and called politely, "Open the door, hook, like this." He showed the movement.
Joe." There was no answer. She tried again, and again, but nobody "That's the perfect punching exercise," said Jeannette. "You've
came to the door. "Joe, open this door now!" Mae shouted. been getting a powerful left hand, and you didn't even know it."
"You're not going to hide in your expensive apartment while In the next few weeks, Braddock trained hard. After all those
you turn my husband into a punching bag. I won't let you get months of hard work, it was like a vacation to train with Jeannette.
him hurt again!" But the trainer pushed him hard. Every week there were new
The door opened. "You'd better come in," said Joe Gould. exercises, new skills to learn and practice.
As she pushed past him, Mae's anger died. She had expected the While Braddock worked at the gym, Joe Gould was busy in
manager's home to be beautiful. But she looked around now at a other ways. At Madison Square Garden, he walked into Jimmy
completely empty apartment. Johnston's office and sat down.
Minutes later, she sat on a camping chair, drinking tea with Joe "You're going to arrange a fight between Jim Braddock and
and his wife Lucille. She hadn't expected this friendly welcome. John Henry Lewis."
"Sorry," said Joe, pointing to the door. "People have to think Johnston looked up from the papers he was signing. "Now why
you're doing well." would I do that?"
"I thought. . ." said Mae. Joe smiled confidently. "Lewis is number two in line to fight
"That's the plan," said Joe, touching his fine brown suit. "Show for the heavyweight title, and he's already beaten Braddock once
people you're doing well, even if you're not. We sold the last of the before. So put Braddock against Lewis. If Lewis wins, your boy has
furniture last week," he continued, "so Jimmy could train." had a good practice fight before his next opponent, and you make
"Why?" Mae asked. some money. If, by some chance, Braddock beats Lewis, you have a
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people's favorite, which means you make more money. Whatever Suddenly, a familiar face appeared in front of Jim—Mike
happens, you're richer with Braddock back in the ring." Gould sat Wilson. They shook hands.
back. "So what do you say?" "I put some money on you," Mike said.
As soon as he got an answer, Joe rushed back to the gym. "Mike, everybody expects Lewis to win," said Jim.
"I got you a fight," he told Jim from the ropes. "You're going to But Mike just gave a confident smile. "Do you need some help
fight John Henry Lewis again." in your corner?" he asked.
Jim climbed out of the ring. "I could kiss you." Jim shook his head. "I have my regular guys for that. You know
Joe took a step back. "Please don't!" The manager became how it is, Mike."
suddenly serious. "I won't lie, Jimmy. You're in this fight because Mike's shoulders dropped, but he tried to laugh. "Sure I do, Jim.
you're meat. But if you win it, I can get you another one. If you Now go and win the fight!"
win the next, then everything changes."
•
Jim understood. He turned toward the heavy punching bag.
"Jimmy," Joe called. The powerful jab pushed Braddock back against the ropes. John
Jim turned and saw the old fire in his manager's eyes. Henry Lewis was a young black boxer with quick hands and a lot
"Win!" said Joe. of skill. His perfectly timed combinations of punches pushed Jim
on to the ropes again.
•
"Lewis is here to repeat his win over Braddock," said the radio
It was the afternoon before the fight. Jim was still at home. announcer.
"I know this isn't what you wanted," he said softly to Mae. "But For three rounds, the two fighters danced around the ring,
I can't win if you don't support me." looking for the other man's weak areas. Then, in the fourth round,
Mae put the pile of clean clothes down and stepped up to her the fight became serious. The fighters went toe to toe, refusing to
husband. "I always support you," she whispered. step back.
While their parents were kissing, the three children took their In his corner at the end of the round, Lewis looked confused.
chance to run out of the apartment. They walked through the "You beat this guy easily last time!" his manager screamed.
small crowd that stood outside the building. Soon they stood again Lewis just shook his head. "He isn't the same guy."
in the butcher shop. In the opposite corner, Gould checked Braddock's face. The
"What can I do for you today?" Sam, the butcher, asked. boxer was tired and breathing hard, his body covered with sweat.
"My dad's fighting a man who beat him badly once before," "He's even faster than I remember," said Jim.
said Rosy anxiously. "What kind of steaks do you have?" Gould spoke into the boxer's ear. "He's fast, but he'll be slower
Down the block, Jim stepped out of the apartment house and after a few more punches. Watch him—he always moves to the
was met by a small crowd of neighbors. right."
"We're all supporting you," said an old man. Both fighters started round five like mad animals. Leather
"Take him down, Jim!" cried another. gloves flew, and neither man backed away. Suddenly, Braddock
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hit his opponent with a powerful cross and Lewis was down on confidence, he took the next few rounds from the New Jersey
one knee. When the fight continued, Lewis wasn't able to protect man. In the eleventh round, Braddock found himself back on the
himself, letting Braddock knock him back on to the ropes. ropes, as Lasky's fists flew at him.
In the end, the judges gave the fight to Braddock. Some sports "Art Lasky is ending the story of Jim Braddock's second chance
reporters said that he had deserved to win. Others said that he had in boxing," said the radio announcer.
just hit Lewis with a few lucky punches. A big punch hit the side of Braddock's head and his
As Joe Gould gave Jim his share of the prize money, he said, mouthguard flew out. The crowd waited for Braddock to drop.
"Take care of yourself. Our luck has changed—I'm sure of it." Instead, he stood there, eye to eye with Lasky. Then he calmly
walked over and picked up his mouthguard.
•
"I can't believe my eyes," said the announcer. "Braddock just
A month later, in December 1934, Jimmy Johnston made the took Lasky's best punch and it had no effect on him!"
announcement that Joe Gould expected. He was going to Braddock was a different fighter after that. He fought from a
organize fights among the top heavyweight boxers. Finally, one distance, throwing jabs at Lasky's bloody face. In the fifteenth
man would be chosen to fight the champion, Max Baer, for round, Braddock's glove hit the other man's nose. Blood showered
the heavyweight title. Johnston had several boxers in mind, but the ring.
Braddock wasn't one of them. He didn't think that Braddock was "This is unbelievable!" shouted the radio announcer. "Nothing
lucky—he was good. Johnston didn't want the New Jersey boxer to can stop Braddock now."
stop another of his young stars. As Lasky moved with increasing difficulty, Braddock hit him
But Gould refused to take no for an answer. Again and again he with a combination of punches that sent him into the ropes at the
went to Johnston's office, trying to get a fight for his man. side of the ring. Those ropes were the only thing that kept Lasky
"How about a fight with Art Lasky?" he tried. on his feet.
At first Johnston refused. But, after hearing how confident "And the winner is . . .James J. Braddock!"
Lasky's people were, he changed his mind. Braddock's next fight The shouts of the crowd reached the streets outside. By radio,
was going to be with Art Lasky. He was a young fighter from they reached across the country. They were heard in Branson,
Minnesota who had won a few fights in the West. He wasn't as fast Missouri, where Ancil Hoffman ran to another room in the hotel
as Lewis, but he was big and strong. he was staying in. He knocked at the door urgently.
Max Baer, the heavyweight champion of the world, opened the
•
door and looked down angrily at Hoffman.
The Lasky fight started well for Braddock. In the early rounds, his "Jim Braddock just beat Lasky," said the champion's manager.
opponent couldn't get past Braddock's gloves. The boxer from "He's the number one challenger for your title."
Minnesota took a lot of punishment and soon his nose was bloody. Baer replied with an ugly smile. "The guy's a loser," he said.
Everything changed in the fifth round. Lasky started hitting "Tell Johnston to find me somebody who can fight back." Then
Braddock with punch after punch to the body. Fighting with new he shut the door in Ancil's face.
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Chapter 10 Night in the Park very expensive, but he wanted to apologize for not waking her to
tell her about the Lasky fight. He hadn't wanted to celebrate until
The streets around Madison Square Garden were quiet, but as he had paid back the money to the relief office.
soon as Jim stepped outside, a crowd of around fifty men closed in But when he got home, it wasn't the time for celebrating. Mike
around him and Joe. They were very different from the crowd that Wilson's wife, Sara, was sitting on the sofa with her baby girl in
had waited after the Griffiths fight years ago. These men looked her arms. Her eyes were red from crying.
tired and hungry. But when they saw Jim Braddock, hope lit up "Mike's gone," said Mae seriously. "It's been three days now."
their faces and they stood taller. "About a week after you left the docks, Jim, the foreman
"Just sign your name for a few," said Joe with a smile. "Leave stopped picking him for work," cried Sara. "I went to stay with my
them wanting more." brother. There wasn't room for Mike, so he's been sleeping in
"No, Joe. Tonight I sign them all!" Central Park." Sara looked straight at Jim. "He said he was going
Jim moved among the crowd, shaking hands and signing his to do some work for you. We were going to meet last night, but
name and talking for over an hour. Mike never came."
Joe did most of the talking on the drive to New Jersey. When Silently, Mae pointed at the jar that contained their money. Jim
they reached the apartment building, Jim opened the door. nodded. "Listen, Sara, you and Mae go and get something for the
"Good night, Joe." baby's cough."
"Haven't you forgotten something?" asked Joe. He reached into But Sara was crying. "Something's wrong. I know it is!"
his coat for Jim's share of the prize money. He began to explain Jim moved toward the front door. "I'll go and find him."
how he had decided on the amount. Hours later, Jim entered Central Park. As the sun sank, he knew
"I trust you, Joe," said Jim. "And Mae trusts you, too." that the enormous park wasn't as empty as it looked. Since the
Joe pushed the money into the fighter's hand and waved Crash of 1929, tens of thousands of New Yorkers were living in
goodnight. cars, or on the streets, or in the subway. A lot of people had started
When Jim entered the little apartment, he put some of the cash living in Central Park. Some of them built huts or tents from
in the jar on the shelf. He put the rest in a white envelope. any materials they could find. Others slept wherever they could.
Jim didn't sleep much that night and he left the apartment They ate any food they could find or catch or steal.
before Mae and the children woke up. The sidewalks were empty Jim had heard that there had been a lot of sheep in Central
as he walked to the center of town. He joined the line inside the Park. Most had been moved away. Now, as he searched for Mike,
relief office and waited patiently. Jim saw park workers guiding the last sheep into enormous
Finally, he stepped up to the counter and nodded at the wagons. Jim watched until a policeman on a horse waved at him
woman. He gave her the white envelope. to move away.
The woman was confused when she looked at the cash. "So The shadows became longer as night came, and soon trash can
. . . you're giving us the money back?" fires were the only lights in the park. Jim went deeper into the
On the way home, Jim bought twelve roses for Mae. They were park, past huts and tents. The sound of wet coughs filled the air.
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"Mike! Mike Wilson?" he called.
Few people came to Mike's funeral. It was a work day and most
Suddenly, two running policemen shouted at him to get out of
people couldn't afford to lose a day's money. Only Jim and Mae
the way. He looked to see where they were going and saw a crowd
Braddock and their three children stood with Sara Wilson and her
of people around several policemen on horses. Jim heard angry
baby daughter as Mike's body was put into the ground.
shouts and saw flames. He ran to the crowd and had to push his
way through a wall of people to reach the center. Jim spoke of Mike's love for his family, his wife. He didn't say
what he felt—that Mike's death was a waste, a stupid, unnecessary
A group of men had fought the police here, turning one of the
waste. Jim understood why people got angry, but Mike's anger
sheep wagons over and burning huts. The police were in control
hadn't helped his wife or his daughter. Jim wished he had known
again and were guiding the men away like sheep.
how bad things had become for his friend. He couldn't forget
There were two policemen on horses near Jim. "We were just how kind Mike had been to him when he started working at the
trying to move the sheep," one of them told the other. "But one of docks.
these guys started shouting at us. He was angry, very political.
Then they attacked us." Mae's attention was on Sara, whose eyes were far away. She
seemed to be staring into the long future that waited for her
Jim closed his eyes and remembered all Mike's angry talk. He
without her husband.
knew this must be Mike. He began looking for his friend among
all the fallen men on the grass. He got closer to the wagon that lay As she looked at Sara, part of Mae wondered if she was looking
into a mirror of her own future. Maybe not today or tomorrow—
on its side.
but one day she might lose Jim.
"A guy tried to free the sheep," a policeman was saying. "The
horses were scared and the wagon turned over."
There was someone with his legs under the enormous wheels
Chapter 11 Face to Face with the Champion
of the wagon. A group of men lifted the wagon up, and that's
when Jim realized that there was a second man under the wagon,
Madison Square Garden, March 24, 1935
lying in a pool of blood. It was Mike.
Jim's friend wasn't dead yet. Jim moved the hair from Mike's Jim Braddock and Joe Gould smiled for the cameras. Then it was
eyes. time for the reporters' questions.
"Did you win?" Mike asked. His voice was soft and filled with "Jim, do you have anything to say to our readers?"
pain. "Not everybody gets a second chance," answered Jim. He
Jim nodded. "You're going to be OK, Mike," he said. looked at Mae, who sat at the front in a new yellow dress, smiling
Mike managed a weak nod. "I know i t . . ." nervously. "I have a lot to be grateful for."
But, in the cold and dark of New York's Central Park, as the A second reporter stood. "Can you tell our readers why you
smoke from the burning huts blew over them and took away the gave your relief money back?"
last of the light, both men knew that this wasn't true. Jim nodded. "This great country of ours helps a man when he's
in trouble. I've had some good luck, so I thought I'd return the
• money."
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Another reporter stood. "Max Baer says that he's worried he's
The fight began. Johnston turned to Braddock. "Is Campbell's
going to kill you in the ring. What do you say?"
style familiar, Jim? It's like looking in a mirror, isn't it?"
Mae looked down at her hands. Jim looked the reporter in the
"He doesn't need to see this," complained Joe.
eye. "Max Baer is the champion," he said. "I'm looking forward to
"He'll see it or there'll be no fight!"Johnston warned.
the fight."
On the film, Campbell stepped forward with a good left jab,
The next question was from a familiar face. Sporty Lewis stood
almost as good as Jim's. Baer blocked it easily, then hit back with
and turned toward Mae. "Mrs. Braddock, how do you feel about
his right. The punch was too fast to see, and it had a strange,
the fact that Max Baer has killed two men in the ring?" Mae
terrible power. Campbell just stood there in confusion, with his
could find no words. "Mrs. Braddock, are you scared for your
gloves down by his side. The second punch hit the side of his
husband's life?" continued Lewis. head. And then Campbell was down, his legs wide, his eyes open
A camera appeared in front of Mae's face. Jim jumped to his but seeing nothing.
feet. "She's scared for Max Baer!" he shouted.
"It was the second punch that killed him," said Johnston.
Joe Gould lifted his arms like a referee. "OK, OK, one more
"You've warned us," said Joe. "Now stop the film."
question . . ." "No," said Jim, surprising both Joe and Johnston. "Show it
While Jim answered the last question, his eyes searched for Mae. again."
She refused to look up, not wanting him to see the doubts and fear
When the lights were back on, Johnston stared at Jim.
in her eyes.
"Remember Ernie Schaff ? He was a good fighter. Ernie took
one of Baer's punches on the chin. He was dead and didn't know
it. In his next fight, the first jab killed him." He sat back in his
When Jim Braddock and Joe Gould entered Madison Square
chair. "Do you want to think about this fight?"
Garden's boxing club, Jimmy Johnston was waiting for them. The
Jim hit his hands on the desk angrily. "Do you think you're
rich, powerful businessman waved a newspaper at the fighter and
telling me something I don't know?" he shouted. "How many
his manager.
guys died because they didn't have enough food? Or because they
"It says here that this fight is as good as murder," Johnston said,
had to work long hours and dangerous jobs to feed their families?
stepping close up to Braddock. "This is my business, and I'm going
I've thought about it as much as I'm going to."
to protect myself. You will know exactly what Baer can do before
"OK, then." Johnston looked away. "Why don't you both eat
you get in that ring."
here tonight with your wives?"
A door opened and a small man in a suit entered the room. This
The fight organizer smiled, but there was something about the
was Johnston's lawyer, and he was followed by a secretary.
look in his eyes that Jim didn't trust.
Johnston went to a machine and began to show a film. It
Later that day, the two men returned to the club's restaurant
showed two boxers getting ready to fight. One was Max Baer.
with their wives. The four ate, talked, and laughed, as a piano
Johnston said the other man's name. "That's Frankie Campbell . . . played quietly in the corner.
A good fighter who knows how to take a punch."
After the meal, Joe pulled a newspaper out of his pocket. He
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turned to the sports pages and began to read. "Jim Braddock is
Jim looked at Mae. The blood had run from her face, leaving
back from the dead to give hope to every American."
her pale with worry. He stood. "Get the coats, Joe." Then he
Jim was surprised. "Who wrote that?"
began walking toward the bar.
"Sporty Lewis. The newspaper is calling you the Cinderella
Baer gave a big smile when he saw Jim coming. "Look, it's the
Man." Cinderella Man!" he shouted.
"Cinderella Man?" Jim didn't look happy. Cinderella was a
Jim stood toe to toe with the champion. "You keep saying in
children's story. Wasn't Cinderella the girl who had to stay at home
the newspapers that you're going to kill me in the ring. I have
and clean while her sisters went to a wonderful party at the
three little kids. You're upsetting my family."
palace?
Baer moved closer. His voice was quiet as he said, "Listen to me,
"I like it," said Mae, squeezing his hand.
Braddock. I'm asking you not to take this fight. People admire
Suddenly, an enormous man with two young women on his
you. You seem like a nice guy, and I don't want to hurt you. It's no
arms walked in through the front door. Conversations died around
joke. They're calling you the Cinderella Man. Well, people die in
the room. The man had thick black hair and the brightest blue
children's stories all the time."
eyes. He was wearing an expensive white jacket, but he looked
Suddenly, a small crowd of reporters and photographers ran
dangerous. As usual, all eyes in the room turned to him. This was
into the club. Baer turned to face the cameras and smiled. His
Max Baer.
voice was loud again as he started performing for the cameras. "If
Jim turned to his manager. "Do you think Johnston planned
you're smart, you'll fall over in the first round," he told Jim.
this?" he asked angrily.
Jim's eyes met Baer's. "I think I'll try for a few rounds," he said.
Joe nodded. "Sure. More pictures for the papers."
Baer noticed Mae, standing behind Jim now. "You should talk
Physically, Baer was the perfect boxer. He had a narrow waist,
to him," he said. "You're much too pretty to lose your husband."
wide shoulders, strong legs, and long arms. He was young, too—at Jim squeezed his fist into a ball, ready to attack, but Baer
twenty-six, three years younger than Jim. And he had the strongest continued to look at Mae. "Maybe I can take care of you after he's
punch Joe Gould had ever seen—probably the strongest punch in gone."
the history of boxing.
This time Joe Gould jumped, waving his fists at the champion.
Joe knew that there were ways to beat the champion. His right- Jim pulled him back.
hand punch was so powerful that he hadn't really worked on
Mae stepped up to the bar. Baer's bright blue eyes followed her
improving his left hand. But Joe couldn't forget the sight of Baer
as she picked up his drink, then threw it in his face.
destroying Primo Carnera. The big Italian had been knocked
Baer just laughed as he dried his face. "Did you get that,
down eleven times in that fight.
boys?" he said to the reporters. "Braddock has his wife fighting
Joe's attention moved away from Baer when a waiter arrived for him."
with a bottle of wine and four glasses.
Jim stepped up to Max Baer. The two boxers were nose to nose.
"From the gentleman at the bar . . . Mr. Baer said I should wish
you good luck." Then Jim turned, took his wife's hand, and led her away. As they
left, the sound of Baer laughing followed them into the street.
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Chapter 12 T h e Big Day Mae's fear turned to anger. "I supported you until now," she
said. "But not for this, Jim. I just can't . . ." Her voice went cold.
"Keep your head down and give me a combination—left, right, "You find a way out of this fight. Break your hand again, if you
have to. But if you leave this apartment to fight Max Baer, I won't
left."
support you."
Jim was teaching Jay and Howard how to box. Jay threw out
a right fist and lifted his chin. Jim reached forward and gently •
hit his son's chin. "Don't take your eyes off your opponent,"
he said. As the day of the fight grew closer, Max Baer helped reporters fill
"That's enough, now," said Mae from the kitchen sink. their sports pages. His latest demand was that there must be an
Jim looked at his boys proudly. "There's more than one fighter ambulance outside Madison Square Garden, ready to rush Jim to a
local hospital after Baer hit him.
in the Braddock family."
As the two boys continued to box, they knocked over a chair. Jim just continued training. Joe Jeannette chose good partners
for him to work with in the ring. Each one helped Jim improve
Mae turned. "I said that's enough!" she cried. "No boxing in
one skill—one partner helped him work on his hand speed;
the house!" She pointed at her two sons. "You are going to stay
another partner allowed him to practice dodging big punches;
in school. Then college. You are going to have professions. You
another helped him move around the ring quickly.
are not going to have your heads broken in the boxing ring. Is
Jim, Joe, and Jeannette also watched film of Baer's fights for
that clear?"
hours every day. "Watch him," said Jeannette, pointing. "His
The boys froze. Before they could reply, Mae ran out of the
punches are strong, but you can see them coming."
apartment. As she stood outside, she could still hear Sporty Lewis's
With just a few weeks to go, Braddock's training became even
words in her head: Max Baer has killed two men in the ring.
harder. Joe and Jeannette started changing his boxing partners
She didn't turn when she heard Jim's steps. "When you boxed
more and more often, so Jim fought a fresh fighter every round.
before, sometimes I hoped that you would get hurt. Just enough
One of the newspaper sports pages included something that Joe
so you couldn't fight again . . . I always knew a day would come
had said: "Braddock is going to be really prepared for this fight, if
when a fight could kill you. And now it's here." She looked her
he lives through training!"
husband in the eye. "Why? Why fight him?"
Joe laughed when he read that, until his wife reminded him that
"This is what I know how to do," said Jim simply.
Mae Braddock would read it, too.
Mae waited for Jim to take her in his arms, to say that he had
changed his mind, but he didn't. Part of him wished that he could, •
but it was impossible. She didn't understand how it felt for men
Finally, the big day arrived. When Joe Gould arrived at the gym
like Jim or Mike Wilson—strong, hardworking men who were
that morning, Jim was sitting alone, with a jacket tight around his
told that they were useless. There were thousands of people like
chest.
this now, and they found hope in the fighter they called the
"What's wrong with him?" the manager asked Joe Jeannette.
Cinderella Man. Jim had to fight, for them.
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Jeannette shook his head. "He's fitter than ever, but he's old. His through his head, remembering Jeannette's advice—anything to
ribs aren't strong since the Lasky fight." help him forget the look on Mae's face as he left.
Gould already knew about the problem with Jim's ribs, but They reached the Madison Square Garden Bowl and Jim
he thought there was something else wrong. Gould knew that looked out at the waiting crowd. He could see that these people
Jim's wife wasn't happy about his profession, and about this fight had known hard times. But there was something else, too, a
especially. But whatever the problem was, there was no time to bright look in their eyes—hope.
solve it now. The fight was just hours away. Jim saw his own face in the glass of the car window. He had
"The reporters will be here soon," he told Jim. "Take off that beaten Tuffy Griffiths so confidently, but that man was gone
jacket or Baer will see that you have a rib problem." forever. He had passed his hat hopelessly around the boxing club,
Jim climbed into the training ring as a crowd of sports writers but that man, was gone, too. No, he was looking now at the face of
rushed into the room. He worked hard, but he still wanted to train every man who had ever been beaten down by hard times but
more after the last reporter had gone. refused to stop fighting.
Joe Jeannette refused. "Go home and get some rest. You'll be That's when Jim knew. No matter what happened tonight, he
working hard enough in the ring tonight." wouldn't give up. He would die trying.
So Jim went home. He returned to a house that was empty
•
except for Mae. She stood silently, looking at the newspaper:
It was a hot day and getting hotter. Jim sat in his dressing room
WORLD CHAMPION FIGHT TONIGHT
waiting to go out and be weighed.
MANY WORRY FOR B R A D D O C K ' S LIFE
"Come on, champion," said Joe Gould when there was a knock
Without a word, she turned and walked away. on the door.
As the morning became afternoon, Jim lay in bed, unable to "Wait a minute," said Jim. "The last time I looked, I was the
sleep. A taxi came for him at four o'clock. challenger, not the champion."
Mae followed Jim outside, where a small crowd of neighbors "I know what I said," replied Joe.
was waiting: "Come home with that title!" "Knock him out!" On his way to the weighing room, Max Baer had seen an old
Jim kissed his three children. Then his eyes met Mae's. "I can't trainer who had worked with him years before. There were angry
win if you don't support me," he said. words and Baer hit out at the man. Cameras recorded the attack.
"Then don't go, Jimmy." When there was peace in the room again, officials and reporters
Time seemed to stretch, with each of them waiting for the watched the two boxers being weighed. It was very hot in the
other to say something. Then Mae turned and pulled the children crowded room.
close to her. Jim watched as she pushed her way back through the Max Baer went first, stepping up with his fists above his head
crowd. Then he climbed into the waiting taxi. and an ugly smile on his face.
The taxi drove past the tall buildings of Manhattan, then crossed "Ninety-five and a half kilograms," the judge announced.
the East River. Jim was silent, running the films of Baer's fights Then it was Jim's turn. "Eighty-six and a half kilograms."
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Max Baer was waiting for him when he stepped down. "How "Father?" Mae asked, confused by the crowd. "I came to say a
does the story go?" said Baer, loud enough for all the reporters to few words in church for Jim."
hear. "The clock strikes midnight, and then Cinderella loses her "All these people are doing the same," said the priest. "They
skirt!" think Jim's fighting for them."
People laughed and more photos were taken, but Jim didn't Mae looked at the crowd again. All of these people were beaten
care. He would have the chance to reply later, in the ring. He went down by hard times. They admired her husband. If he could fight
back to his dressing room to get ready for the fight. and win, maybe they could . . .
Max Baer returned to his dressing room. His trainer was "Yes, I understand now," said Mae. She turned and hurried
waiting with something for the champion to watch—a film of down the street. She could hear radios through open windows
Braddock's fight against Art Lasky. and doors. Everybody was getting ready to listen to the fight—
"Look, right there!" said the trainer, as Lasky hit Braddock in at the docks, in homes and bars, in Sam the butcher's. Beyond
the ribs, clearly hurting him. "Braddock's ribs are weak. If you can Newark, too—across the country—people wanted the Cinderella
hit them with a few good jabs, you'll really hurt him." Man to win. They wanted him to become the prince, the king,
"I don't need to," answered Baer. "I can knock this loser down the champion.
any time. I just need to give the crowd a good show before I kill
him." •
Baer's manager, Ancil Hoffman, came into the room. Joe Gould was taping Jim's hands in the dressing room. They could
"Did you get it?" asked the champion. hear the sound of the crowd beyond. Suddenly, there was a knock
Hoffman nodded. "The ambulance is waiting outside. There's a on the door and a small, familiar shape stood there—it was Mae.
doctor there, too." "Excuse me for a minute," said Joe. He left, closing the door
Max looked in the mirror. "That's all I can do for him. Now behind him.
Braddock's on his own." Finally, Mae spoke. "You can't win if I don't support you."
"I keep telling you that," said Jim.
•
Mae handed him a brown paper bag. "I thought it was going to
Mae spent the rest of the day at her sister's house. As the children rain, so I used the money in the rainy-day jar." Jim opened the bag
played, she and Alice sat and talked, but they didn't discuss the real and stared at the new pair of boxing shoes inside.
reason for Mae's visit. "Maybe I understand." Mae's eyes shone. The two kissed and,
As the afternoon shadows grew longer, Mae became quieter. smiling through her tears, Mae said, "I always support you, Jimmy.
At five o'clock, she stood. "No radio, Alice," she said. "I'll be back Just you remember who you are! You're everybody's hope and your
soon." kids' hero and you're the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock!"
Mae walked through the empty streets of Newark until she It was almost fight time. "See you at home, okay?" Mae
came to the family's church. Father Rorick stood at the door. whispered, as she moved to the door. "Please, Jimmy . . ."
There were crowds inside. Jim nodded. "See you at home."
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Chapter 13 The Hopes of the Crowd climbed into the ring, Baer ran around and accepted the crowd's
boos with a confident smile on his face.
Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, The referee called the boxers and their corner men to him.
New York June 13, 1935 "I want a clean fight," he said. "When I say break, step back
immediately. And remember"—he looked at Jim—"protect
As Jim Braddock stepped out into the bright lights, the crowd
yourself at all times."
became silent. The ring seemed so far away. Between him and it
As the fighters touched gloves, Baer's corner man held a gold
were thousands of people—Jim's people. He knew the looks on
watch in front of Braddock's face. "One minute to midnight,
their faces—people who saw no chance of a future. Some had
Cinderella!" he laughed.
spent their last dollar to be here, but tonight they all held their
The fighters returned to their corners. Baer's manager, Ancil
heads high. Their eyes followed him with the wild hope that the
Hoffman, whispered final words of advice to the champion, but
story of the Cinderella Man would have a happy ending.
Baer wasn't interested. Jim closed his eyes. Finally, the sound of the
It was the strangest walk to the ring Jim had ever made. As he
bell broke the silence and the fight began.
passed, people got to their feet. They smiled and nodded and
waved at their hero, but they were still silent. Finally, someone •
called his name and the shout broke the silence for everybody. The
Round 1 Braddock came out fast and hard, hoping to surprise
whole crowd—thirty-five thousand people—began to shout, and
the champion. Showing no fear, he hit Baer with a right hand, and
the noise went up to the star-filled sky.
then followed it with a left to the body. The champion tried to
• punch back, but Braddock danced away.
Mae's sister Alice was looking for Jay, Howard, and Rosy, to call On Braddock's next attack, Baer was ready. His left fist hit
them to supper. There was no sign of the children. Were they Braddock's ribs hard. Braddock's answer was a combination of
hiding? She was going to look outside, when she heard a sound punches—a long right to the face, another right, a left, and a final
from the closet under the stairs. right to the chin. The champion knew now that Braddock had a
All three children were sitting around a radio. They looked up good punch, but he refused to show any pain.
at their aunt, and Alice knew that she couldn't stop them. Without "Calm down, old man," Baer laughed as the fighters held on to
saying a word, she sat down next to the children and listened to each other. "I'll let the fight go a few rounds."
the announcer on the radio. As the bell rang, Baer knew that he had lost the round on
I don't know if you can hear me," the announcer was points, but he didn't care. He was confident that he could end this
shouting. "I can't hear myself! The crowd is on its feet and the fight at any time with one punch.
noise is deafening." In the corner, Gould met Braddock with a big smile. "Did you
Back in the Madison Square Garden Bowl, the crowd was silent see the look on Baer's face when you hit him?"
again when they realized that Max Baer was walking to the ring. Jim took out his mouthguard. "Yes, he was laughing."
The champion felt the crowd's fear. He enjoyed it. When he had "So use your left hand to knock that smile off his face!"
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In the opposite corner Ancil Hoffman was shouting, but Baer Baer had seen it, too. He hit the side of Braddock's head with a big
waved him away. "I'll kill him when I'm ready." left-hand punch. Jim's legs bent. He was clearly in terrible pain—
"Your left, Jimmy," Joe said again. "Remember your left." was he going to fall? Gould froze in fear. He thought about giving
in, ending the fight.
Round 2 Braddock came out with his fists moving at the start of
"Give him a chance, Joe," said the corner man.
the second round, too.
A few seconds later, Jim stood straighter and reached for the
"Nobody expected this fight to go one round," the radio ropes.
announcer was saying. "But it's only reached round two because Baer couldn't believe it. He attacked again, but this time
Baer is playing with Braddock. He's thrown almost no punches Braddock hit back with a long right, then a left jab that made
and he's laughing at the challenger." Baer's head look like a punching bag.
But soon Baer started throwing more punches, aiming at "That's it!" shouted Gould, jumping up and down.
Braddock's weak ribs. The strength of Baer's punches knocked the
breath out of him. Round 4 From the start of the next round, both men stood toe to
"The champion has really hurt the challenger," said the toe, throwing jabs. Braddock's feet were quicker and his punches
announcer. The crowd began to boo. more effective, so Baer started aiming for the body again. After a
"That's the right place, isn't it, old man?" said Baer. few good punches to the ribs, he was sure that every breath caused
The referee separated the fighters at the sound of the bell. One Braddock terrible pain.
of Braddock's corner men worked on the fighter's cuts, while the The two men held each other again and the referee called for
other gave the boxer water. Jim coughed it back up. He needed them to break. But Baer continued to hold Braddock.
air, not water. "Dirty fighting!" shouted Gould angrily from the corner.
Joe examined Jim's ribs. "They're not broken," he said. "Not yet." "I warned you," the referee told Baer. "When I say 'Break!' you
Across the ring, Baer was playing and acting for the cameras. break!"
As he watched this, Jim realized that he himself didn't care about The crowd booed as Baer finally stepped back. He shook the
pleasing the crowd now. He wasn't even fighting Baer. He was sweat from his thick black hair and held up his hands to apologize.
fighting to beat the thing that had beaten him. He was fighting for Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Braddock wasn't
his family's future. protecting himself.
Round 3 For the third time, Braddock came out fast. He threw Without warning, Baer turned and delivered an enormous
his punches at Baer's head, but the champion's punches were punch to Braddock's ribs. To everybody's surprise—especially Baer's
aimed at his opponent's body. Baer continued to hit Braddock's —Braddock replied with a combination of left-right punches
ribs hard with both hands. He hit Braddock with a low punch, before stepping back.
and the referee warned the champion to keep his fists up.
Before the fight started again, Gould saw that Braddock's gloves Round 5 Baer's manager, Ancil Hoffman, couldn't understand
were down by his side, but there was no time to shout a warning. it. The challenger's ribs were in bad condition, but Braddock was
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still controlling the fight, jabbing Baer again and again and tiring Round 7 As soon as the round began, it was clear that Baer had a
him. The timing of the champion's punches wasn't right, and new attitude. Joe Gould could see it. The crowd could also feel the
Hoffman knew that he was waiting for the chance to deliver his change. Baer wanted to finish this fight now.
big knockout punch instead of tiring his opponent. But Baer But Braddock wasn't afraid. He met the champion in the
wasn't able to hit Braddock, who dodged and danced away middle of the ring and the two fighters continued the fight. Baer
skillfully. hit Braddock with several punches to the body. The last of these
The champion was getting angry now. He hit Braddock with hit below the belt.
an illegal backhand punch as the referee separated the two "Keep your punches up, Max," said Braddock.
fighters. The referee warned Baer, but the two men continued Baer smiled and delivered a combination of punches to his
fighting before holding on to each other again. opponent's body and head. "Is that up enough?"
"Step back!" shouted the referee, but the two men didn't let go. Braddock forced himself to smile through the pain. "That's fine,
Braddock hit the champion's chin with his head. The champion Max."
shouted in anger. He lifted Braddock and threw him into the As the bell rang, Baer continued throwing punches. Braddock
ropes, paying no attention to the boos of the crowd. hit back as hard as he could, but Max Baer just laughed.
When the round was over, Hoffman shouted angrily at Baer, "I can't believe this!" said the radio announcer. "Everybody
"What are you doing?" expected the champion to win easily. But now, after the seventh
"Relax," the champion told him. round, neither fighter is ahead. Either of them could win."
"I'll relax," replied Ancil, "when we walk out of here with the
title." Chapter 14 T h e Luckiest Man
Round 6 Baer hit Braddock with three good punches in the first "Alice?" The house seemed empty. Mae looked at the uneaten
seconds of the round. Blood poured from the challenger's nose meal on her sister's kitchen table. Then she heard noises from the
and mouth. closet in the hall. They were all there—Mae's three children and
But then, suddenly, it seemed to Baer that a train had hit him. It her sister—listening to the fight on the radio.
was Braddock's right hand, and it hit the champion on the chin "The crowd was expecting big things from champion Max
with enormous power. Baer stepped back, fighting for air. But Baer in the eighth round," the radio announcer was saying. "But
Braddock gave him no space, throwing punch after punch with Jim Braddock refused to be beaten."
his left hand. One of them hit the champion just above the eye. Rosy looked up and saw her mother. "It's the police," she said
Baer fought back, but his aim wasn't as good as the challenger's. to the others.
His right eye began to close. "By the ninth round, it was a fact that Braddock had fought
For the first time in this fight, Baer felt relief when the bell better than anybody expected," continued the announcer. "But
rang. He promised himself that he would end the fight in the next some people were saying that Baer allowed this to happen. In the
round, even if he had to kill the Cinderella Man to do it. tenth round, the champion was in complete control of the fight."
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Mae reached to turn off the radio. Jay's eyes met hers. "Please, "You're right, it is a funeral," shouted the young reporter next
to Sporty Lewis. "Max Baer's funeral."
Mom."
She looked into their hopeful faces and knew that she couldn't But Lewis didn't hear. He was on his feet, shouting like
everybody else. The crowd's shout was like a wave of noise.
say no. But she refused to listen herself. Without a word, she
"Braddock! Braddock! Braddock!"
turned and walked away, as the eleventh round began.
It was too much for Max Baer. He ran at Braddock, moving his
Round 11 Baer was mad as he rushed out. He chased Braddock fists fast and hard. The punches hit the challenger, the last one
around the ring, throwing punches at the challenger . . . and then below the belt. Braddock bent over in pain as the round ended.
it came—Baer's big punch, the one that had killed two men. Joe Gould jumped over the ropes, shouting angrily at Baer. The
When it hit him, Braddock's mind was in a fog. He felt heavy referee and the fight's doctor had to lift the little manager back out
and light at the same time, and his legs could only just support of the ring.
him. He felt the ropes on his back. Baer just stood in the center of the ring.
Suddenly, a memory of his family came into Jim's head—his "That low punch lost you the round," the referee told him.
wife and children. The reason why he was here. He let the ropes Baer waved him away and moved back to his corner. Ancil
support him for a few seconds, and then he pushed forward, back Hoffman was waiting for him. "You're losing! Are you listening to
on his feet. me? Do you want to lose the title to this nobody?"
Baer just stared at Braddock, unable to believe that the
challenger had taken the punch and not been knocked out. Jim
•
looked back into Baer's broken face and smiled. At her sister's house in New Jersey, Mae had stopped pretending
For the rest of the round, Baer tried to finish his opponent, but to herself that she was reading the newspaper—that she wasn't
his wild punches missed. Braddock hit back with a jab, a cross, listening to the radio.
another jab. With each punch, he felt his strength returning. There She went back to the hall, where the others still sat listening.
was blood on Baer's face now. Mae hid around the corner so her children couldn't see her. She
At the end of the round, Braddock's corner men worked stood in the dark and listened to the thirteenth and fourteenth
urgently on the cut under the fighter's eye. Joe Gould seemed rounds with growing fear.
close to tears. "Jimmy," said his manager. "Win, or lose . . ." At last, when there was just one more round in the fight, she
"Thanks, Joe, for all of it." Jim lifted a bloody glove. "Now stop stepped out of the shadows. Rosy moved to the side. "Sit here,
talking." Mommy." Mae joined her children. Pale with worry, she listened
Round 12 Baer started the twelfth round still trying to finish to the announcer.
the fight with one big punch. But the challenger was faster and "It's the fifteenth and final round. The crowd is shouting at
dodged the punches. Braddock to stay away because Baer is looking for the knockout
"He's slow!" shouted Gould from the corner. . . . but Braddock is not staying away, and Baer is delivering the
The crowd was shouting in both happiness and fear. biggest punches of his life."
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Mae saw the fear now in her children's eyes. Would their father
Jim tried to find the right words, but Baer was gone before he
come home tonight? had a chance to say them.
"But Braddock is not only standing . . . he's coming forward!"
At last, the judges handed a small, white card to the fight
announcer. He climbed over the ropes and moved to the
Round 15 In the ring, Max Baer and Jim Braddock were
microphone in the middle of the ring.
beaten, bloody and tired. They fought for air as they circled each
"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner . . . and new heavyweight
other, looking for a chance to get past their opponent's defenses.
champion of the world . . ."
Baer's fists flew and all of his punches were strong enough to
The rest of his words were lost in an explosion of noise.
knock a man out, but they were wild and anxious. Braddock
The same noise filled the streets of Newark. People poured
remained on his feet. He kept coming forward, bringing the fight
from their houses into the streets to celebrate. They poured out of
to Baer.
Father Rorick's church to join everybody else in an unplanned
The final seconds of the fight seemed to stretch forever. For the
street party. People laughed and cried with happiness. Faces that
boxers, the crowd seemed to disappear; the referee, the judges, and
looked old with worry became suddenly young again.
the managers were gone, too. For each man there was only the
At her sister's house, Mae's cry cut the night. As the family
other fighter.
celebrated, little Rosy smiled proudly at her mother. "It's the
Braddock danced to the side and threw a jab. Baer saw his
steak," she said.
chance. He threw his famous right punch and hit Braddock right
Back at the Madison Square Garden Bowl, the crowd pushed
in the head. It knocked the challenger to the side, and now Baer
forward for a better look at the Cinderella Man. Everybody
could hit him with the second punch. Silence fell over the crowd.
wanted to shake his hand, to touch him, to take home a little of his
Was this the end?
magic for themselves.
No. Braddock turned and just managed to dodge the next
James J. Braddock stood in the center of the ring with his arms
punch. He hit back, and the two men were still throwing punches
lifted over his head. Tears poured from his eyes. He listened to the
when the final bell rang. The fight had ended!
crowd's shouts, but his heart was in another place. It was in a little
Everybody waited to hear the fight officials announce a winner.
New Jersey apartment, where his wife and three children would
It was clear which fighter the crowd wanted.
soon be waiting for him to come home. In the end, they were the
reason why he was not only the heavyweight champion of the
Minutes later, Braddock was still resting on the ropes while the
world, but also the luckiest man in it.
fight doctor examined him and Joe Gould took his boxing gloves
off. •
I don't like it," said Joe. "The judges are taking too long."
And so James J. Braddock, at the age of 29, became the
A shadow fell across their corner. It was Max Baer, who looked
heavyweight champion of the world on June 13, 1935. None of
Jim Braddock in the eye. "You beat me. It doesn't matter what
they say." the judges disagreed with the decision. For the public and the
press, his win was one of the biggest surprises in the history of the
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sport. Most agreed that Baer had been beaten by a better boxer on ACTIVITIES
the night.
Chapter 1
For two years, Braddock didn't box again. Finally, a fight was
arranged with Joe Louis, the "Brown Bomber" from Detroit. On Before you read
June 22, 1937, the two fighters met in Chicago. 1 Do you like to watch boxing? Why (not)? Discuss the sport with
By this time, Braddock was not as strong or healthy as he had another student. Who is or was your country's greatest boxer?
been. His left arm was very weak, but he still managed to knock 2 Look at the Word List at the back of the book. Check the meaning
of unfamiliar words; then discuss these questions with another
Louis down in the first round. By the fourth round, Joe Louis was
student. Use the Internet or library books to help you if you don't
controlling the fight. According to Braddock, "After a couple of
know much about boxing.
rounds, I knew I was in there with a great fighter." The end came
a Who is or was the greatest heavyweight champion in the history
when Louis knocked Braddock out in the eighth round. "When
of boxing? Why?
he hit me with that right, I just lay there." Joe Louis later became b In your opinion, how many rounds should there be in an amateur
one of the greatest heavyweight title holders in the history of boxing fight? How many should there be in a professional fight?
boxing. Why?
James J. Braddock fought one more fight after that, in 1938, c If a boxer is being hit often and is not throwing any punches
against a young boxer from Wales, Tommy Farr. Farr had lasted all back, should the referee always stop the fight? Why (not)?
fifteen rounds against Louis, and most people expected him to d What would you like to be the world champion of? Why?
beat Braddock. Again, Braddock surprised everybody by winning e When is the last time you heard people booing? Why were they
the fight. Then he decided to leave the sport as a winner. "I have booing?
won my last fight," he announced to the press. f In your opinion, which of these jobs is the hardest? Why?
After he stopped boxing, Jim Braddock remained friends with butcher priest worker at the docks boxer
Joe Gould. And Braddock had a lot to thank his manager for. 3 Read the Introduction to the book and answer these questions.
a What caused hard times in the U.S. in the 1930s?
When Gould had allowed Joe Louis to challenge Braddock for
b How was Jim Braddock like millions of other unlucky Americans?
the title in 1937, he had demanded money from all Joe Louis's
c Why did actor Russell Crowe want to play Braddock?
heavyweight title fights for the next ten years if Louis won. Jim
d How did Crowe train for the film?
and Mae Braddock were never poor again. The couple lived in
the same New Jersey house that they bought after Jim won the While you read
heavyweight title. Jim spent the rest of his life surrounded by 4 Are these sentences correct? Write yes or no.
friends and neighbors who admired and loved him. a Jim Braddock is expected to beat Tuffy Griffiths.
b Braddock wins the fight by a knockout.
Looking back, Jim Braddock said that, when Baer hit him with
c Joe Gould decides which boxers fight at Madison
his best punch and Jim didn't fall, he was "the happiest guy in the
Square Garden.
world." The story of the Cinderella Man did have a happy ending.
d Braddock was born in New Jersey.
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e Braddock still lives in New Jersey. After you read
f Jim likes to go to clubs after a fight. 11 How has life changed for Jim and his family since 1928? Make a list
g Joe Gould likes to see Mae Braddock. and compare it with the lists of other students.
h Mae refused to marry Jim until he had enough money. 12 Why are these important to the story?
i Jim and Mae have three children. Jim and Mae's wedding picture a jar a piece of meat
j Mae goes to all of Jim's fights. 13 Work in pairs and have these conversations.
Student A: You are Jim Braddock. Pick one of these times in the
After you read
story and tell your friend what your thoughts are.
5 Discuss how these people feel about each other. Give reasons for
a waiting for work at the docks
your answers.
b before the Feldman fight
a Jim and Joe c Jim and Mae
c after you lost your license
b Joe and Jimmy Johnston d Joe and Mae
Student B: You are Jim's friend. Ask questions.
6 Describe Mae's attitude to Jim's job. How would you feel in her
situation? Chapters 4-5
Chapters 2-3 Before you read

14 Look at the titles of these chapters and discuss the questions.
Before you read
a What will Jim's new life be like? How do you think he will earn
7 Life changed for many Americans on October 29, 1929. What do
money for his family with a broken right hand?
you think happened on that day? What happened afterward?
b What promise will be broken? Who will break it?
8 You are going to read about the Braddock family's money problems.
15 In Chapter 5, Jimmy goes back to Madison Square Garden, but
How do you think these will affect Jim? How will they affect Mae?
not as a boxer. Why do you think he goes there? Think of some
9 Jim's next fight is described as "an embarrassment." Why, do you
possible reasons.
think?
While you read
While you read
16 Number these events in the correct order, from 1 to 10.
10 Write the name of the character.
a Jim sells his boxing shoes at the gym.
a Who is afraid about Jim's next fight?
b Joe Gould gives Jim money.
b Who pulls out a gun at the docks?
c Mae takes the children to her relatives.
c Who steals food?
d Jim is chosen to work at the docks.
d Who promises that the Braddocks will
e The electricity is turned back on.
never send their children away?
f The Braddocks' electricity is cut off.
e Who says he will buy Jim an ice cream?
g Jim goes to the relief office.
f Whose hand is broken?
h Jim covers his cast with black shoe polish.
g Who takes away Jim's license?
i Jim and Mike help a young couple.
h Who tells Jim, "It's finished"?
j Jim meets Mike Wilson.
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After you read After you read
17 Why: 21 Answer these questions.
a does Mike Wilson help Jim at the docks? a Why is there a party at the church?
b doesn't Joe Gould speak to Jim when he sees him at the gym? b Why does Joe come to see Jim at his apartment?
c does Mae take the children to her relatives? c Why do the Braddock children go back to the butcher shop?
d does Jim become angry that the children are gone? d Why does Joe Gould look for a spoon?
18 You are Jim Braddock. Pick one of these times in the story and tell e Why does Sporty Lewis get a surprise?
the class your thoughts. f Why can't Joe Gould watch Max Baer's fight?
a working at the docks 22 The writer includes a description of the fight between Max Baer and
b seeing Joe Jeannette at the gym Primo Carnera. Why? What effect does this scene have? Discuss
c in the line at the relief office your opinion with another student.
d when the electricity is turned back on
Chapters 8-9
Chapters 6-7
Before you read
Before you read 23 Which of these do you think will happen in the next two chapters?
19 Discuss these questions with another student. a Jim leaves his job at the docks.
a In Chapter 6, Joe Gould offers Jim something. What will this be? b Mae tries to make Jim stop fighting.
b In Chapter 7, Joe Gould says, "Where have you been, Jimmy c Jim loses his next fight.
Braddock?" Why do you think he says this? d Jim becomes the challenger for the heavyweight title of the
world.
While you read
20 Read the questions and circle YES or NO. While you read
a Is it Howard's birthday? YES NO 24 Match the speakers with the words.
b Had Jim hit the priest? YES NO a "Put it on your eyes." Jim Braddock
c Does Jim hit Mike Wilson? YES NO b "Why didn't you tell me you were going Joe Gould
d Is Mae happy about the children boxing? YES NO to win again?" Joe Jeannette
e Is Mae happy about the Griffin fight? YES NO c "You said it was one fight." John Henry Lewis
f Does Jim train hard for the Griffin fight? YES NO d "I'll get him a fight if it's the last thing Mae Braddock
g Does Jim fight Corn Griffin on an empty stomach? YES NO I do." Max Baer
h Does Sporty Lewis think that Jim will win? YES NO e "You've been training, Jimmy." Mike Wilson
i Does Jim beat Griffin by a knockout? YES NO f "I can't win if you don't support me." Rosy Braddock
j Does Max Baer beat Primo Carnera? YES NO g "He isn't the same guy."
h "The guy's a loser."
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25 Answer these questions. 30 Pick one of these people. Imagine what they are thinking at Mike's
a Why are the men at the docks surprised to see Jim? funeral. Discuss it with a partner.
b Why is Mae surprised at Joe's apartment? Jim Mae Sara
c Why is Joe Jeannette surprised when Jim starts training? 31 Do you know the complete story of Cinderella? Tell the story.
d Why is the radio announcer surprised during the Lasky fight? Explain the meaning of the name "Cinderella Man."
26 Imagine Mae's thoughts as she returns home after seeing Joe 32 Work in pairs. Act out the conversation between Jim and Mae after
Gould in New York. Make notes; then have this conversation. they have met Max Baer at the club.
Student A: You are Mae. Tell Jim about your visit to Joe's Student A: You are Mae. You are afraid that Jim will get badly hurt
apartment. or killed. Ask him not to fight Baer.
Student B: You are Jim. Ask questions. Say what you think about Student B: You are Jim. Tell Mae why you have to fight and try to
Joe and about Mae's visit. make her feel better.
Chapters 10-11 Chapters 12-13
Before you read Before you read

27 In the 1930s, some people with no money lived in New York's 33 It is time for the big fight. How do you think these people feel about
Central Park. What do you think life was like for them? it?
28 In Chapter 11, Jim Braddock meets the champion, Max Baer, Jim Mae the Braddock children Jim's neighbors Max Baer
outside the ring. What do you think happens? While you read
While you read 34 Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)?
29 Circle the correct word. a Joe Jeannette thinks that the champion's ribs are weak
a Jim gives money back to Joe Gould/the Newark relief office. b The champion is heavier than the challenger.
b He buys some flowers/chocolates for Mae. c Jim's children are at their aunt's house during the fight.
c Sara tells Mae that Jim/Mike is missing. d Mae stays to watch the whole fight.
d Jim looks for Mike in Central Park/at the Newark docks. e Max Baer is worried in the first round.
e A lot of/Few people go to Mike's funeral. f Baer breaks Jim's ribs in the second round.
f Sporty Lewis asks Mae/Jim questions. g The champion stays calm in the fight.
g Joe Gould/Jim Braddock asks Jimmy Johnston to stop the film of After you read
Baer's fights. 35 Discuss these questions.
h Max Baer/Jim Braddock tells his opponent, "I don't want to hurt a What helps Mae to change her mind about the fight?
you." b How is Jim Braddock's attitude to boxing different in 1935 than it
i Mae throws a drink/a punch at Max Baer. was in 1928? Explain your answer.
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Chapter 14 46 Write a character description of one of these people:
Before you read Jim Braddock Mae Braddock Joe Gould Mike Wilson
36 How do you think these people will feel if Braddock wins? How will Max Baer
they feel if he loses? Support your description with examples of the person's words or
Mae Ancil Hoffman Sporty Lewis actions.
37 Who do you think will win the fight? Why do you think that? 47 All of the people in the book are real except Mike Wilson and his
family. You are the writer of the movie. Write an e-mail to the
While you read filmmakers explaining why you put this character in the story.
38 Number these events in the correct order, from 1 to 6. 48 Think about a time in your life when you had to fight for your beliefs.
a Mae listens to the fight with her children. Describe it in a diary page.
b Joe Gould jumps into the ring. 49 What does this book tell you about life in the United States in the
c The judges' decision is announced. early 1930s? Write a description of what life was like for many poor
d Mae walks away from the radio. Americans at that time. Include examples from Cinderella Man.
e Max Baer comes over to Jim's corner. 50 Professional boxers have to be very fit. Write a weekly exercise
f Jim takes Baer's big punch and smiles at the champion program for a boxer or for yourself.
After you read
39 What was Max Baer trying to do in the fight? How were Jim's
attitude and fighting style different from the champion's?
40 In your opinion, why did poor people across the country support Jim
Braddock?
Writing
41 You are Sporty Lewis. Write about the Braddock-Baer fight for your
newspaper.
42 You are making the movie of Cinderella Man. Write a scene when
Jim first sees Mae and the children after winning the title.
43 Imagine that you are Mae many years after the big fight. Tell Jim's
story to one of your grandchildren in a letter.
44 You write about books for a magazine. Write about Cinderella Man,
telling your readers why they should—or shouldn't—read the book.
45 You are a sports reporter for the radio and you are going to
interview the heavyweight champion of the world, Jim Braddock,
before his fight with Joe Louis. Write a list of the ten questions you
would most like to ask.
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WORD LIST
amateur (n) someone who does something because they enjoy it, not
because it is their job
announce (v) to tell people about something officially
boo (n/v) a shout showing dislike of a person or their performance
butcher (n) someone who owns or works in a shop that sells meat
cast (n) a hard cover used to protect a broken bone
challenge (v) to try to beat the best person in a sports event
champion (n) someone who is the best in a sports event
combination (n) in boxing, two or more punches that are put together
cross (n) in boxing, a punch that goes from right to left or left to right
dock (n) the place in a port where things are taken on and off ships
dodge (v) to move quickly so that something doesn't hit you
fist (n) a closed hand
foreman (n) a worker in charge of other workers
funeral (n) a religious service for someone who has just died
heavyweight (n/adj) a boxer from the heaviest weight group; a light
heavyweight is a boxer from a lower weight group
hook (n) a curved piece of metal used for picking things up
jab (n/v) a quick punch in which a boxer's hand goes straight forward
knockout (n/adj; knock out, v) a hit by a boxer which is so hard that
the other boxer falls down and can't get up again
nod (n/v) a movement of your head to say yes or to show agreement
opponent (n) somebody who is against you in a sports event
polish (n) something used to make things shine, for example shoes
priest (n) someone who performs religious services in some religions
punch (n/v) a hit with your closed hand
referee (n) someone who makes sure that rules are followed in sports
relief (n) money, food, or clothes given to those who need them; the
feeling that you can stop worrying about something
rib (n) one of the curved bones in your chest
ring (n) a square area, surrounded by seats, where boxers fight
round (n) one stage of a boxing fight, usually lasting three minutes
sweat (n/v) liquid that comes from the skin of a hot or nervous person
wagon (n) a strong vehicle with four wheels, usually pulled by horses
t.me/Graded_Reader
Pearson Education Limited
Edinburgh Gate, Harlow,
Contents
Essex C M 2 0 2JE, England
and Associated Companies throughout the world.
ISBN-10: 1-4058-0642-7
page
ISBN-13: 978-1-4058-0642-8 Introduction V
This edition first published by Penguin Books 2006 Chapter 1 A Lucky Man 1
Chapter 2 Hard Times 7
Text copyright © Penguin Books 2006
Chapter 3 An Embarrassment 12
Typeset by Graphicraft Limited, H o n g Kong
Set in l l / 1 4 p t B e m b o Chapter 4 A New Life 16
Printed in China
SWTC/01 Chapter 5 Broken Promises 20
Chapter 6 One Fight Only 27
Produced for the Publishers by
Graphicraft Productions Limited, Dartford, UK Chapter 7 Back in the Ring 31
Chapter 8 A Second Chance 36
All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, Chapter 9 Not the Same Guy 41
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the
prior written permission of the Publishers. Chapter 10 Night in the Park 46
Chapter 11 Face to Face with the Champion 49
Published by Pearson Education Limited in association with
Penguin Books Ltd, both companies being subsidiaries of Pearson Plc Chapter 12 The Big Day 54
Acknowledgement Chapter 13 The Hopes of the Crowd 60
Photograph page: viii © ® Estate of James J. Braddock Chapter 14 The Luckiest Man 65
Activities 71
For a complete list of the titles available in the Penguin Readers series please write to your local
Pearson Education office or to: Penguin Readers Marketing Department, Pearson Education,
Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex, C M 2 0 2JE

t.me/ielts_sat_gmat
Introduction
As Jim Braddock stepped out into the bright lights, the crowd became
silent. The ring seemed so far away. Between him and it were thousands
of people—Jim's people. He knew the looks on their faces—people who
saw no chance of a future. Some had spent their last dollar to be here,
but tonight they all held their heads high. Their eyes followed him with the
wild hope that the story of the Cinderella Man would have a happy
ending.
The story of heavyweight boxer James J. Braddock—the

"Cinderella Man"—is a true one. It begins in New York City in
the late 1920s. The 1920s had seen good times in the United
States. The rest of the world watched as taller and taller buildings
were built in cities like New York. More and more Americans
were buying Henry Ford's cars, and Hollywood was making
movies that were seen around the world. In the country's big
cities, it was a time of new fashions, new machines, and exciting
new music.
President Herbert Hoover thought that the good times would
never end, but he was wrong. The country was producing more
than it needed, and many historians believe that this was the cause
of the problem. There were still many poor people in the United
States—almost half the population—and these people couldn't
afford to buy new things. At the same time, the country's rich
people couldn't continue to buy things they already owned. The
end came suddenly, in October 1929, when the whole system
crashed. The economy failed, banks closed, families around the
country lost their money, and millions of people lost their jobs
and their homes. In 1932, the country voted for a popular new
president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who worked hard to solve
the country's problems. There were no quick answers, though—in
All IN One Graded Readers v

t.me/Graded_Reader
1933, there were 15 million people without jobs in the country, Mae was a strong woman at a time when many women had no
one in every four working people—and the 1930s continued to voice at all. "She's never afraid to tell Jim what's in her heart, even
be hard for many Americans. when it's not what he wants to hear," said Zellweger.
The true story of Jim Braddock was similar to the story of Before the movie could be made, Russell Crowe had a lot of
many Americans. He made a lot of money in the 1920s as a work to do. After his last movie, the actor weighed 103 kilograms.
successful boxer, and he and his family had everything they Jim Braddock fought at 81 kilograms and he was taller than
wanted. But for Braddock, too, the good times couldn't last. Crowe, so the actor had to lose weight. He did this by methods
He lost all of his money in 1929, and he experienced bad luck from Braddock's days—swimming, running, riding a bicycle, and
in his professional life when he began to lose fights. Like many climbing.
Americans, Braddock had to take any work he could find. He had He also had to study boxing, working long hours at the
to fight just to put food on the table for his family. Most people punching bag and in the ring. He was helped by the most famous
believed that his life as a professional heavyweight boxer had trainer in boxing's history, Angelo Dundee, who has worked with
ended. The story of his second chance is one of the sport's greatest Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, and the greatest champion of
stories. them all, Muhammad Ali. The trainer helped Crowe to box, and to
It was a story that the writer and boxing supporter Cliff box just like Jim Braddock. Dundee spoke of the actor's speed and
Hollingsworth knew well. Thinking that it would make a great skill in the ring. "Best of all, he has learned to think like a fighter,"
movie, he spoke to Jim Braddock's sons in 1994. They told him said the famous trainer.
that their father had been a national hero, but that now most Crowe was also not afraid of pain. He was knocked down
people hadn't heard of him. Hollingsworth wanted to change that several times and suffered loose and broken teeth; one week before
situation so "this forgotten hero will be remembered once again." filming began, his shoulder was badly hurt. When the movie was
Actor Russell Crowe became interested in making a movie made, some of Braddock's opponents were played by real boxers,
of Braddock's story. Crowe, who was born in New Zealand and who had to learn to throw punches that didn't hurt so much. They
grew up in Australia, told how Braddock did everything possible didn't always remember! In one scene, boxer Mark Simmons hit
to support his family. "I just wanted people to hear this true Crowe so hard that actor Paul Giamatti, playing Braddock's
American story," said the actor. manager, heard the boxing glove hit Crowe's head. Giamatti's
Filmmaker R o n Howard learned more about the possible look of shock in the film wasn't acting! "I don't know how he
movie when he made A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe. continued with the fight," said Giamatti.
Howard already knew about Braddock—when he was little, his In the end, Cinderella Man is not just a story about boxing. It is
father had told him about the fighter. the story of a family who stayed together in hard times—the story
It was clear to the filmmakers that Braddock's wife and family of a man who fought for what he loved and believed in.
were the most important things in his world, so they knew that
the character of Jim's wife, Mae, was very important to the movie.
Actress Renee Zellweger was interested in playing Mae because
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Chapter 1 A Lucky M a n
Madison Square Garden, New York, November 30, 1928
There were nineteen thousand boxing supporters around the

center ring in Madison Square Garden, and most were waiting
for just one thing—for one fighter to murder another. Tonight
they were waiting for Gerald "Tuffy" Griffiths, the "Terror from
out West," to destroy New Jersey's Jim Braddock.
At the sound of the bell, Braddock stood under the hot lights
and watched Griffiths rush out into the ring. Tuffy Griffiths had
come to New York after winning fifty fights. He had won his last
fight with a knockout in the first round. Everybody knew that
he would do the same to Braddock—everybody except Braddock
and his manager, Joe Gould. Gould believed in Braddock.
A sudden jab from Braddock knocked Griffiths back. The
fighters started moving around the ring, throwing and blocking
punches. Griffiths threw the same punches that had easily beaten
his other opponents, but Braddock stayed on his feet. Blood and
sweat poured into his eyes.
None of the reporters around the ring expected the New Jersey
boxer to reach the end of the second round. But by round two,
Braddock had timed his opponent's rushes. Within one minute,
he hit Griffiths with his big punch—his right cross—and Tuffy
went down. The crowd stood, shouting. But the referee had only
counted to three before Griffiths was back on his feet and the
fight continued.
Time stretched for Braddock now, and his opponent's slightest
move seemed enormous. Braddock paid no attention to the
screams of the crowd, to the pain he felt. This was his chance to
finish Griffiths. He threw his big right punch again, and again
Tuffy was on the floor.
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"One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . ." the referee counted. People crowded around Jim. He liked them; he liked the fact
For a second time, Griffiths got to his feet. But Braddock was that they loved him.
ready, stepping in close and throwing punch after punch. Then "You win some, you lose some, Johnston," said Joe.
his right hand flew forward and found Griffiths' chin for the last Jim looked up. His manager was talking to a big man who had
time. The big fighter hit the floor again. He tried to stand, but come out of the same side entrance. Jimmy Johnston organized
his legs were like rubber. No more punches hit him, but he went the fights at Madison Square Garden. No boxer fought there
down—and stayed down. without his permission. Johnston and men like him ruled the
"And from the great state of New Jersey, by a knockout, world of boxing. Tonight Johnston had wanted Griffiths to win
tonight's light heavyweight winner . . .Jim Braddock!" the fight. Braddock was supposed to be an easy win for Griffiths.
The crowd was back on its feet. The local boy had won! Jim touched his manager's arm. "Leave it," he said.
Braddock had been born in Hell's Kitchen, a poor neighborhood But Joe continued talking. "Maybe you support the wrong
of New York just a stone's throw from Madison Square Garden. guys? Griffiths was heavier than my boy, and what happened? Jab,
Braddock punched the air in celebration. He looked at the crowd, cross . . ."
at the men in their suits and ties and the women with their "Actually, it was jab, jab, cross," said Jim. He didn't like to see Joe
fashionable haircuts and expensive clothes. It was Friday night, the arguing with a man as powerful as Johnston. But the little manager
world seemed to be having a party, and Jim Braddock's win was had always supported Jim, and the fighter couldn't let his manager
one more reason to celebrate! stand alone now.
Griffiths was Braddock's eighteenth knockout since his first "Jab, jab, cross!" repeated Joe. "And then your boy's out! So
professional fight in 1926. His twenty-seventh win. The fight maybe no one's a loser? Right, Johnston?"
organizers had had big plans for Griffiths. After this surprise win, Loser. Jim hated that word. Some people had said that his early
maybe Braddock would have his chance to fight for the title of opponents were no good. Easy fights. Losers. So what did that
heavyweight champion. That was every boxer's dream. make Jim? But after tonight. . . after Griffiths . . . what could
Inside the ring, Joe Gould rushed out of the corner and jumped they say now?
onto his boxer's back. Both men looked at the crowd and listened Joe Gould and Jimmy Johnston stared hard at each other. Just
to its shouts. Jim smiled. He was a winner . . . like inside the boxing ring, time seemed to stretch. And then
Johnston turned and walked to his waiting car.
•
Jim shook his head. His little manager had no control over his
The tall boxer and his manager stepped out through the side mouth. "I'll get us a taxi," he said.
entrance into a crowd of about a hundred well-dressed supporters. But Joe pointed to a big, shiny new car across the street. "You
"Just sign your name for a few of them," said Joe. "Leave them have to show you're doing well," he said. The manager organized
wanting more." his life by this belief—expensive clothes, the best restaurants, and
"Do you want to sign my name for me, too?" Jim asked his now this car. A uniformed driver opened the back door, and the
manager with a smile. two men got in.
2 3
t.me/ielts_sat_gmat
Through the car's windows, New York seemed alive. The city's "I was this morning," answered Jim.
bright lights shone and people laughed and talked as they went "I'll come in another time," said Joe. "And tell her I didn't
to shows and clubs. It was an exciting time to live in the city. Tall charge you for the towels."
buildings were going up everywhere, and everybody seemed to be As Jim climbed out, he forced himself not to laugh. Joe Gould
getting rich. Jim Braddock and Joe Gould wanted a piece of that was afraid of nothing in the world of boxing, but he turned and
success, too. They had even started their own taxi company. ran from Jim's wife, Mae, with her hard questions about the prize
"Let's go to a club," said Joe. "You should be seen in the right money and Jim's share of it.
places . . ." The front door of the house was open now, and there, in the
But Jim just said, "Home, Joe." golden light of the hall, was Mae. Her pale face was serious as she
With a shake of his head, Joe told the driver, and the car turned waited. From the first time he had met her, Jim had loved her.
toward New Jersey. This had been Jim's home since soon after his He moved toward her now, telling himself he was a lucky man to
birth. His parents had moved from Ireland to New York, looking have a wife like Mae.
for a better life. Later, for the same reason, they had moved their
family across the Hudson River to New Jersey.
Here Jim had grown up a typical American boy. By the time When Mae Braddock saw her husband, the dark cloud of worry
he stopped going to school, his older brother had started to box. disappeared. She could breathe again. Feel again.
One day he and Jim began to argue, and soon they were fighting. Fight night was always like this for Mae. In the afternoon,
Although his brother was bigger and had much more experience, Jimmy kissed her goodbye. Then she just watched the clock and
Jim didn't do badly. That's when he realized—-maybe he could be hoped that he was safe. The long hours full of fear only ended
a winner in the boxing ring. when Jim came home.
Not long after this, he had first met Joe Gould in a local gym. She knew that men died in the ring. Not often, but it
Joe needed someone to train with one of his boxers, and he happened. And if they didn't die, they were hurt, badly. Mae didn't
offered five dollars to the tall teenager. Jim had gone into the ring understand the sport. To her it was a world of pain and danger. But
and given Gould's boxer a lesson. The manager had stayed with she loved her husband, and so she tried to support him.
Jim since then, through one hundred amateur fights, and then Mae Theresa Fox had grown up near the Braddock family in
through all his professional fights. New Jersey. She had always liked big Jim Braddock, and he loved
Now the car turned onto Jim's tree-lined street in a nice, quiet Mae from the time he first met her. But Jim was shy, and it took
neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey's biggest city. Joe pulled him a long time to ask Mae to marry him. He said that he wanted
some cash out of his pocket and began to count out Jim's share of to wait until he had enough money to buy a nice home. When he
the prize money. had $30,000 from his prize money—a small fortune—he finally
'Do you want to come in?" asked Jim as the car stopped asked. As he waited nervously for her answer, Mae noticed the
outside his house. "The kids would love to see you." sweat on Jim's face. She couldn't stop herself from laughing. The
Joe paused. "Are you still married to the same girl?" money didn't matter to her—of course she would marry him!
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t.me/Graded_Reader
Now Mae looked at her husband. She knew that Griffiths had Now she looked at her husband. "Were there any girls waiting
been expected to win tonight's fight. Her eyes asked the question, outside after the fight?"
and Jim's answer was a slow shake of the head. Mae looked away. "Maybe," said Jim with a smile.
She hated to see Jimmy in pain—that's why she never went to the Mae moved around the table. She spoke in a different voice
fights—and she hated to see him like this. But then she looked up now, pretending to be one of the women. "Oh, Mr. Braddock,"
and saw Jimmy smile. He had won! she said. "You're so strong. Your hands are so big."
"I could kill you," said Mae, kissing her husband. Mae moved in close, and she wasn't joking now when she said,
Jim's two sons ran into the hall. They jumped around their "I am so proud of you, Jimmy."
father's legs, shouting with excitement. That night, as he got ready for bed, Jim stood in the bedroom of
"Daddy, did you win?" cried four-year-old Jay. his beautiful home. He looked at their wedding picture. Then he
Howard, who was only three, was just happy that Daddy was took off the gold cross from around his neck and kissed it, looking
home. Jim picked the boys up and kissed them. My little men, he at his own face in the mirror. It was the face of a lucky man. A
thought. His eyes met Mae's. My little family. lucky man and a winner.
Jim told them all about the fight, acting it out punch by punch.
It wasn't easy for Mae to put the boys to bed after that. When she
Chapter 2 Hard Times
had checked their sleeping baby girl, Rosy, she sat down to eat
dinner with Jimmy. Newark, New Jersey, September 25, 1933
"So did Griffiths have a big punch?" she asked.
"You could come and watch me fight," suggested Jim. Jim Braddock looked through the drawers below the same mirror
But Mae looked away. "You get punched, and it feels like I'm that had shown him the face of a lucky man. Dressing was quick
getting punched. But I'm not as strong as you . . ." She forced these days: he just put on what Mae had washed or fixed the night
herself to smile. "And who wants newspaper stories about me before. He didn't have to kiss his gold cross for luck. He had sold it
running out from a fight again?" years ago. Everyone's luck had gone now—even Jim Braddock's.
Jim remembered when this had happened. His opponent had Something moved outside the window, probably a rat. This
knocked him down that day, and Mae had seen it. Jim still was just a part of life when you lived in a single room in a dirty,
remembered the look of fear on her face. It didn't seem to matter crowded apartment building. Behind Jim, his three hungry
that Jim had won the fight in the end. After that, Mae bravely children shared a bed in the cold family bedroom. Mae had hung
continued coming to watch Jim box. He didn't know how painful a blanket across the room to turn one room into two.
it was for her until a few fights later. Jim was having a bad night He looked again at his and Mae's wedding picture. In the last
and he took a lot of punishment. Not able to watch anymore, few years they had lost their house and most of their furniture, but
Mae had run off before the final bell. A reporter saw her go, they would always have this. In the picture, Mae looked beautiful;
and the story was in the newspapers. Mae never went to a fight Jim stood next to her, wearing a suit he didn't own now. The
again. couple in the photo smiled, not knowing the hard future that was
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ahead. But Jim liked to look at the picture every day. It reminded I'm just not hungry now." He spoke more quietly to his daughter.
him of the good things in his life. "Can you help me? Mommy cooked this, and I don't want to hurt
He stepped into the kitchen, where Mae was cooking breakfast. her feelings."
She looked different now—thinner, with dark circles under her Rosy wasn't sure whether to believe him, but Jim moved the
eyes. But to Jim she was still beautiful. meat from his plate to hers. With wide eyes, the child immediately
"I can't find my socks," he said. began to eat.
"Jim!" whispered Mae, but it was too late. "Jimmy—" Mae began, but he silenced her with a kiss.
"Mom, I want to eat, too," said little Rosy, pushing through the You can't work on an empty stomach, her eyes said to him.
blanket. Mae began to cut another thin piece of meat. Jim's answer was simple. "You're my girls."
"Sorry," said Jim. When Jim stepped outside, he remembered that things weren't
Rosy couldn't remember living in a big house, surrounded by so bad for him and his family. Times were even harder for many
nice things, with new clothes and plenty of food. The girl climbed other people. He walked past old, broken cars next to trash can
onto her father, and Jim held her close to him. He hated seeing his fires. Those useless cars were homes now, homes to people with no
children grow up like this; it was harder than any fight. jobs and no hopes.
"We got a final bill," said Mae, "for the gas and electricity." This part of Newark was very different from Jim's old leafy
Jim's shoulders fell. He took down a jar from the shelf, where neighborhood. Most of the dirty brown and gray buildings around
they kept their money for a "rainy day." He shook it and listened here had broken windows and paint coming off. Most of the
to the few coins in the jar. stores were closed, and garbage cans lay empty in the street. People
"It's clearly been raining more than I thought recently," he said. threw nothing away these days.
Mae picked up three dishes and put a thin piece of hot meat on Ten thousand factories in the New York area had been closed
each one. Jim began to cut up his daughter's food. down. Everywhere Jim looked, he saw people without jobs.
"I'm fighting Abe Feldman tonight," he told his wife. He didn't Businessmen, teachers, office workers, lawyers, bankers . . . all were
tell her that Feldman had lost only one fight in nineteen. Instead, looking for work. There were men in four-year-old suits, happy
he told her what he would earn—fifty dollars, more than he could to clean a yard for a dollar. Others stood in line at employment
earn in one whole week on the docks. offices from morning until night.
Mae couldn't hide the old fear in her eyes. Since hard times had Disaster had struck on October 29, 1929. Some people called it
hit their family—and the whole country—she had started to hate Black Tuesday, others the Crash. It was the end of America's good
the ring, with its punishments and its empty promises. times in the 1920s. The economy failed, and suddenly millions of
"Mommy, I want some more," said Rosy. people were out of work. At first, Jim thought that the problem
Jim looked at Mae and Rosy with their empty plates. "Mae, wouldn't last long. But then his bank closed and his taxi company
I had a dream last night," he said, standing from the table. "I went out of business. By 1932, the Braddocks had lost every cent
dreamed that I was having dinner at an expensive hotel, and I had of Jim's boxing money
a big, thick steak." He put on his old coat. "I had so much food, New York wasn't a city of bright lights and happy party-goers
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now. The city was filled with a gray crowd of people without him to the ground. That was the end for Ben now. How could he
hope. They stood in endless lines for soup or bread; they froze on help his wife and kids from prison?
street corners; they looked for work and found none. Hungry, Jim spent the whole day walking from place to place and
empty, hopeless people. looking for work, without luck. Hours later, he returned to the
Jim's only hope had been boxing. The prize money was less, but apartment building. His eight-year-old son, Howard, was outside.
boxing was still popular, cheap entertainment. But, after the crash, Jim gave his son a smile. How could a young boy understand that
Jim's success as a boxer had ended. In 1930, '31, '32—and now one in four working Americans had no job? An eight-year-old
1933—he lost more fights than he won. It was harder and harder child didn't need to know that.
for Gould to get him good fights. Suddenly, another child ran up to him. It was Rosy.
Jim had to look for other work. With so many factories closed, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" she cried. "Jay stole!"
he tried Newark's busy docks. Early every morning, he joined the Jim carried his daughter to their apartment, where Mae was
crowd looking for work there. In the dark and the cold, they standing over their oldest son. The ten-year-old's face was red.
waited by the locked gate of a high fence. Jim put Rosy down. "What's all this about?"
At last, the foreman pulled open the gate. He looked at the Rosy pointed at the meat on the table. "See?" she said.
tired, hungry faces of the men there. This man had the power of There was enough to feed the family for a whole week.
life or death; he could change the luck of every man here. "It's from the butcher shop," said Mae. "He refuses to say a word
"I need nine men," he said. about it. Don't you, Jay?"
Men began pushing forward—Me! Pick me!—as the foreman "OK," said Jim to his son. "Pick it up. Let's go."
counted out workers. "One, two, three . . ."Jim pushed forward, Jay looked up at his father and the message in his eyes was clear.
too, but then:". . . nine." Don't make me do this. Can't you see that we need it?
Jim closed his eyes. After all of that waiting, it had ended in less "Right now!" said Jim.
than thirty seconds. He hadn't been picked. Then he was out of the building and marching to the butcher
"I've been here since four o'clock," said a man's voice. shop without another word. His son followed slowly behind, with
The man had stepped forward to complain. Jim had spoken to the stolen food in his hand. At the butcher's, Jay had to give the
him once. His name was Ben and, like Jim, he had a wife and three meat back and apologize. Jim met the butcher's eyes. I am not
kids to support. bringing up my son to be a thief.
The foreman began to turn away, but suddenly Ben was holding The butcher nodded. Father and son left the shop. As they
a gun and pointing it at the foreman's heart. His hand shook and walked, Jim was silent, giving his boy time.
his eyes were wild. "I was here first." At last, Jay spoke. "Marty Johnson had to go and live with his
The foreman lifted his eyes from the gun to Ben's face. "My uncle. His parents didn't have enough for them to eat."
mistake," he said. "I need ten men." Jim turned toward his son. "You were scared," he said. "I
Ben stepped through the gate. Jim wanted to look away but he understand that. But we don't steal. It doesn't matter what
couldn't. Ben had just put the gun away when several men fought happens. Promise me."
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Jay managed a nod. "I promise," he said.
The little manager thought of Mae and the children. "OK," he
"Here's my promise." Jim was eye to eye with his son. "We're
said. "I'll tape your hand double." Gould knew that double-taping
never going to send you away, son."
was against the rules, too. "Keep your left hand in his face and,
The tears came pouring from the little boy's eyes. Jim pulled Jay
when you can, hit him with a big right. If you finish early, I'll buy
into his arms and held him as tight as he could.
you an ice cream!"
He led the boxer past the crowd toward the ring. This crowd
Chapter 3 An Embarrassment was very different from the one at Madison Square Garden years
earlier. These people looked poorer and hungrier.
Mount Vernon, New York, September 23, 1933 As Jim climbed into the ring, a radio reporter spoke into a
microphone. "Just five years ago, Jim Braddock was thought to be
The dressing room was a mess. The floor was dirty and the doors
ready to fight for the world heavyweight title. But he has lost ten
were broken. The air smelled of old sweat.
fights in the last year."
"He's a slow guy," said Joe Gould. "My grandmother could beat
The crowd started to shout louder when Abe Feldman walked
him! It'll be an easy fight."
toward the ring, punching the air.
Joe was wearing one of his usual fine brown suits. Jim knew
"Now Braddock fights Feldman," continued the radio man, "a
nobody else who hadn't been ruined by the Crash.
young fighter who has won seventeen times and lost just once."
The manager was taping up Jim's hands before the fight. He
Jim froze. This was the boxer Joe's grandmother could beat?
squeezed Jim's right hand, then saw the look of pain on the
Feldman was the crowd's favorite. He was young and
fighter's face. He played with the hand, examining it carefully.
handsome, like Braddock had been years earlier when he had an
"This break needs a couple of weeks to get better," he said.
unbroken nose and two pretty ears. Braddock's gloves fell to his
"Why didn't you tell me, Jim?"
sides.
Jim didn't look up. He had fought in March, although his right
Joe pulled Jim's gloves back up. "Jimmy, what are you going to
hand was still hurt from a fight in January. His opponent was
do?"
good, and Jim, fighting with a bad hand, had lost in four rounds.
Jim closed his eyes and everything went away—the crowd's
But he couldn't stop fighting because he needed the prize money
shouts, Mae's worried looks, Ben's gun, Jay's silent tears, all the
for his family. He fought several more times, hurting his right
mistakes of the last four years. He opened his eyes.
hand again and again. By now he had to use drugs to control the
"I'm going to get an ice cream!"
pain. There was never enough time for it to get better before the
next fight. •
Joe Gould knew that it wasn't legal to let a boxer fight in this
Feldman's glove hit Braddock in the face, a hard punch. Jim tried
condition. If something went wrong in the ring, it could mean the
to hit back, but Feldman blocked his punches.
end for both Joe and Jim.
'Come on, Jimmy!" cried Gould from the corner. The manager
"I can't get any work," said Jim quietly. "We need the money."
was sweating almost as much as Braddock, as he jabbed the air
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and shouted advice. But Braddock could only think about the hit him back, and again Braddock held on to his opponent. He
pain of Feldman's punches. The younger man hit him again and almost fainted from the pain.
again, but none of Braddock's punches seemed to hit Feldman, The angry boos from the crowd were so loud that he almost
who danced around his opponent easily. Suddenly, Feldman threw didn't hear the bell.
a combination of punches that threw Braddock back onto the
•
ropes. The crowd began to boo.
"Don't just stand there!" shouted Gould. "An embarrassment! That's what it was. An embarrassment!"
Braddock saw an opening in Feldman's defenses and threw a Jimmy Johnston, the big fight organizer, was shouting angrily
right cross. It hit the fighter's chin and knocked him back. Jim at Joe Gould, 'who was unusually quiet.
stepped in to finish his opponent, but Feldman put his head down Thirty minutes earlier the referee had ended the fight,
as Braddock threw his big punch. The leather glove hit the top of announcing that nobody was the winner because Braddock
Feldman's head. There was a sound of bone on bone. The pain wasn't fit to continue.
in Braddock's right hand was terrible. He held on to Feldman as "OK, OK, so he's fighting while he's hurt," said Joe. "Maybe
the bell announced the end of the round. The referee had to send your fighters can afford to have a month's rest between fights."
both fighters back to their corners. "He almost never hits his opponents any more," answered
Gould quickly took Braddock's right glove off. Even under all Johnston. "And now the referee has to stop the fight. A fighter like
the tape, he could see that the hand was really broken. that keeps the public away. Ticket money will fall." The big man
"I can't let you continue," he said. paused. "We're taking away his boxing license. Whatever Braddock
Jim thought of the prize money. "I can use my left," he said. was going to do in boxing, he's done it."
"Don't let Feldman get too close," said Gould, quickly tying the When Jim heard the bad news from his manager, he couldn't
glove back up. "Do what you can with your left." move, couldn't breathe. The dressing room was small and dirty, so
But Braddock had never had a left-hand punch. Now he Joe led his boxer back into the hall. The lights threw long shadows
couldn't even block with his right, and his feet felt heavy and slow. on the empty ring. Joe began taping a piece of wood to Jim's
Punch after punch fell on him. broken hand. "Until you get to the hospital."
Time usually slowed down for Jim in the ring, but now it was As he taped the hand, Joe couldn't hold back the memories, all
flying past. He began to throw out his left hand in wild jabs. These the fights and all the dreams. All the hopes that Jim Braddock
missed, but then one punch hit Feldman on the chin and hurt would be champion one day. Now those hopes lay as broken as
him. Again, the two boxers held on to each other. The crowd the fighter's hand.
began to boo again and shout insults: "Go home!" Joe cleared his throat. "Jimmy . . . sometimes you just can't
Braddock decided that maybe he had one more good right change things. I'm telling you . . . It's finished."
punch in him. He pulled his arm back and threw the punch. It The boxer didn't jump up, shout, or scream. He was quiet for a
hurt Feldman, but the pain was much worse for Braddock. Under long time. His face was wet with tears. "Get me one more fight,
the double tape, his right hand was completely broken. Feldman Joe," said the fighter. "We're down to our last dollar."
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"I . . . I'm sorry, Jimmy." •
After all they had been through together, Joe really was sorry.
They had stayed the best of friends through good times and bad. It was early morning and Jim was standing outside the familiar
Now it really was the end. Tonight. This was goodbye. locked gate at Newark docks. As the sun appeared in the east, the
Jim didn't even look up as his manager walked away, leaving foreman, Jake, walked up. Jim put his broken hand behind him.
him on the seats beside the dark ring. Alone. The doctor had said it would be useless for months.
"One, two, three . . ." As usual, Jake walked along the group,
pointing to the workers he wanted. " . . . five, six, seven . . ."Jim
Chapter 4 A N e w Life
stood tall.". . . eight. . ."Jake's eyes fell on Jim, then the foreman
"Oh, dear God . . ." pointed at him: "Nine."
Jim knew that this was the last time he would see this look on A win! Jim stepped forward, knowing that he was one of the
Mae's face after a fight. "I don't have the money," he said, too tired lucky few who had work that day.
to find the words to make it easier. "They refused to pay me, took Minutes later, Jim was meeting his new partner. The young,
away my license. They said that I'm finished as a boxer." handsome man introduced himself as Mike Wilson.
The fear in Mae's eyes turned to anger. She didn't care about "What happened to you?" he asked Jim, staring at the black and
boxing licenses or fight rules. She only cared about her husband. blue marks on his face.
"Jimmy, what happened to your hand?" "I got into a fight," Jim told the man.
"It's broken in three places." Together the two men had to move a mountain of sacks from
Mae wasn't thinking about boxing now. "If you can't work, we one area to another. It took two strong men to lift each sack, using
won't be able to pay the bills, buy food . . . We'll have to send the big hooks to pick the sacks up.
children to stay with my sister." Jim found the work very difficult. He had never really used his
"Mae, I can still work," Jim said. "Get the black shoe polish left hand for anything. It was really hard using the hook with it,
from the cupboard. Nobody will give me a job if they see this cast while trying to hide the cast on his right hand.
on my hand, so we'll cover it up." "There was a fighter called Jim Braddock," said Mike. "I
Mae saw it in her husband's eyes then—Jim Braddock wasn't listened to his fights on the radio. There's another fighter using the
going to be beaten. "I'll cut your coat so you can put it on over name now, but this guy's no good."
the cast," she said, opening the shoe polish and spreading it on the Jim saw the smile on Mike's face. He almost laughed himself,
white cast. "Now we just need a piece of steak for your face, Jim but then the sack fell from the hook in his hand.
Braddock!" she laughed. Mike saw Jim's cast. "This isn't going to work," he said. "You
Six-year-old Rosy's face appeared around the blanket. Jim can't do this job with a bad hand, and you can't slow me down.
smiled at her, deciding, not for the first time, that he was a lucky I need this job."
man to have Mae as his wife. Jim gave his partner a quick look. "Listen, I can do this."
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Suddenly, a new voice shouted, "What's happening here?" It He saw the tears in her eyes. "Go home. I'll stand in line."
was the foreman, and he was staring at Jim's bad hand. She handed him the empty pot and took the children home.
Instead of trying to explain, Jim sank the hook back into the Jim's eyes followed them, and then he looked forward again,
sack with his left hand. Then he waited, unable to do anything turning his collar up against the wind. The soup truck seemed far,
until his partner moved. After a few terrible seconds, Mike sunk far away, but Jim had become good at waiting.
the hook into his end of the sack. The two men lifted the heavy Hours later, familiar sounds greeted Jim's ears—-jump ropes
sack together and carried it across the dock. Then they moved for hitting the wooden floors, leather gloves hitting punching bags.
another sack, then another, and another. This was the gym that Jim had trained in for years. It was the place
Jake, the foreman, stood there with arms crossed, watching where he had first met Joe Gould. Even now, part of him wanted
every move. Finally, he walked away to get into the ring and fight.
Jim lifted his face to Mike. "Thanks," he said. As he entered the gym, the usual smell of leather and sweat hit
him. He looked at all the boxers training hard.
•
"Jimmy!" said a friendly voice. "Have you come to train?"
It was raining hard, but Mae didn't move. Her place in this soup It was Joe Jeannette, the owner of the gym. The old fighter had
line was too valuable. Hundreds of people were ahead of her, but a never been a champion, but he had always been a hero to Jim. A
lot were behind her, too. They were all waiting for free soup and great boxer with quick hands and a knockout punch, Jeannette
bread from the truck at the head of the line. Mae held Rosy in her had been one of the best heavyweights in the country. But he was
arms. The two boys ran around playing. a black man, and few white boxers agreed to fight him. Jeannette
"You need to stand for a few minutes, Rosy," said Mae. never had the chance to fight for the title. But Jeannette couldn't
"I don't want to!" cried Rosy. "The sidewalk's wet!" stay away from the fight game. He had become a referee, and he
"Who's making all this noise?" had opened this gym. He was never too busy to give advice to a
Immediately, Rosy's crying stopped. Her father appeared beside young boxer.
her, big and strong and with a smile on his face for her. Jim tried to return Jeannette's smile, but he couldn't. He put the
As he lifted Rosy, Jim told Mae, "I got a job at the docks." soup pot down and pulled his boxing shoes out of his coat.
Mae noticed something inside Jim's coat. His boxing shoes. She A few minutes later, Joe Gould stepped onto the gym floor. He
wasn't surprised to see them. A few boxing organizers in expensive was here to see a new boxer, not Jim Braddock. Joe watched as Jim
suits couldn't stop her husband from fighting, even if they had handed his boxing shoes to a young, black boxer, who paid Jim ten
taken away his license. cents. Then Jim picked up his soup and bread and turned toward
"Are you training today?" she asked him. the front entrance.
"I was thinking of selling them," said Jim. "Then we can pay the Joe Jeannette looked up and saw the manager standing at the
grocer by the end of the week." back of the gym. His eyes held a question for Joe, but Joe just
Mae didn't know what to say. At last she said, "Don't take less shook his head and stepped behind the door.
than a dollar, Jim." It's better for both of us if Jim doesn't see me, Joe thought.
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Chapter 5 Broken Promises "You can't," said Mae. "We have kids. Please."
"If I don't, I'll lose my job," said the man sadly.
Jim sat at the kitchen table reading out President Franklin Delano Work at the docks finished early that day. Jim and his work
Roosevelt's speech from the newspaper. He tried to find hope in partner Mike started walking around local towns, looking for
the President's words. According to Roosevelt, there was only one work. There was none anywhere that day. Tired and cold, they
thing for Americans to fear—"fear itself." Mae counted out coins started for home.
from the rainy-day jar. "We have until tomorrow," cried a loud voice.
Jim's week had become an unending string of gray mornings Jim's steps slowed. Across the street, a young man was arguing
and sweaty afternoons of hard work at the docks. Jim and Mike with two city police officers. His wife stood beside him, fighting
worked together every day, and Jim did all the work with his left back tears. The couple's furniture was on the sidewalk all around
hand. In the evenings, he had another job—more long, hard work them. The officers were moving them from their apartment.
with only his left hand. Mae was usually asleep on the sofa by the The two officers wore fine, new uniforms. The younger of the
time Jim got home at night. two was polite. The older man had heard every excuse before, and
That night she was woken by the sound of coins dropping into he was tired of listening.
the jar. She saw her husband walk toward their bed. Jim watched as the young husband tried to pull a piece of paper
Jim looked down at the clean, white sheets. He wanted nothing out of the officer's hand.
more than to fall into them, but then he looked down at his own "This says we have another day," he cried.
dirty, sweaty body, and lay down on the floor. "Come on," said Mike, pulling Jim's arm. But Jim was already
"Jimmy," Mae whispered. "We can wash the sheets." moving across the street and Mike went with him.
But Jim was already asleep. Mae pulled the covers off the bed "You can't do this," the young woman was saying. "We'll never
and lay down on the floor, beside her husband. get back in."
Her husband jumped in front of the officers as they moved to
•
fit a new lock to the building's front door. "Please, I'm starting a
The winter of 1933—34 was one of the coldest in recent memory. factory job next week . . ."
One morning, Mae and Rosy walked with the boys to school. The officers pushed him away and put the lock on.
They were walking back down the snowy street when Mae saw a "Excuse me," said Mike politely, then louder:"Excuse me!"The
shiny new car outside their building. officers stared at him. "Please can I have a look at that notice? The
"Mommy, who's the man at our house?" asked Rosy. law says that I'm allowed to." He stepped forward. "Let me just
Mae walked up to the man, whose uniform showed that he was have a look at the date on it. If everything's OK with it, we'll just
the gas and electricity man. "Can I help you, sir?" walk away."
"I'm sorry, ma'am. You haven't paid the bills, and I have to cut "Or else what?" demanded the younger officer. The older
your electricity off." officer was looking at Jim.
The man was in his thirties, but his eyes looked older. Mike smiled. "You guys know Jim Braddock, don't you?"
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The older officer's attitude changed immediately. "I've seen you won't be enough." Jim seemed suddenly weaker. He looked at
fight, Jim," he said. Mae. "Think of all the other guys who wanted to marry you."
Mike looked down at the document in the older man's hand. "What happened to those guys?" joked Mae, then she squeezed
"What do you say, guys? Mistakes happen all the time." his hand. "I married the guy I love."
The officer nodded. "Maybe we got our days mixed up," he A wet cough from across the room interrupted them. "It's
said, removing the lock from the door. Howard," said Mae sadly. "He's been sick since this afternoon."
As the two officers walked away, Mike and Jim began to help When Mae woke up the next morning, Jim had already gone
the couple move their furniture back inside. out into the terrible cold. She spent the morning trying to keep
"So you're a lawyer?" asked Jim. the children warm, burning pieces of wood they had taken from
Mike shook his head. "A banker, but I hired enough lawyers to signs in the street. Howard lay close to the stove, his face red with
have a good idea of the law. It doesn't matter now . . . I lost it all fever. Fighting back the tears, his mother held a glass of water to
in '29." He looked Jim in the eyes. "You know, there are people his lips. The boy was getting sicker.
living in Central Park. The government has failed us. We need to Not wanting her children to see her cry, Mae rushed out the
organize. Fight back." door and stood in the snow. Bitter tears ran down her face.
Jim shook his head. "Fight what? Bad luck? You have to trust She cared only about keeping this family together. Jim was
that the government will solve things in the end. I like what killing himself trying to do this, but it wasn't working. Now they
President Roosevelt says." had lost their heat and electric power. Mae knew what she had
"Forget Roosevelt!" shouted Mike. "He hasn't given me my to do. She rushed inside to dress her children warmly for the trip
house back yet!" across the river to New York City.
Jim looked in surprise at the terrible anger in his friend's eyes.
•
•
As Jim stepped through the door, the apartment was as cold as the
The blanket didn't hang in the middle of the room. Now the air outside. He met silence. No little bodies ran to him with open
three children had it around them, as they lay in bed. Jim could arms. By the stove, Mae sat alone, staring into the dying flames.
see their breath in the cold air. Every piece of clothing in the She couldn't meet his eyes.
apartment was piled on top of them. "Howard was getting worse," she explained. "Then Rosy
He crossed the room and threw a piece of a wooden sign onto started to get sick."
the fire in the stove. Mae emptied the rainy-day jar onto the table.. "Where are they, Mae?"
She began to push the coins around. "The boys are at my father's house. Rosy's going to stay with
"Six dollars and seventy cents," said Jim, joining his wife. "How my sister. We can't keep them warm, Jim."
much would it cost to turn the electricity back on?" Jim's emotions were almost too strong for words—fear, sadness,
Thirty-three dollars and ten cents," whispered Mae. anger. He pointed a finger at Mae. "You don't decide what
If I work twenty-six hours out of every twenty-four, it still happens to our children without me."
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Mae stood and held his arms. "Jimmy, if they get really sick, we against Tommy Loughran. It was July 1929—-just four months
don't have the money for a doctor." before the Crash. Jim was fighting for the title of light
"If you send them away, this has all been for nothing," he said heavyweight champion, but it was the fight that turned Braddock
angrily. "It means that we lost." He shook Mae's arms off. "I made into a boxer of "failed promise."
a promise to Jay, do you understand? I promised that we would The New York crowd had wanted Braddock to win, and the
never send him away." fight had started well, too. But things changed in the second
Without another word, he turned and walked across the round. Loughran began to dance around the ring, dodging
freezing room and out of the door. Braddock's punches easily. He had discovered Braddock's biggest
Later that afternoon, he stood at the wooden counter of the weakness—no left-hand punch.
Newark relief office. An unsmiling woman counted out twelve In the rest of the fight, Braddock had hit the champion with a
dollars and eighty cents, which she placed in a white envelope. few good punches, but it wasn't enough. The judges all decided
Jim's hand shook as he signed for the money, trying not to blame that Loughran was the winner. The newspapers weren't kind to
himself for what he had done. Ashamed, he put the envelope into Braddock, who had looked slow in the last three rounds. His
his pocket. dream of winning the title seemed to be at an end.
He pushed his way through the unhappy crowd. They were Now, years later, Jim stood in the shadows in Madison Square
lawyers and dock workers, teachers and factory workers. Bankers Garden and said the same words that he had said after the
and builders. Now, unable to earn money themselves, they were Loughran fight: "I don't know what went wrong."
here to receive money from the state. Some were so ashamed that, He opened the side door and started up the stairs. The climb
like Jim, they looked only at the floor. Others looked straight to the Madison Square Garden boxing club was the hardest of his
ahead with empty stares. life. The club was a place where the rich money-makers of New
After Jim crossed the river to Manhattan, he walked past all the York's boxing world could relax and do business. It wasn't high
homeless people in the city who seemed to have no hope. The above street level, but it was like another world.
story was the same everywhere: No work. No money. At first, nobody noticed as Jim Braddock walked into the
At last, Jim reached the streets around Madison Square Garden. smoky room. He went up to two men in the center of the room.
There were no bright lights now, no people in expensive clothes "Mr. Allen . . . Phil. . ."
waiting outside. Instead, homeless people searched for anything The men looked up at the fighter. Others noticed and
they could use. conversations around the room died. Jim cleared his throat.
Jim went to the familiar side door. The sign for the next fight "I'm here because we can't afford to pay the heating bills. We
showed two boxers standing with gloves up. Jim remembered had to send our kids away . . . I just need enough money to get
when his picture had been on signs like this. He remembered the my children back." Jim took off his hat and stretched it out.
fight with Tuffy Griffiths, the dream of that night when the future The whole room was silent now. Mr. Allen put his hand in his
looked bright for Jim Braddock. pocket. "Sure, Jim." He placed a few coins into Jim's hat.
But then another, less happy memory came to mind—the fight "Thank you," replied Jim. Then he offered his hat to the others
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around the room. Everybody gave some money—even Jimmy Chapter 6 O n e Fight Only
Johnston, the man who had taken away Jim's license.
Finally, Jim stopped in front of Joe Gould. "I'm sorry, Joe," he Spring had come to Newark at last, and the Braddock family had
told his old manager. joined other families at the local church. Once a month the priest,
"What do you have to be sorry about, Jim?" said Joe. "How Father Rorick, organized a birthday party for all the children
much more do you need?"
whose parents couldn't afford a party.
"One dollar and fifty cents, I think," whispered Jim. Joe placed
Jim and Mae watched as their children joined all the others
the exact amount in Jim's hat.
around a large wooden table with two big cakes. Everybody
When Jim left the club, it was dark outside and streetlights lit
starting singing, "Happy birthday to you . . . Happy birthday to
the icy sidewalks. Jim walked past a store that had gone out of
you . . ."
business. His face looked back at him from the dark glass of the
Jim put his hand around Mae, happy that the cast was off at last.
store window. He had seen that look before. It was on the face of
When it was time to sing the names, the different families all sang
the man in his old suit selling apples on the street corner. It was on
a different name.
the face of the banker waiting in line for hours at the Newark
"Happy birthday, dear Jay," sang the Braddocks. "Happy
relief office.
birthday to you!"
Jim had never understood how a proud man could sink so low. Howard pulled his father's arm. "It was better when we had our
Now, with the money in his pocket to get his children back, Jim
own cake," he said.
knew. He finally understood.
Father Rorick heard him. "Do you know I boxed your father a
• long time ago?"
Howard couldn't believe it. He looked at his father in surprise.
The next night, Mae opened the apartment door and turned on
"You hit Father Rorick?"
the electric light. Jay and Howard ran inside, followed by Jim, who
"As often as possible," said Jim with a big smile.
was carrying the sleeping Rosy.
Mae Braddock joined the two men. She looked worried.
Jim was happy to see his family together and home again, but
"Jimmy . . ." She looked across the road. Mike, Jim's work partner
he felt other emotions, too. He knew now how easily their world
at the docks, was sitting at the end of a long table. His wife, Sara,
could be destroyed.
held their baby daughter in her arms and she was shouting at
He couldn't sleep that night. When the sun finally appeared, he
Mike.
got up and dressed silently. Before he left for another long day of
"You're always trying to fix the world!" she shouted. "Why
work, he stood at the door and looked at his family. A boxer
don't you fix your own family? What kind of father are you? Too
entered the ring alone. If he was knocked down, he alone could
proud to let people know that our daughter can't have her own
stand up and continue fighting. Jim was alone now, as he left the
birthday cake . . ."
house and went looking for work.
Mike stared back angrily. "Are you joking, Sara?"
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Everybody watched the argument. Even the children at the •
party stopped playing.
Jim walked over and separated the angry couple. "Hey, where's Jim returned from work one afternoon and found his children
the referee?" he asked. playing in front of the apartment building.
"This is between husband and wife, Jim," Mike said angrily. Rosy looked up at him. "Teach me how to fight," she said.
"How can you call yourself that?" cried Sara. "I can't," said Jim. "I'll get in trouble with Mommy."
Mike jumped up angrily, and Jim stopped him with a strong Rosy just looked at her father with the same stare that Mae
hand in the middle of his chest. had. Jim couldn't say no to that look.
"Calm down, Mike," he said. "Have a rest." "OK," he said. "It's all about how you hold your body. Put your
But Mike couldn't calm down now. He pushed Jim. right hand here and your left here . . ." Jim positioned her until
"There's no need for this," said the boxer. she was standing like a little boxer. Then she threw a punch,
"Jim Braddock, big fighter . . ." said Mike, and he threw a which Jim caught in his big hand.
punch at his work partner. "Look at that!" he cried. "You have a better jab than I did!"
Jim knocked it away and then held Mike's arm. "Mike, I don't As he and Rosy laughed, a familiar car stopped outside the
want to fight you," he said. building.
"You couldn't do it in the ring . . ." said Mike angrily. "You're a brave man," called Joe Gould.
He rushed at Jim again. Jim pushed him to the side and Mike Jim smiled. "Not really. Mae's at the store."
fell, hitting his head on the sidewalk. Rosy, who wasn't yet finished with her boxing lesson, threw
"Jim, no!" screamed Sara. another punch. It hit Jim right on the chin.
As Mike got to his feet, blood ran down his face. Sara went up "OK, Rosy," he said. "Good punch. Now go and box shadows
to him, still holding their baby. Mike pushed her away. while I talk to Uncle Joe."
"Leave me alone," he said to her and Jim. He turned and ran Jim looked at the manager's fine, new suit. "Still looking
down the street. fashionable, I see," he said.
When he had gone, Sara turned to Jim. Tears poured down her "You have to show you're doing well," answered Joe. He gave
face as she cried, "He wasn't going to hit me, Jim!" Jim a friendly punch on the arm. "Good to see you, Jimmy."
Sara began to chase her husband down the street. Jim looked up Then: "I've got you a fight."
at Mae, who had tears in her eyes, too. Jim wasn't sure. "What about my boxing license?"
'Why was it so hard just to come over for cake?" she asked. "The organizers will let you fight one time only," said Joe.
"Maybe he just needed a little time," said Jim angrily. "It's not Jim asked the most important question: "How much?"
always easy . . . Maybe he just needed a little time!" "Two hundred and fifty dollars," Joe replied. "You're on the
Mae shook her finger at him."Not at me, James Braddock!" she big show at the Madison Square Garden Bowl in Long Island
cried. "Do you hear? I know it's hard. But don't get mad at me!" City . . ." He paused.". . . tomorrow night."
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Jim turned and walked away. He couldn't believe that his old "I need a piece of meat, please, sir," she said. "Steak."
friend and partner would play a joke like this on him. "Do you have any money?"
Joe chased after him. "You fight Corn Griffin, Jimmy . . . the Rosy shook her head and the look in Sam's eyes became softer.
number two heavyweight in the world. He needs a fight before "I can't just give the meat away."
he boxes for the title." "It's not for me . . . It's for my dad," Rosy replied. "He needs it
Jim's eyes were dangerous. "Joe, this isn't funny." to win a boxing fight."
"No one's trying to be kind to you. Griffin's opponent got cut
and can't fight. They needed someone they could throw in the
Chapter 7 Back in the Ring
ring immediately. Nobody will take a fight against Griffin without
training, so . . ." Joe looked away. "I . . . told them that Griffin Long Island City, New York, June 14, 1934
could knock out a guy who has never been knocked out before
. . . You're meat, Jimmy . . . They just need somebody to stand Jim's name wasn't even on the sign, but he didn't care. Two
in that ring and be knocked out." hundred and fifty dollars and the chance to punch something real
Finally, Jim smiled and put a hand on Joe's shoulder. Then he were the only things on his mind.
looked his manager in the eye. "Joe. For two hundred and fifty Joe Gould didn't know what to think about the fight. The
dollars, I'd fight your wife." manager had tried to get Braddock back in the ring since the time
When Mae got home later, she wasn't happy about the news. Jim had walked around the boxing club with his hat in his hand.
Jim talked more—about how it was only one fight, about how Joe had pushed his way into Jimmy Johnston's office again and
long he would have to work at the docks for so much money. again, trying to get Jim a fight.
In the end, Mae told Jim to take the fight. But that night she sat He had been outside Johnston's office when the fight organizer
on the sofa in the dark and watched her sleeping husband through got the bad news about Griffin's opponent, just two days before
eyes red from crying. the big fight. This left Johnston with a problem. Griffin was a
promising young star in the boxing world, and Johnston wanted
• to get the New York sports world interested in him. The young
Southern boxer needed to beat a fighter in the city who had once
The next morning, the three children were outside early, but they
didn't go out to play. They walked to the local butcher shop. Rosy been a big name. Now it seemed that Jim Braddock was the right
knocked on the window. choice—especially as Braddock's manager was waiting outside
Johnston's office.
Sam, the butcher, looked down at the three children. "We're
closed today." His eye fell on Jay, remembering the time when the Joe had accepted the offer, but now, on fight night, he was
boy had stolen from his shop. "Well, look who's here. Shall I lock worried. He knew that Jim hadn't fought in over a year. Except
everything up?" for today, he hadn't trained in a long time. He had even sold his
Jay's face was red, but he bravely stood by his sister, who walked boxing gloves and shoes. Joe had to borrow some so that his boxer
up to the counter. could fight.
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As the manager bent to tie up his boxing shoes, Jim smiled. "We Jim stepped up to Sporty, toe to toe and eye to eye. "Save that
both know what this is, Joe. It's a chance for me to earn some garbage for your readers," he said.
money for my family. And it's a chance to say goodbye to boxing Suddenly, the door opened and an official pointed at Jim. "It's
in a big fight in front of a big crowd." time," he said.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise from Jim's stomach. Jim left the room, keeping his eyes on Sporty Lewis's. Sporty
"What was that?" cried Joe. stared after him, pale and shaken.
"We got to the soup line too late this morning," said Jim. "The "That guy," he said to the official. "What a loser!"
food was all gone." Minutes later, Sporty was back in his seat by the side of the
Joe jumped to his feet. "How are you going to fight with an boxing ring. A young reporter next to him asked, "Who's Jim
empty stomach?" he shouted. He ran from the room and appeared Braddock?"
a few minutes later with a bowl of thick meat soup in his hand. "Get your pencil out, kid," Sporty Lewis said. "I have your story
"Eat fast," he said. for you: 'The walk from the changing room to the ring was the
"Where's the spoon?" asked Jim. He began to put one hand only time tonight that Jim Braddock was seen on his feet.' "
into the bowl.
•
"Stop!" cried Joe. "I don't have time to tape your hands again.
I'll find a spoon!" "In this corner, Corn Griffin!"
Joe rushed out again, but Jim couldn't wait. He pushed his face Griffin jumped to the center of the ring and lifted his thick
into the bowl and began eating. He didn't notice the changing arms above his head. The tall young boxer wore a confident smile
room door opening. on his face. He was young and powerful, a natural heavyweight
"I don't believe it! Am I seeing a ghost?" said a voice. Jim with long arms and a big punch.
looked up, with food on his chin. A young man at the door was "And in this corner . . . from New Jersey . . .Jim Braddock!"
giving Jim an unpleasant smile. "Isn't that James J. Braddock? The crowd were silent.
When I saw the name, I thought it must be a different guy." The When the bell rang, Griffin came out punching hard and
man stepped into the room and took out a reporter's notebook. fast. Braddock danced and dodged, doing everything possible to
"How's your right hand now, Jim?" keep away from Corn's powerful punches. After thirty seconds,
Jim's eyes narrowed as he recognized the reporter. He said the Braddock decided that this fight was a bad idea. His opponent had
man's name: "Sporty Lewis." trained hard and was ready to fight. He timed his jabs and punches
Jim remembered what Lewis had written about his fight with to Braddock's body perfectly. Jim's only goal now was to finish the
Tommy Loughran. He repeated the reporter's words to himself: fight without getting hurt. He had to be able to work at the docks
"Loughran destroyed the unskilled New Jersey fighter. The fight the next day.
was a funeral with the body still breathing." Suddenly, a big left-hand punch from Griffin hit Braddock on
Lewis saw the look in Jim's eyes and stopped smiling. "I don't the side of the head. He went down. As he lay there, the clocks
fight the fights, Braddock. I just write about them." seemed to stop.
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"Braddock's down!" cried the announcer over the crowd's "That's it!" screamed Gould. The little manager started to dance
boos. and throw punches in the air.
"One . . . two . . . three . . ." counted the referee. Braddock "Three . . ." The referee's count continued.
tried to get to his feet. "Four . . . five . . . six . . ." Joe's eyes, shining with happiness and surprise, met Jim's.
Braddock was on one knee, but the referee continued counting. "Where have you been, Jimmy Braddock?"
"Get up and use your left!" Gould called to his fighter. Griffin was back on his feet, but now Jim was the one moving
Finally, Braddock stood. The referee walked over to him and with confidence. Braddock rushed forward, throwing punch after
checked his eyes and the cut in his mouth. punch.
"It's finished, Braddock," he said. Gould was screaming. "That's it! Send him home. Send him
Braddock looked across the ring at his opponent and joked, back South or wherever he comes from!"
"He doesn't look so bad." But the referee began to lift his hand to The punches didn't stop. They fell like rain on the soup line,
end the fight. Jim held his arm with two gloved hands. "Please. Let like snow on the Newark docks. Finally, Braddock delivered a hard
me fight." right punch and stepped away. The crowd just watched as Griffin
The referee paused, looking hard at Jim, and then he stepped to fell forward. He landed on the floor and stayed there.
the side. The fight could continue! In the silence that followed, Jim saw Sporty Lewis next to the
Griffin was waiting to continue his attack. Braddock answered ring. The reporter's eyes were big with surprise. The next second,
one punch with a left-hand jab. It didn't hurt Griffin, but Jim was the crowd went wild.
surprised that he could throw a left-hand punch at all. "I can't believe it!" the radio announcer was saying. "Corn
In the second round, Griffin continued to chase Braddock Griffin, the number two challenger for the heavyweight title, has
around the ring. The young fighter wanted to win by a knockout, been knocked out by Jim Braddock in the third round!"
and Jim had to keep moving to dodge Corn's punches.
•
At the end of the round, Jim sat heavily in his corner. Joe
poured water in the fighter's mouth. When it ran out again into Before he left the dressing room with Joe Gould, Jim finished the
the waiting bucket, it was pink with blood. Jim hardly heard his bowl of food.
manager's words, though they were screamed into his face. "Imagine what I could do if I had steak," he joked.
"He's half a step behind you!" shouted Joe. "Move to the side On their way out, they paused to watch the end of the evening's
and see what happens. Hit him with two jabs and then the big main event. The heavyweight champion of the world, Primo
punch." Carnera, was defending his title against a strong, young boxer
The bell rang for the third round. Braddock moved out of his called Max Baer. Baer's punch was so powerful that he had once
corner slowly; Griffin came out punching. Remembering Gould's killed a man in the ring. This was the fight the crowd had really
advice, Braddock moved his shoulders to one side. Griffin didn't come to see.
see the move and Braddock hit him with a right that sent Griffin In the last round of the fight, Max Baer's powerful punches
to the floor. The referee started counting. were falling on Camera without end. Carnera fell to the floor.
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"Imagine a punch like that hitting you," Joe said. Jim looked at the meat. "Where did you get this?"
Camera was an enormous man, but Baer was much faster. All "They all went to the butcher shop," said Mae. "I tried to take it
night he had danced and dodged Camera's fists. Now, Camera was back, but the butcher says he gave it to her."
bloody and beaten as he got to his feet, holding the rope with "It's a steak," said Rosy. "It'll fix your face."
one glove. Baer just laughed at the defending champion, knocking Jim held the thick steak up. He could almost smell it, hear it
away his weak punches easily. cooking. He went down on his knees to speak to his daughter—
"Primo Camera has been knocked down eleven times!" the fighter to fighter. "Rosy, we have to eat this."
radio announcer was saying. "And Max Baer looks sure that he But Rosy shouted, "No! You have to put it on your face."
will be the next champion!" Jim knew that it was useless to argue. He lay back and placed
Camera moved his tired body toward his opponent for a final the cool steak across his eyes. He waited a few seconds, and then
attack. The challenger waited patiently with an ugly smile on his lifted one edge of the meat.
handsome face. When Camera reached the center of the ring, Jay turned to his mother. "Do the announcer's voice, Mom."
Baer decided to end the fight, throwing punch after punch at the "Come on, Mae," said Jim with a smile. "Do the announcer."
champion. It was so terrible that even Joe couldn't watch. Mae's voice became loud. "Introducing the holder of the
amateur title for light heavyweight and heavyweight. . . from
New Jersey . . . the future heavyweight champion of the world
Chapter 8 A Second Chance . . . James J. Braddock."
These last words were shouted. The kids went wild, laughing
Jim stepped out of the car in front of his apartment house. and jumping around the room. Jim took the steak from his face.
"Are you sure you won't come in and say hello?" he asked. "This really worked," he told his daughter."Let's eat!"
"Are you still married to the same girl?" asked Joe. He crossed to the stove and started cooking the meat. Soon the
Jim gave the usual answer. "I was the last time I looked." sound and the delicious smell filled the apartment.
Joe smiled. "Good night, Jimmy." "Jim," Mae whispered. "Is it really just one fight, or are they
The car drove off, and Jim stood outside the building. The letting you back in?"
Braddocks had sold their radio, so Mae and the kids didn't know Jim kissed her head. "It was just the one fight."
the result of tonight's fight. Relief swept through Mae. As she went to the stove to get the
The door opened and Jay, Howard, and Rosy looked up at him steak, she said silent thanks that her husband would never step
with hopeful faces. Mae stood silently. inside the ring again.
"I won," he said.
•
The children screamed and rushed toward him. Rosy pulled on
his arm. "Daddy, Daddy, you have to see what I got you!" She ran The early morning walk to the docks was the same as usual, but
to the ice box. "Put it on your eyes," she said, pushing a thick steak Jim felt different. His body ached, but his steps were quicker than
into her father's hands. they had been in months.
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He joined the group of men at the fence. Finally, the foreman •
Jake appeared and began pointing to men. A week later, Mae was walking back from the stores with Rosy
"Six, seven, eight. . ." Jake's eyes passed Jim, then returned to when she saw a shiny new car drive away from their apartment
him. The foreman said Jim's name and everybody turned to look. house. Joe Gould's car.
"Nine." She found Jim standing in the yard behind the building. He
Jim closed his eyes in relief. As he passed through the gate, Jake looked so happy, so handsome and confident in the sun, with his
said to him, "I listened to the fight last night." He took out his square chin and his bright eyes up to the blue sky. Then he turned
newspaper. Jim's eyes ran over the words: and Mae felt her heart stop. She saw it in his eyes—the old
excitement.
BRADDOCK KNOCKOUT OVER GRIFFIN IN 3
"Joe was here," said Jim. "He thinks they'll let me box again."
Jim shook his head, not believing it. A few men crowded round It was hard for Mae to speak. "You said it was one fight."
to hear what he had to say. They seemed surprised that he had "It's my chance, Mae, to make you and the kids proud."
come to work today. Mae fought to control her fear and anger. "I am proud . . .
"It was one night only," explained Jim. "My share was a and grateful. But what would we do if something bad happened
hundred and twenty five dollars. We had bills of one hundred to you? Something worse than a broken hand, so you couldn't
and twenty to pay. That left me with five dollars." work?"
Jake laughed. "That makes you a rich man." Then he said She couldn't even tell her worst fear: What will happen if you're
seriously, "Good fight." killed?
Jim could see that these men around him, with their old clothes "What would happen to us?" demanded Mae. "To the children?
We're hardly managing now."
and tired faces, had found hope watching him fight. He had
Jim shook his head sadly. He waved a hand at the broken
fought something real, something he could see—they all wished
building, the empty yard. Couldn't she see? He was already killing
for that chance.
himself-—and for what? A few coins at the end of a long day's
He joined his partner, Mike. Words weren't necessary. The two
work? "I have to do better than I'm doing," he replied.
picked up their hooks and began to work, moving the heavy sacks.
Mae stepped closer. "Things are better now. Please, Jim . . ."
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to win again?" said
He wanted to take her in his arms, but he stopped himself. He
Mike. "I didn't put any money on you."
had to think about the family's future. The strength was clear in his
Mike smiled, but it wasn't the smile Jim remembered. It was voice. "I can still take a few punches. At least in the ring you know
tired. Less happy. who's hitting you."
"Come on," Mike said. "Talk me through that last round." Mae felt helpless as she watched him walk to the building's dark
Jim started describing the events of the last round again. Since back door. This isn't over, James Braddock, she promised.
the cast had come off his arm, he worked with both hands.
Without thinking, he moved the hook to his left hand and •
continued working with smooth, strong movements.
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The next morning Jim left early for the gym. Mae left the "Sometimes you see something in a fighter, something to hope
apartment house, too. She took the kids to her sister's house, and for," answered Joe. "Jimmy's what I hope for."
then she crossed the Hudson River to New York City. Mae shook her head. "This is crazy. You don't even know if you
She was going to the small part of the city known as the Upper can get him a fight, do you?"
East Side. It was an area of beautiful houses, expensive apartment "I'll get him a fight," Joe said, "if it's the last thing I do."
buildings, and fine hotels. Some of the richest people in the
country lived on the blocks along the city's Central Park.
Two streets away, the buildings weren't quite so beautiful, but Chapter 9 Not the Same Guy
they were still home to wealthy people. In front of each apartment
building, a uniformed doorman stood guard. The gym owner, Joe Jeannette, looked pleased. "You've been
When she reached the tall building, she looked up, trying to training, Jimmy.''
guess how many floors it had. She went through the beautiful "I've been working, Joe. Not training."
entrance hall to the elevator. On the fifteenth floor, she moved "Show me what work you did."
down the line of doors. "I was lifting sacks at the dock," explained Jim. "We used a
She knocked on one and called politely, "Open the door, hook, like this." He showed the movement.
Joe." There was no answer. She tried again, and again, but nobody "That's the perfect punching exercise," said Jeannette. "You've
came to the door. "Joe, open this door now!" Mae shouted. been getting a powerful left hand, and you didn't even know it."
"You're not going to hide in your expensive apartment while In the next few weeks, Braddock trained hard. After all those
you turn my husband into a punching bag. I won't let you get months of hard work, it was like a vacation to train with Jeannette.
him hurt again!" But the trainer pushed him hard. Every week there were new
The door opened. "You'd better come in," said Joe Gould. exercises, new skills to learn and practice.
As she pushed past him, Mae's anger died. She had expected the While Braddock worked at the gym, Joe Gould was busy in
manager's home to be beautiful. But she looked around now at a other ways. At Madison Square Garden, he walked into Jimmy
completely empty apartment. Johnston's office and sat down.
Minutes later, she sat on a camping chair, drinking tea with Joe "You're going to arrange a fight between Jim Braddock and
and his wife Lucille. She hadn't expected this friendly welcome. John Henry Lewis."
"Sorry," said Joe, pointing to the door. "People have to think Johnston looked up from the papers he was signing. "Now why
you're doing well." would I do that?"
"I thought. . ." said Mae. Joe smiled confidently. "Lewis is number two in line to fight
"That's the plan," said Joe, touching his fine brown suit. "Show for the heavyweight title, and he's already beaten Braddock once
people you're doing well, even if you're not. We sold the last of the before. So put Braddock against Lewis. If Lewis wins, your boy has
furniture last week," he continued, "so Jimmy could train." had a good practice fight before his next opponent, and you make
"Why?" Mae asked. some money. If, by some chance, Braddock beats Lewis, you have a
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people's favorite, which means you make more money. Whatever Suddenly, a familiar face appeared in front of Jim—Mike
happens, you're richer with Braddock back in the ring." Gould sat Wilson. They shook hands.
back. "So what do you say?" "I put some money on you," Mike said.
As soon as he got an answer, Joe rushed back to the gym. "Mike, everybody expects Lewis to win," said Jim.
"I got you a fight," he told Jim from the ropes. "You're going to But Mike just gave a confident smile. "Do you need some help
fight John Henry Lewis again." in your corner?" he asked.
Jim climbed out of the ring. "I could kiss you." Jim shook his head. "I have my regular guys for that. You know
Joe took a step back. "Please don't!" The manager became how it is, Mike."
suddenly serious. "I won't lie, Jimmy. You're in this fight because Mike's shoulders dropped, but he tried to laugh. "Sure I do, Jim.
you're meat. But if you win it, I can get you another one. If you Now go and win the fight!"
win the next, then everything changes."
•
Jim understood. He turned toward the heavy punching bag.
"Jimmy," Joe called. The powerful jab pushed Braddock back against the ropes. John
Jim turned and saw the old fire in his manager's eyes. Henry Lewis was a young black boxer with quick hands and a lot
"Win!" said Joe. of skill. His perfectly timed combinations of punches pushed Jim
on to the ropes again.
•
"Lewis is here to repeat his win over Braddock," said the radio
It was the afternoon before the fight. Jim was still at home. announcer.
"I know this isn't what you wanted," he said softly to Mae. "But For three rounds, the two fighters danced around the ring,
I can't win if you don't support me." looking for the other man's weak areas. Then, in the fourth round,
Mae put the pile of clean clothes down and stepped up to her the fight became serious. The fighters went toe to toe, refusing to
husband. "I always support you," she whispered. step back.
While their parents were kissing, the three children took their In his corner at the end of the round, Lewis looked confused.
chance to run out of the apartment. They walked through the "You beat this guy easily last time!" his manager screamed.
small crowd that stood outside the building. Soon they stood again Lewis just shook his head. "He isn't the same guy."
in the butcher shop. In the opposite corner, Gould checked Braddock's face. The
"What can I do for you today?" Sam, the butcher, asked. boxer was tired and breathing hard, his body covered with sweat.
"My dad's fighting a man who beat him badly once before," "He's even faster than I remember," said Jim.
said Rosy anxiously. "What kind of steaks do you have?" Gould spoke into the boxer's ear. "He's fast, but he'll be slower
Down the block, Jim stepped out of the apartment house and after a few more punches. Watch him—he always moves to the
was met by a small crowd of neighbors. right."
"We're all supporting you," said an old man. Both fighters started round five like mad animals. Leather
"Take him down, Jim!" cried another. gloves flew, and neither man backed away. Suddenly, Braddock
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hit his opponent with a powerful cross and Lewis was down on confidence, he took the next few rounds from the New Jersey
one knee. When the fight continued, Lewis wasn't able to protect man. In the eleventh round, Braddock found himself back on the
himself, letting Braddock knock him back on to the ropes. ropes, as Lasky's fists flew at him.
In the end, the judges gave the fight to Braddock. Some sports "Art Lasky is ending the story of Jim Braddock's second chance
reporters said that he had deserved to win. Others said that he had in boxing," said the radio announcer.
just hit Lewis with a few lucky punches. A big punch hit the side of Braddock's head and his
As Joe Gould gave Jim his share of the prize money, he said, mouthguard flew out. The crowd waited for Braddock to drop.
"Take care of yourself. Our luck has changed—I'm sure of it." Instead, he stood there, eye to eye with Lasky. Then he calmly
walked over and picked up his mouthguard.
•
"I can't believe my eyes," said the announcer. "Braddock just
A month later, in December 1934, Jimmy Johnston made the took Lasky's best punch and it had no effect on him!"
announcement that Joe Gould expected. He was going to Braddock was a different fighter after that. He fought from a
organize fights among the top heavyweight boxers. Finally, one distance, throwing jabs at Lasky's bloody face. In the fifteenth
man would be chosen to fight the champion, Max Baer, for round, Braddock's glove hit the other man's nose. Blood showered
the heavyweight title. Johnston had several boxers in mind, but the ring.
Braddock wasn't one of them. He didn't think that Braddock was "This is unbelievable!" shouted the radio announcer. "Nothing
lucky—he was good. Johnston didn't want the New Jersey boxer to can stop Braddock now."
stop another of his young stars. As Lasky moved with increasing difficulty, Braddock hit him
But Gould refused to take no for an answer. Again and again he with a combination of punches that sent him into the ropes at the
went to Johnston's office, trying to get a fight for his man. side of the ring. Those ropes were the only thing that kept Lasky
"How about a fight with Art Lasky?" he tried. on his feet.
At first Johnston refused. But, after hearing how confident "And the winner is . . .James J. Braddock!"
Lasky's people were, he changed his mind. Braddock's next fight The shouts of the crowd reached the streets outside. By radio,
was going to be with Art Lasky. He was a young fighter from they reached across the country. They were heard in Branson,
Minnesota who had won a few fights in the West. He wasn't as fast Missouri, where Ancil Hoffman ran to another room in the hotel
as Lewis, but he was big and strong. he was staying in. He knocked at the door urgently.
Max Baer, the heavyweight champion of the world, opened the
•
door and looked down angrily at Hoffman.
The Lasky fight started well for Braddock. In the early rounds, his "Jim Braddock just beat Lasky," said the champion's manager.
opponent couldn't get past Braddock's gloves. The boxer from "He's the number one challenger for your title."
Minnesota took a lot of punishment and soon his nose was bloody. Baer replied with an ugly smile. "The guy's a loser," he said.
Everything changed in the fifth round. Lasky started hitting "Tell Johnston to find me somebody who can fight back." Then
Braddock with punch after punch to the body. Fighting with new he shut the door in Ancil's face.
44 All IN One Graded Readers 45

t.me/Graded_Reader
Chapter 10 Night in the Park very expensive, but he wanted to apologize for not waking her to
tell her about the Lasky fight. He hadn't wanted to celebrate until
The streets around Madison Square Garden were quiet, but as he had paid back the money to the relief office.
soon as Jim stepped outside, a crowd of around fifty men closed in But when he got home, it wasn't the time for celebrating. Mike
around him and Joe. They were very different from the crowd that Wilson's wife, Sara, was sitting on the sofa with her baby girl in
had waited after the Griffiths fight years ago. These men looked her arms. Her eyes were red from crying.
tired and hungry. But when they saw Jim Braddock, hope lit up "Mike's gone," said Mae seriously. "It's been three days now."
their faces and they stood taller. "About a week after you left the docks, Jim, the foreman
"Just sign your name for a few," said Joe with a smile. "Leave stopped picking him for work," cried Sara. "I went to stay with my
them wanting more." brother. There wasn't room for Mike, so he's been sleeping in
"No, Joe. Tonight I sign them all!" Central Park." Sara looked straight at Jim. "He said he was going
Jim moved among the crowd, shaking hands and signing his to do some work for you. We were going to meet last night, but
name and talking for over an hour. Mike never came."
Joe did most of the talking on the drive to New Jersey. When Silently, Mae pointed at the jar that contained their money. Jim
they reached the apartment building, Jim opened the door. nodded. "Listen, Sara, you and Mae go and get something for the
"Good night, Joe." baby's cough."
"Haven't you forgotten something?" asked Joe. He reached into But Sara was crying. "Something's wrong. I know it is!"
his coat for Jim's share of the prize money. He began to explain Jim moved toward the front door. "I'll go and find him."
how he had decided on the amount. Hours later, Jim entered Central Park. As the sun sank, he knew
"I trust you, Joe," said Jim. "And Mae trusts you, too." that the enormous park wasn't as empty as it looked. Since the
Joe pushed the money into the fighter's hand and waved Crash of 1929, tens of thousands of New Yorkers were living in
goodnight. cars, or on the streets, or in the subway. A lot of people had started
When Jim entered the little apartment, he put some of the cash living in Central Park. Some of them built huts or tents from
in the jar on the shelf. He put the rest in a white envelope. any materials they could find. Others slept wherever they could.
Jim didn't sleep much that night and he left the apartment They ate any food they could find or catch or steal.
before Mae and the children woke up. The sidewalks were empty Jim had heard that there had been a lot of sheep in Central
as he walked to the center of town. He joined the line inside the Park. Most had been moved away. Now, as he searched for Mike,
relief office and waited patiently. Jim saw park workers guiding the last sheep into enormous
Finally, he stepped up to the counter and nodded at the wagons. Jim watched until a policeman on a horse waved at him
woman. He gave her the white envelope. to move away.
The woman was confused when she looked at the cash. "So The shadows became longer as night came, and soon trash can
. . . you're giving us the money back?" fires were the only lights in the park. Jim went deeper into the
On the way home, Jim bought twelve roses for Mae. They were park, past huts and tents. The sound of wet coughs filled the air.
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"Mike! Mike Wilson?" he called.
Few people came to Mike's funeral. It was a work day and most
Suddenly, two running policemen shouted at him to get out of
people couldn't afford to lose a day's money. Only Jim and Mae
the way. He looked to see where they were going and saw a crowd
Braddock and their three children stood with Sara Wilson and her
of people around several policemen on horses. Jim heard angry
baby daughter as Mike's body was put into the ground.
shouts and saw flames. He ran to the crowd and had to push his
way through a wall of people to reach the center. Jim spoke of Mike's love for his family, his wife. He didn't say
what he felt—that Mike's death was a waste, a stupid, unnecessary
A group of men had fought the police here, turning one of the
waste. Jim understood why people got angry, but Mike's anger
sheep wagons over and burning huts. The police were in control
hadn't helped his wife or his daughter. Jim wished he had known
again and were guiding the men away like sheep.
how bad things had become for his friend. He couldn't forget
There were two policemen on horses near Jim. "We were just how kind Mike had been to him when he started working at the
trying to move the sheep," one of them told the other. "But one of docks.
these guys started shouting at us. He was angry, very political.
Then they attacked us." Mae's attention was on Sara, whose eyes were far away. She
seemed to be staring into the long future that waited for her
Jim closed his eyes and remembered all Mike's angry talk. He
without her husband.
knew this must be Mike. He began looking for his friend among
all the fallen men on the grass. He got closer to the wagon that lay As she looked at Sara, part of Mae wondered if she was looking
into a mirror of her own future. Maybe not today or tomorrow—
on its side.
but one day she might lose Jim.
"A guy tried to free the sheep," a policeman was saying. "The
horses were scared and the wagon turned over."
There was someone with his legs under the enormous wheels
Chapter 11 Face to Face with the Champion
of the wagon. A group of men lifted the wagon up, and that's
when Jim realized that there was a second man under the wagon,
Madison Square Garden, March 24, 1935
lying in a pool of blood. It was Mike.
Jim's friend wasn't dead yet. Jim moved the hair from Mike's Jim Braddock and Joe Gould smiled for the cameras. Then it was
eyes. time for the reporters' questions.
"Did you win?" Mike asked. His voice was soft and filled with "Jim, do you have anything to say to our readers?"
pain. "Not everybody gets a second chance," answered Jim. He
Jim nodded. "You're going to be OK, Mike," he said. looked at Mae, who sat at the front in a new yellow dress, smiling
Mike managed a weak nod. "I know i t . . ." nervously. "I have a lot to be grateful for."
But, in the cold and dark of New York's Central Park, as the A second reporter stood. "Can you tell our readers why you
smoke from the burning huts blew over them and took away the gave your relief money back?"
last of the light, both men knew that this wasn't true. Jim nodded. "This great country of ours helps a man when he's
in trouble. I've had some good luck, so I thought I'd return the
• money."
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Another reporter stood. "Max Baer says that he's worried he's
The fight began. Johnston turned to Braddock. "Is Campbell's
going to kill you in the ring. What do you say?"
style familiar, Jim? It's like looking in a mirror, isn't it?"
Mae looked down at her hands. Jim looked the reporter in the
"He doesn't need to see this," complained Joe.
eye. "Max Baer is the champion," he said. "I'm looking forward to
"He'll see it or there'll be no fight!"Johnston warned.
the fight."
On the film, Campbell stepped forward with a good left jab,
The next question was from a familiar face. Sporty Lewis stood
almost as good as Jim's. Baer blocked it easily, then hit back with
and turned toward Mae. "Mrs. Braddock, how do you feel about
his right. The punch was too fast to see, and it had a strange,
the fact that Max Baer has killed two men in the ring?" Mae
terrible power. Campbell just stood there in confusion, with his
could find no words. "Mrs. Braddock, are you scared for your
gloves down by his side. The second punch hit the side of his
husband's life?" continued Lewis. head. And then Campbell was down, his legs wide, his eyes open
A camera appeared in front of Mae's face. Jim jumped to his but seeing nothing.
feet. "She's scared for Max Baer!" he shouted.
"It was the second punch that killed him," said Johnston.
Joe Gould lifted his arms like a referee. "OK, OK, one more
"You've warned us," said Joe. "Now stop the film."
question . . ." "No," said Jim, surprising both Joe and Johnston. "Show it
While Jim answered the last question, his eyes searched for Mae. again."
She refused to look up, not wanting him to see the doubts and fear
When the lights were back on, Johnston stared at Jim.
in her eyes.
"Remember Ernie Schaff ? He was a good fighter. Ernie took
one of Baer's punches on the chin. He was dead and didn't know
it. In his next fight, the first jab killed him." He sat back in his
When Jim Braddock and Joe Gould entered Madison Square
chair. "Do you want to think about this fight?"
Garden's boxing club, Jimmy Johnston was waiting for them. The
Jim hit his hands on the desk angrily. "Do you think you're
rich, powerful businessman waved a newspaper at the fighter and
telling me something I don't know?" he shouted. "How many
his manager.
guys died because they didn't have enough food? Or because they
"It says here that this fight is as good as murder," Johnston said,
had to work long hours and dangerous jobs to feed their families?
stepping close up to Braddock. "This is my business, and I'm going
I've thought about it as much as I'm going to."
to protect myself. You will know exactly what Baer can do before
"OK, then." Johnston looked away. "Why don't you both eat
you get in that ring."
here tonight with your wives?"
A door opened and a small man in a suit entered the room. This
The fight organizer smiled, but there was something about the
was Johnston's lawyer, and he was followed by a secretary.
look in his eyes that Jim didn't trust.
Johnston went to a machine and began to show a film. It
Later that day, the two men returned to the club's restaurant
showed two boxers getting ready to fight. One was Max Baer.
with their wives. The four ate, talked, and laughed, as a piano
Johnston said the other man's name. "That's Frankie Campbell . . . played quietly in the corner.
A good fighter who knows how to take a punch."
After the meal, Joe pulled a newspaper out of his pocket. He
50
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turned to the sports pages and began to read. "Jim Braddock is
Jim looked at Mae. The blood had run from her face, leaving
back from the dead to give hope to every American."
her pale with worry. He stood. "Get the coats, Joe." Then he
Jim was surprised. "Who wrote that?"
began walking toward the bar.
"Sporty Lewis. The newspaper is calling you the Cinderella
Baer gave a big smile when he saw Jim coming. "Look, it's the
Man." Cinderella Man!" he shouted.
"Cinderella Man?" Jim didn't look happy. Cinderella was a
Jim stood toe to toe with the champion. "You keep saying in
children's story. Wasn't Cinderella the girl who had to stay at home
the newspapers that you're going to kill me in the ring. I have
and clean while her sisters went to a wonderful party at the
three little kids. You're upsetting my family."
palace?
Baer moved closer. His voice was quiet as he said, "Listen to me,
"I like it," said Mae, squeezing his hand.
Braddock. I'm asking you not to take this fight. People admire
Suddenly, an enormous man with two young women on his
you. You seem like a nice guy, and I don't want to hurt you. It's no
arms walked in through the front door. Conversations died around
joke. They're calling you the Cinderella Man. Well, people die in
the room. The man had thick black hair and the brightest blue
children's stories all the time."
eyes. He was wearing an expensive white jacket, but he looked
Suddenly, a small crowd of reporters and photographers ran
dangerous. As usual, all eyes in the room turned to him. This was
into the club. Baer turned to face the cameras and smiled. His
Max Baer.
voice was loud again as he started performing for the cameras. "If
Jim turned to his manager. "Do you think Johnston planned
you're smart, you'll fall over in the first round," he told Jim.
this?" he asked angrily.
Jim's eyes met Baer's. "I think I'll try for a few rounds," he said.
Joe nodded. "Sure. More pictures for the papers."
Baer noticed Mae, standing behind Jim now. "You should talk
Physically, Baer was the perfect boxer. He had a narrow waist,
to him," he said. "You're much too pretty to lose your husband."
wide shoulders, strong legs, and long arms. He was young, too—at Jim squeezed his fist into a ball, ready to attack, but Baer
twenty-six, three years younger than Jim. And he had the strongest continued to look at Mae. "Maybe I can take care of you after he's
punch Joe Gould had ever seen—probably the strongest punch in gone."
the history of boxing.
This time Joe Gould jumped, waving his fists at the champion.
Joe knew that there were ways to beat the champion. His right- Jim pulled him back.
hand punch was so powerful that he hadn't really worked on
Mae stepped up to the bar. Baer's bright blue eyes followed her
improving his left hand. But Joe couldn't forget the sight of Baer
as she picked up his drink, then threw it in his face.
destroying Primo Carnera. The big Italian had been knocked
Baer just laughed as he dried his face. "Did you get that,
down eleven times in that fight.
boys?" he said to the reporters. "Braddock has his wife fighting
Joe's attention moved away from Baer when a waiter arrived for him."
with a bottle of wine and four glasses.
Jim stepped up to Max Baer. The two boxers were nose to nose.
"From the gentleman at the bar . . . Mr. Baer said I should wish
you good luck." Then Jim turned, took his wife's hand, and led her away. As they
left, the sound of Baer laughing followed them into the street.
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Chapter 12 T h e Big Day Mae's fear turned to anger. "I supported you until now," she
said. "But not for this, Jim. I just can't . . ." Her voice went cold.
"Keep your head down and give me a combination—left, right, "You find a way out of this fight. Break your hand again, if you
have to. But if you leave this apartment to fight Max Baer, I won't
left."
support you."
Jim was teaching Jay and Howard how to box. Jay threw out
a right fist and lifted his chin. Jim reached forward and gently •
hit his son's chin. "Don't take your eyes off your opponent,"
he said. As the day of the fight grew closer, Max Baer helped reporters fill
"That's enough, now," said Mae from the kitchen sink. their sports pages. His latest demand was that there must be an
Jim looked at his boys proudly. "There's more than one fighter ambulance outside Madison Square Garden, ready to rush Jim to a
local hospital after Baer hit him.
in the Braddock family."
As the two boys continued to box, they knocked over a chair. Jim just continued training. Joe Jeannette chose good partners
for him to work with in the ring. Each one helped Jim improve
Mae turned. "I said that's enough!" she cried. "No boxing in
one skill—one partner helped him work on his hand speed;
the house!" She pointed at her two sons. "You are going to stay
another partner allowed him to practice dodging big punches;
in school. Then college. You are going to have professions. You
another helped him move around the ring quickly.
are not going to have your heads broken in the boxing ring. Is
Jim, Joe, and Jeannette also watched film of Baer's fights for
that clear?"
hours every day. "Watch him," said Jeannette, pointing. "His
The boys froze. Before they could reply, Mae ran out of the
punches are strong, but you can see them coming."
apartment. As she stood outside, she could still hear Sporty Lewis's
With just a few weeks to go, Braddock's training became even
words in her head: Max Baer has killed two men in the ring.
harder. Joe and Jeannette started changing his boxing partners
She didn't turn when she heard Jim's steps. "When you boxed
more and more often, so Jim fought a fresh fighter every round.
before, sometimes I hoped that you would get hurt. Just enough
One of the newspaper sports pages included something that Joe
so you couldn't fight again . . . I always knew a day would come
had said: "Braddock is going to be really prepared for this fight, if
when a fight could kill you. And now it's here." She looked her
he lives through training!"
husband in the eye. "Why? Why fight him?"
Joe laughed when he read that, until his wife reminded him that
"This is what I know how to do," said Jim simply.
Mae Braddock would read it, too.
Mae waited for Jim to take her in his arms, to say that he had
changed his mind, but he didn't. Part of him wished that he could, •
but it was impossible. She didn't understand how it felt for men
Finally, the big day arrived. When Joe Gould arrived at the gym
like Jim or Mike Wilson—strong, hardworking men who were
that morning, Jim was sitting alone, with a jacket tight around his
told that they were useless. There were thousands of people like
chest.
this now, and they found hope in the fighter they called the
"What's wrong with him?" the manager asked Joe Jeannette.
Cinderella Man. Jim had to fight, for them.
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Jeannette shook his head. "He's fitter than ever, but he's old. His through his head, remembering Jeannette's advice—anything to
ribs aren't strong since the Lasky fight." help him forget the look on Mae's face as he left.
Gould already knew about the problem with Jim's ribs, but They reached the Madison Square Garden Bowl and Jim
he thought there was something else wrong. Gould knew that looked out at the waiting crowd. He could see that these people
Jim's wife wasn't happy about his profession, and about this fight had known hard times. But there was something else, too, a
especially. But whatever the problem was, there was no time to bright look in their eyes—hope.
solve it now. The fight was just hours away. Jim saw his own face in the glass of the car window. He had
"The reporters will be here soon," he told Jim. "Take off that beaten Tuffy Griffiths so confidently, but that man was gone
jacket or Baer will see that you have a rib problem." forever. He had passed his hat hopelessly around the boxing club,
Jim climbed into the training ring as a crowd of sports writers but that man, was gone, too. No, he was looking now at the face of
rushed into the room. He worked hard, but he still wanted to train every man who had ever been beaten down by hard times but
more after the last reporter had gone. refused to stop fighting.
Joe Jeannette refused. "Go home and get some rest. You'll be That's when Jim knew. No matter what happened tonight, he
working hard enough in the ring tonight." wouldn't give up. He would die trying.
So Jim went home. He returned to a house that was empty
•
except for Mae. She stood silently, looking at the newspaper:
It was a hot day and getting hotter. Jim sat in his dressing room
WORLD CHAMPION FIGHT TONIGHT
waiting to go out and be weighed.
MANY WORRY FOR B R A D D O C K ' S LIFE
"Come on, champion," said Joe Gould when there was a knock
Without a word, she turned and walked away. on the door.
As the morning became afternoon, Jim lay in bed, unable to "Wait a minute," said Jim. "The last time I looked, I was the
sleep. A taxi came for him at four o'clock. challenger, not the champion."
Mae followed Jim outside, where a small crowd of neighbors "I know what I said," replied Joe.
was waiting: "Come home with that title!" "Knock him out!" On his way to the weighing room, Max Baer had seen an old
Jim kissed his three children. Then his eyes met Mae's. "I can't trainer who had worked with him years before. There were angry
win if you don't support me," he said. words and Baer hit out at the man. Cameras recorded the attack.
"Then don't go, Jimmy." When there was peace in the room again, officials and reporters
Time seemed to stretch, with each of them waiting for the watched the two boxers being weighed. It was very hot in the
other to say something. Then Mae turned and pulled the children crowded room.
close to her. Jim watched as she pushed her way back through the Max Baer went first, stepping up with his fists above his head
crowd. Then he climbed into the waiting taxi. and an ugly smile on his face.
The taxi drove past the tall buildings of Manhattan, then crossed "Ninety-five and a half kilograms," the judge announced.
the East River. Jim was silent, running the films of Baer's fights Then it was Jim's turn. "Eighty-six and a half kilograms."
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Max Baer was waiting for him when he stepped down. "How "Father?" Mae asked, confused by the crowd. "I came to say a
does the story go?" said Baer, loud enough for all the reporters to few words in church for Jim."
hear. "The clock strikes midnight, and then Cinderella loses her "All these people are doing the same," said the priest. "They
skirt!" think Jim's fighting for them."
People laughed and more photos were taken, but Jim didn't Mae looked at the crowd again. All of these people were beaten
care. He would have the chance to reply later, in the ring. He went down by hard times. They admired her husband. If he could fight
back to his dressing room to get ready for the fight. and win, maybe they could . . .
Max Baer returned to his dressing room. His trainer was "Yes, I understand now," said Mae. She turned and hurried
waiting with something for the champion to watch—a film of down the street. She could hear radios through open windows
Braddock's fight against Art Lasky. and doors. Everybody was getting ready to listen to the fight—
"Look, right there!" said the trainer, as Lasky hit Braddock in at the docks, in homes and bars, in Sam the butcher's. Beyond
the ribs, clearly hurting him. "Braddock's ribs are weak. If you can Newark, too—across the country—people wanted the Cinderella
hit them with a few good jabs, you'll really hurt him." Man to win. They wanted him to become the prince, the king,
"I don't need to," answered Baer. "I can knock this loser down the champion.
any time. I just need to give the crowd a good show before I kill
him." •
Baer's manager, Ancil Hoffman, came into the room. Joe Gould was taping Jim's hands in the dressing room. They could
"Did you get it?" asked the champion. hear the sound of the crowd beyond. Suddenly, there was a knock
Hoffman nodded. "The ambulance is waiting outside. There's a on the door and a small, familiar shape stood there—it was Mae.
doctor there, too." "Excuse me for a minute," said Joe. He left, closing the door
Max looked in the mirror. "That's all I can do for him. Now behind him.
Braddock's on his own." Finally, Mae spoke. "You can't win if I don't support you."
"I keep telling you that," said Jim.
•
Mae handed him a brown paper bag. "I thought it was going to
Mae spent the rest of the day at her sister's house. As the children rain, so I used the money in the rainy-day jar." Jim opened the bag
played, she and Alice sat and talked, but they didn't discuss the real and stared at the new pair of boxing shoes inside.
reason for Mae's visit. "Maybe I understand." Mae's eyes shone. The two kissed and,
As the afternoon shadows grew longer, Mae became quieter. smiling through her tears, Mae said, "I always support you, Jimmy.
At five o'clock, she stood. "No radio, Alice," she said. "I'll be back Just you remember who you are! You're everybody's hope and your
soon." kids' hero and you're the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock!"
Mae walked through the empty streets of Newark until she It was almost fight time. "See you at home, okay?" Mae
came to the family's church. Father Rorick stood at the door. whispered, as she moved to the door. "Please, Jimmy . . ."
There were crowds inside. Jim nodded. "See you at home."
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Chapter 13 The Hopes of the Crowd climbed into the ring, Baer ran around and accepted the crowd's
boos with a confident smile on his face.
Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, The referee called the boxers and their corner men to him.
New York June 13, 1935 "I want a clean fight," he said. "When I say break, step back
immediately. And remember"—he looked at Jim—"protect
As Jim Braddock stepped out into the bright lights, the crowd
yourself at all times."
became silent. The ring seemed so far away. Between him and it
As the fighters touched gloves, Baer's corner man held a gold
were thousands of people—Jim's people. He knew the looks on
watch in front of Braddock's face. "One minute to midnight,
their faces—people who saw no chance of a future. Some had
Cinderella!" he laughed.
spent their last dollar to be here, but tonight they all held their
The fighters returned to their corners. Baer's manager, Ancil
heads high. Their eyes followed him with the wild hope that the
Hoffman, whispered final words of advice to the champion, but
story of the Cinderella Man would have a happy ending.
Baer wasn't interested. Jim closed his eyes. Finally, the sound of the
It was the strangest walk to the ring Jim had ever made. As he
bell broke the silence and the fight began.
passed, people got to their feet. They smiled and nodded and
waved at their hero, but they were still silent. Finally, someone •
called his name and the shout broke the silence for everybody. The
Round 1 Braddock came out fast and hard, hoping to surprise
whole crowd—thirty-five thousand people—began to shout, and
the champion. Showing no fear, he hit Baer with a right hand, and
the noise went up to the star-filled sky.
then followed it with a left to the body. The champion tried to
• punch back, but Braddock danced away.
Mae's sister Alice was looking for Jay, Howard, and Rosy, to call On Braddock's next attack, Baer was ready. His left fist hit
them to supper. There was no sign of the children. Were they Braddock's ribs hard. Braddock's answer was a combination of
hiding? She was going to look outside, when she heard a sound punches—a long right to the face, another right, a left, and a final
from the closet under the stairs. right to the chin. The champion knew now that Braddock had a
All three children were sitting around a radio. They looked up good punch, but he refused to show any pain.
at their aunt, and Alice knew that she couldn't stop them. Without "Calm down, old man," Baer laughed as the fighters held on to
saying a word, she sat down next to the children and listened to each other. "I'll let the fight go a few rounds."
the announcer on the radio. As the bell rang, Baer knew that he had lost the round on
I don't know if you can hear me," the announcer was points, but he didn't care. He was confident that he could end this
shouting. "I can't hear myself! The crowd is on its feet and the fight at any time with one punch.
noise is deafening." In the corner, Gould met Braddock with a big smile. "Did you
Back in the Madison Square Garden Bowl, the crowd was silent see the look on Baer's face when you hit him?"
again when they realized that Max Baer was walking to the ring. Jim took out his mouthguard. "Yes, he was laughing."
The champion felt the crowd's fear. He enjoyed it. When he had "So use your left hand to knock that smile off his face!"
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In the opposite corner Ancil Hoffman was shouting, but Baer Baer had seen it, too. He hit the side of Braddock's head with a big
waved him away. "I'll kill him when I'm ready." left-hand punch. Jim's legs bent. He was clearly in terrible pain—
"Your left, Jimmy," Joe said again. "Remember your left." was he going to fall? Gould froze in fear. He thought about giving
in, ending the fight.
Round 2 Braddock came out with his fists moving at the start of
"Give him a chance, Joe," said the corner man.
the second round, too.
A few seconds later, Jim stood straighter and reached for the
"Nobody expected this fight to go one round," the radio ropes.
announcer was saying. "But it's only reached round two because Baer couldn't believe it. He attacked again, but this time
Baer is playing with Braddock. He's thrown almost no punches Braddock hit back with a long right, then a left jab that made
and he's laughing at the challenger." Baer's head look like a punching bag.
But soon Baer started throwing more punches, aiming at "That's it!" shouted Gould, jumping up and down.
Braddock's weak ribs. The strength of Baer's punches knocked the
breath out of him. Round 4 From the start of the next round, both men stood toe to
"The champion has really hurt the challenger," said the toe, throwing jabs. Braddock's feet were quicker and his punches
announcer. The crowd began to boo. more effective, so Baer started aiming for the body again. After a
"That's the right place, isn't it, old man?" said Baer. few good punches to the ribs, he was sure that every breath caused
The referee separated the fighters at the sound of the bell. One Braddock terrible pain.
of Braddock's corner men worked on the fighter's cuts, while the The two men held each other again and the referee called for
other gave the boxer water. Jim coughed it back up. He needed them to break. But Baer continued to hold Braddock.
air, not water. "Dirty fighting!" shouted Gould angrily from the corner.
Joe examined Jim's ribs. "They're not broken," he said. "Not yet." "I warned you," the referee told Baer. "When I say 'Break!' you
Across the ring, Baer was playing and acting for the cameras. break!"
As he watched this, Jim realized that he himself didn't care about The crowd booed as Baer finally stepped back. He shook the
pleasing the crowd now. He wasn't even fighting Baer. He was sweat from his thick black hair and held up his hands to apologize.
fighting to beat the thing that had beaten him. He was fighting for Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Braddock wasn't
his family's future. protecting himself.
Round 3 For the third time, Braddock came out fast. He threw Without warning, Baer turned and delivered an enormous
his punches at Baer's head, but the champion's punches were punch to Braddock's ribs. To everybody's surprise—especially Baer's
aimed at his opponent's body. Baer continued to hit Braddock's —Braddock replied with a combination of left-right punches
ribs hard with both hands. He hit Braddock with a low punch, before stepping back.
and the referee warned the champion to keep his fists up.
Before the fight started again, Gould saw that Braddock's gloves Round 5 Baer's manager, Ancil Hoffman, couldn't understand
were down by his side, but there was no time to shout a warning. it. The challenger's ribs were in bad condition, but Braddock was
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still controlling the fight, jabbing Baer again and again and tiring Round 7 As soon as the round began, it was clear that Baer had a
him. The timing of the champion's punches wasn't right, and new attitude. Joe Gould could see it. The crowd could also feel the
Hoffman knew that he was waiting for the chance to deliver his change. Baer wanted to finish this fight now.
big knockout punch instead of tiring his opponent. But Baer But Braddock wasn't afraid. He met the champion in the
wasn't able to hit Braddock, who dodged and danced away middle of the ring and the two fighters continued the fight. Baer
skillfully. hit Braddock with several punches to the body. The last of these
The champion was getting angry now. He hit Braddock with hit below the belt.
an illegal backhand punch as the referee separated the two "Keep your punches up, Max," said Braddock.
fighters. The referee warned Baer, but the two men continued Baer smiled and delivered a combination of punches to his
fighting before holding on to each other again. opponent's body and head. "Is that up enough?"
"Step back!" shouted the referee, but the two men didn't let go. Braddock forced himself to smile through the pain. "That's fine,
Braddock hit the champion's chin with his head. The champion Max."
shouted in anger. He lifted Braddock and threw him into the As the bell rang, Baer continued throwing punches. Braddock
ropes, paying no attention to the boos of the crowd. hit back as hard as he could, but Max Baer just laughed.
When the round was over, Hoffman shouted angrily at Baer, "I can't believe this!" said the radio announcer. "Everybody
"What are you doing?" expected the champion to win easily. But now, after the seventh
"Relax," the champion told him. round, neither fighter is ahead. Either of them could win."
"I'll relax," replied Ancil, "when we walk out of here with the
title." Chapter 14 T h e Luckiest Man
Round 6 Baer hit Braddock with three good punches in the first "Alice?" The house seemed empty. Mae looked at the uneaten
seconds of the round. Blood poured from the challenger's nose meal on her sister's kitchen table. Then she heard noises from the
and mouth. closet in the hall. They were all there—Mae's three children and
But then, suddenly, it seemed to Baer that a train had hit him. It her sister—listening to the fight on the radio.
was Braddock's right hand, and it hit the champion on the chin "The crowd was expecting big things from champion Max
with enormous power. Baer stepped back, fighting for air. But Baer in the eighth round," the radio announcer was saying. "But
Braddock gave him no space, throwing punch after punch with Jim Braddock refused to be beaten."
his left hand. One of them hit the champion just above the eye. Rosy looked up and saw her mother. "It's the police," she said
Baer fought back, but his aim wasn't as good as the challenger's. to the others.
His right eye began to close. "By the ninth round, it was a fact that Braddock had fought
For the first time in this fight, Baer felt relief when the bell better than anybody expected," continued the announcer. "But
rang. He promised himself that he would end the fight in the next some people were saying that Baer allowed this to happen. In the
round, even if he had to kill the Cinderella Man to do it. tenth round, the champion was in complete control of the fight."
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Mae reached to turn off the radio. Jay's eyes met hers. "Please, "You're right, it is a funeral," shouted the young reporter next
to Sporty Lewis. "Max Baer's funeral."
Mom."
She looked into their hopeful faces and knew that she couldn't But Lewis didn't hear. He was on his feet, shouting like
everybody else. The crowd's shout was like a wave of noise.
say no. But she refused to listen herself. Without a word, she
turned and walked away, as the eleventh round began.
It was too much for Max Baer. He ran at Braddock, moving his
Round 11 Baer was mad as he rushed out. He chased Braddock fists fast and hard. The punches hit the challenger, the last one
around the ring, throwing punches at the challenger . . . and then below the belt. Braddock bent over in pain as the round ended.
it came—Baer's big punch, the one that had killed two men. Joe Gould jumped over the ropes, shouting angrily at Baer. The
When it hit him, Braddock's mind was in a fog. He felt heavy referee and the fight's doctor had to lift the little manager back out
and light at the same time, and his legs could only just support of the ring.
him. He felt the ropes on his back. Baer just stood in the center of the ring.
Suddenly, a memory of his family came into Jim's head—his "That low punch lost you the round," the referee told him.
wife and children. The reason why he was here. He let the ropes Baer waved him away and moved back to his corner. Ancil
support him for a few seconds, and then he pushed forward, back Hoffman was waiting for him. "You're losing! Are you listening to
on his feet. me? Do you want to lose the title to this nobody?"
Baer just stared at Braddock, unable to believe that the
challenger had taken the punch and not been knocked out. Jim
•
looked back into Baer's broken face and smiled. At her sister's house in New Jersey, Mae had stopped pretending
For the rest of the round, Baer tried to finish his opponent, but to herself that she was reading the newspaper—that she wasn't
his wild punches missed. Braddock hit back with a jab, a cross, listening to the radio.
another jab. With each punch, he felt his strength returning. There She went back to the hall, where the others still sat listening.
was blood on Baer's face now. Mae hid around the corner so her children couldn't see her. She
At the end of the round, Braddock's corner men worked stood in the dark and listened to the thirteenth and fourteenth
urgently on the cut under the fighter's eye. Joe Gould seemed rounds with growing fear.
close to tears. "Jimmy," said his manager. "Win, or lose . . ." At last, when there was just one more round in the fight, she
"Thanks, Joe, for all of it." Jim lifted a bloody glove. "Now stop stepped out of the shadows. Rosy moved to the side. "Sit here,
talking." Mommy." Mae joined her children. Pale with worry, she listened
Round 12 Baer started the twelfth round still trying to finish to the announcer.
the fight with one big punch. But the challenger was faster and "It's the fifteenth and final round. The crowd is shouting at
dodged the punches. Braddock to stay away because Baer is looking for the knockout
"He's slow!" shouted Gould from the corner. . . . but Braddock is not staying away, and Baer is delivering the
The crowd was shouting in both happiness and fear. biggest punches of his life."
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Mae saw the fear now in her children's eyes. Would their father
Jim tried to find the right words, but Baer was gone before he
come home tonight? had a chance to say them.
"But Braddock is not only standing . . . he's coming forward!"
At last, the judges handed a small, white card to the fight
announcer. He climbed over the ropes and moved to the
Round 15 In the ring, Max Baer and Jim Braddock were
microphone in the middle of the ring.
beaten, bloody and tired. They fought for air as they circled each
"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner . . . and new heavyweight
other, looking for a chance to get past their opponent's defenses.
champion of the world . . ."
Baer's fists flew and all of his punches were strong enough to
The rest of his words were lost in an explosion of noise.
knock a man out, but they were wild and anxious. Braddock
The same noise filled the streets of Newark. People poured
remained on his feet. He kept coming forward, bringing the fight
from their houses into the streets to celebrate. They poured out of
to Baer.
Father Rorick's church to join everybody else in an unplanned
The final seconds of the fight seemed to stretch forever. For the
street party. People laughed and cried with happiness. Faces that
boxers, the crowd seemed to disappear; the referee, the judges, and
looked old with worry became suddenly young again.
the managers were gone, too. For each man there was only the
At her sister's house, Mae's cry cut the night. As the family
other fighter.
celebrated, little Rosy smiled proudly at her mother. "It's the
Braddock danced to the side and threw a jab. Baer saw his
steak," she said.
chance. He threw his famous right punch and hit Braddock right
Back at the Madison Square Garden Bowl, the crowd pushed
in the head. It knocked the challenger to the side, and now Baer
forward for a better look at the Cinderella Man. Everybody
could hit him with the second punch. Silence fell over the crowd.
wanted to shake his hand, to touch him, to take home a little of his
Was this the end?
magic for themselves.
No. Braddock turned and just managed to dodge the next
James J. Braddock stood in the center of the ring with his arms
punch. He hit back, and the two men were still throwing punches
lifted over his head. Tears poured from his eyes. He listened to the
when the final bell rang. The fight had ended!
crowd's shouts, but his heart was in another place. It was in a little
Everybody waited to hear the fight officials announce a winner.
New Jersey apartment, where his wife and three children would
It was clear which fighter the crowd wanted.
soon be waiting for him to come home. In the end, they were the
reason why he was not only the heavyweight champion of the
Minutes later, Braddock was still resting on the ropes while the
world, but also the luckiest man in it.
fight doctor examined him and Joe Gould took his boxing gloves
off. •
I don't like it," said Joe. "The judges are taking too long."
And so James J. Braddock, at the age of 29, became the
A shadow fell across their corner. It was Max Baer, who looked
heavyweight champion of the world on June 13, 1935. None of
Jim Braddock in the eye. "You beat me. It doesn't matter what
they say." the judges disagreed with the decision. For the public and the
press, his win was one of the biggest surprises in the history of the
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sport. Most agreed that Baer had been beaten by a better boxer on ACTIVITIES
the night.
Chapter 1
For two years, Braddock didn't box again. Finally, a fight was
arranged with Joe Louis, the "Brown Bomber" from Detroit. On Before you read
June 22, 1937, the two fighters met in Chicago. 1 Do you like to watch boxing? Why (not)? Discuss the sport with
By this time, Braddock was not as strong or healthy as he had another student. Who is or was your country's greatest boxer?
been. His left arm was very weak, but he still managed to knock 2 Look at the Word List at the back of the book. Check the meaning
of unfamiliar words; then discuss these questions with another
Louis down in the first round. By the fourth round, Joe Louis was
student. Use the Internet or library books to help you if you don't
controlling the fight. According to Braddock, "After a couple of
know much about boxing.
rounds, I knew I was in there with a great fighter." The end came
a Who is or was the greatest heavyweight champion in the history
when Louis knocked Braddock out in the eighth round. "When
of boxing? Why?
he hit me with that right, I just lay there." Joe Louis later became b In your opinion, how many rounds should there be in an amateur
one of the greatest heavyweight title holders in the history of boxing fight? How many should there be in a professional fight?
boxing. Why?
James J. Braddock fought one more fight after that, in 1938, c If a boxer is being hit often and is not throwing any punches
against a young boxer from Wales, Tommy Farr. Farr had lasted all back, should the referee always stop the fight? Why (not)?
fifteen rounds against Louis, and most people expected him to d What would you like to be the world champion of? Why?
beat Braddock. Again, Braddock surprised everybody by winning e When is the last time you heard people booing? Why were they
the fight. Then he decided to leave the sport as a winner. "I have booing?
won my last fight," he announced to the press. f In your opinion, which of these jobs is the hardest? Why?
After he stopped boxing, Jim Braddock remained friends with butcher priest worker at the docks boxer
Joe Gould. And Braddock had a lot to thank his manager for. 3 Read the Introduction to the book and answer these questions.
a What caused hard times in the U.S. in the 1930s?
When Gould had allowed Joe Louis to challenge Braddock for
b How was Jim Braddock like millions of other unlucky Americans?
the title in 1937, he had demanded money from all Joe Louis's
c Why did actor Russell Crowe want to play Braddock?
heavyweight title fights for the next ten years if Louis won. Jim
d How did Crowe train for the film?
and Mae Braddock were never poor again. The couple lived in
the same New Jersey house that they bought after Jim won the While you read
heavyweight title. Jim spent the rest of his life surrounded by 4 Are these sentences correct? Write yes or no.
friends and neighbors who admired and loved him. a Jim Braddock is expected to beat Tuffy Griffiths.
b Braddock wins the fight by a knockout.
Looking back, Jim Braddock said that, when Baer hit him with
c Joe Gould decides which boxers fight at Madison
his best punch and Jim didn't fall, he was "the happiest guy in the
Square Garden.
world." The story of the Cinderella Man did have a happy ending.
d Braddock was born in New Jersey.
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e Braddock still lives in New Jersey. After you read
f Jim likes to go to clubs after a fight. 11 How has life changed for Jim and his family since 1928? Make a list
g Joe Gould likes to see Mae Braddock. and compare it with the lists of other students.
h Mae refused to marry Jim until he had enough money. 12 Why are these important to the story?
i Jim and Mae have three children. Jim and Mae's wedding picture a jar a piece of meat
j Mae goes to all of Jim's fights. 13 Work in pairs and have these conversations.
Student A: You are Jim Braddock. Pick one of these times in the
After you read
story and tell your friend what your thoughts are.
5 Discuss how these people feel about each other. Give reasons for
a waiting for work at the docks
your answers.
b before the Feldman fight
a Jim and Joe c Jim and Mae
c after you lost your license
b Joe and Jimmy Johnston d Joe and Mae
Student B: You are Jim's friend. Ask questions.
6 Describe Mae's attitude to Jim's job. How would you feel in her
situation? Chapters 4-5
Chapters 2-3 Before you read

14 Look at the titles of these chapters and discuss the questions.
Before you read
a What will Jim's new life be like? How do you think he will earn
7 Life changed for many Americans on October 29, 1929. What do
money for his family with a broken right hand?
you think happened on that day? What happened afterward?
b What promise will be broken? Who will break it?
8 You are going to read about the Braddock family's money problems.
15 In Chapter 5, Jimmy goes back to Madison Square Garden, but
How do you think these will affect Jim? How will they affect Mae?
not as a boxer. Why do you think he goes there? Think of some
9 Jim's next fight is described as "an embarrassment." Why, do you
possible reasons.
think?
While you read
While you read
16 Number these events in the correct order, from 1 to 10.
10 Write the name of the character.
a Jim sells his boxing shoes at the gym.
a Who is afraid about Jim's next fight?
b Joe Gould gives Jim money.
b Who pulls out a gun at the docks?
c Mae takes the children to her relatives.
c Who steals food?
d Jim is chosen to work at the docks.
d Who promises that the Braddocks will
e The electricity is turned back on.
never send their children away?
f The Braddocks' electricity is cut off.
e Who says he will buy Jim an ice cream?
g Jim goes to the relief office.
f Whose hand is broken?
h Jim covers his cast with black shoe polish.
g Who takes away Jim's license?
i Jim and Mike help a young couple.
h Who tells Jim, "It's finished"?
j Jim meets Mike Wilson.
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17 Why: 21 Answer these questions.
a does Mike Wilson help Jim at the docks? a Why is there a party at the church?
b doesn't Joe Gould speak to Jim when he sees him at the gym? b Why does Joe come to see Jim at his apartment?
c does Mae take the children to her relatives? c Why do the Braddock children go back to the butcher shop?
d does Jim become angry that the children are gone? d Why does Joe Gould look for a spoon?
18 You are Jim Braddock. Pick one of these times in the story and tell e Why does Sporty Lewis get a surprise?
the class your thoughts. f Why can't Joe Gould watch Max Baer's fight?
a working at the docks 22 The writer includes a description of the fight between Max Baer and
b seeing Joe Jeannette at the gym Primo Carnera. Why? What effect does this scene have? Discuss
c in the line at the relief office your opinion with another student.
d when the electricity is turned back on
Chapters 8-9
Chapters 6-7
Before you read
Before you read 23 Which of these do you think will happen in the next two chapters?
19 Discuss these questions with another student. a Jim leaves his job at the docks.
a In Chapter 6, Joe Gould offers Jim something. What will this be? b Mae tries to make Jim stop fighting.
b In Chapter 7, Joe Gould says, "Where have you been, Jimmy c Jim loses his next fight.
Braddock?" Why do you think he says this? d Jim becomes the challenger for the heavyweight title of the
world.
While you read
20 Read the questions and circle YES or NO. While you read
a Is it Howard's birthday? YES NO 24 Match the speakers with the words.
b Had Jim hit the priest? YES NO a "Put it on your eyes." Jim Braddock
c Does Jim hit Mike Wilson? YES NO b "Why didn't you tell me you were going Joe Gould
d Is Mae happy about the children boxing? YES NO to win again?" Joe Jeannette
e Is Mae happy about the Griffin fight? YES NO c "You said it was one fight." John Henry Lewis
f Does Jim train hard for the Griffin fight? YES NO d "I'll get him a fight if it's the last thing Mae Braddock
g Does Jim fight Corn Griffin on an empty stomach? YES NO I do." Max Baer
h Does Sporty Lewis think that Jim will win? YES NO e "You've been training, Jimmy." Mike Wilson
i Does Jim beat Griffin by a knockout? YES NO f "I can't win if you don't support me." Rosy Braddock
j Does Max Baer beat Primo Carnera? YES NO g "He isn't the same guy."
h "The guy's a loser."
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25 Answer these questions. 30 Pick one of these people. Imagine what they are thinking at Mike's
a Why are the men at the docks surprised to see Jim? funeral. Discuss it with a partner.
b Why is Mae surprised at Joe's apartment? Jim Mae Sara
c Why is Joe Jeannette surprised when Jim starts training? 31 Do you know the complete story of Cinderella? Tell the story.
d Why is the radio announcer surprised during the Lasky fight? Explain the meaning of the name "Cinderella Man."
26 Imagine Mae's thoughts as she returns home after seeing Joe 32 Work in pairs. Act out the conversation between Jim and Mae after
Gould in New York. Make notes; then have this conversation. they have met Max Baer at the club.
Student A: You are Mae. Tell Jim about your visit to Joe's Student A: You are Mae. You are afraid that Jim will get badly hurt
apartment. or killed. Ask him not to fight Baer.
Student B: You are Jim. Ask questions. Say what you think about Student B: You are Jim. Tell Mae why you have to fight and try to
Joe and about Mae's visit. make her feel better.
Chapters 10-11 Chapters 12-13
Before you read Before you read

27 In the 1930s, some people with no money lived in New York's 33 It is time for the big fight. How do you think these people feel about
Central Park. What do you think life was like for them? it?
28 In Chapter 11, Jim Braddock meets the champion, Max Baer, Jim Mae the Braddock children Jim's neighbors Max Baer
outside the ring. What do you think happens? While you read
While you read 34 Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)?
29 Circle the correct word. a Joe Jeannette thinks that the champion's ribs are weak
a Jim gives money back to Joe Gould/the Newark relief office. b The champion is heavier than the challenger.
b He buys some flowers/chocolates for Mae. c Jim's children are at their aunt's house during the fight.
c Sara tells Mae that Jim/Mike is missing. d Mae stays to watch the whole fight.
d Jim looks for Mike in Central Park/at the Newark docks. e Max Baer is worried in the first round.
e A lot of/Few people go to Mike's funeral. f Baer breaks Jim's ribs in the second round.
f Sporty Lewis asks Mae/Jim questions. g The champion stays calm in the fight.
g Joe Gould/Jim Braddock asks Jimmy Johnston to stop the film of After you read
Baer's fights. 35 Discuss these questions.
h Max Baer/Jim Braddock tells his opponent, "I don't want to hurt a What helps Mae to change her mind about the fight?
you." b How is Jim Braddock's attitude to boxing different in 1935 than it
i Mae throws a drink/a punch at Max Baer. was in 1928? Explain your answer.
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t.me/Graded_Reader
Chapter 14 46 Write a character description of one of these people:
Before you read Jim Braddock Mae Braddock Joe Gould Mike Wilson
36 How do you think these people will feel if Braddock wins? How will Max Baer
they feel if he loses? Support your description with examples of the person's words or
Mae Ancil Hoffman Sporty Lewis actions.
37 Who do you think will win the fight? Why do you think that? 47 All of the people in the book are real except Mike Wilson and his
family. You are the writer of the movie. Write an e-mail to the
While you read filmmakers explaining why you put this character in the story.
38 Number these events in the correct order, from 1 to 6. 48 Think about a time in your life when you had to fight for your beliefs.
a Mae listens to the fight with her children. Describe it in a diary page.
b Joe Gould jumps into the ring. 49 What does this book tell you about life in the United States in the
c The judges' decision is announced. early 1930s? Write a description of what life was like for many poor
d Mae walks away from the radio. Americans at that time. Include examples from Cinderella Man.
e Max Baer comes over to Jim's corner. 50 Professional boxers have to be very fit. Write a weekly exercise
f Jim takes Baer's big punch and smiles at the champion program for a boxer or for yourself.
After you read
39 What was Max Baer trying to do in the fight? How were Jim's
attitude and fighting style different from the champion's?
40 In your opinion, why did poor people across the country support Jim
Braddock?
Writing
41 You are Sporty Lewis. Write about the Braddock-Baer fight for your
newspaper.
42 You are making the movie of Cinderella Man. Write a scene when
Jim first sees Mae and the children after winning the title.
43 Imagine that you are Mae many years after the big fight. Tell Jim's
story to one of your grandchildren in a letter.
44 You write about books for a magazine. Write about Cinderella Man,
telling your readers why they should—or shouldn't—read the book.
45 You are a sports reporter for the radio and you are going to
interview the heavyweight champion of the world, Jim Braddock,
before his fight with Joe Louis. Write a list of the ten questions you
would most like to ask.
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t.me/Graded_Reader

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Magazines and other test resources -

Chapters 2-3 Before you read

Chapters 10-11 Chapters 12-13

Before you read Before you read

Magazines and other test resources -

The story of heavyweight boxer James J. Braddock—the

All IN One Graded Readers v

Madison Square Garden, New York, November 30, 1928

There were nineteen thousand boxing supporters around the

16 All IN One Graded Readers 17

44 All IN One Graded Readers 45

Chapters 2-3 Before you read

Chapters 10-11 Chapters 12-13

Before you read Before you read

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