bits and pieces

"It was also through Joe Kalick that I met and eventually sparred with Joe Louis, then still heavyweight champion of the world. I was matched to fight an American soldier by the name of Ike Robinson to entertain wounded soldiers in a Naples hospital.

Louis had arrived in the city just before, and Kalick asked him to referee the bout. It was a helluva fight with both of us covered in blood and practising some pretty dirty tricks on each other.
Louis just watched us through sleepy eyes and neither of us even got a warning. At the end, Louis lifted my hand, declared me the winner on points, and said a few kind words.
That was that, I thought.

But a few days later Kalick came to me and said: "Kid, how would you like to spar with Louis?" Would I just! To me it was a dream come true. It was arranged that an American heavyweight named Van Parks and I would each spar two rounds against Louis in an exhibition for all the troops in the area.

At the stadium I was ushered into a big room where the champion was being received by the big brass. I heard a loud American voice telling the world what boxing was really all about, and for a horrible moment I thought it was Joe Louis shouting.
Then I realised it was George Nicholson, his chief sparring partner, surrounded by a lot of people and doing some real boasting.
A little further away, relaxing in a corner and studying his fingernails with a bored expression was the great champion himself.
I went over and introduced myself.

"Ah, you're the white boy who fought the other night!" Joe said. "Good fight boy, where you from?"
I told him and we chatted for a few minutes. I must admit I was being quite overawed in his presence. He was so big and yet so quiet and soft-spoken that I could hardly believe this was really the great Brown Bomber.

Then we left for the dressing room and Van Parks was selected to go the first two rounds. Parks made a fool of himself that night. He was so scared of Louis that he jumped back every time the champion made a move, and once Louis actually held him with one hand, turned him around and whacked him on the backside with the open glove!

Sitting next to the ring waiting my turn, I realised that I had no hope whatsoever of really doing anything against Louis. 'Johnny, tonight you're going to get hammered' I mumbled to myself, but at the same time I was quite determined not to show any fear, as Parks did.
I didn't like the way the huge crowd of soldiers had laughed at the poor guy. At last Parks was rescued by the bell and then it was my turn.

Joe came out of his corner jabbing with his left and obviously intent on feeling me out. After all, he had everything to lose and nothing to gain. I soon discovered that I was much faster on my feet than the champion, and by dancing around him I was able to put on a fair show.
At the end of the first round I was really feeling good, and the shouts of the crowd were like music, but right at the start of the second round our heads accidently collided and Louis stepped back, lifted his glove to his cheekbone, and wiped it.
I could see him glaring at the glove for signs of blood but thank heavens there was no damage.

Then he moved in on me and I realised that he was going to teach me a lesson. He must have thought I butted him deliberately. I'll never forget the intentness of his eyes as he shuffled towards me.
The next moment, like lightning, I was hit on the jaw. Don't ask me how many punches. I was told there were four but for all I know it could have been one or ten.
Suddenly everything went black and I came to, still on my feet, with Joe's right arm holding me upright.

"You all right boy?" I heard him whisper, and then I realised that this wonderful gentleman had actually held me up to prevent me from falling and being ridiculed in front of my freinds.
That action of Joe Louis' I can never forget, even if I live to be a hundred."

Johnny Ralph (prominent South African heavyweight of the war era)