know this kid you just beat was considered a long shot contender. I’m going to get you a better boy to fight next time.”
The next fight was against another White fighter from the South. The kid was mean with a hard body and multiple scars on his face. After thirty seconds into the first round, Chico knew he had his hands full. The fighter was fast and fearless and could take a punch. After the first round, his corner man told him to watch for the pattern. He said the fighter, in three out of five exchanges, threw two lefts, a right, and a left hook. Chico watched for it and the corner man was right.
During the second round, he tested the fighter and got his rhythm down. Fifteen seconds into the third round, Chico knocked him out when he slipped the fighter’s hook and blasted his ribs enough to double him over a little. Then he threw a hard uppercut and the man dropped. The name Chico ‘the Lion’ De Leon appeared in the sports pages the next day and he handed two thousand dollars to his grandmother.
“Did you get hurt?” she asked him.
“No, Mama Grande. He did not hurt me.”
The fourth fight was against another Black fighter from New York. He was known to be a good puncher and had the ability to take punishment. Chico went the first round with him trading jabs to test each other. The second round went against Chico. His opponent landed a hard right hand that staggered Chico with seventeen seconds left in the round. The referee gave him a standing eight count and let Chico continue.
When Chico came out of his corner in the third round, he punched with his left, feinted with his right, jabbed again, then hooked to the body hard enough to make his opponent drop his left hand and Chico knocked him out with a right hook. The Hispanic audience there went crazy. They started chanting “Chico, Chico” which surprised Chico very much.
The promoter was waiting for him after the fight. “You keep this up, and we’re both gonna make some money,” and handed him three thousand dollars.
When he gave the money to his grandmother, she touched his face and said in Spanish, “Mi hijo, do not get hurt.”
The fifth fight was against a Hispanic fighter from Mexico. He was tough and quick and was known for having a tremendous right hand. The odds were against Chico but he knew he could beat him.
The first round against the Mexican was vicious. Both fighters were landing hard punches and both were bloodied when the bell rang. Chico had a cut above his left eye and the Mexican was bleeding from his nose.
The second round was the same. The Mexican came out and started throwing jabs at Chico. A few landed, and a few he slipped. Chico started to see a pattern. Two jabs, a feint, and a left hook followed by a hard right. Then quick shots to the body followed by uppercuts. The Mexican didn’t follow that pattern every time, but often enough. Chico waited for the two jabs and knew he could hook on the feint and knock out the Mexican. With seventeen seconds left in the second round, the two jabs came and the Mexican woke up looking at the light over the ring. His managers were in the ring with some smelling salts and the crazy Puerto Rican was dancing around with his gloves in the air.
Chico got five thousand dollars for that fight. When he gave it to his grandmother, she touched the cut over his eye and said, “Be careful, hijo.”
Chico sixth fight was an opener for two big names. His opponent was a White fighter out of Philadelphia called ‘Kid Irish.’ He was known to be an exceptionally dirty fighter and tough enough to eat nails. Chico watched him fight on TV several times and knew he could beat him, but it would be tough. Chico’s purse, if he won, was ten thousand dollars.
The first round was a hard-hitting brawl. Kid Irish was mean and tough and nasty and his punches were fast and hard. Chico traded him punch for punch and tried to see a pattern. As far as he could see, there wasn’t any. Chico knew that while they were in the ring, Kid Irish wanted him dead.
In the beginning of the fifth round, Chico saw his chance. The left eye of Kid Irish was swollen almost shut, and Chico knew that if he kept circling to his right he could catch the Kid sooner or later. The opportunity came sooner, and Chico knocked Kid Irish out with a vicious right hook thirty-two seconds into the fifth round.
When he gave his grand mother the money, he told her he wanted to take some, buy some new clothes, and take Carlita Santos, a very nice girl who worked at the grocery store and seemed to like him, to dinner.
His grandmother was very pleased. “Of course, mi hijo, she is a good girl for you. I know her family and they are very good Catholics. We have plenty of money now. You take whatever you want.”
So Chico the Lion started dating Carlita Santos. She was sweet and affectionate and saw his goodness through the hard exterior. She had been watching him for a long time. She brought him to dinner at her house and her brothers and father approved. They felt Chico was a good man who would provide for her and the children that would come after they married.
On their fifth date, he took her to a nice Italian restaurant for dinner and some dancing because she loved to dance. Chico didn’t know if he could dance or not but was willing to try for her. Dinner was very good.
When they danced, Chico liked it. Carlita was a great dancer and a good teacher. He thought she was very attractive and when she danced her movements were alive with the music. She moved with grace and rhythm and Chico loved being with her.
While they were dancing, a big Italian-looking man bumped into them and said, “Watch it, spic, you and your spic whore.”
Chico just reacted. Before he knew it, the big Italian-looking man was on the floor unconscious and bleeding from his nose, a gap showed where the man’s two front teeth used to be. Chico’s heart sank when he saw the detective’s badge on the man’s belt.
Chico was arrested on “assault on a peace officer” charges and called his brother. When his brother paid the bail, Chico didn’t want to go home and face his grandmother.
“Don’t worry,” his brother told him in Spanish. “Carlita told us what happened. She said you took that guy out before he could blink his eyes. The judge will understand.”
Chico went home with his brother. Carlita’s father and brothers were there and thanked him for protecting Carlita’s honor, and to tell him they would be there if he needed them. Chico’s grandmother fawned over him and stroked his hair and told him everything was going to be all right.
When Chico went before a judge, the courtroom was filled with Chico’s friends and family. Also there was Detective Luciano, complete with new front teeth. The judge listened to all the information. Detective Luciano, of course, wanted Chico thrown in jail. The judge, however, was fully aware of Detective Luciano’s reputation for bigotry.
“Mr. De Leon,” began the judge, “please stand.” Chico stood. “Let me begin by saying that, in my opinion, there is no excuse for what you did to Detective Luciano, no matter what the provocation. However, in view of Detective Luciano’s reputation, I’m sure there was provocation. Although that provocation does not excuse your actions, it does mitigate them. But, I must say, the fact that you’re a professional prizefighter does not stand well for you. Nevertheless, I am prepared to offer you an option.”
The judge motioned to the bailiff who opened the door to the judge’s chambers. A tall Black Marine sergeant came in and went to where Chico was standing.
“Mr. De Leon, if you are convicted of assault, as you no doubt will be, you could spend up to five years in prison. No
