The Man Who Wouldn't Go Down

Beau Jack, the Negro shoeshine boy from Georgia, had earned about $500,000 in the ring and kept almost none of it. Recently he blew in the last big chunk on a flashy new car, but insisted "I'll be all right." For he was the Golden Boy, who drew more cash customers into Madison Square Garden than any fighter living. He had twice won & lost the lightweight crown. No fighter had ever knocked him down for the full count.

In Philadelphia last week, it would have been better for Beau had he obeyed the laws of physics and fallen down. In the sixth round, Champion Ike Williams (alias the Trenton Tiger) had him backed into a corner, a helpless hulk. Ike punched away until his arms grew weary, then lowered his gloves and looked at the referee as if to say: "Aren't you gonna stop it?' What was holding Beau up? None of the 12,952 spectators knew. Getting no help from the referee, Ike reluctantly went back to pounding his victim. When Referee Charley Daggert finally called a halt, the beaten Beau was still propped up in the corner. He could still claim that he had never been counted out.

But at 27, Beau was through as a battler--even if he wouldn't admit it. In the locker room after the fight, he muttered through swollen lips: "I'd like one more fight--I'd like to get Williams again." Beau's share of the gate -- $13,671-- wasn't much to retire on after his manager got through taking his cut.

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