Maggie's Farm

A reprint of that Bellows painting was the front cover art on one of the first two paperback books I ever owned - a copy of "The Harder They Fall", by Budd Schulberg, given to me as a birthday gift by my older sister, on (I think) my 12th birthday, along with a copy of "Who Rides With Wyatt?"(don't remember the author of that one). Memorable artwork, that...

While in grad school in Illinois in the late 60's, I made the acquaintance of a pipefitter/steamfitter from Blue Island, a suburb of Chicago (he was a grad student as well - very interesting guy), who, in attempting to turn pro after some Golden Gloves success and some bouts during a tour in the Navy, once went a couple of "warm-up" rounds with Jerry Quarry, when Quarry was still fairly early in his career. He described the experience as both "interesting" and "instructive" - the first round, he said, seemed to go o.k.; when they came out for the second one, however, Quarry was fully "warmed-up" - and my acquaintance said they told him later (when he woke up) that Jerry countered his attempt at a straight right with a stiff left hook, followed by an uppercut that put out the lights.

He never saw either of Quarry's punches, of course - he said he didn't even remember starting to throw the straight right. A short while later, he decided his future lay elsewhere, finished his degree in night school and looked ahead to grad school.

When a talented pro does it, the Manly Art Of Boxing is impressive, indeed - as well as dangerous, especially for a talented but not-as-skilled amateur/semi-pro.