Battleground

January, 1963

The contest between the heavyweight champion of the world and his logical challenger has drawn me to ringside since the days when Joe Louis was taking his first giant steps. I flew from California to New York in the slow prop days to watch Billy Conn move smartly around the impassive Bomber, with upset fever mounting until the champion caught up with the cocky light heavyweight from Pittsburgh in the 13th round. Prizefighting is a brutal sport; I have been involved in a love-hate relationship wi...