Tale of the Tape

"Time!"

    "That's it, Duke. Keep um short. Turn your hips into um. Little more. Dig in. That's it. Just like that. Make um feel it, kid. I wanna hear his ribs crack. That's it. Just like that. You do that every time kid and he'll buckle. You believe me don't ya? Believe it, kid. He'll buckle."

"Time!"

    "Drink your water, Duke. Not too much now. I don't want ya bouncin around on a full belly. Small sips. That's it. Now spit it out."

"Time!"

    "Work the jab now, Duke. Snap it. Faster. Faster! Don't think about it dammit, throw it! That's it. Just like that. Beautiful. The jab will set um up for the straight right. He won't see it comin. You're too fast, kid. Too fast. Believe it. You're faster than the lot of um. His nose will be pointin east when your through with um. No girl will want a mug like his when your through with um, Duke. Believe it. You're too fast, kid."

"Time!"

    "That's it, Duke. You did good. Real good, kid. You're a natural. A throwback. Barnes wouldn't know what to do with ya. You got more sense than Barnes, kid. He wouldn't know what to do with ya."

"Time!"

    "Parry, Duke. Block um and counter low. Good. Good. Move your head. That's it. Head movement. Bob and weave. You've gotta move the head, kid. No sense standing still and gettin thumped on. That's it. Side to side. Roll under. Circle left and counter low. Good. Good. Use them quick feet to get you out of trouble. Now shoulder-roll. When you're up on the ropes use the shoulder-roll, kid. You got the speed and the wit for it. That's it. Just like that. He won't even graze ya. You're too slick, kid. Too slick"

"Time!"

    "Beautiful, Duke. You're a Picasso. That defense is a work of art. A homage to 'Sweet Tea' Whitaker. He'll never hurt ya. You believe me don't ya? Believe it, kid. He'll never hurt ya. I ain't gonna let um."

"Time!"

    "Now the left hook, Duke. That's it. Pivot off the lead. Good. Generate the power from the feet. That's it. Time um comin in and you'll catch um flush with the left. You got dynamite in that left, kid. Now the right. That's it. Pivot off the back leg. Good. That's it. Put it in his ear hole, kid. Just like that. He'll wake up driving a bus if you put it in his ear hole. That's it. Good. Now put um all together. Jab and hook the body. Put your weight behind that body shot, Duke. That's it. Turn those hips, kid. Beautiful. Again. Jab and hook the body. Dig in there. Good. You do that every time and he'll buckle, kid. Okay, now the one-two. Snap it. That's it. Hide the right behind the jab. Bait um with an arm punch early and you'll catch um flush comin in. He's got no beard. You'll put um on queer street. That's it. Again. Every punch counts. You throw each one a thousand times a day just like yesterday and the days before them days, kid."

"Time!"

    "You've got thunder in those hands, Duke. Lightnin and thunder. They'll put you away for good with that kind of power, Duke—so keep it in the ring. You're a natural, kid. Let's take those gloves off. How the hands feel? Let me see um. Good. I did a good job with that hand wrap didn't I, kid? I ever tell you who taught me good hand wrappin? Tommy 'The Gent'. Tommy knew all the tricks, kid. He was a wise one. That's how you get if you stay in this game long enough. Like Tommy use to say: 'You get wise or you get played' and I ain't gettin played and neither are you, kid. I'll protect ya. I won't let um hurt ya, not one damn bit. Trust me, kid. Not one damn bit. Get ready for your run."

"Time!"

    "Back here in 30, Duke. I'll watch the clock now, Lou. Go and get the grill started will ya."