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In late 1950, Rudy turned 20. He had grown into a handsome young man and like his father, quite a boxer, much to his grandmother’s dismay. He had inherited the old man’s almost supernatural ability to take a pounding and coupled it with lightning speed and cat-like agility. It also helped that he packed a wallop that defied his slender 160-pound frame.
He had started boxing at the behest of his pal, Timmy, a few years before, and to his surprise, immediately started having success, besting opponents that exceeded his weight and reach. A local gym owner noticed him and offered to train him properly. Rudy turned him down initially, he wasn’t able to afford to pay for training, not with room, board and giving his mother money for a brood of children that seemed to keep expanding. Since his departure, Bertha, Lawrence, Clarence, Gordon and little Derek had arrived on the scene, and as a young adult, he was becoming more and more inclined to keep some of his earnings to himself for dating and fun. Walter, the gym owner saw a champion in the youngster and cut a deal with him, training and all the ring time he wanted in exchange for cleaning the facility.
Rudy jumped at the chance. He thought maybe, just maybe, boxing would be his way out, his way to make something of himself. He was beginning to look toward the future now, about settling down, having a family and these odd jobs, while fine…
