In Manhattan, two minute gamecocks stepped close, pecked, stepped out, ducked, strutted. They were bantams. Their eyes glared bloody for a golden prizethe bantamweight championship of the world. One was a Jewish gamecock from HarlemChampion Abe Goldstein; one was an Italian gamecock from BrooklynChallenger "Cannonball" (Eddie) Martin. For 15 rounds the pecking, the strutting, went fiercely on. Then from 1,200 smoky throats a great shout went up. Bantam gamecock Cannonball Martin, he was champion.
Had it not been for that great shout, Referee Tommy Sheridan might have had good cause to shake for...