[beekman]

Originally Posted by bear

The knockout Artist
by Harry Crews
Harper and Row
San Francisco
1988

A quirky, weird novel has the following fighters:

Eugene Talmudge Biggs
MW 159.5 lbs. "The Knockout Artist", "Knocker", "KO". Born Bacon County, Georgia. Home New Orleans, Louisiania. Began pro career at 19. As a pro boxed well, hard to hit, didn't cut, showed a good chin initially. 13 and 0. Managed by Bud Jenkins. Ko'd by Manny Mitchell. Never recovered his chin. Stopped in next three. Dumped by Jenkins. Discovered he had the ability to knock himself out. Became a solo performance artist that fought his alter-ego Phil "Fight and Die" Phillips. Now 23. B 1965. Career 1983-1986

Phil "Fight and Die" Phillips
Biggs alter-ego when performing. Same rating as above with a different name.

Manny "Machine Gun" Mitchel
MW black. one year older than Biggs, when they fought. Heavy handed power puncher. 17-0 with 15 KOs. B 1964

Bobby "Bad and Beautiful" Barfield
Hw B New Orleans. Home Baton Rouge. "B & B" "The Bad Man" Does not cut. Top contender. Title bout vs. Cobra Carnes on schedule. Hardest hitter in the division. Never stopped or off his feet. Has heart. Discovered by Big Joe Rocker, who made his career. Tough, mean, and fearless. Uses Biggs as a sparring partner for speed work. J. Alfred "Oyster Boy" Blasingame wants to buy his contact and have Biggs manage him and Turner train him. Rocker found him on the street with 2 felony arrests. Thomas Radlovich, LHW is working out with him. Barfield is 25 lbs heavier but faster. Wow. Hardest hitter in his division, never, dropped, stoped, or cut, and the speed of a light heavy. Crikey, but I had to really rate him high.

Pistol Pete Turner
MW once ranked 7th, 14 months after fighting Biggs. Slipped badly 6 months later. KO'd Eugene Biggs in his last bout in 5th; out-boxed til then. Became his friend. Agressive in your face fighter. Also Ko'd Marvin Turnhill with a left hook in 3rd. Career end 1987.

Give us:

Eugene Talmudge Biggs MW 1 Boxer
Phil "Fight and Die" Phillips MW 1 Boxer
Pistol Pete Turner MW 3 Slugger
Bobby "Bad and Beautiful" Barfield HW 11 Slugger
Manny "Machine Gun" Mitchel MW 6 Slugger

Bear

Ever read Crews' Feast of Snakes, Bear? It's also pretty good.