Hickory
by
Gary GrenierCopyright 2002
"Hickory! Hickory, listen to me. Let me throw in the towel! Do you really want to go another round with this kid? Stop before both eyes swell shut."
"I’m gonna kill this guy!" Said a battered and exhausted Hickory Miller.
"Yeah, right, you look like you’re killing him. He isn’t even breathing hard. Come on Hickory, get out of there before you get some serious damage."
I’ll get him, give me some time!
"Time you haven’t got," said the cut man. "He’s slipped everything you’ve thrown for 6 rounds. You’ve got 4 rounds, 12 minutes, to make your big move and I just don’t see it happening, but have it your way."
- - - "15 seconds!" the timekeeper yells.
"What have you heard from Sandy?"
"I told you, no news is Good News."
"Keep that left arm out, stuff that glove in his face, and move a little, have you got rocks in your shoes?" asked Bugsy Bates as he lifted the stool over the ropes.
- - - BONG
"Well Radio fight fans, Hickory Miller came out for the seventh, a little slow, but he’s out there and Bayou Barns has a big smile on his face. Oh, Barns just sent a solid left to Hickory’s mid-section followed by 2 quick straight rights to the kidneys. John, were you surprised to see Hickory continue the fight?"
"Dale, Hickory has taken a heck of a beating, but he has never stopped a fight yet when he had any choice. Oh, Hickory just took a left in the ear that would have sent most men to their knees. This veteran of 126 bouts has always given the crowd their money’s worth and, Hey - Hickory just got a good jab in there, I wish he would have hung the gloves up 2 years ago. He had a splendid record and he could have went out in his prime."
"We all know about the very unpopular split decision that cost Hickory a chance at the title and I for one thought he got robbed. That disputed loss seemed to take something out of Hickory and he just hasn’t been the same. It’s been nothing but bad luck since then, in the ring and out."
"I agree about the poor judging. I had Hickory well ahead of San Padres
on my card, but we don’t count when they add up those cards at the final bell."
"I think Hickory is blocking most of those shots. He’s not letting many of those land right now."
"Well a few are hitting the mark and they add up to points and I just don’t see Hickory coming out of this on top! Well, he just threw an uppercut that made Barns move back a couple of steps. He’s got spirit if nothing else."
An usher handed the cornerman a note, "Hey guys, this came down from up stairs."
Mr. Miller – Your daughter is asking for you and the physician suggests you make every effort to be available promptly, things have become critical. Even knowing this is coming, it is never easy and it could mean so much for Sandra to see you at this time. Please hurry!
Metropolitan Medical Center, room 826. Gloria Graham RN
"Dale, I think Hickory has much better footwork this round."
"You’re right John. He is moving better and not laying on the ropes at all. But time is on Barns side right now. I show a draw, 10 to 10, in the first round, 10 to 8 Barns in the second round, and 10 to 9 for Barns in the other 4 rounds; this is a fairly even round, but that leaves 3 rounds to make up 6 points. It can be done but something better happen fast. If he could only – Oh, Hickory just landed a beauty to the solar plexus, this might…"
- - - BONG
"That was Hickory’s best punch all night folks, stay tuned for round 8."
"Great round Hickory, that’s what the crowd came for, good footwork too," said the cut man.
"Has Sandy been over here.? It sounds like she’s back about 6 or 8 rows on the opposite side?" Hickory calmly asked.
The cut man looked at Bugsy and started to wipe down Hickory’s face as Bugsy said, "You hurt him, you hurt him bad, just…"
"Bugsy, I asked if you have seen Sandy, now damn it, has she been in my corner?"
Bugsy looked at the cut man and held his gaze, "No Hick, I haven’t seen her, you see her did ya?"
"No, but I heard her. She yelled about my footwork and to watch when Barns dips, he pulls his elbows apart. That’s what earned him that uppercut and that last gut shot!"
"Right, well, ah, just keep moving and maybe he will fade; he hasn’t gone 8 rounds in quite a while. That jab is working," stuttered a confused Bugsy.
- - - "15 seconds!" warned the timekeeper.
"I can’t believe she is even out of bed, make her sit down if she gets over here. I thought between rounds she might try to…."
- - - BONG
"Bugsy, you can’t stop the fight because I think he won that last round, but something is bad wrong with his mind," barked the cut man.
"‘Round 8 Ladies and Gentlemen. John, I might be an old sentimentalist, but I gave that last round to Hickory."
"That’s right Dale, Hickory finished strong. Barns was hurt from that shot to the stomach. Ten more seconds might have made this a different fight; Hickory was ready to follow up. Barns is sticking that jab out there. He really doesn’t want a return visit from that powerful right."
"Yes John, he is jabbing and he has made a couple of them good. It appears Hickory is squinting and trying to check out the crowd. Miller has plenty to see right in front of him. Barns just popped him hard in the ear. They’re in a clinch now, and it still looks like Hickory is looking out at the crowd. Barns is chopping Hickory’s ribs and Miller is stretching to look over Bayou’s shoulder."
"Hickory just pushed off Barns and he has a big smile on his face. Hey, he’s skipping. Folks, Hickory is skipping around the ring out by the ropes. Barns is standing in the middle of the ring with his hands out to his side. He’s smiling, and watching Hickory skip. Dale, Hickory just reversed himself. He is skipping clockwise. The crowd is on their feet, about half are laughing and the other half are booing. What’s going on here?"
"John, this the strangest thing I have ever seen in the ring, wait, Hickory is leaning over the ropes. He’s stretching out over Barns corner. He’s talking to the crowd. I can’t believe it, what’s he saying? Hold on. He just swiveled; he’s running for the middle, directly at Barns. Holy Cow! He cold-cocked Barns. That left came out of center field and I think Barns was still confused. The referee is counting but that’s just for show, that roundhouse left picked Barns right off his feet. I hope he is all right."
- 8 - 9 - 10
"It’s over. Knock out for Hickory Miller in the 8th round. The referee is trying to raise Hickory’s arm, but he’s back hanging over the ropes. The crowd is going nuts; they saw it, but they can’t believe it. What a fight!"
"John, this has got to be one of the wildest turn around’s in boxing history. Apparently it meant more to Hickory than I imagined. He’s got tears streaming down his face, he’s screaming, ‘I’m back’ or ‘Come Back.’ Now he’s yelling ‘Wait, wait’. Believe me, nobody’s left this arena. Can you believe it? Imagine what must be going through Hickory Miller’s mind right now?"