This unexpected thrust onto the spotlight got him the Army’s attention and not long after that, in 1950, he had to face Curtis Lowe again at the All Army Boxing Tournament in Panama. He had been reaching beyond himself in training for this event and he was physically and mentally geared to face his arch rival. So as he met Curtis Lowe again in the boxing ring, this time around, Lowe’s tough, ruthless stance and expression did not throw Sonny off balance. With equal determination, he met him punch for punch and stood up unwavering against his overbearing manner. But Sonny was champion once again. The thunderous clapping and cheering made Sonny’s spirits soar. Holding the glittering gilt trophy high in the air, Sonny faced the exultant spectators. Amidst the roar of the thunderous applause, he suddenly missed his parents. He felt a stab of loneliness, wanting to see the pride and joy in their faces as they watched him prove his skills and strength. As soon as he could get away, he went straight to a phone booth and called Sarah and Enas. They were absolutely overjoyed, stunned, never realized that a local boy from Armstrong could win a national title.
A little later after in the locker room, after the celebrating had subdued, two distinguished white guys in coat and tie approached him with an unexpected proposal.
“Son, what we want to find out is, are you interested in fighting off-post in Baltimore?”
Sonny looked surprised. “I don’t think the post would allow me.”
“The post doesn’t have to know. The matches are on Friday nights and on the weekends,” said one of the guys.
“And why should it interest me?”
“Well, you actually get to keep the prize money,” was the innocuous reply.
Images of the new car in town, the Studebaker, filled his mind. He might be able to afford it finally.
“Here you are, son. Think about it and call me when you get to Maryland,” one guy handed him his business card.
After much contemplation and several sleepless nights, Sonny made the call and accepted the proposal to play off-post despite a niggling fear that he could not shake off. And so, he trained and won two consecutive matches. He had a little cash in his hand now and he sent a major portion of it to his mother and kept a little aside to buy his dream Studebaker one day. He also decided not to push his luck too far. If the Army found out, he would be in deep trouble. All the money in the world would not be worth getting in trouble with his chain of command.
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