The
Making
Of a
Fighter
The Johnny Rincon Story
By
BILL WEAVER
The Making of a Fighter
Copyright © 2009 by Bill Weaver
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Published by: Bill Weaver
Bristol, VA 24201
Appreciation and thanks is offered to members of my family including my wife, Margaret, for invaluable advice on the tone of the story, my daughter, Shelley, for editorial services, and my son, Paul, for computer tasks.
My many thanks and multi-gun salute is conceded to former armored cavalryman and LTC (Ret) Dave Dalton for proof reading and critique of the manuscript.
I thank Susan Dalton for her input and reading of the original manuscript.
Very special thanks to Stefan Hansson for the original cover art.
The following story never occurred. It remains a work of total fiction. The characters are also fictional, but passing reference to living or past fighters and organizations are sometimes mentioned.
The bright noon day sun caused me to squint as I faced the seated crowd of sports writers and ex-prizefighters, gathered to honor the most recent inductee selected by the hallowed Boxing Hall of Fame. I enjoyed the prestige and honor of accepting on my brother’s behalf and of summarizing his career. His son Enrique continued his service to our country in a combat zone and was unable to attend. Likewise, Enrique’s mother passed on the opportunity, as did second wife Susan. Mom and dad proudly attended and sat near the podium next to my wife and children. It’s not often someone enjoys the honor of presenting to a Hall of Fame audience praising a brother for achieving the pinnacle of success in a chosen field. Nevertheless, I limited my speech to twenty minutes, and the guests politely applauded with semi-enthusiastic clapping. It wasn’t always so subdued. I remember thousands upon thousands screaming and clapping for my brother and sometimes for my brother’s blood.