STL All Sports

The bell clanged for the end of the round. Seconds, manager, trainer, leaped through the ropes and gathered around their fighter. One busied himself patching the battered man's wounds. Another sloshed water over him. Two of them fastened themselves, one to an ear, and began to pour out advice in a steady stream.

The fighter nodded his understanding, kept nodding. The minutes ticked away. The warning buzzer sounded. The handlers climbed out of the ring. One second still held his man's ear. The bell for the next round sounded. The fighter started up from his stool as the second snatched it from under him. Then, as the fighter moved forward to resume the fight, the second raised his voice above the hubbub to give his boy a last piece of advice.

"And remember," he shouted, "don't get hit!"