The One Is Jack Hurley Volume One: Son of Fargo: 1

The One Is Jack Hurley is an epic 3-volume bio-history of boxings Golden Age beginning with Jack Dempsey in the 1910s and ending with George Foreman in 1970 as filtered through the life of Jack Hurley. Hurley began in Fargo just before World War I worked in New York & Chicago from the mid-1920s through the 40s and settled in Seattle in 1950.Hurleys life more than any other personifies boxings journey out of the backrooms and bars of the 1900s to the arenas and stadiums of the 1920s 30s & 40s and into the parlors and family TV rooms of the 1950s & 60s. It is a history not only of one mans life but of the sport itself a tale long neglected only because his career was so long and multifaceted.Volume 1 Son of Fargo catalogs Hurleys years as a small-town promoter in the 1920s and his rise to prominence as manager of Billy Petrolle the Fargo Express whose slashing style made him a huge drawing card. Together they stormed New York and captivated fans like few sports figures of the era.Early on the story introduces Mike Gibbons the Midwests most famous sports idol who recognized the similarites between boxing and bayonet fighting and designed a course incorporating boxing into the armys World War I combat regimen.Boxings contributions to the war effort led New York to legalize the sport in 1920. The story traces the roles played by promoter Tex Rickard heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey and manager Doc Kearns in popularizing the sport. Discussed at length is the importance of Madison Square Garden as a mecca of boxing and how glowing accounts of Rickards weekly shows there as reported in papers across the country led fans to demand boxing be made legal elsewhere.Also cataloged is New Yorks practice requiring out-of-town managers to accept an Eastern representative before being granted fights in the citys major clubs. Presented here is the practices evolution from its innocuous beginning in the 1920s as an informal self-help alliance of local managers to its emergence in the 1950s as a ruthlessly disciplined network organized to enrich the mob.When Petrolle took a break in 1929 Hurley moved to Chicago. Setting up a booking firm to represent 65 boxers he packed enough action into an 8-month stay to last a lifetime preparing White Sox first baseman Art Shires for a boxing career furnishing foes for future heavyweight champion Primo Carnera and guiding welterweight challenger Young Jack Thompson to a world title.Hurleys stopover in Chicago ended when Petrolle launched a comeback. Beginning with an upset over Jimmy McLarnin in November 1930 Billy ran up a string of wins in New York which made him the citys most popular fighter. Capping his run with three straight kayos Petrolle earned a lightweight title bout in 1932 with Tony Canzoneri. Although hampered by weight difficulties and a sore elbow Billy waged a fierce battle before dropping a 15-round verdict. Afterward he retired in 1934 following a 10-round decision loss to Barney Ross.The narrative also traces the progression of heavyweight titleholders and describes the in-fighting between various promotional factions for control of boxing at Madison Square Garden. Receiving special treatment is Hurleys role in leading a managers revolt against Garden boxing director James J. Johnston. Jacks obstinate stand opened the door for Mike Jacobs to unseat Johnston and establish the most powerful promotional dynasty in boxing history.Volume 1 covers Hurleys first 36 years as well as Petrolles entire boxing career. It ends on a poignant note as Billy retires with Jack wondering what the future holds after losing his meal ticket.