Victory
by
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Basil wasted no time in utilizing his fist fighting skills in the brutal underworld, prize fighting scene. Since his arrival from Jamaica, he sparred in his room every day with Bernard. The two would often emerge worse for wear after secretly pummelling each other for hours. On a few occasions, Sita stumbled upon them covered in blood and rebuked them, as these sparring sessions seemed like real fights. The lure of the fight scene remained a temptation too good to overlook, with five hundred pounds in prize money up for grabs. Basil earned a lot of money and respect.
This latest bout was billed as the contest of the year – a tournament in which the top bare-knuckle fighters from across South London would meet to wage war against each other, the winner taking all.
At the venue, an abandoned warehouse in Camberwell, the dingy atmosphere became thick with smoke. The Gypsies had turned out in full force to support their fighters. Basil had passed on the secret location to his underworld fight fans; it seemed they’d turned out in droves. Everyone in the criminal underworld had been debating about the contest for weeks, and fast-talking hustlers, who in the last few weeks had become friendly with the fighters and the promoters, laid out the odds on the matches.
The smell of fresh blood lingered with the overpowering smell of sweat. The smoke hung lazily over the venue as condensation dripped from the ceiling onto the punters.
Basil had now stripped to his bare chest, as Bernard vigorously massaged olive oil into his brother’s shoulders. Basil was scheduled to take the centre stage next. Two unknown fighters had reached midway through the second round of a three-round bout. They brutally punched each other around the ring, until one of the men let out an anguished roar and collapsed into a crumpled heap, his face disfigured beyond recognition. The crowd bayed for more blood as the fighter stayed down for the count. The fighter left a trail of blood on the floor as his corner men dragged him by the legs to a quiet corner.
The referee signalled the next two contestants, and Gypsy O’Shea leapt from his seat. His dark Romany features looked chiselled in the dimmed lights. Bernard whispered some instructions into Basil’s ear and pushed his brother forward out of his seat. This was billed as the main event; both fighters were unbeaten and were prepared to fight to the bloody end.
The two men stood face to face as they eyeballed each other. The referee gave them a quick once over to make sure neither had any concealed weapons; satisfied, he gave his whistle a shrill blast to commence the bout. The two fighters circled each other cautiously, neither rushing to throw a wasted shot. Gypsy O’Shea threw a one-two left and right hook combination, which Basil blocked with ease. He returned a single left jab that caught O’Shea, square in the face. O’Shea responded with a couple of lethal body shots, picking up a left hook as he did. This acted as a stimulant for the excited crowd to start jumping and shouting; the Irish punters got right behind their man, urging him on. Basil’s supporters were equally as riotous; they urged Basil to inflict damage on O’Shea. The contest went head-to-head for three punishing rounds. Most of the crowd was out of its seats; their fans were captivated by their heroes and cheering every time their man connected with a combination.
At the end of the third round, the competition came to a climax. The referee declared the competition a draw; both men had refused to go down. The punters opened bottles of champagne and sprayed both fighters from head to toe with gallons of bubbly. The venue resembled the aftermath of a riot; the floor was littered with discarded bottles and empty cans. The illegal bookmakers whooped it up as they’d retained their money.
Both Basil and Gypsy O’Shea left the arena with their heads held high; neither had lost any credibility.
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Book Details
About the Book
Dennis and Sita have seven sons, who start their early life in Jamaica, until they immigrate to Brixton in the 1960’s. The main protagonist Basil embarks upon a brutal career as a bare-knuckle prized fighter. He forms a street gang the ‘untouchables’, they accept employment from Ronny Kray as south London enforcers to the firm. Basil later joins the Black Panthers from Shakespeare Road. Before he is mysteriously found dead in a prison cell on the eve of his release. Wayne the youngest brother then embarks on a personal investigation to uncover the real truth surrounding the untimely death. This investigation opens up a Pandora’s box that gives the story an unimaginable twist.
About the Author
The author of this book has taken the literacy world by storm with his in depth and insight into the story of a traditional West Indian family. The Browns’ story begins in Clarendon, Jamaica, in 1952 and chronologically takes the reader through a momentous series of unique events that have never previously been written about. Stories like ‘Victory’ are rare in the black literacy world, it covers an array of subjects that some authors seem to avoid.
‘Victory’ as aptly been described as, one of the last remaining true story’s that as never previously been told.
Wayne Brown as evidently brought back into main stream attention controversial deaths in custody and also the misrepresentation of black people in the mental health system. Wayne brown is currently training to become a counsellor and a ward visitor to those who have themselves been hospitalised, to ensure that their human rights are being administered.