In the early morning hours, the Y.M.C.A. on Fifth Street in downtown St. Paul normally kept their doors locked. Unless, of course, your name was Jack Reddy and you managed a fighter by the name of Billy Miske. Jack had an office in the building, free of rent, and was given permission to use the facilities at his discretion. The only stipulation was that Billy fought an exhibition now and then for the members. Exhibition fights were easy money. They required very little training, the fighters usually did not go all out, and they were more entertainment than stepping-stones to the top. Jack even managed to work out the deal so that Billy received fifty percent of the door and at Jack’s usual fifteen percent, it was a good deal all around. To cap things off, Billy’s opponents made a flat fee for showin...

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