For three years, Billy Miske kept up the good fight. All of Marie’s fears and worries came true after the Dempsey fight, though. It was for the money, of course. Seventy-five thousand dollars was a big ticket and the need for quick cash dominated every decision. Jack encouraged him to file bankruptcy, but Billy would not hear of it. He said, “No one can point a finger at Billy Miske and say that he beat them out of even a dime.” By the end of 1922, Billy paid off all of his debts, plus interest; and the convenient excuse for debt relief was gone.

It did not help that out of twenty-two fights, Billy won twenty of them. He only lost one and the other was a draw, though he was convinced he had won on points. Most of his opponents were has-beens or dreamers, but the ones that mattere...

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