Billy died on New Year’s Day in 1924. It was a Tuesday and it was a dry and cold bitter day. The snow was a thin two inches across the city and there was no wind. He died in the morning with Marie at his side. The children were home with their grandmother. They had no idea how serious their father’s condition was and they went about their day as if it were any other like they had done so many times before. George received the call that afternoon from Jack. He only said two words: “He’s gone.”

The death of Billy Miske came as a shock to his fans. Only four weeks prior, he knocked out Kayo Bill Brennan and as far as everyone was concerned, he was on his way back to the top. It also came as a shock to those he called friends in the pugilistic world. Tommy Gibbons, on...

Please subscribe to keep reading.