SS-BBsaGoodKid

BB’s a Good Kid

by Michael Domino

My name is Socio Esposito, but nobody calls me this. All my good friends and not-so-good friends call me Mugs
or Muggsey. Anyway, I'm not gonna waste a bunch of time talking' about me. I'm gonna tell you about BB, the
best junior welterweight in boxing today. One day, he's gonna get a shot at Roy Jones, and he's gonna bring
the unified belt back to Trenton. BB's a good kid, a hard worker. He's in the gym every day hittin' the bags,
skipping rope, and sparring. He'll train with heavyweights, lightweights, cruiser weights; he don't care—he just
loves to fight.

BB was supposed to fight Jones in February, but he hurt his left hand. You musta read about this in the papers,
right? It was a training accident, sort of. Well, you see, the papers had it all wrong. Actually we didnt tell 'em
what really happened to BB's hand, 'cause it woulda made us look real bad to the Jones camp. But I gotta tell
you what happened, 'cause it's one helluva story. This kid is tough, man, I mean tough. They don't make 'em
any tougher. And smart, oh, Jesus, Brian is smart… you know, good common sense. Most fighters ain't real
smart. I gotta explain everything to 'em. Not BB—he can figure out how to get himself out of a jam anytime. He's
my boy. He's gonna be a champ one day, just wait and see.

So the story about the hand, OK. You know where Caldwater Park is on East Trenton, right? Well, BB was down
there jogging one night training for the Jones fight. While he's running, this guy is walking his pitbull. The dog
ain't on a leash and takes one look at BB with his sweathood on, punching in the air, grunting and making
noises. All of a sudden, the mutt decides to attack BB. The owner, who couldn't have been too bright, steps
right in the middle of BB and the pitbull. Then, just like that, the guy's own dog starts to jump on him, bitin' him
and pushin' him down to the ground. I told you that BB is a good kid, and he tries to save the guy from the
pitbull—pushes the guy outta the way and starts making a big fuss, screamin' and kickin' at the dog to try to get
him off the guy. The dog don't like this a bit, and he sets up like to jump at BB from about 15 feet away, teeth
showing, hair up on its back, the works.

This dog, you see, he ain't the only one who knows how to set up for action, and, boy, is he in for a surprise. BB’
s got instinct you know, just like an animal. I know, 'cause I trained him. BB puts out his left foot and puts up his
fist just like the dog is Roy Jones. So now here comes the good part—the dog leaps. BB takes a step back,
drops his left and then whammo with the right, and lands a solid hook into the dog's ribs. He hears a crack and
the dog goes down like a lead sinker. By this time, the owner is halfway home cryin' for help, and leaves my
fighter all alone with the devil dog. The dog, he don't stay down like he oughta. He's back up on the count of
four, sets up, and he's airborne again like a 747. BB is ready, and one more time in mid-air, BA- BING! Another
sharp right to the rib cage, but this time the dog gets a piece of BB's left hand with them powerful jaws of his and
takes a chunk out. The jaws on this dog is like a vise grip, and BB is really hurtin. But in a clinch, he’s a smart
kid, and I taught him what to do. He hammer punches this dog, and bang bang boom the dog's out like a light.
Three broken ribs and a concussion. Ding! Ding! Ding! And the winner and new champion is BB “Bullet Proof”
Brian Branon. What a fight—you should have been there.

So now you know the real story why we didn't fight Jones last month. It ain't because we was chicken like the
papers said we was. BB’s a good kid and a smart kid and he's gonna get a shot one day and bring the belt back
to Trenton.

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