Summary

It is now October and with Coach Truddy still recovering from his near heart attack, Liborio finds himself training alone in the Bridge House Gymnasium when Mr. Bald shows up at the shelter and tells Liborio he wants to take him up on his offer to train him. His first lesson is to teach Liborio that skill is more important than strength. Mr. Bald’s training regimen is much more extensive than the coach’s and requires more discipline, focusing on five main elements: physical training, technique, tactics, psychology, and theory.

With Mr. Bald’s guidance, Liborio’s routine becomes more structured. He wakes up every morning at 4:45 a.m., does chores, goes running, does physical training, helps with breakfast, does technical training with Mr. Bald, eats lunch, reads from the boxing book Wendoline gave him, helps Naomi learn how to play the piano...