The Sweet Science

Tommy "Black Cat" Boyle, the pride of Orange, New Jersey, was a fierce middleweight contender in the early Sixties. His "never back down" style was attributed to his father Tommy Sr., who would make the young golden glover wear his sister's dresses if he lost a bout -- a highly motivational tool the nine-year-old would never forget.  

In forty-one professional fights, the Black Cat gave almost as good as he got.   Almost.   Though he was never champ, it was roundly noted that Tommy Boyle did not know the meaning of the word quit.  Later in life, and this time literally, he again did not know the meaning of the word quit... as well as plenty of other words for that matter.

"Punch Drunk" is what the old timers call it.  Latins like "dementia pugilistica".   Whatever you prefer, Tommy Boyle's melon had been well and thoroughly mushed.   So it was no great surprise that he went missing for over a week last October, having wandered away from his adult care facility.  

What was more interesting is that he had "wandered" over a thousand miles, from Florida to Madison Square Garden, and that when found he was wearing a pleated chiffon skirt, reportedly shoplifted from a Miami area J.C. Penney's. 

(24" x 40" oil on board, private collection of Mr. Jerome Collins)