Decision in the Ring

Joe Smith (James Edwards) is a heck of a good boxer. But when the episode begins, his cut man is having a lot of problems in the corner during a boxing match. It's obvious the old guy isn't competent and after the fight is over, the manager for the boxer (James Dunn) fires the guy. Richard Kimble is working doing maintenance at the same arena where the fight took place and sees Smith bleeding in the dressing room. Being a doctor, he quickly helps Smith and the manager is so thrilled he hires Kimble to be the new cut man. However, there are two huge problems. First, the guy who recommended the old man to the manager to be the cut man is angry and jealous--and obviously wants revenge on Kimble. Second, Joe is showing signs of some serious brain damage and this could mean the end of his career...and he seems willing to risk his life for a chance at the title.

Overall, this is an okay episode of "The Fugitive"...nothing really outstanding apart from a nice chance to see some excellent black actors performing on the show. Worth seeing but certainly not a must-see.

Richard Kimble is working in a menial position at a sports arena when a boxer's manager fires the cut man and replaces him with Kimble. Actor James Edwards, as boxer Joe Smith, gives an intense performance as a man who once dreamed of being a doctor, but decided that boxing would give him a better chance at a decent life as a black man living in a white man's world.

An assistant, Dan Digby (actor Hari Rhodes) is against Kimble from the start, because he replaced his friend as cut man, and because Kimble seems to be moving into a position of confidence with Smith.

Smith's wife Laura (actress Ruby Dee) wants her husband to quit boxing and become a doctor, fearing he will be injured or killed in the ring, but this is strongly opposed by Smith's manager Bragan (actor James Dunn), and by Dan. Smith is suffering from the results of past beatings in the ring, making it unwise for him to continue boxing, something quickly picked up by Kimble. Kimble is caught between Smith, Laura, Dan, Bragan, and a policeman posing as a sports reporter, investigating everyone in Smith's camp.

Directed by Robert Ellis Miller who made the poignant The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. There is something here that is almost cinematic.

This is an episode I have seen before. It very much is the typical tale of The Fugitive that I remember where Dr Kimble's medical skills come into use.

Here Kimble becomes a cut man for black boxer Joe Smith. The previous cut man was over the hill and gets fired.

Kimble gets on great with Smith who himself has skills to become a doctor. This is something his wife encourages but Smith does not want to be a black doctor in the ghetto. Smith rather be a champion boxer and get more respect.

The other problem is that Kimble suspects that Smith might have brain damage. Smith knows this by some of the tests Kimble carries out.

Then there is a reporter hanging around the camp who has been sent over by the boxing commission to investigate Smith's crooked manager. The reporter is checking everyone out and one person in Smith's camp dislikes Kimble already.

It is a story with several black actors and highlights black social issues. These days it would be immediately marked down for being too PC. It has to be noted, the contrast between a black doctor and white doctor. Something Kimble acknowledges.

This was actually the second episode filmed, after "Fear in the Desert City". You can see why it was pushed back a bit. It's not bad but not all that remarkable, either. Kimble gets a job as a cut man for a boxer and his medical training tells him that he really should quit the ring before he gets seriously hurt. But he's got a shot at the title. The boxer, played by James Edwards, one of many excellent but underused black actors from those days, always wanted to be a doctor and Kimble urges him to return to school. Meanwhile a reporter who is actually an undercover agent for the boxing commission is suspicious that Kimble might be working for criminals who want Edwards to throw the fight.

James Edwards died of a heart attack at the age of 51. He was already 45 when he played this role but doesn't look it. Edwards made a big splash in 1949 with Home of the Brave, a story of a black man and his experiences in the Army during WW2. He also played one of the boxers in Robert Wise's "The Set-up" A very handsome man, he started dating some Hollywood actresses, including Lana Turner, who he slapped during an argument in a restaurant. Ooops….

One of my favorite series, on Noir style, this episode is really good, Dr. Klimbe at large and the lucky smiles to him when he gets a best work as Cut man of a promising black Boxer, meanwhile both are staying closest friends due the Boxer already planned to a Doctor, Kimble tries to any means to cover his past, however a policeman disguised was there as insider to collect some clues for a set fights, when all things is going well Kimble realize that Joe Smith actually has some brain damage, having in the casting Ruby Dee and James Edward, a great black actors, a slight unusual for on those days, the unexpected final is compelling, as simply curiosity in this one Lt. Gerard didn't act !!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5