The lightweight champion of Singapore and the East, a Jew, was pitted against a young soldier who had secured his discharge and had just taken to boxing as a profession.

The soldier brought a great reputation as an amateur.

This was his first appearance as a professional, and his friends had gathered in numbers to encourage him.

The hall was crowded with soldiers from the barracks, sailors from the fleet, and patrons of the fancy in Calcutta.

The heat was overpowering, the audience noisy, and overhead the electric fans, which hung downwards from the ceiling, whirled above the spectators with so swift a rotation that those looking up saw only a vague blur in the air.
The ring had been roped off upon the stage, and about three sides of the ring chairs for the privileged had been placed.