WALK HARD, TALK LOUD

A smeary picture of the inside of small time prize fight rackets. The central character is an ambitious young Negro fighter who loses in the ring but wins in love. From a lowly career as bootblack, Andy is advanced to the status of pugilist, he trains patiently, he shies away from any reflections on his race, he wins his first fight, and than he becomes involved with a big shot who dominates the racket, gives him a beating, buys his contract and puts him out of the game. There are ugly pictures of Harlem life -- and a bit too much of the sordid side of sex for the particular reader.