jack-in-the-box a box from which a little figure on a spring jumps up when the lid is lifted, used as a toy. Here, the term is used to set the scene in Donatelli’s Gym when Alfred first arrives.
medicine balls large, heavy, leather-covered balls, tossed from one person to another for physical exercise.
the Garden Madison Square Garden, a center for sporting activity, especially boxing, in New York City.
spar to box with jabbing or feinting movements, landing few heavy blows, as in exhibition or practice matches.
Cassius Clay Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., (1942–) won the light heavyweight championship at the 1960 Olympics. He joined the black Muslims (Nation of Islam) in 1964 and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, winning the world heavyweight championship three times and earning a worldwide reputation for his outspoken opinions on the Vietnam War, the military draft, politics, religion, and race.
