Lipsyte uses this chapter to chart Alfred's progress, primarily in the ring but also with the Epsteins. Alfred learns by sparring with Angel, Denny, and Jose, each of whom presents a different challenge.
Alfred struggles with Angel's style until he learns to apply Bud Martin's advice. Alfred is only throwing one punch at a time rather than working in combinations, attacking with a series of punches. Angel easily slips the one punch and belts Alfred in the gut. Over a period of weeks, Alfred works on the more complicated technique. In a stunning metaphor, Lipsyte speaks of time as if it were an evolving fighter: "August, gasping for breath, melted into September."
The opponents continue to slip Alfred's single jabs. He has a recurring dream: A fly is sitting on his nose, but when he tries to brush it away, he sees that he has no hands. Eventually, Alfred shocks Angel with a dazzling combination of punches that leave the Puerto Rican fighter reeling against the ropes and bleeding. Alfred has nailed the fly. He is not sure how he did it, but Henry, a student of the game, shows him that Alfred's footwork was the key.
