The Berlin Boxing Club

Karl goes to the Berlin Boxing Club for his first training session with Schmeling. The club is in a foreboding part of town and on the top floor of a factory building. When Karl arrives at the club, Schmeling is not there to greet him, and he must face down Worjyk, the gruff Polish club proprietor, and Neblig, the giant but gentle-seeming janitor who speaks with a stutter. The men at the club are at first skeptical about Karl training there and make fun of his skinny, weakly appearance. Once Schmeling shows up and introduces Karl as his protégé, however, the others are more receptive and welcoming.  

Neblig—who was once a boxer himself—lends Karl a pair of his old gloves, and Karl begins his training session. This consists of being thrown straight into the ring with a boxer named Johan, who is a grown man. Though terrified at first, Karl soon connects with his adrenaline and anger, and comports himself decently. He even manages to “land” a punch on Johan: “I had often heard people talk about a punch ‘connecting,’ and I finally understood what that really meant” (110). Schmeling congratulates him on his performance and gives him a book, Boxing Basics for German Boys, to study; however, he also cautions Karl that learning through experience and practice is most important.