CHAPTER II

Picture of 16 oz. boxing gloves

After the war ended in 1945, Yvon’s brothers brought back some boxing gloves. These were very large, heavy gloves. Many of the village men would get together at night and use the gloves in boxing matches in the streets. These gloves were too heavy to be used in a real boxing match. But they were the only ones in the village. This street fighting was the only training Yvon would have before he began boxing for a living.

From a very young age, Yvon loved boxing. Joe Louis was the boxer he liked the best. Louis held the heavyweight title for many years. No one could lay a glove on him. Yvon would listen to Louis’ matches on battery radio. There were no electric radios at the time in Baie Ste. Anne.