“We did it, Grandad,” he said in wonder, feeling as if he and Albert were the only two people in a crowded hall. “You, me and Dad. We did it.”
Lenny had watched the fight from the ringside, living every punch. He was beside himself with joy. A barrage of security men attempted to calm him down, but nobody was going to stop Lenny celebrating this wonderful moment.
“This is my family!” he shouted. “This is their night! This is my night! Hallelujah!”
He and a jubilant Patsy lifted the new British champion on to their shoulders and paraded Danny around the ring.
“Hallelujah!” Lenny shouted again, tears pouring down his face.
Albert couldn’t help a sarcastic smile and a wave of his walking stick at Costa and Cohen, standing motionless by the ringside. Tumultuous cheers rang out on all sides. Cameras flashed. History had been made.
Albert’s faded glory had been restored to a shining glory.
As Lenny and Patsy paraded Danny shoulder-high around the ring, Albert looked up to the sky. With tears of joy in his eyes, he whispered: “I know you’re looking down, Tommy. He did it, Tommy son. Your boy’s a champion. A British champion.”
About David Essex
London born and bred, DAVID ESSEX is the bestselling author of A Charmed Life, Over the Moon and Travelling Tinker Man and Other Rhymes. Married with five children, he lives in Covent Garden, London.
