Gerald Vance: Vital Ingredient

Frankie was ready for the big test—Ten-Time Winner of the world title. He was young and fit and able; also, he had Milt's cunning brain to direct every feint and punch. This left only one thing in doubt, the—Vital Ingredient—

The future of prize fighting has taken a strange turn. Fighters are now controlled by their trainer using a process that tells them what to do and they have no control. The trainer is usually an older fighter who knows a lot but whose body is gone. But what does this do to the fighting ability of the gladiators who must do the actual battling? It is a strange mix of resentment and anger that can bubble out in unforseen ways. Of course the mix of skill of the handler and physical ability of the fighter needs still a vital ingredient - courage.