Decision in the Ring 

Richard Kimble helps a black boxer realize that he may have a brain injury that will kill him if he continues to box. Meanwhile, an undercover police Sgt. closes in on Kimble.

Director:

Robert Ellis Miller

Writers:

Arthur Weiss, Roy Huggins (created by)

Stars:

David Janssen, James Edwards, Ruby Dee

Cast

Episode cast overview:
David Janssen	...	Dr. Richard Kimble / Ray Miller
James Edwards	...	Joe Smith
Ruby Dee	...	Laura Smith
James Dunn	...	Lou Bragan
Barry Morse	...	Lt. Philip Gerard (credit only)
Robert F. Simon	...	Murphy
Ed Kemmer	...	Harry Stone
Harry Swoger	...	Wally Wilson
Hari Rhodes	...	Dan Digby

Storyline

While working at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena as part of the janitorial staff, Dr. Kimble helps boxer Joe Smith stop the bleeding from a bad cut on his forehead after a fight. The next day, Joe's manager Lou hires Kimble to be his new cut man. Kimble goes to training camp with Joe and his wife, Lou, and others. Joe's wife Laura tells Kimble about some memory loss that Joe had experienced. Kimble fears the onset of brain damage and Joe fears it too because Joe once attended medical school and knows the symptoms. Meanwhile, Lou is being investigated by the boxing commission and because of that, everyone around Lou is also being checked out, including Kimble.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to the korean war | undercover policeman | african american couple | concussion | boxing | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 October 1963 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Quinn Martin Productions (QM), United Artists Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

About a year before this, David Janssen himself played a boxer in Follow the Sun: A Choice of Weapons (1962).

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lou Bragan: [to the cutman] Come on, come on. You're working too slow!

User Reviews

Kimble is a 'cut man'...a guy whose job it is to patch boxers up so they can keep on boxing.

Joe Smith (James Edwards) is a heck of a good boxer. But when the episode begins, his cut man is having a lot of problems in the corner during a boxing match. It's obvious the old guy isn't competent and after the fight is over, the manager for the boxer (James Dunn) fires the guy. Richard Kimble is working doing maintenance at the same arena where the fight took place and sees Smith bleeding in the dressing room. Being a doctor, he quickly helps Smith and the manager is so thrilled he hires Kimble to be the new cut man. However, there are two huge problems. First, the guy who recommended the old man to the manager to be the cut man is angry and jealous--and obviously wants revenge on Kimble. Second, Joe is showing signs of some serious brain damage and this could mean the end of his career...and he seems willing to risk his life for a chance at the title.

Overall, this is an okay episode of "The Fugitive"...nothing really outstanding apart from a nice chance to see some excellent black actors performing on the show. Worth seeing but certainly not a must-see.