It is the boxing match between Denham and Braithwaite in Chapter Eleven of this excellent novel that finally cements Braithwaite's leadership of the class of youths he tries to teach. This chapter narrates how Denham basically organises it so that he can fight against his teacher, Braithwaite, during their PE class, and how Braithwaite, angered by the violence and this attempt to fight him, punches Denham in the solar plexus and thus wins the fight.

Although this is clearly questionable and not recommended for teachers nowadays, the effect on Braithwaite's standing with his class is instantaneous and notable. After the moment of stunned silence following Braithwaite's victory, note how the class respond to his instructions:

To my amazement they obeyed without demur, while I hurried to Denham and helped him over to a low form against he wall; he was only winded and would be as right as rain. When he was comfortable I continued with the PE lesson, which went without a hitch; the boys were eager to do tehir best, and went through teh various movements without recourse to my prompting or direction; they now looked at me as if I had suddenly and satisfactorily grown up before their very eyes.

Note the change that has occurred in the way that the class look at their teacher. He has "grown up" and the narrator himself admits that this event "marked a turning point" in his relationship with the class. Even Denham starts addressing him as "Sir" without any form of mockery.