The Chief by Robert Lipsyte

This is a book about Sonny Bear who is an indian boxer that has the skills to be a great fighter. He has his own personal team consisting of his handicapped manager named Alfred, his close relative named Jake who is more of a role model, and his big mouthed writer, but more importantly his true friend, Martin Witherspoon. Sonny is a low key type of guy who is going nowhere with his boxing career thanks to contracts that dont live up to expectations and fights with no namers that take place in ghost towns. Along the way Sonny loses interest, often wanting to hang up his gloves and let the dream go. Also bearing down on Sonny is his Moscondaga native heritage on the reservation he lives on which is a major part of his decisions and his stress. But one day that changes when Sonny sees the way.