Make the missing verbs the correct tense.

The story begins in 1928 when the American economy [?] strong. Jim Braddock [?] a professional boxer and was very popular with fans. He had just [?] his twenty-seventh professional fight.

By 1933 Jim's luck [?] gone. America was suffering under the Great Depression. Like millions of other Americans, Jim [?] a job. He and his family [?] to a poor neighbourhood. Jim [?] enough money to pay the bills or buy food for his children.

Jim [?] his right hand in a fight. He [?] to fight again because he [?] no money. Although it [?] against the rules, his manager Jim let him fight with an injured hand. Jim [?] the fight with a much stronger boxer. He lost his boxing licence because he broke the rule. His manager [?] to work with him any more.