Boxing Books

Book SynopsisOne of the most talked-about and bestselling books of last year, this is the no-holds-barred autobiography of a sporting legend driven to the brink of self-destructionThe bestseller that has everyone talking.In this, his first, autobiography, Iron' Mike Tyson pulls no punches and lays bare the story of his remarkable life and career. Co-written with Larry Sloman, author of Antony Keidis's best-selling memoir Scar Tissue', this is a visceral, and unputdown-able story of a man born and raised to brutality, who reached the heights of stardom before falling to crime, substance abuse and infamy.Full of all the controversy and complexity that you would expect from a man who delighted as much as he shocked, this is a book that will surprise and reveals a fascinating character beneath the exterior of violence.If you think you know all about Mike Tyson, read this book and think again.Trade Review‘Might be the most soul-baring book of its genre ever written’ Washington Post ‘Savagely compelling… A voyage through the great American underbelly’ Telegraph ‘Sensational… Fascinating… An epic tale’ Daily Mail ‘Completely riveting’ Janice Turner, The Times ‘A fallen hero mauled by excess’ Evening Standard ‘A gripping and indecently enthralling autobiography . . . Tyson’s life reads like an Elmore Leonard thriller’ Telegraph ‘Undisputed Truth, is the American dream writ large in raw detail: think Citizen Kane scripted by the writing team of The Wire’ New Statesman ‘Utterly gripping’ Janet Street-Porter, Independent ‘Addictive’ Geoff Dyer, Observer ‘Extraordinary’ Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisOne of the most recognisable, respected and inspirational men on earth, Muhammad Ali is the world's most famous boxing hero. Ali brought unprecedented speed and grace to the sport, and his charm and wit changed forever what the world expects of a champion athlete. This is the ultimate biography to match Ali's lifetime of extraordinary achievements. Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of The Year Award A superb book; hilarious, sad, moving and hopeful – The Times A monumental achievement…it documents every facet of his extraordinary life – The Daily Telegraph Hauser's achievement in chronicling the life of Muhammad Ali is monumental… triumphant and harrowing at one and the same time – The Guardian A tour de force – The Observer Compassionate, intelligent, fair-minded, definitive, and certainly exhaustive – The New York Review of Books A delightful summer read – The Los Angeles Times One of the most recognisable, respected and inspirational men on earth, Muhammad Ali is the world's most famous boxing hero. Ali brought unprecedented speed and grace to the sport, and his charm and wit changed forever what the world expects of a champion athlete. In the words of over two hundred of Ali's family members, associates, opponents, friends and enemies, this comprehensive and honest portrait relates his legendary sporting accomplishments, as well as the high drama of life outside the boxing ring. From Olympic gold in Rome, to stunning victory over George Foreman in Zaire, every historic victory and defeat of Ali's career is covered. His controversial embrace of the Nation of Islam – with the renunciation of his 'slave name', Cassius Clay – and the historic refusal to be inducted into the US Army makes for compelling reading. Ali became America's first national conscientious objector, and with a willingness to stage his fights in Third World locales, he continued his advocacy for people in need which was honoured in 2000 when he became a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Charismatic, dedicated and a skilful self-publicist, Muhammad Ali was the embodiment of the American Dream. This is the ultimate biography to match Ali's lifetime of extraordinary achievements. The perfect companion for any boxing enthusiast or fan of Muhammad Ali's life and work.

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Book SynopsisIn the tradition of the bestselling Workouts from Boxing's Greatest Champs, this sequel volume will KO all boxing/combat sport enthusiasts. Featuring a classic coterie of international boxing legends, this superb anthology is illustrated throughout by some of the best photos of them at work in the ring or training in the gym. Our celebrated present-day fighters and former champions range from the instantly recognisable Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jnr, Mike Tyson, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran to such respected international figures as Danny Williams and Vitali Klitschko. Incorporating career biographies for every fighter, the reader is introduced to the fitness and training regimes of some of the world's most physically powerful men. Culled from the author's original research and interviews, the greatest ever champion pugilists grant us a fly-on-the-wall look at their 'Typical Day' and their personal workout regimes.

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Book SynopsisEvery once in a while, a book publisher comes up with a great concept for a series of books that deserve more than superficial recognition. Such a series is The Greatest (fill in the blank) Stories Ever Told, anthologies that should win places on many bedside tables. On the long winter nights that lie ahead, such stories make great reading. -The Lexington County Chronicle THE GREATEST BOXING STORIES EVER TOLD assembles some of the best writing available on the sweet science and illuminates boxing in all its literal and symbolic glory. Each piece in this varied collection connects with the sort of powerful punch one can only expect from the world''s greatest writers. -Boxing Digest In THE GREATEST BOXING STORIES EVER TOLD, editor Jeff Silverman delivers a knockout collection of not only the best writing ever penned on the subject of the sweet science, but also stories that relate to the larger human issues the brutal sport has come to embody. Whether the story be abTrade Review"Every once in a while, a book publisher comes up with a great concept for a series of books that deserve more than superficial recognition. Such a series is "The Greatest (fill in the blank) Stories Ever Told", anthologies that should win places on many bedside tables. On the long winter nights that lie ahead, such stories make great reading."--The Lexington County Chronicle

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Book SynopsisMarvelous Marvin Hagler is a sporting legend. Often called the greatest middleweight boxer of all time, he held the world title for 12 defences, including bouts with Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran which entered fistic folklore. From his wild early fights in the boxing wilderness of Brockton, Massachusetts, Brian and Damian Hughes trace the blazing trail of Hagler's career: the controversial defeats subsequently avenged, a riot-scarred title win in London, and his unification of the middleweight crown. Hagler became a huge favourite, taking on all comers while never taking a step back. And so to The Ring magazine's "greatest round of all time" against Hearns, his ferocious battle with Duran, and the still-controversial loss to his nemesis Leonard. Marvelous tells the story of Hagler's extraordinary life for the first time, separating truth from myth to get right to the heart of a complex and charismatic man.

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Book SynopsisUseful for anyone pursuing boxing as a hobby or who is interested in training to become a professional boxer. This book presents an introduction to the sport, including the game's history, rules of the ring, how fights are scored, how to spar, the basics of defence and offence, the fighter's workout, a directory of boxing gyms, and more.Trade Review"Frazier knows prizefighting and breaks it down to its fundamentals in this practical primer." -- Larry Merchant, HBO Sports " Smokin' Joe Frazier will take you the distance and teach you how to be a champ. " -- George Foreman

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER'Tony is a champion who knows the hardest battle is always with yourself. Everyone who reads this book will find a change to make in their own life ' ANT MIDDLETON**THE PULL-NO-PUNCHES GUIDE TO LIFE**"When your job is to stand in front of a very big man who wants to knock you unconscious, you learn what's important in life. In the ring there's nowhere to hide. I was never the biggest or the strongest but I made the most of what I had - I had heart and I had grit and I always put time into the mental game. Now I want to take readers into the ring and help them understand that even though it's an extreme environment and somewhere they're unlikely to ever be, there's plenty they can learn there"Over 12 rounds (chapters), former world champion boxer Tony Bellew will take the reader inside the world of elite boxing to reveal what we can all learn about performance. From what the boxing gym can teach us all about being honest about our strengths and weaknesses to how to hit the canvas and get back up again, this is the closest thing to having a world champion boxer in your corner.Trade ReviewTony worked incredibly hard to get to the top. He has tremendous self-belief and in his new book he tells it how it is. A must read * Ricky Hatton *A great read * Dan Walker *The story of an aggressive kid who, though boxing, found the best version of himself * The Times *A great read for anyone: hard-won advice given by a truly hard bloke. Tony's story shares both the blood, sweat and years that went into becoming world champion AND how you can apply his philosophy to your everyday battles * John Hudson, The UK Military's Chief Survival Instructor *

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Book SynopsisRubin "Hurricane" Carter was riding a wave of success. The survivor of a difficult youth, he rose to become a top contender for the middleweight boxing crown. But his career crashed to a halt on May 26, 1967, when he and another man were found guilty of the murder of three white people and sentenced to three consecutive life terms. Written from prison and first published in 1974, The Sixteenth Round chronicles Hurricane's journey from the ring to solitary confinement. The book was his cry for help to the public, an attempt to set the record straight and force a new trial. Bob Dylan wrote his classic anthem "Hurricane" about his struggle, and Muhammad Ali and thousands of others took up his cause. The power of Carter's voice, as well as his ironic humor, makes this an eloquent, soul-stirring account of a remarkable life.Trade Review"A document of life lived in the center of hell." --Sports Illustrated"When they come to list the greatest boxers, Hurrican's name isn't likely to pop up in the Top 10. But when they come to list the greatest figures of the 20th century, he'll be alone at the peak." -- Boston Globe"A shocking, savage and brilliant indictment of racial injustice and the inhumanity of the prison." -- Globe and Mail"Carter's scorching and poetic autobiography." -- Toronto Sun

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Book SynopsisAs seen on TikTok, from Samantha Towle, the New York Times bestselling author of Wardrobe Malfunction and Breaking Hollywood, comes the first dramatically powerful and passionate novel in the Gods series.Readers are raving about Ruin!''Samantha Towle at her best''''Wow! What a story, I can''t even begin to tell you just how much I loved . . . this mind blowing book''''I adored this story! . . . Samantha Towle really knows how to make her characters jump out of the page and into our hearts as their journey becomes our own''''I love a good second chance romance story and this one was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G''..............................................................................And the new heavyweight champion of the world is... Those are the words that Zeus Kincaid has been waiting to hear since

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Book SynopsisBoxing - Training, Skills and Techniques is essential reading for both recreational and competitive boxers, and all those who wish to take up amateur boxing, or participate in a boxing-based programme. It offers practical advice on the many crucial factors that need to be taken into account if the boxer is to maximize his, or her, performance and potential. An overview of the history of boxing, the amateur code, boxing weights, recreational boxing, equipment and attire A detailed consideration of both basic and advanced techniques The role of the coach Fitness training, gym work, running, conditioning, speed and agility training Making the weight and nutrition Planning the season, and much more

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Book SynopsisSuccessful Boxing is the ultimate training manual for aspiring boxers. This indispensable resource shares tips and suggestions on how to improve skills and maximize performance. With inspiration and advice from World Champions Sergio Martinez, Saul Alvarez, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and a foreword by legendary World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez, using the information presented in this book will be just like receiving private sessions with a coach or top performer. These tips and training methods allow you to master the individual nuances of boxing to give you the winning edge. Whether you are new to the sport or a serious competitor, this book will help you reach the next level of skill development.

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Book SynopsisGreatest of All Time: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali is not just a book; it is a testament to the extraordinary life of one of the world’s most famous athletes. GOAT delves into the intricate layers of Ali’s existence, tracing Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.’s journey from his humble beginnings navigating segregation and financial hardship in Louisville, Kentucky, to his evolution into the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. Essays by those closest to him reveal stories behind monumental fights like those with Sonny Liston, the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman, and Thrilla in Manila against Joe Frazier. The book also explores Ali’s signature fighting style, which, when paired with his rapper-style wit, positioned him as a charismatic figure inside and outside the ring.Beyond boxing, GOAT weaves together Ali’s historic moments with his resilience against discrimination and his determination to confront racial inequities. His triumph at the 1960 Rome Olympics was marred by hostility, underscoring the racial tensions he faced; Ali boldly challenged these prevailing biases. The boxer’s embrace of Islam became a cornerstone of his moral standards, guiding his principles against racism, inequality, and undue violence, with the latter informing his staunch opposition to the Vietnam War. Interspersed between these accounts are thousands of historical documents and images of Ali, including the boxer’s documentarian-turned-confidant Howard Bingham’s intimate snapshots, Neil Leifer and Flip Schulke’s iconic pictures, and Hank Kaplan’s archival contributions. Stills from Leon Gast's film ‘When We Were Kings’, which told the story of Ali’s pivotal 1974 fight, are also included in the volume.GOAT is a heartfelt homage to a boxing legend, exploring Muhammad Ali’s indomitable spirit and celebrating his enduring impact on civil rights, sports, and culture.Trade Review“GOAT sets whole new standards. Books such as these shatter conventions and exert a fascination often only associated with other branches: eccentric and unforgettable.” * Buchmarkt *"Published by TASCHEN, this latest release contains a complete record of Ali's career, essays by leading writers and hundreds more remarkable images. It is all the Ali you need." * Red Bulletin * "A monument on paper, the most megalomaniacal book in the history of civilization, the biggest, heaviest, most radiant thing ever printed—Ali’s last victory." * Der Spiegel *

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Book SynopsisBRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2017. SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR. WINNER OF THE PEN/ESPN AWARD FOR LITERARY SPORTS WRITING. THE TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR. The most comprehensive and definitive biography of Muhammad Ali that has ever been published, based on more than 500 interviews with those who knew him best, with many dramatic new discoveries about his life and career.  When the frail, trembling figure of Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta in 1996, a TV audience of up to 3 billion people was once again gripped by the story of the world's most famous sporting icon. The man who had once been reviled for his refusal to fight for his country and for his fast-talking denunciation of his opponents was now almost universally adored, the true cost of his astonishing boxing career<Trade Review'Jonathan Eig's Ali: A Life is the business - 640 pages of patient scholarship and intelligent reassessment written in crackly prose and dancing gleefully and illuminatingly through the well-documented highlights while never shying away from the less glorious shadows.' -- Giles Smith * The Times *'A fine piece of journalism of the best American kind...wrought with sound judgment and rigorous prose. Ali's life is dissected with the detachment of a pathologist, and the picture isn't always a pretty one... In 50 or 100 years, people might wonder what all the fuss was about. Muhammad Ali: was there really such a character? They should read this book and learn that yes, there was, for all his flaws.' -- Nick Pitt * Sunday Times *'This richly researched, sympathetic yet unsparing portrait of a controversial figure...could not have come at a more appropriate time... As Muhammad Ali's life was an epic of a life, so Ali: A Life is an epic of a biography... Even the familiar may be glanced from a new perspective in Eig's fluent prose.' -- Joyce Carol Oates * New York Times Book Review *'Finally, after so many works focusing on this fight or that, the whole man, his whole life, is presented here' -- Ken Burns'Goes deeper and uncovers more than any Ali biography has before’ * Esquire *'Jonathan Eig’s Ali: A Life is the first comprehensive biography worthy of this titanic figure... [Eig] vigorously narrates the story of the man who transformed the landscape of race and sports... Eig also paints Ali’s bouts with vivid detail and captivating sweep... Ali stirs together the sweet and the spicy, the gifts and the failings, the charm and the rage, the grace and the greed, the pride and the ego. Together, they made Ali the transcendent athlete of his age.' -- Aram Goudsouzian * Washington Post *'Does a remarkable job of synthesising the warring elements of Ali's life. Above all, it delivers a portrait of a hero that does not ignore his all too human flaws. This biography...ends in darkness & melancholy. Fortunately, the earlier chapters dazzle us.' -- Clive Davis * The Times *'Ali's extraordinary story, in all its complexity, is told in Jonathan Eig's excellent Ali: A Life' -- Martin Chilton * Daily Telegraph *'There have been countless tomes about the iconic fighter, of course, but Eig's is the definitive work to date.' * Sports Illustrated Sports Book of the Year *'Stunning new biography...Ali is a big, fat, entertaining and illuminating read...What makes Eig’s book stand out is its broad scope, its detailed reportage and its lively, cinematic writing.' -- Laurie Hertzel * Star Tribune *'Each blow echoes on the pages of Jonathan Eig’s relentless, image-altering biography Ali: A Life...Though replete with tales of race, religion, war protest, sex, marital turmoil and skulduggery, this book is, more than anything else, an indictment of boxing. The cumulative damage of Ali’s boxing career is a terrible and haunting thing to read about, and it becomes all the more so when you remind yourself that Mr. Eig’s subject is one of American sports’ most beloved figures, not some luckless tomato can.' -- John Schulian * Wall Street Journal *'Eig...has exhaustively covered the career of boxing’s very greatest in an unprecedented level of detail...The result is a biography that is as unflinching about Ali’s marriages and extra-marital activities as it is about his sporting decline. The closing chapters...are heartbreaking.' -- James Grey * Daily Express *'Achieved the minor miracle of refreshing ground already trodden by writers of the quality of Thomas Hauser, Mike Marqusee and David Remnick, relating groundbreaking analysis of the punches taken by Muhammad Ali, particularly in his later fights, to his subsequent ill health' -- Huw Richards * Guardian *'First rate... An exemplary life of an exemplary man' * Kirkus Reviews *Ali, who died last year, was contradictory and controversial, and Jonathan Eig tells his story beautifully in his stunning new biography of the champ, Ali: A Life... Eig recounts the champ's major bouts in dizzying detail. Even readers who don't care for boxing will be drawn in by his descriptions of the fights... Ali's life was more complex than most other sports figures, and Eig's brilliant, exhaustive book is the biography the champ deserves: a beautiful portrait of a man whose name will never be forgotten, who carried a torch for equality and justice, and lit a fire that will never go out. -- Michael Schaub * NPR Books *'Jonathan Eig’s masterful new biography of the champ is both captivating and highly relevant to the current discussions on race...Eig’s boxing descriptions are taut and lively, wisely eschewing the purple prose of the literary set who have written about the sport... Muhammad Ali was one of the most compelling figures in the 20th century, and Eig does ample justice to capturing his extraordinary and enduring legacy.' -- David Takami * Seattle Times *'Full justice is done to Ali's extraordinary athletic gifts' -- Nick Pitt * Sunday Times *'[Jonathan Eig's] new book feels comprehensive...noteworthy is how much of Ali’s well-documented life has been overlooked by previous accounts... He’s breezy to read while also being a stickler for detail... It is by no stretch a hatchet job, but it’s no hagiography either and doesn’t shy away from stories that reveal Ali’s fallibilities and extreme views... Even in the most examined lives, there are corners where it is revealing to shine a light.' -- Tim Lewis * Observer *'Jonathan Eig’s book is the first major biography since Ali’s death, and it offers a bruising account of his life. It jabs at myths throughout... Masterful.' * The Economist *'That Eig has achieved his aim of revealing Ali afresh, which I think he has, is some kind of literary miracle...Eig has achieved the improbable and made Ali human again: flawed, inspiring, too complex to truly represent any one coherent idea.' -- Malcolm Knox * Sydney Morning Herald *'Comprehensive and definitive...uncovers new stories and tidbits about his life and career' * Sports Illustrated *'Ali’s life and times have been documented often but never more comprehensively or brilliantly than the recently published Ali: A Life...this is not only one of the best-ever sports books but an insightful social essay about a deeply troubled era for human rights in America.' -- Ron Reed * sportshounds.com.au *'This deeply researched, comprehensive biography. His prose is fast-paced, uncluttered, and rich in personal insights' -- J. Michael Lennon * Times Literary Supplement *'He may have been the greatest but he was no saint... Paints a portrait of his life in its entirety' * Mail on Sunday *'Eig’s richly researched, sympathetic yet unsparing portrait of a controversial figure for whom the personal and the political dramatically fused could not come at a more appropriate time.' -- John Williams * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThey called him 'Hands of Stone'. In his own words, and for the first time, Roberto Duran tells his unbelievable story in I Am Duran: The Autobiography of Robert Duran. From the mean streets of Panama to the bright lights of Las Vegas, blazing a trail through the golden decade of boxing, Duran, in unflinching form, dispels myths and lays bare the cost of conquering the world. He also returns to the debacle that entered sporting folklore during his rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard, when he uttered the infamous words 'no mas' – no more.Starting life in abject poverty as the illegitimate son of a serving US soldier, Duran quickly realized that his fists could both protect him on the streets and put food on the table. His reputation in and out of the ring travelled the corridors of boxing power on the day, for a bet, he knocked down a horse with a single punch.From his stunning debut in New York to the glorious defeat of Sugar Ray Leonard, the world titles and the chaos that ensued after the No Mas encounter, Duran's explosive life in the ring was matched only by the volatility outside of it, as he lurched from kingmaker to bankruptcy, before the ultimate ending of a bloody comeback and, finally, redemption.Trade ReviewMy hero and inspiration, and the greatest boxer of his generation. An unbelievable story * Ricky Hatton *If a pound-for-pound list of boxing autobiographies existed, this fascinating account of his life would sit comfortably on it. * Marc Deanie, Boxing Truth *I was drawn in and kept reading and before I knew I was through the book and feeling, really feeling, like I just sat down to a long dinner and beers after in some open Panamanian café with Durán sitting across from me just speaking with no filter, none at all. * Frank Miniter Forbes *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2021 William Hill Sports Book of The Year award.“This is the book that boxing has always needed...It is shattering yet moving, informative yet tender...An essential read for anyone who cares about boxing and its courageous, damaged fighters.”—Donald McRae, The Guardian“Anyone who loves boxing—even the sport's most die-hard supporters—must take a longer and more serious look at the issues that Tris Dixon writes about with such nuance and humanity in Damage...”—Greg Bishop, Senior Writer, Sports IllustratedIt’s an old story—a fighter gains fame, drives fast cars, makes piles of cash, and dates beautiful women. Then comes the fall—booze, drugs, depression, poverty, illness. This dark narrative has been playing out for a hundred years.Doctors first identified “Punch Drunk Syndrome” in 1928. It later became known as “Dementia Pugilistica.” Today, we call it CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). The secret history of this disease in boxing has never been fully told— until now.In Damage, Tris Dixon uncovers the difficult truths of boxing and CTE and chronicles the lives of fighters affected by it. He interviews some of the sport’s biggest names, some lesser-known journeymen, and highly respected trainers and other figures to try to understand why no one wants to discuss CTE or take responsibility for it. Ultimately, Dixon takes aim at what boxing can do to help the warriors who sacrifice their health seeking glory in the ring. Will this book finally drive the sport to address the issue and help fighters get the help they deserve?

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-FictionShortlisted for the Wellcome Book PrizeIn this groundbreaking new book, Thomas Page McBee, a trans man, trains to fight in a charity match at Madison Square Garden while struggling to untangle the vexed relationship between masculinity and violence.Through his experience of boxing - learning to get hit, and to hit back; wrestling with the camaraderie of the gym; confronting the betrayals and strength of his own body - McBee examines the weight of male violence, the pervasiveness of gender stereotypes and the limitations of conventional masculinity. A wide-ranging exploration of gender in our society, Amateur is ultimately a story of hope, as McBee traces a way forward: a new masculinity, inside the ring and out of it.A graceful and uncompromising exploration of living, fighting and healing, in Amateur we gain insight into the stereotypes and shifting realities of masculinity today through the eyes of a new man.Trade ReviewAmateur is a beautiful and powerful book written by the superbly talented Thomas Page McBee. This memoir is such an important piece of trans literature to support and one that spoke to me deeply * * Elliot Page * *A visceral, sparky read . . . Beautifully written [and] deep and affecting . . . Absolutely fascinating -- BBC Radio 4 A Good ReadA blazingly wise and beautiful book -- A.L. KENNEDYMcBee's writing bristles with an elegant swagger . . . Amateur is as much a reconciliation as an emancipation . . . Punchy, thought-provoking stuff * * Sunday Times * *In an age when identity feels so splintered and fractional, McBee's empathy with men feels refreshing, but it's his determination to be accountable that is radical. He resolves his own masculinity crisis by doing the things men often think they're doing, but so often are not: listening, asking questions, seeking help, being vulnerable * * Observer * *Brave, honest and touchingly human . . . This is a beautiful book that will resonate . . . with anyone anywhere in the world who is determined to become a better, kinder human being -- ELIF SHAFAK * * Guardian * *Amateur is a heck of a tale, and McBee is a gifted memoirist * * Financial Times * *Amateur provocatively describes the ways in which an increasingly fragile patriarchal culture needs to keep men in their place. A quest for self-liberation, this loving and deeply intelligent exploration of contemporary masculinities is essential reading -- DEBORAH LEVYOne of my favourite books of 2018 . . . A memoir about boxing, masculinity and transitioning. It is exceptional -- NIKESH SHUKLAAn eye-opening story about gender and courage, and confirmation that there are many different fights to being a man * * Guardian * *

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Book SynopsisSonny Liston was a legend, described by Mike Tyson as "the baddest man boxing ever produced". From veteran sports reporter Shaun Assael, The Murder of Sonny Liston is a gripping, intense examination of the former Heavyweight Champion's death in mob-ruled 1970s Las Vegas.'The Murder of Sonny Liston is a classic of the genre' – Daily MailOn January 5th 1971, former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston was found dead at his Las Vegas home.Liston’s death, labelled an overdose, has long hung over Las Vegas and the boxing world, leaving unanswered questions about his ties to mob kingpins, drug lords, billionaire hoteliers and powerful promoters.Against the backdrop of the pivotal era in the history of Las Vegas when the mob turned a sleep desert oasis into a gambling paradise, Shaun Assael's The Murder of Sonny Liston is both a riveting murder hunt and a stunning portrait of a city that was home to the Rat Pack, race riots and glittering high-rises along the strip.'Shaun Assael has delved deeper into Liston's mysterious death than anybody and come up with sensational results' – Nigel Collins, former editor-in-chief of The RingTrade ReviewReaders of James Ellroy's Underworld USA Trilogy will feel very much at home. -- Dan Jones * Sunday Times *The Murder of Sonny Liston is a classic of the genre . . . The cast of characters in these pages is a casino-packed assembly of the showbiz stars of a neon era who performed on that fabled Strip, heroes of the prize-ring, shadowy figures of a Mafia underworld, money-grubbing hangers-on, showgirls, straight and crooked cops. -- Jeff Powell * Daily Mail *Writing with the flair of a mystery writer and the attention to detail of an investigative journalist . . . Assael dissects the suspicious death of former heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston . . . The engrossing depiction of Sin City's corrupt cops, malevolent mobsters, and drug dens follows in the footsteps of Nick Tosches's The Devil and Sonny Liston . . . Assael's journey into the seedy underworld of the Las Vegas's past is worth the ride. * Publishers Weekly *Shaun Assael delves into Las Vegas at the turn of the '70s and uncovers a thrilling mystery. Leave it to Sonny Liston to emerge as its larger-than-life anti-hero. -- Nicholas Pileggi, Oscar-nominated screewriter of GoodfellasMobsters, casino moguls, degenerate gamblers, junkies, strung out fighters, drug dealers, crooked cops and coke-head judges all play a role in The Murder of Sonny Liston. Shaun Assael has delved deeper into Liston's mysterious death than anybody and come up with sensational results. Investigative reporting at its finest. * Nigel Collins, Former editor-in-chief, The Ring *As tough and pounding as its subject, this is the send-off Sonny Liston deserved. Only read it if you're interested in crime, Vegas, and boxing, or the complications of being human. -- Robert Lipsyte, author of The Contender and An Accidental SportswriterDrugs, booze, gambling, fixed fights. Casino moguls, crooked cops, mob bosses. The Murder of Sonny Liston has it all. Investigative reporter Shaun Assael's account of the death and life of one of boxing's biggest and saddest characters crackles with drama, tension, and suspense. It's part The Wire, part Chinatown, part The Professional-but unlike those works of fiction, all remarkably true. Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak and A Few Seconds of Panic -- Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak and A Few Seconds of PanicAssael, a member of ESPN’s investigations unit, is typically thorough in his research and approach yet manages to balance a meticulous attention to detail with a consideration for his audience, which is to say he never loses sight of the need to tell a story. The narrative is fluid and engaging, while the Las Vegas backdrop, arguably as important a character as any human being featured, is as alluring on the page as it is when witnessed in person. -- Elliot Worsell * Boxing News *

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Book SynopsisMarch 2016: following a brutal title fight with Chris Eubank Jr, former British champion Nick Blackwell ended up fighting for his life in a coma. That night, victory was no longer important; boxing was no longer a sport.Elliot Worsell, journalist and lifelong boxing fan, had been ringside and in the dressing rooms at Wembley, and what he saw and heard would transform his view of the sport he loves and force him to question his own complicity.In Dog Rounds, Worsell goes in search of boxers who have killed in the ring. Spending time with these pariahs and returning to the venues in which tragedies occurred, Worsell reveals the extent of the devastation left behind. In doing so, he uncovers an incredible story of guilt, forgiveness, obsession and violence.Trade ReviewI left the book outside at the smoking area at Dublin airport just as the Eubanks were in the sixth round. I then found another copy at Heathrow. Dog Rounds is an outstanding book. -- Doug StanhopeI've not read a better sports book this year. Insightful, conflicted and especially moving -- Matt Dickinson, Chief Sports Writer, The TimesOne of my favourite sports books of this year -- Matt Williams * Radio 2 *Best Holiday Read 2017 -- Ross Raisin * Observer *

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Book SynopsisA breathtakingly brutal and evocative account of the life of infamous boxing world champion Sonny Liston''Dazzling . . . An unforgettable journey to some of boxing''s darkest places'' Steve Bunce, author of Bunce''s Big Fat Short History of British BoxingSonny Liston is one of the most controversial men the boxing world has ever seen. He rose from a childhood of grinding poverty to become 1962''s heavyweight world champion. He spent time in prison, he was known to have mob connections, he was hated and vilified by his public. And after he lost the world title to Cassius Clay in a spectacular fall from grace, he died under mysterious and never fully explained circumstances.Sonny Liston''s life story is an unsolved mystery and an underappreciated tragedy. In uncompromising detail, Nick Tosches captures the shadowy figure of Liston, this most mesmerising and enigmatic of boxing antiheroes.''Crackling [and] unmissable . . . A warpeTrade ReviewDazzling, unforgiving... Tosches and Liston smash their way through fights and beaten men... Tosches understood the large heart and vicious ways of Liston and together they take an unforgettable journey to some of boxing's darkest places -- Steve Bunce, author of 'Bunce's Big Fat Short History of British Boxing'Shooting from the hip, Nick Tosches brings Liston and the lurid underworld of boxing brilliantly to life... The fullest portrait yet of this troubled man. Told in the spare, muscular prose Tosches is known for, Liston's story is the tale of a man who "died on the day he was born" * Esquire *Liston's story comes alive though hard facts and breathtaking writing... As much about boxing as it is about the darkest side of the American Dream * Time Out *Tosches has a talent for getting inside the skin of men [and] drawing out meaty stories... The prose sizzles - hard, tough writing suited to a hard, tough subject * New York Times Book Review *Crackling [and] unmissable... A warped fairy tale and a dark murder mystery * Maxim *Brash [and] astute... Tosches gets in the ring and slugs it out from the first bell as if he were the twin reincarnation of John L. Sullivan and Jack Dempsey. [He] picks the dirtiest, ugliest, saddest man the fight game has thrown up in a hundred years and rides the story all the way to the grave * Observer *A fantastic book about a life that started in darkness and continued to go deeper into the darkness until the only light was death. Nick Tosches is an extraordinary writer -- Hubert Selby Jr, author of 'Requiem for a Dream'A profound voyage into the twisted psyche of a sportsman... Brings you face to face with [a] hard life and ugly death * FHM *Tosches is a remarkable reporter... While Liston demolishes opponents with the brutality of his blows, Tosches goes down the mean streets of professional boxing, ventures into the shadowy corners of mob dealings and dares to reveal the fixed fights... A great story * Salon *[A] hyper-noir meditation on the devil and his relationship to Sonny Liston... Tosches has attitude to spare, agile and sublime, smooth and cool... A captivating, tragic tale * Austin Chronicle *Grandmaster of grit lit, Tosches writes eloquently about America's underbelly * Boston Globe *

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Book SynopsisAdvanced Boxing utilizes the latest research in sports science and combat sports to focus on developing every aspect of a boxer's fighting to the most advanced extent. The focus of the book is on training a boxer to win competition fights. Sondhi and Thompson review the basics of boxing in order to provide the tools to begin an advanced boxing programme, focusing on specific development goals. They outline the best contemporary training methods, concentrating on yielding the most effective outcomes for the training boxer. Topics covered include: a 12-month training plan for considerably advancing a boxer's development; useful tips, lists and tables to help organize a training programme, and to maximize training effectiveness; the vitally important aspects of psychology, physiology, nutrition and coaching in a boxer's development; contemporary training methods based on the latest sports science thinking, and outlines new techniques for pad-holding, and finally, it focuses on turning a boxer into a winning athlete.

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Book SynopsisMuhammad Ali was a champion, a poet, a prophet. Sports Illustrated called him “the greatest athlete of the twentieth century.” And yet he was even more than all of that, “a whole greater than the sum of its parts . . . bigger, brighter, more original and influential than just about anyone of his era” (Barack Obama). He got there with his fists, with his actions, and above all, with his words. Compiled and written by his daughter Hana Ali, with sportswriter Danny Peary, Ali on Ali brings together a remarkable mix of Ali’s 70 most humorous, poignant, inspirational, political, and philosophical quotes, all with their origins. Here’s Ali’s enduring boast, “I am the greatest!”—and how it was inspired by professional wrestler Gorgeous George. The story behind one of the most memorably poetic lines of the century—“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” The heard-round-the-world defiance of “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” and its moving context. And the stories behind quotes ranging from outrage—“We been in jail for 400 years,” to inspiration—“I hated every minute of training, but I said ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion,’” to that infectious combination of humor and bravado—“If you even dream of beating me you better wake up and apologize.” Included are powerful photographs throughout, from iconic fight scenes to never-before-seen Ali family snapshots; quotes about Ali, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Billy Crystal; a career timeline; and a personal introduction by Hana Ali.

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Book SynopsisTake a ringside seat next to A. J. Liebling at some of the greatest fights in history. Here is Joe Louis''s devastating final match; Sugar Ray Robinson''s dramatic comeback; and Rocky Marciano''s rise to heavyweight glory. The heated ringside atmosphere, the artistry of the great boxers and the blows and parries of the classic fights are all vividly evoked in a volume described by Sports Illustrated as ''the best American sports book of all time''.''A rollicking god among boxing writers ... before Tom Wolfe and Hunter S. Thompson were out of diapers, Liebling was taking his readers on excursions through the hidden and often hilarious levels of this bruised subculture ... the Master'' Los Angeles Times''Nobody wrote about boxing with more grace and enthusiasm'' The New York TimesTrade ReviewThe best American sports book of all time * Sports Illustrated *Nobody wrote about boxing with more grace and enthusiasm than Joe Liebling * The New York Times *

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Book SynopsisOn September 6, 1892, a diminutive Black prizefighter brutally dispatched an overmatched white hope in the New Orleans Carnival of Champions boxing tournament. That victory sparked celebrations across Black communities nationwide but fostered unease among sporting fans and officials, delaying public acceptance of mixed-race fighting for half a century. This turn echoed the nation’s disintegrating relations between whites and Blacks and foreshadowed America’s embrace of racial segregation.In this work of sporting and social history we have a biography of Canadian-born, Boston-raised boxer George Dixon (1870–1908), the first Black world champion of any sport and the first Black world boxing champion in any division. George Dixon: The Short Life of Boxing’s First Black World Champion, 1870–1908 chronicles the life of the most consequential Black athlete of the nineteenth century and details for the first time his Carnival appearance, perhaps the most significant bout involving a Black fighter until Jack Johnson began his reign in 1908. Yet despite his triumphs, Dixon has been lost to history, overshadowed by Black athletes whose activism against white supremacy far exceeded his own.George Dixon reveals the story of a man trapped between the white world he served and the Black world that worshipped him. By ceding control to a manipulative white promoter, Dixon was steered through the white power structure of Gilded Age prizefighting, becoming world famous and one of North America’s richest Black men. Unable to hold on to his wealth, however, and battered by his vices, a depleted Dixon was abandoned by his white supporters just as the rising tide of Jim Crow limited both his prospects and the freedom of Blacks nationwide.

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Book SynopsisTheodore 'Tiger' Flowers rose above the racist bigotry of the Deep South to become the first African-American middleweight champion of the world. To do it, this Christian family man beat a boxing legend, Harry Greb, in the first of the great sporting cathedrals, Madison Square Garden. It was a victory that stunned the sporting world and made him a household name. Yet within a year he had lost his championship on a decision some said was influenced by Al Capone - and within another year was dead, following a seemingly innocuous operation, in the clinic of a controversial surgeon, to remove lumps and scars above his eyes. Was his death, at the age of 34, an accident, a result of negligence, or something more sinister? And what was behind his white manager's attempt to throw Tiger's widow into an asylum and their daughter into an orphanage? Flowers' inspiring, harrowing story, set against an horrific backdrop of lynchings and routine prejudice, is largely forgotten now but he paved the way for black sporting heroes like Joe Louis, Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson.Trade ReviewSteve Bunce - The Independent. 23rd January 2014 When Tiger Flowers was starting out as prizefighter in the segregated business of boxing, black men were being lynched on the roads he travelled and the Ku Klux Klan, the "invisible empire", was a force in the American south. Flowers fought for the first time for money in 1918, became the first black man to win the world middleweight title in 1926, and the following year, four days after his 159th fight, he died during a routine operation to remove scar tissue from above his eyes. According to a startling and raw new biography, A Tiger Rose out of Georgia by Bob Mee, Flowers travelled 77,629 miles by car and train from 1922-27 for dozens of fights. The facts regularly defy logic: Flowers must have been part-pugilist, part-freak to have survived as long as he did. The relentless schedule inside the ring was matched by a mesmerising itinerary on America's fledgling roads and railroad lines, as Flowers went from fight to fight with seldom more than a week between bells. Flowers was abused by judges and referees and ignored because of his colour for too long and Mee never once, during the tricky compilation of the book, found one instance of anger, hate or retaliation attributed to Flowers. It was not so much a colour line, as Mee points out in the starkest of language, but a colour wall and the gentle fighter never lost his cool. Flowers finally gets his world title fight against the great Harry Greb, a rare white champion who was prepared to fight a black man, in February 1926 at the old Madison Square Garden. It's a savage brawl with fouls in every round and at the end Flowers gets a tight decision. It was a mixed crowd, something that Flowers, more than any other black fighter is given the credit for making a reality, though he did mostly appear on "blacks only" fight nights - the "merry-go-round of the black circuit". Inevitably, the same names come up and he met some men five and six times, doing 65 rounds with Jamaica Kid and taking on a Detroit slugger called Whitey Black three times. Flowers had met Greb in a non-title fight in the summer of 1924 and Greb insisted the "no-decision rule was in place". Greb kept his title but Flowers won easily according to the ringside gathering and that meant he would be kept waiting for his title chance. The month after that first fight with Greb it was back to the road and Flowers would fight 46 times in 18 months of "keeping busy" before taking the title. Flowers beat Greb in a rematch, lost to Mickey Walker the following year in what was probably a fix and was busy up until the very end. His funeral in Atlanta was a big event for both black and white citizens and two streets in the Georgian city carry the name of its greatest fighter. The death of Flowers is given a literary autopsy in the book and Mee's exploration of the operating quack's credentials even raises considerable doubt over the cause of Tiger's death, which came at a time when he was close to getting a chance to fight for his old title against Walker. It would not be a good boxing book without a tiny tale of mob involvement. Mee is insanely thorough and uncovered many new details, including a blockbuster twist at the end that previous writers had failed to discover during decades of seemingly endless fascination with Flowers. The final thrilling reveal took my breath away and, having worked at ringside with Bob for nearly 30 years, I knew what it would mean to him. It is a book packed with love and when you can say that about a boxing book you know it is worth reading.

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Book SynopsisClose Encounters with the Gloves Off is a rollercoaster ride through boxing history in the words of the boxers themselves, as they recall their highs and lows, their greatest triumphs, the background stories and many shock revelations. Acclaimed boxing writer, author and historian Thomas Myler has interviewed every one of the pugilistic greats featured, during a career spent covering boxing; from the big names of the 'Roaring 20s' right through to boxing's modern era. Muhammad Ali, Jack Dempsey, Georges Carpentier, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and modern greats such as Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield and Ken Buchanan all feature. Myler has spent a lifetime around boxing and boxers and was once described by George Kimball, prize-winning author of the acclaimed Four Kings, as 'One of the world's best boxing writers'. Close Encounters with the Gloves Off pulls together that life's work to take the reader on a wonderful boxing journey which spans almost an entire century.

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Book Synopsis“The story of the legendary martial arts fighter and kickboxer Oum Ry is by turns pulse-pounding, disturbing, and powerful. His is an astonishing life told beautifully by his daughter Zochada Tat and Addi Somekh. The book will grip you from its first pages and not let you go."—Jeff Chang, author of Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America and Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop GenerationOum Ry (b.1944) is a former international champion kickboxer who first brought the Cambodian martial art Pradal Serey to the United States. When his family of silver engravers couldn't afford his food or schooling, he lived with monks until seeking out Pradal Serey masters, soon becoming national champion at 23 years old and one of the most famous fighters in the region. For 15 years, he toured Southeast Asia, and without ever suffering a knock-out, won more than 250 fights. After a young man’s dream-life of stardom, parties, and girls, his new wife gave birth to a child in 1975, two months before the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh and threw the country into the chaos of civil war, where starvation, disease, and mass executions were common.Oum Ry survived the genocide though much of his family perished. He was saved many times from death in Cambodia due to fame, talent, and his resilience, but suffered a life-threatening attack during Southern California’s epic gang violence of the 1990s. Earlier, as a refugee with his young family in Chicago, Oum Ry learned English while working cleaning hotels. But within a few years, he had an investor in Long Beach, California and opened one of the first kickboxing gyms in the United States.This is Oum Ry's life story, which is propelled by his highly anticipated return to Cambodia in February 2022 to reunite with family and to pass on Pradal Serey traditions to the next generation.Trade Review“This memoir strikes hard on multiple levels. It is a reflection of contemporary America and the transnational, transcultural, immigrant experience that many Americans live, whether themselves or vicariously. Oum Ry, like many other fortunate refugees makes his way to the United States where he finds both happiness and deep disappointment. The life of a migrant is bittersweet, filled with hope and longing. Oum Ry’s life has been a rollercoaster in and out of the fighter’s ring, dramatic in positive and negative ways. His is a life worth the reading.”—Dr. JoAnn LoSavio, Washington State University, VancouverTable of ContentsPreface1 – Father and Daughter2 – Childhood3 – Pradal Serey4 – Champion5 – Genocide6 – Refugee7 – America8 – Long Beach9 –Attack10 – ReturnNotesAfterword " Oum Ry's Life in the Context of Cambodia's History" by Michael G. Vann, Ph.D.Appendices:TimelineArchive: Photographs and DocumentsAcknowledgments

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Book SynopsisAVAILABLE TO PREORDER NOW''Some people are born to be sports stars. I wasn''t one of them. I was born to be . . . actually what was I born to be? Probably, like most Asian kids growing up in the late Nineties, a doctor, or a teacher. At a push I might have been a cricketer. A boxer? Come off it! No Asian lad did that sort of thing. Hanging up my gloves has given me the opportunity to reflect not just on my career but on who I am and the kind of person I want to be. Whoever that is, I just hope they get a few less slaps to the face! Boxing has only ever been part of the storyline. Whether it be death threats from Al-Qaeda, gunpoint robbery, family fallouts, marriage to a New York socialite, three kids, a reality show, a money pit wedding hall, or walking through a flood and earthquake devastated Pakistan, I''m struggling to think of a quiet day. That means a lot of lessons hard-learned - and you''ll notice that I try to pass a few on he

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Book SynopsisIn this inspiring memoir, undefeated five-time world champion boxer Andre Ward--aka Son of God--shares the gripping narrative of his unforgettable career, his rock-solid faith, and why boxing was never the biggest fight of his life.Andre Ward was the undefeated light heavyweight boxing champion of the world when he walked away from the ring and did not look back. Now that he has taken off his gloves for the final time, the Olympic gold medalist is ready to share the heartbreaking and uplifting stories of his formative years and unprecedented boxing career. Motivational, faith-building, and utterly compelling, this memoir offers an inspiring story of overcoming a broken childhood behind-the-scenes drama from Andre''s epic championship bouts, complicated relationships with managers and promoters, and shocking decision to retire at the top of his game insight into breaking destructive generational bonds, forgiving those who have h

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Book SynopsisTinsley Lowry is my obsession. Tinsley Lowry could be my downfall. I''ve known Tinsley since we were children, two souls tangled in a bond that defied explanation. Her name echoes in my mind like a song. The world sees me as a rockstar, but it''s her who sees the parts of me I''ve kept hidden from everyone else.When Tinsley joins me on my tour, and we travel from city to city, a nagging feeling grows that someone is lurking in the shadows, watching her, waiting for her. The protectiveness I''ve always felt for her is driving me to insanity.With each day that passes, it becomes clearer that I want more. My need for her has erupted into a raging inferno. I''m not seeking redemption; I''m embracing the darkness that defines me in an effort to keep her safe. Can my obsession protect her against what I can feel coming, or will it become what devours us both?

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Book of the Year'Rahaman has, at last, written the definitive biography on his late brother, which tells the real Ali story' - Mike Tyson'The real life of the Great One' - George ForemanMore words have been written about Muhammad Ali than almost anyone else. He was, without doubt, the world's most-loved sportsman. At the height of his celebrity he was the most famous person in the world. And yet, until now, the one voice missing belonged to the man who knew him best - his only sibling, and best friend, Rahaman Ali.No one was closer to Ali than Rahaman. Born Cassius and Rudolph Arnett Clay, the two brothers grew up together, lived together, trained together, travelled together, and fought together in the street and in the ring.A constant fixture in his sibling's company, Rahaman saw Ali at both his best and his worst: the relentless prankster and the jealous older brother, the outspoken advocate, the husband and father. In My Brother, Muhammad Ali, he is able to offer a surprising insider's perspective on the well-known stories, as well as never-before-told tales, painting a rich portrait of a proud, relentlessly polarizing, yet often vulnerable man. In this extraordinary, poignant memoir, Rahaman tells a much bigger and more personal story than in any other book on the great man - that of two brothers, almost inseparable from birth to death. It is the final and most important perspective on one of the most iconic figures of the last century.Trade ReviewHeart-warming, multi-faceted and hard-hitting [...] Thanks to Rahaman's powerful storytelling ability, My Brother, Muhammad Ali shares with the world a tale unlike any other biography on Muhammad Ali * Fox Sports *No one knew Muhammad Ali better than Rahaman, and he provides a welcome and insightful addition to the extensive Ali literature * Sunday Times *Rahaman was alongside Muhammad Ali all the way, from his street-fighting teenage days, loving home life, soaring fame, marriages, troubles, notoriety, highs and lows. In this long-overdue book, he takes us inside the legend's head and home [...] And just like the man, the book never stops surprising. A must for fight fans * Sunday Sport *Rahaman has, at last, written the definitive biography on his late brother, which tells the real Ali story * Mike Tyson *The real life of the Great One * George Foreman *It seems there is a bottomless supply of revelations about Muhammad Ali, one of the most written-about men in history. Yet more insights come in a book by his brother, Rahaman. From Ali's difficult birth to how he had to be rescued from financial difficulty after he stopped boxing and on to the tenderness of his last hours with his family, the story of The Greatest Of All Time is retold from the inside by his younger sibling * Jeff Powell, Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisAlan Scott Haft provides the first-hand testimony of his father, Harry Haft, a holocaust victim with a singular story of endurance, desperation, and unrequited love. Haft's account, at once dispassionate and deeply absorbing, is an extraordinary story and an invaluable contribution to Holocaust literature.Trade ReviewThis fascinating account deserves recognition as a distinctive contribution to the literature on the Holocaust, the plight of Jewish survivors in post-war Poland and Germany, and, more generally, European and American Jewish history." - East European Jewish AffairsTable of Contents Forewords The Threat Part One: Nightmares Born Lucky The Occupation Captured Lost Hope The Beating Jew Animal The Cannibals The Escape The Whorehouse Heavyweight Champion Part Two: Dreams Uncle Sam Training Harlem Washington, D.C. Career Bouts Training for Marciano Fighting Rocky Moving On Finding Leah Afterword

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Book Synopsis**New edition updated with a foreword by Manny Pacquiao.** A celebration and memorial of the greatest era of heavyweight fighters from 1962 to 1997, as witnessed ringside by an International Boxing Hall of Fame sportswriter. Once upon a time, of all the memories made in ballparks and arenas from California to New York, there was nothing to rival that magic moment that could grab a heavyweight fight crowd by its collective jugular vein and trigger a tsunami of raw emotion before a single punch had even been thrown. That’s the way it was when the heavyweight giants danced in the boxing ring during the golden eras of the greats Ali, Frazier, Holmes, and Spinks, to name a few. There will never again be a heavyweight cycle like the one that began when Sonny Liston stopped Floyd Patterson and ended when Mike Tyson bit a slice out of Evander Holyfield’s ear; when no ersatz drama, smoke, mirrors, and noise followed a fighter’s entry into the ring; when the crowds knew that these men were not actors on a stage but rather giants in a ring with a single purpose—to fight other giants. By the ringside, acclaimed sportswriter Jerry Izenberg watched history as it was being made during those legendary days, witnessing fights like the Thrilla in Manila and the Rumble in the Jungle and preserving them in punchy yet tremendous prose. Delivering both his eyewitness accounts and revelatory back stories of this greatest era of heavyweight boxing, Izenberg invites readers to a place of recollection.Once There Were Giants is his memorial to this extraordinary time, the likes of which we shall never see again.Trade Review"I was there. So was Jerry Izenberg. This is the way it was."—Larry Holmes, former heavyweight champion "I have yet to find someone with as much knowledge of boxing as Jerry Izenberg."—Joe Cortez, referee and International Boxing Hall of Famer "An extraordinary, historically accurate chronicle of the golden era of heavyweight boxing in the U.S. . . . one of those gems you can’t put down once you start reading."—USA Today "Once There Were Giants is a history lesson that dances the way Ali did and packs the wallop of Frazier’s left hook. Only Jerry Izenberg, with sixty-plus years of no-BS reporting and bristling prose behind him, could have brought back to life the greatest era boxing’s heavyweights ever saw. He knew the fighters from Liston and Foreman to Holmes and Tyson, and he had a pipeline to the mob guys, corner men, TV executives, and flimflamming promoters. There isn’t another sports writer in America who’s been at ringside so long or tells the stories he found there so memorably."—John Schulian, editor (with George Kimball), At the Fights: American Writers on Boxing "Jerry Izenberg has written the most accurate and entertaining boxing book I have ever read.—Freddie Roach, seven-time Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year "The way it was from the most prolific boxing writer I know."—Marc Ratner, former executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission "The facts are a revelation. . . . the emotions of the characters involved were a great insight."—Bill Parcells, former head coach of the New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys “Izenberg knows more about boxing than almost everybody has forgotten about everything else. It's that magical memory, along with his perspective, that makes this more than a sociological treatise. . . . [Izenberg’s] jabs are precise and intentional and his right crosses are thunderous. In Once There Were Giants, Izenberg floats like a butterfly, and stings like a bee.”—NJ.com / The Star-Ledger "Most useful as an introduction to the era between 1962 and 1997 for the uninitiated, or a trip down memory lane for hard-core fans."—Library Journal "A vivid tribute to the heavyweight division, from Floyd Patterson’s time through Mike Tyson’s. . . . a requiem for the days when everybody knew the name of the champ."—LA Daily News "Izenberg argues [that this was the most competitive period in the history of boxing among the big men], and he is standing on solid ground when he says so. . . . In a lively narrative, [Izenberg] brings us to ringside and into the backrooms to visit with the fighters to relive many great moments. "—Boston Post Gazette "A masterful tome from a master of his craft, the book takes the reader past the headlines and wins and losses and reveals a time in the sport (and history) that will never be seen again. . . . If anyone is a nine-inning writer, it’s Jerry Izenberg."—BoxingScene.com “Jerry Izenberg’s latest treatise on the fight game . . . contains as many subtle hints of venerated guitar pickers Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie as of iconic sports writers A J Liebling and Paul Gallico. Then again, no comparison of Izenberg to anyone else is valid . . . [he is] an original, a master wordsmith and observer of the human condition who can take familiar source material and wring from it small gems of fresh insight.”—The Sweet Science

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Book SynopsisHats, Handwraps and Headaches is the inspiring, surprising and sometimes shocking story of Irish boxing coach Paddy Fitzpatrick, a failed pro boxer who was almost a Foreign Legionary before finding fame as a trainer of world-class fighters. After struggling as a young adult and attempting suicide, Paddy's life was transformed by a chance meeting with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. Paddy moved to LA to learn his trade at Roach's Wild Card gym, working with the likes of world champions James Toney and Laila Ali, and spending time with Laila's legendary father Muhammad Ali. Back in England, Paddy used the things he had learnt to take George Groves to three world title fights, including the return super-fight with Carl Froch, which drew 80,000 fans to Wembley Stadium. Filled with astonishing anecdotes - like the time Paddy took shots from a Heavyweight contender and a near-miss with a grizzly bear - Hats, Handwraps and Headaches is funny and poignant in equal measure, with riveting tales from both sides of the Atlantic.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A revelation, a powerhouse, a thing of beauty, and—OK, I’ll say it—a knockout. Joe Frazier is one of the most compelling figures ever to step in a boxing ring, and Mark Kram, Jr. has written a biography worthy in every way of the champ’s greatness.” — Jonathan Eig, bestselling author of Ali: A Life “Mark Kram, Jr. much, much more than splendidly gets to the strange anomaly that was Smokin’ Joe: you’d have thought the guy didn’t get no respect. Only he did. Lots...His life is a story worth reading.” — Richard Ford “Mark Kram, Jr.’s sympathetic and thoroughly researched Smokin’ Joe is a worthy introduction to an under-appreciated American athlete.” — Joyce Carol Oates “An exquisite biography that depicts Frazier as he really was: not just fearless and ferocious but soulful, compassionate, loyal, impulsive, capable of powerful hatred and even more powerful love. You can feel the gospel truth of Smokin’ Joe deep in your bones.” — John Schulian, winner of the PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing “Mark Kram Jr.’s landmark book about Joe Frazier...at last remedies a grave wrong, lifting the indomitable Frazier out of the crypt of creeping obscurity and into the exalted place he deserves in America’s annals...[A] sublime exploration.” — Michael Leahy, aof the Casey Award-winning The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers “Bookish fans of the sweet science will flock to this biography.” — Kirkus Reviews “A comprehensive knockout of a biography...[A] beautiful book.” — Wall Street Journal "Kram...writes with the intensity that Frazier fought with...Unlike his subject, Kram knows when to take a step back and reflect, revealing a Frazier far removed from the enduring portrayal of him as 'an angry and unforgiving man so incapable of letting go of the hatred he harbored for Ali.'" — The National Book Review

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Book Synopsis''To be legendary you got to have heart... Ray''s heart was bigger than all the rest'' Muhammad AliSUGAR RAY LEONARD was one of the greatest boxers ever. An artist and a showman he was always willing to take the difficult fight: his gruelling encounters with Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler have become legendary.Ray''s autobiography takes you into the ring - with the mind games, brutality and euphroia. But, outside of the ring, Ray''s biggest opponent was himself. From early domestic violence and sexual abuse to a blur of fame, sex, greed, drink and drug addiction at the height of his career that cost him so much, The Big Fight is a remarkable portrait of the rise, fall and final redeption of a true fighter in every sense.Trade ReviewGripping and revealing… the raw truth -- Donald McRae * Guardian *[An] uninhibited memoir… Sugar Ray’s bittersweet ascent to greatness * Daily Telegraph *A fascinating, illuminating, engaging story of what it takes to be successful at the highest levels. Simultaneously, The Big Fight is a most instructive study of competitive strategy * New York Journal of Books *

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Book SynopsisCarl Froch was born in Nottingham in 1977. He is a four-time world champion at super middleweight and currently holds the WBA and IBF belts. His professional record is 33 wins (24 by knock-out) and 2 losses. He lives with his partner Rachael and their two children Rocco and Natalia.Niall Hickman is the boxing correspondent for the Daily Express. He previously worked with Ricky Hatton on his autobiography The Hitman.Trade ReviewThe saviour of British boxing * Daily Mail *Carl has fought, without doubt, the toughest list of world class fighters in succession. No other British fighter in history can claim such a record * David Haye *One of the finest fighters on the planet * Guardian *

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