The Boxing Kings: When American Heavyweights Ruled The Ring
by Paul Beston /
2017 / English / PDF
6.5 MB Download
For much of the twentieth century, boxing was one of
America’s most popular sports, and the heavyweight champions were
figures known to all. Their exploits were reported regularly in the
newspapers—often outside the sports pages—and their fame and wealth
dwarfed those of other athletes. Long after their heyday, these
icons continue to be synonymous with the “sweet science.”
For much of the twentieth century, boxing was one of
America’s most popular sports, and the heavyweight champions were
figures known to all. Their exploits were reported regularly in the
newspapers—often outside the sports pages—and their fame and wealth
dwarfed those of other athletes. Long after their heyday, these
icons continue to be synonymous with the “sweet science.”
In
InThe Boxing Kings: When
American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring
The Boxing Kings: When
American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring, Paul Beston
profiles these larger-than-life men who held a central place in
American culture. Among the figures covered are John L. Sullivan,
who made the heavyweight championship a commercial property; Jack
Johnson, who became the first black man to claim the title; Jack
Dempsey, a sporting symbol of the Roaring Twenties; Joe Louis,
whose contributions to racial tolerance and social progress
transcended even his greatness in the ring; Rocky Marciano, who
became an embodiment of the American Dream; Muhammad Ali, who took
on the U.S. government and revolutionized professional sports with
his showmanship; and Mike Tyson, a hard-punching dynamo who
typified the modern celebrity.
, Paul Beston
profiles these larger-than-life men who held a central place in
American culture. Among the figures covered are John L. Sullivan,
who made the heavyweight championship a commercial property; Jack
Johnson, who became the first black man to claim the title; Jack
Dempsey, a sporting symbol of the Roaring Twenties; Joe Louis,
whose contributions to racial tolerance and social progress
transcended even his greatness in the ring; Rocky Marciano, who
became an embodiment of the American Dream; Muhammad Ali, who took
on the U.S. government and revolutionized professional sports with
his showmanship; and Mike Tyson, a hard-punching dynamo who
typified the modern celebrity.
This gallery of flawed but sympathetic men also includes comics,
dandies, bookworms, divas, ex-cons, workingmen, and even a
tough-guy-turned-preacher. As the heavyweight title passed from one
claimant to another, their stories opened a window into the larger
history of the United States. Boxing fans, sports historians, and
those interested in U.S. race relations as it intersects with
sports will find this book a fascinating exploration into how
engrained boxing once was in America’s social and cultural
fabric.
This gallery of flawed but sympathetic men also includes comics,
dandies, bookworms, divas, ex-cons, workingmen, and even a
tough-guy-turned-preacher. As the heavyweight title passed from one
claimant to another, their stories opened a window into the larger
history of the United States. Boxing fans, sports historians, and
those interested in U.S. race relations as it intersects with
sports will find this book a fascinating exploration into how
engrained boxing once was in America’s social and cultural
fabric.