A by-product of the "Golden Age of Sportswriting", A.J. Liebling was a columnist for the New York daily, and one of the greatest writers of all-time. This compilation of his greatest boxing stories illustrate his immense talent, his passion for the sweet science, and some of the most amazing prose I have ever read.

A great biography of a legend of the roaring twenties. Dempsey was a larger than life figure inside the ropes, and one of the fiercest champions of all-time. Outside the ropes, he was a decent, humble man. His story is a fascinating tale of self-creation. A great read!

This is a boxing morality tale, with Primo Carnera playing the innocent dupe. Manipulated through the boxing rankings by the American underworld without truly understanding what is happening to him, the giant Italian becomes heavyweight champion, while never really having talent.

Leibling was the E F Hutton of boxing writing. When he writes, people read. Liebling was clearly in love with boxing, and here, in short stories, he caresses the fighters, the fights and the settings as if they were the most romantic woman on the planet. There was no one better to tell the tales of boxing, ever.

Some day, there will be a better biography written about George Foreman. Until then, here is the chronicle of perhaps the most amazing sports story of all-time. Brooding, surly athlete remakes himself into popular middle age icon and recaptures the linear heavyweight championship 22 years after doing it the first time.

A well-told tale of the first African World Champion, from a time when being a Champion really meant something. From the 1920's comes a story of a man with a Champion's heart who comes to America and confronts prejudices, ring fixes, and ultimately, his own murder.

To judge this book by its title would be a mistake. Jack Johnson was not constrained or defined by the prejudice of his times. Jack Johnson was an intelligent, cultured trailblazer who soared to the heights of the sportsworld, but suffered crushing personal losses in his life. This is a worthy biography of a cultural icon far ahead of his time.

Typically I prefer a biography to an autobiography, but here Sugar Ray Robinson shows the reader his greatness as well as his sadness and ugliness. Robinson fought well over 200 fights, winning the lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight titles in the days when there were only eight weight classifications, and only one Champion for each. Arguably the greatest fighter of all-time.

Archie Moore was one of boxing's great practicioners. Denied a crack at he World's Light Heavyweight championship for almost twelve years because of politics, he finally gained the title when he was thirty seven years old. He fought to almost fifty, and won more than 200 fights. This is his story. Any true fight fan is better for knowing it.

In a sport with a history of "bad boys", Sonny Liston may have been the baddest. This book is anomaly on this list because it is a novel, and it is not about boxing. But it places Liston on the periphery of the Las Vegas underworld, the CIA and both Kennedy assasinations, among other things. The sequel to "American Tabloid".

Bummy Davis was a welterweight fringe contender in the 1920's and early 30's fighting out of Brooklyn. He was a square guy, fighting off the mob influence in boxing. Once you get past the author's shticky yiddish descriptions and asides, this is an excellent look at boxing's seamier side during what many would consider it's golden age.

Earnie Shavers was one of the hardest punchers the heavyweight division ever produced. He scored near misses in title fights versus Muhammud Ali and Larry Holmes, almost knocking Ali down and almost putting Holmes out. Shavers is upbeat, likable and ebullient. A worthwhile read for the boxing fan.

Larry Holmes was one of the most technically capable Heavyweights the division has ever seen. Blessed with a strong chin and huge heart, Holmes ruled the division for seven years. Although phlegmatic outside the ropes, his is a readable story. He pulls some punches, though, and doesn't tell of his relationship with Don King, or his feelings about fighting Ali.

The definitive Sugar Ray Leonard biography has yet to be written. Until that happens, we must settle for books like this to tell the tale of the most charismatic fighter of his generation. He had the unbelievable combination of speed, balance, ring generalship and indominable spirit that has not been seen since.

Teddy Brenner was the matchmaker for Madison Square Garden for over thirty years. He tells his story with pride about what constitutes a good match-up of fighters, about dealing with sneaky managers and corrupt promoters. This is a great book to learn about what happens before the fighters square off. A quick, enjoyable and insightful read.

Charley Burley was one of the greatest fighters never to win a title. Deespite beating fighters sush as Fritzie Zivic, Archie Moore and Billy Soose, Burley never got a title shot. This book is an intimate look at he man and the fighter, but also takes the reader to a different time, and a rollicking Pittsburgh of the 1930's and 40's.

For the boxing historian, this is a great account of early bare knuckle fighting. Fraser is very comfortable writing about this era, as he authored the "Flashman" novels. This is of Tom Molineaux, who was a freed slave in New Orleans in the mid 19th century. Well told!