Originally published in 1958, this is the autobiography of renowned U.S. boxing writer and collector, Nat Fleischer. It not only tells the fascinating story of the author himself, but crucially allows the reader a firsthand glimpse into the ring scene of the first half of the 20th century. “This is a story which nobody has produced in the past, and certainly is not going to duplicate in the future. “It is the life story of a man who lived through increasingly exciting eras of the nation’s history, and the nation’s sports annals. The conditions which obtained through those eventful decades will not come again. The man who banged his typewriter through these crowding years will not come again upon a similar sequence in the sports kaleidoscope. “Here are behind-the-scenes pictures, the inside stories of so many developments which have waited, until now, for my lifetime friend Nat Fleischer to reveal them. “Here are pathos, comedy, and intrigue; the seamy, sombre stories, and the funny ones as well. Ring heroes of the past come to life in these pages to reveal themselves in the full panoply of their championship stature, or in the meaner habiliments of the character on the fringe. “It is a fine book, and I thank Nat for having written it.” —Dan Daniel, Foreword
THE TRUE STORY OF THE MANASSA MAULER He started out as a mine mucker and digger in construction camps. He fought anybody, anywhere. He got $2.50 for his first “regular” match. He was a hungry, penniless kid. Then almost overnight he was champion of the world and a millionaire and the idol of the nation. IT’S ALL HERE—THE WHOLE THRILLING TRUTH! ...the amazing story of the massacre of Giant Jess Willard, who was supposed to beat Dempsey to a pulp but who couldn’t come out for the fourth round—— ...the thrilling details of the night the champ took on three men in Montreal, and knocked each one cold in the first round—— ...how he came back to KO Firpo after Firpo smashed him clear out of the ring. He had speed and cunning and could hit like a pile driver. He was really the super fighter of the ring! HERE IS THE CHAMP... ...beating up the bullies in western mining camps when he was just a kid ...knocking down 250-pound Jess Willard seven times in one round to go on to win the heavyweight crown ...whipping Georges Carpentier of France in their spectacular million dollar Battle of the Century ...getting punched clear out of the ring in his battle with Luis Firpo, then coming back to win ...putting Gene Tunney on the canvas for the “long count” of 14 seconds. NAT FLEISCHER, editor of The Ring, tells you everything you’ve always wanted to know about the kid who rose from rags to become the world’s heavyweight boxing champion and the favorite of millions. IT’S DYNAMITE! This edition, which was first published in 1949, includes the complete text of the Revised Edition published in 1936, as well as special material added to round out the exciting story of Jack Dempsey.
Updated by Nigel Collins, author of "Boxing Babylon", this classic "bible of boxing" has been continuously in print since 1959. Here in one stunning volume is the vast panorama of the "sweet science", from bare-knuckle fighting through the rise of Lennox Lewis. Photos throughout.
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