Best of almost everything

Two high-profile experts have written a fascinating book with the title The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists.

They are Bert Sugar, whom the International Veterans Boxing Association has hailed as “the greatest boxing writer of the 20th century”, and Teddy Atlas, who has been the ringside analyst for ESPN’s Friday Night Fights for more than ten years.

Their book contains contributions from Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Earnie Shavers, Angelo Dundee and several others.

It covers almost 90 subjects, such as Best Boxing Nicknames, Greatest Boxing IQs, Fighters with the Best Jabs, Most Devastating Single-Punch Knockouts and Boxing’s Biggest Punchers.

Other sections are about the Greatest Southpaws, Greatest Olympic Boxers, Boxing’s Most Controversial Fights, Most Famous Draws in Boxing History, Powderpuff Punches, Saddest Finales, Greatest Roles in Movies, and Boxing’s Greatest: Division-By-Division.

Anyone who has ever doubted that Sugar Ray Robison was the greatest boxer of all time should read this book. He features under more headings that any other fighter.

Robinson’s name comes up in the first chapter, Best Boxing Nicknames.

He was given the nickname by his manager and trainer, George Gainford. A boxing writer, Jack Case, had been watching a young Robinson and said to Gainford, “That’s a sweet fighter you’ve got there.”

Gainford replied, “Sweet as sugar.”

Robinson also has a place in the Most Devastating Single-Punch Knockouts, in which his fifth-round knockout of Gene Fullmer on May 1, 1957 is listed.

His name also comes up in Best Chins, Best Left Hooks, Most Memorable Rounds in Boxing History, Boxing’s Top Technicians, Greatest Rivalries, Fastest Hands, Best Footwork and other sections.

The authors have listed just about everything one can think of in boxing. As Sugar said: “Controversy is to boxing what garlic is to a salad: it enlivens it.”

This book will excite any boxing enthusiast and can be read over and over again.

The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists is published in paperback by Running Press Book Publishers and has 236 pages.