Rowman & Littlefield THE BOXING KINGS When American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring By Paul Beston “In The Boxing Kings, Paul Beston joins the long line of literate observers who prove that to write about fights and fighters is to swim in the waters of society at large.” — Jim Lampley, HBO boxing commentator “A perfect one-two combination, The Boxing Kings is rigorously researched and lyrically written, a book that both devoted and casual fans will savor.”—Gordon Marino, professor of philosophy, St. Olaf College; veteran boxing trainer; and award-winning boxing writer “With the cool, unbiased eye of a referee, the knowledge of a historian, and the wit of a skeptic, Beston belongs in the company of distinguished chroniclers of the Sweet Science.” —Stefan Kanfer, author of Somebody: The Reckless Life and Remarkable Career of Marlon Brando For much of the twentieth century, boxing was one of America’s most popular sports, and the heavyweight champions were figures known to all. In 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, 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, 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. 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. Paul Beston is managing editor of City Journal, published by the Manhattan Institute. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, City Journal, Real Clear Sports, the American Spectator, the American Conservative, the Christian Science Monitor, the Millions, and the New York Journal of Books, as well as on the boxing website The Sweet Science. SPECIAL DISCOUNT! USE PROMOTIONAL CODE RLFANDF30AND SAVE 30% $36.00 $25.20 Hardback 978-1-4422-7289-7 2017 384 pp To order, visit www.rowman.com, call 800-462-6420, or print and mail our order form Name:_______________________ Address: ISBN Title Price Qty Cost ______________________ $36.00 City: 978-1-4422-7289-7 The Boxing Kings _________________________ $25.20 State: _____ Zip: ______________ Phone: _______________________ E-mail: ______________________ Visa MC AmEx Promo Code* RLFANDF30 Credit card #:__________________ Shipping Expiration: ____________________ Please add sales tax where applicable Signature: TOTAL _____________________ All orders from individuals must be prepaid Prices are subject to change without notice Billing in US dollars Please make checks payable to Rowman & Littlefield Mail form to 15200 NBN Way, P.O. Box 191, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214-0191 Shipping and handling: Postage and handling charges will be applied. Call Customer Service for pricing *May not be combined with other offers and discounts .