"A fascinating chronological history of the middleweight division. This is an intelligent and exciting portrayal of boxing's best fighters" - BOOKLIST
"A definitive guide. Strongly recommended" - BOXING MONTHLY
In the ever-colourful world of boxing, there have been none more exciting than the men of the middleweight division. Champions of the calibre of Stanley Ketchel, Harry Greb, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta, Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler and Bernard Hopkins have lit up the fistic firmament with their bravery and brilliance.
For the first time, acclaimed writer Peter Walsh presents an accurate and penetrating account of the lives and careers of all the middleweight kings from the inception of the Marquiis of Queensberry rules to the fragmentation of the championship in the early 1990s. Between tales of fixed fights and double crosses, he lays bare the human stories behind the public facades: the love affair between the rugged Marcel Cerdan and French songstress Edith Piaf; the squalid death of Randolph Turpin; the slums-to-stardom journey of Rocky Graziano; the glittering career of Ray Robinson; and the awful tragedies that have stalked so many title-holders.
Mixed with these stellar names are the life stories of lesser-known champions: Billy Papke, the ex-miner who took his own life after killing his wife; Gorilla Jones, lover of film star Mae West; Billy Soose, who gave up college to win the title; and Ken Overlin; who sailed the world with the US Navy, fighting in every port.
MEN OF STEEL is the definitive account of boxing's toughest fighters and its greatest fights.
"[An] action-packed history" - LIBRARY JOURNAL
"A compelling book"- THE ECONOMIST
"A definitive guide. Strongly recommended" - BOXING MONTHLY
In the ever-colourful world of boxing, there have been none more exciting than the men of the middleweight division. Champions of the calibre of Stanley Ketchel, Harry Greb, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta, Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler and Bernard Hopkins have lit up the fistic firmament with their bravery and brilliance.
For the first time, acclaimed writer Peter Walsh presents an accurate and penetrating account of the lives and careers of all the middleweight kings from the inception of the Marquiis of Queensberry rules to the fragmentation of the championship in the early 1990s. Between tales of fixed fights and double crosses, he lays bare the human stories behind the public facades: the love affair between the rugged Marcel Cerdan and French songstress Edith Piaf; the squalid death of Randolph Turpin; the slums-to-stardom journey of Rocky Graziano; the glittering career of Ray Robinson; and the awful tragedies that have stalked so many title-holders.
Mixed with these stellar names are the life stories of lesser-known champions: Billy Papke, the ex-miner who took his own life after killing his wife; Gorilla Jones, lover of film star Mae West; Billy Soose, who gave up college to win the title; and Ken Overlin; who sailed the world with the US Navy, fighting in every port.
MEN OF STEEL is the definitive account of boxing's toughest fighters and its greatest fights.
"[An] action-packed history" - LIBRARY JOURNAL
"A compelling book"- THE ECONOMIST
