The Boxing Kings (Audiobook)

The Boxing Kings: When American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring...

The Boxing Kings tells the story of the heavyweight title in the days when it was a defining institution in the United States. Author Paul Beston places special emphasis on those champions who held a central place in American culture beyond just in the boxing ring, including John L. Sullivan, who made the title a commercial property; Jack Johnson, who in 1908 became the first black man to claim the title; Joe Louis, whose contributions to racial tolerance and social progress transcended even his greatness in the ring; Rocky Marciano, who became 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 student of boxing history who exemplified the modern celebrity. The gallery of champions also includes comics, dandies, bookworms, divas, ex-cons, workingmen, and a tough-guy-turned-preacher. The Boxing Kings treats these and other champions as three-dimensional human beings, flawed but sympathetic men placed on great public stages. As the title shifts from one claimant to another, their stories also open a window into the larger history of the U.S.

Book format	Audiobook
Fiction/nonfiction	Non-Fiction
Genre	Sports & Recreation
Publication date	September, 2017
Edition	Unabridged
Publisher	Tantor Media, Inc.
Original languages	English
Language	English
Digital audio file format	Digital Audiobook Download
Narrator	Alexander Cendese
Assembled product height	5.6 in
Assembled product weight	0.5 lb
Sport	Boxing
Bisac subject heading	Sports & Recreation