richardwells's review
4.0
I think the reason for titling this book as The Muhammad Ali Story was more to provide a hook for authors Jose Torres and Burt Randolph Sugar to hang their musings on, and maybe, who knows - to sell books, than to tell the Muhammad Ali story, because it's bare bones biography, and hardly even a story. It is an often brilliant exegesis on the sweet science primarily delivered by Jose Torres, Olympic medalist, and light heavyweight champion of the world with 141 Wins (29 knockouts), 3 Losses (1 knockout), 1 Draw. Torres's distinguished career out of the ring, but in the world of boxing included writing for Ring Magazine, and the Village Voice, and serving as president of the World Boxing Organization.
Norman Mailer, who wrote the forward, swears Torres wrote Parts I and III of this book without a ghost, and Sugar penned most if not all of Part II. Mailer also contends that Torres's parts make the book, and I'd have to agree. Torres uses his ink to take us deep into the world of fighting - training, pre-fight psychology, strategy, the how and why of punches and footwork, managing the dual spectres of fear and nerves, and the 1/1000 of a second timing that can make or break a fighter. Torres's style is easy and colloquial, and the guy knows of what he speaks.
The Sugar section, Part II, works off of interviews conducted by Torres, and spends time with the "life of Ali," and as interesting as it may be, it's not as fascinating as I and III.
I found "Sting Like a Bee...," to be the best fight book I've read, in terms of what happens in training and etc., and I recommend it highly.
Norman Mailer, who wrote the forward, swears Torres wrote Parts I and III of this book without a ghost, and Sugar penned most if not all of Part II. Mailer also contends that Torres's parts make the book, and I'd have to agree. Torres uses his ink to take us deep into the world of fighting - training, pre-fight psychology, strategy, the how and why of punches and footwork, managing the dual spectres of fear and nerves, and the 1/1000 of a second timing that can make or break a fighter. Torres's style is easy and colloquial, and the guy knows of what he speaks.
The Sugar section, Part II, works off of interviews conducted by Torres, and spends time with the "life of Ali," and as interesting as it may be, it's not as fascinating as I and III.
I found "Sting Like a Bee...," to be the best fight book I've read, in terms of what happens in training and etc., and I recommend it highly.
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