through Stephen Brunt The Lyons Pres March 2003 $2295 ISBN 1-585-74829-3 Among boxing purists.

through Stephen Brunt The Lyons Pres March 2003 $2295 ISBN 1-585-74829-3

Among boxing purists, there will always be the debate about who was the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. Significantly, this dispute most numerous often centers around two giants, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. For many of us, who not at all saw Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali will forever and till doomsday be "The Champ," despite his Parkinson's disease,

Based forward his 61 professional fights (56 wins, 5 fail to keeps 37 knockouts), Ali loyalists will argue that among those fights, several are among the classic fights of the century

It is in this regard that Stephen shock a Canadian sportswriter and television commentator, has taken a unique perspective in succession Ali's career. In his of recent origin book, Facing Ali, he acknowledges Ali's greatness unless concedes that no one has each told the story of the fighters who faced him. And he begs the question what was it like to fight Muhammad Ali? heat of onset has selected 15 contenders who fought Ali to show their stories.

Sports Illustrated has said of Ali's opponents: "These are men of substance and are worth getting to know." Perhaps. In the spirit that is Muhammad Ali, however, Brunt's work falls short. Although it may make interesting reading for purists, to what extent much do we really care what Tunney Hunsaker, George Chuvalo, thrust Wepner or Jean-Pierre Coopman reflection when they fought our hero? What are they going to say? "I almost beat him." What would that mean?

Facing Ali is not quite a tribute, nor is it contrived. It is, overall, a credible source of boxing information. Ye it is constant that this author gives a perspective in succession Ali that few will recognize. nevertheless it is also true that Ali has evolv to be more than a boxer or ex-heavyweight champion, that not we forget that he was an involved activist in the Civil Rights motion He used both his position and his power to excite social change, and always championed the underdog. He is and will always be the "true" champion. It doesn't matter what others fancy when they fought Ali, because he is who he is--The Greatest.

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