In This Corner . . . !: Forty-two World Champions Tell Their Stories (Paperback)

by Peter Heller (Author) "WILLIE RITCHIE was born Gerhardt Steffen in San Francisco on February 13, 1891..." (more)
Key Phrases: nontitle fight, nontitle bout, world lightweight championship, New York, Sugar Ray, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
"Boxing fans should welcome this chance to hear their favorites speak in their own voices, as well as learn more or less firsthand about fight managers, white hopes, and the continual encroaching of the underworld on the sport," said LJ's reviewer of this volume in which Heller interviews 40 former titleholders (LJ 9/1/73). This edition has been revised and expanded.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Here is Jake LaMotta discussing his career as a hoodlum; Floyd Patterson on growing up in the ghetto; Gunboat Smith on the Jack Johnson era; Jack Dempsey on the Willard fight and the Tunney ”long count”; Rocky Graziano on showbiz; and dozens of others—including Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pastrano, José Torres, Carmen Basilio, Joe Louis, Willie Pep, and Archie Moore—on boxers, racketeers, drugs, payoffs, managers. Including two never-before-published interviews with Roberto Durán and Alexis Argüello, this newly expanded and updated edition of In This Corner. . . ! is undoubtedly the best one-volume history of boxing ever written.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 2 edition (August 21, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306806037
• ISBN-13: 978-0306806032
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #729,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A real insight into 'the hardest game in the world'!, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

Although the edition I have is pretty old and the most recent interviews were taken in the 1970s this book is still a fantastic look at the lifes of many of the 20th centuries top boxers. Each boxers story is told in a single chapter and in their OWN words. Its brilliant reading about how these champions grew up, what led them to boxing and how they have survived. As well as the Jack Dempsey's, Jake LaMotta's many other 'lesser known' boxers are featured but their stories are just, if not more interesting. A great insight into 20th century american life from those whose lifes have often been the hardest.

Great reading!!!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a knock-out book!, May 3, 1999

By A Customer

This is a wonderful book. It is the type of book one savours as one might enjoy a good glass of wine or an extrordinary meal. As a history teacher I've used it in the classroom to explain historical periods and sports. You buy this one! You will not be disappointed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite Boxing books, October 3, 2006

By	Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

More than 40 world boxing champions tell their stories in this book, and some of them are fascinating. I especially enjoyed the defiant discourse of Roberto Duran, the colorful stories of Archie Moore (especially his conversation about his rivalry with Jimmy Bivins, who hit him so hard with a late punch that his mouth was numb for months), and Carmen Basilio, who steadfastly maintains that Sugar Ray Robinson was overrated.

I liked Emile Griffith's poignant retelling of what transpired before and after his fateful third meeting with Benny "Kid" Paret. It was interesting to listen to James J Braddock talk about his fights with Max Baer and Joe Louis and what his life was like after retirement.

This is a knockout of a book, and all boxing fans should read it at least once.

Rev. Marc Axelrod