Facing Ali (book)

Last updated
First edition (publ. Knopf Canada) Facing Ali (book).jpg
First edition (publ. Knopf Canada)

Facing Ali is a 2002 book authored by Stephen Brunt; it is about fifteen different fighters from around the world who battled with Muhammad Ali in boxing fights. [1] In each chapter of the book, one of the selected fighters recalls the experience of fighting with Ali. The profiled fighters include Ali's famous opponents like George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, and Ken Norton; and also the relatively obscure like the German butcher Jurgen Blin who "was back at work at the sausage factory" after having fought with Ali the previous day. [2] [3] Other fighters profiled in the book include Tunney Hunsaker, Jean Pierre Coopman, Henry Cooper, Ron Lyle, Chuck Wepner, and George Chuvalo. [3]

According to the Houston Chronicle :

The results of the experiment -- Ali as connective tissue that binds a colorful set of profiles -- are unique because Brunt's sources viewed Ali in a setting that yields its own peculiar kinds of insight, both about Ali and about the other fighters. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Ali</span> American boxer and activist (1942–2016)

Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "the Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970. He was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978 and the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1979. In 1999, he was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laila Ali</span> American boxer (born 1977)

Laila Amaria Ali is an American television personality and retired professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2007. During her career, from which she retired undefeated, she held the WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA female super middleweight titles, and the IWBF light heavyweight title. Ali is widely regarded by many within the sport as one of the greatest female professional boxers of all time. She is the daughter of boxer Muhammad Ali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Foreman</span> American boxer (born 1949)

George Edward Foreman is an American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister, and author. In boxing, he competed between 1967 and 1997 and was nicknamed "Big George". He is a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. As an entrepreneur, he is known for the George Foreman Grill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rumble in the Jungle</span> Boxing competition

George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as The Rumble in the Jungle, was a heavyweight championship boxing match on October 30, 1974, at the 20th of May Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire, between undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. The event had an attendance of 60,000 people and was one of the most watched televised events at the time. Ali won by knockout in the eighth round.

Tunney Morgan Hunsaker was an American professional boxer who is best remembered as the first professional opponent of boxing great Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali. Outside of his boxing career, Hunsaker served many years as the Police Chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia.

Stephen Brunt is a Canadian sports journalist, well known as a former columnist for Sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet, and former co-host on podcasts for Sportsnet.

Jean-Pierre Coopman is a retired Belgian boxer who is best known for his title fight against Muhammad Ali in 1976 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which Ali won by KO in round 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Ali in media and popular culture</span> Overview of the American boxer in media and popular culture

This article covers the boxer Muhammad Ali's appearances in media and popular culture.

Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper fought two boxing matches with each other in London. Their first match took place on 18 June 1963 and the second on 21 May 1966. Ali won both matches. The first fight was stopped by the referee in the fifth round, and the second in the sixth round. Both fights were stopped after Cooper started bleeding excessively from a cut to the left eye. The first Ali-Cooper bout is remembered for being one of the four fights in which Ali was officially knocked down in the ring by his boxing opponent, as well as leading to the mandate that ringside handlers always have an extra pair of boxing gloves available.

Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner fought in a boxing match on March 24, 1975, at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield Township, Summit County, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton</span> Boxing competitions

Muhammad Ali fought three professional boxing matches against Ken Norton between 1973 and 1976. Ali won the series 2–1, though the final fight was highly controversial.

Muhammad Ali fought two boxing matches with George Chuvalo. The first bout took place on March 29, 1966; and the second on May 1, 1972. Ali won both fights through unanimous decisions on points.

Muhammad Ali and Karl Mildenberger fought for the world's heavyweight championship on September 10, 1966. The champion's sixth title defense since winning the world title in 1964, Ali stopped Mildenberger in the 12th round.

Muhammad Ali and Jean-Pierre Coopman fought a boxing match on February 20, 1976. This was Ali's first boxing bout after Thrilla in Manila, and fifth title defense since 1974. Ali won the fight after knocking out Coopman in the fifth round. In an interview, Coopman denied claims that he had been drinking champagne before the fight, but confirmed that he had drunk some champagne during the fight to help him move faster and to feel euphoric.

Muhammad Ali and Joe Bugner fought two boxing matches with each other. Their first bout took place on February 14, 1973; and the second for the world's heavyweight championship on July 1, 1975. Ali won both matches through unanimous decisions on points.

Heavyweight boxers Muhammad Ali and Jürgen Blin fought on December 26, 1971, in Zürich, Switzerland. Ali won the bout through a knockout in the seventh round.

In his professional debut, 1960 Olympic light heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay fought Tunney Hunsaker in a six-round match on October 29, 1960. Clay won the bout through a unanimous decision on points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Ali vs. Brian London</span> Boxing competition

Muhammad Ali vs. Brian London was a professional boxing matching between Muhammad Ali and Brian London. The match took place at Earls Court Arena, London, England on August 6, 1966. It was scheduled for fifteen rounds. The match ended in the third round with Ali defeating London by KO.

Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Banks was a professional boxing match contested on February 10, 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxing career of Muhammad Ali</span> Overview of Muhammad Alis boxing career

Muhammad Ali was a boxer who mastered the rope-a-dope fighting technique. He is widely regarded by many boxing commentators and historians as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Boxing magazine The Ring named him number one in a 1998 ranking of greatest heavyweights from all eras. In 1999, The Associated Press voted Ali the number one heavyweight of the 20th century.

References

  1. Stephen Brunt (2002). Facing Ali. The Lyons Press.
  2. "FACING ALI: 15 Fighters, 15 Stories" . Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "'Facing Ali' by Stephen Brunt". Houston Chronicle. 18 May 2003. Retrieved 5 September 2016.