The Greatest Sport of All

About

Over the years, Thomas Hauser has earned recognition as one of the most respected boxing writers in America and the definitive chronicler of the contemporary boxing scene. The Greatest Sport of All is Hauser’s portrait of 2006, another remarkable year in boxing. The book includes an inside look at great fighters, great fights, and the powers behind the throne. There are revealing portraits of Oscar De La Hoya, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, and Don King; a look back at giants like Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali; and more.

Author

Thomas Hauser is the author of thirty-five books. His first book, Missing, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, the Bancroft Prize, and the National Book Award and served as the basis for the Academy Award–winning film starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek. Muhammad Ali: His Life And Times, Hauser’s most celebrated work to date, is widely regarded as the definitive biography of the most famous man on earth. In 1998, Hauser and Ali were named as corecipients of the Haviva Reik Award for their efforts to combat bigotry and prejudice. In 2004, Hauser was honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America, which bestowed upon him the Nat Fleischer Award for Career Excellence in Boxing Journalism.

Praise

Some thoughts from world champions about Thomas Hauser:

“Thomas Hauser respects boxing and boxers. He gives readers insight into what happens in and out of the ring. Everything he writes is fair-minded and reality-based with a human touch.”
—Lennox Lewis

“Tom Hauser is one of the best writers in boxing. It’s a joy to read his articles.”
—Jermain Taylor

“If it comes from Tom Hauser, it’s the truth.”
—Roy Jones

Contents

Round 1: Fights and Fighters
The Opponent
Lennox Lewis: 2006
The Heavyweight Not-So-Merry-Go-Round
Mayweather-Judah Goes Down the Drain
John Duddy:Winning Fights and Hearts in America
Paulie
James Toney, Hasim Rahman, and the Battle of the Bulge
Oscar and Ricky: Blue Chip and Blue Collar
Legacy Fights: Hopkins-Tarver and Taylor-Wright
Roy Jones in Idaho
A Good Night Turns Sour at Madison Square Garden
The Continuing Education of Ireland’s John Duddy
Nikolai Valuev: More Than Meets the Eye
The Colossus of Clones
More on the Heavyweights
Jermain Taylor:The Homecoming
Joe Louis Revisited

Round 2: Non-Combatants
The Matchmakers
Don King at 75
Lee Samuels and Alan Hopper
George Ward:The Inspector
Dan Rafael
Tim Smith
Richard Schaefer and the Golden Boy Empire
Elite Referees Recall Their Most Memorable Fight
Steve Farhood
Steve Albert

Round 3: Issues and Answers
Pay-Per-View Piracy and the Internet
More on Pay-Per-View Piracy and the Internet
Who’s Betting What on the Fights?
Will a Bad Boxing Bill Become Law?
Hey, Bernard; Go Back To School
Manny Pacquiao:Where the Money Is Going
Boxing After Dark On HBO
Fistic Nuggets
Lamon Brewster and the Medical Mess
Fighters Are Dying: Stop the Nonsense
A Note on the Weigh-In for Castillo-Corrales III
Nevada’s “Safety Committee” Report
What Madison Square Garden Boxing Could Be
More Important Than Boxing
Sound and Fury
Courage
Muhammad Ali and Beijing Gold