The Ultimate Encyclopedia Of Boxing

From the earliest days of 19th-century prize-fighters to the modern era, this book highlights the great names and stories of some of the worlds most recognizable characters, such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Roy Jones.

A comprehensive single-volume illustrated work of boxing reference.

Includes the origins of boxing, world champions, legends of the ring, great fights, and boxing records.

' "Did you see the big fight this weekend'" The question used to be about boxing matches, when the giants of the fight world were Mike Tyson and Roy Jones. Now fans are leaving the sweet science in droves for the combat sport of the future: mixed martial arts (MMA). MMA has drawn millions on cable and network television, as well as out-performed professional wrestling and boxing on pay-per-view. Fans are attracted to the sport, but unlike boxing (where strategy and technique are limited to using both your left and right hands), an MMA fight can be surprisingly complicated. The MMA Encyclopedia puts the fighters, the facts, and the fundamentals of the world's fastest growing sport at your fingertips as the definitive reference guide to mixed martial arts. The encyclopedia will break the MMA language barrier for those who don't know a wristlock from a wristwatch, while at the same time offering perspective and analysis that will entertain the hardcore fan who already has the basics down pat. With three appendices that detail the results of every MMA'fight in history, this the ultimate reference book for the ultimate sport.

A comprehensive look at the life of one the greatest sports superstars of the 20th Century, Muhammad Ali--boxer, anti-Vietnam War activist, civil rights campaigner, advocate for Parkinson's sufferers, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. From a humble upbringing in segregated Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. went on to become Muhammad Ali, Olympic gold medalist, three-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world, and in his own words "the greatest." More than 150 iconic photographs chart Ali's life and rise to boxing stardom and showcase 60 key bouts that made his name, including the "Fight of the Century" against Joe Frazier, the "Rumble in the Jungle" with George Foreman, and the "Thrilla in Manila," his third and final match against Frazier. Data panels throughout give key facts at a glance, while quote boxes highlight Ali's well-known phrases, such as "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Key influencers in his career, including Don King and Howard Cosell, are featured. The book also shines a light on Ali's continuing impact after his death in 2016, and how his message of hard work and perseverance continues to inspire people around the world.

Fistic combat represents the greatest human drama in all of sport. Roman gladiators thrilled citizens and emperors alike when they entered the octagon to face an intense, life-threatening experience. Boxing, the sport of kings, also has its roots in the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. Banned in 500 A.D. by the Emperor Theodoric, it resurfaced twelve centuries later in England. John Milton praised it as a noble art for building character in young men, and sports writer A.J. Leibling dubbed it the Sweet Science. Many of its major protagonists - men such as Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali - have become transcendent, near-mythic heroes. But boxing is not the only combat sport, and mixed martial arts, in all their ferocious beauty, represent the fastest growing sports genre in the world. Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) has joined boxing in paying seven figures to some of its champions, and draws millions in its pay-per-view events. This book details leading figures in boxing, sumo wrestling, kickboxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, and mixed martial arts (including organizations such as Ultimate Fighting, PRIDE, K-1, Total Combat, and SportFighting). Over 150 entries cover champions, contenders, and other famous combatants from all over the world, as well as legendary promoters, managers, trainers, and events. Also included in this encyclopedia are sidebars on controversies, highlights, brief bios, and other noteworthy events, along with a general timeline. .

From the earliest days of 19th-century prize-fighters to the modern era, this book highlights the great names and stories of some of the worlds most recognizable characters, such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Roy Jones.

Provides information related to various aspects of martial arts, including histories, techniques, and traditions.

The first and only official and fully illustrated encyclopedia of the UFC covers more than 300 fighters and over 170 event results. This full-color, 400-page compendium is filled with more than 1,500 images and captures all facets of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, detailing the history of the organization from its beginnings in 1993.