97 Fights - by John Sutherland (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An explosive history, from boxing's cinematic origins to today's global spectacle--and its uncertain future.

The noble art of boxing is the world's oldest contact sport. Its Big Bang moment was the arrival of Thomas Alva Edison, whose pioneering feature film Men Boxing was produced in 1891. From that seed, boxing grew to become the first truly global sport. Taking Men Boxing as its starting point, 97 Fights is a thrilling, no-holds-barred account that considers all the greats--Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, Nicola Adams and Oleksandr Usyk among them. Modern boxing has weathered the storms of mob fixing, wayward fighters, and personal tragedy, in and out of the ring. With signature precision and humor, and the passion of a true fan, John Sutherland charts the sport's precipitous climb, its golden era, and its uncertain future, from the "Thrilla in Manila" to the unedifying spectacle of Logan Paul's "Bragging Rights." Ultimately, the book asks: Where will boxing go? Or will it just go? These are the two questions to which Sutherland's authoritative survey leads, and to which he supplies authoritative answers.

Review Quotes

"From his keen eye to his precise style, Sutherland sets the standard for modern-day boxing books with this compendium of great fights. By using angles, sharp context, and in-depth research, Sutherland takes the reader on a nostalgic journey that leaves you yearning for 97 more! There is no doubt about this one - it is a must-read."

About the Author

John Sutherland, the Emeritus Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern Literature at University College London, is a much-published author and journalist, and a familiar figure in the literary world. He has long had the wish to write about boxing, the most hurtful sport, and what it has come to mean in his own lifetime.