Off the Ropes - 2nd Edition by Candace Toft (Paperback)

About the Book

Published for the 1st time in the U.S., this is the highly-anticipated new edition of the biography of legendary 1970s heavyweight Ron Lyle. Off The Ropes is not your typical boxing biography, covering the battles in the ring, but also tells an equally compelling personal tale. Features a new foreword by Boxing Hall of Fame member, Al Bernstein.

Book Synopsis

Off The Ropes: The Ron Lyle Story has universal appeal for readers who want to understand what drives a man to travel a life arc that takes him from gang member, to prisoner for a crime he did not commit, to contending for a world championship fighting Muhammad Ali for 11 rounds, to accused and acquitted of a second murder, to a redeemed man who is a cherished member of the Denver community where he grew up.

Review Quotes

"[Ron Lyle's] life was a remarkable one and the story of it worth re-telling, which makes the book's new edition thoroughly welcome. Off The Ropes is absolutely recommended reading."―Boxing Monthly

"Toft adeptly shows this to be the legacy Ron Lyle left behind, one that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with a boxing legacy that is nothing short of remarkable."―The Fight City

"Toft's thorough accounts and interviews put to rest any question as to Ron's moral core, rendering him sensitive and genuine, restless and profoundly driven." ."―David Curcio, Slugfest Boston

"For readers who haven't caught this one yet, it's a quick read and well worth the time. No star does it alone. It takes a rare collection of fighters to fill out a great era. Ron Lyle was part of a rare collection." --Boxing Scene

"Absorbing...Toft has done an admirable job of marshalling the facts of Lyle's often troubled, but strangely compelling life..."--Boxing Monthly

"Ultimately, Candace Toft has crafted a story of hardship and triumph. This is a tale that shows how a man is defined not only by his losses, but by his many victories in life, as well as in the ring."―Bert Sugar