In this bold, captivating tale, Teddy Atlas, a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, recounts his fascinating life as a juvenile delinquent on the streets of Staten Island; as a boxer and Golden Gloves champion under the tutelage of famed trainer Cus D'Amato; as a companion to the dangerous, unpredictable Sammy "the Bull" Gravano, up until the day Gravano turned rat and brought down crime boss John Gotti; and as a trainer of champions and contenders, among them 14-year-old Mike Tyson and heavyweight Michael Moorer, whom he led to the crown with a win over Evander Holyfield. Never pulling any punches, Atlas feints in one direction on one page, then pounds you with combinations on the next. His honesty and fortitude is inspiring.
In "Atlas", Teddy recounts his incredible life, from juvenile delinquent, to his induction into the legendary Cus D'Amato's Boxing Camp and his first major challenge - training 14-year-old Mike Tyson. An amateur boxer trained by D'Amato, Atlas captured the Adirondack Golden Gloves title at 139 pounds in 1976. Forced out of competition because of injury, Teddy turned his talents to training fighters, including Mike Tyson, Barry McGuigan, Tracy Patterson, Joey Gamache, Simon Brown and Donny Lalonde. In 1994, in a memorable performance as trainer and corner man, Teddy inspired Michael Moorer to beat Evander Holyfield for the world heavyweight championship.…
Authors Aycock and Wallace bring Max Baer to life in this comprehensive biography that covers the fighter’s complete ring record, his early life, his career on radio, film, stage and television, and his World War II army service. Not a surprise considering Aycock’s father, Norman “Ike” Aycock was one of Baer’s sparring partners. Baer defeated 275-pound Primo Carnera in 1934 for the championship, losing it to Jim Braddock the next year. Contrary to Cinderella Man, (2005), Baer--favored 10 to 1--was not a villain and the fight was more controversial than the film suggested. His battle with Joe Louis three months later drew the highest gate of the decade. Brilliantly crafted, the prolific boxing authors provide a fascinating glimpse into this charismatic man.
California's "Glamour Boy" and world champion boxer was a movie attraction for women and a money-making draw for promoters during the Great Depression. The Prizefighter and the Lady, in 1933, gave movie-goers a boxer who could sing and dance. The film, climaxing with Baer's world title fight against Italian Primo Carnera, was reprised in 1956 in The Harder They Fall, with Humphrey Bogart.
Many said the sport would have died in the 1930s were it not for the colorful Max Baer. He was a contender for every heavyweight championship from 1932 to 1941. In 1935, Baer brought back the "million-dollar…
Accomplished author Roger Zotti masterfully weaves subjects together like spices in a delectable recipe. From Hitchcock to hockey, the author spins a complex, yet entertaining, tale and makes it look easy. Placing you inside the mind of one of Hollywood’s greatest directors, Zotti uses it as a foundation to build an inventive narrative. And it works! Never far from the perfect boxing vignette, the author also provides a glimpse into the sweet science through some of the sport’s finest authors and their current work. Only Zotti can take Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman, who starred in three Hitchcock films, and put her alongside Harry Greb, one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of all time, and draw comparisons that not even Damon Runyon could rival.
In 1979 Hitchcock was the recipient of the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. Before presenting the award to him, Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman, who starred in three Hitchcock films-Spellbound (1945), Notorious (1946), and Under Capricorn (1949)-called him "an admirable genius."
From "Hitchcock and the Ladies" Atlas told her that "[I'm going to] teach you boxing . . . so that you can learn how to go into dark places and not get broken down. If you can learn that bit of the discipline that fighters learn, you can take that onto the stage with you."From "Teddy's Adventures in Trainer…
Among the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time, Willie Pep (1922-2006) was a virtuoso of the squared circle. A two-time World Featherweight Champion, his International Boxing Hall of Fame professional record stands at 230 wins, 11 losses, and one draw, with 65 knockouts and two winning streaks of more than 62 victories--each longer than most modern fighters' careers.
A scientific boxer with balletic defensive skills and a stiff jab, Pep—known as "Will o' the Wisp"—so masterfully evaded his opponents, one remarked it was like battling a man in a room full of mirrors. As the definitive biography, this book covers his remarkable career.
