Champions of the Ring

The author of 15 books and a former amateur boxer in England, Suster examines all the heavyweight champions from John L. Sullivan, who won the title in 1882, to Evander Holyfield, who took it in 1990. He precedes his capsule biographies with a brief history of the sport before the advent of Sullivan, the Boston Strong Boy. Suster, a kindly judge of virtually each of his subjects, devotes more attention to those best-remembered, like Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali. Occasionally he gives in to hyperbole, describing more than one punch as the most devastating left hook (or right cross or uppercut) ever thrown. The book ends with the obligatory question of who was the best champ of all; Suster opts for Ali. Ring aficionados will enjoy this bout. Photos not seen by PW. (Nov.)