Serenity: A Boxing Memoir

Prizefighters, opines Sports Illustrated writer Wiley, have serenity to a greater degree than ordinary folk, his theme here as he reminisces about his contacts with practitioners of the sweet science. He covers them from the ham-and-eggers who are victims of future champions on their way to the top, to the outstanding boxers of the past two decades--as well as the shattered hulks of the once-great who have taken too many punches. The most memorable chapters are devoted to Sugar Ray Leonard, unwilling to retire, Thomas ``Hit Man'' Hearns, who claims not to want to be liked (and indeed is not very likable) and Mike Tyson, depicted as a boy in a man's body. The glimpses of Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, a victim of Alzheimer's disease, and Muhammad Ali, old at 47, are affecting, as are looks at those who have killed other fighters in the ring, like Ray Mancini. Wiley's rapport with boxers is profound. (July)