Publisher's Synopsis
Sport has never known an icon like Muhammad Ali - the greatest boxer of them all, a paradigm for Black America, astonishingly photogenic and articulate. This new Rough Guide covers every aspect of Ali's life and career - from the fights to the civil rights movement, from his fans to his family. Insightful coverage is given to Ali's life and times from the days when he scared his parents to the nights when he terrified his opponents. The guide looks at all 61 major contests Ali fought and his opponents - from his major adversaries, Liston, Frazier and Foreman to the lesser-known Jean Pierre Coopman ('the Lion of Flanders') and Ali's brother. Background is provided to the social context - Ali's stand on Vietnam, his friendship with Malcolm X and his worldwide impact. A chapter titled 'The Mouth' records 101 greatest quotes from The Greatest - and his meetings with fans and the famous across the world. Finally the Rough Guide looks at The Icon - the books, the films, the interviews, the photographs and the essential ephemera.
