Myler, Patrick – A Century of Boxing Greats

Description

Myler, Patrick ‘A Century of Boxing Greats’ 1997 1st ed. Published by Robson Bookis. 394 pages. Well written book featuring the top 100 boxers of the time period from 1900 to 1997 in the author’s opinion. Features 24-pages of unnumbered photographic portrait plates profiling the most dominant fighters of the 20th century. VG+/VG+ (2) Another VG/G $20 ea.

Core Premise and Scope:
Myler’s book sets aside the politics of championship belts, alphabet-soup sanctioning bodies, and weight divisions. Instead, his singular criterion for profiling an athlete is a raw, historical “mark of greatness.”

The book is structured around comprehensive, essay-style evaluations of exactly 100 elite prizefighters. While the inclusion of universally agreed-upon icons like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey, Marvin Hagler, and Bob Fitzsimmons is uncontroversial, Myler intentionally invites debate by dedicating the latter portion of his choices to lesser-celebrated but equally formidable stylistic masters of the ring. The book stands as a highly engaging reference guide for boxing purists seeking to evaluate fighters by their ring craft and historical legacy rather than mere paper titles.