Axis of Greatness: Muhammad Ali, Angelo Dundee, Sugar Ray Leonard

by Mark Winters

Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard had four major things in common: they both won an Olympic Gold Medal, they were superlative boxers, they had charismatic personalities, and they were both trained and managed by the legendary Angelo Dundee. An Italian-American from south Philadelphia who fainted at the sight of his own blood, Dundee went on to become the most famous cut-man, trainer, and manager in the history of boxing. This insider’s account throws the spotlight on three exceptional men who led lives beyond the realm of the ordinary. Drawing on personal interviews with the protagonists and numerous other boxing greats, this is an extraordinary look at three of the greatest individuals from the history of the sport.

203 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Dan McKrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with some of the non-facts in this book. It diminished my interest in reading it further. Winters said in the book that Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Thomas Hearns in their 1989 rematch. He also said that Leonard defeated Terry Norris. Both are untrue. The Leonard-Hearns rematch, in which Ray was dropped twice, ended in a controversial draw. SRL also lost miserably to Terry Norris in 1991. The misspelling of Hector Camacho's name was somewhat annoying as well (spelled Comacho in the book). I was interested in learning about the relationship between Dundee and two of the greatest fighters ever, Ali and Leonard. However, I came away with nothing that I didnt already know.