Before Clay rose to stardom, organized crime ruled the world of boxing. Idolized by other people of a similar background, he showed what he could make of himself in spite of all that was stacked against him, including the many disbelievers. Growing up in the Jim Crow era South, Ali became known as much for his religious and political beliefs as for his proficiency as a boxer. Although they originally condemned the sport of boxing, claiming that it exploited black men, as Ali rose to fame, the Nation of Islam grew to embrace the sport. Remnick also examines the Nation of Islam, as Ali was a proud and outspoken Muslim man. Denounced as a modern day version of gladiators, it was seen as barbaric. It was a controversial practice, and many disagreed with the power imbalances that existed within the sport as well as the toll it took on the human body, leaving fighters feeling the effects of it years after they had retired. Liston had always been portrayed as the “bad negro” while Patterson embodied the role of the “good negro” at a time when boxing was often seen as a sport where white people would watch black people beat up other black people. Remnick opens the book with a fight between Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson, two black men the match was rife with racial undertones. Remnick looks back at the big names that preceded Clay, such as Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson, at the same time examining the world of boxing and its various characters, many of who are driven by greed and the money that can be made from the sport.
In spite of his own remarkable talents, Clay was certainly inspired by those who came before him.
When Cassius Clay was coming up in the boxing scene, he was told he would never make it as a heavyweight fighter, that he was too light and didn’t pack a powerful enough punch to compete in the big leagues. Ali was a fighter who was light on his feet, his strategy being to tire out his opponent before going in for the kill.
Ali revolutionized boxing, getting into the game at a time when the heavy hitters gained recognition for being able to knock out their opponent in one solid punch. Ali was known not only as a celebrated athlete but came to represent a symbol of hope, faith, and defiance that allowed his fans to connect with him on another level. Used Very Good (1 available) Used book that is in excellent condition.New Yorker editor David Remnick’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, King of the World, tells the story of Muhammad Ali, originally known as Cassius Clay, a man who transcended fame to take on the reverence of a folk hero.
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