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09/25/2008 Archived Entry: "Book Review of Four Kings"
Four Kings: Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran and the Last Great Era of Boxing by George Kimball
A Book Review by J.D. Vena
Ever wonder what it would be like had you been a Yankees fan during the “Murderers Row” era or a Celtics fan during Bill Russell’s heyday? Or maybe you were around during these periods and just wanted to know all about what went down in these historic runs. In 'Four Kings, Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran and the Last Great Era' of Boxing by George Kimball and published by McBooks Press, Inc., a fan of the ‘Sweet Science’ or of these great champions, learns why this era was so compellingly extraordinary.
Multi-award winning and one of the most respected scribes in boxing journalism, George Kimball, aesthetically brings you back or makes you feel like you had been around during the halcyon days that defined the careers of the Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas “The Hit Man” Hearns and owner of the “Hands of Stone,” Roberto Duran.
To understand why this book is such a complete account of the confrontations of these men, you must understand why Kimball is the most qualified to tell you about them. For over 35 years, Kimball, who during this time period of the 70s and 80s, had covered the sport of boxing for the Boston Herald with more diligence and dedication than any scribe of his time. Even to this day, this reviewer has never witnessed any one more hell-bent on filing a story on time, asking the right questions or seen a representative of a high-profile news outlet cover more boxing cards, even some of the more obscure local fights, than the well-travelled Kimball.
Boxing and its fans are as indebted to the unrefined contributions of Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran as they are for having hardcore writers like Kimball, who have been there to tell you about them. His unmatched level of commitment and witty creative writing talents is never more displayed than his extensive chronicling of what many, including his peers, consider the last golden era of boxing.
Each boxer’s story is completely captured in superlative detail, from when the ‘Kings’ caught the attention of boxing patriarchs like Emanuel Steward and Goody Petronelli, all the way through their historic runs. It would be difficult to imagine an astute historian of this period not learning something new on each page.
Find out why Leonard actually turned pro or how a domestic beating influenced Hagler to learn the deadly art with an unrelenting passion. You realize why a lasting name such as Angelo Dundee, has been held in high esteem within the boxing circles for his shrewd effectiveness and keen eye for the game of boxing.
Kimball knew all of these characters from his direct involvement and genuine interest. He’s able to tell about the stories you wouldn’t believe if you saw them first hand. He’s able to tell you about the tales of one of these boxers being medically analyzed by his own sparring partner or if in fact one of them had dropped a horse with a blow of his fist or what a champion of years later, Quincy Taylor, may have had to do with the outcome of one of the Superfights. He knows and uses the stories of the promoters, managers, sparring partners, the spies, the photographers and other writers like Mike “Wolfman” Katz and Pat Putnam, whom also dedicated their careers to following the fight game with great enthusiasm.
This book will entertain and educate you about what you didn’t know or thought you knew about what will unfortunately prove to be the final high point in boxing history. As for the Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran and telling you about this boxing summit, you’d be better served reading Four Kings by the one who could tell you the best, George Kimball.
Replies: 2 Comments on this article
Thanks Juan! It's really a great book and I believe anyone would really appreciate it from start to finish.
Posted by JD @ 09/25/2008 12:38 PM EST
Terrific review, JD!
I look forward to seeing more of you as a ring announcer on TV.
Have a great week,
Juan
Posted by Juan C. Ayllon @ 09/25/2008 12:34 PM EST
