Eso no estaba en mi libro de historia del boxeo

Boxing is full of history and stories. Behind its apparent brutality there is hidden an epic and codes typical of the chivalric novel, which have made it possible for impossible friendships to emerge from the greatest rivalries. Did you know that the world heavyweight champion, Gene Tunney, was an intellectual and came to lecture on Shakespeare at Yale? And that Nelson Mandela was the greatest promoter of South African boxing? How were Max Schmeling's relations with the Nazi regime? How did the Mafia infiltrate boxing? Boxing is the sport richest in history and stories. Behind its apparent brutality there is an epic and codes typical of the chivalric novel, which have made it possible for the most sincere friendships to emerge from the greatest rivalries. For more than a century, the most popular characters on the planet were the president of the United States of America, the pope, and the heavyweight champion of the world. Jack Johnson, Joe Louis or Muhammad Ali not only stood out as huge boxers but also transcended the sphere of sports to become historical figures that marked the society of their time. The world championship between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries, in 1910, caused the biggest race riots in America until the assassination of Martin Luther King. Similarly, the heavyweight title fight between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling symbolized a clash of civilizations, the prelude to World War II, with Hitler and Roosevelt pending the outcome. In this book we will know the interrelation of Noble Art with society and the influence of its champions. We will discover curiosities of historical figures such as Daniel Mendoza, Bill Richmond, John L. Sullivan, George Dixon, Joe Gans, Jack Johnson, Benny Leonard, Primo Carnera, Max Baer, ??Max Schmeling, Joe Louis and other great champions. But, also, we will know of other crucial characters in the evolution of boxing: from benefactors like the Marquis of Queensberry or Lord Lonsdale to gangsters like Owney Madden or Frankie Carbo.