"Have you ever wondered what happened to the many boxing opponents of Mohamed Ali?"

Have you ever wondered what happened to the many boxing opponents of Mohamed Ali? Perhaps you would like to know the other side of the story, what did they think about their matches with Ali or what did they think about one of the greatest boxers of all time?

Whatever happened to George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Brian London, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes and many more who had the opportunity to demonstrate their pugilistic skills before millions of spectators?

As Stephen Brunt, author of FACING ALI, states in the opening remarks of his book, "in boxing, in everything else, only one side of the story tends to be told."

Brunt writes a meaty book recounting his interviews with 15 boxers who had the good or bad luck, depending on how you would view it, in meeting up with Ali in the ring.

Other authors may have cluttered these interviews with the relentless analysis of their bouts; however, Brunt avoids falling into this trap and concentrates on exposing the human side of these pugilists.

The revelations are resonating even to the extent that when we put away the book they still linger on in our memories. How can you not sympathize with Joe Frazier who fought 47 rounds with Ali? After all, he was constantly being used as a verbal punching bag for Ali, subjected to insults and taunts, such as being called stupid, ignorant, and the worst insult of all, gorilla. As the book mentions, "with Frazier, it was different- different because Ali, no doubt sensing vulnerability, went straight for the heart, different because Frazier was unequipped to fight back, at least outside the ring." Today Frazier's bitterness is evident when asked whether he knew where Ali was, whether he knows how he was, he replies, "I don't think nothin' about him, I know one thing. He thinks about me. He thinks about me everyday when he gets out of bed." This latter comment, as Brunt points, out is in reference to Ali's infirmity, to his Parkinson's syndrome, and the part Frazier's left hook might have played in causing it.

One of the recurring themes that keeps on popping up throughout the reading of the book is that no matter what accomplishments many of these boxers achieved throughout their career, we only seem to remember their Ali encounters. Such is the example of Jurgen Blin, who won the European boxing title, however was badly defeated by Ali.

No doubt, Ali's insatiable fans will be snapping up FACING ALI, however, they may come away with a different picture of their hero.

Reviewed by Norman Goldman
Posted November 11, 2002

Summary

They won, they lost, they were scorned or cheered, but they got in the ring with the champ. Muhammad Ali through the stories of 15 of his opponents — an incredible cross-section that reveals Ali as never before.

Every fighter who got into the ring with Ali shone brighter as a result; no life or career could be the same afterwards. Stephen Brunt, Canada's most respected sports writer, has travelled to meet the men who fought Ali, opening a new perspective on the most famous man on the planet. They include great champions and "tomato cans", no-hopers and a few men who beat Ali; by turns triumphant and tragic, hilarious, uplifting and angry, each tells a different story. Brunt speaks to men like Joe Frazier and Larry Holmes, who remember their titanic bouts with Ali with love and rancour. In 1963 Henry Cooper's perfect left hook floored Ali — but he was saved by the bell and some ringside shenanigans. Cooper's moment still helped make " 'Ammerin' 'Enry" into Sir Henry Cooper, while the little-known Jurgen Blin returned from facing Ali in Zurich straight to his job at a sausage factory.

The men he fought can tell us about Ali the boxer as no-one else can. But they also saw Ali invent himself as a media personality before such a thing existed. They were there when Ali's personality and courage, his controversial beliefs and his refusal to play the parts assigned to him, indelibly changed the United States and the world. Stephen Brunt has fashioned their stories into an engaging portrait of the man who remains a phenomenon.