... an insightful life study. It illuminates the many ways in which Mr. Foreman has differed from his storied competitors and found a kind of postcareer success that eluded them ... Mr. Smith makes it plain that the man who was once one of the rarest of power punchers is also one of those rare celebrities who seem to have learned from their vast experience.
Smith focuses on the business of boxing, particularly Foreman’s no-nonsense approach ... Boxing is a tough sport run by grifters and dicey athletic associations. But during Foreman’s encore career, he was a step ahead of them all. A compelling glimpse into the career of a true American success story.
In this well researched account, Smith...considers heavyweight George Foreman's life inside the ring and his longstanding contributions to boxing ... Foreman fans and those who remember his Rumble in the Jungle will enjoy this adept look at the champion’s life inside the ring.
In his first book, Smith...approaches his subject in a scholarly manner, and readers...are regularly referred to more than 50 pages of footnotes. Unquestionably, the author did his homework, including research into declassified government documents, and he takes readers to far-flung locales, including Zaire in 1974 for the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' with Muhammad Ali ... In addition to Foreman’s bouts, the author also offers detailed (sometimes overly so) examinations of how those fights came to be, illustrating the nature of the sport...more than providing a nuanced picture of the man ... Although not for the casual fan—if those exist in boxing anymore—students of the sport will find plenty to chew on.
