Product Description

In the late 1980s heavyweight boxing was ruled by one man - Mike Tyson. No one could touch him, it seemed, but nonetheless a generation of fighters tried. From 1986 to 1989, Mitch Green, Reggie Gross, Marvis Frazier, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tucker and Carl Williams all attempted to bring Tyson to his knees. They all failed. Everyone knows the story of Tyson's decline and fall - the manchild who seemed poised to become one of the greatest boxers in history is now a disgraced relic - but what happened to the men he defeated during his irrepressible prime? In The Long Round, Dominic Calder-Smith talks to these men nearly twenty years on - the Baptist minister, the drugs counsellor, the security guard at Ground Zero, the convicted assassin and many of their contemporaries - tracing their lives from their upbringings and years of promise to their encounters with Tyson and the present day. The Long Round explores, openly and honestly, the pain they felt in defeat and their subsequent search for self-respect, their problems with drugs and relationships, their legal woes and financial mismanagements.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #549899 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 291 pages

From the Publisher
What happens when a boxer's career comes to an end? Dominic Calder-Smith's compassionate exploration of the triumphs and tragedies of the men who lost to Tyson.

About the Author
Dominic Calder-Smith writes regularly on boxing for newspapers and magazines. He is the author of Tarnished Armour - Hopes & Fears in Heavyweight Boxing.

Customer Reviews

The Long Round
An excellent read. The self-destructive nature of Mike Tyson is mirrored in his opponents. Brings to life the lack of discipline in Mike Tyson's life. He was a puppet, who fought in a "Bum of the Month" freakshow. The author brings to life with his illustration of "Terrible" Tim Witherspoon,Mitch Green and Tony Tubbs and many other unfortunates. Each fighter had a story of which unfortunately included "Iron Mike" Tyson.

The Long Round
This is a great book by a great writer. The story of those of fought Mike Tyson at his peak is as intriguing and compelling as the gradual demise and self destruction of the once great champion. The book provides an insight into the lives of a selection of Tyson's opponents circa 1986-1989. It documents their rise to contender status and their subsequent fall post Tyson. From the astonishing claims of the now deceased Trevor Berbick through to the heart warming tale of Pinklon Thomas, this book is highly recommended.

Great insight to...
A great insight to both Mike Tyson and his victims. A hurtful read describing the descending path from glory suffered at the hands of 'Iron' Mike.