Four Kings
The intoxicating and captivating tale of four men who changed the face of boxing
Author
Four Kings
The intoxicating and captivating tale of four men who changed the face of boxing
£14.99
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United Kingdom: GBP 2.99
- Gain a vivid understanding of four boxing legends and their impact on the sport.
- Experience detailed accounts of iconic fights and their lasting legacies.
- Discover behind-the-scenes insights into boxing politics and matchmaking.
- Appreciate the personal journeys and growth of each fighter over time.
An epic poem of a book . . . a book that lifts the heart
— Frank McCourt
Four Kings by George Kimball is a masterful account of how Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Roberto Duran dominated 1980s boxing. Through meticulous research and firsthand reporting, Kimball documents their nine legendary fights, the strategic brilliance behind each match, and the cultural impact of their rivalry. Readers gain access to untold stories, such as Leonard’s backstage antics and the promotional wars that shaped their careers.
What Readers Will Learn
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The Human Side of Legends: The fighters’ struggles, from Duran’s childhood poverty to Hagler’s relentless grind for respect.
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Fight Strategies: How contrasting styles-Leonard’s speed, Hearns’ reach, Hagler’s power, and Duran’s aggression-created unforgettable matches.
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Boxing’s Business Side: The role of HBO, Don King’s promotional tactics, and how money influenced matchmaking.
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Cultural Impact: How these fights drew millions worldwide, bridging racial and economic divides.
Kimball’s vivid prose and deep expertise make Four Kings essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of sports, culture, and human resilience. The book’s balance of technical detail and narrative flair ensures broad appeal, while its focus on a transformative decade offers timeless insights into greatness.
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ISBN 10
ISBN 13
The book: "Four Kings" Is perfect for:
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Boxing Enthusiasts: Relive the sport’s peak with blow-by-blow analyses.
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Sports Historians: Understand how the 1980s redefined athletic competition.
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Casual Readers: Engaging storytelling with drama, humor, and raw human emotion.
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Aspiring Athletes: Lessons in perseverance, strategy, and mental toughness.
Meet the author
George Kimball (1943–2011) was an award-winning American sports journalist and author renowned for his authoritative coverage of boxing. A recipient of the BWAA Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism (1980), he spent decades chronicling the sport, most notably through his acclaimed book Four Kings: Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran, and the Last Great Era of Boxing (2008), which dissected the rivalries that revitalized boxing in the 1980s. Kimball’s career included long tenures at the Boston Herald and contributions to publications like The Irish Times, blending sharp analysis with vivid storytelling. His work extended beyond boxing, encompassing poetry and collaborations on anthologies, including a Library of America collection on the sport. Kimball, known for his wit and encyclopedic knowledge, passed away in 2011, leaving a legacy as one of boxing’s definitive chroniclers.
Book testimonials
A distinguished and entertaining addition to our library of classic boxing literature
— Budd Schulberg
Kimball writes with insight and humour. The bigger the fight, the better he tells it
— Tom Hauser, www.secondsout.com
Thrilling, insightful and often humourous . . . [Kimball] captures the contests, the fighters and the period with a wonderful perception
― The Independent
Fight fans wanting a good read on their summer holidays should grab a copy
— Colin Hart, The Sun
A flawless and singular account of fights that remain potent and important decades after the final bell . . . Four Kings will, unquestionably, be ranked as a classic boxing book that will take future generations back to those smoky, raucous ringside nights in Vegas
― Irish Times
