George Kimball Knihy

Each of the nine bouts between the four men was memorable in its own way and at least two of them - Leonard-Hearns I in 1981 and Hagler-Hearns in 1985 - are commonly included on any list of the greatest fights of all time.

Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns all formed the pantheon of boxing greats during the late 1970s and early 1980s--before the pay-per-view model, when prize fights were telecast on network television and still captured the nation's attention. Championship bouts during this era were replete with revenge and fury, often pitting one of these storied fighters against another. From training camps to locker rooms, author George Kimball was there to cover every body shot, uppercut, and TKO. Inside stories full of drama, sacrifice, fear, and pain make up this treasury of boxing tales brought to life by one of the sport's greatest writers.

Set against the backdrop of 1968, the narrative follows Maurice Girodias as he moves his iconic Olympia Press to New York due to political pressures in France. This relocation marks the launch of the Ophelia imprint, featuring notable works such as J.P. Donleavy's The Ginger Man and Terry Southern's Candy. The story also highlights George Kimball's Only Skin Deep, a witty satire on the pornographic genre, showcasing the vibrant literary scene and cultural shifts of the time.