SONAHR: Halifax, Nova Scotia – October 12, 2014 – Springs Toledo writes perceptively about pugilism for thesweetscience.com website. The Gods of War: Boxing Essays is a selection of Springs? articles from that site ? something of an Internet-age equivalent to A.J. Liebling?s classic The Sweet Science, which was drawn from Leibling?s articles published in The New Yorker magazine during the 1960s and ?60s. The comparison between Springs and Liebling is far from unwarranted. Springs is every bit the writer Liebling was, as can be seen in this passage about the love of the game:
?Without really being conscious of it, we boxing fans are on sabbatical from a modern culture gone mad with political correctness. We lose ourselves in a celebration of ancient virtues, of masculinity. Need evidence? Watch the crowd as the bell rings to end a blazing round and you?ll see graying men jump up and down like pogo sticks. Sometimes you?ll see two strangers locked in an embrace, their heads craned toward the ring. Boxing can bring an almost spiritual exultation.?
In the first part of the book, Springs delves into various aspects and personalities in boxing. He also reminisces about his introduction to boxing fandom, and his own abbreviated experiences in the ring. There are chapters on Kid Chocolate and Alexis Arguello, and on the dominance of Jewish boxers during the first three decades of the 20th century. Another chapter offers an unexpected comparison between current middleweight contender James Kirkland and former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. As well, there?s a chapter on a great trainer who does not happen to be Angelo Dundee, Emmanuel Steward, or Eddie Futch.
Perhaps controversially, Springs devotes three chapters to the rise and fall of former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Like more than a few other commentators, he believes Liston is unfairly underrated because of his dubious performances in his two bouts with Muhammad Ali. He also provides a plausible birth date for Sonny, whose true age was a mystery even to him. Some readers may not think Liston deserves that much space. Regardless, Springs? insights the man Ali called ?The Big Ugly Bear? are well worth considering.
The book?s other part is a listing of the 10 fighters he believes to have been the best of the modern era of the sport ? the ?Gods of War.? Each of the 10 gets his own chapter. There?s also an Appendix that lists his next 20 all-time greats. Springs rates the fighters on criteria that include Quality of Opposition, Ring Generalship, Dominance and Durability.
For Springs, the modern era began in 1920, when New York?s Walker Law ended ?no decision? bouts, called for three officials to score a contest, and capped the duration of a bout at 15 rounds. The reason for that cutoff point is that before 1920, he believes boxing was ?essentially a different sport.? So, you won?t see the likes of Jack Johnson, Stanley Ketchell, Bob Fitzsimmons or Joe Gans among Springs? ?Gods of War,? even though his criteria could apply to fighters of any era, including the old bareknuckle days.
Some of the fighters who appear in the Top 10 are expected ones: Sugar Ray Robinson, Harry Greb, Benny Leonard, Mickey Walker, Henry Armstrong and Willie Pep. Others, such as Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, are surprises. He also includes Charley Burley, a great welterweight and middleweight of the 1930s and ?40s who was frozen out of a title shot in both divisions.
All of Springs? Top 10 ?Gods of War? deserve their ratings. So do the ones in the next 20, including the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Kid Gavilan and Pernell Whitaker. Several of these fighters could have arguably been in the top echelon.
Arguments over rating the all-time greats will go on forever. In that spirit, I have to mention some names that should have been on Springs? extended list. Marvin Hagler defeated two of the ?Gods of War? ? Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns. Yet Hagler didn?t make the grade. Sugar Ray Leonard holds wins over Duran, Hearns and Hagler, but that wasn?t enough to put him in the Top 30. Rocky Marciano defeated Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, who are in the Top 10. But Rocky?s not on the list at all.
That?s the way it is, though. If you ask 10 boxing writers to rank the 10 all-time greatest fighters, you?ll get 10 different lists. Whether or not one agrees with Springs? opinions and listings, his words are a pleasure to read. If your budget allows for the purchase of only one current boxing book, The Gods of War is the one you should buy.
