Review of WBC Greatest Fights Opus

By James Blears

Every devoted fan of Boxing will cherish and delight at WBC Greatest Fights Opus Book, chronicling one hundred of the greatest World Boxing Council contests between the Greats of the Sport.

The already famed jumbo edition, which weighs in at a hefty Guinness record breaking thirty seven kilos is staining the glass topped coffee table. But there`s also a paperback version we can all enjoy without adding muscle to our biceps.

Starting from Valentine`s Day 1963, up to the here and now, this is a gift of a book which will make a sheer and absolutely marvelous stocking filler for Christmas…but why wait?

Written by Opus Chief Writer Ian Stafford, who`s a multi award-winning journalist, diverse, versatile multi- faceted interviewer, speaker, broadcaster and sage maestro of sports writing, this book contains three hundred and fifty three pages. And, for boxing fans it`s a joy to read. Part of its genius is that each fight is described in two pages. Ian`s skill is such that he`s able to capture the history, passion, pure essence and majesty of those fights within this succinct yet succulent parameter. Gold and Green nuggets! When you start reading an hour passes like a minute. If you love Boxing, you simply cannot put this book down…even for supper!

The great, historic, immortal fights are contained within its hallowed pages emblazed with the exploits of Muhammad Ali/Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton, Sonny Liston, Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, Lennox Lewis, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duan, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Julio Cesar Chavez, Bernard Hopkins, Erik Morales/Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Wilfredo Benitiez, Saul Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Triple G Golovkin…and there`s still more. Who you say? Well read on!

Ian has the talent and as a great of pensmanship and keyboard exploits, he creates the time to tell the stories leading up to the fights, the fabulous bouts themselves and the sequels, in perceptive, meticulous and exquisite detail. Because, these boxers are not fighting machines. They`re flesh and blood human beings with God given skills, inspired and driven by iron will and unquenchable willpower. The collective spark which illuminates them. Their greatness lies in a refusal to lie down and give up, no matter what the predicament. Measured and indeed immeasurable willpower can be gauged by the temerity to go on come what may, and often as not to even step back from the brink of defeat, to achieve supreme victory and with it, all time greatness. The fights between Julio Cesar Chavez Vs Meldrick Taylor, Diego Corrales Vs Jose Luis Castillo plus Carl Froch Vs Jermain Taylor, are particular relevant as well as salient examples of this.

Refreshing and insightful that the lesser known fights from years gone by, are dusted off, because what dust ups they were!  Rafael “Bazooka” Limon Vs Bobby Chacon 1V, Carlos Ortiz Vs Ultimino “Sugar” Ramos 1 and the absolutely extraordinary Efren Torres Vs Chartchi Chinoi.

The trilogies between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Erik Morales Vs Marco Antonio Barrera. Then Tyson Fury Vs Deontary Wilder. Tyson Fury has written the foreword to this book.

When you´ve read WBC Greatest Fights Opus, you can flip back to its index, because all of the fights are there one by one, with their place meticulously denoted via page numbers.

A Panel of Champions pored over these fights and chose the best dozen. Their number one pick was The Rumble in the Jungle, when Muhammad Ali employed the Rope a Dope tactic to dismantle the invincibility of Big George Foreman, who himself came back twenty years later to achieve the seemingly impossible and win a version of the heavyweight title at forty five, a record then surpassed by the incredible Bernard Hopkins.

We think we know it all about the classic fights…but do we? Ian reveals hitherto unknown snippets and gems which enlarge the depth and breadth and scope of our knowledge, and there are quotes from the fighters on these pages encapsulating their greatness, magnanimity and grace.

The winner celebrates and exhales a sigh of relief in the moment of sweet triumph. But the fighter who has just tasted bitter defeat, also has heartfelt words, which often bring a lump to the throat and welling tears, which sting the eyes of the reader, due to their heartfelt humanity and humility. Losing isn`t a disgrace, only not trying. All of these fighters are tryers!

There are many books about Boxing. This is a great one about the greatest boxing colossus of them all.

Reading it once is a delight. Re-reading it at your leisure is a Must.

To learn even more please go to: WWW.THISISOPUS.COM/WBC