The A to Z of boxing - Clyde Prisk

While boxing has been around since the dawn of time, for the majority of its history it has been dogged by an image of thuggery which street fighters did little to enhance. Throughout the early-20th century, boxing struggled to achieve legitimacy, though great champions from John Sullivan to Jack Dempsey increased its popularity. Shortly after this era, boxing commissions and other sanctioning bodies were organised to regulate the sport and establish universally recognised champions.

Today, there are five such bodies ? the International Boxing Federation, the International Boxing Organisation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Organisation ? and it is every boxer?s ultimate goal to win one of the world crowns. Fights are often multi-million dollar events that are televised to a worldwide audience and the victor becomes an instant celebrity.

This A-Z of Boxing reviews the careers of some of the greatest boxers of all time including Muhammad Ali, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Prince Naseem Hamed, Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson.