''Facing Ali'' is a 2002 book authored by

Stephen Brunt Stephen Brunt (born March 20, 1959) is a Canadian sports journalist, well known as a former columnist for '' Sportsnet.ca'', '' Sportsnet'', and former co-host on podcasts for Sportsnet. Journalist Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Brunt started at ''T ...

; it is about fifteen different fighters from around the world who battled with

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...

in boxing fights. In each chapter of the book, one of the selected fighters recalls the experience of fighting with Ali. The profiled fighters include Ali's famous opponents like

George Foreman George Edward Foreman (born January 10, 1949) is an American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister and author. In boxing, he was nicknamed "Big George" and competed between 1967 and 1997. He is a two-time world heavyweight champio ...

Joe Frazier Joseph William Frazier (January 12, 1944November 7, 2011), nicknamed "Smokin' Joe", was an American professional boxer who competed from 1965 to 1981. He was known for his strength, durability, formidable left hand, and relentless pressure fi ...

, Larry Holmes, and

Ken Norton Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. (August 9, 1943 – September 18, 2013) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1967 to 1981, and held the WBC world heavyweight championship in 1978. He is best known for his fights with Muhammad Ali, i ...

; and also the relatively obscure like the German butcher Jurgen Blin who "was back at work at the sausage factory" after having fought with Ali the previous day. Other fighters profiled in the book include Tunney Hunsaker,

Jean Pierre Coopman Jean-Pierre Coopman (born 11 July 1946) is a retired Belgian boxer who is best known for his title fight against Muhammad Ali in 1976 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which Ali won by KO in round 5. Early life Jean-Pierre Coopman was born on 11 J ...

Henry Cooper Sir Henry Cooper (3 May 19341 May 2011) was a British heavyweight boxer, best remembered internationally for a 1963 fight in which he knocked down a young Cassius Clay before the fight was stopped because of a cut eye from Clay's punches. Coo ...

Ron Lyle Ronald David Lyle (February 12, 1941 – November 26, 2011) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980, and in 1995. He challenged unsuccessfully for the world heavyweight championship, losing to Muhammad Ali in 1975. Kno ...

, Chuck Wepner, and George Chuvalo. According to the ''

Houston Chronicle The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Texas, United States. , it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. With it ...

'':

References

Books about Muhammad Ali 2002 non-fiction books Knopf Canada books Lyons Press books {{sport-bio-book-stub