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Torres believes that boxing is “not really a contest of physical ability.” He elaborated his ideas in a subsequent meeting: “I felt it was a contest always of character and intelligence. And I always felt what made a champion and an ordinary fighter was that, the character, the will to win, more than the physicality. Because when you are up there, among the best, the physicality is the same.” Torres takes evident pleasure in explaining why Ali was not the greatest boxer, but was a genius in the ring. Doing so affords him the opportunity to recall fond memories of Ali and legendary trainer [[w:Cus D’Amato|Cus D’Amato]] while also illustrating his point about boxers being liars. In his book on Ali, | Torres believes that boxing is “not really a contest of physical ability.” He elaborated his ideas in a subsequent meeting: “I felt it was a contest always of character and intelligence. And I always felt what made a champion and an ordinary fighter was that, the character, the will to win, more than the physicality. Because when you are up there, among the best, the physicality is the same.” Torres takes evident pleasure in explaining why Ali was not the greatest boxer, but was a genius in the ring. Doing so affords him the opportunity to recall fond memories of Ali and legendary trainer [[w:Cus D’Amato|Cus D’Amato]] while also illustrating his point about boxers being liars. In his book on Ali,he starts the story with D’Amato, the guide to three world champions: Floyd | ||
he starts the story with D’Amato, the guide to three world champions: Floyd | Patterson, Torres himself, and Mike Tyson.“[Ali] is not a good fighter, so says | ||
Patterson, Torres himself, and Mike Tyson.“ | |||
D’Amato, much less a great fighter. But he is champion of the world.Which, | D’Amato, much less a great fighter. But he is champion of the world.Which, | ||
believing Cus, and I do, makes Ali a genius....” He continues, in virtually the | believing Cus, and I do, makes Ali a genius....” He continues, in virtually the | ||
same words he spoke to me decades after the 1971 book appeared: | same words he spoke to me decades after the 1971 book appeared: | ||
<blockqoute>Ali is not a great fighter in the conventional sense that Sugar Ray | <blockqoute>Ali is not a great fighter in the conventional sense that Sugar Ray | ||
Robinson, Willie Pep and Joe Louis were. Each of these fighters | Robinson, Willie Pep and Joe Louis were. Each of these fighters | ||
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Other writers have made similar claims in connection with other fighters. | Other writers have made similar claims in connection with other fighters. | ||
Jack Dempsey’s “overwhelming power made many people overlook the calculation that went into every punch he threw,” Roger Kahn writes in A Flame of Pure Fire.“In that regard, he was a thinking, even intellectual boxer.” In the | Jack Dempsey’s “overwhelming power made many people overlook the calculation that went into every punch he threw,” Roger Kahn writes in ''A Flame of Pure Fire''.“In that regard, he was a thinking, even intellectual boxer.” In the | ||
first volume of A Man without Qualities, published not long after Dempsey’s reign as heavyweight champion ended, novelist Robert Musil prefigured Torres and D’Amato with observations like this one: “the tricks and | first volume of ''A Man without Qualities'', published not long after Dempsey’s reign as heavyweight champion ended, novelist Robert Musil prefigured Torres and D’Amato with observations like this one: “the tricks and | ||
dodges used by an inventive mind in going through the logical operations of | dodges used by an inventive mind in going through the logical operations of | ||
a mathematical problem are really not very different from the ring-craft displayed by a well-trained body.” A. J. Liebling, who composed numerous entertainingly digressive, erudite articles on boxing for The New Yorker in the | a mathematical problem are really not very different from the ring-craft displayed by a well-trained body.” A. J. Liebling, who composed numerous entertainingly digressive, erudite articles on boxing for The New Yorker in the | ||
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Part of boxers’ “culture,” in the view of Torres and his fellow thinkers, is | Part of boxers’ “culture,” in the view of Torres and his fellow thinkers, is | ||
the ability to lie successfully. As Jeremy Campbell notes in his so-called history of falseness, A Liar’s Tale,“when winning is the important factor, deceitfulness is a kind of ethic....” From a technical standpoint, Ali did plenty | the ability to lie successfully. As Jeremy Campbell notes in his so-called history of falseness, ''A Liar’s'' ''Tale'',“when winning is the important factor, deceitfulness is a kind of ethic....” From a technical standpoint, Ali did plenty | ||
“wrong,” but excelled nonetheless because of his cleverness, his ability to con | “wrong,” but excelled nonetheless because of his cleverness, his ability to con | ||
his opponents. He perfected the liar’s ethic. | his opponents. He perfected the liar’s ethic. | ||
Of course, eventually Ali did meet opponents who could beat him, but | Of course, eventually Ali did meet opponents who could beat him, but | ||
even then his genius was evident. Sting Like a Bee ends with Ali’s first | even then his genius was evident. ''Sting Like a Bee'' ends with Ali’s first | ||
bout with Joe Frazier, which Ali lost. Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, told Ali’s | bout with Joe Frazier, which Ali lost. Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, told Ali’s | ||
biographer, Thomas Hauser, that Ali still successfully tricked his fighter | biographer, Thomas Hauser, that Ali still successfully tricked his fighter | ||