The Black Lights: Inside the World of Professional Boxing

It's no wonder that after reading this Muhammad Ali chose Thomas Hauser to write his story.

How this book got it's name is another great example of what Hauser can do with just one paragraph!

I had assumed that this would be somewhat of a dry read or just not as good as Hauser's other books on boxing and the world of boxing. I had thought that since it's Hauser's first attempt at writing about boxing that it would be just ok - maaaan was I wrong - THIS is a fantastic book!

Hauser is an amazing writer and is exceptional in all his writings about the sweet science.

This is a great example of a book successfully covering and achieving what it set out to do. You get educated on the inside story of professional boxing and get a great and personal insight into the world of Billy Costello.

I was caught up in every chapter and did not want to put this book down. I've never heard of Billy Costello before this book and found myself being nervous for him, being excited for him, cheering for him and feeling now like I was there with him.

Great book for anyone.

Focusing in the career of former champ Billy Costello, the author provides an interesting view about promoters (Don King included, of course), managers and the terrible agony of the fighter and his fears, in and out of the ring.

Really recommended!

The book really takes off when Costello's camp tries to set up a title defense for the champ. From the stuggles to find an opponent who won't pose much of a risk to Costello's crown, to the virtual soul-selling that occurs to get the fight broadcast, to the fight itself, you feel the turmoil that Costello, his trainer and manager all go through. The description of the actual fight is written so vividly you feel like you're the one in the ring.

This true story makes you sorry you never followed Costello's career as it was happenng in the early 1980's. And as an added bonus, the author gives you one more reason (as if you needed another) to despise Don King.