Ray Arcel

Without Ray Arcel (1899-1994), the 20th century world of boxing would have been markedly different. The credibility of it as a sport would have been greatly lessened. Arcel''s prominence is all the more interesting because he made his mark not as a fighter, promoter, or manager, but as a trainer. From Benny Leonard to Roberto Duran and Larry Holmes, Arcel stood in the corner for champions of every weight division that existed in his lifetime, a record that remains unequalled.

This biography chronicles Arcel''s life inside the ring--and outside, where he was a highly secretive man who maintained relationships with some of the chief mob figures of his day. Through a wealth of information from Arcel''s unpublished memoir, this work offers an extraordinary portrait of one of boxing''s most influential and enigmatic figures.