`FIGHT TOWN'

By Rolando Bohol

IT was in Las Vegas where Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack where the stars of the showrooms, but fighters like Sonny Liston and a bash Cassius
Clay help put the city on the boxing map.

Indeed, `Sin City’ and not New York, would eventually own the bragging right as the center of the boxing world.

It was in this place where champions where made - Mike Tyson becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever and George Foreman the oldest.

It was home to the most bizarre spectacles, yet sometimes seemed normal in a city that never sleeps.

It was in Vegas where Tyson bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear, while a motorized parachutist crashed into the ring as Holyfield was fighting Riddick Bowe.

There were touching moments too, like Foreman praying in his corner after knocking out Michael Moorer with a single punch to win back the heavyweight title at the MGM grand.

Veteran boxing writer Tim Dahlberg who saw his first fight in 1969 at the old internationalHotel, captures this all in the book `Fight Town’

The spread is spiced up with anecdotal flair, accompanied by lovely fotos.

One can take a peek through the different boxing arenas, get to learn about the inside lives of a 21-year old Clay jumping into the ring to challenge Sonny Liston after he knocks out Floyd Patterson in 1963 and vowing Liston will go down in eight rounds when meet.

Also there is Gerry Cooney staring into the darkening sky outside Caesars Palace in another heavyweight fight as he prepares to take on Larry Holmes in the biggest heavyweight title bout at the time.

The faces and places are all over there, spread out over more than 200 pages, truly a tribute to both the city and the sport it loves.