A Neutral Corner : Boxing Essays

Fifteen previously unpublished boxing pieces written between 1952 and 1963.

Demonstrating A.J. Liebling's abiding passion for the "sweet science" of boxing, A Neutral Corner brings together fifteen previously unpublished pieces written between 1952 and 1963. Antic, clear-eyed, and wildly entertaining, these essays showcase a The New Yorker journalist at the top of his form. Here one relives the high drama of the classic Patterson-Johansson championship bout of 1959, and Liebling's early prescient portrayal of Cassius Clay's style as a boxer and a poet is not to be missed.

Liebling always finds the human story that makes these essays appealing to aficionados of boxing and prose alike. Alive with a true fan's reverence for the sport, yet balanced by a true skeptic's disdain for sentiment, A Neutral Corner is an American treasure.

“Fans who thought there was no more vintage Liebling to savor on a winter's eve can now rejoice. These fifteen previously uncollected prizefighting pieces . . . add to the wordsmith's impressive knockout record.” —Time

“Nobody wrote about boxing with more grace and enthusiasm than Joe Liebling.” —Red Smith, The New York Times