The Prizefighter

Pity the boxer. Adept at an occupation in which rivals punish their opponent’s internal organs, notably the brain, the boxer faces injury and even potential death every time the bell rings. It takes bravery, dedication, and determination. Few beyond the desperate ever seek to make a living through the gruelling sport. Many fans know the routine: An impoverished childhood. A struggle for recognition. A lack of fair purses. Crooked promotions.

So it was for Ras Barrington Francis, the Tiga of this tale and a former Canadian, Commonwealth, and World Boxing Federation featherweight champion. (The WBF is one of the alphabet soup of rival sanctioning groups, including the WBA, the WBC, and the WBO.) The book shares his story and promotes belated acclaim for a career he feels was neglected in its heyday and is forgotten now. Wee fighters, like Francis, who weighed 126 pounds, rarely do get much attention. Each of the twelve chapters opens with a present-tense recounting of...