Overview

It was the funniest fight build-up of Muhammad Ali's career - and publicist and writer Norman Giller saw it all. British bulldog Richard Dunn was challenging Ali for the world heavyweight crown in Munich in 1976, and Giller hired the eccentric hypnotist Romark to convince Richard that he could topple 'The Greatest'. What Romark kept to himself was that he planned to put a curse on Ali that would doom him to failure. Recalling arguably the most bizarre fight build-up ever, Giller has penned a book that is laugh-out-loud funny, peopled by a colourful cast that includes irascible matchmaker Mickey Duff, millionaire magnate Jarvis Astaire, much-hated heavyweight rival Joe Bugner, Richard's father-in-law, trainer and minder Jimmy Devanney, a paratrooper regiment and 54 Ali hangers-on. The match bankrupted its promoters and lost more money than any heavyweight title fight in history. Romark claimed credit for the stage collapsing at a chaotic weigh-in ceremony, while 'Cinderella Man' Dunn got beaten up and was hailed a hero.

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9781801505420

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"""Hilarious and bizarre…arguably the strangest fight build-up ever, and the colourful characters includes matchmaker and gambling addict Mickey Duff (Giller’s roommate in Munich), millionaire magnate Jarvis Astaire, Richard’s bitter rival Joe Bugner, Richard’s father-in-law, trainer and minder Jimmy Devanney, his wife, Janet, a jealous sparring partner who decided he wanted to be the star and ""54 Ali hangers-on who threatened to bankrupt him""."" -- Louise Howeson * The Southend Echo *"

"""Hilarious and bizarre…arguably the strangest fight build-up ever, and the colourful characters includes matchmaker and gambling addict Mickey Duff (Giller’s roommate in Munich), millionaire magnate Jarvis Astaire, Richard’s bitter rival Joe Bugner, Richard’s father-in-law, trainer and minder Jimmy Devanney, his wife, Janet, a jealous sparring partner who decided he wanted to be the star and ""54 Ali hangers-on who threatened to bankrupt him""."" -- Louise Howeson * The Southend Echo * ""The Man Who Put A Curse On Muhammad Ali is a most interesting boxing book with 256 opinionated pages from an expert writer… There’s plenty of humour in Norman recollecting how a hypnotist was hired in the attempt for a southpaw to beat 'The Greatest' - Muhammed Ali… As well as intensely describing the fight, round by round, blow by blow, Giller also highlights the boxing careers of various other, and notable, heavyweight greats."" -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio * ""This factual story contains enough amazing characters that you could be forgiven for thinking this was pure fiction but, as the author states, you couldn’t make it up."" -- David Brown * Best of British magazine * ""The book reveals the author’s mixed emotions about boxing, a sport he has been involved with for decades… This book is often funny and bizarre but also provides an insight into the world of boxing. A very entertaining read for sports fans."" * sixtyplusurfers.co.uk *"

Author Information

Norman Giller is the author of 120 books, including 20 written with his close friend Jimmy Greaves. He was the Daily Express chief football reporter in the 1960s, then spent 20 years as a boxing publicist, working with the likes of Frank Bruno, Jim Watt, John H. Stracey and Sir Henry Cooper, with whom he co-wrote four books. He was a This Is Your Life scriptwriter for 14 years, and was shortlisted for a Sports Book of the Year award in 2022.

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