Thomas Hauser

“Every time a fighter steps into the ring, he's borrowing against his future well-being.”

“No brawler in boxing is more crowd-pleasing than Arturo Gatti.”

“In boxing, as with other government-regulated activity, the integrity of public records should be preserved.”

“Unlike most sports playing fields, a boxing ring is a temporary structure.”

“I'm sure there is an infinite number of men who Ann Wolfe can knock out. I'm one of them.”

“Publishing is a business. It's about squeezing every last dollar out of every available source, and the most vulnerable source is the author. No clearer proof of that exists than the 'standard' book contract.”

“Not voting is disrespecting the best of what this nation stands for.”

“In 1946, the year I was born, Yankee Stadium was only 23 years old. But from my perspective as a boy, it had been around forever. At age seven, I saw it for the first time. As I grew older and was allowed to navigate the city's subway system on my own, I went to Sunday doubleheaders with friends on a regular basis.”

“For thousands of years, the most physically imposing buildings on earth were temples, churches, and mosques. But in the 20th century, new houses of worship came to dominate the landscape. Yankee Stadium is the most storied of these contemporary shrines.”

“My personal relationship with Ali began in 1988, when we met in New York to explore the possibility of my writing the book that ultimately became 'Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times.'”

“The heavyweight championship of the world was the most coveted title in sports. Everyone knew who the heavyweight champion was. And not only when it was Muhammad Ali or Rocky Marciano: they knew when it was Ingemar Johansson.”

“Baseball is a game of tradition. It lives, in large measure, on its past.”

“As a general rule, Las Vegas sports books take boxing bets only on major fights.The same is true of most Internet gaming sites. Within that framework, not only does boxing allow participants to bet on their own bouts, it sometimes encourages them to do so.”

“Professional fights between men and women send the message that violence between men and women is appropriate. In most homes, that's not a fair fight, which is why I'm against intergender boxing.”

“Women's boxing has received a major boost from the success of 'Million Dollar Baby.'”

“If a Hollywood studio needed a fighter to play the hero in an old-time boxing movie, the search could begin and end with John Duddy.”

“As a general rule, the only way people pay $7,500 a table for club fights is when a significant portion of the proceeds is earmarked for charity.”

“Crossroads fights are an important part of boxing. The winner goes on to bigger and better things, while the loser squanders a significant career opportunity.”

“The standard publishing contract is replete with clauses that strip authors of control over their books.”

“There are hundreds of young fighters whose handlers believe them to be a future world champion or the next great heavyweight or another Sugar Ray Robinson. The young men who inspire these beliefs are known as 'prospects.'”