The Prize Fight of the Century: Reno, Nevada, July 4, 1910

Robert Greenwood not only did exhausting research for his book on the Jack Johnson vs. James Jeffries "Fight of the Century," but his enthusiasm for the subject is found on the pages of the tight manuscript that is slightly under 160 pages. There are so many angles on how the fight can be chronicled and Greenwood does a fantastic job in giving the reader a perspective in the social, sports and historical realms. The classic photographs are worth the price of the book; some even the biggest fan of boxing or American history may be seeing for the first time. It is a very impressive book.

The ONLY fight of the 20th century was fought between a former undefeated champion against a charismatic and despised champion. The events leading up to the encounter and what happened thereafter are explained in detail by Robert Greenwood in his book titled "The Prize Fight of the century". The book outlines in detail events such as Jim Jeffries and Jack Johnson's backgrounds, their fighting careers, the attention the fight drew on a global scale, Tex Rickard's remarkable efforts to pull off a late second switch of venues, and to the demand of the fight itself. The build up of the fight is re-enacted in reading chapter after chapter of this book. The reader feels the tension of the Jeffries camp before the fight and Johnson's negative portrayal by the press during the racial ugliness of the time period. As well as beyond the fight how reformers of the era opposed and almost succeeded in canceling the fight. A unique look at a very important time period in history is very well written by Greenwood.