The 1986 recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, George Kimball spent a quarter-century as a sports columnist for the Boston Herald before retiring in 2005. A veteran of nearly title bouts, Kimball has covered boxing all over the world since the eras of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and was the only journalist to cover every fight of Marvelous Marvin Hagler's middleweight reign from start to finish. For the past decade he has written a weekly 'America at Large' column for The Irish Times. Kimball has received numerous awards for his Boxing, Golf, Baseball, and Olympic coverage, and in retirement, in addition to his Irish Times column, he keeps his hand in the game as a featured columnist for ESPN.com and for the monthly publication Boxing Digest. The points are out of 10, if maximum points were awarded to one of the ‘fab four’ members, it would not mean they were merely the best in their group with that respective attribute, but the best in the world. Some deem this to be the Wilmington native’s best attribute but also believe it to be ‘Marvelous’ Marvin’s worst. Those people include me. Although he could get off short hooks on the inside or ranged jabs on the outside, Hagler never had the speed to go with these punches. Hearns did though as did Duran which made them a couple of the best offensive fighters in the sport’s history.

Kings on Netflix, Hulu, Prime? Where to Watch Boxing Is The Kings on Netflix, Hulu, Prime? Where to Watch Boxing

The other element I was impressed with was the detail and the stories told around each fight. It really gives an insight as to what it was like for each of the mega fights, but without overloading you with needless information. New Showtime sports documentary “The Kings” chronicles the golden age of boxing, focusing on four big names from the ea: Roberto “Manos de Piedra” (“Hands of Stone”) Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard.It is worth noting the pair who scored 8 were so defensively sound that it was a rarity they were caught flush with a shot thus had their chin tested. Duran’s chin does not get downgraded with his KO loss to Hearns as that was the hardest right hand which would even threaten the consciousness of the most durable of pugilists. These four men defined an era in boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Showtime Sports, in a statement. “Their individual stories, forever linked by the spectacular battles they waged, reflect a tumultuous period in American culture and history. THE KINGS takes the viewer beyond the glorious action of some of history’s most memorable prizefights to illuminate each man’s dramatic journey and the societal context that made them stars of sports and popular culture.”

The Four Kings – How they match up… - Boxing Guru

One of the very best boxing books I've ever read. Superbly written and riveting. The four boxers portrayed here were some of my favourites of all time. Everyone a true warrior By James Slater: It was a golden era of boxing the likes of which may never be seen again. From 1980 – beginning with Roberto Duran’s sensational points win over “Sugar” Ray Leonard and, perhaps fittingly, ending with Leonard’s rubber-match of a points win over “Hands of Stone” in 1989 – to the very end of the decade, four men fought from welterweight up to super-middleweight, giving their all and giving the entire world a thrill. The rest of the group cement a 9, Duran beat a prime Leonard and boasted a 71-1 record before that fight, Hagler cleaned out the Middleweight division and fought the Philadelphians when they were at their most dangerous and Leonard fought extremely tough talents outside of this group with the most signature wins inside a short number of fights. Lennox Lewis added: “It is pretty special to have been on this journey through the 80s and 90s, and a privilege to share the story with Frank, Nigel & Chris on screen. Whilst we had our own lanes, our own processes and experiences, we had the combined desire to get to the top and we achieved that, in the process we made history as the first ones to do it for Britain and the rest have followed. Everybody knows what happened in the fights, but they didn’t see what led up to the fight, the rivalries were real, we all wanted to outdo each other, I’m excited that this series will give the public a chance to see behind the curtain.”The first 10/10 attribute in this rank goes to Bleacher Report’s fifth-best defensive fighter in the sport’s history. Leonard had everything in this department, foot feints, timing, punch awareness.

Four Kings: The intoxicating and captivating tale of four men

In short, there is a true reason their era is so romanticized and so highly-regarded. They are timeless fighters who had timeless fights with one another, through all the action and drama and controversy. Duran’s entertainment inside and outside of the ring has built him a huge, loyal fanbase to this day. His fan-friendly style that the casual watcher would perceive as brawling gained him lots of followers. He is also labelled a God in his home nation of Panama due to being a representative of his people in front of thousands as well as helping with crisis in the country.Boxing certainly has benefited most in history when it had a strong cast of heavyweights (Ali, Tyson, etc) but some of its greatest fights happened at the weight class right below. The four men in this book put on not just fights but epic battles which will stand the test of time. world titles among them in about 4 to 5 different weight classes. These rivals fought each other 9 times. The book's highlights lie in the nuanced insights gleaned from conversations with key figures in the fighters' lives. For instance, Kimball shares fascinating details about Hagler's rise to prominence through his interactions with trainers Goody and Pat Petronelli, shedding light on the motivations and bonds that drove Hagler throughout his career. Kimball's portrayal of Hagler's frustration and the subsequent controversial decision in his fight against Leonard underscores the fighter's unwavering commitment and business acumen, solidifying his status as a legend in boxing.

Boxing history: The Four Kings – Edgar Gonzalez Anaheim Boxing history: The Four Kings – Edgar Gonzalez Anaheim

The scores are given with impartiality and we have used evidence and research with every point we award to each: Four Kingswill examine the notorious rivalry between British boxing legends Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno. Roberto Duran is the toughest of the Four Kings, and arguably the fighter with the most heart. He was as macho as they come and could hit like an ox. He was called the Hands of Stone – and rightfully so. A four-part series featuring four champions who ushered in a boxing renaissance. The series showcases the dominance of Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard and their battles in and out of the ring. Season 1The early 1980s marked the beginning of an uncertain era in the boxing world. One of the legends of the sports, Muhammed Ali, retired, and it was time for someones else to step up. Four young men – Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns embrace the opportunity and begin climbing the ladder of success in the boxing world to be crowned as the new king. Their dream comes true, and the boxing world finds not one but “The Four Kings.” years after the group who captivated the sporting world laced up their gloves, the debate still goes on about who the best out of the fabulous four.