Part 3/14:
Atlas draws vivid portraits of legendary fighters like Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Evander Holyfield, illustrating how their stories transcend boxing to exemplify resilience, character, and moral courage. For instance, his recounting of Joe Louis’s defiant victory amid the pressure of World War II and Nazi propaganda underscores a cultural moment where the fighter’s integrity symbolized national strength and racial pride.
He praises Louis not only for his technical mastery but for his role as a moral beacon for a racially divided nation. Similarly, Holyfield’s humility and genuine fighting spirit serve as exemplars of true warrior virtues—integrity, perseverance, and self-belief—fundamentals Atlas feels are often lost in contemporary sport's commercial excess.