Thomas Gerbasi’s “Boxing: The 100 Greatest Fighters”: A Unique Coffee Table Book

The recently released book by the late Thomas Gerbasi, titled “Boxing: The 100 Greatest Fighters,” presents itself as a coffee table book that defies traditional expectations.

Typically, coffee table books prioritize visual content, featuring numerous photographs or illustrations that often overshadow the written material. In contrast, while Gerbasi’s book showcases impressive images throughout its 223 pages, featuring high-quality photographs that dominate many pages, it maintains a balance with the accompanying text. In her review for the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) journal, Colleen Aycock praises the design team for enhancing the clarity of the images, making even familiar photographs feel more impactful.

However, unlike conventional coffee table books, which are usually oversized, Gerbasi’s work measures 8 ½” x 10 ¼”, slightly larger than the average hardback, but not quite oversized.

Bert Randolph Sugar laid the groundwork for Gerbasi’s book with his own “The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time,” which was first published in December 1984 and later updated multiple times, culminating in a 2006 edition titled “Boxing’s Greatest Fighters.” While Sugar’s original list included various modifications over the years, it largely maintained its initial rankings. Bert’s arrangement ranked the fighters chronologically, with Sugar Ray Robinson at #1 and Gene Fullmer at #100. In contrast, Gerbasi opts for an alphabetical listing, starting with Laila Ali and concluding with Carlos Zarate.

Another significant distinction is the inclusion of female fighters in Gerbasi’s top 100; he features eight women, including Laila Ali and Claressa Shields. Critics of Sugar’s book often pointed out its focus on older fighters, with only Muhammad Ali from the post-1960 era making it to the Top 10. In revising the list, Gerbasi excluded 47 boxers from Sugar’s original selection to accommodate modern talent, indicating his preference for contemporary fighters like Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk.

Sadly, both Bert Sugar and Thomas Gerbasi have passed away; Sugar died in 2012, while Gerbasi suffered a heart attack at the age of 57 earlier this month. Many heartfelt tributes to Gerbasi indicate the impact he had on boxing journalism, similar to Sugar’s colorful character and prolific writing style.

If a choice had to be made between the two books, Sugar’s definitive writing and engaging wit make it a standout. Although first editions of Sugar’s book can fetch a high price, subsequent versions are generally affordable. Regardless, Gerbasi’s new book is a visually striking option, perfect as a gift for boxing enthusiasts this holiday season.

Photo: Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson salute Ezzard Charles.