Kings of the Ring
This comprehensive HBO presentation documents the history of heavyweight boxing through the 20th century, beginning with Jess Willard's victory over Jack Johnson in the early 1900s and running through the reign of the controversial Mike Tyson. As well as being an overview of the Sweet Science, however,Kings of the Ringprobes the private lives of the champs and the travails that they faced outside the ring, with special attention to the context of their times and the roles that the fighters played in reflecting and shaping society. Undoubtedly Max Baer's and Joe Louis's victories over Max Schmeling in the 1930s carried some political weight as the unwilling symbol of Nazi Germany was pummeled by both Americans. Some 30 years later, Cassius Clay's personality, brash attitude, and superior skills in the ring brought him attention. That attention turned to controversy when Clay joined the Nation of Islam, changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and was jailed for refusing  to go to Vietnam. Also, no history of 20th-century heavyweight boxing would be complete without the occasional freak show, such as the Italian strongman Primo Carnera boxing with a kangaroo before being taken apart by the much smaller Max Baer. There is, of course, plenty of thrilling fight footage to go around as well, with boxers such as the wild Jack Dempsey, the remarkable Rocky Marciano, and Ali's astounding speed and footwork. Marciano's hammering of Jersey Joe Walcott in particular is worth the price of admission.--Jerry Renshaw