Don Dunphy at Ringside

A formless meander through the world of boxing from the 1940s to the '80s, this autobiography tells of Dunphy's rise to prominence as a sports announcer specializing in the ""sweet science'' and then gives candid views on the fighters and fights he has seen. Most interesting are his lists of the 10 greatest contests he has observed (three of them involved Muhammad Ali), the seven greatest rounds ever fought (he picks the first round of the Dempsey-Firpo donnybrook as the best) and the top fighter (after narrowing the field to Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson, he settles on Sugar Ray). Dunphy covers terrible fights as well, including the return bouts between Louis and Billy Conn and between Marciano and Jersey Joe Walcott. There are also chapters on unusual battles, prominent sportscasters and his own family. Photos not seen by PW. (May)