Michael and Jessica talk about boxing and photography, and why both arts have endured beyond their heyday. They cover the bouts between Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Manny Pacquiao; Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston; Neil Leifer and the second Ali-Liston fight; and Mary Ellen Mark (who died on the 50th anniversary of that rematch) and her subjects.
On the undercard, Michael recalls a “pugilistic incident” with a classmate named Mickey, who drew first blood.
Also discussed:
George Bellows, Stag at Sharkey’s and Dempsey and Firpo
Mayweather-Pacquiao: Kelefa Sanneh in The New Yorker and Carlo Rotella in the Times Magazine
Covers by George Lois: Sonny Liston as Santa Claus; Calling a Title Fight; Ali as St. Sebastian. Also, from our archives, Adam Harrison Levy on The Passion of George Lois
Joyce Carol Oates, On Boxing
Sue Jaye Johnson’s film T-Rex
Knockout font
Dave Mondy, How Things Break
Melissa Harris, Remembering Mary Ellen Mark, 1940-2015
Thanks to
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Image from George Lois's Esquire
cover "Last Man in the Ring".
