‘I kill a man and most people forgive me. However, I love a man and many say this makes me an evil person.’

In March 1962 Emile Griffith stepped into the ring at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City to defend his world title against Benny Paret. Griffith was seething with incandescent rage and had the look of a man with a point to prove. Prior to the fight his opponent had called him a ‘faggot’ and openly mocked him at the weigh-in. In the fight that followed, Griffith, one of the most destructive and classy fighters of any era, pounded his Cuban opponent into unconsciousness. He died a few days later. Griffith would be haunted for the rest of his life by Paret’s death.

‘A Man’s World’ is the story of the life of Emile Griffith. A legendary boxer who fought many battles, inside and outside the ring. Written by Donald McRae, author of the superb ‘Dark Trade: Lost in Boxing’, this book is a magnificent biography of one of the most tragic figures in the history of sport.

McRae weaves a superb story of not just Griffith’s struggles inside the ring but the awful treatment he faced out of it. Griffith was a homosexual in an era when it was illegal for bar owners to serve gay people. The renowned fighter often frequented gay bars most weekends, but he found it impossible to come out with a public statement about his sexuality. It was imperative to bury the truth because a gay boxer was unthinkable at the time. Throughout his professional boxing career Griffith and his team went to extraordinary lengths to stop the press asking questions about his sexuality.

There is much sadness in the story of Griffith’s life. In a tragic twist of fate Griffith, who won six world titles in three weight divisions and is widely regarded as one of the greatest welterweights of them all, died aged 75, just months after the Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz came out publicly as gay in October 2012. He was the first ever professional boxer to do so.

I would have no doubts in recommending this book, even if you haven’t the slightest interest in boxing. This book is more about a man’s struggles to be accepted and his ongoing internal battles against many demons. ‘A Man’s World’ is a compelling story, written by one of the finest authors of sporting literature. I’m certain this book will become a classic amongst the sporting genre.