Page 2's Todd Boyd delivers a deft reading of the cultural, creative, and commercial significance of the 'sweet science' as American iconography in the era of Ali, Liston and Patterson.
Muses Boyd, "Boxing used to be the sport of all sports. The choreographed barbarism and the undisputed truth embodied in the raw but formal nature of this particular blood sport prompted evocative magazine covers and erudite literary essays. In many ways, the sport became so much more than just a sport. It referenced a world where the two-fisted battle against the demons of everyday life spoke to a nation in constant transition. At a time when many Americans found themselves fighting against something large, ominous and seemingly unbeatable -- be it the infectious disease of conformity, the forces of racism, or reach of the military industrial complex -- the sport provided a context, a reference point for doing battle, for fighting the good fight."
There is little doubt that boxing has receded in popularity (relegated to cult-like status for anyone but aging purists such as your correspondent) but I'd argue that Boyd's notion of the "seemingly unbeatable" opponent still lurks. Likely, in a different corner. MoMA exhibits George Lois' beautifully potent covers for Esquire magazine from 1962-1972. The good fight runs April 25, 2008 through March 31, 2009.