An extraordinary account of the life of unknown club boxer, Frank Steele, who sparred with legendary boxing greats like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Ernie Shavers. Impoverished from birth and poorly educated, Frank did the best he could to parlay his boxing prowess and brute strength into fame and fortune. Hired as Foreman's chief sparring partner to help prepare the champ for the Ali "Rumble in the Jungle" fight in Africa, he was fired after doing his job too well -- beating up Foreman and knocking his headgear into the audience. When Ali heard about the incident, he paid Frank $3,000 for the secret to defeating the unbeaten and seemingly invincible champion. This is the untold story of what lead to the greatest upset in boxing history. Ben Clement's research for this book included nine months of interviews with Frank Steele, researching boxing history, and speaking with one of Frank's promoters and the residents of Gary who remembered "The Man of Steel". Ben believes that Frank represents all of the nobodies out there whose lives lack notoriety or infamy, but still have dignity, value and importance nonetheless. He's inspired most by his parents, Fanny & Thestal Clement, and others in their generation who braved the dangers and indignities of racism and inequality while raising black children to become responsible, productive, successful, influential, and patriotic Americans. Ben grew up, and still lives, in Gary, Indiana.
