Sugar Ray: The Sugar Ray Robinson Story, by Robinson, with Dave Anderson (Robson Books, £10.99 in UK)

Most sound judges reckon Ray Robinson to have been the greatest boxer of all time pound for pound - a valuation augmented by the fact that he fought successfully at every weight from flyweight up to middleweight, and even challenged Joey Maxim for the light-heavyweight title. Originally from Detroit, and christened Walker Smith, he had hard times early on and became a boxer against the express wishes of his separated mother. For years he was unbeaten until he lost a points decision to Jake La Motta, the Bronx Bull a loss avenged later, and more than once. Robinson ran though $4 million during his active career. a big sum for that time, was several times married and ended up living in relative poverty. His liking for women, flashy cars and high living was notorious. though he claims he never "threw" a fight even when mobsters tried to make him do so he was also a good enough dancer to have made an alternative living by it. As boxers go, Sugar Ray was a bright man, as this book shows - even if, in the end, he did not keep his money.