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The Knockout

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About this listen

 Swift, brutal, and utterly final: with knockouts, there are no grey areas; a KO is a KO. But what actually is a knockout, and why are we so fascinated by it?

The Knockout is the most dramatic and devastating moment in sport. There is nothing to rival it: Not the last second goal, not the basket on the buzzer, not the putt that drops on the eighteenth green. In terms of its brutality and finality, it stands alone. It's a bolt of lightning; fascinating and frightening; a shot of pure adrenaline that only the very rarest moments can provide. This book examines what it's like for the people at the center of that storm.

How does it feel to land that ultimate blow? How does it feel to suffer it? We assess the impact it has on the fighters and the people close to it and ask what it takes mentally, physically, and emotionally for a person to enter into an arena where the stakes are so unimaginably high. Agony and ecstasy, triumph and disaster, hope and despair, self-belief and doubt, The Knockout embraces it all.

Part macro, part micro exploration, the narrative will move across the physical, psychological, social, and even philosophical aspects of the knockout. With insights from renowned commentators, as well as fighters, their coaches, doctors and family members, this is a complete look at the finishing blow that brings any match to a sudden close, and the repercussions that follow.

Featuring extensive coverage of Froch vs Groves, the infamous match that saw Carl Froch knock out George Groves in the ninth round and gain a controversial win over the super-middleweight champion. The Knockout goes deeper into the phenomenon than ever seen before and explores the idea of male vulnerability and the delicate nature of many boxers, particularly pronounced once they have experienced a knockout. Boxing Combat Sports & Self-Defense Sports History Sports Psychology Inspiring

Critic reviews

"I love the knockout, the big finish. I love how conclusive it is. It settles the argument once and for all. This book took me back to those massive moments in my career."
—Carl Froch, three-time world Super Middleweight champion

"The knockout is the ultimate way of victory when it comes to boxing. Nothing else even comes close. What Andy has captured in this book is everything great about it."

—Tony Bellew, former WBC World Cruiserweight champion
"As fighters we love and hate the Knockout. We crave it and fear it and you have to make that fear your friend. That's the truth and this book gives it to you."
—Johnny Nelson, former WBO World Cruiserweight champion
“Andy Clarke goes in search of the knockout - he talks to boxers about landing a knockout punch and being knocked out. The book delivers the knockout.”
—Steve Bunce
All stars
Most relevant
Great work on a rare topic in boxing . Interesting and informative and well researched. Andy

Must for fight fans

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A fantastic insight into the knockout and its various forms and what follows for a fighter, the comeback, the mindset. Andy real take a deep dive into every aspect of the decisive blow. Excellent

A great listen from a great bloke

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Really enjoyed the knockout , well worth a listen to any fight fan . Andy has managed to get many top fighters , past and present for there comments too . I always used to moan when a ref stops a fight early , but this book has 100% made me feel differently about this , it’s need 2 be stopped 1 punch early and not 1 punch late . Overall great book

Great insight to the knockout

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