Title: Hangin’ Tough: Boxing Fan, Big- Fight Analyst, Tactician & Historian
Author: Jawed Akrim
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 978-1-6655-8505-7
Pages: 258
Genre: Fantasy / Fiction
Reviewed by: Manik Chaturmutha

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“Hangin’ Tough” is a collection of essays by Jawed Akrim, a boxing fan, big-fight analyst, tactician, and historian. The book discusses boxing and related subjects, including MMA, bodybuilding, street fighting, and anabolic steroids. It details a variety of themes, such as anecdotes of well-known boxers, fictional accounts of boxing contests between champions of various eras like Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and George Foreman, and alternate-reality timelines.

The author uses historical accounts and fights to mention several characters and fights of champion fighters, drawing comparisons between them. It points out their fighting styles and techniques; it summarizes and examines punches, combos, and special moves used in sports; from the footwork of Muhammad Ali’s Ali Shuffle to Mike Tyson’s gazelle punch, describing in minute detail the techniques, usage, and consequences showing historical fights as an example. The book also talks about current affairs in the world of concerned sports and future anticipations. The author conveys his respect and admiration for the athletes in this book.

The book’s goal has been successfully achieved as it addresses various requests and queries users of Quora had raised to the author. It has already undergone mass-market crowdsourcing from other writing platforms and received positive feedback from readers and the target audiences.

The author writes in simple language which is understandable to most readers. The tone used has much humour, which grasps readers’ attention and maintains it throughout the text. However, the pieces are highly shaped by a personal and opinionated tone which sometimes overshadows the analysis of fighting tactics and styles done by the author. An introduction to the characters and references should be given in the book instead of diving right into the main crux of the story.

Although having little knowledge of boxing sports and MMA is not an essential prerequisite to read the book, the book is written for readers primarily interested in boxing and related subjects. It is also attractive to sports fans, along with niche groups like boxing fans, supporters of mixed martial artists, and bodybuilders. As the book contains a provocative and contentious tone, it is more appropriate for readers belonging to late teenage and adult age groups. The hypothetical boxing matches and alternate-reality timelines are also fascinating for readers who enjoy speculative fiction, or fanfiction. I recommend this book to sports fans affiliating with boxing, MMAs, and ancient fighting philosophies.