Meanwhile, Adam J. Pollack recently completed "John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion." It traces the transition, which Sullivan spearheaded, of boxing from smoky halls that showcased often illegal fights, to the center of the sports world by the early 20th century. Irishmen like Sullivan, Dempsey and Tunney dominated the sport for decades. ($45 / 254 pages / McFarland)