Mr. Tantlinger tells the story of the legends of Pittsburgh's boxing Champions with a passion and sparkle that is sure to thrill any sports fan who loves Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA is a tough town with a rich and storied history of sport. Long recognized as a hotbed for both professional and college football, perhaps Pittsburgh's legacy as the one time boxing Mecca of the world has been overshadowed and even forgotten. As the bell of time rings off round after round and the calendar of the years turns, the history and memories are all that remain of the men of Pittsburgh and Western, PA. who earned the right to be called Champions of the ring. In the 1920's the die was cast for boxing greatness in the region. Since those roaring 20's no less than ten World Champions have emerged from the rough and tumble towns, steel mills, coal mines and the city known as Steel Town, USA. In the 1920's and 1930's World Middleweight Champion Harry Greb, The Pittsburgh Windmill, was known as a ladies man, high roller and win at any cost prize fighter. Greb was a down and dirty Champ . It took and ill-advised operation to fix a bad eye and nose that had been beaten savagely throughout his three hundred fights in the ring to finally knock Greb out. Harry Greb is regarded by many as the greatest fighter to ever live! As the coke ovens and blast furnaces melted steel and pig iron by day, the boxing rings of old Exposition Field and Forbes Field forged men of iron courage and fortitude by night. After working in the mills and mines sweating, bleeding and at times dying; to get into the squared circle and exchange a few blows with a neighborhood buddy or an up and comer was fun, relaxing and hell a mug could earn a few bucks along the way too in the middle of the great depression to feed his family. The 1940's produced two of the toughest men ever to step between the ropes and onto the canvas. Welter Weight World Champion Fritzie Zivic became known as The Patron Saint of Dirty Fighters. And then there is the legendary Light Heavy weight Champion of the World, The Pittsburgh Kid, Billy Conn. The Uncrowned Champion, Charley Burley of Bessemer, is considered by most boxing experts to be one of the greatest fighters who ever lived, but he never got a shot at a title. When this era of extraordinary gifted boxers passed; football grew to be king. Not until the 1990's when McKee's Rock's favorite son, Paul Spadafora drew thousands of fans to watch him defend his IBF Lightweight Championship belt on national television did the city find it s way back to it s historic past. Behind Spadofora stands a long line of Champions cheering him on. In front of him stood troubled times. Pittsburgh, PA and Western, PA is unlike any region in the world. Small towns like Latrobe, PA, the birthplace of professional football and home to Mr. Rodgers of famed Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood and golf legend Arnold Palmer and Rolling Rock beer, and Aliquippa, PA, home to Mike Ditka and Tony Dorsett, are rich in their sports legacies; but in our hearts, we are all from Pittsburgh, PA! Our Capital! Our golden city on the hill! And in the end, no other city in the world can make the claim as being The Mecca of Boxing Champions, other than Pittsburgh, PA. Here is the story of the city of Pittsburgh, PA. Here is the story of those great Champions. Here are the stories that made them legends inside and outside of the ring!