Iron Ambition

Synopsis

The story of the relationship between the most devastating heavyweight boxer in history and the mentor who made him.

When legendary boxing trainer Cus D'Amato saw thirteen-year-old Mike Tyson spar in the ring, he proclaimed 'That's the heavyweight champion of the world'. D'Amato played a huge role in Tyson's formative years, legally adopting him at age sixteen, and shaping him both physically and mentally after years of living in poverty. He would train the young boxer for several years, dying just months before Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.

In Iron Ambition, Tyson shares the life lessons that D'Amato passed down to him and reflects on how the trainer's words of wisdom continue to resonate with him outside the ring. The book also chronicles Cus's courageous fight against the mobsters who controlled boxing, revealing more than we've ever know about this singular cultural figure.

About the Publisher

Sphere

Sphere is home to some of the world's best-loved authors and books, ranging from Jenny Colgan and Carole Matthews to Mark Billingham, Val McDermid and even Gwyneth Paltrow. One of the most dynamic and successful commercial imprints in the UK, Sphere aims to publish the highest-quality popular fiction and non-fiction, including thrillers, women's fiction, and celebrity titles. Our books regularly hit the bestseller lists, and we have powered countless authors to household-name status. Our authors are supported by our popular digital platforms The Little Book Caf? and The Crime Vault, which both enjoy a large and loyal following. If you're a lover of popular literature, chances are good you're reading a Sphere book right now.

Summary

Iron Ambition is a book about the intertwined lives of two powerful figures in U.S. history: General William C. Westmoreland and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It traces their paths from the turbulent culture and politics of the 1960s to Westmoreland’s redemption in the waning years of the Vietnam War.

Chapter One: The Vietnam Years

In the 1960s, the conflict in Vietnam raged. From this context, Iron Ambition opens in 1962 with the introduction of General Westmoreland. The Vietnam War was in full swing, so Westmoreland was deployed to lead the U.S. Army’s Strategic Command in Saigon and report on the situation to the president. But while Westmoreland was busy in Vietnam, back in America, Dr. King had begun to gain increased attention for his fight for civil rights. Chapter one provides an overview of the situation at the time, and explores the beginnings of the frayed relationship between Westmoreland and King.

Chapter Two: The War on Race

In this chapter, the book examines the racial tensions of the time. King had become a global icon for his activism and speeches on racial injustice, while Westmoreland was instructed by President Johnson to lead the U.S. military in Vietnam while trying to deliver a “just” peace. The chapter further explains the animosity that existed between blacks and whites in the United States and how this carried over into Westmoreland and King’s respective roles.

Chapter Three: Dalat

This chapter is an expansion of Westmoreland and King’s reputations during Vietnam. Westmoreland is sent to the jungle fortress city of Dalat to explore peace options with the Hanoi government. At the same time, King is awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in Stockholm and begins to shift focus to ending the war in Vietnam. Chapter three dives into the challenges they both faced in pursuit of their goals.

Chapter Four: Reunification

Chapter four marks a turning point in King and Westmoreland’s respective trajectories. Despite growing criticism of the Vietnam War, Westmoreland succeeds in achieving a diplomatic breakthrough. Simultaneously, King turns his attention to African American pride and uniting the civil rights movement. This chapter continues to explore the dissimilar paths of Westmoreland and King in this historic moment.

Chapter Five: The Gift

The final chapter of Iron Ambition is focused on King and Westmoreland coming together to find a way to bring the two ideologies together and end the war for good. Westmoreland gifts King a medallion bearing the U.S. and Vietnamese flags – a gesture of peace and reconciliation. The chapter takes a look into the legacy left by two men on opposite sides of a war, and how while they had different agendas, their ultimate goal of peace was the same.