"Stradley [has]...a clipped, hard-hitting narrative style that makes no excuses and offers no apologies. Boxing fans interested in this...tragic figure should be captivated. A gritty, absorbing account of a boxer who couldn't defeat his own inner demons."-Kirkus Reviews

"Stradley does well to separate fact from fiction and to dismiss conspiracy theories while recognising the limits of what we can really know about Valero and his relationships. It is a short sharp captivating read and one any boxing fan will find interesting. The punchy style of the book neatly matches Valero's own relentless fighting style."

--All Sports Books Reviews

"Stradley doesn't leave out the action in the ring, but he understands where best to turn his focus in an effort to humanize a man who many now see only as a maniac, a brute, a killer."

--The Fight City