The “Rhetoric and/as Boxing” course moderated a heavyweight debate. Two high profile boxing writers debated the resolution: “Who was the greatest heavyweight of all time? Joe Louis or Muhammed Ali?”
Arguing for Louis was Bernard Fernandez, a 2020 inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Arguing for Ali was longtime Ring Magazine Managing Editor, Tom Gray.
We followed a turn-based debate format.
- Each presented their 5-minute opening case
- Each had 2-minute rebuttal
- Each had another 2-minute rebuttal
- Each made their 3-minute closing case
After the debate, students were able to talk to two successful sports writers about boxing, rhetoric, and sports journalism.