Ron Lyle (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Ron Lyle (born February 12, 1941 in Dayton, Ohio) was a professional boxer in the heavyweight division. He is considered one of the best contenders of his era. He was a crowd-pleasing power puncher. Lyle was born to William and Nellie Lyle. He was one of 19 children, and the only one to get in trouble with the law. When he was in his teens, Lyle was arrested and charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of 21-year-old Douglas Byrd in a gang fight. Lyle was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 15-25 years at the Colorado State Penitentiary. While in prison, Lyle was knifed and underwent a seven-hour operation; twice pronounced dead on the operating table, he needed 35 pints of blood to keep him alive. Lyle credited Lt. Cliff Mattax, the athletic director at the prison, with getting him interested in boxing and changing his life.