'Born With My Fists Closed'

The son of Eddie Thomas, Geraint Thomas has lovingly written his father's incredible life story with colleagues Martyn Gough and Wynford Jones.

• Foreword IntroductionRound 1. A New Welsh HopeRound 2. The Prince of WalesRound 3. World Title?Round 4. The Golden BoyRound 5. "To Know Merthyr is to Know Eddie Thomas" Round 6. Merthyr to MexicoRound 7. Winstone's WorldRound 8. The Hat-trickRound 9. Buchanan the Buccaneer Round 10. The Miracle at Madison Square Garden Round 11. Adios Avoth Round 12. Jones the Punch Round 13. Viva Las Vegas Round 14. St Thomas Day Round 15. The Final Bell AppendixIndex

'Coalminer, son of a coalminer, outstanding welterweight champion in his time, he is a giant in the working-class mythology of Merthyr, and it was natural that he should have been found using the skills learned underground to extricate with tender patience, many of the small bodies buried by the avalanche of slurry in the Aberfan school disaster.'Hugh McIlvanney 'This biography of Eddie Thomas is a thoroughly deserved tribute to a very special man.'John H. Stracey, World welterweight champion'A man of his word which isn't common in the world of boxing. He was well respected in all walks of life and had an enormous aura about him which would light up a room.'Colin Jones, British, European and Commonwealth welterweight championAny man who can steer two men to World Championships, must have something special.'Sir Henry Cooper British, Empire and European heavyweight champion 'Eddie Thomas was respected across the boxing world. A great manager, who trained us to perfection. He was a one off, a great guy, and I miss him dearly.' Eddie Avoth, British & European light-heavyweight champion