Training the Greatest: The Story of Ali and Dundee

Angelo Dundee discovered his love for boxing by working as a cornerman for United States Air Force boxing tournaments while deployed in England during World War II. He loved boxing so much, he changed his name to reflect it--he was born Angelo Mirena, but changed his last name to Dundee after the 1921 Super Featherweight boxing champion, Johnny Dundee. His older brother Chris, a longtime boxing promoter, did the same. The Dundees stated that they had changed their last names to prevent their mother from finding out that they were working in the world of boxing.

After his time in the military and the end of the war, Angelo found himself working at Stillman's Gym in New York City alongside his brother, Chris. Once the two felt they had all of the experience they needed, they moved down to Miami Beach, Florida, and opened their own boxing gym, Fifth Street Gym. It was here that Angelo would begin training world champion boxers.

Before he was hired to train Muhammad Ali, he worked with 1955 Welterweight Champion Carmen Basilio, 1951 Middleweight Champion Sugar Ray Robinson, and of course, 1963 Light-Heavyweight Champion Willie Pastrano. This was the resume he boasted when he was hired by the Louisville Sponsoring Group in 1960 to shape young Muhammad Ali into the Heavyweight Champion of the World.