We are thrilled to announce the publication of Rings of Dissent: Boxing and Performances of Rebellion, co-edited by Blum Center Director Gaye Theresa Johnson along with Rudy Mondragón and David J. Leonard (University of Illinois Press, December 2025).

This groundbreaking collection explores the boxing ring as a powerful site for understanding race, citizenship, gender, power, and dissent in America. Moving beyond the sport's apolitical veneer, the book examines how professional boxers navigate and challenge capitalistic and neoliberal structures while illuminating the cultural politics surrounding Black, Brown, and queer bodies. Through essays and interviews by scholars, activists, and artists, Rings of Dissent reveals boxing's central place in communities of color and opens exciting new avenues for studying race, immigration, gender, and capital. With contributions from leading voices including Dave Zirin, José M. Alamillo, and Louis Moore, this multifaceted collection uncovers what the sport tells us about America—its contradictions, its resistance, and its possibilities.