Ring editor Nat Fleischer, noting that other sports had record books and that boxing did not have any books specialized in keeping fans up to date as far as the participants' records, began writing the first Ring boxing encyclopedia in 1941.
Fleischer wanted to create a book that would keep fans informed about the history of boxing and their favorite fighters, and, at the same time, help fighters' managers and promoters choose who their protégé's next opponent should be.
It also included a detailed history of title fights for each division, and a section of a list of boxing record setters.
After Fleischer died in 1972, Stanley Weston took over the production and edition of the yearly encyclopedia book.
The original version of the encyclopedia, which was a mail-order item, topped at a price of 25 dollars.