Nathaniel S. "Nat" Fleischer (1887-1972) was born into a Jewish family on Manhattan's Lower East Side. He earned a B.S. in botany and chemistry at the City College of New York in 1908, and for several years thereafter taught in the New York City public schools. In 1912 Fleischer turned to journalism, beginning as a reporter for the New York Press and becoming the paper's sports editor four years later. He subsequently served as sports editor for two other New York dailies, the Sun and the Telegram. In 1922, following the legalization of prizefighting in New York State, Fleischer and three partners founded a monthly magazine dedicated to boxing, called The Ring. Fleischer would remain as editor and publisher of The Ring for fifty years, during which time the magazine earned recognition as the most authoritative voice in the sport, the "Bible of Boxing". Fleischer editorialized constantly on issues he regarded as crucial to the future of boxing—corruption, the impact of television, fighter safety—and the influence he exerted must be regarded as beneficial. Another characteristic feature of the magazine was its rankings of fighters in all divisions, rankings which became highly influential on matchmaking. Fleischer was also a prolific author who wrote dozens of boxing instructionals, biographies, and histories; many of these titles were serialized in the magazine before their publication as books by The Ring Bookshop, Inc. He also compiled what was for decades boxing's definitive reference, the annual Ring Record Book. Fleischer's office in Madison Square Garden housed an enormous accumulation of boxing-related clippings, publications, photographs, and memorabilia. He travelled internationally, proselytizing for the sport and serving as referee or judge in foreign bouts. After World War II his son-in-law, Nat Loubet, became increasingly involved in managing The Ring; it was Loubet who took over the magazine following Fleischer's death in 1972.