Boxing Books on pre-1950 figthers...

1. No but a lot of Charlie is covered in Adam's terrific books on Sullivan and Corbett.

2. There was a fairly recent Greb book that is pretty good.

3. Men of Steel

 

" Any recommended book on 1930's-1940's middleweights? That's an era I would like to investigate more. "

BRITISH,

Len Harvey - Prince of Boxers
Jock McAvoy - the Rochdale Thunderbolt
Bert Gilroy - Gilroy was Here!

all excellent & thorough accounts, and gripping reads.

 

reading the sam langford book right now by claye moyle. very good so far. easy to understand an has a good flow

 

"It looks like the thread I was looking to revive has been archived, so I will begin a new one. I have a few questions.

1) Has there ever been a book written on Charlie Mitchell?
2) What are the best books on Greb and Ketchell, and are either worth the time?
3) Any recommended book on 1930's-1940's middleweights? That's an era I would like to investigate more." No books written about Charlie Mitchell that I'm aware of. He did produce an instructional book titled 'Art of Boxing' in 1891. The best book current available concerning Harry Greb is by Bill Paxton and is definately worth the time in my opinion. One of my favorite reads was 'Somebody Up There Likes Me' by Rocky Graziano & Rowland Barber. Raging Bull by Jake LaMotta is another good read. It would be nice to see more biographies produced about some of the middleweights from that era. I'm working on one about Tony Zale with his nephew Ted Zale that we hope to finish soon.

 

Rocky grazianos Fantastic bio ''somebody up there likes me'' is on ebay right now £4.99

 

Good on ya clay!
I maintain correspondence with Al Hostaks son. If you need him holla

 

Charley Burley, The Life & Hard Times of an Uncrowned Champion by Allen S. Rosenfeld

This book is tremendous and covers many more fighters than just Burley. It's the best account of the Welterweight and Middleweight scene in the 30's and 40's that I've come accross.

 

Zale always maintained the greatest he ever fought was Al HostaK
Looking over Zales resume that pretty remarkable. Definitely a candidate for underrated.

 

"I used to drink in Holstak's regular bar, the Georgetown Tavern in South Seattle. Met him there once. It has since been torn down, and of course Holstak has passed."

You used to live in Seattle? I was born and raised in the area and live approx. 30 minutes south. My grandfather saw Hostak fight and always talked about what a vicious body puncher he was. About 23 years ago I read an article about him and realized he lived in the area. I phoned him and had a great conversation. He was in his mid-70s at the time and agreed to come down to the Hillman City Gym to meet me and show me a few things. Real nice guy and what a treat it was to watch him work the heavy bag.

 

I used to live in a a loft condominum in a great old building in Pioneer Square for a few years. Still a number of great old taverns in that part of town but many have disappeared and much of the landscape is changing.

On another subject, I had breakfast with Boone Kirkman earlier this week. He's 67 now and doing well. He's an avid hiker, goes out two-three times a week and is looking fit as a result.