Research - Requesting Helpful Hints for Researching Boxing History

:rofl:rofl

 

Watch as many fights as you possibly can.

 

newspaperarchive.com is another place to go. Worth every cent.

Just begin researching whichever fighter has your interest the most for the moment. That will get you started and uncovering all those hidden gems of info that make research so fun. You may even discover a "lost" fight or two to add to a fighters' record (I've done this many times).

Your research will usually just segue from one fighter to another. For instance, years ago I studied Mickey Walker and in doing so discovered Dave Shade, whom I then commenced to research. In researching Benny Leonard, I discovered Ever Hammer, whom I researched in depth and eventually wrote an article on.

It's fun. Enjoy! :smoke

 

There is absolutely no greater feeling than stumbling upon a forgotten stud from yesteryear.

 

You will learn a lot of you start a thread saying Harry Greb is overrated, and back that up by the fact that everyone contradicting you is doing so without ever seeing a moment of film of him in action.

 

Here's a question- what fighters, eras and fighting styles interest you the most? Start from there and then some of the folks here can point you in the direction of other boxers that may interest you.

 

I would add a few more names to Bigunit's pantheon:

Tommy Gibbons-For years I mistakenly thought of him only as being a victim of Tunney and Dempsey. Far from it. He was a fighter of amazing stature, and researching him will vastly enhance your historical understanding of that era.

Ezzard Charles-Charles was the finest of the black murderer's row, but he is unique because he did eventually capture the world heavyweight championship, going on to become, for a time, the most sought after opponent in the world, which will help you understand both worlds: the murderer's row as well as the mainstream boxing world.

Ike Williams-Williams' life and career will give you insight into that surreal world where otherworldly talent and organized crime come together, where nothing is exactly as it seems.

 

I consider myself well mannered

 

I would also point out that as old as it makes me feel, the Duran-Leonard-Hearns-Benitez-Hagler period, the Ali and Holmes era and so on are history.

 

Go to your public library and check the newspaper articles for the fights. Get a feel for which newspapers had the best boxing reporters. For British boxing, the London Times was superb, especially in the 1960s.

 

Great advice!:happy

Yes, find out who had the most reliable coverage. For instance, when researching Harry Greb it is best to not use the Pittsburgh Press. Jim Jab, a former "clap doctor", was their sportswriter and he was a well-known Greb detractor. In fact he HATED Greb (and his manager, Red Mason, even more), disparaging him at every opportunity and giving his opponents the benefit of the doubt wherever and however he could. Better to stick to the Pittsburgh Post or Pittsburgh Gazette.

Also stay away from wire reports. Go straight to the primary sources. Don't get the results from the Buffalo Crotch Arkansas Gazette for a fight that happened in Detroit, Michigan. GET THE DETROIT PAPERS!

 

yes I Stressed this too, you have to bounce the more generic reports with local press as to where fights took place and Cross check all your reports, it'll always lead you to a more accurate and unbiased analyses of Top fighters and even lesser known opponents too.

 

Pick significant fighters in boxing history and it will lead you to all the other stuff in that era.

For example, learning about Mike Tyson will lead you into Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Buster Douglas etc, the whole late 80s-90s era.

 

Great advice. Thanks much.

Thanks for the recommendations. You point to a good plan of action. I own the book on Ross. I'll pick up the ones of Burley and Moore.

These were the exact kind of links I was looking for. I'll check them out soon.