Boxing book recommendations

I would be really grateful if anybody could recommend me some great books about boxing. Ive read 5 or 6 over the last 12 months which have been fantastic but i dont know of any more good ones to get. Over the last 12 months ive read these titles ....

Four Kings - A book on Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Duran .. A pretty solid book but didnt tell me a great deal that i didnt already know but well worth a read ..

Dark Trade - Written by Donald Mcrae, who had intimate access to fighters such as, Tyson, Eubank, Watson, Tonaey and Naz .. Its a great personal story that charts the sides to fighters that the public seldom sees ..

Hands of Stone - Wriiten by Cristian Giudice, about the one and only Roberto Duran. A great biography that charts Duran's childhood through to his retirement

Becoming Holyfield - The autobiography on Evander. This was my only disapointment. Holyfield is one of my all time favourite fighters but there is nothing that interesting here. He doesnt really focus on his fights, its more about his family life, his mum and his belief in god .. Im not saying its not worth a read but i wanted a bit more information on each individual fight with Bowe, Tyson and Lewis

McCilvanney on Boxing - A truly great book written by a truly great author/journalist .. Hugh McCilvanney is one of the foremost British experts on boxing and reading his reports on fights, stretching back 30 years is a learning experience

Ringside - A Treasury of Boxing Reportage - Ive saved the very best til last. Written by Budd Schulberg (the man who wrote 'On The Waterfront' which later became a huge film for Marlon Brando in the 50s). This is a view into the mind of the most knowledgable man alive on boxing .. He's in his 90's now, he saw his first fight in the 20's as a young boy and ever since then he has been reporting on boxing. One of the only guys who can really compare fighters from several era's. He also takes you through what it was like training and managing a fighter .... I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anybody, I dont think anybody will be disappointed getting this off amazon for a tenner ..

So could anybody recommend any books for me ??

 

I didnt mean to demean 'Four Kings' in any way but i already knew about the reasons for hostility between Hagler and Leonard .... And i had read the Duran biography by then .. It was a very interesting book and im glad i read it, but it doesnt compare to 'Dark Trade', 'McCilvanney on Boxing' or Schulberg's 'Ringside' ....... Has anybody got any recommendations i could take a look at ?

 

Thanks, i'll check that out .. By no means was i being arrogant about 'Four Kings', its just that these 4 fighters are in my all time favourite fighters so im keen on reading anything about them and that was before 'Four Kings' came out .... Kimball is a good writer, theres no doubt about it but nobody should doubt that Budd Schulberg is 'The Man' when it comes to Boxing

 

Gaz you are spot on, the early years of Hagler's career was a stand out .... Let me re-iterate, i did find the book interesting and i will read it again some day .. If i sounded harsh on my original post, i apologise .. In no way would i demean 'Four Kings', its great but in my humble opinion it doesnt compare to 'Dark Trade', 'McCilvanney on Boxing' and ultimately Schulberg's 'Ringside' .. It is just my opnion and im sure many people will take more enjoyment in reading 'Four Kings' than 'Dark Trade' .. Its an opinion and i respect everyone's opinion on here, but i just preferred the other 3 books than 'Four Kings' probably because the other 3 books touched on fighters not as 'Showbiz' as the 4 kings ........ It is my dream to have a guy write a book on Ricardo Lopez or Carlos Monzon .. Four Kings is a great book and i recommend it but if you had your last £10, buy Budd Schulberg's 'Ringside - A Treasury of Boxing Reportage', forget about any negative reviews it may have or may not , trust me, you will enjoy it

 

I definately appreciate your advise on the Anderson book and i'll check it out .. I think the way i worded my original post gave people the impression that i didnt like 'Four Kings', but i did, it just wasnt the best boxing book i have personally read. Thats just my opinion, everybody has a different opinion and i respect that

 

Thanks bud, i will definately check oout 'The Big If' .. Ive seen tons of stuff on Jack Johnson on tv .. I'll check out 'Unforgiveable Blackness' at some point but Johnny Owen definately interests me, his life before he faced Pintor and then that fight .. Life is about circumstance, but i do wonder whether Pintor would have even been in the ring with Owen had he not got a gift of a decision against Zarate in '79 .. Zarate v Pintor ranks as one of the biggest robberies in history for me, Zarate was a clear winner .. Pintor also starred in one of the top 5 fights of 'all time' in his losing effort against Wilfredo Gomez in '82 .. Anybody who hasnt seen Pintor v Gomez, get a copy, its one hell of a fight