Boxing Book Recommendations

Have you read War,Baby? The story on the Benn-McClellan fight, if you haven't that is a great, informative read and the author really gives a great description what it was like to be there,

 

I thought Dark Trade was really good and I'm half way through Hands of Stone.

Has anyone ready 'In the Red Corner'? It's a very interesting look at Cuban boxing. Also there is a good book, I can't remember the title, written by a journalist who has never boxed and trains to have one pro fight.

 

I don't do a lot of reading but I have read four kings and the Ali biography by Hauser - both really good.

 

The Michael Watson Story is an awesome read.. so emotionally moving.... :good

Trainer of Champions about George Francis is excellent :good

I really liked the structure of Chris Eubanks autobiography :good

 

Michael Watson has a book? Cool, Ima have a look for that. Cheers!

Only ones I've read are Four Kings and Dark Trade. Both very good books. I need to grab some more, but I'm just too lazy.:verysad

Edit: also has anyone read Nigel Benn's book? Worth a read?

 

Nigel Benn's book is well worth a read " The Dark Destroyer" :good


Last I heard The Michale Watson Story was out of print but they were looking at reproducing it.. it is written with Steve Bunce.. PM him on here to find out if they are doing it.. or have a look on a few websites, you should be able to find a copy.. :good

 

Mama's Boy - A biography on Lennox Lewis is well worth a read. Just finished reading Brutal Artistry by Thomas Hauser, I really don't like his writing style, a right smug git.

 

I read In the Red Corner the book on Cuban boxing by John Duncan. It's okay but not as good as the Duran book or War, Baby.

I've got the Len Harvey biography at home with a signed photo in the front courtesy of my late Grandad who claimed to know him. It's also got a signed photo of Jimmy Wilde in the front.

I've never read the Len Harvey biog but have looked at his ring record which is incredible to see the number of fights that kids had as pro's early last century and some of their ring names.

Maybe I'll give the book a go.

 

Here's some of the books i've read over the last couple of years...

Sugar Ray Robinson/Pound for Pound - This was written with his son and with some of his mothers/Sugars wife (Edna Mae) memoires. Quite good actually not normally into books from this era but it's well worth a read.

Michael Watson/The Biggest Fight - One of the most inspiring books i've read. Very emotional and quite funny in places. Gives a vivid account of his struggle not just after the Eubank fight but also before the fight too, trying to make a name for himself around the Eubank/Benn fanfare.

Johnny Tapia/Mi Vida Loca- This book is a MUST FOR ANY BOXING FAN. From the blerb on the front page this book will have you captavated. Absolutely mental - This is the best way to describe this man and the life he's had. Will have you crying with laughter and sadness in the same chapters. Best book IMO

Mike Tyson/Nurture of the beast - A bit of a complex book this, as it's not just about boxing and it doesn't really indulge into anything around his fights ie, the training or indeed the fights themselves (in much detail).A lot of this book delves into particular issues in America (Race, Money, Violence etc etc) and compares them to the struggles that Mike himself went through.

Roberto Duran/Hands of Stone - Need I say anymore?

Joe Calzaghe/No Ordinary Joe - Although the title is a lie this book is actually ok. Now I dont like calzaghe but this but is quite funny in parts and does give quite a good insight into his training and his (sometimes) lack of motivation. What I dont like about this book which is probably what put me off Joe a lot in the first place is the fact that this book is at times very bitter. Joe seems aggreived that others around him ie Naz, Hatton and the likes were often given more publicity and the public seemed to notice them more than Joe ( I have an answer to why this is but thats not for here )

Johnny Owen/The Big If - Superb. This story got my attention a while back now and compelled me to search to see if a book had indeed been written on the man. It hadn't. Didn't have to wait long for one though and when it did come out I couldn't put it down. Very emotional read. Brilliant the way that his father and family seem so at ease with Lupe and actually invite him over to unveil the statue of Jonny.

I'm currently reading Johnny Nelson-Hard Road to Glory and Frank Maloney/From Peckham to Las Vegas which botyh seem ok (Nelsons seems really funny so far)

Books I have on order to be delivered next week

Dark Trade - Lost in Boxing
The Making of Naseem Hamed - The Paddy and the Prince
Rope Burns - One Mans Reluctant Obsession With Boxing

 

The Fight. Norman Mailers classic about the Rumble in the Jungle.

 

I really enjoyed Johnny Nelson's book. Rope Burns is pretty good too. I bought Frank Maloney's book years ago but haven't got around to reading it yet.

 

Yeah not really keen on the idea of putting more money in the promoters pockets but it was only £2.50 in WHSmiths so i thought 'why the hell not'

 

Ringside: A History of Boxing Reportage by Budd Schulberg. Quality, quality writing.

 

I was reading Michael Murray's book and just eventually had to give up on it.
It's an incredibly worthy tale but just to 'poetic' for my liking.