Perhaps he lays it on thick I only really read it that 1 time and I wasnt the biggest critic at the time. It was an intro into Ali for me, some great little stories and he became my hero for much of my teens I read a bio Ali put out in the 70s after but thought this book was. Again it was all in my teens and I wasnt a sceptic as a teenager that I sadly am now
Great book. Very nicely varied indeed. Here is an excellent article from Hugh on Leonard-Duran II which isn't featured in the book. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,583597,00.html
anyone see the harsh review, in (British) Boxing News , of Ringside by Schullberg im reading it at the minute and really like it
I hate the book that Holyfield and his old manager wrote. Completely one sided and biased. Full of lies. A complete joke.
it was harsh but its a good book hes focused on the negative and tainted it to look bad. If you read it youd enjoy it.
Anyone here who's Scottish and doesn't own "McIIvanney on Boxing" needs slapped across the head with a wet Salmon.
you better slap me i cant find it in book shops when i look, thats my excuse but its now top of my to read list.
Budd Shulberg "Ringside - A treasury of boxing reportage" is also an excellent book. It has more articles over the last 20 years than "McIIvanney on Boxing". I don't think it's quite as good, but still one of the best boxing books around. Nice variation in both though.
Cheers mate thoroughly enjoyed that. I think Duran did end up redeeming himself. Im enjoying the book as well, McIlvanney's telling me stuff I didnt know about fights I've seen upteen times. Hes a very unique writer.
McIIvanney's article on Leonard-Duran II. "Brown, the second of his old trainers, says that with Duran boxing has always been too serious to be considered a sport. 'It's not like football,' says Brown. 'Because he never gives you the ball.' Realising that Leonard was taking the ball away from him for keeps, Duran resolved to put a knife in it"