Old time fighters who need the benefit of a good biography

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Aug 23, 2010.


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  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    A good biography can flesh out the career of an old time fighter and somtimes change perceptions of them for a generation.

    Perhaps the classic example of this would be the Pollack biography of John L Sullivan.

    My question to you is which great fighters most need a well researched and well written biography to bring their career back to life for a current generation?

    If the best boxing biographer on the planet asked you to suggest some candidates for him/her to write the definitive bio on then what names could you suggest?
     
    janitor, Aug 23, 2010
    janitor, Aug 23, 2010
    #1
  2. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Victor "Young" Perez
     
    AlFrancis, Aug 23, 2010
    AlFrancis, Aug 23, 2010
    #2
  3. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Jack Dillon
    John Henry Lewis
    Jimmy McLarnin
    Jim Driscoll
    Owen Moran
    Young Griffo
    Frankie Genaro
    Peter Jackson
    Pascual Perez
    Eder Jofre
    Jack Delaney
    Joe Walcott






    TOMMY McGOVERN.:good
     
    mcvey, Aug 23, 2010
    mcvey, Aug 23, 2010
    #3
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  4. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    I think any fighter who has a good biography can tend to be overrated.
     
    GPater11093, Aug 24, 2010
    GPater11093, Aug 24, 2010
    #4
  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Jimmy Carroll. I believe in my heart that there's a very special story there. Mops up the best Britain's bare-knuckle era has to offer and then comes to the States falling short by a hair of upsetting the great Jack McAullife for the lightweigh title, also accourding to one source, his first loss, cleanly outboxing him through the rounds in the forties before dramatically - almost inexplicabley, to read the ring reports - collapsing in the 47th.

    The man fought in the 1870's, 80's and 90's and he fought at a high level into his own forties in an era this just didn't happen in - it's an incredible story without knowing anything about him. His story is boxing's story in these fledging years.

    Alas, it'll never happen. But that would be my dream book.


    Failing that, i'll have Jack Blackburn.
     
    McGrain, Aug 24, 2010
    McGrain, Aug 24, 2010
    #5
  6. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Jersey Joe Walcott. I have been able to contact Walcott's family. I have contacted a few...but I am in serious consideration of getting enough research on Jersey Joe where I will be able to explore the idea on a biography. I am interested in finding a very good writer out there with the same ambitions as me to enter the project together.
     
    SuzieQ49, Aug 24, 2010
    SuzieQ49, Aug 24, 2010
    #6
  7. Surf-Bat

    Surf-Bat Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Chicago boxing historian JJ Johnston has a book on Jimmy McLarnin, whom he knew well, that is in the process of being published. Should be a good one.
     
    Surf-Bat, Aug 24, 2010
    Surf-Bat, Aug 24, 2010
    #7
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    There's already a belter on Jimmy though.
     
    McGrain, Aug 24, 2010
    McGrain, Aug 24, 2010
    #8
  9. klompton

    klompton Boxing Addict banned

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    Mike O'Dowd and Frank Klaus. Two whom I may visit after finishing Greb.

    And at the rate Im going on Greb I will be dead of old age shortly after finishing those latter two...
     
    klompton, Aug 24, 2010
    klompton, Aug 24, 2010
    #9
  10. Meast

    Meast New Member Full Member

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    Out of the ones mentioned so far I'd really like to see a Jack Blackburn one.


    I'd like to see a Marcel Cerdan one, not sure if there's a good one around anywhere?
     
    Meast, Aug 24, 2010
    Meast, Aug 24, 2010
    #10
  11. Pete47

    Pete47 Member Full Member

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    Barbados Joe Walcott
     
    Pete47, Aug 24, 2010
    Pete47, Aug 24, 2010
    #11
  12. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Benny Goldberg, a Polish Jew who turned pro in the US and made waves at bantamweight during the period that his homeland was invaded and occupied. He went 2-1 in a trilogy with Manuel Ortiz, with the loss being his only world title challenge.
     
    IntentionalButt, Aug 24, 2010
    IntentionalButt, Aug 24, 2010
    #12
  13. Meast

    Meast New Member Full Member

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    A good bio on Ismael Laguna would be good also
     
    Meast, Aug 24, 2010
    Meast, Aug 24, 2010
    #13
  14. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    I agree on Jersey Joe. One of my all time faves.
     
    robert ungurean, Aug 24, 2010
    robert ungurean, Aug 24, 2010
    #14
  15. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    And correct me with the recommended reading if I am wrong here, but...

    Les Darcy
    Stanley Ketchell
    Tom Sharkey (try and tell me he had an uninteresting life)
    Young Stribling
    William Sheriff
    Henry Maske
     
    Seamus, Aug 24, 2010
    Seamus, Aug 24, 2010
    #15
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