The Arc of Boxing: The Rise and Decline of the Sweet Science

The book was written by mike silver, is it any good, worth buying???

 

I hear nothing but good things. I'd cop it myself if it wasnt 40$

 

I read the book a few months ago. A great read it is . Mike silver compares the fighters of today,with the boxers of the 1940s and 1950s, who were far more experienced
fighting tougher competition..He also writes about the great full time boxing trainers and teachers..the book will enlighten you !

 

Wanted this book for a while, price has always put me off though, no idea why its so expensive

 

Silver is one of those they don't make em' like they used to types who makes delusional comments. Buyer beware.

 

Ive heard good reviews about the book but then he says things like Duran is overrated (one example) and puts me off, its one thing to think guys of the older days were better which they were but cmon duran is right up there with them, just because he came around in the late 60s/70s doesnt make him any less great a fighter than his predessors.

 

It's a really good book but is chock full of infuriating stuff like the example you put forth. Silver interviews people who put forth absurd and asinine assertions such as Marvin Hagler being nowhere near Rocky Graziano in greatness and ability.

I don't know about you, but silly, unsupportable nonesense like that kills credibility for me. It crippled the book and made much of it hard to enjoy. BUT....there is a LOT of great stuff in there. So I-for what my endorsement worth- recommend it highly:good

 

They're probably just jealous because Hagler is now the greatest Italian boxer of all time.

 

I know Mike Silver very well, in fact he always sends me E-Mails on how Great I am for the sport of boxing.

I read his book when it first came out and I don't agree with everything he says in it, But it happens to be a very good, and every boxing buff should try to get a copy. It will at least make you think and after you read it, you will know a lot more then you did before.

 

It sounds like a very interesting book. I'm very put off by the price tag though. Any explanations about this? Is it 1000 pages? Does it come with a blow job from the cherry lipped gal at the bookstore? Seriously though, what's the deal with the price?

 

Brow-raising remarks will always have their place in boxing as controversy helps to fuel interest.

 

Hi Ted. I agree, provided that the remarks don't cross the line into absurdity, which they sometimes do in this book. If I wrote a book that was full of remarks like "Rocky Marciano had faster hands than Muhammad Ali" or "Lennox Lewis really had a better chin than George Chuvalo" I'm sure it would relegate my book to the trash heap and justifiably so.

Saying that Hagler wasn't in Rocky Graziano's league in abilityyikes) is every bit as absurd as the examples I just set forth.

 

Hagler would of beat the **** out Rocky,

I thought Silver had more sense than that, talk about a joke of a statement

 

In fairness to Mr. Silver, he didn't make the statement. One of his interviewees did. Still, I agree with you. A silly statement and one that cannot even remotely be backed up with sane, informed argument.

But I still recommend it. Great reading overall.