Anecdote about Tunney sparring Hemingway

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bokaj, Oct 31, 2010.


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  1. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    They actually had a sparring session, which Gene makes an amusing account of:

    "All of a sudden Ernest came at me and started swinging. He came and cut me across the lip, and there he was blood, and then he jabbed me in the left elbow. I said to Ernest, "Do stop it please, Ernest," but he kept righ on punching... I thought to myself: what Ernest needs is a good little liver punch. There's a little liver punch, and it as to be timed exactly, and when I saw the moment I let him have it. I was a little alarmed, if I do say so! His knees buckled, his face went gray, and I thought he was going to go down. But he didn't, and for the next few hours Ernest was perfectly charming."

    It's in a biography of Hemingway by Jeffrey Meyers.
     
    Bokaj, Oct 31, 2010
    Bokaj, Oct 31, 2010
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  2. young griffo

    young griffo Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He fancied himself somewhat did Ernest.

    Apparently he wasn't too bad either but I reckon Gene Tunney was a little out of his league.

    I read another account of Hemingway getting floored in sparring by Morley Callaghan when F.Scott Fitzgerald was acting as time keeper.Apparently Hemingway held Scott responsible as in his mind Scott deliberately let the round go on too long in order to see Ernest humiliated.

    A great writer he may have been but a sense of humour Hemingway did not have.
     
    young griffo, Nov 1, 2010
    young griffo, Nov 1, 2010
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  3. Johnstown

    Johnstown Boxing Addict banned

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    George Pimperton (sp) had a good little account of a "sparring" session with Ernest in one of his books who's name escapes me...
     
    Johnstown, Nov 1, 2010
    Johnstown, Nov 1, 2010
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  4. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    George Plimpton's book is called " Shadox Box", very interesting book, he talks about Hemingway sparring with Tunney , taking a liberty and being swiftly reprimanded.
    Tunney feinted his guard down threw a monster right that stopped a fraction of a
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    n inch from his nose,then said," Never do that again".Plimpton , went three rounds with Archie Moore and wrote about it in this book.
     
    mcvey, Nov 1, 2010
    mcvey, Nov 1, 2010
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  5. Johnstown

    Johnstown Boxing Addict banned

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    Good call...I read it in highschool some 15 years ago.
     
    Johnstown, Nov 1, 2010
    Johnstown, Nov 1, 2010
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  6. jaffay

    jaffay New Orleans Hornets Full Member

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    Better don't mess around with Mojito fueled Hemingway ;)
     
    jaffay, Nov 1, 2010
    jaffay, Nov 1, 2010
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  7. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Apparently he was a decent barroom fighter but he would have been seriously out of his depth with Tunney.
     
    mcvey, Nov 1, 2010
    mcvey, Nov 1, 2010
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  8. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    If Hemingway had dedicated his career to boxing he could have been even greater then Robert DeNiro.
     
    Russell, Nov 1, 2010
    Russell, Nov 1, 2010
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  9. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    **** writer. Steinbeck was unfathomable miles better than that hack.
     
    salsanchezfan, Nov 1, 2010
    salsanchezfan, Nov 1, 2010
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  10. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Its a point of view ,but one I don't agree with.Two greats imo.
     
    mcvey, Nov 2, 2010
    mcvey, Nov 2, 2010
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  11. young griffo

    young griffo Boxing Addict Full Member

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    **** writers don't produce the likes of A Farewell To Arms,For Whom The Bell Tolls,The Old Man And The Sea or even A Moveable Feast.

    You're entitled to your opinion but it seems an extremely harsh and baseless view no matter how big a Steinbeck fan you are.
     
    young griffo, Nov 2, 2010
    young griffo, Nov 2, 2010
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  12. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Steinbeck considered Hemingway a great writer.
     
    mcvey, Nov 2, 2010
    mcvey, Nov 2, 2010
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  13. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Anyone read his short story "Fifty Grand"? I think it gives a very good description of a boxing match. Very good story all in all, as well.
     
    Bokaj, Nov 2, 2010
    Bokaj, Nov 2, 2010
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  14. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    You bunch of literary snobs...give me Mickey Spillane any day of the week.
     
    red cobra, Nov 2, 2010
    red cobra, Nov 2, 2010
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  15. DDDUUDDDEE

    DDDUUDDDEE Undisputed Ambien (taker) Full Member

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    Haha, Interesting story...

    And Hemingway was great... a man after my own heart!
     
    DDDUUDDDEE, Nov 2, 2010
    DDDUUDDDEE, Nov 2, 2010
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