Good boxing books

Anyone read 'The Gifted One'? Wondering if it's worth a purchase.

 

Yep... I liked it... The only thing that would have made it better would have been an interview with Kirkland.

 

Its definitly decent but that chapter giving GM's uncounciouness view is shockingly bad...

 

Cheers [logs onto Amazon]

 

Anyone know a good book on the history of the British bareknuckle days? Broughton, Mendoza, Figg etc?

 

Going of topic here but a great boxing song is "The Contender" by Jimmy McCarthy about the life of Jack Doyle.

From early ring success, to movie and theatre stardom, to dating hollywood starlets, to alcoholism to living on the streets.

 

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bareknuckle-Undefeated-Champion-Bartley-Gormon/dp/1590203909/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296233848&sr=1-2[/ame]

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bareknuckles-Social-History-Prize-Fighting/dp/0718826760/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296233848&sr=1-5[/ame]

The second one sets out to explain the social side of Pugilism but contains a lot of information about those who you mentioned...

 

Cheers Lee. I've read the Gorman book, the second book looks much more like what I'm after.

 

Sorry, that first link is completely wrong... I must have copied the wrong bloody address... I'll find out which one it was meant to have been


The second one is fantastic though. Borrowed it from City of London Libraries and have had ity out a few times. You'll really enjoy it I think.

 

I did think the Gorman book was a strange recommendation.....;O)

 

Here you go mate :good

[url]https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tom-Spring-Bare-knuckle-Champion-England/dp/075242940X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296236254&sr=1-3[/url]

 

I've read a lot on Irish boxers, not sure if it would be on your radar. Wayne McCullough's book 'Pocket Rocket' and Bernard Dunne's 'My Story' are interesting as they confront the over zealousness of the BBBC's policy on cysts. Something that's not really discussed that often.

For pure entertainment - Jack Doyle - The Gorgeous Gael, fascintating book

 

I find him slightly too pretentious and over the top in his descriptions. I don't care for that, that much personally. Maybe it is good writing but its just a lot of waffle as far as I'm concerned.

The one with Anderson is really good, if a slightly rose-tinted look at Robinson's career. I'm sure JG recommended that 'Sweet Thunder' is actually the better book and more balanced.

Here is my suggestions:

Hands of Stone by Christian Giudice - The definitive book on Duran
Charley Burley: The life and times of an uncrowned champion - by Allen Rosenfeld - Now this is a history book, it has so much information packed into it from basically the whole era that Burley fought in and all his contemporaries. Quite a unique style to it, but I love it. It is all about boxing though, no personal stuff but I prefer it.
Charley Burley and the Black Murderer's Row by Harry Ottey - A really good account of Burley's life.
Four Kings by George Kimball - A great insight into the amazing fights the four kings produced.
The Professional by W.C Heinz - The best novel I have ever written. Such a good story and very interesting characters. A nice simple writing style that really makes the book so realistic and easy to read.
The Sweet Science by AJ Liebling - A collection of brilliant essays by Liebling, who despite being a 'fancy writer, has a very simple style. The way he sums up the atmosphere of a fight is unique and he sums up fights so effectively.
Jersey Boy: The life and mob slaying of Frankie De Paula by Adeyinka Makinde - A superbly researched book on the really interesting DePaula. Gives a great insight into Jersey city in DePaula's time, with lots about the Mafia. The chapter on the Dick Tiger fight is worth it anyway.
Atlas by Teddy Atlas - Just a really good story with lots of interesting tales and a nice easy read.
Unforgivable Blackness by Geoffrey C. Ward - The definitive look at Jack Johnson's career.
Nine, ten and out: The two worlds of Emile Griffith by Ron Ross - Superb book on the life of Emile Griffith, superb insights into his fights with Paret and his hard childhood as well as his internal battles over his homosexuality.
Gilroy was here by Jim Glen and Ian McFarlane Well researched book on Gilroy with good personal insights from his Grandson, Glen, slightly repetitive with the points it wants to make but interesting.
King of the world by David Remnick - Avery indepth look on Ali although it focusses alot on the state of the Hevayweight division that led to Ali's rise.
Muhammed Ali by Thomas Hauser - The best Ali book you can read, a very uniquely written book also, I loved it, and I don't normally like reading about Ali as he has been over-pubicised.
My View from the corner by Angelo Dundee - Superb insights into Dundee's world although I felt he slightly too much foucussed on Ali and Leonard rather than his other fighters that are as interesting IMO


more to come

 

This is an interesting read.

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bold-Lion-Bendigo-Champion-England/dp/0950764523[/ame]

 

In This Corner by Peter Heller