Fighter Biographies

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by barrack osama, Jun 5, 2011.

  1. What are the best boxing books and different fighter biographies through out history that you have read?
     
  2. yeah i love it i mostly just read this section and take the **** out of you all in the lounge but im not much of a book reader so i need some help where to start. anyone read lamottas book, whats that one like?
     
  3. natonic

    natonic Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Lamotta's book is excellent. Teddy Atlas' book is highly entertaining. It's left to the reader to decide how much is BS, but highly entertaining nonetheless.

    'The Big If' about the life and death of Johnny Owen, is a personal favorite of mine. It gives a good insight on Lupe Pintor as well.
     
  4. Threetime no1

    Threetime no1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    'Fire and Fear' by Jose Torres '1990' was a super read on Tyson back in his heyday.
    One i just got back out a few weeks ago is 'My Greatest Fight' by Ken Gorman. It features about 40 world title fights with background stories and events surrounding the fights. It's a bit simplistic but a very good read. It's off about '97-'98
     
  5. Surf-Bat

    Surf-Bat Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Sam Langford by Clay Moyle.

    Jim Jeffries, A Man Among Men by Kelly Richard Nicholson

    Ultimate Tough Guy (another Jeffries book)
     
  6. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think Raging Bull is over rated. It was decent, but there are many better books.

    The recent Langford, Greb and Gans biographies are excellent. As is Lary Holmes autobiography, the book Joe Louis bio by Art and Edna Rust, Thomas Hauser's Ali bio, Unforgivable Blackness, Charley Burley and the black murderers row, all very good books with tons of information. There are more I've rea, I just can't think of them of the top of my head.
     
  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Which Greb one is the most recent, and I presume, best?

    Moyle's Langford book is solid. Also, the recent Tunney one was excellent.

    If you are really serious, the Pollack Jeffries book is excellent, as I suspect the others of his are.
     
  8. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    yes, the recent on. The only other one I know is "Give him to the angels" which is said to focus mostly on Grebs legend and is filled with inaccuracies.

    Haven't read the Tunney or Jeffries bio's but will try and look into them. Thank you or the heads up!
     
  9. Swarmer

    Swarmer Patrick Full Member

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    Id recommend Charley Burley and the Black Murderer's Row and Moyles Langford book as well
     
  10. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What are posters thought on the Don King book? I thought it was an excellent read and gave great insight into King and boxing's shady underbelly.
     
  11. Threetime no1

    Threetime no1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    You know i meant to buy it when it came out but forgot about it. Definitley gonna get it. Regardless of what you think of King, his had some life in and out of boxing so you know it's gonna be a good read. I reckon it will have a few porkies in though. :yep
     
  12. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I posted some links to biographies (written in newspaper articles - series formats) for Joe Choynski, Paddy Slavin and Jim Jeffries. These are as good as most biography books. They can be found by searching these forums, without too much difficulty, i am sure.
     
  13. thanks for the feedback. Anyone read fenech and durans books at all
     
  14. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I thought it was an excellent read. You get a much broader appreciation of what a manipulation scoundrel King really is. No matter what anyone thinks of him though, if you're objective you'll have to admit he is a brilliant guy.
     
  15. Kingkazim

    Kingkazim Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Durans book "Hands of Stone" is excellent, i would say its better than the "Four Kings".

    Gives you a great insight into his character, and it is just generally very enjoyable