Apologies first of all to the mods if you feel this is in the wrong forum for whatever reason, however I put it here because of the wide-spread knowledge of old-time fighters, so I feel this is the best place for me to gain some great insight. - I'd like to be able to get some good (auto) biographies on non-active fighters, and would like to get some suggestions as to what to have a look at. I'd be greatly appreciative of any suggestions and books that you've read and feel are worth a look. Not looking for any fighter in particular, just any interest reads on non-active fighters. (Doesn't necessarily have to be the 'old-timers', just anybody pre-90's or so.) Cheers.
John L Sullivan, the career of the first gloved heavyweight champion by Adam Pollack. It will change your views a bit.
Cheers janitor. I will look into it, looks a bit pricey! *******. On another note McGrain, was it you who mentioned reading Sonny Liston's Night Train? If so, worth a read?
Randy Roberts' "Jack Dempsey The mannassa Mauler and his Papa Jack Everett Skehan's Rocky marciano, bio. of a first son. the recent books on harry greb and jim jeffries. also the book that came out recently on Sam Langford. and a great one called Ghosts of Manilla by mark Kram. All these and others can be found on Amazon by typing in books and then the names of either these books or these fighters.:hat
but if you really want to learn about boxing get an old Ring record book and study it. you can find that on Amazon too
Hands of Dtone by Christian Giudice. A must read - for a Duran-fan at least. Not really biographies but books that will give you some insights in the fighters and boxing over all: In this corner: 40 world champs tell their stories by Peter Heller and Dark Trade: Lost in boxing by Donald McRae
Johnny Tapia's " Mi Vida Loca" was an excellent book, I highly recommend it. Its only about 200 -250 pages,but a great read and really tells you alot about the troubled,complicated and crazy life of the Crazy but Loveable Johnny Tapia! I read it in one a day,and thats saying something ,usually it would take me at least a week to read a book the same size.
A few I recommend are Tunney by Jack Cavanaugh Rocky Marciano The Rock of his Times by Russell Sullivan The ballad of Les Darcy by Peter Fitzsimons and although its not a biography Four Kings by George Kimball is a great book about Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Leonard.
The Life And Times Of James Jeffries by Mendoza. Stroking The Klits by Mendoza. Seriously ,Pollack's books get very good reviews. Add,Papa Jack by Randy Roberts.Jack Dempsey by Randy Roberts. Cinderalla Man by Michael C Delisa. Rocky marciano,by Everett M Skehan. Joe Louis My Life by Joe Louis. In This Corner ,by Peter Heller. Dempsey by Dempsey.
Home After Dark, By Ruth Parks. Sam Langford.. Boxings Greatest Uncrowned Champion, By Clay Moyle. The Great Prize Fight, By Allen Lloyd. The Fighting Blacksmith, By Gilbert Odd. Heroes Of The Fancy, By Arnold Thomas. John L. Sullivan, By Nat Fleischer.