Best Boxing Book you know of ?

McIlvanney on Boxing by Hugh McIlvanney.

 

Sting Like A Bee by Jose Torres. In the Fight of the Century part,I almost feel that Jose's transported me to Ringside !

 

I like the box on the fab four of the 1980s. I read it. I knew most of it already but it was good. I wish we had more books like that on boxing. I would love to read real stories about boxers and how they felt before each fight. Would be fascinating.

 

Sweet Thunder by Will Haygood
Hands of Stone by Christian Giudice
Four Kings by George Kimball

I'm currently reading Dark Trade by Don McRae, still in the early chapters but I can tell its going to be good.

 

I know there are better boxing books and I know this one is a love it or hate it kind of book, but the one that touched me the most when I read it (as a kid) was 'The Fight' by Norman Mailer.

 

For me, it's "In This Corner" by Peter Heller. I usually apreciate a well-written book, as many do, but this one isn't "written" per se. It's many chapters, some longer than others, each focusing on one fighter. His story is told in his own words, without literary interruption or expanding on the story by the author. Just that fighter talking about himself and his career and what happened in his biggest fights.

Arranged in chronologicl order, the interviews span from careers starting in the teens and twenties through the 1960's, when the book was compiled. Inerviews include people like Braddock, Louis, La Barba, Sharkey, Graziano, Lamotta, Pep (whose chapter is long because he won't shut up), Armstrong, Giardello, Fullmer, Don Jordan, and many more.

Fascinating stuff.

 

FIGHT TOWN

get Fight Town

 

one of the best i ever read was a auto bio by Jack Dempsey, I lent the book to someone when I was a young teenager and never got it back, it was signed. Dempsey tells the story of wanting to be a champ when he was young and he soaked his hands and face in brine to toughen it he also used wall pullies and his power was strictly for punching

another very interesting part was how Jack traveled under the trains because HE GOT WHACKED a few times by the train conductor so he found two metal poles he held on to and wrapped his legs around while holding on with his arms, his arms became like steel tendons (cables) He also fought in the coal mining towns sometimes not eating for days in the hard hard and hungry times of his era

I do not remember the name of the book but it made an impression on me early

 

Bummy you never lend out an autographed jack dempsey book, that should be locked in a safe

 

speaking of Dempsey.....its more a how to book...but i really found Championship fighting to be a hell of a book for a trainer to through.

 

Not everone's idea of a great book..books..but the volumes by Pierce Egan, Boxiana.. and Daniel Mendoza's memoirs are nice to read.

 

Ray Leonard's book is a good read IMO...

Four Kings by George Kimball is great as well

 

I was young and it did not mean as much to me as it would now. Someone i knew was cleaning out and old house and found it and gave it to me because it was boxing, It just said Best Wishes Jack Dempsey....I lent it out because of the story...I was about 15-16 years old, wish i had it now