Best boxing books you've read?

I bought two old ones from my local library which were great but may be hard to find. The first was 'Boxings Mr President - The Story of the World Heavyweight Championship' by Bill Beadle. Starts with James Figg and John L and goes up until Tyson. Printed in '97, looks a lot older but a pretty good read and brings to life all the backroom dealings that go with the big prize.
Also Boxing Babylon by Nigel Collins, a look at some of the more 'seedier' fighters throughout the ages. Have bios on Tyson by Peter Heller, Phil Berger & Montieth Illingworth. Avoid at all costs 'Fire and Fear' by Jose Torres, why didn't he just call the bloody thing 'How I directed Mike Tyson to the title, got fired, and thats why he screwed up'. Pure hatchet job that most people still recall the more memorable quotes.
The Hauser Ali bio was a fav, have Kostya Tszyus bio and only today picked up one of local fighter Lester Ellis.
My reward for looking in dark corners of second hand bookstores is 'The Life of Peter Jackson' by Tom Langley, heavyweight fighter born in the West Indies, became champ of Australia and is claimed that Sullivan drew the colour line on him. Sure I had a few more, especially on Ali, but they do have a habit of going missing.

 

This book has just been released.

This content is protected

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Over the years, Thomas Hauser has earned recognition as one of the most respected boxing writers in America and the definitive chronicler of the contemporary boxing scene. The Greatest Sport of All is Hauser's inside portrait of 2006, another remarkable year in boxing, just published by the University of Arkansas Press.

The book includes in-depth looks at great fighters, great fights and the powers behind the throne. There are revealing portraits of Oscar De La Hoya, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins and Don King, and a look back at giants like Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. Other pieces look at safety issues and fighters, Boxing After Dark on HBO, and his essay on pay-per-view piracy and the Internet was described by HBO Sports as a "wake-up call for the pay-per-view industry."

 

War,Baby - Kevin Mitchell
Soul of Boxing
Chris Eubanks autobiography is a very interesting read!

 

Earlier in this thread, both McVey and John Garfield recommended anything by W.C. Heinz. Here's information for borrowing a copy of a book of his through an inter-library loan, that's a favorite of mine:

THE FIRESIDE BOOK OF BOXING edited by W.C. Heinz. Simon and Shuster Inc. 1961. Hardcover. Illus. LC 61-12857.

An excellent collection of boxing literature encompassing a multitude of genres; fiction, fact, commentary, poetry, reporting, portrait, drama, argument and self-portrait.

 

I am doing a book on Howard davis jr, and helping Mac Foster (he is writing it i am just helping with some input)

 

Tony tubbs is doing a book, Pinklon thomas has one done that should be coming out next year

 

Also former contender/tyson foe Donnie Long has interest in doing a book

 

It brings wonderful memories, Rocket, seeing the name Howard Davis, Jr. I go back to the early '40s and I can't remember anyone who looked more like he'd inherit the mantle of Sugar Ray Robinson, coming out of the amateurs, than Davis.

He was a phenom in the New York Golden Gloves.

 

Are there any good Willie Pep books?

Or ANY Willie Pep books..?

 

He has his own biography, came out in about 1994 I think, good luck finding a copy!!

 

Just discovered a Ray Arcel book!!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Champ-Corner-Ray-Arcel-Story/dp/0752444468/ref=wl_it_dp/026-7887251-6958849?ie=UTF8&coliid=I256GI19PM1XQ&colid=JN02F5HXDTO2

Will definitely be getting this one!!

 

Any idea what the title is?

I've looked him up on amazon.com but no luck!

 

Here you go

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Pep-Will-Othe-Wisp/dp/1901746224/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/026-7887251-6958849?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194603598&sr=8-1

 

Favorite reads? Here's some that quickly come to mind:
* Somebody Up There Likes Me - Rocky Graziano 1956
* Flight of the Hawk - Aaron Pryor
* Champions Off Guard - William Inglis 1932
* The Roosevelt That I Know - Mike Donovan 1909
* The Sixteenth Round - Rubin Carter 1975
* Corner Men - Fried
* Muldoon, The Solid Man of Sport - Edward Van Every 1929