Books

"Sex, Lies and Videotape" by Edwin Schmarmy. It also was made into a movie.

 

Ray Leonard’s autobiography is good and the book on Ray Mancini.

 

Ray Robinsons book written with Dave Anderson. Raging Bull by LaMotta. Somebody Up There Likes Me by Graziano. Gloves, Glory, and God by Armstrong. The Toy Bulldog by Mickey Walker. All good.

 

I've only read a few books on boxing due to financial stuff, but Off the Ropes: The Ron Lyle Story, despite its insignificant writing, is an awesome story. I just had to mention it in case someone else didn't.

 

For Christmas my brother got me “Years of the Locusts,” a very offbeat boxing book about Tim “Doc” Anderson and the murder of promoter Rick “Elvis” Parker.

Takes some time to get used to the writing — I won’t say it’s poorly written but this guy has a style and he doubles down on it at times — but all in all it’s really interesting. He knew I had always been intrigued by the whole thing of boxer murdering promoter and what was behind it and I honestly had no idea anyone had written a book about it.

If you’re looking for something completely different it’s worth checking out.

 

One Punch From the Promised Land. It's about the Spinks Brothers. I've recommended it on here so many times people are probably sick of hearing me recommend it. It's probably my favorite boxing book.

The Life and Crimes of Don King by Jack Hatfield is another good one.

Oscar De La Hoya's 'autobiography' is actually pretty good by the standards of manufactured boxing autobiographies. There is a particularly cool/interesting story about how Oscar's dream girl/high school sweetheart broke up with him because of a fellow young future champ.

 

You are 17 or something aren't you? I'm sure you will catch the books up in later years.

 

Those are all good ones. Schmeling and Buchanan has great ones too I felt.

Zárate’s book too I’d like to mention. Short but gripping story.

 

Pretty obscure, but the biography on James Salerno (that includes pages from his personal journal he kept during his fighting days) was absolutely fantastic. Well written and poignant. Maybe the best book on boxing I've read yet.

 

Never read Buchanans but good call on Schmelings. His book was great and very inspirational. He was a champion in every sense of the word.

 

The Four Kings by George Kimball (not like Tyson's book but you'll enjoy it.)
The Last Great Fight by Joe Layden (again not like Undisputed Truth but a terrific read nonetheless.)
The Inner Ring by Rudy Gonzalez (Tyson's bodyguard who got the shaft from Don King. Inside info that only he and Mike knew about.)

 

I've liked No Man Stands Alone by Barney Ross with Martin Abramson, Fighting Was My Business by Jimmy Wilde, Friday's Heroes by Willie Pep with Robert Sacchi, In the Ring and Out by Jack Johnson, Smokin' Joe by Joe Frazier with Phil Berger, The Archie Moore Story by Archie Moore with Bob Condon, Battling Nelson -- His Life, Battles, and Career "written by himself," and Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense by Jack Dempsey with Jack Cuddy. Many others too.

 

Had no idea the Spinks brothers had a book, will definitely give it a read

 

ya, I hope to, I need to get rid of some books so I can get some different ones