Boxing Books - What's the Best ?

CHB... can you elaborate on a piece from the 'Black Lights' Costello biography??? About 15 years ago, a bloke told me of a confrontation between Costello and Don King.... in Kings office I believe. No doubt regarding money!!

I believe King respected Costello's relations with 'mob' figures, suggesting something like;
"I know you have the contacts, to have me killed within 24 hours.... but, I can have you killed before you reach the ground floor"

Does this ring true??????????????????

 

I read the book perhaps 6 to 12 months ago.

Can't remember it specifically, to be honest. But there was certainly some similarly shady goings on described in the book (from memory).

Will probably re-read it at some stage. But I'll need to go to the library before I can get my hands on it again.

 

No probs. Have you read "The fighting blacksmith", by Golbert Odd??? A great biography on the life of Fitzsimmons..

"In the Days of the Giants", by Bill Doherty.. former Oz H/W champ???

or "Captain of the Push".. another great book.... cant remember the author... a nice Griffo biography.. perhaps the 'younger' blokes on this forum should take a look... I'd happily loan them, if a guarantee was them being returned.

 

Flamengo, I'd kill for a loan of the Young Griffo book, wasn't aware there were any about him. I'll treat it with kid gloves and send back comfy in bubble wrap & express post. Plus I'm a quick reader so the turnaround will be minimal. If thats ok I'll pm you with a mailing address as I'm only home every second week.

 

LeonMcs..... I have your postal address mate... and I still have to send some dvds to you also. Sorry for the delay.

 

Who is Young Griffo?

 

Serious question????

 

Yeah, id be lying pretended if i pretended to know.

 

2665 posts on this forum.... and you claim to not know anything about Griffo???? Please tell me your joking???

 

I have heard of Griffo before, but ido not know anything about him.

 

Sorry mate mine is not for sale but i have The 16th Round by Rubin Carter

Great book, haven't read to many in my timne but its defiately the best i've read. IMO anytime spent trackin a copy down will be well worth it so dont give up lol

 

Mate, Griffo was a freak.

At the time of Queensberry's introduction, Griffo was considered an incredible talent. Stories suggest he made many greats look foolish in their attempts to hit him. Moving his head and making his opponents miss by millimeters, he gained legendary status as the most scientific fighter of the time.

Home grown stories of the time suggest he would challenge guys at the pub to hit his face... Griffo would stand on a hanky, both feet firmly planted, and give anyone the chance to swing. Alegedly, he was never hit.??? Another tale is, he could catch a fly with his forefinger and thumb, release it, and catch it again...

He was a total **** pot... to say the least. Had the self control bordering on nothing when booze was involved. When due to fight, his manager often had to drag his arse out of the pub and get to the ring.... reportedly dipping his drunken melon in to a drum of water, in attempt to sober him up. Fighting whilst pissed was common for him, and the ability to do so was another reason for his legend. Jim Corbett called him the most brilliant fighter in history... and the dumbest.

When Billy Murphy took the F/W title from Ike Wier in 1890?, he sailed to Oz... thus being no longer recognised as Champ by the Ignorant yanks, due to leaving the USA. Regardless, Griffo faught Murphy in Sydney, beating him... and layed 'claim' to the title...

One pathetic thing that deserves constant attention to... The nature of that fact, and the disgrace of it. 'Griffo' was never recognised as a 'world champ' during his time. Even when he belted Murphy.

Griffo went to the States, and fought Ike Weir, putting the bloke to sleep in 3 rounds. Others he boxed were Jack McAuliffe, Joe Gans, Tommy Ryan and George Dixon... just to name a few of the greats on his record. Nat Fleischer eventually credited Griffo as a legitimate champion in the 50's..... half a century too late.

If there was a chance to keep Griffo sober, he would have been a ****ing nightmare to any man. Literally impossible to hit when serious, and well advanced in the formalities of the ring craft. Unfortunately, the alcohol was his hardest opponent.... I doubt he battled with it... just soaked it up like kiss from Jennifer Hawkins...

There has been a film of Griff bboxing with another guy... the name escapes me... in N.Y, and apparently one of the earliest recording of a staged fight... 1893-'94??

Mate, there a squillion things to say about him... and the facts remain... he was a genius, a **** head, an Aussie who loved to brawl, the finest fighter of his day... the mental picture I conjure up, he must have been on par with Willie Pep.... and he is the most lame arsed SOB to combine booze with boxing.

Combine his love of fighting and booze with a frienship with John L., and its a recipe for disaster. Both me admired each other, and the grog, and spent a lot of time enjoying sessions in numerous saloons.

tex Rickard was one admirer of Griffo, and paid for his funeral.... apparently bankrupt at his death, a shoe box was said to be found under his bed in the squaller he lived in... containing a few thousand pounds.... Rickard was reimbusred the funeral fee and the land lord was paid back rent... or board he owed...

If your interested in the 'Little Drunk', then keep me posted. I have to sent a book to LeonMcs... he can forward it to you, or I can send it to you... Just be sure to retun it to me..

 

Thanks for the write up mate, i never heard these before, as you were writing i was think of pep too.

Sounds like a character and a pretty good fighter too mate, thanks for the words.

At the moment i wont read the book mate, i might give it a month then see whpo has the book then as ill be done with summer school

 

No worries. I'll keep ya posted. All the best with your studies also.

 

Thanks mate, i did not expect to read the story about him too, i thought he would not have been that good.
thanks for the luck too mate.