Boxing Books

The Fireside Book of Boxing
The Michigan Assassin, by Nat Fleischer
Anything by W.C.Heinz
Everything by Springs Toledo
Leonard The Magnificent, by Nat Fleischer
When Samson Lost His TiTle To Cleopatra, By Anonymous

 

I,m Sorry; the last book was When Samson Lost His Title To Delilah,,By Anonymous...
P.S. Cleopatra begged out of the fight with Samson....

 

What does anyone think about ''Sweet Thunder'' about SRR?

I'm reading it at the moment and although its not all about boxing, I think it's a pretty decent read.

 

My mate just got that, i'll lend that when he's done, haha

 

Sad to say, M, because SRR's my boyhood idol -- 'n I was really lookin' forward to the book -- but SWEET THUNDER'S dry dull dull dull. It takes a unique talent to make Sugar Ray Robinson's life lackluster

 

I haven't finished it yet, and although I wouldn't call it the best book on boxing I've read it's not all that bad so far.

I don't think Wil Haygoods boxing knowledge is all that good, and it's not a book that solely concentrates on boxing, but it seems to be a pretty good account of his life.

What other SRR books would you recommend?

 

Ringside - Budd Schulberg (the last chapter on Mike Jacobs is better than Kevin Mitchells book 'Jacobs Beach'

Sparring with Hemmingway - Budd Schulberg

Eubanks autobiography was quite good as well.

 

Only books chronicling Sugar's life -- little better than Wikipedia-- far less than the premier icon in the sport deserves.

It needs a Heinz or Red Smith to write it.

 

On the topic of books about SRR i'll recomend the ones I have and rate them mate:

Sweet Thunder - Not bad, gives a decent account of the times and an honest interpretation of Robinson.
Being Sugar Ray - a bit of an odd one, looks more at the role he played in black american sporting history.
Sugar Ray by Dave Anderson - ok, Anderson tries his best to get to the bottom of some questions and it's a decent read.
SRR by Thomas Myler - a bit poor on the whole
Peerless by Brian Hughes - a really good read but nothing here the others dont have
Pound for Pound - herb boyd - a decent book but tries to hard to over analyse ray.

 

I really enjoyed Johnny Tapias biogrraphy "Mi Vida LOCA" The only book i have read in one night. Very entertaining, felt sorry for johnny despite his own bad decision in life. Always been a big Tapia fan but even more so after this, Tragic but fun and entertaining book.

 

Cheers :good

 

Heinz was offered the job years ago but declined ,because of the discrepancies surrounding Robinson's war service.