I'm expanding my collection of boxing books. Now, don't laugh, take into consideration that I have no job and have only really been into boxing for about a year. Here's what I got so far... A Flame of Pure Fire by Roger Kahn Dempsey by Jack Dempsey Jack Dempsey: The Manassa Mauler by Randy Roberts Jack Dempsey by Nat Fleischer Muhammad Ali: The Unseen Archives by William Strathmore Max Schmeling: An Autobiography by Max Schmeling In This Corner by Peter Heller Dynamite Gloves: The Fighting Lives of Boxing's Big Punchers by John Jarret And currently, that's it. Dynamite Gloves was a good read, providing a good account of some great fighter's careers with quotes and anecdotes and such. It was a good resource to get the basic info on some fighters I didn't know much about. I've not read all of In This Corner yet, but it's a fantastic collection of interviews with all kinds of fighters. Gunboat Smith's chapter was very interesting, quite a character he was. Muhammad Ali: The Unseen Archives has pages and pages of great photos. So far Jack Dempsey: The Manassa Mauler and Max Schmeling: An Autobiography are both good, but I'm only a couple dozen pages into either. As far as Dempsey bio's go, I enjoyed Fleischer's the most. Next on the agenda are; The Ageless Warrior: The Life of Boxing Legend Archie Moore, Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran and Sam Langford: Boxing's Greatest Uncrowned Champion. Any comments of suggestions? I'm trying to balance my book buying budget between my two primary interests; werewolves and boxing (actually werewolves and boxing are tied with knives and movies as my four primary interests, there just aren't any good books about knives and movies) So only half of my set budget set aside for books per year can go to ones on boxing. Actually, that's all bull****, there is no budget, I just buy what I feel like reading. It just happens to work out that half the books I buy are about boxing and the other half about werewolves. Man, you ever think of how cool it'd be if werewolves were real, and, like, had boxing matches? Cause I do. A lot.
A bio on Carlos Monzon is WAY overdue, IMO. I'm amazed that there hasn't been one out already. I'm really surprised that some Latin writer, especially Argentine hasn't done it already. I wonder why?
The Black Lights is a great read... Its all about the period when Billy Costello was a young star on the Ny boxing scene, Jones and Rappaport were making waves with Gerry Cooney.. The Resto and Collins fight was breaking news and Panama Lewis was BIGNEWS.. DKP was the place to be and NY was the boxing capitol of the globe.. It takes on the inside where the boxing underworld dare not even travel... Very informative book for its day.. All based in and around 80's NY.... Victor Valle, Carl Williams, Eddie Gregg , James Broad .. all get big mentions.........
maxmomer, take a step back in time also... The Fighting Blacksmith, by Gilbert Odd The Great Fight, by Allan Lloyd Prize Fighting, by John Ford A History of Boxing in Britain, by Frank Butler Captain of the Push, by Kenneth Roberts I simply offer these suggestions, as the further back into the history of the game you venture, the higher the appreciation of it you will gain. Any book authored by Nat Fleischer will be at the highest level of research and knowledge. As you are budgeting, I suggest any reproductions of Boxiana, Pugilistica or 'The Prize Ring', by Bohun Lynch. I have no idea what number of books I have read over the years, although several standouts I recommend would be .... The Tragedy of Randolph Turpin, by Jack Birtley Raging Bull.. Somebody up their Likes Me.... full of very interesting anecdotes. A Man Must Fight, by Gene Tunney.
I'm actually looking forward to Sorcery at Caesars which I'm purchasing this week. It's about time a book came out devoted to this very controversial topic that deeply affected my life. Thank God someone had the brains to figure out what the public wants more of and the author seems to be very credible.
LOve the Snipes v Holmes Avatar.. its one of my favorite moments in Boxing, Snipes was heavyweight champ for about 7 seconds.... unreal..
thanks redrooster. hope you like it - and when you're done i hope you let this board know what you think. can you share a bit why the leonard-hagler bout affected you so deeply?
Ha ha ha, thanks for the insight Senya13... I actually enjoy any book written by Nat, as he was the quite the influencial charactor, regardless of his own personal adoration for a few select greats, he was, in my opinion, writing predominantly for the betterment of the reader.
He provides easy reading (except for his editor's column in The Ring, IMHO), but as for research, his books are rather poor, unfortunately.
'easy reading' does not necessarily mean incorrect in detail, or ficticious. Its my humble opinion, and I look forward to further squabbles or learning experiences with you, regarding more intrigueing topics. Cheers Senya.
