Boxing historian starter kit - 5 books you recommend?

A History of Violence


Thread over.

 

Thats a crime book is it not?

 

If it is then I ****ed up.

A History of Violence is a book @escudo has been writing with folks from here and the IBRO performing as sort of a research staff. It's not even out yet, I was just being cheeky.


It is my opinion that all stories, whether fact or fiction, should begin at the beginning. That said I'd say Christopher James Shelton's books start you off nicely.

EDIT - Actually. I should have lead with overview books.

Boxing: A Cultural History by Kasia Boddy
Boxing: A Concise History by Gerald R Gems

Both good starts.

Boxing in the Time of Christ by CJS.

The next period would be the English Bare Knuckle. For that I'd say again Christopher James Shelton.

Bare Knuckle 1722-1888 by CJS

Now you need some help with American Bare Knuckle. Elliot J Gorn did a fine job.

The Manly Art: Bare-Knuckle Prize Fighting in America by EJG

And for the black perspective you'll want Kevin R Smith.

Black Genesis and The Sundowners by KRS.

I'm over five already and it's been a VERY long time since I cracked open a Queensberry history book, but loads of people are posting about Queensberry history so anyone interested ought to have plenty of answers.

The Definitive History of World Championship Boxing and On Boxing are both damn good from memory but given it's been so long and I've learned so much both of those might actually be ****.

 

Sounds an interesting read when it comes out. Yeah I did a search and it's some crime book but didn't check if true or just fiction