Just thought I’d post this gentlemen. Hugh McIlvanney one of the greatest boxing and sports writers ever has passed away aged 84. He wrote and spoke beautifully about the fight game, I don’t think we’ll see his like again.
Very sad news, a brilliant writer & appeared to be a classy guy. I bought both versions on "McIlvanney on Boxing", there is some overlap here but the quality is outstanding...Hugh dines at the top table of writers for me. When readng his work I found that Hugh was able to put down on paper what I was thinking but would never be able to verbalise in the great way he did! I particularly liked his article about Hagler-Leonard entitled "How Hagler Won That Fight". In my opinion McIlvanney absolutely nailed it. I remember Hugh interviewing Leonard and Leonard walking out of the interview in disgust when McIlvanney had the guts to say he thought that SRL had boxed well but Hagler had won ther fight...Leonard's ego couldn't take it and he left the room.
Hugh McIlvanney will stand out as one of the greatest sports writers of all time. His intelligent writing style carried huge allure and his calm, but solemnly penetrating interviews, were of a level of skill and professionalism, to which any budding journalists should aspire. RIP
Very sorry to hear this, he was extremely knowledgeable about the game[horseracing too]and one of the most articulate and erudite boxing writers ever. RIP
From the Owen piece: It was boxing that gave Johnny Owen his one positive means of self-expression. Outside the ring he was an inaudible and almost invisible personality. Inside, he became astonishingly positive and self-assured. He seemed to be more at home there than anywhere else. It is his tragedy that he found himself articulate in such a dangerous language.
He was also very honest in his reporting and wasn’t afraid to pull any punches. Describing Joe Bugner: “In his prime Joe Bugner had the physique of a Greek statue, but he had fewer moves.”
I did enjoy his stoically bold approach. In his interviews, he was always prepared to challenge, but in an insightful way; not in the 'contrary's sake' fashion, used in many of today's interview exchanges. Here's Hugh McIlvanney talking with Jim Jacobs: This content is protected And with Ray Leonard: This content is protected
I've never read a more eloquent riposte to use when confronted by the anti - boxing brigade, than this elegant paragraph. Like I said "unforgettable".
