Recommend Me Some Biographies

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by TommyV, Nov 29, 2009.


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  1. TommyV

    TommyV Loyal Member banned

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    Apologies first of all to the mods if you feel this is in the wrong forum for whatever reason, however I put it here because of the wide-spread knowledge of old-time fighters, so I feel this is the best place for me to gain some great insight.

    -

    I'd like to be able to get some good (auto) biographies on non-active fighters, and would like to get some suggestions as to what to have a look at. I'd be greatly appreciative of any suggestions and books that you've read and feel are worth a look. Not looking for any fighter in particular, just any interest reads on non-active fighters.

    (Doesn't necessarily have to be the 'old-timers', just anybody pre-90's or so.)

    Cheers.
     
    TommyV, Nov 29, 2009
    TommyV, Nov 29, 2009
    #1
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    John L Sullivan, the career of the first gloved heavyweight champion by Adam Pollack.

    It will change your views a bit.
     
    janitor, Nov 29, 2009
    janitor, Nov 29, 2009
    #2
  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Micheal J Fox's is great.
     
    McGrain, Nov 29, 2009
    McGrain, Nov 29, 2009
    #3
  4. TommyV

    TommyV Loyal Member banned

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    Cheers janitor. I will look into it, looks a bit pricey! :D

    *******. :lol:

    On another note McGrain, was it you who mentioned reading Sonny Liston's Night Train?

    If so, worth a read?
     
    TommyV, Nov 29, 2009
    TommyV, Nov 29, 2009
    #4
  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    ...it's good. But not as good as Lucky Man.

    This content is protected
     
    McGrain, Nov 29, 2009
    McGrain, Nov 29, 2009
    #5
  6. essexboy

    essexboy The Cat Full Member

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    Unforgiveable Blackness about Jack Johnson. Its a little hard going but very detailed.
     
    essexboy, Nov 29, 2009
    essexboy, Nov 29, 2009
    #6
  7. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Randy Roberts' "Jack Dempsey The mannassa Mauler and his Papa Jack Everett Skehan's Rocky marciano, bio. of a first son. the recent books on harry greb and jim jeffries. also the book that came out recently on Sam Langford. and a great one called Ghosts of Manilla by mark Kram. All these and others can be found on Amazon by typing in books and then the names of either these books or these fighters.:hat
     
    The Morlocks, Nov 29, 2009
    The Morlocks, Nov 29, 2009
    #7
  8. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    but if you really want to learn about boxing get an old Ring record book and study it. you can find that on Amazon too
     
    The Morlocks, Nov 29, 2009
    The Morlocks, Nov 29, 2009
    #8
  9. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Are there particular fighters , weight classes or time periods you are interested in ?
     
    he grant, Nov 29, 2009
    he grant, Nov 29, 2009
    #9
  10. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hands of Dtone by Christian Giudice. A must read - for a Duran-fan at least.

    Not really biographies but books that will give you some insights in the fighters and boxing over all:
    In this corner: 40 world champs tell their stories by Peter Heller
    and
    Dark Trade: Lost in boxing by Donald McRae
     
    bodhi, Nov 30, 2009
    bodhi, Nov 30, 2009
    #10
  11. anarci

    anarci Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Johnny Tapia's " Mi Vida Loca" was an excellent book, I highly recommend it. Its only about 200 -250 pages,but a great read and really tells you alot about the troubled,complicated and crazy life of the Crazy but Loveable Johnny Tapia! I read it in one a day,and thats saying something ,usually it would take me at least a week to read a book the same size.
     
    anarci, Nov 30, 2009
    anarci, Nov 30, 2009
    #11
  12. Rise Above

    Rise Above IBHOF elector Full Member

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    A few I recommend are

    Tunney by Jack Cavanaugh
    Rocky Marciano The Rock of his Times by Russell Sullivan
    The ballad of Les Darcy by Peter Fitzsimons

    and although its not a biography Four Kings by George Kimball is a great book about Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Leonard.
     
    Rise Above, Nov 30, 2009
    Rise Above, Nov 30, 2009
    #12
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    The Life And Times Of James Jeffries by Mendoza.

    Stroking The Klits by Mendoza.


    Seriously ,Pollack's books get very good reviews.
    Add,Papa Jack by Randy Roberts.Jack Dempsey by Randy Roberts.
    Cinderalla Man by Michael C Delisa. Rocky marciano,by Everett M Skehan.
    Joe Louis My Life by Joe Louis.
    In This Corner ,by Peter Heller.
    Dempsey by Dempsey.
     
    mcvey, Nov 30, 2009
    mcvey, Nov 30, 2009
    #13
  14. flamengo

    flamengo Coool as a Cucumber. Full Member

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    Home After Dark, By Ruth Parks.
    Sam Langford.. Boxings Greatest Uncrowned Champion, By Clay Moyle.
    The Great Prize Fight, By Allen Lloyd.
    The Fighting Blacksmith, By Gilbert Odd.
    Heroes Of The Fancy, By Arnold Thomas.
    John L. Sullivan, By Nat Fleischer.
     
    flamengo, Nov 30, 2009
    flamengo, Nov 30, 2009
    #14
  15. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Fearless harry greb, pricey but a must-have. Benny Lynchs is dead cheap
    off amazon used :good
     
    Flea Man, Nov 30, 2009
    Flea Man, Nov 30, 2009
    #15
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