Research - Requesting Helpful Hints for Researching Boxing History

Gentlemen,

I'm a relatively new student of boxing's wonderful history. I'm actually quite mad I didn't find my interest in boxing history earlier in life, as I follow the contemporary sport so much. Now, reading about boxing history is pretty much become my only hobby. I buy books about historical boxing figures at every chance I get. For example, I have books on Billy Conn, the History of the Black Prizefighter, When Boxing Was a Jewish Sport etc. on their way to my abode, as we speak.

I think I'm at the point where I want to start contributing articles on the great fighters of yesteryear, and I want helpful hints on how to conduct research on boxing, preferably research that can be done from my computer at home. Other than google archive, books written on fighters, and old editions of the Ring Magazine, are there any websites that you knowledgeable eastside boxing posters can direct me that allow viewing of scanned copies of old newspapers free of charge? For those that conduct research related to boxing, what methods of research do you recommend? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Alright pal.


About 3 years ago I came to the forum with the same idea.

For me the first step was pick a division, learn about all the lineal champs (not perfect but a good starting point) watch film, review records. Then look at titlists and outstanding contenders. That gives you as good a starting point as any. Books are great as well if you want an on depth understanding of a fighter or maybe even an era.

I did that division by division and aside from the wee men south of bw I feel comfortable discussing anyone.

 

It's actually not bad advice.

 

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

http://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html

 

I listen! :twisted:

I listen to it, ya dig? Then, post-listening, I occasionally choose to disagree with it. Or forget it sometimes, whichever one. Point is....I listen! :twisted:

 

I'd recommend picking out several very significant fighters and researching them. As you study their records your couriosity will draw you in different directions.

For example, if you make a point to learn as much as you can about Joe Gans, the great lightweight champion, this will eventually lead you to the tragic souls like Ad Wolgast and Battling Nelson. From there you'll learn about Owen Moran, and from there you'll discover Jim Driscoll and Freddy Welsh.

I've always been as fascinated by classic fighters as I am with current boxing champions, and I've been pleasantly surprised to find that the more I learn about the history of the sport, the more eager I am to learn more. Education fuels curiosity.

As far as reading material goes, I'd highly recommend Douglas Century's book on Barney Ross, the Charley Burley biography, Archie Moore's autobiography as the three essentials.

 

I'm out in the real world all the damn time! I'm out right now, dammit!

 

This, exactly! Except I recommend starting from the very top. The Pantheon: Harry Greb, Sam Langford, Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Bob Fitzsimmons, Benny Leonard.

Also luf's advice is gold as well.

 

The way i find nearly everything is to google Xooxle free newspaper archives. Xooxle lists almost everything you need. Also, if you want the best australian papers, google Trove newspaper archive. New Zealand has a really good site but i cant remember how to find it. Probably just google new zealand free news archive.

i think the above lists cover just about everything. And of course the best place to start is some of the threads on here. In partcular do a search of In appreciation of Bob Fitzsimmons on this forum and take the time to read all the links and thread (should take a year or so), but that will really stun you.

 

And one more tip just quickly, if you want to know anything on the topic of Johnson or Jeffries. Just ask the question on this thread and insert the words 'maybe Mendoza has a point after it', and before long you should have all the links and articles you want courtesy of mcVey, but expect it to be accompanied by a tirade of abuse, although not necessarilly directed at you.

 

don't make the youthfull mistake of thinking the Champions must be the best in their respective weight classes and periods or Era's, they were'nt always, and more than you realise.

Look into Era's and learn what era's were/are actually better than others. NEVER believe solely in Trade Paper's voices or statements, i.e the Ring & Boxing News in Britain, but source out newspaper reports and when available smaller "localised" reports in contrast to the major papers for fair and often more accurate reports.

CROSS record check to see WHO fought who and how well they did even in a loss, and fighters that fight UP above their "natural" weight, more a phenomenum of the past rather than the present and last but certainly not least...

Boxing IS/Was Crooked as ****, their are MANY Greats, MANY, and far more than some people would have you believe.

and above all else, ENJOY!