The Best Boxing Books

I got one called the grestest fighters of the last fifty years, and one called something like the greatest boxers of the last century. Both were great for when i was trying to learn more about boxing history a few years ago. Of course, when books are about to so many fighters, the focus on each individual subject is compromised, but it was a great step in the right direction for me. Always good to critically compare and contrast different opinions as well.

 

that same book "a pictorial history" was updated every 5 years or so the last 30 years. the one I had as a kid went up to larry holmes, ray leonard period. later my cousin of some 15 years older than myself gave me his copy and it was the same book only it went up to floyd patterson. I have seen versions that go much more up to date but it would be just huge now! Its still the best format and the first book i recomend on boxing history. its actualy useful to record the confused middleweight title period of the 1930's.

 

I found one at the local library that was just a compilation of old news paper articles regarding boxing. One was from the New York times, Demesey saying he was going to hold the color line after beating Willard. Always depressed me...I will try find it again sometimes...I can't remember the name of the book.

As for books about actual technique...al bernstein and floyd patterson did a good one together in the 70's...the name of which I can't recall. And Dempseys book championship fight is a great one.

 

I know none of what I wrote responds to your question...but whatever.

 

"The Manly Art" by Elliot Gorn is a good one.It's about bare knuckle boxing in the 19th century.

 

Not about the above, A, but thought you might enjoy this new book:

The Wild Card: Hard-Fought Lessons from a Life in the Ring

 

Addie,check out "The Book Of Boxing ", by W.C.Heinz and Ward..No pictures, but great observations of the past fighters, by the greatest
writers of the past...

 

This book is the stuff, sitting right next to me actually. Lots of different eras of boxing to boot.

I also have to recommend my GOAT boxing book, AJ Liebling's The Sweet Science, I really think it is a must have for any boxing fan, awesome, awesome read.

 

By George (Foreman's autobiography) was very good.

Joe Frazier's and Ken Norton's autobio's were very good as well.

Cinderella Man by Jeremy Schaap was a good read.

 

I have to highly recommend "The Big If" about the life and death of Johnny Owen. Great book about a very good fighter and an ATG number 1 person. It's also not only a biography of Owen, but also Lupe Pintor. In addition, it provides good profiles on Zarate, Zamora, Albert Davila and Eddie Thomas and a little on Olivares. I'm glad I read it. It's a sad topic but the goodness of Owen overwhelms the tragic outcome. It indirectly covers Banatamweight from the mid 70's through early 80's (though Jeff Chandler isn't a player in this story).

 

if you want it from the horses mouth the best book about old timers is "in this corner, 42 champions tell their story" by peter heller. it was written in 1972 after he went on a road trip to interview all the then living champions he could find. The book has champions from 1910's and each decade till 1972 telling their own story. gunboat smith, dempsey, micky walker, henry armstrong, SRR, graziano, lamotta, joe louis, jack sharkey, jimmy braddock, ali, patterson, archie moore, gene fulmer etc etc mushy calahan..its my favorite book.

 

I've got that one too Burt - one of the best books I have definately - mines got a selection of photos featured in it also - including an amazing centre spread of Robby uncorking a face rearranging uppercut to the chin of The Cuban Hawk


PS - everyone should search the net for a book call Boxings Mr President - all about heavyweight history by Bill Beadle I think - at work but will check when I get home - but that one is the best book I have EVER read period :good