What's your favourite book about boxing?

Unforgivable blackness about Jack Johnson
I have always been obsessed about Heavyweight boxing since I was a little kid and have a few encyclopedia type books on the history of the division

The book is a great insight to the first Black man that was crowned the Champ. It's 100% worth a read for those that haven't already

I remember a part of the book were it mentions a racist cop stopped him for speeding. He fined him a 50 dollars. Well Johnson gives him 100, the cop declares he has no change. Johnson tells him to keep it, as he will be doing the same speed on the way back

It's actually been so long since I read it,my memory is a little hazy. I am going to read it again

 

Facing Tyson.

What the author did in making it about everyone else was brilliant.

 

Clay Moyle's book on Sam Langford.

 

Errol Christie No Place to Hide
Only recently finished reading this book it is simply brilliant

 

I probably agree. The book is a very good read. It makes the story better when they include everything going on in their personal lives and in the world, as well. Plus the companion PBS documentary on Johnson was excellent and a great quality doc on its own.

I bought and read the Ali book that was also the basis for the PBS documentary on Ali. But I never got around to watching the doc. I'm so tired of Ali at this point. Same stories a thousand times over.

 

In This Corner by Peter Heller

 

I came here to post this one as well. Definitely my favorite and it benefits from the fact that Geoffrey Ward, the author, has a lot of familiarity and affection for that era. I enjoyed reading about Johnson's various travels and the in between moments, in addition to the obvious fighting and racism aspects.

Johnson probably received worse treatment than any other athlete in American history. Multiple attempts on his life, pervasive racism, trumped up federal charges, etc. Just a disgrace.

In terms of other books, I'd also recommend Louis vs Schemling. You get the boxing bits along with the WWII context. But I can't recommend A Flame of Pure Fire. It's a Dempsey biography and an apt example of what happens when the biographer is too fond of the subject. Totally biased.

 

Superfists: The Story of the World Heavyweight Champions.

This was the first book i bought about boxing and its history, up until then my only interest in boxing was as a boxer, and now 40 plus years later my interest in boxing history remains, all started from the above mentioned book.

 

The Louis -Schmeling book is very good, too. I agree.

Not on the same grand scale as the other two, but the book about the Spinks brothers (One Punch From the Promised Land) is very good.

 

Murder Inc.

 

Agreed

There was something on about Ali not too long ago and my Father asked me was I watching it? I love Ali but I know his story inside out now.

He had a great career and story, but like you said, it's been told 1000 times

 

The Manly Art by Elliot Gorn

 

Do you actually identify as black? It's really strange. Is that why you're so biased and fanboying for black fighters all the time.

Anyway, Joe Louis - The Great Black Hope. Is a better read.