Who here has actually read Raging Bull?

I really should Riddick Bowe.

 

I read it a long time ago. What sticks out the most about the book compared to the movie to me is the emphasis on his guilt over robbing that dude when he was younger and of course the Joe Pecsi/brother character was actually his best friend. I also remember his weight cutting struggles being in great detail. Anyone who ever fought can relate to that hell.

 

The parts that stand out in my mind are when he thought he killed that bookie and then years later the guy shows up in Detroit to celebrate his title win. Also his raping of his best friends girlfriend. The man was n animal. A nasty piece of work.

 

My screen name AwardedSteak is because my coach would let me eat steak on Sundays as long as I stayed in my calorie zone for the week and got my miles in running. We use to say we were awarded steak when we were on point. Honestly, what hated most about boxing was making weight. By my early 20's I was done because of it. I wanted to drink and have fun.

 

I haven't

 

I was always amazed how some fighters could drop 40 pounds and still fight. I recall Bob Arum was in Panama to see about the second Leonard fight with Duran and he saw Roberto at the pool where steaks and Champaign flowed . Arum thought Roberto weighed 200 pounds. In actuality when he started training it was closer to 190 and while he made weight the damage was done. As you say,,, weak,, how could you drop that much weight in about two and a half months and not be?

 

I have a hard enough time maintaining attention on long posts

 

He must have really suffered draining down to somewhere north of 160 pounds (and probably above 165 in the ring) to fight welterweights who came in at 149 with their clothes on to fight him.

It’s amazing if you look at his record how few times he gave up weight to an opponent vs how often he had advantages of 7-10 pounds (or more). Sorry that I don’t feel sorry for his weight struggles when he was beating up smaller guys.

 

His friend was away and Jake was an animal.

 

So did I! For a long time, that is.