Anybody read this book yet? A friend of mine has recommended it to me. He told me that main story. Matthews is a journalist who watches Takaloo get beaten by Khaliq then decided to have a pro fight. After 2 years of training he has 1 and loses on points. He trains with Howard Rainey. I'm told his journey is an exciting one and he hags out with some of the best British fighters. Woods, Welch, Mark Prince, Scott Lansdown, Terry Dunstan etc.
Anybody read it?
What other boxing book would you recommend? I've read most of the Ali ones.
"Looking for a fight" by Dave Matthews
Looking For A Fight is a good read, it's well worth picking up a copy. I read it about 18 months ago and really enjoyed it. It gives an interesting incite on what boxers go through when preparing for a fight etc.
Another book I read recently that I recommend is Flight Of The Hawk by Aaron Pryor. That man has had one crazy life!
Another book I read recently that I recommend is Flight Of The Hawk by Aaron Pryor. That man has had one crazy life!
I have also read Pryors book, its a must read! Amazing and crazy story.
Another book I really enjoyed was "The Dark Trade" by Donald McRae, its brillant. McRae spends a lot of time with a young James "Lights Out" Toney. It covers so many other fighters, but gives a nice insight into Toney in the early days.
Other books of note worth a read are, Smokin Joe, Frazers bio, By Geroge, Foremans Bio and Sugar Ray, Sugar Ray Robinsons bio.
I've read all these books and any of them is well worth getting.
There are plenty of other great books to read, but these would make for good reading over a few months
Another book I really enjoyed was "The Dark Trade" by Donald McRae, its brillant. McRae spends a lot of time with a young James "Lights Out" Toney. It covers so many other fighters, but gives a nice insight into Toney in the early days.
Other books of note worth a read are, Smokin Joe, Frazers bio, By Geroge, Foremans Bio and Sugar Ray, Sugar Ray Robinsons bio.
I've read all these books and any of them is well worth getting.
There are plenty of other great books to read, but these would make for good reading over a few months
Re: is
Yes that's the guy.dbf wrote:dave matthews the same guy im thinking about? I read in the Big Issue once about this journalist who was proper overweight, but trained seriously for two years to have one fight which he lost......does this sound like that guy?
Thanks
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=027581
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Matchfixer
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 24 Jan 2004, 11:27
Re: is
It says he was knocked down in first and helped to the final bell. Helped?KOJOE90 wrote:Yes that's the guy.dbf wrote:dave matthews the same guy im thinking about? I read in the Big Issue once about this journalist who was proper overweight, but trained seriously for two years to have one fight which he lost......does this sound like that guy?
Thanks
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=027581
Anyone know more?
Re: is
Yeah, I saw that too. I can't remember this fight at all. If he wanted the real experience of being a boxer, Matt Scriven should have finished the job. 'Helped' in boxing parlance means 'carried' or 'propped up'.Matchfixer wrote:It says he was knocked down in first and helped to the final bell. Helped?KOJOE90 wrote:Yes that's the guy.dbf wrote:dave matthews the same guy im thinking about? I read in the Big Issue once about this journalist who was proper overweight, but trained seriously for two years to have one fight which he lost......does this sound like that guy?
Thanks
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=027581
Anyone know more?
It means Scriven could have ended matters when he wanted but let the lad last the distance. A glorified spar. I assume.
Re: is
I'm not happy about that comment being there to be honest, I've never read any proof Matthews was carried.Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:Yeah, I saw that too. I can't remember this fight at all. If he wanted the real experience of being a boxer, Matt Scriven should have finished the job. 'Helped' in boxing parlance means 'carried' or 'propped up'.Matchfixer wrote:It says he was knocked down in first and helped to the final bell. Helped?
Anyone know more?
It means Scriven could have ended matters when he wanted but let the lad last the distance. A glorified spar. I assume.
I will ask a few of the other editors and see what I can find out, like I've said I don't like the 'helped' comment at all.Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:I'll dig out the BN. I just can't remember it at all. If he wasn't, it's an insult and wants removing.
I remember reading about it in BN and BM but can't recall any suggestions that Matthews was carried.
I do recall that some Boxing writers and journalist were not too impressed about Matthews book and project. I seem to recall the word 'irresponsible' being used.
Probably because, like me, they would love to do it themselves but either can't or won't.KOJOE90 wrote:
I do recall that some Boxing writers and journalist were not too impressed about Matthews book and project. I seem to recall the word 'irresponsible' being used.
I have never known a profession to be so rife with unwarranted jealousy or criticism. Most journos are pieces of shit. That's why the good ones are worth their weight.
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lirva33
- Heavyweight
The familiar "never been stopped" tag would be put on him. Can Calzaghe be the first person to stop him??BN report courtesy of Kevin:
"Freelance boxing writer turned fighter David Matthews of Sheffield
tasted action at the sharp end and despite having no ring experience, came out with credit.
He recovered from an opening round knockdown from a left hook, to go
the distance with Vinny Jones lookalike Matt Scriven (11-9)
Matthews, aided by a hefty weight advantage at 12st 10lbs, grew in
confidence.
Most of the rounds were scrappy and difficult to score but ref cook had
it 59-57 in favour of army man Scriven.
Matthews, 32, had the distinction of winning a round, probably the fourth."
Report by Ken Morton
No indication he was carried.
"Freelance boxing writer turned fighter David Matthews of Sheffield
tasted action at the sharp end and despite having no ring experience, came out with credit.
He recovered from an opening round knockdown from a left hook, to go
the distance with Vinny Jones lookalike Matt Scriven (11-9)
Matthews, aided by a hefty weight advantage at 12st 10lbs, grew in
confidence.
Most of the rounds were scrappy and difficult to score but ref cook had
it 59-57 in favour of army man Scriven.
Matthews, 32, had the distinction of winning a round, probably the fourth."
Report by Ken Morton
No indication he was carried.
CheersIan 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:BN report courtesy of Kevin:
"Freelance boxing writer turned fighter David Matthews of Sheffield
tasted action at the sharp end and despite having no ring experience, came out with credit.
He recovered from an opening round knockdown from a left hook, to go
the distance with Vinny Jones lookalike Matt Scriven (11-9)
Matthews, aided by a hefty weight advantage at 12st 10lbs, grew in
confidence.
Most of the rounds were scrappy and difficult to score but ref cook had
it 59-57 in favour of army man Scriven.
Matthews, 32, had the distinction of winning a round, probably the fourth."
Report by Ken Morton
No indication he was carried.
I read it. A good read. I got it just after it came out. I think he still shows his face at the All Stars ABC in NW London. Last i heard he was making a very controversial documentary about black men being lazy, players, single dads etc. Hasn't gone down very well with the black community. On either BBC Three or one of the other digital channels.
He looked in great condition for his fight. Just goes to show what a bit of hard graft can do.
He looked in great condition for his fight. Just goes to show what a bit of hard graft can do.
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DG.
- Heavyweight
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EddieShredder
- Heavyweight
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DIRT SUGAR
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1200
- Joined: 29 Aug 2003, 11:48
Dave just had a three-part series 'The trouble with black men' on BBC three. Nice guy, an engaging character and I felt the series was good. I interviewed him for the local paper I worked on and a nice moment was when he was nominated for the Whitbread sports book of the year. He'd been out of the country so he didn't know he'd been shortlisted and I caught him to give him the happy news just as he got through customs. He was right chuffed. He lost out to the book about Seabiscuit.
His story would make a good movie but for the fact that boxing movies have been done to death.
His story would make a good movie but for the fact that boxing movies have been done to death.
Re: "Looking for a fight" by Dave Matthews
I've read Looking for a Fight a few times. It's one of my favourite books, and it is one of the best books (and it might be the best) about combat sports that I've read. It's a shame that it wasn't more of a success.
The premise is Matthews, a fat journalist in his early thirties, decides that he is going to become a pro-boxer. That initial thought sparks a multi-year odyssey.
When Matthews starts his journey he's a small time journalist who's failed at most things he's tried. Sam Sheridan wrote a good book called A Fighter's Heart in which he tries to find out what it means to be a fighter. In that book Sheridan trains at MFS and has an amateur MMA bout. He goes to Thailand and fights Muay-Thai. He hangs with Andre Ward. He goes to Japan with Big Nog for the third Fedor fight. Those are just the highlights and do not describe the entirety of Sheridan's journey. There are other steps along the way. As good as Sheridan's book is, and it is good, Looking for a Fight is superior. Sheridan has a Harvard degree and a future. Ultimately he is always on the outside looking in.
In his book David Matthews truly gets lost in the game. He's an undistinguished journalist whose career seems to be going nowhere, he's fat, he's black, he's poor and his personal life is a disaster. There's no real hope at the end of the rainbow. It's a perfect storm. The result is one of the best book about fighting, fighters and what it means to be a fighter that you will ever read. His journey takes place in a context as well. It's not just his story it's the story of the guys he trains with and of the people he meets. It's the story of a certain time in the fight game. It's the story of fighters coming up and going down. It's the story of people chasing dreams.
The book looks to be out of print. However you can pick-up used copies on Amazon pretty cheap. I would recommend doing so.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Looking-Fight-W ... 597&sr=1-1
If the rights have reverted back to him and assuming he still has the manuscript, I think Matthews is missing a trick by not at least bringing out a Kindle version. I think that in 2014 with the internet combat-sports-verse being as it is that the book may be able to find an audience and enjoy a second wind.
The premise is Matthews, a fat journalist in his early thirties, decides that he is going to become a pro-boxer. That initial thought sparks a multi-year odyssey.
When Matthews starts his journey he's a small time journalist who's failed at most things he's tried. Sam Sheridan wrote a good book called A Fighter's Heart in which he tries to find out what it means to be a fighter. In that book Sheridan trains at MFS and has an amateur MMA bout. He goes to Thailand and fights Muay-Thai. He hangs with Andre Ward. He goes to Japan with Big Nog for the third Fedor fight. Those are just the highlights and do not describe the entirety of Sheridan's journey. There are other steps along the way. As good as Sheridan's book is, and it is good, Looking for a Fight is superior. Sheridan has a Harvard degree and a future. Ultimately he is always on the outside looking in.
In his book David Matthews truly gets lost in the game. He's an undistinguished journalist whose career seems to be going nowhere, he's fat, he's black, he's poor and his personal life is a disaster. There's no real hope at the end of the rainbow. It's a perfect storm. The result is one of the best book about fighting, fighters and what it means to be a fighter that you will ever read. His journey takes place in a context as well. It's not just his story it's the story of the guys he trains with and of the people he meets. It's the story of a certain time in the fight game. It's the story of fighters coming up and going down. It's the story of people chasing dreams.
The book looks to be out of print. However you can pick-up used copies on Amazon pretty cheap. I would recommend doing so.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Looking-Fight-W ... 597&sr=1-1
If the rights have reverted back to him and assuming he still has the manuscript, I think Matthews is missing a trick by not at least bringing out a Kindle version. I think that in 2014 with the internet combat-sports-verse being as it is that the book may be able to find an audience and enjoy a second wind.