Boxing Books - good reads, worth having a look at

E · Post by E » 17 Oct 2004, 08:28

I am always on the look out for good boxing books (as there seem to be few well written and fresh ones which tell you things you don't know) - here are a few I have read recently and what I thought of them - can anyone add any?

The Long Round: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Men Who Fought Mike Tyson

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... tedshop-21

This is a new release and charts the fortunes of various fighters that fought Tyson: Mitch Green, Pinklon Thomas, MArvis Frazier, Trevor Berbick and more.

Interesting to see how these guys have turned out - Thomas and Frazier turned it around the best, Green and Berbick are in dreamland....This book could have done with a look at a least a couple of lesser known opponents though - I would love to have hear from Hector Mercedes (Tyson's first pro opponent) or Sammy Scaff (a very average jpurneyman) or even a couple of Amateur opponents - say Al Evans...good read though , worth buying.
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Raging Bull - Jake LAmotta

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... tedshop-21

Dark, honest tale of Lamotta's life, including an admitted rape. Dicturbing reading - not that well written, but well worth buying...gives some honest insights into Lamotta's character - and what drove him - inc impotence, trouble with girls etc...
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Fighting Chance: Winners and Losers in the Ultimate Risk Business

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... tedshop-21

This is the best boxing book I have read in some time - it is about the Manchester fight scene, but mixes tales of celebrated boxers such as Hatton, Gomez etc with journeymen such as Martin Jolley.

An eye opening read, the only thing that lets it down is a lack of photos.
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Ghosts of Manila - Ali / Frazier

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... tedshop-21

A controversial book as it presents a dark side of Muhammad Ali, which in modern times we don't want to confront. People forget that he could be cruel - Joe Frazier's reputation was undeservedly muddied by Ali who humiliated him unfairly and cruelly.

An interesting read which redresses the balance of Ali as a modern day saint somewhat.
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Hurricane: The Life of Rubin Carter, Fighter

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... tedshop-21
This is a decent read - the story of Carter - whether or not he was involved in the murders, there definitely was not enough evidence to convict him.....a bit long and not particularly uplifting, but far better than that Hurrican film with Denzel Washington which twisted a lot of facts, including that Carter was robbed of the title due to some racist conspiracy....

Turns out Carter was beaten clearly and fairly - Giardello's family sued.
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Any one else read anything good?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 17 Oct 2004, 09:59

I notice Gavin Evans has a new book out which was plugged in last week's Boxing News ('Mama's Boy, Lennox Lewis and the Heavyweight Crown').
I would recommend anything by Evans.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 17 Oct 2004, 12:07

Raging Bull & Ghosts of manilla are two excellent books. I've read some of Last Round and it's well written - mostly pretty depressing stories though. Berbick is nutty as a fruit bar.

Read a bit of the new Lewis bio too. Seems good enough & surprising it didn't get more of a fanfare.

Strange no-one's ever put together a book on Duran isn't it? The big story is there.

Some of the best:

The Fight - Norman Mailer: A modern classic.

Sweet Science - A J Liebling - Maybe the best? Certainly the funniest.

Kings of the world - Dave Remick(?) - Great book. The best writing on Sonny Liston by a long shot.

Larry Holmes Bio. The Easton Assasin pulls no punches, as usual.

Dark Trade - Don McRae - Inside the world of boxing, and James Toney.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 17 Oct 2004, 13:38

The Book reviewer in Boxing Monthly John Exshaw or whatever his name is recommended the Raging Bull book, saying it was the true story and not the "Distorted movie version" so it may well be worth a look. I know that the story of Cuban Boxing called "In the red corner" comes highly recommended by many a poster here so maybe that could be considered as well

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 18 Oct 2004, 12:54

Dominic Calder-Smiths Tarnished Armour is not often mentioned but is well worth reading IMO.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 13-8236433

E · Post by E » 18 Oct 2004, 19:47

KOJOE90 wrote:Dominic Calder-Smiths Tarnished Armour is not often mentioned but is well worth reading IMO.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 13-8236433

Yeah but I find it extraordinary that he doesn't devote any time to perhaps the best example of his book's topic....

Tommy Morrison - surely the ultimate potential success story - Hollywood star, puncher, good looking, loads of birds etc to ultimate fall from grace - steroids, HIV, jail, drugs.....

daniel son · Post by **daniel son** » 19 Oct 2004, 08:38

I'm about half way through Jim Brady's 'Boxing Confidential' which is quite an interesting look at the underworld or shady goings on in boxing over the last 70 years.There's some really sad stories of fighters being ripped off and what not.

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 19 Oct 2004, 08:52

daniel son wrote:I'm about half way through Jim Brady's 'Boxing Confidential' which is quite an interesting look at the underworld or shady goings on in boxing over the last 70 years.There's some really sad stories of fighters being ripped off and what not.

Oh thats a truly awful book! theres absolutely nothing new in in whatsoever. Same stories from days gone by, mob involvement, rating bribes, fixed fights, Frankie Carbo, Bob Lee, the IBF, kickbacks, Don King, Jose Sulaiman and dodgy decisions simply regurtitated by "campaigning journalist" (according to the books cover!) Jim Brady and not very imaginativly either!!

its one book i will never read a second time, unless im truly desperate for a read

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 19 Oct 2004, 10:50

Yeah, anything by Jim Brady I'd give a miss. The guy is just terrible.

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 20 Oct 2004, 08:46

Just got my copy of The Sweet Science from Amazon today.

I also enjoyed Black Ajax by the bloke that wrote the Flashman books, Rope Burns by FX Toole, and In The Red Corner. Plus plenty of others mentioned above.

Couple of good Sonny Liston books knocking around. Night Train I enjoyed.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Oct 2004, 09:12

All I own is this bloody mary. The black lights. The Fight. By George. Mike Tyson, 'Money, Myth and Betrayal.'

I found 'night train' very hard work, very dense and multi-layered book.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 20 Oct 2004, 12:00

In my lunch break today I picked up a hardback copy of Henry Coopers authorised Biography by Robert Edwards from The Works for £3.99.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 20 Oct 2004, 12:16

Yeah the works are having a big sale, might be worth popping along.