"The Years of The Locust", by Jon Hotten.
Interesting story about the murder of promotor Rick Parker by Tim "Doc" Anderson.
I remember reading about this when it happened in 1995, but have not thought about it since.
If this account of the boxing world at lower level is even close to the truth, it is downright creepy.
Easy and good read.
Read them all and the above is by far THE best boxing book I have ever read.
It sums up the sport and those involed at it's very worst.
If you like boxing books then you MUST read "The Years of The Locust", by Jon Hotten, it should be made into a movie I think.
That has huge potential to become a great movie.
I hope they don't alter the story too much, like almost always is the case with boxing movies.
No hollywoodization needed for this one.
"The Years of The Locust", by Jon Hotten.
Interesting story about the murder of promotor Rick Parker by Tim "Doc" Anderson.
I remember reading about this when it happened in 1995, but have not thought about it since.
If this account of the boxing world at lower level is even close to the truth, it is downright creepy.
Easy and good read.
Read them all and the above is by far THE best boxing book I have ever read.
It sums up the sport and those involed at it's very worst.
If you like boxing books then you MUST read "The Years of The Locust", by Jon Hotten, it should be made into a movie I think.
That has huge potential to become a great movie.
I hope they don't alter the story too much, like almost always is the case with boxing movies.
No hollywoodization needed for this one.
Just finished reading this book. very worrying and disturbing account of the lower rungs of the boxing scale. Rick Parker seems like a bit of a crazy character. What always astounds me is the level of people that often are employed by fighters and how they are willing to accept so many setbacks and set ups just to compete in this sport.
Recently finished Becoming Holyfield - it started off well, very interesting insights into his youth and his amateur career, especially what happened at the Olympics, but then the book went downhill and monotonous.
Just started reading Lords of the Ring - this is very interesting so far...
if you believe in justice and you can let go of national identity then this fighters story is among the best, a detailed and deeply researched account of the greatest boxing period in history and Britain's part in it, and why Bert Gilroy wasn't!!!
That has huge potential to become a great movie.
I hope they don't alter the story too much, like almost always is the case with boxing movies.
No hollywoodization needed for this one.
Just finished reading this book. very worrying and disturbing account of the lower rungs of the boxing scale. Rick Parker seems like a bit of a crazy character. What always astounds me is the level of people that often are employed by fighters and how they are willing to accept so many setbacks and set ups just to compete in this sport.
I read this book when it 1st got realised and enjoyed every 2nd of it heres a small documentary on it after in the 2nd part 1st part is about Larry Holmes will is also an interesting watch!!
gasman wrote: Just started reading Lords of the Ring - this is very interesting so far...
You mean the FW/Terry Marsh book, by Harry Landsdown and Alex Spillius?
I thought that was an awesome read, went trough it in three days.
Enjoy!
Yeah that's the one. It is a page turner, really enjoying the in depth insights into the East end, you can just imagine the setting as the story is being told, very good writers Spillus and Handsdown. I bought the other Lords of the Ring book as well i.e. the top 50 fighters in the past few decades (havent read that yet).
gasman wrote: Just started reading Lords of the Ring - this is very interesting so far...
You mean the FW/Terry Marsh book, by Harry Landsdown and Alex Spillius?
I thought that was an awesome read, went trough it in three days.
Enjoy!
I did the same, I flew through the book. Really interesting insight to the business of boxing and Wazza's rise in boxing. I am about to start Mickey Duff's book now.
gasman wrote: Just started reading Lords of the Ring - this is very interesting so far...
You mean the FW/Terry Marsh book, by Harry Landsdown and Alex Spillius?
I thought that was an awesome read, went trough it in three days.
Enjoy!
I did the same, I flew through the book. Really interesting insight to the business of boxing and Wazza's rise in boxing. I am about to start Mickey Duff's book now.
Good that you enjoyed it.
The Duff book is OK, but gives a different impression of him as opposed to the one presented to the reader in Lords of The Ring.
That has huge potential to become a great movie.
I hope they don't alter the story too much, like almost always is the case with boxing movies.
No hollywoodization needed for this one.
Just finished reading this book. very worrying and disturbing account of the lower rungs of the boxing scale. Rick Parker seems like a bit of a crazy character. What always astounds me is the level of people that often are employed by fighters and how they are willing to accept so many setbacks and set ups just to compete in this sport.
I read this book when it 1st got realised and enjoyed every 2nd of it heres a small documentary on it after in the 2nd part 1st part is about Larry Holmes will is also an interesting watch!!
-KOKid- wrote:
You mean the FW/Terry Marsh book, by Harry Landsdown and Alex Spillius?
I thought that was an awesome read, went trough it in three days.
Enjoy!
I did the same, I flew through the book. Really interesting insight to the business of boxing and Wazza's rise in boxing. I am about to start Mickey Duff's book now.
Good that you enjoyed it.
The Duff book is OK, but gives a different impression of him as opposed to the one presented to the reader in Lords of The Ring.
Anyone know how Duff is keeping these days?
Some great tales in the Duff book, I nearly pissed myself at the story about Sonny Liston and the wee 4ft 8" Scottish hooker
really enoyed a lot of books esp auto's first book i read boxing wise was the dark trade which was a great read then ive drifted into auto's some mainstream some not but all interesting and worthwhile.
1. dark trade
2. chris eubank
3. nigel benn
4. jesus chavez
5. teddy atlas
6. evander holyfield
7. jon davidson
8. thomas hearns
9. oscar de la hoya
10. herbie hide
11. andy till
The book about Arguello is pretty good (so far anyway).
For those of you who like to watch good fights (and by that I mean, entertaining) then you really need to get "Tales from the Vault". Over 700 pages talking about obscure brawls and undercard fights. Geek heaven.
I recently read Colin MacMillan's 'Fight the power' - it was a great read, loved reading all about his development and the ups and downs, and clashes with authorities.
I have nearly finished In the Red Corner, by John Duncan - all about Cuban boxing and the writer spent a year living in Cuba and he actually went over there to try and make a fight with the backing of Wazza between Savon-Tyson. Brilliantly written book, and full of great info and ancedotes.
Last book I read was "Reaching For The Stars", Brioan Hughes biography on Howard Winstone.
Pretty good read I thought, a bit drawn out maybe.
Some parts were slow reading.
It seems everything made on Winstone seems to fall short of it's potential.
The story is there, but no one manages to tell it perfectly - not the books, not the documentaries and not the film.
Winstone is a highly underrated fighter imo, should be in the Hall of Fame.
Certainly fighters who achieved less are in there.
Thinking of picking up the Alexis Arguello bio next.
I have just finished one of the best boxing books that I have read, the title is A Boxing Companion Edited by Harry Mullan And Peter Arnold first published in1992
Eubanks & Hattons book i enjoyed thoroughly!! Also Cinderlla Man James J Bradick was a good read! But most people im sure have seen the film by now.
Michael Watson and Holyfields books we not as entertaining for me.
