'The Art of Boxing' - BBC2 Monday 17th March 10pm

[Cholo_cws]

on The Culture Show with Tony Parsons. Don't know what it'll be like but worth mentioning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03ympq6

[jessi]

will sky + that one !

[Datsue]

If it involves someone punching Tony Parsons in the face, I shall watch it. Probably in slow-motion.

[Old bones Ian]

thanks for that, will have a watch

[MrJasonM]

I just watched this now on iplayer.

It was alright, I think it is aimed at people who aren’t really boxing fans.

It was far too romanticised for my liking, and the presenter kept plugging his book, however it did enough to hold my attention.

[Flashing Blade]

Great that my licence fee goes on a 30 minute advert for a novel. Pretty weak really- especially the central idea that boxing became marginalised in the 60s. As someone who was a kid in the 70s and remembers watching Ali's title fights being replayed on BBC 1 at prime time- this sounded like bollocks.
Also- the way that Parsons, like Mailer and others before, likened a writer going easy with a personal trainer to the experience of a pro boxer in the ring, was pathetic.

[gasman]

Kasia Boddy wrote the definitive book on the culture of boxing. It is one of the most heavily researched books that I have read (well almost finished) and I think Parson's just swooped in (even though Boddy was interviewed in it) and creamed a few of the obvious cultural findings from her book, adjusted the title from 'culture' to 'art' and bagged a documentary. He did so whilst ramming in long references about his own book, I don't think a Hollywood movie would have had as much product placement in it. The extended sparring segments to showcase Parson's 'manliness' to step into the ring and take a few shots to the head guard was excessive and indulgent - he isn't a boxer and his trainer taking him around the ring is not comparable to a boxer. Dumbed down and self-serving.

[Emmseegee]

One of the rare occasions where I have failed to see the end of a boxing programme.

Never enjoyed that too much, if you havent bothered watching it yet then do yourself a favour and swerve it.

[reggaereggae]

If it involves someone punching Tony Parsons in the face, I shall watch it. Probably in slow-motion.

hahhahhaha PArsons is a hypocrite - a left winger who got poached by the Sun for a big pay packet

[Clint Magnum]

What do you expect in half an hour?
I enjoyed it.
The whole point was that boxing is not just about & for professionals. Regularly getting in the ring at any level including sparring asks and answers many questions for people's psyche & gives aggressive people focus, meek people confidence, shy people confidence and its good to see a mainstream positive spin on the sport.

[johnnykayo]

whatta crock load of shite :( never even give budd schulberg a mention ! thought it was too good to be true as it was a load of bollox

[ILikeBeer]

Oh yeah. I was going to watch this, forgot. It'll still be on my Virgin box memory, so I'll probably watch it this weekend.

[reggaereggae]

Oh yeah. I was going to watch this, forgot. It'll still be on my Virgin box memory, so I'll probably watch it this weekend.

Don 't bother it's shit. It's basically just a vanity film for Parsons to pretend how tough he is............

[misterpunch]

"the winner - and still a terrible novelist - tony "the pug" paaaaaarrrrrsons!!!!"

dreadful writer, dreadful bloke

[dbf]

The thing that annoys me most about boxing is that it attracts 'writers' who over complicate and romanticize things just to gain respect from other 'writers '. Yawn.

[Datsue]

"the winner - and still a terrible novelist - tony "the pug" paaaaaarrrrrsons!!!!"

dreadful writer, dreadful bloke

[orbtastic]

I dislike his ex wife more.

[misterpunch]

I think I prefer Julie to tony - just imagine...the two most irritating people in the world sharing a life!

maybe he's getting in trim for a bout against Julie "the butcher" birchill

[funso banjo baby]

Kasia Boddy wrote the definitive book on the culture of boxing. It is one of the most heavily researched books that I have read (well almost finished) and I think Parson's just swooped in (even though Boddy was interviewed in it) and creamed a few of the obvious cultural findings from her book, adjusted the title from 'culture' to 'art' and bagged a documentary. He did so whilst ramming in long references about his own book, I don't think a Hollywood movie would have had as much product placement in it. The extended sparring segments to showcase Parson's 'manliness' to step into the ring and take a few shots to the head guard was excessive and indulgent - he isn't a boxer and his trainer taking him around the ring is not comparable to a boxer. Dumbed down and self-serving.

Kasia Boddy's book is enjoyable but the majority of it is a compilation of existing knowledge. she shouldnt take all the credit.

[gasman]

Kasia Boddy wrote the definitive book on the culture of boxing. It is one of the most heavily researched books that I have read (well almost finished) and I think Parson's just swooped in (even though Boddy was interviewed in it) and creamed a few of the obvious cultural findings from her book, adjusted the title from 'culture' to 'art' and bagged a documentary. He did so whilst ramming in long references about his own book, I don't think a Hollywood movie would have had as much product placement in it. The extended sparring segments to showcase Parson's 'manliness' to step into the ring and take a few shots to the head guard was excessive and indulgent - he isn't a boxer and his trainer taking him around the ring is not comparable to a boxer. Dumbed down and self-serving.

Kasia Boddy's book is enjoyable but the majority of it is a compilation of existing knowledge. she shouldnt take all the credit.

It is a painstakingly rigorous compilation, that is the point, she put it all together. A brilliant effort.

[funso banjo baby]

Kasia Boddy wrote the definitive book on the culture of boxing. It is one of the most heavily researched books that I have read (well almost finished) and I think Parson's just swooped in (even though Boddy was interviewed in it) and creamed a few of the obvious cultural findings from her book, adjusted the title from 'culture' to 'art' and bagged a documentary. He did so whilst ramming in long references about his own book, I don't think a Hollywood movie would have had as much product placement in it. The extended sparring segments to showcase Parson's 'manliness' to step into the ring and take a few shots to the head guard was excessive and indulgent - he isn't a boxer and his trainer taking him around the ring is not comparable to a boxer. Dumbed down and self-serving.

Kasia Boddy's book is enjoyable but the majority of it is a compilation of existing knowledge. she shouldnt take all the credit.

It is a painstakingly rigorous compilation, that is the point, she put it all together. A brilliant effort.

id suggest someone like pierce egan is more deserving of the plaudits for painstakingly rigorous compilation. particularly when it comes to the info on the golden age of bareknuckle boxing which boddy contributes nothing to that isnt already out there.

[misterpunch]

egan doesn't get referenced enough on this site

[Boxerbeetle]

egan doesn't get referenced enough on this site

Speaking of Egan, does anyone know how to (easily) get a copy of Boxiana Volume 2? I got Volume 1 from Amazon with no issues, but struggling to find Volume 2, not sure if it was even published??

[gasman]

Kasia Boddy's book is enjoyable but the majority of it is a compilation of existing knowledge. she shouldnt take all the credit.[/quote]

It is a painstakingly rigorous compilation, that is the point, she put it all together. A brilliant effort.[/quote]

id suggest someone like pierce egan is more deserving of the plaudits for painstakingly rigorous compilation. particularly when it comes to the info on the golden age of bareknuckle boxing which boddy contributes nothing to that isnt already out there.[/quote]


Of course there are a plethora of writers, historians who have made great contributions, but Parson's isn't one of them. I personally thought, that in one book on the theme of ' the culture of boxing' Boddy put together a definitive compilation, beyond Egan's years of works. For example boxing's contribution to the development of cinema, television and so on. I never said Boddy contributed anything that was not already out there, the point is that in one book she has brought together an enormous contribution, which evidently is heavily researched.

[misterpunch]

pierce egan wrote marvellously about boxings contribution to cinema and television