An interesting book

wsbuf · Post by **wsbuf** » 15 Apr 2003, 09:03

Just finished a book called "This bloody Mary is the last thing I own" by Jonathan Rendall. Only 185 pages so it only took me a month to read

. If you want to know about the last days of Kid Chocolate and Jackie Kid Berg, its in the book. Also pretty interesting stories about the boxing scene in the 90's. Mostly about English boxers but still pretty good. Anyone in England read this book? Thoughts?

phil · Post by **phil** » 17 Apr 2003, 04:30

Was the "Bloody Mary" the punch he had?

If so, why was it called that?

Phil

wsbuf · Post by **wsbuf** » 17 Apr 2003, 09:05

Title really had nothing to do with the content of book

. The writer was "manager" of Colin McMillan who went on to win the WBO Feather title.

Broncano · Post by **Broncano** » 17 Apr 2003, 12:53

The title is a reflection of the author´s own exit from the boxing scene. Would make an original name for a punch, though.
Kid Chocolate wasn´t much of a puncher really, but he was a great fighter. He knew how to use the clock. He knew how to win rounds. He was a busy fighter and a great boxer. His flair and rhythm made him a man ahead of his times. He was an inspiration to Sugar ray Robinson, whom in turn was the greatest inspiration to The Greatest.

Broncano · Post by **Broncano** » 24 Apr 2003, 15:29

wsbuf, after reading your post I went out and bought the book on amazon. I just finished it last night. There are some careless errors on it like saying that Kid Chocolate was undefeated in 162 pro fights before he lost to Jack Kid Berg (it was actually 55), or that Nunn finished Donald Curry in 5 rounds, and also the spelling of some places in Havana, but nonetheless I enjoyed it very much.
I've read tons of books on boxing and I can honestly say that it is one of the best in reflecting on a golden era long gone and the ridiculous media-infested circus of today. He´s right on the spot when he says that at best boxing has been relegated to a bizarre past time, along the sides of Wrestling and Porn, left to languish for the amusement of a few on the murky waters of PPV and cable television. Brutal but honest, and true.
One of the best parts of the book is when Kid Berg insists that they go to the Polo Grounds, almost 30 years after it had been demolished. Their encounter with a Harlem gang and how all they could find was some remains of what had been a turnstile on the wasteland behind the projects that now stand there is unforgettable.
Thanks, wsbuf.

wsbuf · Post by **wsbuf** » 25 Apr 2003, 08:36

Yea, I thought the 162 fights undefeated was weird. Maybe Chocolate was counting his 100-0 amatuer record. The Kid Berg stories were great.

Dan, Dan the weatherman · Post by **Dan, Dan the weatherman** » 25 Apr 2003, 18:45

I read a good boxing book a few weeks ago - Rocky Marciano: The Rock of his Times it's by Russell Sullivan. I enjoyed it much more than Everet Skehan's biography of The Rock, largely because Sullivan paints a slightly more 'warts and all' picture of Rocky, but also because he tells you quite a lot about some of Rocky's opponents.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 26 Apr 2003, 12:02

somehow I've missed being aware of Hard Rock of His Times. As I am avidly interested in anything negative about Marciano, I'd appreciate mor information....publisher, date, etc.

I assume there is some mention of his coziness with those chaps that hung around Mayfield Road in Cleveland. I hung around with them too, but I'm not painted as the "pure of heart and mind" portrait as Marciano is.

enrique · Post by **enrique** » 28 Apr 2003, 07:43

REGARDING KID CHOCOLATE, THE STORY OF 100 AMATEUR FIGHTS AND 21 STRAIGHT KO'S AS A PRO IS PURE PR BULLSHIT. THE KID HAD A LOT OF AMATEUR FIGHTS AND A FEW PRO FIGHTS BEFORE HE CAME TO THE US, BUT NO ACCURATE COUNT OF AMATEUR FIGHTS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. EVEN HIS EARLY PRO FIGHTS WERE NOT ALL KO'S -SUCH AS ONE OF THE TWO BOUTS AGAINST JOHNNY CRUZ, WHO LATER ON BECAME A GOOD REFEREE. THE "BLOODY MARY" BOOK IS FAIRLY ENTERTAINING, ALTHOUGH IT DOES HAVE SOME INACCURATE INFO.

Dan, Dan the weatherman · Post by **Dan, Dan the weatherman** » 28 Apr 2003, 16:18

Jaclem,

Regarding the Rocky Marciano book....get it here for about $25 at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/searc ... 20-0968665

The publisher is University of Illinois, the author is Russell Sullivan and the ISBN is 0252027639.

And it's one of Amazon's top 100,000 selling books!!!

Dan

1854 · Post by **1854** » 01 Jun 2003, 11:48

I discovered a great book about the NY Golden Gloves. It's called TO SWALLOW A TOAD. It offers a great insight into the psyche of a fighter.