Hands of stone: Duran book.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Sep 2006, 09:28

About time and I hope it's a good one. The guy writes for Fightnews! uh oh..still I'm looking forward to reading it.

Out on Monday

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hands-Stone-Leg ... F8&s=books

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Sep 2006, 09:32

Surely one of the most fascinating fighters of the modern era?
I wonder if it will confirm/expose the myths surrounding Duran?

I will wait to read reviews before buying but if its a well written account then it will make for essential reading

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 29 Sep 2006, 09:39

I hope this is a well written book rather than just an assortment of press cuttings of Duran's career. More to the point, I hope it's with the collaboration of Duran himself or at least features interviews with those who knew him personally.

pm · Post by pm » 29 Sep 2006, 11:25

out on monday? damn, i've been looking for this in the shops for the past 2 weeks!!

Dirk Kelly · Post by **Dirk Kelly** » 29 Sep 2006, 11:28

c2ute wrote:There is a story that Duran knocked out a horse/cow/bull, depending on what you believe, with a single punch for a bet when he about 16.
Any truth to the rumour? Anyone heard the same story?

Yeah I heard the same story only that he did it to impress a girl. The things blokes have to do!

E · Post by E » 29 Sep 2006, 12:21

This is also out on Monday:

Scream: The Real Mike Tyson

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/00072 ... 25935_.jpg

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... /ref=nosim

WOnder if it will be interesting or a rehash of old books/articles. I read 'This last bloody Mary..' by the Author (Jonathan Rendall) and I thought it was really quite good.

I think Rendall has a bit of a rep for disliking boxing - he's become disillusioned with it.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 29 Sep 2006, 12:57

Heart, Soul Fire: The Paul Briggs Story is by far the best boxing book I've read.

One of the most revealing and harrowing personal journeys you'll find.

If you don't read it, you're twatheads (saying it with a pinch of salt to avoid indignation)

I'll bet no one ever even considers looking at it unless Briggs beats Adamek, for the WBC light heavyweight crown weekend after next.

It's definitely a story worth telling, giving an insight into Briggs' abusive upbringing, his time as world thai boxing champion at the age of 18, his off the rails life & descent into crime and thuggery, his spiritual rebirth ...everything up to the first Adamek fight. Very frank, courageous and honest book.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 01 Oct 2006, 06:05

viciousmaussa wrote:Heart, Soul Fire: The Paul Briggs Story is by far the best boxing book I've read.

One of the most revealing and harrowing personal journeys you'll find.

If you don't read it, you're twatheads (saying it with a pinch of salt to avoid indignation)

I'll bet no one ever even considers looking at it unless Briggs beats Adamek, for the WBC light heavyweight crown weekend after next.

It's definitely a story worth telling, giving an insight into Briggs' abusive upbringing, his time as world thai boxing champion at the age of 18, his off the rails life & descent into crime and thuggery, his spiritual rebirth ...everything up to the first Adamek fight. Very frank, courageous and honest book.

That is a book I have wanted to read for quite some time - it is a fascinating story.

At first I thought - "wait til you win a world title before bringing out a book mate!" but after readig the synopsis its sounded fantastic. He already has lived enough for two lives from the sound of it

Where did you get a copy from? I Saw one on import from amazon a while back for about £18 but thought that was a bit steep.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Oct 2006, 09:54

TerribleTerry wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:Heart, Soul Fire: The Paul Briggs Story is by far the best boxing book I've read.

One of the most revealing and harrowing personal journeys you'll find.

If you don't read it, you're twatheads (saying it with a pinch of salt to avoid indignation)

I'll bet no one ever even considers looking at it unless Briggs beats Adamek, for the WBC light heavyweight crown weekend after next.

It's definitely a story worth telling, giving an insight into Briggs' abusive upbringing, his time as world thai boxing champion at the age of 18, his off the rails life & descent into crime and thuggery, his spiritual rebirth ...everything up to the first Adamek fight. Very frank, courageous and honest book.
That is a book I have wanted to read for quite some time - it is a fascinating story.

At first I thought - "wait til you win a world title before bringing out a book mate!" but after readig the synopsis its sounded fantastic. He already has lived enough for two lives from the sound of it

Where did you get a copy from? I Saw one on import from amazon a while back for about £18 but thought that was a bit steep.

I got mine off amazon, it's just a fantastic book. I can see how ppl would think that he's not earned the right to have a book yet, but when you think of his kick/thai boxing exploits, and his gruelling life it's definitely a remarkable story.

I'm hoping to get the Tszyu book as well, but it seems you can only get that from his website.

Grilling Machine · Post by **Grilling Machine** » 01 Oct 2006, 16:16

c2ute wrote:There is a story that Duran knocked out a horse/cow/bull, depending on what you believe, with a single punch for a bet when he about 16.
Any truth to the rumour? Anyone heard the same story?

Tell you what, I don't know if even Earnie Shavers could've put down a cow/bull.

A horse is much more plausible.

Andy Mac · Post by **Andy Mac** » 01 Oct 2006, 18:27

Grill wrote:
c2ute wrote:There is a story that Duran knocked out a horse/cow/bull, depending on what you believe, with a single punch for a bet when he about 16.
Any truth to the rumour? Anyone heard the same story?
Tell you what, I don't know if even Earnie Shavers could've put down a cow/bull.

A horse is much more plausible.

I know Mungo did in Blazin Saddles

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 04 Oct 2006, 13:46

From Fightnews.com

Fightnews.com feature writer Christian Giudice has written the first-and definitive-story of Duran's incredible life both in and out of the ring. In his book, "Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran," he has interviewed the fighter, his family, closest friends, and scores of his opponents to separate truth from myth. he book should be in stores any day.

Dirk Kelly · Post by **Dirk Kelly** » 04 Oct 2006, 14:00

Perhaps we should set up a box rec book club - we choose a book, have a month to read it then discuss.

Am I being sad?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 18 Dec 2006, 12:17

Pleased to see this got a good review in Box monthly, sounds a decent bio.

Just ordered it on amazon 2nd hand around £10.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 18 Dec 2006, 12:25

dopey wrote:Perhaps we should set up a box rec book club - we choose a book, have a month to read it then discuss.

Am I being sad?

very

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 18 Dec 2006, 13:09

Yurp, just ordered two copies of it along with.....

Unforgivable blackness.
The Jesus Chavez Story
Archie Moore, the ageless warrior
Boxing's greatest fighters - Randolph Sugar

Think the whole lot came to about 60 quid! Bargain.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 18 Dec 2006, 13:47

Such a shame Duran couldn't control his appetite (due to near-starvation as a child), which left him conceding real physical advantages as he jumped up the divsions. In a perfect world, the lightweight Duran would have moved up to light-welter in 1979 and taken part in superfights with Cervantes, Arguello and Pryor (as opposed to with Leonard, Benitez, Hearns and Hagler).

dookus · Post by **dookus** » 18 Dec 2006, 13:48

Unforgiveable Darkness is top-notch, if sometimes mired in the details of Johnson's crazy life.

E · Post by E » 18 Dec 2006, 14:54

viciousmaussa wrote:
TerribleTerry wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:Heart, Soul Fire: The Paul Briggs Story is by far the best boxing book I've read.

One of the most revealing and harrowing personal journeys you'll find.

If you don't read it, you're twatheads (saying it with a pinch of salt to avoid indignation)

I'll bet no one ever even considers looking at it unless Briggs beats Adamek, for the WBC light heavyweight crown weekend after next.

It's definitely a story worth telling, giving an insight into Briggs' abusive upbringing, his time as world thai boxing champion at the age of 18, his off the rails life & descent into crime and thuggery, his spiritual rebirth ...everything up to the first Adamek fight. Very frank, courageous and honest book.
That is a book I have wanted to read for quite some time - it is a fascinating story.

At first I thought - "wait til you win a world title before bringing out a book mate!" but after readig the synopsis its sounded fantastic. He already has lived enough for two lives from the sound of it

Where did you get a copy from? I Saw one on import from amazon a while back for about £18 but thought that was a bit steep.
I got mine off amazon, it's just a fantastic book. I can see how ppl would think that he's not earned the right to have a book yet, but when you think of his kick/thai boxing exploits, and his gruelling life it's definitely a remarkable story.

I'm hoping to get the Tszyu book as well, but it seems you can only get that from his website.

I've read both the Jonny Tapia story and Paul Briggs story and I'm tempted to say Briggs had the madder life.... not a boxing book per se as he spent most of his early years in thai boxing....but it is a brutally honest and shocking book.

Briggs doesn't exactly paint himself as a nice guy.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 19 Dec 2006, 04:40

E wrote:This is also out on Monday:

Scream: The Real Mike Tyson

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/00072 ... 25935_.jpg

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... /ref=nosim

WOnder if it will be interesting or a rehash of old books/articles. I read 'This last bloody Mary..' by the Author (Jonathan Rendall) and I thought it was really quite good.

I think Rendall has a bit of a rep for disliking boxing - he's become disillusioned with it.

Jonathan Rendall wrote a couple of pieces for thesweetscience.com a year or so ago. He used to manage Colin McMillan I believe.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Dec 2006, 06:34

bennie wrote:Such a shame Duran couldn't control his appetite (due to near-starvation as a child), which left him conceding real physical advantages as he jumped up the divsions. In a perfect world, the lightweight Duran would have moved up to light-welter in 1979 and taken part in superfights with Cervantes, Arguello and Pryor (as opposed to with Leonard, Benitez, Hearns and Hagler).

He didn't do too bad though eh?

Certainly held his own with Hagler. I wonder, was Hagler slightly intimidated by Duran, he seemed a little bit hesitant in that fight, considering the immense advantages he had in physical strength and power over Duran.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Dec 2006, 06:47

Duran is one of my favourites, such a masterful counter puncher and inside fighter, so hard to nail him with a clean shot, and all the while he's there roughing you up, chipping away with crafty spiteful shots to the body and head. Amazing to think he was regarded as a brawler, when in fact he was anything but.

T.M.K · Post by **T.M.K** » 19 Dec 2006, 09:21

AMAZON SYNOPSIS: Roberto Duran is a sporting legend. Often called the greatest boxer of all time, he held world titles at four different weights and is the only professional in history to have fought in five different decades

Shame the synopsis writer hadn't ever heard of Saoul Mamby.

Ah well, best wishes

"T.M.K"

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Dec 2006, 09:34

T.M.K wrote:AMAZON SYNOPSIS: Roberto Duran is a sporting legend. Often called the greatest boxer of all time, he held world titles at four different weights and is the only professional in history to have fought in five different decades

Shame the synopsis writer hadn't ever heard of Saoul Mamby.

Ah well, best wishes

"T.M.K"

Duran licked Mamby, so we'll allow the writer his slip.
I've always believed Duran should have taken part in two memorable battles with Pryor, as opposed to with Leonard. The Panamanian, after his destructive reign at lightweight, would have proved equally destructive at light-welterweight against Pryor in 1980 (when he fought Leonard). Pryor's defence was leaky, and Duran would have feasted: busting him up, wearing him down and stopping him late (13 or 14 rounds). Duran hated movers, remember. Pryor would have suited him.
There would have been a rematch in early 1981, which Duran would have won in about the ninth. Then he should have squeezed his frame down for one more superfight with Arguello (too slow for Duran) and contemplated quitting. He was already in his 30s by 1982 and didn't need to be moving up and fighting much bigger opponents, even though he often performed well.
Indeed, my overriding memory of Duran is his middleweight fight with Barkley in a snowstorm in Atlantic City in 1989. Duran dropped Barkley in the 11th round and, at the bell, the lights come on in the arena and you can see the vast crowd literally hanging off the rafters. Nobody, not even a peak Tyson, could whip a crowd up like Duran in the modern era.

assassin · Post by **assassin** » 19 Dec 2006, 10:24

Cheers for the heads up on that, just watched that 11th round versus Barkley on youtube, and yes it does look like pandemonium when Duran drops him!
Big shots they were as well, i still struggle to comprehend how Duran could be competitive with guys so much naturally bigger than him, the guy was an animal