Recommended Autobiographies

[Duffus91]

Would anyone recommend either the Tibbs or Ray Bishop books?

[lusop]

Kirkland Laing 'The Gifted One'.... Pristine condition offers welcome

[Lloydy]

Best Boxing Books I've read are (in no order)

Teddy Atlas 'from the streets to the ring'
Ali by Thomas Hauser
Living La Vida Loca - Johnny Tapia
A fighters Heart - Sam Sheridan (not just boxing but brilliant read!)
Johnny Nelson Book
Jimmy Tibbs 'Sparring with Life'
Chris Eubank book

[Lloydy]

Would anyone recommend either the Tibbs or Ray Bishop books?

Yes I'm reading the Tibbs book now and its a cracking read. Flows so well, I'm reading it on kindle and have read 70% or so in two days and haven;t been bored or distracted once (which is rare!)

[Taansend]

"My Bleeding Hooter" by Terry Downes. A great read by a very funny man. He was the Ricky Hatton of his day. Except better.

[merseybox]

Sam Langfords and Joe Gans, both very moving stories. These guys had it tough in boxing and in life.

I know Clay Moyle who wrote Langfords - impeccably researched that one. Great read
.

I would also mention Larry Gains' book - the Impossible Dream and Andrew Depth's is a must - although I haven't read it myself as there is only thought to be one copy in existence - and this is in South Africa - if you find one let me know!

[palooka]

Mark Turley's 'The Journeymen' is a really good read, informative and honest. Johnny Greaves has a chapter, he comes across very decent - all those interviewed give an account of the realities of boxing in the away corner and they are not competing on a fair level.

[merseybox]

could of course hunt down mersey fighters 1 - theres over 100 short biogs in that - from the likes of harry scott and john conteh and hogan kid bassey to merseyside fights who fought in 1920s. or mersey fighters 2 - over 40 in that - the likes of alex moon, john farrell, the gilbodys, john lyon, hook etc

can pick them up on eBay and amazon for a tenner each sometimes.

[mickey1975]

could of course hunt down mersey fighters 1 - theres over 100 short biogs in that - from the likes of harry scott and john conteh and hogan kid bassey to merseyside fights who fought in 1920s. or mersey fighters 2 - over 40 in that - the likes of alex moon, john farrell, the gilbodys, john lyon, hook etc

can pick them up on eBay and amazon for a tenner each sometimes.

That's a hard sell on here. People are very predjudiced against Scousers.

[coneye]

Great book , i read was called Black nights or Dark nights , i think it was about Billy Costelo , can't remember i read it years ago , But do remember it was a great book , well worth a look

[mickey1975]

Black Lights. Very good book.

[Weirdyman]

Teddy Atlas's is a very good read.

Can vouch for Johnny Nelson's too.

[palooka]

Teddy Atlas seems an outright fruitcake, I enjoyed his book for the comedy.

[bennie]

Finnegan: Self-Portrait of a Fighting Man

[gasman]

One book that I will not be buying is Springs Toledo's book 'Gods of wars' I think its called. I read the review of this book in last month's Boxing Monthly, and they slated it. John Exham (wrong spelling) brilliantly took the piss out of Toledo, who was basically bigging himself up to be a Liebling-type heavyweight writer that specialised in 'warrior poetry' in his bio. Great review, in fact, I'd go as far to say his book review page is my favourite column in Boxing Monthly.

[magwitch]

Ashamed to say I picked up Bernard Dunne's autobiog last week for a quid - but put it back! It wasn't even a charity shop, it was just a clearance. I've too many on the go.

I'm looking forward to Johnny Nelson's, which is still unopened in the envelope it arrived in, but I generally get them in the charity shops. I'm halfway through Frochy's, which is a super book and has altered my perceptions of him considerably.

Two that were good were George Foreman's and Michael Watson's. I've also got one called When The Gloves Came Off but I just never really properly got going with that one. I've dipped into it here and there and I think I'm gonna give it another bash.

Another shout for Theodore from me btw

[sammy95]

Can't recommend the Johnny Nelson book enough, I think I may have read it in something stupid like two sittings

[Nightmare Roy]

Facing Ali is agree at read, it's an account/ interview of ten of his former opponents and what's happened to them since. I also think Nigel Benn's book is worth a read, very honest.

[magwitch]

Facing Ali is agree at read, it's an account/ interview of ten of his former opponents and what's happened to them since. I also think Nigel Benn's book is worth a read, very honest.

I've owned Benn's book for over 15 years and not read it. I read Eubank's in 3 days and Watson's in something similar. Sorry Nigel. I must try harder.

I've read a few chapters in Facing Ali, it's a good read.

I've heard Unforgiveable Blackness is meant to be real good.

[reggaereggae]

Facing Ali is agree at read, it's an account/ interview of ten of his former opponents and what's happened to them since. I also think Nigel Benn's book is worth a read, very honest.

I've owned Benn's book for over 15 years and not read it. I read Eubank's in 3 days and Watson's in something similar. Sorry Nigel. I must try harder.

I've read a few chapters in Facing Ali, it's a good read.

I've heard Unforgiveable Blackness is meant to be real good.

Benn's book has been written like a lad's mag story. I cringed a bit. A lot. Would be such an interesting read if it had a decent ghost writer.

[Duffus91]

Yes I'm reading the Tibbs book now and its a cracking read. Flows so well, I'm reading it on kindle and have read 70% or so in two days and haven;t been bored or distracted once (which is rare!)

Bought it on the Kindle following some of the recommendations on here and finished it within two days. Definitely flows well and didn't feel like it dragged on as you can with some autobiographies.

Plenty of recommendations on here to keep me away from the insanity nightshift causes. Johnny Nelson next up.

[Nightmare Roy]

After seeing it got a few shouts in this thread, I bought the Jhonny Nelson book on kindle, have to say it was a great read! Finished it in three days. Just bought the Jimmy Tibbs one now too.

[Syntax Error]

Joe Frazier's autobiography is excellent, made me re-evaluate my opinion on Ali. Full title is Smokin Joe:The Autobiography

Agreed.

I enjoyed Smokin' Joe's book too.

PS: I still want to know what a Scamboogah is?

[hitman_hatton1]

frank bruno's is excellent.

naz just needs to get his sh1t together and do his.

[ILikeBeer]

frank bruno's is excellent.

naz just needs to get his sh1t together and do his.

This is your favourite book.