BoxRec

Alright chaps, if I may.

I'm embarking on a 10 hour journey tomorrow evening, with the same time journey back a few days after, and have a choice of a few to start reading, so any feedback on these specific ones much appreciated, I'm only bringing one, and the below is the choice.

Please of course

Ringside - Budd Schulberg
Mcilvanney on Boxing
Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward
The Last Great Fight: The Extraordinary Tale of Two Men and How One Fight Changed Their Lives Forever (Tyson/Douglas)
The Sweet Science - A.J. Liebling

Thanks in advance.

Srebmun wrote: Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward

This is the only one out of your list that I have read. Good read, not spectacular but not poor either. The first few chapters focus more so on Dickie Ecklund than Ward if I remember correctly. There are different opinions from everyone that were involved in Wards career so it isn't biased. Personally, I think he got screwed in his career by different people that were supposed to be close to him. Definitely worth a read at some stage.

i actually want to start getting into reading boxing based books as i have never ever read one! can anyone recommend a good book for me to start with? something simple and not too technical, also what shops to get them from? im guessing waterstones would be a good start?

not read any of them but next boxing book you get should be Dark Trade

The Big If : The Life and Death of Johnny Owen, by Rick Broadbent might be a good start, have a look on Amazon too there are some decent bargains at times.

MatthewS wrote:not read any of them but next boxing book you get should be Dark Trade

Read it recently, just finished the Angelo Dundee book today so am starting fresh tomorrow when I set off.

Jesus - and before I go on may I say, always glad to help Jesus with choosing a boxing book.

I'd go for Four Kings by George Kimball, it's a fabulous book, and is about the 4 way rivalry between Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran, by someone who experienced it. I couldn't put it down personally.

Or Dark Trade as mentioned by Matthew, another great read, again from first hand experience, you'll end up loving and wanting to watch every James Toney fight after you read it, or whilst reading it as I did.

As for where to get them, any good book store have somewhat of a selection, but I get most of mine from Amazon. You can get pretty much anything.

Ringside for me.

Chronicles from the same writer but they stretch through the generations and feature a quality cast

MatthewS wrote:not read any of them but next boxing book you get should be Dark Trade

x 2, best I've read.....

However, McIlvanney is the one I'd plump for, not read this book but he always span a good tale....

PS He still does....http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... cilvanney/

Jesus wrote:i actually want to start getting into reading boxing based books as i have never ever read one! can anyone recommend a good book for me to start with? something simple and not too technical, also what shops to get them from? im guessing waterstones would be a good start?

Hands of Stone - Christian Guidice (Roberto Duran biography)

Srebmun wrote:

MatthewS wrote:not read any of them but next boxing book you get should be Dark Trade

Read it recently, just finished the Angelo Dundee book today so am starting fresh tomorrow when I set off.

Jesus - and before I go on may I say, always glad to help Jesus with choosing a boxing book.

I'd go for Four Kings by George Kimball, it's a fabulous book, and is about the 4 way rivalry between Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran, by someone who experienced it. I couldn't put it down personally.

Or Dark Trade as mentioned by Matthew, another great read, again from first hand experience, you'll end up loving and wanting to watch every James Toney fight after you read it, or whilst reading it as I did.

As for where to get them, any good book store have somewhat of a selection, but I get most of mine from Amazon. You can get pretty much anything.

that is the book that got me into Toney as it were, became interested in his career from that.

Captain Hook wrote:

MatthewS wrote:not read any of them but next boxing book you get should be Dark Trade

x 2, best I've read.....

However, McIlvanney is the one I'd plump for, not read this book but he always span a good tale....

McIlvanney on boxing is a beautifully written book, probably my favourite boxing read, he's a superb wordsmith without trying to over-egg the pudding as many (wannabes) do.

Don McRae (the author of Dark Trade, which I agree is terrific) also wrote a joint biography of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens, which also gives a good insight into the sociological issues of the time.

Stay away from Nigel Benn's autobiography - utter crap.

I'd be interested to know what other people think of "The Fight" by Norman Mailer. I'm a big fan of his work in general (although the guy himself was apparently a bit of a sh1t), but I remember being a bit disappointed by this book.

MatthewS wrote:

Srebmun wrote:

MatthewS wrote:not read any of them but next boxing book you get should be Dark Trade

Read it recently, just finished the Angelo Dundee book today so am starting fresh tomorrow when I set off.

Jesus - and before I go on may I say, always glad to help Jesus with choosing a boxing book.

I'd go for Four Kings by George Kimball, it's a fabulous book, and is about the 4 way rivalry between Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran, by someone who experienced it. I couldn't put it down personally.

Or Dark Trade as mentioned by Matthew, another great read, again from first hand experience, you'll end up loving and wanting to watch every James Toney fight after you read it, or whilst reading it as I did.

As for where to get them, any good book store have somewhat of a selection, but I get most of mine from Amazon. You can get pretty much anything.

that is the book that got me into Toney as it were, became interested in his career from that.

Yep that was a great book to read, one of those that meant it didnt matter if you were slightly delayed as you could squeeze in a few more pages. I enjoyed the young Naz content but some of the Toney stories are on a whole different league! Without question one the top sports books I have read.

Counter-puncher wrote:

Captain Hook wrote:

MatthewS wrote:not read any of them but next boxing book you get should be Dark Trade

x 2, best I've read.....

However, McIlvanney is the one I'd plump for, not read this book but he always span a good tale....

McIlvanney on boxing is a beautifully written book, probably my favourite boxing read, he's a superb wordsmith without trying to over-egg the pudding as many (wannabes) do.

After seeing this thread I went and bought it on Amazon mate, looking forward to it...

glad you bought it hookey its a cracking read

Read Bruno's autobiography recently on holiday, thought it was a great read and really enjoyed it.

Captain Hook wrote:

MatthewS wrote:not read any of them but next boxing book you get should be Dark Trade

x 2, best I've read.....

However, McIlvanney is the one I'd plump for, not read this book but he always span a good tale....

I didn't rate Dark Trade after all the hype. Felt a bit underwhelmed.

Four Kings is still the best boxing book I've ever read.

Looking for a Fight by Dave Matthews is a good read and I liked The Fight by Mailer as I'm a big Ali fan. Mailer's a bit heavy but captures the goings on around the Rumble in the Jungle too... jammy bastard got to go jogging with Ali.. what an experience!

The book on Louis and Owens is unbelievably humbling. Bloody hell did they lead tough lives!

Teddy Atlas book "from the streets to the ring" is a Very good read.

Liebling is a must.

His tale about the hapless gambler he encountered at the fights in the East End is one of my all-time favourites.

He just has a knack for creating atmosphere and taking you right back to his era.

Mcilvanney's book is excellent too (as is his book on football).

Hauser's Ali book is a cracking read.

The Aaron Pryor and Teddy Atlas autobiographies are a great read too..

Started reading McIlvanney on boxing last night, he's pure class.

Jesus wrote:i actually want to start getting into reading boxing based books as i have never ever read one! can anyone recommend a good book for me to start with? something simple and not too technical, also what shops to get them from? im guessing waterstones would be a good start?

Four Kings is excellent, telling the story of the Leonard/Hagler/Hearns/Duran rivalry and is pretty cheap being a paperback. It's also fairly easy to read as well and it's a great story. I got it a while back when it first came out so I dunno if the high street shops would still have it. Try Waterstones, WHSmiths etc. Anywhere that does books should have a decent boxing section if its a big enough shop.

Am reading Four Kings, started it last night. Moving between that one, McIlvanney on Boxing and the Lovely Bones!

Mensa07 wrote:Liebling is a must.

His tale about the hapless gambler he encountered at the fights in the East End is one of my all-time favourites.

He just has a knack for creating atmosphere and taking you right back to his era.

Got this for Christmas once I've finished the last Stig Larsson book will start this. Looking forward to it.

Anyone read the Willie Pep book by Brian Hughes?