BoxRec

any good "cant put it down" boxing biographies reccomended ? love a good read especially on the old fighters and of course the new,welcome any good reviews. just read "boxing babylon" by nigel collins,great read

Chris Eubank's and Michael Watson's are the best I've read.
I've been meaning to get hold of Johnny Nelson's too that sounds alright. And Tony(?) Booth's.

Another vote for Eubanks book.

Four Kings by George Kimball and Dark Trade by Donald Mcrae are sublime.

Couple of others I'd recommend:
Boxing Confidential by Jim Brady
The Longest Round by Dominic Calder-Smith
Facing Tyson by Ted Kluck

Avoid:

The Journeyman by Mike Murray

There was a good thread on boxing books going around not too long ago that would be worth searching for.

For a good sporting book, The Hour by Michael Hutchinson is a funny read. About someone trying to beat Chris Boardman's hour cycling record.

Frank Maloney's is a great read too.

Holyfields was a good read.

As ever I couldn't recommend Liebling enough, both the Sweet Science and the Neutral Corner. For bio's Tom Hausers book on Ali is excellent.

I second Dark Trade by Donald McRae.

I've just started Only In America: The Life and Crimes of Don King. Good read so far.

Bomber by Herol Graham is pretty good.
Four kings also .

The Inner Ring: The Set-Up of Mike Tyson and the Uncrowning of Don King............ I got it awhile back great book by tysons bodyguard/Driver who was with Tyson pretty much 24/7 from 86 to 92....PS Its cant put it down"


What a book! I couldn't believe the deceit and fraud committed upon Mike Tyson by his so called "family". No one could have this bird's eye view of the live of Mike Tyson like Rudy, his personal bodyguard for over five years. Some of the evidence Rudy has regarding Tyson's rape case is staggering. I challenge anyone who thinks Mike Tyson is a rapist to read this book. I guarantee you will have doubts regarding his guilt. Rudy does a fantastic job of describing the ins and outs of the bodyguard business, fanatic live of "Iron Mike".

I'll have to look up that previous Tyson one. I recently read a Floyd Patterson bio (The Invisible Champion), was a good read and includes interesting insights into the strange world of Cus D'Amato (and Floyd himself of course). Another vote for Eubank. Probably the best boxing autobiography I've read. Particularly powerful when he recalls his fathers funeral which he attended shortly after discovering he regularly battered his mother.

Avoid: Pacman ('Behind the scenes' or something like that). Written by a guy who has no interest in boxing and therefore offers little insight into the man or his fights. He constantly justifies his lack of insight by referring to how elusive Manny is.

NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:Chris Eubank's and Michael Watson's are the best I've read.
I've been meaning to get hold of Johnny Nelson's too that sounds alright. And Tony(?) Booth's.

Nelson's is a good read. Interesting career with numerous early losses and honest account of his weaknesses such as the tag as worst boxer in his gym then his wilderness years being alienated by boxers/fans/promoters after his stinker of a poor show in his first world title attempt in Sheffield.
A warts n all book and a definite cut above some of the autobiographies.
Sugar Ray Leonard's is well worth a read too. Interesting to read about his raging coke and alcohol issues during his career as well as child abuse. Both books are refreshingly honest and well written.
Teddy Atlas' autobigraphy is inciteful too, especially about Tyson and Cus.

Oh and for pure entertainment value "Year of the Locust" is awesome. It's the book of convicted pro boxer and murderer Tim "Doc" Anderson who killed his promoter Rick "Elvis" Parker.
A brilliant yet disturbing read.

Ste Hawkins wrote:

NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:Chris Eubank's and Michael Watson's are the best I've read.
I've been meaning to get hold of Johnny Nelson's too that sounds alright. And Tony(?) Booth's.

Nelson's is a good read. Interesting career with numerous early losses and honest account of his weaknesses such as the tag as worst boxer in his gym then his wilderness years being alienated by boxers/fans/promoters after his stinker of a poor show in his first world title attempt in Sheffield.
A warts n all book and a definite cut above some of the autobiographies.
Sugar Ray Leonard's is well worth a read too. Interesting to read about his raging coke and alcohol issues during his career as well as child abuse. Both books are refreshingly honest and well written.
Teddy Atlas' autobigraphy is inciteful too, especially about Tyson and Cus.

I was not aware of any issues (true or otherwise) linking Sugar Ray Leonard to coke. I guess with that amount of fanfare around these things will come to tempt you.
I want to read Atlas's too it's just getting round to it.
George Foreman's was a good autobiog "By George" I think it's called.

not boxing but im couple chapters away from finishing Arnie Schwarzeneggers book " Total Recall", its some life the big man has created for himself through hard work and promoting , kindov gave me bit more respect for bodybuilders

although sugar ray robinsons Funded one off his ealry Body building programmes so boxing related a bit

Mick Duffs book is quite an amusing read, and his run in with the Krays is funny as.

@Johnnykayo, if you want to read it pm me your address and i'll send you a copy of it as i have 2

dela hoyas book is good american son,also not boxing but the best book i have read is bret "the hitman" harts book,there is a little bit in it about marciano ripping stu hart off. just reading brian hughes thomas hearns book its ok upto now,it goes through when he was an amateur and also talks aboue manny steward and how he got into boxing.

Sugar Ray Leonard's autobiography, 'The Big Fight', is a good read.

He's really candid & honest about himself & his career.

I was expecting his book to be self indulgent claptrap, but it's far from that.

amazed no1s mentioned tapias. brilliant. u can do it in a day.

stevieb_8006 wrote:amazed no1s mentioned tapias. brilliant. u can do it in a day.

I bought that in a bookstore on Deansgate the day after Barrera boxed in Manchester. Embarrassed to say I've not read it yet

"Hands of Stone" by Christian Giudice is a fine read, especially if you're a Roberto Duran fan

dr_devious wrote:"Hands of Stone" by Christian Giudice is a fine read, especially if you're a Roberto Duran fan

didn't warm to that one.

Hugh Mcilvanney's On Boxing is one of my personal faves, though I gather not everyone likes his 'wordy' style.

Syntax Error wrote:Sugar Ray Leonard's autobiography, 'The Big Fight', is a good read.

He's really candid & honest about himself & his career.

I was expecting his book to be self indulgent claptrap, but it's far from that.

i bought this last week and im looking forward to reading it