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New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 04 Jun 2014, 12:26
by Ted Spoon
On Ric's instruction.
It is with no small amount of pleasure that I announce the release of my new book
Pugilatus, available here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pugilatus-Ted-S ... =pugilatus
Reaching from Jack Broughton to Froch-Groves, this ambitious project intends to open eyes as well as entertain.
Books on the history of the sport tend to be disjointed, cluttered, and rarely provide anything more than an introduction. Pugilatus formally introduces you to our bare-fisted pioneers, ties the last generation onto a blooming Queensberry scene and then proceeds to carefully juxtapose fighters and themes right up to 2013.
You’re going to get a real sense of progression and intimacy. It’s fighting styles over records. Relevance over quantity. And all this plays its part in supporting the main drive of the book; boxing, despite its many tweaks, is ultimately a homogenous sport. Each era has deep similarities.
In the final chapter await 15 fight stories. I dare say these will be the most in-depth fight reports you’ll ever read.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 05 Jun 2014, 19:25
by BoxBuzz
For all it's waxing and waning in popularity through the years, it is interesting that the sport of boxing, continuously touts the sporting world's highest paid athlete.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 06 Jun 2014, 08:48
by palooka
Well done Ted
it looks like a real labour of love, hope you enjoyed the toil. I'll give it a look over
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 09 Jun 2014, 02:30
by Sklar
Is the fellow on the left Daniel Mendoza?
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 09 Jun 2014, 07:21
by Datsue
Sklar wrote:Is the fellow on the left Daniel Mendoza?
Looks like him to me.
Every painting/illustration I've ever seen of the fella shows him orthodox, when in his training manual, "Observations On The Art Of Pugilism" he's quite adamant that he's naturally a southpaw & that switching back & forth should be practised by all boxers, to maximise their defensive abilities.
The Gallant Mendozy wrote:The first principle in boxing, to be established, is to be perfectly master of the equilibrium of the body, so as to be able to change from a right to a left handed position, to advance or retreat, striking or parrying; & to throw the body either backward or forward, without difficulty or embarrassment.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 09 Jun 2014, 07:34
by evrenb
Wasnt he related to Peter Sellers??
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 09 Jun 2014, 07:48
by Ted Spoon
Datsue wrote:
Looks like him to me.
Every painting/illustration I've ever seen of the fella shows him orthodox, when in his training manual, "Observations On The Art Of Pugilism" he's quite adamant that he's naturally a southpaw & that switching back & forth should be practised by all boxers, to maximise their defensive abilities.
The Gallant Mendozy wrote:The first principle in boxing, to be established, is to be perfectly master of the equilibrium of the body, so as to be able to change from a right to a left handed position, to advance or retreat, striking or parrying; & to throw the body either backward or forward, without difficulty or embarrassment.
That's right. Mendoza urged his students to switch their stances which were known as 'attitudes'.
Jack Broughton also championed this.
William 'Bendigo' Thompson is perhaps the first champion who popularised the southpaw as it was his preferred stance.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 09 Jun 2014, 08:53
by Sklar
Whilst we're on the subject, if anybody ever hears about or has (to sell) a first edition of any of Mendoza's books - or any other pre-1920 boxing/pugilism books - please PM me.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 09 Jun 2014, 08:55
by Ted Spoon
palooka wrote:Well done Ted
it looks like a real labour of love, hope you enjoyed the toil. I'll give it a look over
Cheers Palooka.
It definitely was/is, though not unlike a fight it can take you to the brink.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 09 Jun 2014, 09:00
by Sklar
evrenb wrote:Wasnt he related to Peter Sellers??
Yes, although I've heard several different explantions of the excat relationship. Sellers had an engraving of Daniel in his office.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 02 Aug 2014, 09:12
by Ted Spoon
Positive review from Boxing Monthly:
http://s9.photobucket.com/user/TedSpoon ... w.png.html
Zoom in to read.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 02 Aug 2014, 10:21
by Sklar
Good stuff. Well done, Ted. I haven't picked a copy up yet, but I will.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 04 Aug 2014, 12:00
by Ted Spoon
If you do I hope you enjoy it.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 28 Sep 2014, 06:23
by Ted Spoon
Review/pseudo interview here:
http://www.boxing.com/boxing_by_the_boo ... spoon.html
Also a good review on amazon that explains the guts of the book.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 30 Sep 2014, 10:43
by funso banjo baby
I don't buy from amazon but it sounds good.
the bareknuckle era is great
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 06 Oct 2014, 13:29
by Boxerbeetle
I'll definitely be getting this book, although may wait until Christmas as I have a few books to get through at the moment. Looks excellent & look forward to reading it.
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 12 Nov 2014, 16:06
by Ted Spoon
Radio/Video interview below.
Not sure how to embed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY6An-QbDmI
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 20 Nov 2014, 01:23
by mikeycapp
Hello Ted,
I look forward to reading your book Pugilatus I have put it at the top of my want list for Christmas so I know my wife will get it for me. I cant wait to start reading it.
Sincerely
Mikey Capp
Re: New Book - Pugilatus - Ted Spoon
Posted: 04 Jun 2025, 11:03
by pound per pound
Ted Spoon wrote: ↑04 Jun 2014, 12:26
On Ric's instruction.
It is with no small amount of pleasure that I announce the release of my new book
Pugilatus, available here:
Reaching from Jack Broughton to Froch-Groves, this ambitious project intends to open eyes as well as entertain.
Books on the history of the sport tend to be disjointed, cluttered, and rarely provide anything more than an introduction. Pugilatus formally introduces you to our bare-fisted pioneers, ties the last generation onto a blooming Queensberry scene and then proceeds to carefully juxtapose fighters and themes right up to 2013.
You’re going to get a real sense of progression and intimacy. It’s fighting styles over records. Relevance over quantity. And all this plays its part in supporting the main drive of the book; boxing, despite its many tweaks, is ultimately a homogenous sport. Each era has deep similarities.
In the final chapter await 15 fight stories. I dare say these will be the most in-depth fight reports you’ll ever read.
[img]http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/TedSpoon/1908616628PTO1jpeg.jpg?t=1401877663[/img]
I think I will order this book.
