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New J. Russell Peltz book "30 Dollars and a Cut Eye" OUT NOW!

Posted: 10 Sep 2021, 10:50
by chrisjs1985
At long last, J. Russell Peltz has written a book and having read the first 30 or so pages, I can say it's worth the wait! Absolutely fascinating stuff. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I'm sure this is to be an instant classic.



Boxing promoter J Russell Peltz fell in love with boxing when he was 12, saw his first live fight at 14, and was hooked for life. He was named Outstanding Male Journalism Graduate, Temple University, 1968, but after a short career on the sports copy desk of the Evening and Sunday Bulletin in Philadelphia, he became a boxing promoter when he couldn’t land the boxing beat at the newspaper. In his more-than-half century in boxing, Peltz has promoted fights at every major venue in Philadelphia as well as most of the casinos in Atlantic City. His fights have been televised by ABC, CBS, NBC, HBO, Showtime, ESPN, USA and SportsChannel. He has promoted or co-promoted more than 30 world championship fights and his business has taken him around the world, from Beijing to Buenos Aires and from Paris to Tokyo. Peltz was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, the Temple University School of Communications and Theatre Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

"I had been threatening to write this book for years but never found the time until Covid-19 came along. The internet often is the misinformation highway and I want to set the record straight as to what actually went on in boxing in the Philadelphia area since the late 1960s. I'm tired of reading tweets or Facebook posts or Instagram accounts from people who were not around and have no idea what went on, but write like they do. I saved every contract I ever signed, most profit-and-loss statements, photos, souvenir programs, posters and videos. You name it--I saved it.
It's all there--the facts, the figures and the finances. From the love-of-my-boxing-life Bennie Briscoe, through my hot-and-cold relationship with Tyrone Everett, all the way up to Jason Sosa and covering the Blue Horizon, the old Arena at 46th & Market, to the Spectrum and up to the present. Plus, my years in Atlantic City.
I've been in touch with about two dozen fighters and I included the nice things and the not-so-nice things they said about me. Otherwise, the book wouldn't be real. It's more than just what went on inside the ring. It's also about what went on outside the ring as to how certain fights came about and others did not.
There are never-before-seen pictures from photographers who graciously donated them. So many people helped me with this book but I need to especially thank Bob Levin, a transplanted Philadelphian now living in Berkeley, California, for his incredible editing. Also, former Daily News columnist Jill Porter, a Temple classmate of mine, for her proofreading, as well as John DiSanto, for his help in scanning photos and handling all the technical issues of getting this manuscript together.
Plus my wife, Linda, who had to share me with this book for the last 18 months. She also did some proofreading and discovered things about me she never knew.
Adrian! We did it!"

Re: New J. Russell Peltz book "30 Dollars and a Cut Eye" OUT NOW!

Posted: 11 Sep 2021, 13:50
by goose 5
Thanks a lot for this post-I can't wait to read it.

Re: New J. Russell Peltz book "30 Dollars and a Cut Eye" OUT NOW!

Posted: 16 Sep 2021, 08:56
by Stevieaber
Duly ordered. Literally bouncing with excitement.

Re: New J. Russell Peltz book "30 Dollars and a Cut Eye" OUT NOW!

Posted: 05 Oct 2021, 14:19
by Boxingnut
For those that have read it or are reading it currently, what do you think of the book?

Re: New J. Russell Peltz book "30 Dollars and a Cut Eye" OUT NOW!

Posted: 05 Oct 2021, 15:25
by dagosd2000
I just got finished reading Peltzer's book last night after an unusually long time,at least for me, when it comes to finishing cover to cover.The many short chapters are fast paced snapping off the pages like rapier jabs. Peltzer has a back round in journalism and knows how to apply a Jimmy Cannon vernacular to what he puts down on paper.After 50 years of promoting ,,matchmaking,and managing fighters his depth of experience is voluminous.The anecdotes come flying off his head in crisp combinations.

Being a Philly boy and going to his first prize fight as a 14 year old kid he got the bug and knew right away in his heart that boxing would be flowing in his veins.He began putting together cards in The city Of Brotherly Love in his early 20's without being intimidated by the aura of wheeler dealers,easy come easy go,The Mob,broken promises,double crosses,and cigar smoke.He wasn't hesitant to take risks putting on shows and matching fighters in venues that maybe seemed that were glued together with grammar school paste.He would lose money and he would recoup but always had his foot on the gas and an one eye open.

During the glory years he was involved with every name fighter in Philly that was worth his salt and most that were unseasoned. Bobby Watts,Willie Monroe,Ty Everett,Jeff Chandler,and his closet charge,Bennie Briscoe.He talked about the guys who were their own worst enemies and the ones that fingered him for not being in their corners when needed. Peltzer was best man at weddings and persona non grata with others.One of his fighters ,with tongue in cheek, remarked that fighters "are whores" and promoters "pimps." Peltzer had the moxie to wink at those words.


The book is a definite read for a boxing nut.He's around my age now and pines for the days of ten divisions with only one crown on the head of each champ. I don't know if he sees any light at the end of the tunnel.Boxing is on its way out.If you've been a fan since when he(and me) got the bug you know what I'm talking about.The sport has become all about ONLY making money.If the draw today is putting a 50 year old ex champ in with a no name or another ex pug with the beginning of hardening of the arteries then that's when he inserts the tape and watch Bennie Briscoe slug it out with Charley Scott at The Philly Arena..Take a deep breath.

Re: New J. Russell Peltz book "30 Dollars and a Cut Eye" OUT NOW!

Posted: 05 Oct 2021, 16:08
by Boxingnut
dagosd2000 wrote: 05 Oct 2021, 15:25 I just got finished reading Peltzer's book last night after an unusually long time,at least for me, when it comes to finishing cover to cover.The many short chapters are fast paced snapping off the pages like rapier jabs. Peltzer has a back round in journalism and knows how to apply a Jimmy Cannon vernacular to what he puts down on paper.After 50 years of promoting ,,matchmaking,and managing fighters his depth of experience is voluminous.The anecdotes come flying off his head in crisp combinations.

Being a Philly boy and going to his first prize fight as a 14 year old kid he got the bug and knew right away in his heart that boxing would be flowing in his veins.He began putting together cards in The city Of Brotherly Love in his early 20's without being intimidated by the aura of wheeler dealers,easy come easy go,The Mob,broken promises,double crosses,and cigar smoke.He wasn't hesitant to take risks putting on shows and matching fighters in venues that maybe seemed that were glued together with grammar school paste.He would lose money and he would recoup but always had his foot on the gas and an one eye open.

During the glory years he was involved with every name fighter in Philly that was worth his salt and most that were unseasoned. Bobby Watts,Willie Monroe,Ty Everett,Jeff Chandler,and his closet charge,Bennie Briscoe.He talked about the guys who were their own worst enemies and the ones that fingered him for not being in their corners when needed. Peltzer was best man at weddings and persona non grata with others.One of his fighters ,with tongue in cheek, remarked that fighters "are whores" and promoters "pimps." Peltzer had the moxie to wink at those words.


The book is a definite read for a boxing nut.He's around my age now and pines for the days of ten divisions with only one crown on the head of each champ. I don't know if he sees any light at the end of the tunnel.Boxing is on its way out.If you've been a fan since when he(and me) got the bug you know what I'm talking about.The sport has become all about ONLY making money.If the draw today is putting a 50 year old ex champ in with a no name or another ex pug with the beginning of hardening of the arteries then that's when he inserts the tape and watche Bennie Briscoe go at it with Charley Scott at The Philly Arena..Take deep breath.
Thank you, a great review.