BoxRec

Stanley Ketchel had perhaps the most interesting life of any fighter IMO.
Battling Siki was a wild character by all accounts.
The stories of Dempsey's pre fame life are a great story.
Jack Johnson's love of fast cars and white women also make for interesting reading.

Who's lives interest you?

Ali is the obvious one.
Some other guys:
Floyd Patterson- Was in trouble a lot as a kid, turned out to be a wonderful person. Maybe the nicest person who was a boxer. He had to overcome a lot self doubt. Had a crazy trainer who he decided to replace for the 2nd Johannson fight. Was involved the sport after he retired. Adopted a son who became a boxer.

Max Schmeling -Being a German and who was anti-Hitler. Won the title in a controversial way and lost it likewise.

Sonny Liston- His dealing with the police and having to wait so long for a title shot.

Eddie Machen and his mental problems.

what boxers published their autobiographies that you would recommend ?

Caractacus wrote: ↑17 Nov 2022, 15:43 what boxers published their autobiographies that you would recommend ?

Not a boxer, but Angelo Dundee's I only Talk Winning is superb.

Angel Robinson Garcia

Nino Benvenuti lived a life far removed from that of the average boxer. He was cultured, intellectual......and smoked

Johnny Tapia
Mike Tyson

evrenb wrote: ↑18 Nov 2022, 05:45 Johnny Tapia
Mike Tyson

I just can't get past Tyson being a rapist.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑18 Nov 2022, 06:52

evrenb wrote: ↑18 Nov 2022, 05:45 Johnny Tapia
Mike Tyson

I just can't get past Tyson being a rapist.

As he was convicted, it's impossible to refute or forgive. I understand. Not saying I worship him. He is just a very interesting character...with more lives than a cat.

evrenb wrote: ↑18 Nov 2022, 12:49

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑18 Nov 2022, 06:52

evrenb wrote: ↑18 Nov 2022, 05:45 Johnny Tapia
Mike Tyson

I just can't get past Tyson being a rapist.

As he was convicted, it's impossible to refute or forgive. I understand. Not saying I worship him. He is just a very interesting character...with more lives than a cat.

Definitely. He loved the life like some of the guys from the past like Johnson and Siki.

Barry McGuigan rode all sorts of rollercoasters...although he comes across as confident, sorted and successful.
His book Cyclone, My Story is probably one of the best boxing books you can pick up.

He saw heaps of personal family tragedy, dealt with a lot of big, nasty 'identity' politics for a boxer, never wanted or expected to become a huge celebrity and very nearly quit after Young Ali died as a result of their fight.

A very likeable guy - but there was a tragic suicide in the family - and you get the sense that Barry went from being a reasonably well-known fighter and quite a private guy, into someone who was expected to be everywhere.

This is almost impossible to answer. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of fighters with interesting life stories.

bwu wrote: ↑19 Nov 2022, 18:17 This is almost impossible to answer. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of fighters with interesting life stories.

Which one is your favourite?

Tough call. Probably Matthew Saad Muhammad.

Kassim ouma. He was a child soldier

Bernard Hopkins.

A thug who earned some years in prison at a young age, got out and by all accounts has been a law abiding citizen ever since.
Hopkins is an example of " the system" actually working as intended.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑17 Nov 2022, 12:45 Stanley Ketchel had perhaps the most interesting life of any fighter IMO.
Battling Siki was a wild character by all accounts.
The stories of Dempsey's pre fame life are a great story.
Jack Johnson's love of fast cars and white women also make for interesting reading.

Who's lives interest you?

Thanks for this. I just ordered Stanley Ketchels and Battling Sikis biographies. Is there a good book on Dempsey?

My favorites: Hector Camacho (THE favorite), Johnny Tapia, Ike Ibeabuchi, Tommy Morrison...

I wrote a book on Eder Jofre, ( He had an interesting life. The book has a 97% 5 star rating and won the "book of the year" award at the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame.

chrisjs1985 wrote: ↑23 Nov 2022, 12:45 I wrote a book on Eder Jofre, ( He had an interesting life. The book has a 97% 5 star rating and won the "book of the year" award at the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame.

I just ordered about ten boxing books but once I'm done with those I'll order your book too.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑17 Nov 2022, 16:42

Caractacus wrote: ↑17 Nov 2022, 15:43 what boxers published their autobiographies that you would recommend ?

Not a boxer, but Angelo Dundee's I only Talk Winning is superb.

how is it different from Angelo Dundee's 2007 autobiography( with Bert Sugar)
A View From the Corner ?

JackSprocket wrote: ↑23 Nov 2022, 13:39

chrisjs1985 wrote: ↑23 Nov 2022, 12:45 I wrote a book on Eder Jofre, ( He had an interesting life. The book has a 97% 5 star rating and won the "book of the year" award at the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame.

I just ordered about ten boxing books but once I'm done with those I'll order your book too.

I couldn't wait, just bought the book...

bwu wrote: ↑19 Nov 2022, 19:41 Tough call. Probably Matthew Saad Muhammad.

His story is pretty amazing by anyone's standards. He seemed a decent guy, I would have expected him to be a monster due to his early life

Caractacus wrote: ↑23 Nov 2022, 14:35

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑17 Nov 2022, 16:42

Caractacus wrote: ↑17 Nov 2022, 15:43 what boxers published their autobiographies that you would recommend ?

Not a boxer, but Angelo Dundee's I only Talk Winning is superb.

how is it different from Angelo Dundee's 2007 autobiography( with Bert Sugar)
A View From the Corner ?

I haven't read A View From The Corner, so can't say.

Kasim Ouma-already mentioned-might have the most horrific story.

The George Chuvalo book was really good,also heartbreaking, he went through some terrible life tragedies, the Jerry Quarry was also a very good but ultimately tragic story