BoxRec

Has anyone read "The Devil and Sonny Liston?" I just bought the book and have only read the dust jacket. I was wondering if it is very well researched and a good read?

..hey barry...i just finished it last week .....the tosches style ...which i first read in his biuo of dean martin is all hey-look-how-seamy-the-world-is-and-look-how-much -i-know-what's-under-the -rocks.

Well..here's one howler....one fight he "knows" was fixed was...tah dah...marciano/moore... so marciano could retire undefeated. right...that's why archie damn near lifted rocky off this feat with that right hand in the second round that would have kayoed most fighters. and of course archie would take that pounding he did before he just couldn't get up any more. this pip of a statement popped up a long time ago....in esquire mag, maybe, and is so ridiculous few people even bothered to comment on it. also...he has ike williams and kid gavilan in "suspicious" title fights. they never fought in any title fights. ike was lightweight champ and they were over the weight. nice job of fact checking.

but...the damn guy can keep you reading, and if you realize you know more about boxing than he does..which you do...you'll enjoy itas one might enjoy a novel.

just keep this nonsene in mind about the fights mentioned when you read his other conclusions and let that be your guide.

Jaclem---Thanks for the response as I would listen to you before just about anyone on this forum about anything boxing related!

I'm a little hesitant by nature about reading boxing books by writers who have not really covered the sport of primarily because most of it is bullshit the biggest percent of the time and from reading the praise that is written on the dust jacket, I can only imagine how Tosche view of himself must be, especially since one had said how legendary his poetry readings are...that in itself is enough to make me shriek, but I bought the book off ebay for a cheap price, so if nothing else it can help to fill up my book cases.

If I ever write a book, I will certainly think about putting someone of higher intelligence in the praising sections of the book. I couldn't help but get a chuckle when I read the blurb in which the person recommending the book was that great mind of Chuck Wepner! Don't get me wrong, he had heart in the ring, but I doubt if his kids ever asked him for help with their homework!

This comes across as written by someone who doesn't like boxing and is only too happy to believe the worst about everything surrounding Liston. I also wasn't impressed by Tosches style which is rather 'look at me ma I can write' and a lot of his research seems to have been done in his imagination!. All in all Nick should stick to the poetry...

Some titles I'd suggest if you have the time are...

'Unforgiveable Blackness' Geff Ward

'Tiger Flowers the pussycat of prizefighting' Kaye

'Charley Burley and the black Murderers row' Harry Otty

'Battling Jack, you've gotta fight back' Jackie turpin

.........all these books while perhaps not perfect are light years ahead of 'The Devil...'

I have read plenty books on boxing, including "The Devil & Sonny Liston", which btw is the same book as "Night Train".
I have never got any explanation for why it exists with two different titles.

Anyway, being that Liston is a fighter that interests me very much, I had probably too high expectations for "The Devil...".
I was let down. Especially the mid chapters which deals with the trail of Frankie Carbo failed to interest me at all, but the second half the book kinda makes up for it.
I'd say it was a "good" book, nothing more. It's worth reading, but don't expect not to be able to put it down.

-KOKid-