What's the best boxing book you've ever read? (Charlie

King Tubby · Post by **King Tubby** » 30 Nov 2007, 21:34

Magri's aside) .

Crew2 · Post by **Crew2** » 01 Dec 2007, 02:08

I READ EUBANK'S A FEW YRS BACK AND REMEMBER IT BEING BEYOND WHAT I EXPECTED, INFACT I DIDN'T EVEN EXPECT HIM TO WRITE ALOT ABOUT BOXING. BUT HE WAS CLEARLY INTO THE SPORT ALOT, ITS WEIRD. THERE'S ALOT OF DETAIL ON ALOT OF SUBJECTS, ESPECIALLY HIS TRAINING AND HIS EARLY NEW YORK DAYS. I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE SO AWESOMELY INTERESTING AS FAR AS THE BOXING STUFF, AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE BEGAN BOXING IN NEW YORK ETC.

IT ALSO CLEAR THAT HE CARES ABOUT HIS BOXING LEGACY, WHICH WAS SUPRISING.

Slapsie Maxie · Post by **Slapsie Maxie** » 01 Dec 2007, 04:07

Leibling's "The Sweet Science"
Joyce C Oates "on Boxing"
Mailer's " The Fight"

Probably, my favourite is Plimpton's "Shadowbox" but then again, I am a sucker for all of Plimpton's participatory Journo books where he, as a Yale ( I think) professor, goes and joins in with professional sportsmen. " Paper Lions" and " Out of my League" are real classics of sportswriting, of any writing in fact.

Slapsie

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 01 Dec 2007, 06:32

Slapsie Maxie wrote:Leibling's "The Sweet Science"
Joyce C Oates "on Boxing"
Mailer's " The Fight"

Probably, my favourite is Plimpton's "Shadowbox" but then again, I am a sucker for all of Plimpton's participatory Journo books where he, as a Yale ( I think) professor, goes and joins in with professional sportsmen. " Paper Lions" and " Out of my League" are real classics of sportswriting, of any writing in fact.

Slapsie

Yes I read Paper Lions awhile back, excellent stuff ( American football ).

And Sweet Science, mainly set in the 50's, must be the P4P top book ever written on boxing.

My fave is The Fight.

Ghosts of Manilla and Kings of the world are both brilliant.

Matt W · Post by **Matt W** » 01 Dec 2007, 06:37

A few that stand out:

Dark Trade
Chris Eubank
Teddy Atlas

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Dec 2007, 06:37

Johnny Tapia's "Mi Vida Loca". No Boxer in history has had a stranger/ more interesting life. You must read this book!!!

Matt W · Post by **Matt W** » 01 Dec 2007, 06:41

A good shout that one. A recommended recent read would be Unforgivable Blackness.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 01 Dec 2007, 10:48

Very difficult to pick out one, here are 5 of my top boxing books that I've ever read....
Somebody up there likes me by Rocky Graziano
Raging Bull By Jake Lamotta
Flight of the Hawk By Aron Pryor
The Greatest My Own Story By Muhammad Ali
Gloves Glory and God By Henry Armstrong

.........so many more though too!...

sockdolager · Post by **sockdolager** » 01 Dec 2007, 11:02

The Sweet Science A.J. Liebling*
In This Corner Peter Heller
The Ageless Warrior: The Life of Boxing Legend Archie Moore Mike Fitzgerald
The Greatest Boxing Stories Ever Told: Thirty-Six Incredible Tales from the Ring Jeff Silverman
Shadowbox George Plimpton

* my favorite of the bunch

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 01 Dec 2007, 12:00

If we're talking about boxing books on boxing in general then the list is really huge too...

The pictorial history of boxing (every 'fan' should have this book, for the photos alone!...
Ring Battles of the Century by Gilbert Odd... classic book I first read when I was just 12... anything by Odd is recommended...
In this corner... By Pete Heller... another classic with interviews of the greats from about every era of modern boxing from Gunboat Smith to Duran....

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Dec 2007, 12:30

silkov wrote:If we're talking about boxing books on boxing in general then the list is really huge too...

The pictorial history of boxing (every 'fan' should have this book, for the photos alone!...
Ring Battles of the Century by Gilbert Odd... classic book I first read when I was just 12... anything by Odd is recommended...
In this corner... By Pete Heller... another classic with interviews of the greats from about every era of modern boxing from Gunboat Smith to Duran....

Neil Leifer's book ("The Best Of Leifer") contain's the best boxing photos I've ever seen. His photo of Clay v Williams is my favourite boxing photo ever. Just a shame they're so expensive to buy.

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 01 Dec 2007, 14:31

Teddy Atlas's, also raging bull, I read it before I saw the film and didn't rate the film when everyone else did!

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 01 Dec 2007, 14:44

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:
silkov wrote:If we're talking about boxing books on boxing in general then the list is really huge too...

The pictorial history of boxing (every 'fan' should have this book, for the photos alone!...
Ring Battles of the Century by Gilbert Odd... classic book I first read when I was just 12... anything by Odd is recommended...
In this corner... By Pete Heller... another classic with interviews of the greats from about every era of modern boxing from Gunboat Smith to Duran....
Neil Leifer's book ("The Best Of Leifer") contain's the best boxing photos I've ever seen. His photo of Clay v Williams is my favourite boxing photo ever. Just a shame they're so expensive to buy.

Indeed, its a bit pricey. Talking of pricey books, has anyone here got GOAT... the mega huge biog on Ali which is about £3000 or something like that.... but it really is huge and very good from what I've seen!. Shame its so exclusive...... :x :x :x :x :x

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Dec 2007, 14:47

silkov wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:
silkov wrote:If we're talking about boxing books on boxing in general then the list is really huge too...

The pictorial history of boxing (every 'fan' should have this book, for the photos alone!...
Ring Battles of the Century by Gilbert Odd... classic book I first read when I was just 12... anything by Odd is recommended...
In this corner... By Pete Heller... another classic with interviews of the greats from about every era of modern boxing from Gunboat Smith to Duran....
Neil Leifer's book ("The Best Of Leifer") contain's the best boxing photos I've ever seen. His photo of Clay v Williams is my favourite boxing photo ever. Just a shame they're so expensive to buy.
Indeed, its a bit pricey. Talking of pricey books, has anyone here got GOAT... the mega huge biog on Ali which is about £3000 or something like that.... but it really is huge and very good from what I've seen!. Shame its so exclusive...... :x :x :x :x :x

Whoa!!! It is, isn't it.

http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalog ... _ali.1.htm

Good to see the Clay v Williams photo on the front. I asked Neil how much it would cost for a print and he said $1250!!!!!!!!

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 01 Dec 2007, 17:00

Neil has a gallery at Ceasers in Vegas. The most amazing, iconic sports photographer. Keep meaning to treat myself and have just got a new apartment in New York with lots of empty wallspace.

In fact, if Hatton wins I'll buy one on Sunday (although I'll have the mother of all hangovers)

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Dec 2007, 17:11

Loynesy wrote:Neil has a gallery at Ceasers in Vegas. The most amazing, iconic sports photographer. Keep meaning to treat myself and have just got a new apartment in New York with lots of empty wallspace.

In fact, if Hatton wins I'll buy one on Sunday (although I'll have the mother of all hangovers)

Thanks for that mate. I'll pop into the Palace for a butchers next weekend.

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 01 Dec 2007, 17:49

I know a few of the posters are going, be good to meet for a pre-fight beer

chinny · Post by **chinny** » 01 Dec 2007, 18:23

Highly recommend Fight Town - coffee table size, mostly Vegas based, excellent photos, posters etc.

Dark Trade my favourite modern non photo book. The bits on James Toney are fascinating.

Muhammad Ali his life and Times probably the best Ali book.

I read a Tyson biog 'Money Myth & betrayal' over 10 years ago which was by far the best I've seen on Tyson.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Dec 2007, 18:24

Loynesy wrote:I know a few of the posters are going, be good to meet for a pre-fight beer

I'm gonna organise something next week mate.

Mario · Post by **Mario** » 01 Dec 2007, 18:35

Dark Trade's a fantastic read but i'd have to say Eubanks is my favourite so far. As someone else pointed out, i was surprised at how much he discussed boxing due to some of his alleged comments after he retired.

Has anyone else read Thomas Hauser's Ali book? cos i picked it up a few weeks ago but havent got round to reading it yet and i think it could take some time to get through!

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Dec 2007, 18:50

Mario wrote:Dark Trade's a fantastic read but i'd have to say Eubanks is my favourite so far. As someone else pointed out, i was surprised at how much he discussed boxing due to some of his alleged comments after he retired.

Has anyone else read Thomas Hauser's Ali book? cos i picked it up a few weeks ago but havent got round to reading it yet and i think it could take some time to get through!

Dirk bought it from a charity shop, as we were both thinking of getting it, and he said it wasn't very good.

Suprising as Hauser is arguably the best boxing writer around right now and a huge Ali fan.

Mario · Post by **Mario** » 01 Dec 2007, 19:04

Well it'll probably sit on the shelf for a while longer cos my gf's getting me Johnny Nelson and Joe Calzaghe's books for xmas and im not allowed to read them till then. Especially looking forward to reading Nelson's.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Dec 2007, 19:05

The Nelson book is on my Xmas list too mate.

chinny · Post by **chinny** » 01 Dec 2007, 19:19

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:
Mario wrote:Dark Trade's a fantastic read but i'd have to say Eubanks is my favourite so far. As someone else pointed out, i was surprised at how much he discussed boxing due to some of his alleged comments after he retired.

Has anyone else read Thomas Hauser's Ali book? cos i picked it up a few weeks ago but havent got round to reading it yet and i think it could take some time to get through!
Dirk bought it from a charity shop, as we were both thinking of getting it, and he said it wasn't very good.

Suprising as Hauser is arguably the best boxing writer around right now and a huge Ali fan.

Hauser's Ali book is great. It doesn't sugar coat anything and takes clippings from the press at the time to give a real feel for how things were really kicking off.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Dec 2007, 19:22

Forgot to mention Paul Brigg's book, which is fairly good until he goes all spiritual. He's a right cnt in it at times.