Boxing books??

Chris W 1982 · Post by **Chris W 1982** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:14

Whats up guys.

Can anyone plug some good books about boxing. Im jus reading Johnny Tapia's now and that is highly reccomended. Four Kings and Teddy Atlas's are also excellent. Eager to know some of your favourites.

Dirk Kelly · Post by **Dirk Kelly** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:18

The quiet man 2004 wrote:Whats up guys.

Can anyone plug some good books about boxing. Im jus reading Johnny Tapia's now and that is highly reccomended. Four Kings and Teddy Atlas's are also excellent. Eager to know some of your favourites.

Pretty much all 3 you mentioned are favs. You could probably dig up threads where we've discussed boxing books before. My favourite is Benny (Lynch) by John Burrowes, excellent read into the times, politics and demons facing boxers.

Just finished Wrecking Machine about a guys stumble into White Collar Boxing, had its moments but more of a story of a mans redemption through boxing. Highly tips Jamie Cox in it.

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:22

Chris Eubanks book is good entertainment.

last week i picked up Michael Watson's in a bargain bucket for 6 quid in hardback, couldn't really not do. Not started it yet though. I've got Billy Walker's too the Heavyweight from I think, 50s and 60s. Though I haven't started it yet.

Ketchel · Post by **Ketchel** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:37

Atlas's book is fantastic as well as Eubanks however if you are into boxing history then I cannot recommend highly enough the book "Black Ajax" by George MacDonald Fraser about Tom Molineux and his battles with Tom Cribb.

chesh · Post by **chesh** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:43

Some I'd recommend:

'My Greatest Fight' - 40 boxers describe their greatest fight;
'A Neutral Corner: Boxing Essays' by A.J. Liebling;
'Come Out Writing'.

jspain · Post by **jspain** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:52

dark trade lost in boxing by donald mcrae is an excellant book. it was written around 95-96 and features insights from tyson , bruno , benn , naz etc.

it won sports book of the year in 1996 and is many people's favourite ever boxing book from what i have read.

i have just started war baby by kevin mitchell. its about benn and mcClellan. that was recommended by other users of this forum.

15829 · Post by **15829** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:56

picked up the nigel benn book for 50p hardback not started it yet any reviews?

joeymc · Post by **joeymc** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:59

Atlas brilliant didnt realise he could be a bit of a loose cannon which he pretty much admits by some the stuff he got up to! Donny Lalonde sure got told!

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 04 Mar 2009, 10:01

Paul Briggs's is worth a read

Dirk Kelly · Post by **Dirk Kelly** » 04 Mar 2009, 10:25

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Paul Briggs's is worth a read

Till he finds religion..........

Anyone want to purchase this book £5 plus P&P.

Hagler2002 · Post by **Hagler2002** » 04 Mar 2009, 10:38

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 04 Mar 2009, 10:40

joeymc wrote:Atlas brilliant didnt realise he could be a bit of a loose cannon which he pretty much admits by some the stuff he got up to! Donny Lalonde sure got told!

Do you believe half of that story? I don't

J · Post by J » 04 Mar 2009, 10:43

hadnbs of stone is a great book , unforgivable blackness bout Jack johnson is worth a read, even if it becomes a bit of a labour of love to finish it.

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 04 Mar 2009, 11:05

diggler wrote:picked up the nigel benn book for 50p hardback not started it yet any reviews?

I've had this for about 8 years now in paperback and the most I've read is about 50pages. Terrible I know. I'm sure it's decent though but cos it's been lying around that long I can't be assed with it.

I saw Eubanks in my local library in hardback. I started it on the Thursday and finished it on the Sunday. I couldn't put it down, mainly cos he's such a bloody oddball. In a good way Chris.

slightly disappointed that he managed to get himself involved in 2 fatal road accidents. Bad form :(
".

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 04 Mar 2009, 11:44

okay quiet man you've got NEBF started now I've been round the house seeing what I've got so I am temporarily hijacking this thread. Some of you may get some decent reads out of it:

I have, among others:

HISTORY OF BOXING, by Peter Arnold, this one was done solely for WH Smith is 1985 - this is a brilliant book, goes right back, both here and stateside. Introduces you to fighters like Tom Cribb and too many others to mention, gives accounts from highly anticipated fights of 17 and 1800s (many stages illegally in parks etc that people would flock to in the thousands). Right to modern day.
I'm in my twenties and it's only due to this book I've heard of the likes of Carlos Monzon and Pernell Whittaker. Super book. You may have trouble acquiring it though as mine's from a car boot in Redcar. Great pictures too.

BY GEORGE, by George Foreman with Joe Engel (published by Touchstone).........A quailty read about George Foreman, inventor of the lean mean fat reducing grilling machine. Boxed a bit too

. Like Eubank, bit eccentric and well worth a read.

IN THE RED CORNER, by John Duncan, Yellow Jersey Press........this is about Cuban Boxing and I haven't read all of it. Like History of Boxing (above) it's a book you can dip into on any page. I've had the book 7 years probably and the chapter dedicated to the life and career up to that point of Joel Casamayor is a brilliant read. Recommended.

FACING ALI, The opposition weighs in, by Stephen Brunt (by Sidgwick and Jackson)......various accounts of Facing Muhammad Ali, from the likes of Canadian bricktrain George Chuvalo, to our own Henry Cooper and Joe Bugner and about half a dozen others........I haven't read all of the accounts, the ones above and one or two others, but it's good reading.

MUHAMMAD ALI THE UNSEEN ARCHIVES, By Daily Mail (the paper) by Parragon , 2002 edition. This book probably retailed at 20quid. Mine has a slight tear on the corner, I got it at the aformentioned Redcar car boot sale along with Facing Ali and The History of Boxing (all hardbacks) for a total of 8 quid!......This book is 400pages of mostly photographs. It is the star of my boxing library.

BARE FISTS - BY BOB MEE. Mines Harper Collins, 1998.......Bob has researched the origins of boxing and recounts them in the manner that has made him one of the most respected Boxing writers in the country. I haven't actually read all that much of this one but when I get round to it I'm sure it will be a pleasure rather than a chore. I would also like to thank Bob for his very complimentary write up he gave Francis on his fight of 14/9/2007. Spot on sir

joeymc · Post by **joeymc** » 04 Mar 2009, 11:53

Old bones Ian wrote:
joeymc wrote:Atlas brilliant didnt realise he could be a bit of a loose cannon which he pretty much admits by some the stuff he got up to! Donny Lalonde sure got told!

Do you believe half of that story? I don't

The one about him turning up at his appartment seemed far fetched

winkveron · Post by **winkveron** » 04 Mar 2009, 12:08

War, Baby - About Benn vs. McLellan

alexpaterson · Post by **alexpaterson** » 04 Mar 2009, 12:16

i thought hatton, eubank and calzaghes books were all good so was the 4 kings and so was Ken Buchanans

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 04 Mar 2009, 12:17

OT- If anyone wants to read a book about a complete nutter , then i recommend Sir Ranulph Fiennes book- Mad, Bad and Dangerous To Know

The Blokes a legend

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 04 Mar 2009, 12:19

Did you know James 'quick' Tillis wrote a book. Called Thinkin Big: The Story of James "Quick" Tillis.

stevieb_8006 · Post by **stevieb_8006** » 04 Mar 2009, 12:42

I liked Johnny Nelsons one, he came across really sound.

Benns one bored me a little, all "and then I smacked him" blah blah blah....u can only read about so many street fights.

Hattons was pish.....im just one of the lads etc....

Tapias was great as was Hands Of Stone!

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 04 Mar 2009, 13:00

Hands of stone is a good call. As is Pound For Pound. Avoid Calzaghe's and the Hauser Ali book. Both aren't great.

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 04 Mar 2009, 13:08

stevieb_8006 wrote:I liked Johnny Nelsons one, he came across really sound.

Benns one bored me a little, all "and then I smacked him" blah blah blah....u can only read about so many street fights.

Hattons was pish.....im just one of the lads etc....

Tapias was great as was Hands Of Stone!

I think I'd already made my mind up when I was given Hatton's as a present that the book would deal very much with the Hatton "product" rather than the boxer if u get what I mean. Eg. one of the lads/ tickling contest etc... So I never made a determined effort to go from start to finish. Dipped in and read big chunks mind you and they were enjoyable. Sheds a lot of light on the amateur scene too.

I read something I think from The Times website once about Johnny Nelson. Basically his legs used to quiver before fights he was shit scared and people in Sheffield once started a campaign (well probably just a small hate mob) of sending white feathers to his house. It kind of made him more accessible, human etc...and as you say he came across well. I mean who would broadcast that they shit themselves when they got hit etc. Very honest.

I have been given to believe that Atlas's is far-fetched as fck, so what with all the others I can't justify that one just yet.

Tapia sounds like a character, also sounds like in his day he had the fighting ability of a small army. I shall look out for that one at a later date.

The Paddy and the Prince....I've had the misfortune to have to sit and listen to Brendan Ingle rant on about this very subject in something of a "dis" - athon. Great work in the community but I think they taught multiplication very differently by the time I got to school than in Brendan's day.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 04 Mar 2009, 13:11

Tapia would be a top 5 P4P Mexican had he stayed off the smack imo.

I couldn't fight Barrera sober now, let alone off my tits when Marco was in his prime.

Asterix · Post by **Asterix** » 04 Mar 2009, 13:15

I've read Calzaghe's book. It's not exactly entertaining, but he (obviously?) explains why his career panned out the way it did, which I found interesting.

I've got Jesus Chavez's book. Not read it yet. -- http://www.sprintbooks.co.uk/scripts/br ... source=K84

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