Boxing Book Review: Golden Gloved

While autobiographies and books centered on a particular champion in boxing history are not so few and far away these days, fictional boxing titles are certainly a rare find. Damon C. Johnson’s title “Golden Gloved’, and subtitled “Virgil’s Revenge’ is one of this rare breed.

Damon Johnson is a life long musician and songwriter. A husband and father, he has resided in Seattle, Washington his entire life. A writer inspired by God, it is fitting that this book ends in a prayer. Damon plans for much more of his work to reach publishing level in the near future.

Golden Gloved goes beyond the simple boxing career fight-by-fight guide and tries to explore deep into the real world of boxing. His first person account of the vengeful Virgil, a man who like many real fighters, had his career reduced to rubble by his former promoter.

The prologue is a gripping opening and entices the reader, giving enough momentum to get through the opening pages and on into the deep, dark realms of the sport and situations, which the book has addressed.

However, this book is not merely a deep look into the darker side of boxing, it also entertains by describing the “Slug Fest’ tournament and fights within it, to the reader. Each character is analyzed and his personality made known to the reader. Once involved in Johnson’s work, the book becomes hard to put down.

The downsides of the book include that there are no real fighters and so imagination is a must. However, providing that you get past the early chapters, there is no doubt that it is as easy to become absorbed in the world of “Golden Gloved’ as it is to take notice of real life boxing.

Golden Gloved may not be an un-missable title, but it is recommended to the audience of adult boxing fans, whether casual or hardcore. This book could certainly make the shelves of many boxing fan’s living rooms, providing that reading from the first person perspective isn’t an obstacle which cannot be overcome.

A good read.

At this time, Golden Gloved is only being sold on the DCF website at www.DiamondCuttFiction.com for $16.95