Literature in boxing

One of the things I love about this sport is it has produced some of the greatest sportswriting ever done. One of the things to love about this site is a pretty comprehensive list of boxing books. I thought I'd list some of my favorites in the sense that they represent great WRITING but may or may not impart new or exciting information about the sport. In no order

Boxiana by Pierce Egan-First published in 1824 or so. Beautiful sculptures of the Britsh bare knuckle scene and championship fights. The most moving is the story of freed American slave Tom Molineaux who came incredibly close to becoming the first black heavyweight champion. Egan coined the phrase "The Sweet Science of bruising." He also relates a wonderful word "Bottom." That is a combination of a fighter's ability to take punishment, his fighting spirit and his mental resilience. Jorge Arce has "Bottom."

The Sweet Science by AJ Liebling-The best of New Yorker magazine's Joe Liebling's boxing articles. An ardent admirer of Egan's Liebling lovingly describes Ray Robinson's comeback, Joe Louis' sadder comeback, Rocky Marciano and numerous lesser names and undercard guys.

Ringside by Budd Schulberg-Another collection of essays and fight reports, this time from the man who wrote "On the Waterfront" and "The Harder They Fall." Think he can write a little bit? The articles run in time from Marciano to De La Hoya.

Boxing's Best Short Stories-20 or so sensational tales from famous authors including Cona Doyle, Paul Gallico, Jack London and PG Wodehouse. The Chickesha Bone Crusher is the best of the lot in my view.

Dark Trade by Don McRae-An absolutely haunting book that follows the author in his 1990's interactions with Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn, Evander Holyfield and most disturbingly, James Toney. The quality of the interviews this man conducts is incredible as is his ability to get to the core of what drives, and haunts, these men.

The Hardest Game by Hugh McIlvanney-A British oriented collection of essays running from the 1950's to the 1980's. A great read paired with the Schullberg collection.

This Bloody Mary is the Last Thing I Own by Jonathan Rendell-Reporter becomes boxing manager. Rendell's warm hearted, and ultimately heart breaking effort to guide Colin McMillan to a featherweight strap. Boxing in all it's athletic glory and in all it's sordid and venal corruption.

Waddya got?

Nice list, I'll have to look into some of those. I've read Dark Trade, which was brilliant. McRae got closer to Toney then probably anyone else managed. The part in the run-up to Watson-Eubank was quite sad and chilling to me, knowing how it eventually played out.

Sorcery at Caesar's is an excellent book, fairly short but it focuses on the rise of both Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard, culminating in their 1985 fight. It also looks at the darker side of Leonard, the cocaine addiction and domestic violence. Good read.

I enjoyed Unforgivable Blackness also, about the rise and fall of Jack Johnson. It's quite amazing the prejudice he suffered, down to the introduction of the Mann Act just so he could be prosecuted for something.

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Originally Posted by Cressa121

Nice list, I'll have to look into some of those. I've read Dark Trade, which was brilliant. McRae got closer to Toney then probably anyone else managed. The part in the run-up to Watson-Eubank was quite sad and chilling to me, knowing how it eventually played out.

Sorcery at Caesar's is an excellent book, fairly short but it focuses on the rise of both Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard, culminating in their 1985 fight. It also looks at the darker side of Leonard, the cocaine addiction and domestic violence. Good read.

I enjoyed Unforgivable Blackness also, about the rise and fall of Jack Johnson. It's quite amazing the prejudice he suffered, down to the introduction of the Mann Act just so he could be prosecuted for something.

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I read both of those you cited. I thought Sorcery was only OK and the Johnson book marvelous. I really disagree with those who want to see Johnson pardoned. He did nothing that requires pardoning.

Here's another, Mark Kramm's hatchet job on Ali "The Ghosts Of Manila," Short, well written and absolutely brutal.

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Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui

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Originally Posted by Cressa121

Nice list, I'll have to look into some of those. I've read Dark Trade, which was brilliant. McRae got closer to Toney then probably anyone else managed. The part in the run-up to Watson-Eubank was quite sad and chilling to me, knowing how it eventually played out.

Sorcery at Caesar's is an excellent book, fairly short but it focuses on the rise of both Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard, culminating in their 1985 fight. It also looks at the darker side of Leonard, the cocaine addiction and domestic violence. Good read.

I enjoyed Unforgivable Blackness also, about the rise and fall of Jack Johnson. It's quite amazing the prejudice he suffered, down to the introduction of the Mann Act just so he could be prosecuted for something.

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I read both of those you cited. I thought Sorcery was only OK and the Johnson book marvelous. I really disagree with those who want to see Johnson pardoned. He did nothing that requires pardoning.

Here's another, Mark Kramm's hatchet job on Ali "The Ghosts Of Manila," Short, well written and absolutely brutal.

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Yeah it really was a bogus conviction on Johnson, he did nothing wrong so I agree he shouldn't be pardoned. I'd done the American Civil Rights movement at college so I was aware of the prejudices in America during the time frame of Johnson but I was quite shocked at some of the things he had to endure. By the time he fought Willard in Cuba he seemed like a man just desperate to get home, and while I don't think he threw that fight I think he was probably half hoping he'd lose so he could come back home

I think I like Sorcery's so much because I haven't read many other books on the 1980's "Fab Four" and I didn't know any of the issues surrounding Leonard and Hagler personally before so I was pretty surprised at many of the things brought up in the book, like the drug use. I never particularly liked Four Kings either.

"The Fight" by Norman Mailer never did it for me either, it was good in parts but on the whole I disliked Mailer's style of writing. The Last Great Fight by Joe Layden is OK, it's about the only book I've seen based on Tyson-Douglas. Other than a few autobiographies I haven't read many other boxing books though

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Originally Posted by Cressa121

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Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui

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Originally Posted by Cressa121

Nice list, I'll have to look into some of those. I've read Dark Trade, which was brilliant. McRae got closer to Toney then probably anyone else managed. The part in the run-up to Watson-Eubank was quite sad and chilling to me, knowing how it eventually played out.

Sorcery at Caesar's is an excellent book, fairly short but it focuses on the rise of both Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard, culminating in their 1985 fight. It also looks at the darker side of Leonard, the cocaine addiction and domestic violence. Good read.

I enjoyed Unforgivable Blackness also, about the rise and fall of Jack Johnson. It's quite amazing the prejudice he suffered, down to the introduction of the Mann Act just so he could be prosecuted for something.

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I read both of those you cited. I thought Sorcery was only OK and the Johnson book marvelous. I really disagree with those who want to see Johnson pardoned. He did nothing that requires pardoning.

Here's another, Mark Kramm's hatchet job on Ali "The Ghosts Of Manila," Short, well written and absolutely brutal.

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Yeah it really was a bogus conviction on Johnson, he did nothing wrong so I agree he shouldn't be pardoned. I'd done the American Civil Rights movement at college so I was aware of the prejudices in America during the time frame of Johnson but I was quite shocked at some of the things he had to endure. By the time he fought Willard in Cuba he seemed like a man just desperate to get home, and while I don't think he threw that fight I think he was probably half hoping he'd lose so he could come back home

I think I like Sorcery's so much because I haven't read many other books on the 1980's "Fab Four" and I didn't know any of the issues surrounding Leonard and Hagler personally before so I was pretty surprised at many of the things brought up in the book, like the drug use. I never particularly liked Four Kings either.

"The Fight" by Norman Mailer never did it for me either, it was good in parts but on the whole I disliked Mailer's style of writing. The Last Great Fight by Joe Layden is OK, it's about the only book I've seen based on Tyson-Douglas. Other than a few autobiographies I haven't read many other boxing books though

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If you haven't read SRR's autobio with Dave Anderson, it's a good read.

Mailer never did it for me either. The Naked and the Dead was just mediocre. The boxing guy I just can't wade through and enjoy is Thomas Hauser.

Thomas Hauser's "Muhammad Ali - His Life and Times" is a great overview of the great man and "Smokin Joe - The Autobiography" is a great riposte from Frazier, who loves calling his nemisis and other less talented opponents "Scambbogahs" so much so, the word enters your vocabulary by the end of the book.

"Jack Dempsey - The Manassa Mauler" by Randy Roberts gives a fascinating insight into the early years of the sport in the USA, "Rope Burns" by Ian Probert is great on the Modern British era, "The Pugilist at Rest by Thom Jones is a great collection of short fiction that touches on boxing, and Sam Sheridans - " A fighters heart " is a classic account of why people choose to fight in many disclipines.

"Dark Trade" is fantastic and personally i really enjoyed "Four Kings".

"Tunney", by Jack Cavanaugh. "Rocky Marciano: The Rock Of His Times", by Russell Sullivan.
I do not recommend "Bummy Davis vs. Murder Inc" by Ron Ross because he does such a terrible job with such a fascinating subject.
Personally, I am sick to death of books on Ali.

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Originally Posted by Greenbeanz

Thomas Hauser's "Muhammad Ali - His Life and Times" is a great overview of the great man and "Smokin Joe - The Autobiography" is a great riposte from Frazier, who loves calling his nemisis and other less talented opponents "Scambbogahs" so much so, the word enters your vocabulary by the end of the book.

"Jack Dempsey - The Manassa Mauler" by Randy Roberts gives a fascinating insight into the early years of the sport in the USA, "Rope Burns" by Ian Probert is great on the Modern British era, "The Pugilist at Rest by Thom Jones is a great collection of short fiction that touches on boxing, and Sam Sheridans - " A fighters heart " is a classic account of why people choose to fight in many disclipines.

"Dark Trade" is fantastic and personally i really enjoyed "Four Kings".

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I second the vote on Roberts' Manassa as well as Sam Sheridan's Heart. You've ginve me two more to read in the Jones and Probert. Thanks!

I almost forgot..."The Professional", by W.C. Heinz. One of my favorite novels, all-time.

Best boxing book hands down , is the killings of Stanley Ketchel,also dark trade,and Black Ajax all fantastic reads.

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Originally Posted by roberto duran legend

Best boxing book hands down , is the killings of Stanley Ketchel,also dark trade,and Black Ajax all fantastic reads.

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WOW, I didn't know that novel existed! Tom Molineaux's story is incredible as history. I am ALL OVER this!

Thank you!

How is Shadowboxing by Plimpton? Unforgiveable blackness? Anyone read those?

Bummy Davis v. Murder Inc. was fun. And Beyond Glory.

I have 4 of those books - This Bloody Mary (one of my favourite books that features one of Saddo's own), Dark Trade, Best Short Stories (Chickesha Bone Crusher made me laugh out loud) and The Sweet Science.

Maybe i'm not as "clueless" as you think Marblehead ;)

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Originally Posted by Fenster

I have 4 of those books - This Bloody Mary (one of my favourite books that features one of Saddo's own), Dark Trade, Best Short Stories (Chickesha Bone Crusher made me laugh out loud) and The Sweet Science.

Maybe i'm not as "clueless" as you think Marblehead ;)

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OBVIOUSLY not! I hereby cyber-grovel and beg your forgiveness for my unfounded arrogance!

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Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

How is Shadowboxing by Plimpton? Unforgiveable blackness? Anyone read those?

Bummy Davis v. Murder Inc. was fun. And Beyond Glory.

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Plimpton is always great! Shadow Box starts with his sparring with Archie Moore. Pretty funny stuff. Unforgiveable Blackness is simply a story everyone should know. Good documentary as well.