Autobiographies you have read
As I am sure most of you have, I have read a lot of autobiographies about boxers and cannot remember all the details or even the title of the books. So was wondering whose have you read and what was the most distinctive things that you remember about them. The quirkier the better.
Ali – over 500 pages but great read. I was impressed with how hard he trained and I think he said that once the tiredness was setting in on his training session was when he started it properly.
John L Sullivan – strongest man on the planet who drank a lot and fought bare knuckles.
Jack Johnson – Did not give a crap about society and the taboos, just wanted to make money.
Jack Dempsey – A hobo, draft dodger with a picture with nice shoes on, and his restaurant.
Rocky Marciano – Trained 3 months solid to prepare for a fight.
Sugar Ray Robinson – Had an illegitimate child when he was very young.
Joe Louis – showed early signs of mental illness, thought he was getting poisoned in rooms that had air condition. Told never to celebrate over his opponent because it would remind people about Jack Johnson.
Eubanks – on his dads funeral saying he was a wife beater and getting chased outside the funeral. Also gave up winning the fight against Watson in the rematch at the half way point and just took the beating.
Benn – in the army during Northern Ireland, went to celebrity sex parties.
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Nice list. De La Hoya's was pretty bad except the part about womanizing. :D
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Good thread Master. I got interested in boxing from hearing my father talk about Louis and Marciano when I was growing up. The first boxing Bio I read was about Jack Dempsey, "The Manassa Mauler", I must have read a half dozen more about Dempsey after the first one, it got me hooked on boxing. :)
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Terry Marsh !
Mike Tyson
John L Sullivan
Roberto Duran
Joe Calzaghe
And a few others , and many other book's about boxing.:)
Re: Autobiographies you have read
I haven't read that many to be honest. I look forward to hearing any recommendations.
Re: Autobiographies you have read
I read benn's a few years ago on holiday only boxing book ive read, thought it was a good read
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Does anyone have a good recommendation for a Sonny Liston biography?
On my list to read:
The Rise and Fall of Alexis Arguello
Charley Burley: The Life and Hard Times of an Uncrowned Champion
Charey Burley and the Black Murderers Row
Sweet Thunder: The life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson
The Good Son: The Life of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini - coming out later this year
Ray Arcel: A Boxing Biography
If there are better books on the above fighters, please let me know. Also, if there any must-read, well-written biographies that are recommended, please too let me know.
Re: Autobiographies you have read
I have read the Dark Trade and it is about how they manoeuvred and manipulated Tyson from jail to WBC champion without having to face any real opposition making millions in the process and Tyson getting sweet FA from it.
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rantcatrat
Does anyone have a good recommendation for a Sonny Liston biography?
Night Train for Sonny Liston forgot about that one. Really sad the victimisation and police brutality he faced.
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Read:
Gentleman Jim Corbett
Joe Calzaghe
Ricky Hatton
Jane Couch
Nigel Benn
Eubank
Roberto Duran
Carl Froch (not particularly interesting)
Ali
Herbie Hide
Johnny Owen - Great read
Paddy and the Prince
Lennox Lewis
Evander Holyfield
Frank Maloney - some funny stuff in that
Barry Mcguigan
Frank Bruno
Reg Gutteridge
Mickey Vann
Ruben Carter
Jack Johnson - very good but feel like you have to read the footnotes which can get very very tedious! lol
Own but still not read (or partially read):
De la Hoya
Dave Charnley
Joe Louis - actually started reading this years ago but will have to start again
Henry Cooper
Not an autobiography but the book war, baby is a good read. All about the Benn vs Mclellan fight.
Most of the books I have read were before I joined thearmy and before I had my little girl. There's so many more I want to read....we can all have dreams! ;D
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rantcatrat
Does anyone have a good recommendation for a Sonny Liston biography?
Night Train for Sonny Liston forgot about that one. Really sad the victimisation and police brutality he faced.
Definitely a book I will have to purchase!
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rantcatrat
Does anyone have a good recommendation for a Sonny Liston biography?
Night Train for Sonny Liston forgot about that one. Really sad the victimisation and police brutality he faced.
Cool. I'll check it out.
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Reading Errol Christie at the moment , good read. coming to the point that
i am running out of Boxing books to read , not boasting at all but i have
hundreds of books , some handed down from my grandfather who boxed
for the Army.
Re: Autobiographies you have read
Quote:
Originally Posted by
roberto duran legend
Reading Errol Christie at the moment , good read. coming to the point that
i am running out of Boxing books to read , not boasting at all but i have
hundreds of books , some handed down from my grandfather who boxed
for the Army.
Think I read the review for that in Boxing Monthly, might have to get myself to Amazon ;)
