I'd recommend
Champions And Challengers. One Hundred Years Of Queensberry Boxing by R. A. Haldane if you can find it. Haldane examines the traditional weight classes and tries to determine the best man at each weight both world wide British. He provides a lot of food for thought although the book was published in 1967. Haldane's
In the Land of Giants is similar, but treats only heavyweights.
Gilbert Odd's
Encyclopedia of Boxing is quite worthwhile. Odd has a lot of short bios of boxers especially a number of British champions that would be otherwise obscure here. Harry Mullan also has an Encylpopedia that features a number of bios. Mullan's
The Illustrated History of Boxing is similar to Fleischer and Andre's
Pictoral History of Boxing, that has been mentioned already. Anything written by either Odd or Mullan gets a strong recomendation from me. I also recommend anything written by Trevor Wignall, if you can find something.
If you are interested in the prize ring then I'd recomend Bob Mee's recent
Bare Fists. It was reviewed quite favorably in
Choice, the American Library Assoication's publication that features reviews for academic libraries.
Bear
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by steamboat brand, palooka
I'd have to say, if you were to start with just one book, I'd pick for you the History of Boxing, by Nat Fleischer(I think that's what it's called). It's a big book, with many photos, and it takes you right through to current time, one division at a time.
A couple of others I would recommend are
1."In This Corner...", if only for Gunboat Smith's first hand account of his career.
2."White Hopes and Other Tigers", by John Lardner. I found this little freak in the Old Lyme library, and I asked them if it will ever be phased out of their system. I gave my name, and when it was offered on the book sale, I bought it. Good luck with finding a copy yourself.
p.s. I've noticed that almost every current book on boxing is from Great Britain.
|