#1: ‘McIlvanney on Boxing’ by Hugh McIlvanney

First post!! Woop! (Let’s hope I stick with this and don’t just jack it in)

I first got into reading about boxing through the reporting of British newspapers and the writing of the likes of Colin Hart and Steve Bunce – I won’t go into it now but I’m sure my attraction to boxing writing in particular will become apparent as this blog develops – and of course the author of of this collection of articles, Hugh McIlvanney.

This collection seemed like the perfect place to start and revisit this fantastic writer’s work. HM’s ability to capture the drama of boxing, both as a sport and as an entertainment business is remarkable and always manages to avoid the trap of over-sensationalising the action and the fighters risking their health. A highlight for me, in general, within this collection is HM’s attempt to deal with the conflict of being a fan (fan is probably not strong enough a word here) of the sport of boxing whilst retaining a deep concern for the welfare of its practitioners.

It’s no wonder that McIlvanney is held in such high regard by the likes of Steve Bunce, Donald McRae and Budd Schulberg.