Writers on Boxing

Reading List

  • #54: ‘Unlicensed’ by Jon Hotten

    #54: ‘Unlicensed’ by Jon Hotten

    ‘Unlicensed – Random Notes from Boxing’s Underbelly’ by Jon Hotten. It’s funny how your brain does or, in fact, doesn’t work, but I have next to no recollection of reading this book! Though, please don’t take that as a judgement of its quality; I often binge when I’m interested in a subject, so it’s very… Read more

  • #53: ‘The Gloves’ by Robert Anasi

    #53: ‘The Gloves’ by Robert Anasi

    ‘The Gloves – A Boxing Chronicle’ by Robert Anasi is the author’s account of his own attempt to enter the New York Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament. This is a really great description of just how tough it is to enter amateur boxing at a competitive level as an adult, as Anasi was when he… Read more

  • #52: ‘Rope Burns’ by F.X. Toole

    #52: ‘Rope Burns’ by F.X. Toole

    ‘Rope Burns’ is a collection of short stories by F.X. Toole who, as well as authoring this book, has had a substantial career as a trainer of, and cut man to, professional boxers. Perhaps most notably this collection contains the short story Million $$$ Baby, which was later dramatised in the film Million Dollar Baby,… Read more

  • Latest eBay delivery – June

    Latest eBay delivery – June

    Looking forward to reading and blogging about these fantastic looking books form my latest eBay shopping spree. In the post were: * ‘Boxing – a Cultural History’ by Kasia Boddy* ‘Sweet Fighting Man – Volumes 1 & 2’ by Melanie Lloyd* ‘Saga of Sock’ by John V Grombach* ‘Brutal Artistry – Great Fighters and Great… Read more

  • #51: ‘The Tragedy of Randolph Turpin’ by Jack Birtley

    #51: ‘The Tragedy of Randolph Turpin’ by Jack Birtley

    ‘The Tragedy of Randolph Turpin’ by Jack Birtley tells the story of British Middleweight Randolph Turpin’s rapid rise as a professional boxer, and the ultimately tragic end to his life. In 1951, Turpin shocked the boxing world by beating the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson to win the world middleweight title. This, unfortunately, was a high… Read more

  • #50: ‘Hook to the Chin’ by Lev Kreft

    #50: ‘Hook to the Chin’ by Lev Kreft

    ‘Hook to the Chin’ is an article originally published in Physical Culture and Sports Studies and Research, written by Lev Kreft, from the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts – University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. (DOI: 10.2478/v10141-009-0005-1) This article focuses on how artists of the Avant-Garde during the 1920s and 30s held sport, and specifically boxing,… Read more