Writers on Boxing

Reading List

  • #49: ‘Chatteris Thunderbolt’ by Bob Lonkhurst

    #49: ‘Chatteris Thunderbolt’ by Bob Lonkhurst

    ‘Chatteris Thunderbolt – The Eric Boon Story’ is a biography of Eric Boon, written by Bob Lonkhurst. Despite going to secondary school in Chatteris and walking past a portrait of Dave ‘Boy’ Green everyday, and being very aware of his boxing legacy, I had never heard of Eric Boon – the original boxing Fen Tiger… Read more

  • #48: ‘Willie Pep Remembers… Friday’s Heroes’ with Robert Sacchi

    #48: ‘Willie Pep Remembers… Friday’s Heroes’ with Robert Sacchi

    ‘Friday’s Heroes’ takes a look at the boxers who made their names on TV during the 1950s, appearing on the Friday Night Fights. Featherweight legend Willie Pep remembers the likes of Sandy Saddler, Tony Janiro, Tiger Jones, Tony Canzoneri and ‘Kid’ Gavilan, weaving in personal stories as he does so. Read more

  • #47: ‘The Black Lights’ by Thomas Hauser

    #47: ‘The Black Lights’ by Thomas Hauser

    ‘The Black Lights – Inside the World of Professional Boxing’ is an investigation of the world of professional boxing, by Thomas Hauser. The book follows the trials and tribulations of former WBC Super-Lightweight Champion, Billie Costello. I really liked this format, following a boxer who was far from a superstar, and who had to just… Read more

  • #46: ‘Cashel Byron’s Profession’ by Bernard Shaw

    #46: ‘Cashel Byron’s Profession’ by Bernard Shaw

    ‘Cashel Byron’s Profession’ is Bernard Shaw’s fictional life story of English champion bare knuckle fighter Cashel Byron. There are some interesting aspects to this story, namely the aspects around how bouts were arranged and held while under the scrutiny of the local authorities. Because of Bernard Shaw’s firm interest in boxing and its history, it… Read more

  • #45: ‘It’s your (basic) footwork’ by You Don’t Know

    #45: ‘It’s your (basic) footwork’ by You Don’t Know

    ‘It’s your (basic) footwork’ is a short piece of writing and audio from writing collective You Don’t Know. I have been going back and forth with this post as it feels a little self-indulgent – it includes some writing by me and my wife Lizzy. In June 2022 we were invited to submit to KINETIC,… Read more

  • #44: ‘Sparring for Luck’ by Stephen ‘Johnny’ Hicks

    #44: ‘Sparring for Luck’ by Stephen ‘Johnny’ Hicks

    ‘Sparring for Luck’ by Stephen ‘Johnny’ Hicks is the confluence of what might be the three main areas of my cultural life over the past ten years: Socialism, poetry and boxing. This book tells the life story of Stepney-born Stephen Hicks, fortuitously found and published by The Tower Hamlets Arts Project. This is a story… Read more