Writers on Boxing

Reading List

  • #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

  • #43: ‘Ringside, Hearthside’ by Dave Kaszuba

    #43: ‘Ringside, Hearthside’ by Dave Kaszuba

    ‘Ringside, Hearthside – Sports Scribe Jane Dixon Embodies Struggle of Jazz Age Women Caught Between Two Worlds’ is an article by Dave Kaszuba originally published in Journalism History. (DOI: 10.1080/00947679.2009.12062796) Jane Dixon regularly wrote about boxing during the 1920s, for both the New York Herald Tribune and New York Tribune, and was, according to Dave… Read more

  • #42: ‘The Pugilist at Rest’ by Thom Jones

    #42: ‘The Pugilist at Rest’ by Thom Jones

    ‘The Pugilist at Rest’ is an award-winning collection of short stories by Thom Jones. Outside of reading about boxing, I cannot believe I hadn’t read anything by Thom Jones previously. This combination of investigating masculinity, mental health problems, self-medication and over-analysing one’s place in society has always been my particular sweet spot when it comes… Read more