Writers on Boxing

Reading List

  • #9: ‘On Boxing’ by Joyce Carol Oates

    #9: ‘On Boxing’ by Joyce Carol Oates

    ‘On Boxing’ is a collection of essays written by Joyce Carol Oates, which has proved pretty influential over how other writers approach boxing as a subject. It’s also the main influence for the choice of name for this blog. This book holds a rare place in the canon due to it being written by a Read more

  • #8: ‘Boxiana’ by Pierce Egan

    #8: ‘Boxiana’ by Pierce Egan

    Now, I need to say upfront that I haven’t yet finished this book, but I wanted to include it now as I have no idea when I will get around to finishing it. ‘Boxiana, volume 1’ is a collection of journalistic articles written in the early 1800s by Pierce Egan. This book is probably the Read more

  • #7: ‘In the Corner’ by Dave Anderson

    #7: ‘In the Corner’ by Dave Anderson

    ‘In the Corner’ is a collection of interviews recorded and presented by noted sports journalist Dave Anderson. Some of the greatest American trainers from the early to mid 20th Century feature, including Angelo Dundee, Ray Arcel, Emanuel Steward and Eddie Futch. I particularly enjoyed the chapter with Goody Petronelli describing how he and his brother Read more

  • #6: ‘Dark Trade’ by Donald McRae

    #6: ‘Dark Trade’ by Donald McRae

    This is the first of what will be several posts about books by Donald McRae. ‘Dark Trade’ is McRae’s exploration of the, often murky, business of boxing and what attracts the fighters who entertain fans of the sport. Some of the sport’s biggest names of the 90s appear throughout, though there is a particular focus Read more

  • #5: ‘The Hurt Business’ edited by George Kimball and John Schulian

    #5: ‘The Hurt Business’ edited by George Kimball and John Schulian

    ‘The Hurt Business’ is a vast collection of essays and excerpts from longer pieces, spanning many decades of boxing in America. As many collections of boxing essays take the same form, I’m probably going to end up repeating myself a lot during the process of putting this blog together, but… I find the best thing Read more

  • #4: ‘Fat City’ by Leonard Gardner

    #4: ‘Fat City’ by Leonard Gardner

    ‘Fat City’ by Leonard Gardner is probably the most common internet search result when looking for (good) fiction about boxing. I can see why, as it’s a well paced and fairly vivid portrayal of a boxer chasing a dream of success (money). Some of the story may now seem a little cliché but that’s probably Read more