Writers on Boxing

Reading List

  • #113: ‘The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing’ by Donald McRae

    #113: ‘The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing’ by Donald McRae

    The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing, published by Simon and Schuster, is Donald McRae’s exploration of grief, sporting and political corruption, and is most likely his final book on the subject of boxing. The book cover features a painting by the wonderfully talented Amanda Kelley. This book is a follow-up of sorts to McRae’s… Read more

  • #112: ‘Soft Tissue Damage’ by Anna Whitwham

    #112: ‘Soft Tissue Damage’ by Anna Whitwham

    Soft Tissue Damage by Anna Whitwham (Rough Trade Books) is that rare but wonderful thing: a new boxing book to preorder, forget about, and then be surprised by as it falls through the letterbox. This book falls into the category of boxing book which isn’t really ‘about’ boxing, or boxers, promoters, venues, or famous bouts.… Read more

  • #111: ‘Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments’ by Saidiya Hartman

    #111: ‘Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments’ by Saidiya Hartman

    In ‘Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments’, Saidiya Hartman uses extensive research of a range of archival materials to expand, retell and imagine the lives of black women born in America in the early twentieth century – the first generation after emancipation. I came across this book as it’s on the reading list of my current module… Read more

  • #110: ‘Chasing The Great Gatsby: Freddie Welsh’s Saga’ by Gene Pantalone

    #110: ‘Chasing The Great Gatsby: Freddie Welsh’s Saga’ by Gene Pantalone

    ‘Chasing The Great Gatsby’ is essentially a biography of former world lightweight champion Freddie Welsh, by Gene Pantalone. There is, however, a large twist to this book which sets it apart from other boxer biographies: Pantalone’s theory that F. Scott Fitzgerald based the character of Jay Gatsby, protagonist of ‘The Great Gatsby’, on Welsh. This… Read more

  • #109: ‘President of Pandemonium’ by Luke G. Williams

    #109: ‘President of Pandemonium’ by Luke G. Williams

    ‘President of Pandemonium’ is Luke G. Williams’ attempt to document the wild life story of 1990s heavyweight prospect Ike Ibeabuchi. Published by Hamilcar Noir. This might seem quite a claim considering some of the crazy life stories written about in the books on this blog, but this might be the saddest boxing story I’ve read.… Read more

  • #108: ‘Going for Gold’ by Lisa Lintott

    #108: ‘Going for Gold’ by Lisa Lintott

    ‘Going for Gold’ by Lisa Lintott is a play based on the remarkable and sad story of Frankie Lucas. The play is currently on at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, London, until 30 November 2024. The play text is published by Salamander Street. Born in St. Vincent, Lucas moved to Croydon, south London as a… Read more