Boxing’s history reaches further back in time than most any other sport, one of the first Olympic sports, and as such is deserving of the rich legacy of literature it has inherited over time. Abraham Lincoln said, “The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I ain’t read.” I want to be your friend…, but not in a stalker kind of way. To that end I give you a list of 30 boxing books every boxing fan should have as part of their library. The choices are by no means all encompassing, and are colored by my biases. I prefer reference works to biographies, and the prose of British commentators like Hugh McIlvanney and Reg Gutteridge to that of American favorites A.J Liebling or Budd Schulberg.
I, also, do not want to be a book friend in the fashion Mark Twain describes. Stating of seminal works. “A ‘classic’ book is a book which people praise, but don’t read.” No, these books are both classic and eminently readable. Unfortunately, boxing fans are notoriously hard to please, and as such must rely on ourselves to find the perfect gift for ‘our kind’. I am giving advance warning that some of these books are hard to find. A couple might not even be available at Amazon.com (or their used book arm), and are rather rare finds on E-bay or other auction sites.
1. Boxing Hero’s & Champions by Bob Mee – Why this book? It is the only boxing book I have found that gives as much biographical information and attention to Asian & lower weight category boxers as heavyweight champions. Good luck finding more information than “won the world flyweight title in 1952 from Dado Marino”, on Japan’s Yoshio Shirai in any other book. Mee covers Shirai, Duilio Loi, Koichi Wajima, Dave McAuley, Samart Payakarun, Gilberto Roman, or the criminally underrated Hilario Zapata with the same detail as legendary Joe Louis. It, also, features vignettes on 45 of the most important fights in boxing history. This is a great looking coffee table book with well chosen pictures. This book needs to be in every boxing fans library. (ISBN: 0-7858-0778-0)
2. The Boxing Register (4th edition) – This is the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s publication of record, and is duly impressive and noteworthy without relying on that status alone. Features every boxer inducted into the hall from 1719 to 200?, with meticulously researched ring records and important career mile markers. Sets itself apart from other books with it’s bio’s on the men on the periphery of boxing like promoters, managers, ring announcers, and boxing writers. A must have for those studying the sport, or just getting into the beauty of boxing. (ISBN-13: 978-1590131213)
3. The Hardest Game by Hugh McIlvanney – My favorite writer on boxing, whose prose is simultaneously vivid and insightful. The Hardest Game is masterful for its muscular, descriptive prose, keeping me company on more than a few trips. Every time I need an inspirational injection for my own writing, from an unquestioned master of the craft, all I need to do is read a few paragraphs of this work. Here is a quick peek at McIlvanney’s take on Carlos Monzon. “There is a frightening strength in the elasticity of those long muscles. Monzon’s method is related to profound confidence, the conviction that he has the animal authority to dominate almost any man they put in front of him”. The Scotsman is simply a masterful writer. (ISBN-13: 978-0658021541)
4. Boxing The 20th Century (by The Ring Magazine) – A year by year account of the most important events in boxing from 1900 to 1992. Does an excellent job of highlighting the landmark bouts in boxing history, no other book features as in-depth or as wide an array of fights as this historical feast. No bout of importance is left out, and each is given appropriate treatment. (ISBN: 0-7924-5850-8)
5. The Best of The Ring – A great companion to Boxing The 20th Century, and also put out by The Ring Magazine. No other boxing book can touch this masterpiece for diversity of prose. Almost every significant boxing writer is featured within these pages, and you can chart the evolution of boxing’s written word through this one volume encyclopedia of style. A wide array of boxers and subjects are broached, with each given it’s own life by the well chosen writers. You can spot this book in some discount bins, so keep your eyes open for it. The only negative is that the 80’s and 90’s are given short shrift, an updated edition would be welcomed. (ISBN: 1-56625-056-0)
6. The Great Book of Boxing by Harry Mullan – For some this is a slightly preferable option to An Illustrated History of Boxing (featured next) by The Ring because of it’s well chosen photographs and greater attention to detail. This book breaks down the history and title changes of every weight category. Unfortunately, it’s last publication was in 1987. Still, it is an excellent reference source, and gives an alternative European view of boxing to the usual fare American boxing fans are subject to by The Ring’s publications. You will most likely have to find this book on E-bay or other used book outlets. Worth the search. (ISBN: 0-517-62953-4)
7. An Illustrated History of Boxing (5th edition) – Like The Great Book of Boxing, this one volume boxing history breaks down boxing by weight category. This book will give you an extra 12 years of boxing history, with the 1997 update bringing jr. flyweight and strawweight coverage that is lacking in Harry Mullan’s excellent work. (ISBN: 0-8065-1900-2)
8. In This Corner (42 World Champions tell their stories) by Peter Heller – It is what it the title suggests, an oral history of 42 champions as told to an author who clearly loves the subject and the boxers featured. Exhaustive in it’s attention to historical detail, this book features boxers as far back as 1912 and up through the 1970’s. Heller does a great job of letting the boxers tell their tale, without interjecting his own biases or historical judgments. An updated edition covering the last three decades, would be a joy. (ISBN: 0-306-80603-7)
9. Guinness Boxing The Records By Ian Morrison – Search used book stores, libraries, E-bay or any other used book source for this classic boxing reference. Want a list of Golden Gloves champs, ABA, Olympic, European, British, or Commonwealth champions? This book has those rare lists, and also features a great timeline of title fights in every weight class. The last edition went to print in 1985, with a plethora of unique boxing facts and trivia in the back portion of the book. 160 pages of pugilistic heaven. (ISBN: 0-85112-805-x)
10. The Encyclopedia of Boxing by Gilbert Odd – An A to Z guide to boxing champions, with biographical shorts on every world champion up to 1989. A must have for Anglophile boxing fans for it’s small bio’s on every English and Commonwealth champion. Does a good job of tracing title lineages by weight as well, but finds it’s unique voice in the coverage of British boxers. (ISBN: 1-55521-395-2)
11. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing by Harry Mullan – Does the same as Odd’s Encyclopedia of boxing with fewer world champion bio’s, but features a slightly better reference section. Probably the first book to give equal historical perspective to the WBO and it’s champions. I would purchase Odd’s work first since it has more champion bio’s, but this is a good second alternative with 10 years of additional info. (ISBN: 0-7858-0641-5)
12. Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring: A Son’s Struggle to Become a Man by Teddy Atlas – The mental aspect of boxing is often given short shrift, except when it comes to Teddy Atlas. Atlas has often stated boxing is 75% mental at the highest level, and fights are often won or lost before a man enters the ring. This is not a pure boxing book, officially Atlas’ autobiography, but the lessons to be learned within the pages are centered on boxing themes. It gives a lot of insight on the people that have surrounded Atlas, and thus on boxing since Atlas has been an integral part of boxing for nearly three decades. The book, like Atlas, is passionate and above all honest. (ISBN-13: 978-0060542412)
13. A Century of Boxing Greats by Patrick Myler – Few boxing writers have the keen eye and story telling ability of this Irish expert of pugilism. Myler gives his list of the 100 greatest boxers to ever enter the squared circle, and he justifies the choices well. Sets himself apart by not only giving a well balanced bio on each boxer, but also telling what made each boxer effective. A good mix of European, American, and Hispanic boxers are featured. Only negative is a lack of Asian entrants. Still, a great read from an European perspective. (ISBN: 1-86105-134-4)
14. Corner Men: Great Boxing Trainers by Ronald Fried – No boxer becomes a champion by himself, and this book shows the importance of trainers and the guidance they impart upon students. From Arcel to Futch, this book doles out over a century of boxing knowledge. A must have book for anyone who has ever thought of throwing a towel over their shoulder and calling himself a trainer or molder of men. Chalk full of historical anecdotes and observations on legendary boxing figures you wont find anywhere else. (ISBN: 0-941423-48-4)
15. In The Corner: Great Boxing Trainers Talk About Their Art – The second book on the underreported art of training and motivating boxers. Not quite up to the high standards, or as in-depth, set by ‘Corner Men’. Certainly not lacking in merit either, this book has a wider range of subjects and includes trainers of more recent vintage like Emmanuel Steward and Kevin Rooney. You can’t go wrong with either.., but hey, I prefer the classics. (ISBN: 0-688-11904-2)
16. Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times by Thomas Hauser – The definitive biography on the boxer that defines boxing for the majority of sports fans. I get more questions about Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson than any other boxers, I direct Tyson fans to his new documentary and Ali fans here. Enough said. (ISBN: 0-671-68892-8)
17. Max Schmeling an Autobiography – What Thomas Hauser did for Ali, Schmeling did for himself in his telling of the events and times that shaped his life. Schmeling recalls nine decades in the limelight in great detail. Not only essential reading for boxing fans, but historical readers as well. Of course all autobiographies are somewhat self-serving, but Schmeling addresses the controversy surrounding him. Read this book and discover that Schmeling met President Franklin Roosevelt more times than Adolph Hitler. Or that he hid a Jewish friends children at great risk to himself at the height of Nazi anti-Semitism. (ISBN: 1-566-25108-7)
18. Joe Louis: The Great Black Hope by Richard Bak – This book should be sold with every edition of Max Schmeling’s autobiography, and vice versa. Holier-than-thou baseball fans need to read this book and discover that Louis, not Jackie Robinson, is the most important historical African American sports figure before or since Ali. Without Louis, there is no Robinson…, period. A book that should be read by people of all races. (ISBN: 0-306-80879-X)
19. Dark Trade: Lost in Boxing by Donald McRae – This look at the dark side of boxing won the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the year award, and deservedly so. A powerful behind the scenes look at boxing and the life altering damage boxers endure, in and out of the ring, that we all take for granted as fans. It will not persuade boxing fans to leave the sport, nor does it want us to, but it will make fans ask some hard questions the next time we view a classic struggle between two men in the ring. Like boxing itself, the book is Brutal but beautiful. (ISBN: 1-85158-999-6)
20. Inside the Ropes by Arthur Mercante – The man who has refereed more championship fights than any other man shares more than firsthand accounts. It was Winston Churchill who said, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” Now, Mercante can echo that famous phrase, as he has given boxing historians a treasure trove of first hand insight to some of the greatest fights ever staged. Simply put, Arthur Mercante had the best view, no not seat since he was on his feet, of any man related to the sport of boxing. This memoir is a must have for fans of heavyweight boxing alone, as Mercante recalls his role in bouts like the real fight of the century between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Patterson vs. Ingemar Johansson, and Foreman vs. Frazier. Thankfully, the book has more to offer than just heavyweights. It is packed with insight right down to the flyweight division. (ISBN-13: 978-1590131404)
21. The Book of Boxing by W.C. Heinz and Nathan Ward – Finely selected works of fiction, reportage, essay, profiles, and even poetry about boxing. A good anthology of boxing shorts that shows how boxing inspires the mind of writers to put forth words worthy of the subjects they cover. Can’t categorize it as pure literature, fiction, history, or sports journalism. It’s just plain good storytelling. (ISBN: 1-892129-13-2)
22. Ring of Hate: Joe Louis Vs. Max Schmeling by Patrick Myler – No sporting event has ever had such an international impact on the athletic, social, and political realms. You can argue the 1936 Olympics, but it was spread out over a month, and was not nearly as popular as boxing in those days. I found this book preferable to David Margolick’s “Beyond Glory ” (also about the second Louis – Schmeling fight), because Myler has a better grasp of boxing as a whole and gives us a European view that American’s tend to overlook. Margolick went further into the social issues on the American front of this bout. Combined, Myler and Margolick write the perfect book on this epic moment in time. (ISBN: 1840188871)
23. Bare Fists: The History of Bare-Knuckle Prize-Fighting by Bob Mee – Casual sports fan do not recognize that boxing is a refined art form, which has evolved over a hundred years. Those who doubt that need to read this book, which chronicles the savage roots of pugilism. There is over 180 years of boxing, before the 1900’s when the sport received world wide acclaim, that was largely ignored before this wonderful addition to boxing history. In a way this is a back-to-the-future book, which reveals bare-knuckle boxing as a forerunner to today’s MMA. (ISBN: 1-585-67141-X)
24. Raging Bull by Jake LaMotta – The movie that was based upon this book is considered one of the best films of all time, and it pales in comparison to the book. LaMotta writes as he boxed, brutally honest and forthright. No one is spared, least of all himself, in this intense life story. (ISBN: 0-306-80808-0)
25. When Boxing Was a Jewish Sport by Allen Bodner – No other sport is as ethnically charged as boxing has been over the decades. This book bears witness to some of that tribal mentality, and does a great job of showing how men are joined by a common bond. The definitive work on Jews in boxing, and one that is hopefully used as a blueprint for authors who want to feature boxers of their heritage or nationality. (ISBN: 0-275-95353-X)
26. The Sundowners: The History of the Black Prizefighter – What Bodner does for Jewish boxers, Kevin Smith does for African American fighters between 1870 and 1930. I selected this over the equally important Black Dynamite (by Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer) because it is more circumspect and inclusive, and rejects accepted biases from previous decades. Not that Fleischer was in any way racist, far from it in fact, but his book is from an era that was socially restricting of what Fleischer’s could write in 1930’s. Sundowners is meticulously researched, and an obvious labor of love that will be appreciated and referenced by future sport historians. (ASIN: B0025USJ7Y) To order direct from the author please visit http://www.lulu.com/content/294222
27. Boxing Legends of All Time by Steve Nicolaisen and Robert Cassidy Jr. – This is what a great coffee table book should look like, with exceptional photos of the subjects covered. Contains neither definitive bio’s or an exceptional variety of boxers beyond the legends. What it does have are beautiful photographs of the subjects featured, and ones that I have not seen in any other publication. Put this book on your table when friends come over and you want them to ask you about boxing. (ISBN: 0-7853-1690-6)
28. The 12 Greatest Rounds of Boxing by Ferdie Pacheco – Noteworthy for it’s premise of highlighting singular rounds, while still taking the whole context of the fight into consideration. Each round has an untold story behind it, that Pacheco does an excellent job of pulling out of obscurity. I only wish Ferdie had not focused so much on heavyweights. Still, excellent info and an unique perspective. (ISBN: 1-892129-37-X)
29. Boxing’s Greatest Fighters by Bert Sugar – The dean of boxing writers has compiled a fantastic list and book here. Yes, such a book is a massive undertaking. So, who better to give the 100 greatest fighters the prose and praise that they deserve, given that he has seen the majority of these men in action. Sugar finds unique angles to attach to fighters and events, to make even the most dissected boxing events seem fresh in one way or another. Particularly interesting, and what makes this book somewhat unique, are the sidebar’s for each boxer offering statistical analysis of the man’s ring resume. I question whether Bert Sugar crumbled before an editor to put Mike Tyson at #100, or if that was a selection based upon a heartfelt belief. Again, Asian boxers are overlooked, but that seems the norm for Western publications. (ISBN-13: 978-1592286324)
30. My View from the Corner: A Life in Boxing by Angelo Dundee – The man who guided and observed two of the most iconic boxers, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, reflects on seven decades of boxing that he lived from the corner. Anyone who has met or listened to Dundee talk knows he has a way with stories, and tells them expertly. Now imagine the freedom of that in book form, where he can go into details that are sometimes glossed over in casual conversation. This is not a by the timeline book, and delves into the mental and political side of boxing as well. It’s all here, and earlier champions like Carmen Basilio, Ralph Dupas, Willie Pastrano, or Sugar Ramos are not pushed into the background. (ISBN-13: 978-0071628471)
