Boxing Books

Good book for a teenager. I thought it was for an adult but enjoyed it thoroughly.

Robert B. Parker repackages his knowledge of boxing for the young adult, giving us a fresh addition to our guy reluctant read shelf. The book has some of those ingredients Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants, recommends for the reluctant reader: fast moving plot, villainous school principals, and wide margins. (Unfortunately, there are no cartoons.) Our victim is murdered by page five, so there can't be any complaints that nothing happens. The plot is a bit threadbare. One has the feeling the author found it in an old cardboard box labeled "Plots, OK - 1973" while cleaning out his attic. However, the characters themselves are fresh enough and pleasant enough to carry us easily through the book's 200 pages. Interestingly, both of Parker's sons are openly gay, as was the book's victim. Several times during the book, the hero is asked, "Did you think he was gay?" to which he always replies, "Yes." "Did you care?" "Not really." Teen sexual confusion gives the book's characters an added dimension of reality and depth.

What would Spenser and Susan Silverman have been like as a teenage couple? It's possible they might have sounded and acted a great deal like Terry Novak and his friend, Abby. That link in characterization gives this book extra fascination for adult fans of Robert B. Parker. I particularly enjoyed the innuendo in the dialog where Terry and Abby refer to their physical desire for one another in flirting, boy-girl terms.

The mystery isn't all that mysterious; the main mystery is how two high school students will be able to bring out the truth: A high school student is found dead and most adults presume it was suicide related to using steroids. Terry doesn't believe it and starts asking around.

His detection is interspaced with boxing lessons from his fifty-five year-old friend, George. There's a bullying jock at the high school who tries to stop Terry, but Terry jabs on. In the background are some greedy adults looking out for themselves at the expense of everyone else.

I would have loved to read this book when I was a young teen. I also loved it as a 61-year-old man. I suspect the appeal wouldn't be as great for those in the 25-45 age range.

I look forward to reading other books for younger readers by Mr. Parker.

For an entertaining read that measures up well to the
Spencer pithy to the point dialogue this is your book.
Quick moving, humorous, charmingly irreverant, you won't
regret spending an evening with Robert B. Parker!

Fifteen-year-old Terry Novak has two hobbies: learning to box with former fighter George and trying to talk his best friend Abby into kissing him --- and maybe more. A new pastime comes his way when local teen Jason Green washes up on the tide near their small town. Jason was quiet and unassuming, yet his death is blamed on suicide caused by steroid usage. Terry can't believe that is what happened; he thinks Jason had help dying and is determined to prove it.

Terry's father lost his life at his job in an electrical plant a few years ago, and Jason's dad passed away some time earlier. Terry remembers that Jason is the only one who offered him words of comfort, and though they did not have much to do with each other since then, he can't let go of this mystery.

Abby is smart and a great confidant, not to mention beautiful --- at least in Terry's eyes. Terry begins to ask around school and town about the side-effects of steroids. He doesn't think it can cause people to go crazy enough that they would want to kill themselves. Abby keeps track of all the research and comments they collect. Then Terry is told by the school principal to stop nosing around in things that aren't his business. He is also warned by Kip, a top athlete and bully. Abby steps up her game to become an official spy who runs a spy network. The teens in the town begin to watch the principal, as well as Kip. A new home built by high school design students and some local officials also seem to be involved. The kids know something is going on, and as the reports around town come in about the activities of the two people, pieces start coming together.

Frequent workouts with George become frustrating. How will he know what to do in a real fight? When will he know he's ready? Terry even brings Abby in to a practice session, and she's surprised by this side of him she has not seen before. Who is he becoming?

The warnings to stop asking about Jason and steroids don't let up. Terry is threatened with suspension, and Abby is cornered by Kip. He does not intend to let a threat to her go unanswered. Soon this fight pulls in everything Terry knows about boxing, fighting and control. He's aware that, when it's important, you have to fight for what is right.

Robert B. Parker is the author of the Spenser series for adults, and this is his second teen mystery (following EDENVILLE OWLS). While it is easy to tell who some of the villains are in this story, the hows and whys will keep readers wondering until the end. What really makes the book such a page turner is the way that Terry grows and steps up to the ring to make this terrible situation right. His romantic tension with Abby is fun and quite realistic, as the two friends struggle with the line of when to become something more. Parker is sure to find new young adult fans with THE BOXER AND THE SPY.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

As a relatively new student of Pa-Kua, I found Mr. Smith's book to be a good introductory text to this wonderful and complex internal style. While he does offer a very good history of Pa-Kua, my only criticism would be that he has a bit too many pictures and not quite enough explanatory text for a book of this size. I would like to know more about the purpose of each movement and less images, since I don't think one can actually learn a martial art via a book alone,but I do think that one can glean valuable insights form the author's experience, and that knowledge, combined with a good teacher, can help one learn this fascinating art more efficiently.

I don't like the conciseness and lack of information in this book. It's ok, but if you're looking for information in the martial arts arena, this book won't help.

Check out my list "Martial Arts" in my "about me area".

Thank you.

This book presents the first descriptions in English of bagua methods transmitted by Zhang Juen-feng to the Hung family of Taipei. The Hung school became renouned and feared for their fighting prowess, so I agree fully with the previous 5-star reviews. Although such forms are posited on a line, there are many spirals and circles inherent to the movements as well, and the system does include a related set of circle walking and circular changes passed down from Zhang. So bagua is circular - true enough - and the author takes things to that level, as exemplified in the circling method of Paul Guo (along with footnotes on Wang Shu-chin, another peerless fighter; just ask the Japanese who met him). Mr Guo was a municipal police officer, also skilled in xing-yi, whose bagua was based on that of Sun Lu-tang. The book does not provide details on the many fighting functions inherent to the circular changes for reasons of time and space and those given by the author himself (i.e., linear methods more easy to grasp for Westerners at the time). Think about it. Given his vast experience, it is unlikely that the author would take the time to learn and publish a method that was devoid of fighting applications. In fact, he showed many of them in his regular classes, and importantly, also taught principles on how to look for other applications. Times being what they are today, it should be no problem for the uninitiated and perplexed to find someone also skilled at the circling methods in order to lend a convincing hand. But first, give the book a fair shake, try some of the methods, and then go out and find a teacher to help you along. Respectfully, even if you are an undefeated mixed-martial arts champion, a thorough study of these practices will surely improve your skill level and definitely change your outlook on these arts.

Mr. Smith presents the first ever English book on the linear Baguazhang of the notorious Gao Yiseng as taught by Hong Yixiang in Taiwan during the 1950's. Smith's teacher Hong was famous for his no hold's barred fighting skills, and was feared during a time when all out street fights were a common event and popular pastime. Many of his students went on to become expert bagua and xingyiquan practitioners and continue to teach today.

Mr. Smith never claimed to have attained his master's skill, but he did do his best to present the art for the benefit of those in the West unable to witness this extraordinary martial art first hand.

This volume inspired many to travel to Asia and many more to seek out teachers of the internal arts. You too will find lots of interesting instructional advice, history and presentation of classical linear and circular forms to enjoy.

Unfortunately there are a few ignorant souls among us who don't understand very much about the history and development of Bagua. This is understandable as there are many different branches.

I advise the innocent to go out and find a teacher of Gao style Baguazhang who can swiftly show you that the linear Bagua forms are very useful. When you recover consciousness you can begin to study them. In the process you will hopefully learn to keep your mouth shut about things you know so little about.

Sincerely, a fellow student

This is a reprint of the now over 30 year old classic that was the first book written by a westerner on this still obscure art. Pa Kua, or the "art of overkill," as it's sometimes called, is still much less known than its sister arts tai chi and hsing i.

After a brief into, some taoist philosophy (such as a brief explanation of the I Ching, and how it relates to pa kua), Smith gives a brief account of the history of the art before getting into the actual techniques. The introduction also includes some delightful stories about the adventures and exploits of some of the most famous masters.

There are two main basic technique sections, one presenting 18 basic movements, and a Forms and Functions chapter of 20 techniques shown with a partner that demostrate the applications. These include hand and foot strikes, traps, takedowns, and throws.

Smith then provides an excellent commentary on how to practice and some do's and don'ts. They're detailed, and at a high level of sophistication in terms of the theory, including much practical advice such as how to relax, how to breathe, how to prepare your mind, and so on. Another important point is that the pa kua techniques are not so much techniques in the traditional sense so much as concepts that manifest change according to the principles of the I Ching. If you understand these and internalize them then your progress will be great. The comments in this section are worth the price of the book by themselves.

Finally, the unique classical circling exercise is presented with a couple of variations thrown in the good measure. These are shown by Paul Kuo, one of Smith's teachers in Taiwan and a famous pa kua master who I had heard of for some years before I saw him demonstrating the form in this book.

I had just one or two final comments about this unique art. The evasive and circling skills of a true pa kua master are formidable and I once had the opportunity to spar with one and see them for myself. I being an advanced karate practitioner, and very big, strong, and fast at the time and the pa kua master being 20 years older and much smaller, I felt he was no match for me in terms of strength and that I had the advantage as far as "duking it out" and trading punches and kicks went.

However, I never got the chance to do that. The master would quickly disappear behind me as soon as I moved toward him. His evasive skills were truly a delight to see and I came away with a new respect and appreciation for this unusual art which is still rarely seen even in China.

The author's information on Shuai Chiao is errant. He states that "Shuai Chiao is defective in that sweeps are not in it's repertoire", I would offer that Master "Shang" (I think he is refering to late Grandmaster Ch'ang Tung-sheng) only taught him a limited number of Shuai Chiao techniques. Shuai Chiao is indeed a complete system, teaching kicks, sweeps, joint locking, punches and throws, emphasis on throwing. As for Shuai Chiao not "evolving", as a complete martial art, there is no evolving that needs to take place. In regards to Shuai Chiao's effectiveness against Judo, I can state from first hand experience (I trained in Judo for 8 years while living in Japan and participated in numerous Judo competitions) that Shuai Chiao is very effective against even the most senior of Judoka, and can be preformed just as effectively in a Judo gi as the tighter fitting short sleeved Shuai Chiao jacket.
In fact the technique I found MOST effective against Judoka was the Shuai Chiao leg sweeping technique "jian twei".

Sifu Bryan Baskett
1989 U.S. Middle Weight National Champion - Shuai Chiao

The author, a US government employee, arrived in Taiwan when that nation's government was extremely grateful to the US. He was given introductions to many of the leading Chinese martial artists of the time, and took up every one -- adding what they had to teach him to what he had learned earlier in the US and during a posting in Japan. Virtually all of the masters he describes in the book are dead and no longer available for interview. His accounts of what he saw, heard and experienced can never be matched, and Asian principles of loyalty to a single master mean that nobody other than he was able to study as widely from the leading teachers of the day. The more you learn personally about Chinese boxing, the better this book shows itself to be. For those on the first steps of this study, the book's a profound inspiration.

The book is o.k. I guess. It is quite interesting although a bit superficial. The biggest regret is that the author concentrates his studies almost exclusively on internal northern systems, mostly Hsing I, Bagua and Tai Chi. Apart from that, it's quite an entertaining book if you are interested in the subject of Chinese martial arts masters.

Once I finished reading this book, Robert W Smith made a really terrible impression as both an individual, a writer and a martial artist. He writes and communicates in an arrogant and conceted manner. However his book on Baguazhang was a lot better. This book is a waste of money, though you will find out what one American thinks, if that is what you want. His attitudes about chinese martial arts on Taiwan and on China are biased. He just seems to really dislike China.

Mr. Smiths book has been around for quite sometime now however, with the current popularity of Chinese Boxing in AMerica and much of the mystic that surrounds many of those who teach it. THis book presents in a very clear light just who the traditional CHinese Boxing MAsters really were and just exactly what their views were and are on the study of CHinese Boxing. Smith is impressed by the subjects of his book, and rightly so, however he dosen't become so engrossed with them that he falls prey to the depths of mysticisim. His observations are informative, educational and at times down right funny. This is far from a how to learn Tai Chi book, it is however a very educational read on true Chinese Boxing,

I thought this book would be interesting but, really, was just utter disappointing. There were several factual errors, especially the one about the Ali-Liston bout. Also, many statements were made with little justification, quoting third hand sources, people who had little connection to Ali. I wish that the authors would have concentrated more on how Ali himself felt, what was going on in his mind at the most crucial time in his life. Finally, this book was dull, poorly written and very scattered.

Just finished this book and I learned a whole lot I didn't know about Ali. I just saw a documentary on PBS that covered some of this territory but the book is chock filled with interesting anecdotes and inside accounts that really show Ali in a different light than the way he's usually portrayed. The book compares Ali and his social conscience to Michael Jordan and his greed. But i would have liked to have heard what Ali himself thinks of this comparison.

Other than a couple of minor factual errors (Sonny Liston bowed out of their second fight in the 7th round, not the 8th), this is a great book, filled with the best information and inside accounts I've ever seen about Ali and I've read just about all of them.

It even blows away a few myths that I've always believed because they are repated by one writer after another.

Just saw the Will Smith movie Ali. Save your seven bucks and read this book. It's much more interesting and doesn't bore you with Ali's private life. What's more, it covers almost exactly the same ground as the movie, stopping at the Foreman fight and concentrating on Ali's stand against the war.

Will Smith just can't compare to the real thing and the real Ali definitely comes through in this book which I read last year.

I ordered this book after Rich Hoffman of the Philadelphia Daily News called it one of the two best books ever written about Muhammad Ali (along with the Tomas Hauser oral history published ten years ago).

He was right. This is the best book I've ever written about The Greatest. It has all kinds of inside information and stuff about the political Ali. Really makes you appreciate what he did for his country by speaking out and almost going to jail.

SMOKIN' JOE is a surprisingly good examination of one of the greatest fighters of all time - Joe Frazier. Despite his status in many sportswriter's minds as a sort of foil for Muhammad Ali, "the other half" of a great rivalry, most trueblue boxing fans know that Frazier was quite a bit more than that. Smokin' Joe led a quite remarkable life which was a triumph over the odds and showed, among other things, that he was "a champion for all the people."

Ghostwritten by Phil Berger, a very able writer who manages to turn what was undoubtedly a series of taped oral interviews into an enjoyably readable autobiography that communicates much of Frazier's bristling temperament, pleasure-loving attitude and downhome twang, SMOKIN' JOE traces Frazier's life from its dirt-poor roots as the son of a black sharecropper in the Jim Crow South, to his move to Philadelphia, his improbable amateur career culminating in an Olympic gold medal, and his professional boxing career, which reached a dual apex when he first captured the heavyweight title unwillingly vacated by Ali, and then whipped a comebacking Ali over 15 brutal rounds to cement his claim as the best big man on earth. Not surprisingly, a great deal of the book centers on his vitriolic relationship with the man he refers to contemptuously as "Clay" ("That's what his momma named him," Frazier sneers), and fans of Ali will not enjoy his heartfelt railings about the "so-called Greatest."

To be sure, Frazier has a legitimate beef against the man, who sponged money off Frazier during his long court battle with the U.S. Government, then tried to turn the black community in America against him by "whitewashing" him as an Uncle Tom. Frazier smoulders when he recounts how his children were mercilessly taunted on the playground by Ali fans and how he, Frazier, was constantly villified - even by liberal whites - as being some kind of "white man's champion." Frazier insisted then, and insists now, that he was not a champion for black or white America but for all the people, and to call him anything else was not only unfair but cruel - and I tend to agree. Ali was great at a lot of things, and one of those things was being an irresponsible, loudmouth jerk.

On the other hand, when it comes to cruelty, Frazier gives nothing away to his archenemy. He has a real blood-lust that made one reviewer of the book remark, "I loved the book, but I didn't like Frazier." He seems to take genuine pleasure in beating the living hell out of people and can reflect quite calmly on his role in turning guys like Jerry Quarry into brain-damaged vegetables. He also seems to revel in the humiliation of beaten foes like Buster Mathis, Sr., who annoyed Frazier because he lacked discipline (and never mind that his indiscipline gave Frazier his shot at the Olympics), and while granting that he flat-out got his *ss kicked by George Foreman not once but twice, he's as reluctant as any boxer to truly accept responsibility for losing.

SMOKIN' JOE is an enjoyable book as much because of these things as in spite of them. It's fast-paced, cleverly written and unapologetic, and refreshingly, it lacks the politically correct gloss of many autobiographies, which are so carefully calibrated to hide the subject's flaws they end up saying almost nothing. Smokin' Joe has a lot to say, it's just a question of whether or not you've got the chin to hear it.

I admit that this book is hardly good literature. Yet I enjoyed reading it again and again.

Though I followed boxing at one time, I am really not a big fight fan. But I love stories about people who put their heart and soul into what they do, and Joe Frazier certainly did that.

He describes his impoverished childhood, his flirtaion with a life of petty crime, and then his getting into boxing from the ground up and working his way to the Olympic gold medal and eventually the heavyweight championship of the world.

He also gives a glimpse of what happend after his boxing career was over and his opinion of some of the 1990's boxers.

But much of the book was devoted to his wars with Mohammed Ali (who he refers to as Cassius Clay or "Butterfly"), both in and out of the ring. He talks about how badly he was stung by Ali's calling him an "Uncle Tom" (not black enough) and then calling him a Gorilla (as in subhuman; too black, too uncultured).

Because I am not African American, I can't fully understand the sting of what Ali did to him (in the guise of promoting the fights) but it is clear that he was still bitter about it. That's a shame too, as Joe Frazier is clearly one of the best boxers to ever live, and one of the two boxers to beat Ali while he was at or near his prime (Norton is the other one).

Oh yes, I picked up a cool "new" (to me) word: "scamboogah". I like it!

Smokin' Joe The Man & The Legend

4.5 Stars

I always thought of Joe Frazier as a machine. Put him in the ring and he's a tank with one purpose. That left hook. That left hook. That left hook.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

It's the autobiography of Joe Frazier - from his childhood to present day. The history of The Left Hook I found most interesting - it's not a chapter - it's information peppered throughout the book. That left hook!

I loved the details given about his fights. How he felt before and during the fights and what was going on in his life before, during and after these fights.

Joe had a really interesting and amazing career - Olympics, amateur and professional. He is an amazing competitor and athlete.

Here is what I had problems with - Ali - his treatment of Muhammad Ali -

I'm a HUGE Ali fan so take this with a grain of salt -

Joe is incredibly bitter and angry with Ali - rightly so too, but it taints the book and gives it a bitter mood. He flat out refuses to call Ali - Ali - and only refers to him as Clay or the Butterfly - or anything else but Muhammad Ali - it's completely understandable and makes sense. Ali really layed into him and was flat out cruel at times - but it distracts and takes away from the book. It takes away from a feeling of good sportsmanship. I would go back and forth with losing respect for Joe, but in the same breath I understand why he feels this way - but again this takes away from his story.

Ali / Frazier is forever intertwined with boxing history and boxing lore and it seems Joe resents Ali too much and that also takes away from certain aspects of the legacy and legend - but does add to other parts of it.

Compare and contrast how he speaks of George Foreman - there's a lot of respect, admiration and good feelings towards the big man.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in Joe Frazier and anyone interested in a legend of the ring, in one of the greatest fighters ever to lace `em up.

Obviously if you are a Joe Frazier fan you must get this book, but I would also recommend it to any boxing fan. And if you don't like Muhammad Ali, you should also read this book. (For the record, I am not an Ali hater or a big fan of his, but I am a huge boxing fan).

If you are familar with boxing, you will know that every figher has his own unique story, and Joe is no exception. He is definitely an interesting person and has an enjoyable story.

Clearly one of the top ten heavyweights of all time, Joe is most known for his trilogy with Muhammad Ali, and this book definitely gets into those fights, particularly the first one and the third one (which are among the biggest sporting events ever).

Aside from the Ali fights and Joe's out of the ring hatred for Ali, this book does provide a full look at Joe's life, his ups and downs, and his comentary on various subjects such as Mike Tyson and Joe's son Marvis Frazier.

First things first: I am a huge Muhammad Ali fan; and, I am a huge Joe Frazier fan. On top of that, I am fascinated by the lives of boxers. It seems that to become a great boxer, one must go through a bitter struggle to get to the top of that profession.

Like other great boxers, "Smokin'" Joe Frazier had a hard life, and one at which one wrong turn at the crossroads could have derailed his life.

Written in 1996, when "Smokin' Joe" was 52 and still bitter at Muhammad Ali's name tauntings of him when they were professional heavyweight fighters in the 1970s, this book was quite a revealing book about Joe's life.

Most of you who will read this review must be, to some extent, familiar with the boxing history between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. In this book, Frazier goes into astonishing details about his recollections which made me feel as if he were here next to me talking to me himself.

The book also connects Joe's past to his present and gives you clarity on how he developed as a man. He is very inspirational in how he explains how he rose to the top from his poor upbringing, though poor only in terms of money, not pride, committment to his family, or belief in himself: areas about himself that were a wealth of possibilities as long as someone believed in him.

The book begins with his childhood in South Carolina and he gives you a feel about what he was like and how close he was to his father and the relationship he had with women, his friends, and experiences he had while living in a racially segregated South.

Piece by piece, step by step, "like a train", Joe literally takes us on the train ride of his life clearly explaining many fascinating details about his early fights. What impressed me was his attention to detail about his opponents. I had no idea that Oscar Bonavena was shot to death in Reno because of his affair with a woman who's husband owned a Reno. I never noticed the connection about how trainers would also fight trainers through their boxers and how fights of the 60s would directly connect fights of the 90s.

There's a lot of that in this book.

Then of course, there is the relationship between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. They always had an amazing chemistry between each other. The perfect complimentaries in all aspects of life. Having Read Ali's Autobiography and Smokin' Joe's Autobiography, they both present themselves the same way they presented themselves in the ring. Joe was step by step in your face while Ali was multidirectional in his autobiography.

In this 200 page book, at least 50 pages and two complete chapters are dedicated in detail about the relationship between him and Ali. If you read it, it sounds as if Joe was still angry at Ali while he wrote this. But I learned in this book that Joe Frazier is a deeper person than most give him credit for. I really didn't read anger in his words of contempt towards Ali; rather a "hard-love" and maybe even some hurt and justifiable hurt of the personal bashing Ali directed at him.

The book goes into amazing details some of the verbal exchanges they shared even while in the ring, nights prior to fights or other personal confrontations they had over the years.

A lot of it is even humorous despite being serious. There's a great passage about Joe Frazier's taunting Ali in private about his pseudo-wife at the time Veronica Porsche when they fought "The Thrilla in Manila."

If you've seen Joe Frazier fight, the book reads with the same intensity of his boxing style: penetrating and persistant.

You can't help but admire this man for his ethic and philosophy on life.

For those of you who think Frazier has "deep psychological hatreds towards Ali," that's a bunch of, as Frazier would put it, "scamboogah talk."

As recently as June 9, 2001: Joe was quoted as saying after his daughter lost a woman's boxing match against Ali's youngest daughter: "-``It's over. I just don't want no more problems...If I see him tomorrow, I'll say, 'Hey man, let's get along. Forgive me and I'll forgive you.' I'm tired of the harsh, dirty words. I don't want to go back to that no more.''

This is a must read if you love boxing, especially the historically most important years of boxing: The 1970s,when Ali and Frazier were two of the 3 (Foreman too) top masters of this Sport.

Jack revised the book and updated it. You want to get "The Life and Crimes of Don King: The Shame of Boxing in America." It's a great story so get the updated edition instead of this out-of-print item.

don't miss the movie made from the book, "Don King, Only in America", beatifully directed and edited, great dialogues, hard to believe they found an actor that can mimic Don King, an actor himself. Good to see this fictionalized movie, alog with the documentary "When We Were Kings" to compare how the scenes of really happened scenarios were recreated

Don King took on the FBI, IRS, Mob, and judges. He thinks of him self in high quality saying "I am the american dream, America is my country, My people built this country and i know my way around." People say Don King does black on black crime when he steals all their money from loosing in boxing matches. Don King is smart clever and deceiving. He has commited two murders one being a homicide in his favor and the other being man slaughter in the first dergree. Ever since then Don King hasnt been able to stay out of trouble comitting speeding violations numerous times, stealing, and scheme of chance. He just cant stay out of the news and thats the way he likes it.
I give the book 5 stars do to the authors great detail and the excitment in Don Kings life time. "I do truley beleive he is the American Dream"

Don King is a Cat that knows how to Spit out Game both in&out of the Ring.no matter who comes along nobody is gonna outlast Don King.this Book tackles all the things that the HBO movie went over.you see a Guy who would not be denied.His Famous Words Only in America fit Him to a Letter T.He is Witty,Sharp,Hustler&Always on His Game no matter what He is getting down with.

You just can't ruin a book written about a man as inspiring as Don King. White America likes a succsessful blackman only if he succeeded its way. By this I mean the classic way through a college education and a white liberal view on greed. The conclusion one must draw from the life story of Don King (this version or any other) is that Don King is a thinker not a follower an euntreprenuer not a wage-earner and a succsessful man despite overwhelming odds.

Start with 5 stars

Take off 1 star for a self-serving and completely erroneous foreward by Percy Sutton who takes credit for saving the Apollo Thetaer in Harlem. Fact is he ran the Apollo into the ground and if it were not for the NY Daily News exposing Sutton, there would be no Apollo theater. You can look it up.

Take off another 1-1/2 stars for a very odd comment in the epilogue. Boyd talks all through the book that Robinson was violent towards family members, especially his wife Edna. But in the epiologue, Boyd says "there are the reports of his abuse of the women in his life." Huh?? Did Robinson beat Edna or are these just "reports".

Take off another star as the feeling you get at the end that this is a very superficial book. You have no idea of what makes him and Edna tick.

This was a good book on a great champion. We get to see Robinson grow up and become the master boxer and hear about his life over the years. The decline in boxing skills is discussed as is the infidelities, the spousal abuse and the financial failings.

I would have liked to have had more information on the life post-retirement and have had more photos.

All in all, I enjoyed the book.

very well written. disappointed to learn he punched his wife from time to time

I bought this book for a friend's birthday.He enjoyed it a lot.Ounce by ounce,it was worth buying and reading.Thank you for your excellent service.

Sugar Ray is one of those boxers who when you read a book like this realise how the term "great" should be subject to stricter rationing. A man who fought over 200 professional fights with 175 victories (including 109 KOs) over 15 years leaves many of the current breed of "champions" looking anything but.

This biography written by African historian Herb Boyd helped by Sugar Ray's son Ray, is a well written warts and all biography of how Sugar Ray progressed from the inevitable poor beginnings of black amateur boxing in
the 1930s to being a world class boxer who excelled at both Welterweight and Middleweight World titles. The coverage falls into two strands being his boxing career and including how Sugar avoided the traps of being a
stooge for crime bosses; his epic struggle with Jake La Motta who he fought six times (after losing on February 5th 1943 rematching and beating 21 days later, both fights being over 10 rounds!); his hard personal negotiating against promoters and managers for his fair share of the fight purse including then unheard of early TV fight rights and his touring of Europe where he became a major star in France.

The second strand is the personal life story of a man who helped fuel the Harlem renaissance by investing his winnings in business ventures in that area to developing a higher level of black self pride with his renowned pink cadillac and family life image (Muhammad Ali being an early fan), all undermined by a lack of the personal discipline he displayed in the ring when it came to personal affairs and business finances, which led to endless battles with the IRS and his descent into penury amidst debilitating illnesses.

What is sadly missing for any fight fan (and the reason for my 3 star rating) is any true understanding of the reasons why so many people still see him as the best "pound for pound" fighter of all time - his fighting skills (rather than his fights record); his training regime and a better coverage of the boxing environment at that time given its vast difference with todays scene. That book still awaits to be written it seems.

This book is a delight to read. It was written in another era when the outlook was simpler and men fought standing up and toe to toe. There are some real golden nuggets in the book i.e. the backknuckle uppercut, that are not found in today's boxing books. One thing is certain - old style boxers were a tough breed. Worth every cent!!

this is great, but it has no practical value. Other boxing instruction books are far superior to this antique. The pictures and comments are a bit humorous but save your money and watch a Charlie Chaplin movie.

The book is an important part of America's literary heritage as well as a significant piece of ring history.

It's interesting to note that Mike Dononvan, as a middleweight, went the distance in a match with the great John L. Sullivan during the bare knuckle era, and that he went on to instruct Teddy Roosevelt and serve for years as Athletic Director of the New York Athletic Club.

Quite simply the best book ever written on the Manly Art.
Hooray for the publisher for re-issuing an important piece of American ring (as well as literary) heritage.
Despite giving away 70 pounds, the author went the distance with John L. Sullivan before he went on to write this beautifully illustrated book, which belongs in the collections of all those interested in history, literature and sports.

but this is an excellent book all the same. If you're new to the sport, or even if you're a vet seeking to oil the gears a bit, this is truly a valuable source. I come, as my name suggests, from an old-school background anyway. My father saw to that. Kid Blackie and John L. were names that I just about wore on my sleeve from my earliest childhood days, and when the Kid became the Mauler, that name went straight on my chest - even though I always carried his name by honor. So, with Donovan's book, I have a bit of a bias and approach it with a sense of warmth and respect anyway. But, even without all that, it has the bare bones that many books do not - invaluable knowledge, information and skills. You take this up, practice it, get past the 1893 photos, and you're in for a fantastic learning experience. You really shouldn't pass this one up.

If you have to get only one book on how to box, this is the one. It has almost all amateur (and some pro) boxing covered. Lots of good exercises, drills, and tactics. The ONLY thing it is lacking in, is pictures - could use more photos for a couple of the techniques.

The book is laid out in a very logical fashion and includes answers to all the basic questions a boxer in training has. Very detailed and practical. Also very motivating. A must have source for new boxers or boxers looking to kick it up a notch

I train boxers in New York City and am also a boxing historian. I collect boxing manuals and this one is just average, not enough information on how to do techniques. Good for someone just starting out but not for anyone looking for detailed information.

Very good and detailed info, but the grammar is horrible.Every other sentence is the politicaly correct "he/she" instead of the correct "he" which makes this book somwhat annoying and tiring to read.So buy it, but if you too find plain bad grammar annoying,like me,get your white out ready.

This is the most knowledgable book ever writtien on Olympic-style (amateur) boxing.
The finer points of the game that most people don't even consider, including boxing for judges positioning, computer scoring, five critera for a scoring blow, what to expect as a boxer at a venue, and boxing different styles of boxers are all included. It really shows how boxing is not just getting in the ring and slugging, but a precise and measured art.

The self reflection worksheets are also a valuable tool for keeping track of your training progress for both Olympic-style and professional boxers. I look foward to the next book!

All Top 10, Top 25, Top 100, etc. lists are designed to provoke arguments, and this one does. All of the fighters in the book deserve to be here (I guess, there are a lot from before 1920 that are waaaay before my time). The disagreements come with the rankings, why fighter A is ranked higher than fighter B. But Bert Sugar backs up his opinions with facts, which is all you can ask, agree with him or not. Great reading for any fan of the squared circle.

If you like boxing and its glorious history, this book is for you. Bert Sugar is the recognized king of boxing writers, and he knows his stuff. A must for the boxing fan.

I have tremendous respect for Sugar, but putting Iron Mike Tyson at # 100 is absolute garbage. Tyson in his prime is at least, at the very LEAST a top 50 all-time great. Not only was he a great fighter, but also consider the fact that he is the biggest box-office draw in boxing history. During the 1980's Tyson was the MOST popular athlete in America, and this was during a time when Bird, Magic, Jordan, Montana, and Ray Leonard were all in their primes! He defended his title 10 times from 1986-1990 and even regained the title when he was past his prime in 1996. Rocky Marciano the most overrated fighter of all time only defended the title 6 times. That 49-0 record should not be seen so sacred as the so called experts see it. Did Tyson become a joke after he bite Holyfield's ear? Yes and with a capital J, but in the 1988 revised edition of The 100 Greatest Fighters in Boxing History, Sugar ranks Tyson at # 27. That is more realistic than Tyson's current ranking of # 100. The fact is the majority of the fighters in this book are so old that young boxing fans don't know who they are and quite frankly a few of the names in this book don't matter. Mike Tyson mattered and next to Ali is the BIGGEST superstar in boxing history. Sorry Jack Dempsy, the 2 Sugar Rays, and Joe Louis, but that's just the way it is. Bert Sugar is just far too old and stubborn to understand that.

This latest edition of "Boxing's Greatest Fighters" is an update from the 1984 edition. I have both copies, mainly because I was curious to see how Bert Sugar re-ranked some of my favorite fighters. For example, Sugar Ray Leonard moved from #56 to #25. Overall, this is a well-written, entertaining book. It's probably not logical to rate fighters from different eras, but the concept is hard to resist for a boxing fan, especially one interested in its early history. As with many others reviewers, I don't agree with some of Sugar's rankings, but overall his list makes good sense.

I've always admired and respected Bert Sugar for his intelligent and often humorous analyst of boxing history and the great fighters of the past, however, I must sadly say this book was terrible. Aside from an occasional comical quote or commit the book was simply silly and insulting to any boxing aficionado. For example, Bert actually ranked Joe Frazier higher than Carlos Monzon and Marvelous Marvin Hagler in this publication. He did this despite the fact that Carlos Monzon and Hagler were vastly more dominate fighters in their eras as well as having far longer and more glorious title reigns. Also his decision to not include all-time greats such as Lennox Lewis and Michael Spinks was ridiculous especially when you take into consideration some of the fighters that did make the list. Overall, this book is a mediocre read that offers information on many turn of century fighters but I wouldn't recommend it for any serious boxing fan.