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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Combat sports & self-defence > Boxing
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Chicago Boxing
(Hardcover)
J. J. Johnston, Sean Curtin, David Mamet
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R781
R686
Discovery Miles 6 860
Save R95 (12%)
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Miami, 1963. A young boy from Louisville, Kentucky, is on the path
to becoming the greatest sportsman of all time. Cassius Clay is
training in the 5th Street Gym for his heavyweight title clash
against the formidable Sonny Liston. He is beginning to embrace the
ideas and attitudes of Black Power, and firebrand preacher Malcolm
X will soon become his spiritual adviser. Thus Cassius Clay will
become 'Cassius X' as he awaits his induction into the Nation of
Islam. Cassius also befriends the legendary soul singer Sam Cooke,
falls in love with soul singer Dee Dee Sharp and becomes a
remarkable witness to the first days of soul music. As with his
award-winning soul trilogy, Stuart Cosgrove's intensive research
and sweeping storytelling shines a new light on how black music lit
up the sixties against a backdrop of social and political turmoil -
and how Cassius Clay made his remarkable transformation into
Muhammad Ali.
At the pinnacle of his boxing career during the 1960s and early
1970s, Muhammad Ali seemed to be a cultural symbol of the times. He
has been viewed by some as a hero and by others as a rebel, but
either way he is arguably the most famous American in the world.
This worldly admiration was perhaps best illustrated with his
lighting of the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony of the
1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Ali's life is described from
his birth to the present, with an emphasis on his career through
1975. The work covers such topics as his various boxing matches
including "The Thrilla in Manilla," his religious conversion to the
Nation of Islam, the Vietnam War, and his efforts to promote world
peace. A timeline provides key events in Ali's life, and the work
concludes with a bibliography of print and electronic sources for
additional research.
This book presents a sweeping view of boxing in the United States
and the influence of the sport on American culture. Boxing has long
been a popular fixture of American sport and culture, despite its
decidedly seedy side (the fact that numerous boxing champions
acquired their skills in prison or reform schools, the corruption
and greed of certain boxing promoters, and the involvement of the
mob in fixing the outcome of many big fights). Yet boxing remains
an iconic and widely popular spectator sport, even in light of its
decline as a result of the recent burgeoning interest in mixed
martial arts (MMA) contests. What had made this sport so
enthralling to our nation for such a long period of time? This book
contains much more than simple documentation of the significant
dates, people, and bouts in the history of American boxing. It
reveals why boxing became one of America's leading spectator sports
at the turn of the century and examines the factors that have
swayed the public's perception of it, thereby affecting its
popularity. In Boxing in America, the author provides a compelling
view of not only the pugilist sport, but also of our country, our
sources of entertainment, and ourselves. Includes information from
the early "bare knuckles" era of boxing up to modern-day stars and
matchups, presenting the history of boxing in a chronological
fashion
Boxers do what the vast majority of us will never do: they stand
toe-to-toe and try to inflict as much punishment upon each other as
possible. In Chasing Rocky, J. P. Flaim, a suburban father of two
and cohost of The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan in Washington,
DC, became a part of that small percentage of people drawn to
become a boxer. What started as a crazy idea from the arena seats
of a professional boxing match transforms into a personal challenge
that the deejay cannot ignore.
This memoir follows the journey of this average Joe who chases
his dream and discovers there's more to boxing than what can be
seen inside the ropes. Chasing Rocky narrates Flaim's foray into
the boxing world, where he encounters a dubious boxing promoter who
sees only dollar signs, a no-nonsense trainer who tests his
resolve, an aspiring pro who longs for a title shot, and an icon
who has inspired millions.
Chasing Rocky presents an inside look at the brutal training
boxers endure. From facing fears to dealing with the pain of
getting punched, Flaim tackles the sacrifices boxers make and
explores the promotional aspects-from choosing the perfect heel to
creating a grand ring entrance. He shows what happens when the bell
sounds and a radio promotion idea becomes a boxing reality.
An extraordinary account of the life of unknown club boxer, Frank
Steele, who sparred with legendary boxing greats like Muhammad Ali,
George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Ernie Shavers. Impoverished from
birth and poorly educated, Frank did the best he could to parlay
his boxing prowess and brute strength into fame and fortune. Hired
as Foreman's chief sparring partner to help prepare the champ for
the Ali "Rumble in the Jungle" fight in Africa, he was fired after
doing his job too well -- beating up Foreman and knocking his
headgear into the audience. When Ali heard about the incident, he
paid Frank $3,000 for the secret to defeating the unbeaten and
seemingly invincible champion. This is the untold story of what
lead to the greatest upset in boxing history.Ben Clement's research
for this book included nine months of interviews with Frank Steele,
researching boxing history, and speaking with one of Frank's
promoters and the residents of Gary who remembered "The Man of
Steel." Ben believes that Frank represents all of the nobodies out
there whose lives lack notoriety or infamy, but still have dignity,
value and importance nonetheless. He's inspired most by his
parents, Fanny & Thestal Clement, and others in their
generation who braved the dangers and indignities of racism and
inequality while raising black children to become responsible,
productive, successful, influential, and patriotic Americans. Ben
grew up, and still lives, in Gary, Indiana.
African American historian Gerald Early refers to Jack Johnson
(1878-1946), the first African American heavyweight champion of the
world, as "the first African American pop culture icon." Johnson is
a seminal and iconic figure in the history of race and sport in
America. This manuscript is the translation of a memoir by Johnson
that was published in French, has never before been translated, and
is virtually unknown. Originally published as a series of articles
in 1911 and then in revised form as a book in 1914, it covers
Johnson's colorful life and battles, both inside and outside the
ring, up until and including his famous defeat of Jim Jeffries in
Reno, on July 4, 1910, in one of the great iconic ring battles of
the early 20th century. In addition to the fights themselves, the
memoir recounts, among many other things, Johnson's brief and
amusing career as a local politician in Galveston, Texas; his
experience hunting kangaroos in Australia; and his epic bouts of
seasickness. It includes portraits of some of the most famous
boxers of the 1900-1915 era--such truly legendary figures as Joe
Choynski, Jim Jeffries, Sam McVey, Bob Fitzsimons, Philadelphia
Jack O'Brien, and Stanley Ketchel. Johnson comments explicitly on
race and "the color line" in boxing and in American society at
large in ways that he probably would not have in a publication
destined for an American reading public. The text constitutes
genuinely new, previously unavailable material and will be of great
interest for the many readers intrigued by Jack Johnson. In
addition to providing information about Johnson's life, it is a
fascinating exercise in self-mythologizing that provides
substantial insights into how Johnsonperceived himself and wished
to be perceived by others. Johnson's personal voice comes through
clearly-brash, clever, theatrical, and invariably charming. The
memoir makes it easy to see how and why Johnson served as an
important role model for Muhammad Ali and why so many have compared
the two.
This exciting account of the 1921 heavyweight boxing title fight
between champion Jack Dempsey and Frenchman Georges Carpentier
relates how it originated and how it became a template for modern
sports promotion. Immortalized as the battle of the century by Ring
Lardner, the Dempsey-Carpentier heavyweight title bout marked
America's first experience with the intersection of show business,
high society, politics, and the underworld at a single sporting
event. The Battle of the Century: Dempsey, Carpentier, and the
Birth of Modern Promotion offers the definitive history of this
landmark event's genesis and impact. To explain why the fight had
such a far-reaching influence on mass entertainment and modern
culture, newspaperman Jim Waltzer invites readers to travel the
path to the 1921 heavyweight championship. Along the way, they will
meet a cast of outsize characters, including the savage defending
champion (and alleged World War I slacker) Jack Dempsey, French
pretty-boy war hero Georges Carpentier, promoter Tex Rickard,
Dempsey's slippery manager Doc Kearns, and Jersey City boss Frank
Hague. As the tale unfolds, so does an understanding of the forces
that shaped the Roaring Twenties and established promotional hype
as the MO of business. Photographs A bibliography
NCAA boxing represented a brief, but colorful, chapter in the
history of intercollegiate athletics, and it played an important
part in the lives of persons making substantial contributions to
American society. This story of NCAA boxing is told from the
perspectives of former national champions and coaches. One
hundred-fifty-six men won 199 NCAA championships. Perspectives of
72 of them and 13 prominent coaches are presented in this book.
Almost from its inception in 1932, coaches and other supporters
concentrated on the physical and psychological welfare of
participants. They took action to get opponents to know and
appreciate each other as human beings. Opponents ate together
before their bouts and socialized afterwards. Lifelong friendships
resulted. These socializing practices and opposition to the sport
caused officials, coaches, and boxers to be very close. Wallenfeldt
narrates the history of this sport from its inception to 1960, when
NCAA boxing effectively came to an end. Of considerable interest to
sports historians and boxing history buffs.
Praises for Granville Ampong from Fellow Credentialed Journalists
"Granville Ampong has opened a new frontier in "sportswriting." His
unique style, backed up by his passion to be good and yet
different, separates him from the pack." Ed de la Vega, DDS
--Graduate of the University of Southern California School of
Dentistry; Restorative, Cosmetic and Sports Dentist. Part-time
boxing writer & photo-journalist; Multi-state licensed boxing
& MMA cut-man and maker of custom-designed World Mouthguards
"Granville Ampong is like a baseball umpire who calls them as he
uniquely sees them. If the pitch is down the middle, this writer
calls it a strike. If it is high and wide, off the mark, he says so
in plain language. Ampong admires the Great Man Pacquiao, yes, but
he is no idol worshipper. If you want fluff and rump-kissing, look
elsewhere. Ampong serves up his views and observations straight, no
chaser. He is always a good, informative read." --- Michael Marley,
Esq. from the Law Offices of Michael Marley in New York "Granville
Ampong brings an honesty in his writings on Manny Pacquiao,
conqueror of the American heartlands. The author has always seen
the Filipino hero with a clarity which says as much about the
writer, as it does the fighter. It is a chapter in history which in
later years will be remembered as ground-breaking. These essays
will form a part of that history." --- Gareth A Davies, The
Telegraph, London "Granville Ampong's passion and dedication to the
sport of boxing are easily recognized in the tone of his work.
While the true journalism and pure objectivism that he demonstrates
invite both acclaim and criticism, he continues to report the
truth, and only the truth, exactly as he sees it." ---Lorne
Scoggins, Fort Smith Boxing Examiner and Associate Pastor of
Christian Lighthouse Church in Springdale, Arkansas C.S. Granville,
also known as Countryman Simeon Granville, was born Simeon
Granville Tolo Hayag Vergara Ampong. He is also the book author of
"May Your Name Be Sealed" and "Yahweh, the Faithful One," both will
be in the circulation soon. A credentialed journalist and a
syndicated political columnist in the U. S., he is noted among
boxing aficionados, fans and political thinkers for his challenging
insights. He writes for The Western Center for Journalism in the
U.S. He has also been an active contributor of Examiner.com and
other media outlets. Dozens of his best articles are jam-packed
with meat and best regarded as reliable sources for broadcast
information and for several broadsheets and internet publications.
He won first place in the International Speech Contest in 2000
which was held at the Ron Hubbard Auditorium in Los Angeles,
California.
Originally published in 1915, this is a memoir of Eugene Corri's
career as a boxing referee. He refereed all the top fights of the
day and speaks at length of both the fights themselves and the
boxers who fought them, all of whom he knew well. Well-illustrated
with black and white photographs, this is a fascinating glimpse
into a vanished era. Many of the earliest books, particularly those
dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and
increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these
classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using
the original text and artwork. Contents Include - The Lucky-Tub of
Memory - The Carpentier-Gunboat Smith Fight - Barbardier Wells,
with a Word or Two about Carpentier - Robert Fitzsimmons - Willie
Ritchie and Freddy Welsh - Matt Wells, Sereant Basham, and Johnny
Summers - Wilde The Wizard - Some Boxing Storeys - More Boxing
Storeys - Boxing in the War
This is a splendid oral history of a time between World War I and
World War II when Jewish athletes were the dominant ethnic group in
professional boxing in the United States. The author draws on his
own personal experience in New York City's fight arenas, and
incorporates interviews with more than thirty former boxers,
trainers, managers, promoters, and boxing judges to report on this
overlooked aspect of sports history. Bodner explores the stories of
the Jewish boxers both inside and outside the ring, and also
examines their lives as they left the ring to pursue their careers
which ranged from fire chiefs to boxing judges to hospital
presidents. Boxing was a means many second generation urban
immigrants—including Jews—used to get ahead in the early 20th
century. The Jewish boxers interviewed reported that they took up
fighting to earn money, not to defend their race or negate
stereotypes that Jews were weak. These boxers were proud of their
heritage and displayed Stars of David on their robes and trunks
until religious symbols were banned in the 1940s. During the 1920s
nearly one-third of all professional boxers were Jewish, and by
1928, they were the dominant ethnic group in the sport earning 30
World Championship titles between 1910-1940. Bodner's interest in
the subject was kindled by his father who was an amateur boxer and
professional manager during this period.
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