Dark Trade, Lost in Boxing

What page are you on Steve?

 

I started reading this again last night ::

 

That's pretty harsh, LOK. :blackcloud:

 

I'm sorry Noble, i didn't mean it

 

I used to spend hours reading those books on the newstand in Easons in Dublin, but once the internet got real, especially youtube, I regard boxing books, with a few exceptions, as a very very poor second. As I say, there are exceptions- Kevin Mitchell's "War Baby...." is worth a look, as is Bartley Gormans book, but the 10 minute vid of Gorman on youtube is far better than his book. I got Holyfields "Becoming Holyfield"- its even signed, but its a very average read- the signature and the scripture make it a nice touch.

 

Thanks LOK. The sun is back out again for me. :Thumbs:

 

I would recommend "Dark Trade" to people who don't even follow Boxing. It's just a good read, from front to back.

 

Top 5 boxing books (IMO):

'Dark Trade'
'War, Baby'
'McIlvanney On Boxing'
'Serenity: A Boxing Memoir'
'Four Kings: Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran and the Last Great Era of Boxing'

 

Read McIlvanney on Boxing and Four Kings, enjoyed both. In fact, the Four Kings had a few chunks I wanted to post on here. Going to have to skim it again soon.

The Sweet Science is awesome too if you haven't already read it.

 

UPDATE

I worked until midnight last night and started again at 9 this morning. Leaving early today and I'm going to tuck in.

 

'Dark Trade' focusses on a specific period in boxing: 1995-1996, which was arguably one of the most important being as the names Tyson, Jones Jr, De la Hoya, Trinidad, Benn, McClellan, Hamed were all up there in the upper-echelons in the same way that almost nobody is today.
Just by that alone, illustrates what a low-level boxing is at today.

It's a great read....I feel you should start tonight. ::

 

I bought David Remnick's 'KING OF THE WORLD' - Muhammad Ali and the Rise of an American Hero. Anybody read this?

 

I've been meaning to read Four Kings for a while now, definitely my next purchase

 

Personally I'd never buy an Ali book. Nothing against the guy it's just the story has been told a billion times already, everyone knows whats happened from every perspective. It's not like they're going to uncover anything new.

 

Same. Ali was fascinating when I fell in love with boxing. Over him now.

 

So steve, have you started to read 'dark trade' yet? ::

 

Man, the bloody federal budget dropped today and I'm working late again. So frustrating. The book is sitting on my desk, Holyfield's mug just staring at me asking to be read.

 

Could you get someone to read it to you? :Lok:

 

Can you?

 

Jimmy can read it to you and then you can tell me what Jimmy said

 

are you a butkus fan, cdogg?

 

Exactly.
However, the only book I read which really upset the Ali worshippers was 'Ghosts Of Manilla' by Mark Kram - who got a lot of flak as a result...it's a fantastic read anyway!

 

I'll read it to you, of course.

 

'Four Kings' is an excellent read thus far.

 

Stevie boy, incidentally, I find the iPad surprisingly good as an e reader, especially in bed. Unlike a book or a kindle, the lit screen is useful, as you can read it in bed without a lamp. Just make sure you turn brightness ALL the way down in iBook settings, so it's much easier on the eyes.

Skype is no good btw, I want a phonecall as SOON as you start reading it. Skype is too delayed, I might not be at my computer or iPad.

 

I'm a Steeler fan, but like anybody that likes a sport, there are other players that you are bound to like. Hard not to like Butkus. He was just a fantastic football player. For the 5 or 6 years that he was in his prime, he was murder. Terrorized the league like few ever have. I think you could argue that he or Payton were the greatest Chicago Bears ever to play (Sayers at his best was not far behind)

 

liked this, especially the james toney stuff.

 

you want toney's snake in your ass?

 

Peeled through the first couple of chapters over the weekend. Nice read so far - although little things irk me, like how he talks about Foreman's three round destruction of Frazier.