Any fans out there of old-school boxing circa 1900 and thereabouts? I just read a great fictionalized biography of Stanley Ketchel the great middle-weight champ. The fight scene's felt very real to me, althogh I'm not a boxer. The character development and overall story-arc is fantastic and the whole book has a sort of dusty outlaw western noir vibe. Lots of famous historical personalities make appearances including a drunk Jack London, a brief appearance by The Champ John L. Sullivan, and, of course, the Galvaston Giant. The book is called "The Killings of Stanley Ketchel" by James Carlos Blake. I cannot speak to the biographical accuracy of it, but the fights are correct (i.e. his wins and losses are describes as such in the book).
I am reading boxing stuff to stay inspired, and am getting ready to hang a poster print of that painting of the Dempsey-Firpo fight in my workout room. Any recommendations for other great boxing reads from the 1900s-1940s?
I am reading boxing stuff to stay inspired, and am getting ready to hang a poster print of that painting of the Dempsey-Firpo fight in my workout room. Any recommendations for other great boxing reads from the 1900s-1940s?