Bloodsport [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Matt Braun (Author), Jim Gough (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003

Dan Stuart is a sporting man from Dallas with a scheme as big as Texas. He plans to stage the prizefight of the century and reap a million-dollar gate. But Stuart finds the path to riches strewn with obstacles. Outraged politicians block him at every turn, and a gang of robbers led by a sharp-shooting beauty have plans of their own--the heist of the century. Stuart has two champion pugilists, give gunmen, Bat Masterson and Judge Roy Bean in his corner. Now, with the robbers set to score and the Texas Rangers hot on his trail, the West's first boxing promoter is desperately searching for a place to hold his fight. And when he finds it, what a hell of a fight it will be!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Matt Braun is one of the best!"--Don Coldsmith, author of the Spanish Bit Series

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Otis Audio Inc; Unabridged edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591830079
• ISBN-13: 978-1591830078
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,797,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Workmanlike Western with crossover appeal, February 14, 2002

By 

F. J. Harvey "Cricket ,country music and a go... (Birmingham England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bloodsport (Mass Market Paperback)

The central character in the novel is "Dan Stuart" a prominent(real life)Texas gambler and sporting man who diversifies into boxing promotion and sets out to stage a world heavyweight championship match between the champ "Gentleman Jim" Corbett and the number one contender Cornishman Bob Fitzsimmons.Corbett,now an overweight ,vain posturing matinee idol retires and so is replaced as contender for the now vacant title by "Pat Maher"a brawling Irish pugilist of renowned toughness but little skill.

The novel---factually based--deals with the multitude of obstacles placed in the way of the promotion taking place.Boxing is illegal in Texas,and civic and religious leaders denounce the plan in press and pulpit.Texas Rangers are brought in to enforce the law declaring they will shoot any fighters who enter the ring for any bouts scheduled on the bill.
If this was not bad enough for Stuart a gang of outlaws,lead by the beautiful but devious "Lea" are assembled in town with the intention of making away with the gate receipts

How Stuart deals with the legal and political obstacles is the main theme of the story but as a boxing lover as well as a devotee of the Western it was the boxing bits that mainly engaged my attention and made this novel stand out.

Its a good sturdy read with lots of interesting background material on the early years of boxing as a global sport,and the role of the emerging technology of motion pictures and the impact it will make on the sport.

Good too to see a less than flattering portrait of the Rangers ,normally seen as stalwart and heroic but here as borderline thugs

One for sports fans as well as the regular coterie of Western devotees

My one real problem is that its theme'of the ruggedd individualist overcoming all obstacles in turn of the century Texas echoes another Braun novel "Gentleman Rogue" and the revisionist portrayal of Western heroes that was a feature of his "Luke Starbuck"novels is giving way to a more benevolent view of such figures
Is Mr Braun mellowing as he ages I wonder

Well worth reading all the same