Customer Reviews

Boxing Babylon

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Palookaville" was never like this. Nigel Collins' Boxing Babylon belongs in the hands of anyone who has ever doubted the price one pays by dueling in the 'prize' ring. From Sonny Liston's mob ties to Joe Louis' paranoid delusions to the downfall of one-time contender Tony Ayala, "Boxing Babylon" bluntly showcases the greed, emotional and physical ruin that permeates professional boxing and has led to its evolution as a freakish sideshow. Collins reminds us that for every Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Ray Leonard there are far too many Kid McCoys, Carlos Monzons and, yes, Mike Tysons.
Collins, a boxing writer and former editor for Ring Magazine (the so-called "bible" of the sport) is a fan who loves his sport enough to expose the seamy underside too often ignored. The fixing of bouts, the murderous rages that go unchecked once the fighter leaves the ring, as well as the ultimate sacrifice-the boxer's death in the ring--are dealt with honestly and without hidden agendas. If you've ever paid fifty bucks on pay-per-view travesties, watched 'tomato cans' roll over for young contenders on ESPN, boxed yourself or simply enjoy tales of courage and nobility too often wasted, you will learn much about your heroes and yourself as fan and witness

This was a very fast but good read.

Found that the author told some interesting stories on the lives of a myriad of boxers and they were quite startling and sad at times. The content of the book (lots of stories on a sizable number of fighters) meant that the chapters had to be breezy.

The largest section was devoted to a favourite of mine, Sonny Liston.

All in all, a good read, not meaty with information but worth your time.

This was a well written book by a man who knows his boxing. A quick easy read for fans of the sweet science.

This is a really entertaining book. Just the kind I like to read. Spicy and factual. I am enjoying it immensely and will be sorry when I finish it.