Boxing and society is the first comparative, sociological investigation of the subculture of amateur and professional boxing. John Sugden begins by tracing the social, economic and historical roots of boxing, one of the world's oldest sports. He goes on to examine the various positions taken in the ethical, moral and political debate over the future of boxing and highlights the need for a more informed sociological analysis of the sport as a significant aspect of world culture. A major section of the book centres around three detailed case studies of boxing clubs working in three very different national contexts: a ghetto boxing club in the United States; the complex community politics of Belfast, Northern Ireland; and finally, the context within which the world's finest amateur boxers are developed in Castro's Cuba. The book concludes by setting the moral debate over the future of boxing in a comparative socio-economic context and in terms of the experience of those who actually set foot in the ring.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
The Boxing Club as Ghetto Sanctuary,
By Robert A. Williams "libertarian" (Oberlin, OH United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Boxing and Society: An International Analysis (Sport, Society & Politics) (Paperback)
I met John Sugden in 1997 whilst he was guest lecturing at De Montfort University on FIFA and ethnographic research methods. John is a sport sociologist at the University of Brighton. His three case studies of boxing gyms were conducted during his stays at the University of Hartford, Belfast, and Cuba.His comparative ethnographic approach to these case studies reveals that boxing clubs are sanctuaries for inner city youth. Almost as if these boxers were Shaolin monks, the drug dealers and gangs have an unwritten code in their conduct toward boxers that allows boxers to concentrate on their craft. In addition to insights on boxing and prize-fighting are revelatory examples of Sudgen's participant observation research techniques, which call to mind the likes of Jack D. Douglas and perhaps Elliot Liebow. Students of Anthropology and Sociology should find this volume to be very useful to conducting their own field research, as well as providing a sound example of writing up results. An intriguing book on a neglected sport topic, this book will be useful to all who are writing a thesis or dissertation based on social research.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A prize-winner,
By A Customer
This review is from: Boxing and Society: An International Analysis (Sport, Society & Politics) (Paperback)
This book was recently (1998) recognized by the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport as the best book of the year.
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