15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clears up a lot of deceptions and misconceptions about Primo, September 6, 1999
This review is from: Primo (Paperback)
Mullally's book is an easy read for any fan of the sweet science. He unveils the shroud of mystery behind one of the lesser known but celebrated heavyweight champions of the world. From his early days as an unknowing puppet fighter for the mob and reluctant symbol for Italian fascism the author drives across Primo's naivete and humanity. I liked it because it clears up a lot of deceptions and misconceptions about a mediocre fighter with a gigantic personality.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Primo The Man Mountian, April 22, 2010
This review is from: Primo (Paperback)
Well written biography on one of sports most interesting and sadly manipulated tragic figures. Finally a detailed documentary on this giant whose ascent to the worlds heavyweight boxing championship was marred with mob controlled manipulation and the exploitation of an otherwise gentle man. Excellent reading, a sad story that sheds light on the corrupt world of boxing in a era when underworld criminals controlled a great portion of the sport, and the life of one of its greatest victims.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars
The fistic Giant, December 29, 2008
This review is from: Primo (Paperback)
Primo Carnera is one of the more obscure of the linear heavyweight champions. Italian born, and freakishly large, Carnera's story is part oddity, part cautionary tale.
Carnera was controlled by the Italian mob, as many fighters were in the 1930's, to some extent. In Carnera's case, the extent was large. However, the oddity was that Carnera was not aware of what was happening to him until much later in his career.
Carnera was brought over to this country and "trained" in the sweet science. He would show up to fights, unaware that his opponents were either paid or coerced to "take a dive". While Carnera's record was being padded with name fights, he never really got tested, nor did he develop the skills necessary to compete with the better fighters of the day.
In the early 1930's, Carnera stepped in with a seriously damaged Ernie Schaaf, who had taken a beating in a recent fight with Max Baer. Schaaf died from a brain hemhorage several days after the fight, and Carnera came to believe in the myth that was his own power.
Shortly thereafter, Carnera received a title fight against Jack Sharkey. Although Sharkey vehemently denied a fix to the end of his life, Carnera knocked out Sharkey.
Thus began a sad oddyssey of recognition for Carnera, as he was destroyed by Max Baer, brutalized by Joe Louis, and beaten by Tommy Loughran, whom he outweighed be almost 90 pounds.
"The Preem" was an innocent of limited intelligence who led teh American dream almost in reverse. He died nearly penniless, and served as a dupe for the likes of Blinky Palermo.
This is a sad, and yet excellent boxing biography. Boxing was a purer sport in the 1930's in that there were only eight weight divisions, and thus eight champions. Maneuvering into the top ten in the rankings was a feat that required years of discipline and untold numbers of fights.
However, although more pure, this biography proves that corruption, although maybe not as rampant as today, still existed in this sport.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
