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The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing's Wastelands
In the era of boxing's pay-per-view superstars, Tris Dixon invested in a Greyhound bus pass and spent months tracking down fighters from yesteryear who had vanished from the limelight. Venturing from New York to Las Vegas and from Toronto to Miami, the young writer—himself a former amateur boxer—sought out coulda-been-contenders and cult heroes from the 1950s to the 2000s. He visited old people's homes, gyms, and prisons, discovering that life after boxing is a cruel place when the ropes are no longer there to keep fighters safe from the world. Dixon meets men who shaped boxing history, fighting the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson. He shares their memories and weaves together their tales over the course of a remarkable journey.
- GenresNonfictionSports
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 7, 2021
A brilliant journey by a remarkable man , A young Tris travels America to seek out long forgotten fighters .
The lengths taken to find these men ( pre smart phone era ) was inspired and makes it so much more special to the boxers that someone cared enough to see how they were and to hear their life story .
Boxing is a brutal sport and the lack of care or support post boxing is at times really tough reading ( sometimes the fighters are doing very well ) .
Tris really does make a difference I feel on their lives even if briefly ( although many the relationships lasted years ) all of them once they warmed to the interviewer enjoyed talking about their careers . It’s a take on the classic book “ in this corner “ but with the travel adventures added . One of my favourite boxing books . Highly recommended. Enjoy .
The lengths taken to find these men ( pre smart phone era ) was inspired and makes it so much more special to the boxers that someone cared enough to see how they were and to hear their life story .
Boxing is a brutal sport and the lack of care or support post boxing is at times really tough reading ( sometimes the fighters are doing very well ) .
Tris really does make a difference I feel on their lives even if briefly ( although many the relationships lasted years ) all of them once they warmed to the interviewer enjoyed talking about their careers . It’s a take on the classic book “ in this corner “ but with the travel adventures added . One of my favourite boxing books . Highly recommended. Enjoy .
June 7, 2021
“I wanted the fighters to feel like champions again, that they were still worth something to somebody and that they had not been forgotten.”
This book was extremely powerful and moving and written spectacularly well. Without a doubt, the best book I have read in a while.
This book was extremely powerful and moving and written spectacularly well. Without a doubt, the best book I have read in a while.
August 14, 2016
This is probably one of the most emotionally wrenching books ever written about boxing.
It starts with Tris Dixon, a British boxing journalist, interviewing Mickey Ward after his famous trilogy with Arturo Gatti. It ends with Dixon reflecting on the death of boxer Leveander Johnson.
Between the covers we get a look at an indefatigable boxing journalist who criss-crosses the country in a Greyhound bus, malnourished and fearless, walking through ghettos and (literally) hopping over walls to get interviews with retired boxers, some of whom were pretty famous and others of whom, while known and revered by die-hards, never got the credit they deserved and lived in shadows until Dixon dusted them off.
The title is a little misleading, as some of the stories have happy endings (Buster Douglas, for instance, got out of boxing with his wits intact and now runs a successful landscaping business and spends his days watching his two sons grow). Other boxers have heart-wrenching tales to tell, or they are so debilitated from taking bombs in the ring that they can barely speak for themselves without the aid of handlers or faithful spouses. One story, about a pug with dementia trying to find his car in a multi-level parking lot, will probably stay with me forever. The story of James Scott, who fought professionally from behind the grey walls of a prison, will also be nigh-on impossible to shake.
Actually this whole book will probably stay with me. It is a haunting, uncompromising look at how capricious the Fates can be with all of us, but especially with boxers, who are many times lifted to literal Olympian heights only to end up battered into a stupor and shuffling through the remainder of their days, unremembered.
Dixon is to be commended for his temerity, his refusal to let even the most cynical ex-boxer succumb to the belief that his career meant nothing or that he is not remembered by someone out there. Highest Recommendation. Hats off to Dixon and to all the warriors who come to life in this book.
It starts with Tris Dixon, a British boxing journalist, interviewing Mickey Ward after his famous trilogy with Arturo Gatti. It ends with Dixon reflecting on the death of boxer Leveander Johnson.
Between the covers we get a look at an indefatigable boxing journalist who criss-crosses the country in a Greyhound bus, malnourished and fearless, walking through ghettos and (literally) hopping over walls to get interviews with retired boxers, some of whom were pretty famous and others of whom, while known and revered by die-hards, never got the credit they deserved and lived in shadows until Dixon dusted them off.
The title is a little misleading, as some of the stories have happy endings (Buster Douglas, for instance, got out of boxing with his wits intact and now runs a successful landscaping business and spends his days watching his two sons grow). Other boxers have heart-wrenching tales to tell, or they are so debilitated from taking bombs in the ring that they can barely speak for themselves without the aid of handlers or faithful spouses. One story, about a pug with dementia trying to find his car in a multi-level parking lot, will probably stay with me forever. The story of James Scott, who fought professionally from behind the grey walls of a prison, will also be nigh-on impossible to shake.
Actually this whole book will probably stay with me. It is a haunting, uncompromising look at how capricious the Fates can be with all of us, but especially with boxers, who are many times lifted to literal Olympian heights only to end up battered into a stupor and shuffling through the remainder of their days, unremembered.
Dixon is to be commended for his temerity, his refusal to let even the most cynical ex-boxer succumb to the belief that his career meant nothing or that he is not remembered by someone out there. Highest Recommendation. Hats off to Dixon and to all the warriors who come to life in this book.
July 22, 2019
Some of the best stories in boxing are the ones that no one has heard before, and Dixon's efforts to track down and tell these stories are to be applauded.
March 19, 2026
Difficult to surmise what this book truly means to me. We’ve all heard the proverb “Don’t meet your heroes.” And Tris Dixon does exactly that. During two separate 30 day stints, Tris (by way of Greyhound!) travels the U.S. in search of the boxing stars and contenders of yesteryear. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of the sport can attest that our stars usually don’t tend to live as grand as their non-pugilistic counterparts. Tris is multifaceted in the way this story is told: his own personal experiences and fandom give way to a natural wonderment that any fan would have meeting stars they’ve only watched on tv. Dixon also heavily researched and is quite knowledgable which seemed to put a lot of the boxers interviewed at ease and more willing to talk. Most importantly, this book shows that after the blood is spilled, the sweat is washed away and these stars can finally rest, they are, like us all, still human at the end of the day. So many beautiful, inspirational and heart wrenching stories combine to give us one of the best boxing books I feel I’ve ever read. Would definitely recommend this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2020
Okay
Mildly interesting but slightly pointless. The theme was that time is a cruel mistress. Well, duh. Strong young men become feeble old men. It’s the tragedy of life but there you go: the fact that these guys were boxers is irrelevant really. Some made the big time and blew their cash, others didn’t make the big time. Generally uneducated and probably not very bright, usually from bad backgrounds, at least they had a shot at making it in life.
Mildly interesting but slightly pointless. The theme was that time is a cruel mistress. Well, duh. Strong young men become feeble old men. It’s the tragedy of life but there you go: the fact that these guys were boxers is irrelevant really. Some made the big time and blew their cash, others didn’t make the big time. Generally uneducated and probably not very bright, usually from bad backgrounds, at least they had a shot at making it in life.
March 4, 2021
A true joy for the old school boxing head. Men that gave us so much should never be forgotten. This book goes someway to ensuring they don't.
August 3, 2020
The best book I have read since “in this corner....!”
This is an absolute must read. The first book I ever read as a child was In this corner....! 40 world champions tell their story. This stands up to that classic
This is an absolute must read. The first book I ever read as a child was In this corner....! 40 world champions tell their story. This stands up to that classic
August 20, 2021
A must read for boxing fans. Tris is the best writer in the game. Inspired me to visit some gyms in America
February 26, 2017
I have read a ton of books on boxers and the history of the sport and in recent history this is by far the best book I have read concerning it. You feel as if you're on the journey with the author. Very compelling reading, I just couldn't put down this book.
April 15, 2016
Great essays about past Champs and contenders . Bittersweet, but strong storytelling.
November 14, 2016
Great read
Interesting read for any boxing fan. It makes you think about life after boxing. Boxers have very short careers and need to be wise with any money they make
Interesting read for any boxing fan. It makes you think about life after boxing. Boxers have very short careers and need to be wise with any money they make
February 11, 2017
This book is enjoyable. It is not memorable but it is perfect for grazing. You can put it down and forget about it for a week and then resume from where you were previously without worrying about where you were. That is not saying it is a bad book. It is a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
It kind of reminded me of Donald McRaes book Dark Trade but better. Whilst McRae knows his onions regarding boxing Tris Dixon obviously eats sleep and breathes boxing and his knowledge and research are to be admired.
It kind of reminded me of Donald McRaes book Dark Trade but better. Whilst McRae knows his onions regarding boxing Tris Dixon obviously eats sleep and breathes boxing and his knowledge and research are to be admired.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews