In the Corner: Great Boxing Trainers Talk About Their Art

by Dave Anderson

Surveys the history of boxing through the eyes of its greatest trainers, revealing the behind-the-scenes violence and corruption as well as intimate portraits of the fighters

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1991

Reviews

[Tokoror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray Arcel's stories on their own are worth the 5 stars.
But then you also have the insight of Eddie Futch and his stories of sparring with Joe Louis.
And George Benton and his stories on his time as a top rated pro and how Futch trained fighters.
Now I'm off to look for interviews with Jack Blackburn, Doc Kearns, and Paco Bermudez.

[Paul Cupitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the truly great boxing books. The stories of these trainers is some of the most intriguing reading a boxing fanatic will come across.

[Mark Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best boxing books I've ever read. Twelve of boxing's most famous, successful trainers discuss the sweet science.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books where most of the writing is straight transcription of edited conversations. Thus, when old time trainers like Eddie Futch or Ray Arcel start talking, you can almost smell the cigar smoke. Relative new-schoolers like Richie Giachetti and Emanuel Steward also unburden themselves of the craft of boxing, sharing their life experience, their theories on the 'sweet science', and some personal remembrances here and there.

There's a lot of "inside baseball" as they say, in this book. Everything is covered, from placing moles in enemy boxing camps (to scout the opposition) to having friends unofficially find out the scores on judges' cards at ringside. The seamier side of boxing is also scrutinized, the Mafia fixes and backroom games that got played in the heyday of Blinky Palermo and other organized crime figures. The psychological aspects of the sport (especially the fear) are also dealt with, as is betrayal, drug addiction, racial tension, and the sport's long and storied history. The business end of the sport is also covered, as is the media savvy (or lack in some cases) of certain fighters. Training regimens, diets, and roadwork details are weaved seamlessly into reminiscences on childhood or years spent as teen hoodlums or devoted to other, non-boxing related pursuits. The book does a marvelous job of balancing the technical and intangible details of the game, showing that it's hard to define what greatness is, and that once achieved through rigorous discipline and training, it's nearly impossible to maintain.

There are a handful of photos, and short intros by the author Dave Anderson, but for the most part we hear directly from the men in the corner. That's as it should be. Recommended.

[Bax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating collection of interviews with champion boxing trainers.

Trainers are a good choice for an oral history like this as they tend to be the most cerebral participants in a sport not noted for its intellectual introspection.

[Brian D'Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books written about trainers. Learn about personal battles, financial issues, stories about the wannabe boxers who never return, and the Feds in this amazing book.

Also love how there are several different versions of the same story.

I loved this book.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

One can learn more about boxing strategy and history within this one book than they could in a dozen books on individual fighters. A twice-read for sure.