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The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing
This is a must-have for all boxing fans: the world’s most comprehensive single-volume reference on the sport, now updated to include every major world title fight up to the end of March 2018!
Boxing has produced some of the world's most colorful athletes, from Jack Johnson and Jake LaMotta to Ali and Tyson. They're all in this ultimate guide, which covers every aspect of the sport since its rise from the days of illegal big-money challenge matches to the multimillion-dollar televised extravaganzas we enjoy now. Updated to include the world title fights through March 2018, as well as new biographies, it contains fan-delighting details on the status of boxing internationally; the prominent promoters, trainers, and managers; the great stadiums where boxing history was made; and the administrative bodies, rules, culture, and ambience of the fight game—including its tragedies and scandals. A statistical section lists the facts, figures, and oddities of the sport.
Boxing has produced some of the world's most colorful athletes, from Jack Johnson and Jake LaMotta to Ali and Tyson. They're all in this ultimate guide, which covers every aspect of the sport since its rise from the days of illegal big-money challenge matches to the multimillion-dollar televised extravaganzas we enjoy now. Updated to include the world title fights through March 2018, as well as new biographies, it contains fan-delighting details on the status of boxing internationally; the prominent promoters, trainers, and managers; the great stadiums where boxing history was made; and the administrative bodies, rules, culture, and ambience of the fight game—including its tragedies and scandals. A statistical section lists the facts, figures, and oddities of the sport.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 22, 2016
The only group of people more contentious than science fiction fans are boxing fans. We're quick to wrath and quick to argument. Thus, any book that makes a claim to being an "ultimate encyclopedia" either needs to come correct and really amass a phone book's worth of information, or lose a point or two.
This book provides a pretty good overview of both the contemporary boxing scene, and of boxing's storied history. There are also some good anecdotes and resources for references on various historic "firsts." That said, this book is nowhere near exhaustive, and those who buy this book thinking it is some sort of master reference tome are in for a surprise.
That being said, taken in the correct spirit, there's a lot to commend this book, from the lush accompaniment of photographs to the humorous or fascinating asides about the sport's byways and history.
I think a new edition is forthcoming, so if I were debating whether or not to buy this (the 7th edition), I would hold off temporarily. This book was written and published before the rise of the Eastern European resurgence, and the resurrection of the English boxing scene (I think the UK has something like thirteen world titlists currently). Of course, the authors of this book can't be faulted for not predicting the rise of Golovkin, Kovalev, Joshua, etc. so it doesn't lose any points for that. Recommended.
This book provides a pretty good overview of both the contemporary boxing scene, and of boxing's storied history. There are also some good anecdotes and resources for references on various historic "firsts." That said, this book is nowhere near exhaustive, and those who buy this book thinking it is some sort of master reference tome are in for a surprise.
That being said, taken in the correct spirit, there's a lot to commend this book, from the lush accompaniment of photographs to the humorous or fascinating asides about the sport's byways and history.
I think a new edition is forthcoming, so if I were debating whether or not to buy this (the 7th edition), I would hold off temporarily. This book was written and published before the rise of the Eastern European resurgence, and the resurrection of the English boxing scene (I think the UK has something like thirteen world titlists currently). Of course, the authors of this book can't be faulted for not predicting the rise of Golovkin, Kovalev, Joshua, etc. so it doesn't lose any points for that. Recommended.
March 24, 2013
To me this was one of the more superficial boxing books, and to call it "The Ultimate Encyclopedia" is almost laughable. There are some interesting photos, and little captions to go along with them....but their list of 200 greats is humerous...and to include 7 HW's inside of their 12 legends of the sport, and to include Tyson inside of that 7(12) is laughable since he does not even crack my top 7 HW's...a 12 legends devoid of Greb, Charles, Langford...and they included Leonard...but the wrong one! Why would you include Sugar Ray over Benny Leonard...Any credible boxing fan or historian would not even think of placing Ray over Benny...not sure where they are going with this.
Sure this is worth the time to read if you are big boxing fan, but be prepared for a letdown and a superfical read based more upon opinion than useful facts and historical data.
Sure this is worth the time to read if you are big boxing fan, but be prepared for a letdown and a superfical read based more upon opinion than useful facts and historical data.
December 25, 2013
Just about 4 stars.
A very interesting and information packed book which has been presented nicely. Unfortunately there are a bizarrely high number of typos which mar it slightly and some sections are a little too long, while others may benefit from being expanded upon.
Also, it was a nice touch to see Harry Mullan's name on the front, after his death in 1999 it is good to see his hard work is still being recognised as he began these encyclopedias. Matt Bozeat took over this one as Bob Mee(the brain of boxing - who's name also appears on the front) was unable to update this edition and overall he has done a good job; the book was for the most part very enjoyable to read.
A very interesting and information packed book which has been presented nicely. Unfortunately there are a bizarrely high number of typos which mar it slightly and some sections are a little too long, while others may benefit from being expanded upon.
Also, it was a nice touch to see Harry Mullan's name on the front, after his death in 1999 it is good to see his hard work is still being recognised as he began these encyclopedias. Matt Bozeat took over this one as Bob Mee(the brain of boxing - who's name also appears on the front) was unable to update this edition and overall he has done a good job; the book was for the most part very enjoyable to read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews