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Boxing and the Mob: The Notorious History of the Sweet Science
More than any other sport, boxing has a history of being easy to rig. There are only two athletes and one or both may be induced to accept a bribe; if not the fighters, then the judges or referee might be swayed. In such inviting circumstances, the mob moved into boxing in the 1930s and profited by corrupting a sport ripe for exploitation.
In Boxing and the The Notorious History of the Sweet Science, Jeffrey Sussman tells the story of the coercive and criminal underside of boxing, covering nearly the entire twentieth century. He profiles some of its most infamous characters, such as Owney Madden, Frankie Carbo, and Frank Palermo, and details many of the fixed matches in boxing’s storied history. In addition, Sussman examines the influence of the mob on legendary boxers—including Primo Carnera, Sugar Ray Robinson, Max Baer, Carmen Basilio, Sonny Liston, and Jake LaMotta—and whether they caved to the mobsters’ threats or refused to throw their fights.
Boxing and the Mob is the first book to cover a century of fixed fights, paid-off referees, greedy managers, misused boxers, and the mobsters who controlled it all. True crime and the world of boxing are intertwined with absorbing detail in this notorious piece of American history.
In Boxing and the The Notorious History of the Sweet Science, Jeffrey Sussman tells the story of the coercive and criminal underside of boxing, covering nearly the entire twentieth century. He profiles some of its most infamous characters, such as Owney Madden, Frankie Carbo, and Frank Palermo, and details many of the fixed matches in boxing’s storied history. In addition, Sussman examines the influence of the mob on legendary boxers—including Primo Carnera, Sugar Ray Robinson, Max Baer, Carmen Basilio, Sonny Liston, and Jake LaMotta—and whether they caved to the mobsters’ threats or refused to throw their fights.
Boxing and the Mob is the first book to cover a century of fixed fights, paid-off referees, greedy managers, misused boxers, and the mobsters who controlled it all. True crime and the world of boxing are intertwined with absorbing detail in this notorious piece of American history.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published May 8, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 29, 2019
A well researched and well written account of mafia involvement of all aspects of boxing and more.
December 30, 2020
For a book titled BOXING and the Mob, there was very little discussion of boxing. And even less discussion of the connection between boxing and the mob.
February 13, 2026
Short audiobook with a collection of stories on how the mob was involved in boxing. Most is rumors and questionable fights with no smoking guns as the mob has no reason to ever admit to their involvement. Boxers would also only lose on openly talking about getting free wins or taking a dive. Yet these stories are well-known as much of this was clear corruption in some way. Some dives are so fishy they are stories just because they looked off. The author admits there is not much evidence.
The mob was involved in boxing in USA as you only needed to bribe 1 athlete not a full team. They worked with boxers and then gave them small jobs in return too often as the muscle to make sure all would pay protection money or loans back on time.
This is only for USA so you miss 90% of the corruption as in other nations boxing is as corrupt now as it would be on the heyday in USA. Russia and Azerbaijan bribed judges in Olympics to win tons of free gold medals and the world boxing federation was so corrupt it was kicked out as an organizer by the Olympics and now is taken over by Russia used for staging fights in Russia and not much else as no one trusts it anymore. This is all recent and all stuff the author doesn't even mention.
The title should have made it clear the mob is only the mafia in USA nothing else. He also stops when the mafias collapsed in USA claiming corruption is still there yet not as easy to figure out. It's not about common gangs or regular criminals as that's a bigger story. Don King has been sued for millions by most of the big boxers he managed. After killing a man he went into boxing and took over the sport with talents like Mike Tyson being obsessed with his promises even after it was known Don King stole any money he could. This is again another layer to the corruption and the book overlooking it feels a tad off because the title promises a bit more.
This is engaging with each chapter talking about a new boxer. Yet it's not a deep dive and one wonders if there is more info out there. I would love a documentary or longer book. Many stories are not quite conclusive. While Don King for example is a conclusive corruption case.
The mob was involved in boxing in USA as you only needed to bribe 1 athlete not a full team. They worked with boxers and then gave them small jobs in return too often as the muscle to make sure all would pay protection money or loans back on time.
This is only for USA so you miss 90% of the corruption as in other nations boxing is as corrupt now as it would be on the heyday in USA. Russia and Azerbaijan bribed judges in Olympics to win tons of free gold medals and the world boxing federation was so corrupt it was kicked out as an organizer by the Olympics and now is taken over by Russia used for staging fights in Russia and not much else as no one trusts it anymore. This is all recent and all stuff the author doesn't even mention.
The title should have made it clear the mob is only the mafia in USA nothing else. He also stops when the mafias collapsed in USA claiming corruption is still there yet not as easy to figure out. It's not about common gangs or regular criminals as that's a bigger story. Don King has been sued for millions by most of the big boxers he managed. After killing a man he went into boxing and took over the sport with talents like Mike Tyson being obsessed with his promises even after it was known Don King stole any money he could. This is again another layer to the corruption and the book overlooking it feels a tad off because the title promises a bit more.
This is engaging with each chapter talking about a new boxer. Yet it's not a deep dive and one wonders if there is more info out there. I would love a documentary or longer book. Many stories are not quite conclusive. While Don King for example is a conclusive corruption case.
June 21, 2025
I knew that boxing is the easiest sport to fix and that its beleaguered history is full of fighters controlled by organized crime. I didn't know the mob's influence extended to some of the biggest fights of the modern era. Sussman presents a fascinating rundown of the men who controlled the sport by coercing boxers, manipulating managers, buying contracts, and paying off judges and referees. Not much poetry in the prose but its everything you ever wanted to know about fixing a fight.
October 23, 2023
I typically hate any Mob or organized crime related books but I loved this one. The use as boxing as a frame and the short chapters for each boxer in the story was a great way to move it along. I had heard about Sonny Liston and fights but had no idea about the background. This book uncovered a lot of boxing legends and stories I hadn't heard.
November 2, 2023
As a casual boxing fan I was aware of some of the stories in this book, but I wasn't aware of how widespread the mob control of boxing was. This is a very good for anyone interested in sports, the mob, or both.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews