Top Boxing Writer Ever?

[QueensburyRules]

- - Elemental boxing beginnings beautifully done;
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Also enjoyed Leibling's Neutral Corner


Big George's autobio by Andrew Smith also written from a economist financing overlay by Andrew Smith. Beautifully done cover'
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[The Old LefHook]

Hank Kaplan

Di you have any excerpts from A Piece of Meat?

I agree to some extent about Oates, although I have read only two pieces by her, one an article, the other On Boxing.

But I know that she spent her adolescent years watching the fights on early 50s TV, with her dad. She grew up a fan.

I got the title wrong. It is called "A Piece Of Steak." Here is the story. I will read it again myself.

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/PieSte.shtml

[billeau2]

This is a real question, not a rhetorical one. I admire many boxing writers but I do not have a pick for best. Leibling was awfully great, Mailer was incredible for the little on boxing he wrote. And I have to admit, Joyce Carol Oates always felt like an interloper to me. Jack London touched upon boxing too. There are plenty more. Who you got? For one thing, I would like to do some more reading.

While you are at it, what are the best boxing works ever written in both fiction and journalistic writing?

I believe London wrote a story entitled A Piece Of Meat. Not saying that was the pinnacle, but quite entertaining anyway. I even have a few boxing stories. Don't worry.

People have given a lot of The usual suspects so to speak. I'm going to recommend to you a guy who I consider a mentor. The late great Joe rein.

https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/author/joe-rein

[billeau2]

I forget the name of it but Oscar Wilde wrote a great boxing story. It was about a guy who was talented as a boxer and as a violin player. He had to choose. I'll try to look it up

[Willow The Wisp]

Nice thread. Can't pick just one. Where's the fun in that?
You've got repoters, journalists, authors and historians rolled up into the writers category.
Lester Bromberg, Budd Schulberg, Harry Mullan, Red Smith, W. C. Heinz, Sam Andre, Tracy Callis, Elliot Gorn, David Remnick, Luke G. Williams, Jimmy Cannon, George Plimpton, Dan Daniel, Nat Fleischer, Damon Runyun, Gilbert Odd, Wells Twombley, William Gildea, Pete Hamill, A.J. Liebling, Norman Mailer, Gay Talese, Charles Fox, Allen Rosenfeld, Pete Hamill, Edward Hoagland, Joyce Carol Oates, Wilfred Diamond, Jack Newfield, Irving Rudd, Stanley Weston, Daniel Rondeau, Hank Kaplan, Mark Kram, Mark Kriegel, George Kimball, Bill Gallo, Bert Sugar, Wil Haygood, Rex Lardner, Jerry Izenberg, Adam Pollack, Douglas Allen, Hugh McIlvanney, Mike Silver and Dave Kindred are just a few who have contributed to the literature of the sport that come quickly to mind for me. Can't go wrong.

[Rockybigblower]

Why hasn't anyone chosen Sylvester Stallone?

[markusmod]

People have given a lot of The usual suspects so to speak. I'm going to recommend to you a guy who I consider a mentor. The late great Joe rein.
https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/author/joe-rein

I've heard a lot about him. He mentored a few different writers.

[edgarg]

Nat Loubet of Ring Magazine was my favorite. Adam Pollack as well.

I agree. He was a favourite of mine also. Nat Fleischer's son-in-law, and later publisher after Fleischer. I recall an article he wrote, an interview with Marciano, in which Marciano said he had no intention of retiring, he was only 32 and still learning , with many fights to come. His usual false modesty. A week later he announced his retirement . 5-6 months later Floyd Patterson KO'd Archie Moore for the title.

I still have that magazine along with a boxful of years of Ring Mags as well as the first Boxing Illustrated, and years of those also. Even some old Police Gazette mags which had boxing stories. Those were hard to find, in Dublin, Ireland where I lived and grew up./

[The Old LefHook]

Nice thread. Can't pick just one. Where's the fun in that?
You've got repoters, journalists, authors and historians rolled up into the writers category.
Lester Bromberg, Budd Schulberg, Harry Mullan, Red Smith, W. C. Heinz, Sam Andre, Tracy Callis, Elliot Gorn, David Remnick, Luke G. Williams, Jimmy Cannon, George Plimpton, Dan Daniel, Nat Fleischer, Damon Runyun, Gilbert Odd, Wells Twombley, William Gildea, Pete Hamill, A.J. Liebling, Norman Mailer, Gay Talese, Charles Fox, Allen Rosenfeld, Pete Hamill, Edward Hoagland, Joyce Carol Oates, Wilfred Diamond, Jack Newfield, Irving Rudd, Stanley Weston, Daniel Rondeau, Hank Kaplan, Mark Kram, Mark Kriegel, George Kimball, Bill Gallo, Bert Sugar, Wil Haygood, Rex Lardner, Jerry Izenberg, Adam Pollack, Douglas Allen, Hugh McIlvanney, Mike Silver and Dave Kindred are just a few who have contributed to the literature of the sport that come quickly to mind for me. Can't go wrong.

That's why I could not find anything on the Goldberg effect--It is Schulberg!

Some tremendous stylists on that list.

[billeau2]

I've heard a lot about him. He mentored a few different writers.

His piece on James Toney was one of my all time favorites. Let it be known that Joe, was always available to discuss something and give feedback.