Favorite Boxing Writers?

[Ted The Bull]

Correction, Jack Newfield was great.

Correction, Jack Newfied was fantastic!

[Holly McCall]

One of the reasons I joined BoxingScene is because Ted The Bull is now writing on it. I follwed him on Saddo and ESB and he is something special.IMO

[DavidPayne]

As someone who has masqueraded as a boxing writer for the past six years I do have a vested interest in studying the relative merits of my contemporaries and piers ( I never know whether that should be peers or piers?).

Of the old timers, and I cannot believe he hasn't been named checked, Pat Putnam is without parallel and a hero to me as aspiring writer.

George Kimball, Hugh McIlvanney, Norman Mailer, Eddie Shuyler are also terrific and I have a lot of time for Hauser too.

Off the modern generation; I always find Jason Probst entertaining and provoking and Dougie Fischer has an energy and consistency of thought that I can appreciate. Of course, no round up would be complete with out reference to Sugar, who I love to listen to on the ESPN classic channel in the UK.

The guy on page 6 who referred to David P., if that was a reference to me then I'd advise a wider range of reading!

[DavidPayne]

I forgot AJ Liebling, I recently read his book The Sweet Science, compelling yarns.

[Mr. Ryan]

I forgot AJ Liebling, I recently read his book The Sweet Science, compelling yarns.

I also have great regard for Liebling.

[DavidPayne]

I think the trouble these days is the instant nature of reports demanded by web wise readers. People don't believe they have the time to invest in a more considered, thoughtful style.

And the advent of text, email etc has bastardised the English language to the point that more descriptive text is considered obsolete and unwelcome.

I think it is this evolution that makes comparison between the greats of yesteryear and their modern day contemporaries difficult. It is a different audience and medium these days. I'm sure the best would have adapted, and it is possible to make the case that great writing would engage and hold readers were it compulsive enough irrespective of the change in readers expectations and behaviour, but to me the readers needs have changed and the writers have evolved to respond.

Equally, with the myriad of outlets on the net and the wide readership of most boxing fans - few readers develop an affection for any single writer. Historically, a reader would perhaps have one or two sources for information and they would develop a bond with the writer. Understanding their intonation, pace and style far more than they can in the instant, multi-media, multi-source world we now inhabit.