Anyone read this book? Its a good read I got it from the public library. Narator by Teddy Brenner a former match-maker from NY over 20 years of match-making at Madision Square Gardon.
Funny thing about this book is Teddys lingo from the 50's.
He talks a lot about how boxing was and about fighters and even the curopt in boxing.
He says Robinson is the best fighters he ever seen.
What I was unaware of is how he says that the referee used to call the winner when it was in a certiain boxing area. And how he said that what killed the boxing shows -there was plenty ever Mon, Wed, Friday, Sat- was televised boxing events. How people stopped going to local boxing shows because they could get a good match up on tv. And the local shows that were still around had to have good match ups to get the people to come to a live show.
Another thing that struck me is how in these times boxing was very alive and what i noticed from what Teddy was how famous the Heavyweight division was and all the good fighters he mentioned. And i just see today that we are missing the good heavyweight boxers -tough brawlers, punchs, etc.
Another thing that really made me think was how he talks about Robinson. He said how Robinson at 42 years old didn't want to take a tough fight against a younger opponet cause he would have to really train to win the fight and at his age he didn't know if he could train like he used to or hold up in tough training. So Robinson wanted to back out. Teddy goes on to tell him how this boxer -white guy- never ducked any black fighter and he owed him because he didn't duck no black fighter Robinson should fight him. And Robinson says, "I ain't never ducked no white fighter" they both laughed. But Robinson understood and took the fight and lost a close decision, the other fighter because of his win over Robinson got a title shot and won.
I recommend this box to anyone who follows boxing.
Funny thing about this book is Teddys lingo from the 50's.
He talks a lot about how boxing was and about fighters and even the curopt in boxing.
He says Robinson is the best fighters he ever seen.
What I was unaware of is how he says that the referee used to call the winner when it was in a certiain boxing area. And how he said that what killed the boxing shows -there was plenty ever Mon, Wed, Friday, Sat- was televised boxing events. How people stopped going to local boxing shows because they could get a good match up on tv. And the local shows that were still around had to have good match ups to get the people to come to a live show.
Another thing that struck me is how in these times boxing was very alive and what i noticed from what Teddy was how famous the Heavyweight division was and all the good fighters he mentioned. And i just see today that we are missing the good heavyweight boxers -tough brawlers, punchs, etc.
Another thing that really made me think was how he talks about Robinson. He said how Robinson at 42 years old didn't want to take a tough fight against a younger opponet cause he would have to really train to win the fight and at his age he didn't know if he could train like he used to or hold up in tough training. So Robinson wanted to back out. Teddy goes on to tell him how this boxer -white guy- never ducked any black fighter and he owed him because he didn't duck no black fighter Robinson should fight him. And Robinson says, "I ain't never ducked no white fighter" they both laughed. But Robinson understood and took the fight and lost a close decision, the other fighter because of his win over Robinson got a title shot and won.
I recommend this box to anyone who follows boxing.