New Boxing Book - Fighting Men of London

I know there are a fair few boxing history fans on here, so posting this in case it's of interest (hope that's okay by forum rules, etc) -

My second book, Fighting Men of London: Voice from Inside the Ropes, is available now.



You can buy the book or find out more here: http://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/fighting-men-london

Read a FREE sample from the book here:

http://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/book/Fighting%20Men%20of%20London%20sample_0.pdf

Fighting Men of London explores the lives of seven former professional boxers who fought in the capital between the 1930s and 1960s. Set around a series of interviews, it resurrects a golden age of the sport when boxing was as popular as football and Britain's leading fighters were working-class heroes.

Dramatic, poignant, inspiring and at times funny, the book covers such subjects as booth fighting, exploitation in boxing, East End poverty, World War Two London, Jewish culture, fame and success, crime, prison life and encounters with such figures as the Kray twins, the Great Train Robbers and Britain's most infamous inmate, Charles Bronson.

Fighting Men of London takes us on a journey through a lost era of smoky fight halls, ramshackle boxing arenas and courageous fighting men. It features the previously untold stories of 1950s boxing star Sammy McCarthy, Bethnal Green knockout specialist Ted Berry (an associate of the Kray twins) and Sid Nathan, who as one of Britain's last surviving 1930s boxers once shared a fight bill with the great Jack Kid Berg. This isn't a single story, but seven stories of seven very different men. The common bond they shared was boxing.

There's a review by Colin Hart of The Sun here:



There's a review by Will Hale of BoxRec News here: http://news.boxrec.com/2014/book-review-fighting-men-london

Hear a BBC London radio interview about the book here:

http://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/audio/FightingMenOfLondon_BBCLondon949.mp3

Watch video footage of the fighters featured in the book here:

Don't worry Alex it is allowed, might have to have a look at this, despite my in built default northern position of hating everything to do with London I did enjoy your last book and have read good things about this one.

Rowley wrote:Don't worry Alex it is allowed, might have to have a look at this, despite my in built default northern position of hating everything to do with London I did enjoy your last book and have read good things about this one.

Glad you enjoyed my first book, Rowley. Cheers.

Although it's London-themed, some great northern boxers of the past - Ronnie Clayton, Tommy Molloy, Billy Thompson, etc - make prominent appearances. Also, the book gives a good insight into British boxing generally, from the late 1930s to the early 60s, from the perspective of the fighters themselves.

Thanks for the heads up, Alex. You keeping well?

Will be purchasing this after the bank hol weekend!

Just read the sample, very interesting. Think I'll be putting this on my list of books to read.

Seems to capture the spirit of the time and conversational tone of Ted Berry flows naturally.

Excited to read the full thing and discover the stories.

88Chris05 wrote:Thanks for the heads up, Alex. You keeping well?

Will be purchasing this after the bank hol weekend!

Thanks Chris. I'm very well, ta. Hope all's good with you.

Dipper Brown wrote:Just read the sample, very interesting. Think I'll be putting this on my list of books to read.

Seems to capture the spirit of the time and conversational tone of Ted Berry flows naturally.

Excited to read the full thing and discover the stories.

Thanks for your feedback. Capturing the spirit of the times and the idiosyncrasies of each man's speech were things I'd endeavoured to do, so it's really good to hear it comes across when you read it.

88Chris05 wrote:Thanks for the heads up, Alex. You keeping well?

Will be purchasing this after the bank hol weekend!

Would be worth reviewing this for the site/magazine once you've read it mate

Nice video interviews. All different sorts of characters.

This reminds me of Lenny Mclean the underground boxer/criminal.

I have seen his famous fight with Roy Shaw. He gave Shaw a serious beating but credit to Shaw that man could take a punch.

but what made me laugh is that Mclean once stated back in his prime in the 70's that he would fight and beat Ali.

Although I was impressed with his underground boxing record........Ali would have MULLERD him, infact Ali could have played with him all night. Outside the ring well thats another story.