Product Description
Defined arms; sleek shoulders; flat, tight abs; lean, firm legs -- this is the shape that women want to get from their workouts. World-renowned trainer Hector Roca and owner Bruce Silverglade bring Gleason's Gym's boxing secrets to your home with The Gleason's Gym Total Body Boxing Workout for Women, outlining a step-by-step program that gets any woman into knockout shape -- fitter, faster, and firmer than ever in just four weeks!

Boxing is not only a dynamic fitness program but also a powerful addition to other fitness routines. Using unique combinations of muscle groups and both aerobic and weight training movements, boxing works out the entire body at one time. You'll lose weight; build lean, toned muscle; improve cardiovascular fitness; and feel physically and emotionally stronger all at once.

Roca and Silverglade break down all the boxing basics, from how to make a fist and how to stand, to more advanced boxing moves and various ways of jumping rope and include a nutritional plan to maximize results. The Gleason's Gym Total Body Boxing Workout for Women offers the ultimate workout for women who want to look their best, feel their best, and be their best. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

awesome
so i bought this book with big expectations and it hasn't failed me yet.
the book was brand spankin new when i got it and in mint condition.
more than worth it. thank you.

The wife loved it
My wife loved the workouts and the material. She is a tiny thing and loves boxing for some reason. I can't complain because she stays in great shape. Buy this book and hope your wife loves it like mine did.

Effective and enjoyable 4-week training
Explanations and images are very useful. The workout is designed to gradually increase your cardio resistance and your boxing skills. Highly recommendable.

Not just for Women
I've been punching a heavy bag off and on for couple of years now and I knew just really basics on how to hit the bag and other things of that nature.Well I haven't been doing much at all lately and getting a little out of shape....So the wife and I decided that we would like to get back into our excercise routine.I went back to boxing, and she was jealous because my workout looked fun and hers was repetitive. She asked to be shown how to hit the bag, and I showed her basics, but other than that I didn;t even know.So the next day I went online and looked up reviews on boxing excercise regiments and this book kept coming up...I became intrigued and ordered the book.Well let me tell you just the basics I thought I knew I needed to make adjustments, and this book should be called boxing for dummy's.It teaches you everything from stance, to punching to movements, to lifting to you name it...if it's in boxing this book covers it.So I bought this book for my wife, but I got just as much use out of it as she has been getting.

Highly recommended!

Excellent boxing instruction
I found this book to be well done. It has a 4-week workout schedule with three workouts per week. I am on the third week and not only are my arm muscles developing, but they glow when I finish a workout and I feel great. This is a full-body workout - you don't stand still andpush your arms around. In addition to 3-minute round-style combo punches and defense, you jump rope and do strength exercises (push ups, crunches, flutter kicks). The instruction is well-illustrated and the book does a great job of motivating you. This can be an intense workout, but you'll feel stronger after each one. You really need to put your all into the workout - no half-hearted punches, and no cheating!

I purchased this book to start boxing for fitness, and I love it. These are actual punches and combos you could take to the ring someday, if you wanted. I also purchased a DVD boxing video and I find myself drifting off and going back to this book because it encourages you to practice numerous combos and come up with your own unique workout, not a boring jab, jab, right, hook, repeat 10 times.

Get a pair of gloves (mine are pink), pick up this book, and really work off the pounds. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Boxing 10 Commandments
Good basic book for a new boxing student. Nothing takes the place of instruction by a qualified coach, but this is a good book to give a student to take home and go over the basics. Style of boxing will vary with trainers.

Best book on boxing I have read. Even better than Haislets classic!
I have read every book on boxing I could find over the last forty years and this covers material the others don't mention or barely touch on. The section on fighting using angles should be in every boxing manual. You can tell the author has been a diligent student of boxing and really knows his material and covers techniques and tactics others either never mention or barely touch on. Any student of boxing or mma should have this book. The best on boxing I have read in forty years!

Very Good Source
There's a ton of information here. The section on the defences to the various punches is worth the cost of the book alone. You can tell that the authros spent a lot of time working on this book and that they are very passionate about boxing. If the photos were clearer I'd of given the book five stars. It's definitely worth the money and you'll find yourself referring to this book again and again.

Comprehensive!
I was looking for a boxing book at the bookstore the other day and the first book that I grabbed was this book. I was first put off a wee bit by the title (`Ten Commandments') and was prepared to be disappointed since most boxing books that I have read are never written very well or if they are written well then the diagrams are often wanting. However, after looking through this book I was surprised at how well it was written and how thorough it was. All aspects of boxing training, fighting techniques, and boxing fundamentals were addressed. It's hard to find a boxing book that gives a good visual as well as a good written description of the subject matter but this book certainly fits the bill. The written descriptions of the boxing essentials are very concisely explained. The associated photos are of excellent quality and there are just enough pictures to clearly represent what is being explained in the written description.

The book starts with the building of proper on guard stances which is the foundation upon which everything else is built upon in boxing. Then long and shot term rhythm is covered. The importance of proper footwork is then explained. Further covered is: economy of motion, proper range, the laws of punching, counterpunching, the all important jab, the mechanics of punching (straight right, straight right body, left and right hook, left and right hook body, left and right uppercut), defense and counter attack (parries, catching, blocks for head and body, evasive movements,slips, ducks, slides and rides, and the rock back). The book goes on further to explain proper angling deviation from lateral back and forth motion so as to optimize evasive maneuvering, then the importance of sparring and associated training drills that are preparations for sparring, and finally the book discusses workout plans and coaching points, training equipment, general workout (warm up, bag work, shadowboxing and mirror training, jump rope, and sparring). All in all this is an excellent book at a good price and it is a very good reference book for beginners, armatures, and even professionals who want to get back to and review the basics .

thou shall buy this book!
i found this book to be havenly. most boxing books are to vague, only offering general instruction or overwhemling with to much info. having 10 commandments, made it easier to learn and therfore made my workouts more meaningful. all the best in your efforts great book! ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Boxing is the most comprehensive and up-to-date boxing-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of over 80 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round boxing-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results.

No other boxing book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book supplies you with a year-round workout program designed to increase punching speed and power in your jabs, hooks, and uppercuts. Following this program will raise your stamina and endurance which will result in extraordinary footwork that will have you dancing around opponents and hitting them with sharp combinations until the final bell.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

As an added bonus, this book also contains links to free record keeping charts which normally sell separately for $20. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Awsome information
As an amateur boxer, this book has greatly assisted my strength and conditioning. I've applied the key essentials and am already seeing improvements in speed, endurance, and strength. This book focuses on improving speed and strength without becoming fatigued easily. As a bonus, tips are provided to help prevent injuries and build technique over just becoming bulky. When you build muscle mass, you become fatigued faster. Now if you work out the right way (like this book provides) you can build the same strength you would with muscle mass.

Box like a heavyweight champ!
This is the best book I have seen for boxing training!No matter what level you compete at, this book is for you.I have really improved my agility in the ring after reading this book.I highly recommend it to anyone interested in being a better, more athletic boxer!

Yo Adrian!
If Rocky could do it so can you -- and this book is the secret how.The book (aka "the boxing bible") won't only put you on a plan to increase strength and stamina, but it will also boost your quickness and agility.After reading this book you'll be able to knockout Mike Tyson.

a boxer's bible
This book is perfect!A workout plan geared specifically toward boxing that really works!Appropriate for any level of boxing! I highly recommend this book!

A Knockout
This book made great suggestions for improving some of the most critical parts of being a successful boxer--endurance, power, agility, and speed.This book takes a healthy approach to boxing--it succinctly and clearly outlines how, depending on your experience and level of competitiveness, you should proceed on improving your ability as a fighter.I recommend this book without any hesitation. ... Read more

Product Description

A reissue of bestselling, award-winning author Joyce Carol Oates' classic collection of essays on boxing.

Customer Reviews (19)

Oates in the ring
Oates works out her essay style with boxing. Absent blood and bruises she has something to offer

On Boxing (P.S)
This book deals mostly with why boxers compete and what draws the public to the spectacle. Has some excellent historical moments and some great insight.As a long time boxing fan the book can however get somewhat boring. This book has always received rave reviews, the book is very well written,but I was a little disappointed overall. About halfway through I started losing interest.

Great Stand Alone Essays
These are great stand alone essays but they don't compile very well into a cohesive singular book because the background information becomes repetitive. Marciano's record, integrating fights, boxing's place among the most dangerous sports, and so on, while all interesting and integral to the individual essays at hand, become tedious, especially after the third time, should the reader decide to tackle the book in one fell swoop. The brevity of the book suggests well-edited succinct writing, but, unfortunately, as the essays run together quickly the reader finds himself thinking, `Didn't I just read that a few minutes ago?' I still think it's important to have Oates' boxing essays compiled together. However, it may be a helpful suggestion for some readers to spread out the reading of these essays if this kind of repetition annoys you.

Joyce Oates Takes on the Sweet Science
Like a previous reviewer, I was amazed at Joyce's understanding of the fight game. She graphically describes the naked loneliness that a fighter feels as they take off their robe in the ring, the feeling that in spite of recent losses, they will still emerge triumphant as they take on the younger lions in the division. Oates discusses both the abhorrent features of two fighters trying to destroy each other and the almost homoerotic like way the fighters hold on to each other in the clinches and embrace fondly at the end of the match. Not sure if I ever thought of boxing as homoerotic art, but Oates makes it sound plausible.

Oates also discusses the rise of Mike Tyson, and his desire to punch Jesse Ferguson's nose into his brain. She also underscores how terrible judging can mar an otherwise compelling boxing match (Holmes-Spinks II as an example).

The author feels that Muhammad Ali in his prime was one of if not the greatest fighter of all time. She pulls not punches, though, in describing Ali's early racist, segregationist comments.

There is also a chapter about the great Jack Johnson and how he taunted opponents in the ring, dated (and married) white women, and lived the way he wanted to live, and was revered and reviled by many.

The book is a bit dated, and there are occasional misspellings of fighters' names (Pernell Whitaker, not Pernell Whittaker), but the insight into the game is timeless and priceless.

Whatever Oates sets her mind to, shoe does well.
Joyce Carol Oates, On Boxing (Doubleday, 1987)

The blurbs on the back of this book gush. A lot of very talented, very famous writers were quite enamored with Joyce Carol Oates' meditation on boxing, and they should have been. This is not only Oates writing with her best critical eye, but it's also Oates at her most approachable; this is easily as readable as any of her fiction, and more so than a good portion of it. She responds to the art of pugilism both, and often simultaneously, with a critical and an emotional eye. It's quite a nice little book, and as someone who knows nothing about boxing myself, I can attest that Oates' writing is not just for the aficionado; if you're old enough to remember the names Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns, you'll find this interesting and often enlightening. Another solid entry in the Oates canon. **** ... Read more

Product Description
A boxer's workout is a fantastic way to burn calories-it is engaging, exhilarating, and effective. Going beyond jumping rope and punching the heavy bag, Fighting Fit describes intermediate and advanced boxing skills that will help anyone improve their performance in the ring. This boxing workout will help develop body and character so that athletes can get into the best shape of their lives, build self-confidence, and be winners in and out of the ring. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Good reading for a beginner
I encourage anyone in training to read everything and listen to everyone and then sort it out and use what fits you the best. This is a good book for a starter and re enforces "You are what you eat", and "you will be what you train as" rule.

Excellent boxing book
Though this book is theoretically about how to use boxing to get fit, what it really is is a fantastic guide to solo or partner training.The first chapter reviews the basic training equipment needed, even offering a probable price list, before moving on to a chapter on basic stance, footwork, and head movement.The next two chapters are on basic offense and defense, and include info on combination building and how to use the heavy bag for building defence.The next section is on the various drills using the mirror, the bag, and your partner.The mirror section is worth only one page, but the rest is invaluable.With the bag, author Lachica demonstrates punches, footwork, and defense, while reminding the reader to keep in mind technique, rhythm, and strategy.He provides a number of drills to keep things from getting boring.With partner drills, he begins with counter drills, where one defends a punch and then returns with his own punch, then moves on to flow drills, which combine offense and defense for both parnters.The next two chapters are on situational sparring and free sparring, and provide excellent advice for the beginner.The book finishes up with three fitness chapters, on resistance training, stretching, and cardio training, respectively.This book provides a good blueprint for improving one's boxing skills, as well as getting into shape.Recommended for beginners and fighters alike.

best boxing book I have found!
This is the best book on boxing that I have found and I have quite a few manuals on the subject. It has the basics but also shows drills that I haven't found anywhere else. Its my "bible" for when I want to work a certain aspect.

Fighting Fit:
This is the second book in a series of three collaborations between Doug Werner and Alan Lachica on the topic of boxing.
The book "Fighting Fit", is the best of the three.It is packed with boxing wisdom, is well written, and the photographs easily show the techniques being taught.
From a person who wishes to learn boxing for fitness purposes, or for people like myself who compete, this book is a valuable tool.
I highly recommend it.

Good For the all around athlete
I'm a soldier currently deployed in Afghanistan (airborne infantry).I ordered the book to try to pick up on a new sport.The pictures and descriptions in the book are very descriptive and very helpful in learning the moves.Although I would consider this a great book for the beginner boxer or someone trying to improve, the lifting section could use alittle more detail.I would also like to see alittle more about nutrition.Other than that, the technique and fundamentals described in this book are excellent. ... Read more

Product Description
This guide to the finer points of boxing provides the wisdom needed to make the transition from enthusiastic beginner to proficient pugilist. The ABCs of ring generalship, offensive and defensive ring movements, feints, and draws and fakes are examined and explained along with clinching techniques, head-hunting, body work, and counter-punching chains. Strategies for boxing against tall and short opponents as well as for a variety of fighting styles such as charger, speed-demon, stick-and-move, and slugger and brawler are discussed in detail. Specific drills focus on sophisticated ring stratagems such as throwing complex combinations, cutting off the ring, fighting off the ropes, generating power, and cornering an opponent are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Good basic book to start.
A good basic book. There is no book that will be completly comprehensive in the skill of boxing, and no one will learn boxing until you actually get trained under a boxing coach, put on gloves, and get in the ring with another fighter. This is not to say that you can not learn and understand some of the principals and science involved by reading. It does make sense to some of the training and I recommend any student to read everything and talk with everyone. This is a good basic book.

An excellent basic guide to how to box by a master martial artist.
I find it interesting reading all the previous comments about this book.One wonders if reason, logic and objectivity are lost concepts for some people. I also wonder if everyone is reading the same book.I have read and written reviews on most of this author's previous books, as well as his DVDs.This particular volume covers the basic principles of boxing.True, some of the photographs were not clear, but I found the instructions easy to follow.As a life time student of the martial arts, I found this book helpful and informative.The various drills and suggestions are for the most part solid.I do not believe anyone can learn a fighting art completely by just reading a book. However, using this book in combination with real hands-on training under a boxing coach will produce excellent results.In conclusion, this book is for anyone interested in boxing. If one has an open mind, one can learn something of value from almost any martial arts book.Rating: 5 Stars.Joseph J. Truncale (Shotokan Karate Self-Defense Techniques: Combat Karate for the street, Wakizashi-Jutsu, Tanto-Jutsu, Martial Art Myths, Season of the Warrior, Use of the Monadnock Straight Baton, PR-24 Police Baton advanced techniques, Never trust a Politician).

A Simple, Knockout Delivery...
The beauty of boxing is its simplistic utility within a combative environment.With the proper adaptations, boxing skills and attributes can be applied in a sporting arena or in a non-sporting, combative altercation, equally.

This exceptionally detailed book of advanced boxing applications is, obviously, not for the beginner.But for the man or woman with a working understanding of the essential fundamentals of this pugilistic science, there are endless combinations, deceptive tactics and advanced maneuvering presented in an easy to access and comprehend black and white photo-format.

Once again, Mark Hatmaker has demonstrated his in-depth mastery of the Western Martial Arts Tradition, with yet another well-designed and easy to use manual, covering the more advanced applications of stances and guards, footwork, bobbing, weaving, and slipping blows.

He continues with the necessary nuances for generating true knock-out power, beating punches, and defensive applications within the boxing repertoire.Hatmaker stresses throughout this manual's training instructions that the practitioner must, first and foremost, focus on the correct form when executing techniques.And that it is this correct, repetitive practice, which leads one toward faster and faster expressions of said techniques.

Other concepts and skills fully demonstrated include developing an elusive offensive capacity through body movements, superior positioning and precision striking skills, as well as offering some rather rarely seen advance Ringmanship advice, should one want to make an adventure into such a competitive arena.

It's never boring for me to pick up one of Hatmaker's manuals, and just start to read it, as there will always be something new to learn, no matter how masterful or experienced we might believe our own skills to be.There is a wealth of information in this book that will serve the serious practitioner of boxing for many active years to come.

The Team of Doug Werner of TRACKS Publishing, and Mark Hatmaker, have managed to produce some very nice "gems" in this highly competitive book-publishing market of martial arts.This book of BOXING MASTERY can, likewise, be added to the list.

Rev. A. Bodhi Chenevey, RM, DD
Hikaze Learning Corner:
Home of the new DIVERSIFIED COMBAT ARTS & SCIENCES curriculum

A Must Have.
The diagrams throughout make it easy to understand, as do the explanations. I like that the book covers a lot of forgotten about or rather, rare forms-punches-and combos. The training techniques aren't bad either.

Good Boxing Instruction Book
Boxing Mastery is a very thorough instruction guide to boxing: its footwork,punch combinations, principles and physics. It is clearly written, well-illustrated with photographs and sound in its thinking. Like a good step by step workout in gym with a knowing old trainer. One of the the best boxing instruction books I've ever seen. ... Read more

Product Description
"Every once in a while, a book publisher comes up with a great concept for a series of books that deserve more than superficial recognition. Such a series is The Greatest (fill in the blank) Stories Ever Told, anthologies that should win places on many bedside tables. On the long winter nights that lie ahead, such stories make great reading." -The Lexington County Chronicle

"THE GREATEST BOXING STORIES EVER TOLD assembles some of the best writing available on the sweet science and illuminates boxing in all its literal and symbolic glory. Each piece in this varied collection connects with the sort of powerful punch one can only expect from the world's greatest writers." -Boxing Digest

In THE GREATEST BOXING STORIES EVER TOLD, editor Jeff Silverman delivers a knockout collection of not only the best writing ever penned on the subject of "the sweet science," but also stories that relate to the larger human issues the brutal sport has come to embody. Whether the story be about the triumph of a heroic champion, a tragic death in the ring, the shady tactics of fight promoters, or victories against seemingly impossible odds, each story in this varied collection connects powerfully with the reader. THE GREATEST BOXING STORIES EVER TOLD is the perfect gift for fight fans and non-fight fans alike, and with its allstar lineup of "contenders" throwing "haymakers" and "uppercuts" in every round, it stands as the definitive volume of short stories on this enduring pugilistic pastime.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

sweet boxing poetry
Just a great sampling of writing on the sweet science from many different perspectives.The one by Daniel Mendoza is amazing,as he was one of the first champions - from the turn of the 18th century.The way he thought and expressed himself is so interesting.Pearce Egan was the first great boxing writer, and his piece was mesmerizing.Frank DeFord on Billy Conn was great, as was Jack London on the Johnson-Jeffries fight.Jimmy Cannon, Ring Lardner, Paul Gallico, and A.J. Liebling all contribute classic stuff.I like learning about the PEOPLE involved in boxing as much as the events and results of the fights, and this book was right up my alley.

Great place to start for fight writing
This collection has a ton of good material that will give you a sample of the various sources of high quality boxing writing available if you're interested. The time periods involved go all the way back to the early 1800s, not counting the surprisingly awesome passage by Homer from The Iliad. Probably the most heavily-featured period is from around the 1930s-1960s. Other than that Homer piece, I also especially enjoyed the passages by Daniel Mendoza, Heywood Broun, John Lardner, and W.C. Heinz.If you're looking to get into boxing writing, or if you're an MMA fan looking for something to read to make up for the relative lack of MMA writing, this is definitely a good place to start. You do have the inherent weakness of the anthology where you end up finding a few things you really like that are over before you know it, but with the internet you can take the names of the authors and easily gain access to more of the stuff you like best.If you want a sample of the type of quality piece contained in this collection, look up "Sport for Art's Sake" by Heywood Broun. You can find it on Google Books, it's my favorite passage from the entire package.

"Varied Boxing Stories"
Mediocre Read. Highlight is Frank DeFord's SI article on Billy Conn, originally titled the "Boxer and The Blonde". It helped that I had some knowledge of the subject matter. My Father knew Billy Conn's Father-in-Law, and I visited the Funeral Home when Billy was laid out. Also of interest was the script from the "I coulda been a contendah" Cab scene from "Onthe Waterfront". Of lesser or no interest were excerpts from the "Illiad and the Odyssey" and 1700/1800 fights. I really would not recommend this book to anyone, including hardened fight fans.

pulling no punches
A beautifully edited anthology that will appeal not only to devotees of the sweet science, but to any fan of great writing.Silverman includes work by some of America's greatest essayists (Liebling, Plimpton, Mailer, Baldwin) and most popular fiction authors (O. Henry, Jack London, Dashiell Hammett, Damon Runyon, Richard Ford).The excerpt from Pierce Egan's 1829 classic BOXIANA (a favorite of A.J. Liebling's) is a special treat. The only thing missing is David Remnick on Muhammad Ali; but you can't expect everything from a 368-page collection.Highly recommended.

Awesome...
the only thing that I can rite negatively about this boox is that there isn't any story about me.Did you know that I'm a former amateur boxing champion of Alvin, Texas. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (24)

BOXER'S START-UP
HELPS U UNDERSTAND THE HOW'S AND WHY'S OF TRAINING.....IT ALSO STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING YOUR BOXING STANCE

Good basic book
Like the book title says...a Start up sports series. Recommended reading to those interested in the science of boxing.

Boxing make easy
This book was written for dumbies but it doesn't treat the reader like a dumby but a new trainie.

The real deal
I purchased this book to start boxing as a hobby.I joined a gym and found that everything the book taught was exactly what my trainers wanted from me.I was used to model proper form and technique.The instruction given in the book is accurate and easy to follow.It takes you from the basic equipment needed to basic offense and defense.It also gives you tips on what to look for in a gym.It's the real deal if you're seriously interested in taking up the sport. But as the title states, it's only a beginner's guide.

Good Basics
I think this is a helpful book for coaches that teach beginners or folks entering their first foray into the sport of boxing. ... Read more

Product Description
Shadow Boxing is a book that can change the foundational fabric of your lives – causing you to trace your attitudes, actions and reactions to their root causes and to remove negative, destructive patterns. Henry Malone identifies open doors that give Satan access into your life and leads you thorough a systematic strategy to close those doors. The focus of this book is upon leading people to experience the truth they say they believe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Shadow Boxing
Enjoyed the truth told in this most fascinating area of Christian belief. It is delivered in a format easily understood by everyone and WHY it is necessary to be alert always to the battles that rage in the spiritual realm. Highly recommend!

Great gift
This book was a gift for my sister and she said it was extremely nice!
Thank you

Satisfied Customer
I was very excited about finding the book I needed to be used in a follow up study session from a conference I attended. The book was inexpensive, yet brand new when received. All promises were kept. I was very pleased with all aspects of the sale and delivery of this item, and would recommend and use this company for future purchases. Great job and a very satisfied customer.

So, what's in your life that you dont know about?
Great book! If you have always thought that your parents actions have nothing to do with you - think again.If you just cant seem to get over that one mountain, that one repetitive sin, this book is for you.Dr. Malone clearly spells out how your life can be impacted by 'the sins of the fathers', and the truth about uninvited - or invited -darkness in your life.Understanding spiritual warfare is critical to every Christian, and can be deadly if you dont know how to fight in wisdom.Open the windows, fill your life with light & healing, and learn exactly where to aim that knock-out punch!

Nailed it!
I have been saved for years, and my Spiritual Walk has grown deeper as of late.Yet when I read this book, it opened my eyes to a level of understanding I did not previously have - particularly about the ruler of this world (Satan) and how he was given dominion over this earth by the fall of Adam (Adams turn from The Lord and following Satan's temptations), and how the pre-destined virgin birth of Our Savior was and is the only way to defeat the powers of darkness.This gves full meaning to the verse:

Ephesians 6:12
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

As a Warrior for Christ, this understanding is paramount to my effectiveness in "battle".

It's an easy, quick read that is well written and entertaining.Even for those who don't believe, it would be entertaining enough to warrant taking a look.

For the Believer who wants to progress in their Walk in a manner beyond their current understanding, I believe this book is essential and should be required reading for all Warriors for Christ.

Blessings! ... Read more

Product Description
Much more than a book on boxing. Life in the Ring is equally historical, literary, and inspirational. Truly a one-of-a-kind book.

There is no sport more unforgiving than boxing. Boxing represents the best of who we are as individuals. Those who have participated in the sport, at any level, can use the lessons they have learned in all aspects of their lives, from business, to politics, to personal relationships. People observing the sport can draw on the insight that boxing imparts in all phases of their lives.

Life in the Ring gathers the wisdom and lore of the "sweet science" of boxing and organizes them into a single volume that is equally historical, literary, and inspirational. An invaluable compendium, Life in the Ring offers the stories of boxing legends, past and present, and draws inspiring lessons from the remarkable determination, fortitude, and willpower that made these men great.

Included are such engaging themes and examples from the lives of legendary boxers as:

*The Role of Courage and Confidence—Muhammad Ali
*On Challenging Yourself—Oscar de la Hoya
*The Quality of Being Tough—Jake LaMotta
*Reinventing Yourself and Making a Comeback—George Foreman
*Overcoming Obstacles through Persistence and Determination—James J. Braddock
*Winning Without Shortcuts—Joe Calzaghe
*Making Fear Your Friend—Floyd Patterson
*Overcoming Pain—Rocky Marciano
*The Power of Discipline and Preparation—Bernard Hopkins
*On Giving Back—Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko

With a Foreword by the famed boxing writer, Bert Randolf Sugar, and exciting, relatable stories, Life in the Ring packs a fantastic punch for readers of all kinds. 
 
 
 
  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Book For Boxing Fans
I am a huge boxing fan and have read everything there is out there. This guy hit the nail on the head! I learned more about these guys then I ever knew. I am going to buy it for my dad for his birthday. Great gift! Anyone know if it on Kindle yet?

Great Read!
Life in the Ring is such an amazing, easy read. I bought it before a trip to London and couldn't put it down. The way the author went into the details of each boxer's life was so interesting and the way each boxer beat adversity was pretty incredible. I especially liked the chapters on some of the old timers like Dempsey, Tunney, and Braddock.

A top pick and recommended read
LIFE IN THE RING: LESSONS & INSPIRATION FROM THE SPORT OF BOXING provides a powerful account of boxing and offers connections between boxing and life experiences. From making a comeback to winning without taking shortcuts, these vignettes are powerful accounts highly recommended for any lending library strong in sports insights and life reflections.

How to Achieve Lasting Success
I have always enjoyed reading about boxing legends, as my father was intimately involved in the boxing world, but have found most boxing books lose me as they offer few lessons from the legends of boxing.I initially thought this book was a historical account of a few boxers but once I picked it up I could not put it down.The book is highly entertaining and well written, with concise chapters, sparing me the tedious details often found in profiles of successful people.The author demonstrates how the world of boxing parallels the paths to success, as boxing is one of the few sports where an individual has to rely on himself.It offers a blueprint for success that can be applied in any field or endeavor.For example, all of the boxers profiled in the book share one common thread.They never gave up, continually improved themselves, challenged themselves by fighting superior boxers and conquered their own fears to become champions.Whenever I find myself feeling that adversity is knocking me down I think about the stories of perseverance found in this book.Anybody who is interested in how to achieve lasting success should read this book.

Inspirational stories from the world of boxing!
One of the best books I've ever read on the sport of boxing. The author does an excellent job illustrating the parallels between the boxing ring and life in general, and shows how we can use lessons from the ring to meet the challenges in our personal lives.

Using the boxing ring as a canvas, the author paints the stories of 15 boxers who each reach the pinnacle of the boxing world through a combination of toughness, character, perseverence, and the ability to take an incredible amount of pain.

I especially enjoyed reading about Jake LaMotta, the "Bronx Bull", and his memorable sixth fight with Sugar Ray Robinson and how he took a savage beating from Sugar Ray, lost the fight, but refused to give up or be knocked down. In doing so, he won the hearts and respect of the boxing world.

The author does a superb job describing the epic battles in the 1920's between Tunney and Dempsey- and how these great boxers became even greater through their elevating battles.

The Rocky Marciano chapter on overcoming pain and how a relatively small man achieved an undefeated boxing record is both inspirational and packed with lessons that we can all use outside the ring.

Not for boxing fans alone, this book will be enjoyed by anyone who is striving to achieve a life goal, whether it be personal or professional- in sports, in business, in entertainment, or in the arts- especially if there are obstacles to be overcome.

Read this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Fed by media fascination with super heavyweights like George Foreman, the perception of boxers as oversized guys with oversized muscles is simply wrong. For every weight class, strength must be carefully balanced with the ideal physique. In truth, boxer training produces a body perfectly balanced for strength, shape, speed, and stamina.

The author traveled the world talking to top boxers about how they train for peak performance. Their workouts will help reshape the reader's body, and the short bios and quotes from legendary favorites will inspire readers to take their workout to the next level.

This one-of-a-kind approach to the world of boxing offers readers proven tips on balancing their own physique. Want to build more strength? Follow the workout of heavyweights like Ali. Need to slim down but don't want to lose muscle? Try the program of middleweight Fernando Vargas. Want to go all out for the ultimate physical fitness? Then try to keep up with the training of pound-for-pound legend Roy Jones Jr. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

If you love boxing and are interested in their workout routines, YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK.
I fully admit to loving boxing and learning what kind of physical fitness routines champions followed. Though it is true this book does not cover specific techniques and tactics of each boxer, but that was not the purpose of this great book.However, if you are into what kind of workout routine the champions followed, this is a must book for you.I cannot believe some of the critical reviews of this book.Even if you are not into boxing, but have an interest in how they train themselves, this book will have value for you.You may also wish to follow some of the routines presented to get fit.I followed some of these workout programs and found them to be very challenging.In conclusion, if you want insight into the kind of workout programs champion boxers follow, this is a must book for you.Rating: 5 stars.Joseph J. Truncale (author: Samurai Aerobics, The Monadnock Defensive Tactics (MDTS) System, Use of the Monadnock straight baton, PR-24 Police Baton Advanced Techniques, Shotokan Karate Self-Defense Techniques).

great book on boxing champions
this is a great book on boxings greatest fighters. been looking for a book like this for a long time. geezer

needs to go deeper
This book is basically asking the different boxers the same questions and finding out how many rounds to do the different exercises: shadow boxing, heavy bag, speed bag, jump rope etc... kind of repetitive stuff.

It would have been a bit more interesting to find out what they do when they shadow box, or heavy bag, and how do they change their workouts. It needed less boxers but more in depth info.

A quick read
As a boxing fan, I wanted to check this book out to see the workout ideas of the great boxers. To be honest, the glimpses into their training regimes are fairly short and repetitive. I would have liked a bit more on even just one boxer but the author did give his own training routine and some good tips.

The pictures were pretty good in the book. A quick read.

Well laid out - worhwhile
book is very well laid out with workouts from all the champs and details of their personal training schedule and nutrition program.Excellent for the new boxer or the experienced boxer looking to vary their workout schedule.Lots of great pictures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A gentleman C grade
This book 'reads' as if Mr. Sugar spoke into a recording device rather than actually writing the words. In other words, much of the book sounds like spoken rather than written words. Also, Mr. Sugar places some fighters at a ranking that is hard to understand. For example, Gene Tunney defeated Jack Dempsey twice and fought Harry Greb. Jack Dempsey was famously battered by Greb in sparring sessions, fought infrequently after becoming champion, did not fight black fighters. Yet Mr. Sugar places Dempsey ahead of Tunney. Ultimately the ranking of fighters is a difficult proposition, but consider that Mr. Sugar places Dempsey well ahead of Larry Holmes. Can you imagine the thoughts Mr. Dempsey might have had, if he looked across the ring and stared at Larry Holmes in his prime, rapier jab intact?

A decent book for new or casual fans of the "sweet science"
Bert Randolph Sugar, he of the everpresent fedora and unlit cigar, is one of the best known "talking heads" in the boxing media.He is articulate, writes well, and is very passionate about boxing, the greatest, truest, and purest of athletic competitions.However, he is more a boxing writer than a boxing historian, as is demonstrated by the fact that he believes (and promulgates) many of the myths that have floated around for years about this or that fighter without having bothering to check any primary sources to confirm these stories (Sugar relates many of these fairy tales in this book, but states them as fact, such as Willie Pep having won a round in a fight with Jackie Graves without having landed a single punch [Pep himself, in most of his accounts of the bout, said that he did, in fact, throw and land more than a few punches in that round], that Harry Greb's last name was Berg [Greb's birth certificate says otherwise], that Jack Dempsey broke Jess Willard's jaw in their 1919 battle [an injury that none of the reporters who interviewed Willard in the hours and days after the bout seemed to notice], that Greb broke Gene Tunney's nose with a headbutt in the first round of their first of five wars [Greb and many ringside reporters attributed the break to a left hook and Tunney himself stated that it was probably the result of a Greb right and definitely not from a butt], that Sam Langford gave Jack Johnson all he could handle in their fight [Langford admitted more than once that 'Lil Arthur had whipped him)], etc, etc).

More importantly, Sugar's understanding of boxing technique is good but not impressive, which is aptly illustrated whenever he demonstrates (and butchers) a technique that he is relating and by the fact that he rarely describes in great detail the particular TECHNIQUES that made this or that fighter effective, but, instead, waxes on the boxer's STYLE of fighting.For these reasons, it's hard to take his ranking of boxing's greatest fighters too seriously, especially since, like most boxing fans when they produce fighter rankings, he places far TOO MUCH weight in determining a fighter's "greatness" on the boxer's popularity, "historical importance"/legacy, the "name" fighters whom he fought, the number of titles that he won, etc and NOT ENOUGH weight on the fighter's willingness to take on all comers and his effectiveness against all of the basic boxing "styles" (e.g. outboxers, pressure fighters, stalkers, stick and movers, etc) and against opponents who possessed a certain skill or attribute to an exceptional degree (indeed, among the reasons why I do not place Sugar Ray Robinson - whom Bert Sugar and many others deem the best boxer pound-for-pound of all time - among the top five of MY all-time lb4lb list is the fact that he went to great lengths to avoid fighting good stick and movers [Robinson liked to be the matador] and legitimate powerpunchers [which should be obvious given that, despite fighting in the talent-rich 1940s & 50s, the hardest hitters that the Sugarman could boast of facing were Artie Levine and "blown-up" welterweight Rocky Graziano, who was well past his peak by the time he fought Sugar Ray - to get an idea of how many great punchers Robinson AVOIDED during this era, check out the list of opponents FOUGHT by Robinson's outstanding peer Charley Burley, whom Sugar Ray, of course, "ducked" - then again, if I were put on "queer street" by good but far from great hitters like Levine and Jimmy Doyle, I'd probably want to avoid thunderous punchers like Burley and Lloyd Marshall, too.)

Another problem with the book is that it is littered with typographical, grammatical, and factual errors (that is, the ones aside from the myths Mr. Sugar embraces).Furthermore, boxing fans who have read some of Sugar's other books will feel a sense of deja vu because he tends to recycle his best bon mots in most of his books.And, there is also the fact that Sugar, given the brevity of each of the boxer profiles, invariably relates the boxer's most famous fight or most well-known characteristic, which is beneficial to boxing "newbies" but boring for knowledgable fans.

All in all, BOXING'S GREATEST FIGHTERS is a decent enough book for new or "casual" boxing fans, but hardcore fans will not find it anything special (except to argue over Sugar's rankings).For the benefit of less knowledgable fans, I present the following list of great fighters whom Sugar did not include in his book: Eddie Booker, Fighting Harada, Frankie Genaro, Owen Moran, Jimmy Bivins, Fidel LaBarba, Billy Petrolle, Young Peter Jackson, Mysterious Billy Smith, Freddie Steele, Lloyd Marshall, Holman Williams, Michael Spinks, Jack Blackburn, & Lew Tendler.

Boxing History
If you like boxing and its glorious history, this book is for you. Bert Sugar is the recognized king of boxing writers, and he knows his stuff. A must for the boxing fan.

Great Overview of the Sweetest Scientists
All Top 10, Top 25, Top 100, etc. lists are designed to provoke arguments, and this one does.All of the fighters in the book deserve to be here (I guess, there are a lot from before 1920 that are waaaay before my time).The disagreements come with the rankings, why fighter A is ranked higher than fighter B.But Bert Sugar backs up his opinions with facts, which is all you can ask, agree with him or not.Great reading for any fan of the squared circle.

A Book Written by a Stubborn Old Man
I have tremendous respect for Sugar, but putting Iron Mike Tyson at # 100 is absolute garbage.Tyson in his prime is at least, at the very LEAST a top 50 all-time great.Not only was he a great fighter, but also consider the fact that he is the biggest box-office draw in boxing history.During the 1980's Tyson was the MOST popular athlete in America, and this was during a time when Bird, Magic, Jordan, Montana, and Ray Leonard were all in their primes!He defended his title 10 times from 1986-1990 and even regained the title when he was past his prime in 1996.Rocky Marciano the most overrated fighter of all time only defended the title 6 times.That 49-0 record should not be seen so sacred as the so called experts see it.Did Tyson become a joke after he bite Holyfield's ear?Yes and with a capital J, but in the 1988 revised edition of The 100 Greatest Fighters in Boxing History, Sugar ranks Tyson at # 27.That is more realistic than Tyson's current ranking of # 100.The fact is the majority of the fighters in this book are so old that young boxing fans don't know who they are and quite frankly a few of the names in this book don't matter.Mike Tyson mattered and next to Ali is the BIGGEST superstar in boxing history.Sorry Jack Dempsy, the 2 Sugar Rays, and Joe Louis, but that's just the way it is.Bert Sugar is just far too old and stubborn to understand that. ... Read more

Product Description
We've all seen the name of AIG's CEO, Edward Liddy, far too often in the last few months. He recently attended a hearing before a congressional committee explaining why he thinks $165 million in federal bailout money from American taxpayers needs to go to AIG employees for bonuses. During Liddy's introduction, Chairman Kanjorski raised the issue about Liddy's former role as CEO of Allstate, and that company's denial of insurance contract claims. Later, one of the representatives asked why we as taxpayers are being forced to pay $165 million in bonuses on the basis that these were contracts. Liddy had no problem denying insurance contract claims which the policyholders made against his former company, Allstate. It might be surprising for the public to realize that Liddy made over $350 million in salary and stock options in his position at Allstate, in large part by implementing a plan to deny and otherwise underpay contract claims to Allstate policyholders. He did this with the assistance, of McKinsey & Co., the same consultants who created the Enron business plan. The public might also be interested to know that while running AIG, Liddy continues to be a major Allstate stockholder. Liddy was the President and CEO of Allstate Insurance Corp. from 1995 to 1999, then the Chairman of the Board until 2007. While at Allstate, he orchestrated across-the-board claim denial and underpayment systems created by McKinsey & Co., which led to David J. Berardinelli's investigative book From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves: The Dark Side of Insurance. According to this book, by the time he left, Mr. Liddy had already amassed Allstate stock worth over $250 million, with an additional payment at retirement of $50 million, and a retirement package worth over $70 million. You can also find out how, during his leadership at Allstate, Liddy oversaw that company's rejection of Hurricane Katrina home loss claims, how those costs were passed off on the American taxpayers through the National Flood Insurance Fund, and how Allstate and Liddy profited by passing off the losses to taxpayers. Find out for yourself why insurance claims are being improperly denied, delayed, and defended at trial. Read the story the insurance industry doesn't want you to know. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Book-Shame on you Allstate
All I can say is shame on you Allstate for the horrific acts you have performed that have been written in this book. Its funny how they spend so much money on advertising about how much you are in good hands when the fact of the matter is they have been ranked the worst insurance company in the US. Great job by David Bernadelli on exposing the Mackensie scam that made the profits of this corrupt insurance company explode through the roof.

Shame on the Insurance companies

This book should be an eye opener to all property owners. They are not on our side.

Brilliant, Important & Informative
I'm not aware of another book of this quality, insight or ease of reading on this subject. The author devoted years of tenacious detective work and fact-finding in order to obtain insights and previously confidential information about claims practices at Allstate Insurance. His findings are credible and fact-based. His intellectual curiosity and inferential thinking are very strong, yet his ability to piece together and tell the story in simple, easy-to-read and highly understandable language are even more impressive. This is a first rate job of analysis of an important topic. It focuses on the claims practices initially instituted by Allstate Insurance in its automobile business and subsequently spread throughout it's property and casualty business. The net effect was to greatly reduce settlements to Allstate's customers and claimants while growing the company's operating profits significantly. It both raises deep concerns about, and also helps to explain how anti-consumer practices of such great magnitude could have escaped the detection of regulatory and oversight agencies for so long.

Since the book was published, sufficient additional information has come to light through the availability of respected management consultant McKinsey & Company's work for Allstate that a follow-up version of this book would be even more valuable. Nonetheless this book is essential reading for individuals who believe that their insurance claims may not have been handled fairly by Allstate, or who may be considering the purchase of home, auto or other P&C insurance from Allstate. The practices perfected by Allstate, with McKinsey's assistance, were pioneered by McKinsey at State Farm and elsewhere prior to initiating work at Allstate. Therefore investors, regulators or consumers interested in any of these companies will find this book important reading. Additionally this is "must" reading for insurance professionals interested in keeping their industry "clean", attorneys interested in insurance law and claims practices, those interested in the preservation of corporate ethics and the rule and protection of the law in free market economics, as well as students of first class problem solving will all benefit from and appreciate this book. Overall it is an impressive, insightful, important and highly readable piece of work. I cannot vouchsafe that every single fact and interpretation is correct, but am sure that further refinement of the author's findings will occur as more data comes to the fore.

Important Book Exposing What every Plaintiff's Lawyer Knows
I am a personal injury lawyer in Ottawa, Ontario.Reading this book clarified for me that the road blocks I sometimes face in resolving serious accident claims for my clients are more more systemic that I believed.This is an easy read, written in plain English for the average consumer.I read it on the beach and actually couldn't put it down. I will be purchasing additional copies to provide to clients and to have in our waiting room. Injured Victim's Guide to Fair Compensation

What an eye opener!
Do yourself a favor and buy this book if you want to get very mad at the insurance industry and All State Insurancemost of all. If you read this and have All State I promise you will drop them! This is a shocking book and one that I could not put down. I read it cover to cover in one sitting. ... Read more

Product Description


The Techniques and Knowledge Needed to Excel in the Sport of Boxing

The illustrations, explanations, and techniques presented in Boxing Basics provide everything needed to excel in the sport of boxing. Easy to follow explanations and illustrations introduce the reader to the sport by providing information on training equipment, types of boxing gyms, and how to get into fighting shape. The bulk of this boxing text is devoted to providing progressive steps in the learning of the sport of boxing. It begins by presenting the primary elements of boxing and ranges to advanced skills. The Instant Reference Guide is a special feature designed for busy persons. It provides fast-track references to the important points in every chapter. This publication can be used as a how-to reference guide for trainers as well as beginners.

"Some books just show you how to box, others just tell you. Still others do a little of both. With Boxing Basics, Professor Gotay becomes your personal trainer, teaching you step by step how to box. This is the most definitive ¿how to¿ boxing book I have ever seen."
- Randy Gordon, Former Editor-in-Chief of Ring Magazine;
Boxing Analyst for ESPN, USA Network, and the MSG Network;
and Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission.
Presently the host of Fight Club, the popular Sirius Radio boxing talk show. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Extremely Informative.Well laid out for any reader.
As a personal trainer, I thought Al Gotay's articulation of the sport of boxing was very on point, well thought out, and clearly explained for the reader.A client of mine who trains in boxing brought me the book and pointed out that the techniques both described and illustrated were synonymous with Gotay's link to the physical training required for the sport.I thought that the chapter "Getting Into Physical Condition" was methodically detailed down to the tables presenting exact percentages of desired body fat for athletic performance.Gotay's depth in explaining also the adjustment of the frequency, intensity, time, and type of training for maximum benefit per training session was very well done.There was no part of the physical condition portion of the book that I was in opposition to, and in fact encouraged my client to continue abiding by Boxing Basic's layouts.

fairly complete but it is basic
This is a good book for boxing basics and if they had covered defense a bit better it would have rated 5 stars. It covers all the equipment that can be used for boxing, workouts, stance, basic punches and combinations,
and ring strategy.

The best boxing book!
After boxing for a little over a year I came to the realization that boxing is a sport full of intricate details and techniques. While many books have been written to try and cover the fine points, these books often leave the reader feeling incomplete or wanting to know more. "Boxing Basics" has the content to be considered the "full package" of boxing books. Everything and anything that has to do with the sport of boxing is considered, walked through, and explained through a crystal clear prose unmistakably found only from a college professor.

From boxing newbie to convenient boxer to seasoned veteran, "Boxing Basics" has something for everyone. Gym classifications, different fighter styles, ring strategies, and even the different weight divisions in boxing are explained. Alberto Gotay definitely leaves no stones unturned regarding the sport of boxing. Buying this book was a great investment and I will use the techniques outlined in this book for the rest of my boxing career.

MORE THAN JUST BASICS
The title Boxing Basics is an understatement, for this manual has waymore than just the basics. Professor Gotay goes beyond to explain proper bodyfat percentages, the correct workout length, and detailed boxing rules for both amateur and pro. Additionally, the hand wrapping method provided is one of the best I've used. The sections on defense and styles of boxers were particularly helpful. If you pay attention to many pro fights and even MMA fights today, you will find that the loser was the one who had a bad foundation and did not adhere to the basics.

Where no one in the Sport of Boxing has gone before!
Al Gotay's Boxing Basics takes us where no one has gone before in the sport of boxing. This is not just another "How to" book that merely covers the rudimentary basics of conditioning, stances, footwork, punches, and defensive tactics. Gotay's text transcends the basics and transports the burgeoning fighter into the realm of personal development with a graded training program and the much needed strategies and tactics to safely participate and advance in the sport. Gotay's thirty plus years in academics as an Assistant Professor in Health and Physical Education shines throughout the text and makes Boxing Basics a must for any educator who desires to start an intramural or interschool athletic program whether at the YMCA/ Boy's Club, middle school, high school, or collegiate level.

... Read more

Product Description
Your fists are your primary weapon system in a streetfight, but most martial arts "masters" like to gloss over that fact. Now fisticuffs expert Ned Beaumont shows you how to duke it out in back alleys and smoky bars and walk away grinning (with all your teeth). All the dirty tricks of boxing are included, too. Not for the faint of heart, this one is destined to become a classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Author is disingenuous....
This author, in this book, extolls the wonders of boxing, claiming it is the ultimate martial art.But why then did he subsequently (1 year later) write a street-wrestling book extolling the virtues and effectiveness of wrestling techniques and takedowns as the ultimate martial art????

Classic Primer
I coach in boxing and currently have my grandson involved in learning the science. I have reviewed many books on boxing and found this to be perhaps one of the best primers for a new boxer to read and understand the science of boxing. Most important, it drew on examples of the "old school of boxing" and the turn of the century fighters who knew and understood the importance of the science and use of the body in delevering punches. There are few coaches who really teach or understand the importance of this, and it was brought to home recently when my grandson attended a summer camp and was picked on by an older bully, who put him in a head lock and delivered two punches to his head. My grandson broke free and shot a power uppercut to his jaw, sending the bully into hiding in the latrene. The other kids who witnessed this were in awe that a small kid could do this to a much larger and stronger kid. Lesson learned...lesson taught. Forget wasting your money on Karate, Kung Fu and martial arts that will get you butt kicked. Outside of boxing and MMA, you don't stand a chance in a street fight..read this book.

Excellent Book!!!
This is only the second book that I've read about a fighting system, but I have to say that I thought it was very well written. I've been taking a boxing class for over a year, and I absolutely love it. This book opened my eyes to things I never considered in regards to having to adapt those skills to a streetfight. For instance, now that I punch harder than normal, there is a bigger possibility that I could break my hands on someone's face. So I should prep my hands for bare knuckle fighting. Mind you, I haven't been in a fight in over 11 years, and I hope I never have to, but it's good to be prepared. He was super detailed in describing all types of punches and techniques as well.

Pretty Good Book
The book is very practical. The author does know what is he talking about when it comes to street fights.
Boxing is considered a martial arts that is very practical and effective. Why? You are trained to hit while being hit. Sparring is not street fighting but controlled fighting like war games or lab experiments. When you spar, one of your jobs is to protect your sparring partner and learn from each other. In a street fight, your objectives are take position and take out the opponent in the most efficient ways possible. Take the head (CPU/Brain) or respiratory system via neck or chokes. He does not cut down all martial arts but just the ones who have instructors that have no practical streetfighting experience; the ones who teach poison/garbage to their students. Also, he does mention it's the person not that art/system that makes the difference. The book has a few good concepts and some mentioned techniques that are effective for any system of fighting.

I love this guy!
Great book! I used to get beat up a lot. I read this book, went out, and beat up 3 guys in a shopping mall, won the fight without a scratch, and I even got the thumbs up from the people around. You know those loudmouth bullies that think they own the joint? That walk around as if they were the masters of the universe? That pretend to be the toughest guys? That enjoy intimidating people? That think they can push you around or that you have to get out of their way if you want to live? Well I just got sick of it! And after training with this guy, I knew I had what it took, and I think the best thing, the most important thing, that this book taught me... was the attitude, the mindset, you don't wait for the other guy to cut you open before you really start fighting back. Now I can go out there and walk around with no fear, because I know I can defend myself.
Thanks Ned, you changed my life.
... Read more

Product Description

Boxing's greatest trainer reveals all

"The book is written in a highly conversational tone, and by the end the reader will know precisely what it is like to listen to the Bill Walsh of boxing hold court on the exotic art of the cornerman."
--New York Times Book Review

"[H]ere's one for the fans: an as-close-up-as-you-can-get view of boxing's biggest, baddest personalities and poundings."
-Men's Journal

"The teaming of esteemed boxing trainer Angelo Dundee and Bert Randolph Sugar, perhaps the best boxing writer around, produces a lively and insightful look at professional boxing in the second half of the 20th century… His fascinating portraits of Ali, Leonard and Foreman make this a terrific read."
--Library Journal

"This book's appeal lies in Dundee's colorful and punchy personality, as he enlivens the prose with entertaining, Yogi Berra-like jokes, tautologies and euphemisms. It's no surprise that Dundee helped Ali develop his famous rhymes."
--Publishers Weekly

Angelo Dundee was named Manager of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association in 1968 and 1979. In 1994 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He continues to train boxers and has acted as ringside commentator for many televised fights.

Bert Randolph Sugar is the most recognized and well-known boxing writer in history. The former editor of Ring Magazine and Boxing Illustrated and publisher of Fight Game magazine, he has written dozens of books on boxing and is a regular ESPN sports analyst. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

A Proper Boxing Book
After reading so many shallow biographies or books by fighters that have achieved very little it is a refreshing pleasure to come accross Angelo Dundee's book.

This book covers boxing from the 50's to the end of George Foremna's secoond comeback around the mid 90's and is a pleasure to read.

Dundee aided by brother Chris virtually hustled himself into boxing and the sport seemed to have so much character in those early days.

The vision of Glessons gym described almost allows you to smell sweat from the pages of the book as a motley bunch of characters that hang around the gym are described that range from match fixing hoodlums to wannabe fighters.It is a good introduction to the book.

Ali's career is covered in depth and although this account is not of the quality of Thomas Hausers book, the insight from the corner provided by Angelo Dundee gives this account its own appeal.

The strengths and weaknesees of the opponents are considered in the detail that only a trainer could, especially one so thorough in his research as Dundee. The problem with Ali's career is that it has been so well documented that there are few suprises but Angelo provides one of the better acounts that I have read.

I found the section on Sugar Ray Leonard the best in the book and was suprised by the off hand treatment that Angelo recieved from Leonard's legal team.

Whereas Ali improved his terms of employment with Dundee, the Leonard team renaged on previous agreements and were run like a faceless cooportation.

Leonard was quite happy to go along with the flow and never stood up for his trainer. The fights with Duran, Hearns and Hagler were well covered and again the benefits of Angelo's experience offered new insights.

The book closes with George Foremeans second career and him recapturing the world title at 46 - This has historical significance but is not covered in the same depth as the other two boxers. Again Angelo identified and exposed a weakness in Michael Moorer and all George had to do was wait for the moment. Not unlike Manny Stewart tutored Oliver McCall against Leonnox Lewis in 1994.

All in all a good read for boxing fans.

very good book
Great information and back stories, I liked this book a lot.
The bookseller was prompt and the used book was in very good shape.

A Nice Book
OK, maybe 1 star isn't exactly fair, but this really could have been a THE boxing book.After-all, Dundee has been at the heart of boxing for 60 years.He must have seen and heard sooooooo much more than is in this book.

Sure there are some interesting anecdotes, and cute stories but there is nothing insightful or revelatory.He goes to great pains to make sure no dirt is spread on anyone.I mean, he doesn't even address the issue of a Ali continuing to fight with certified brain damage.The only mention of his first hand encounters with the ever present mob is when he said 'hello' to Carbo at a restaurant.And when an interesting tidbit slips through the filters nothing comes of it.Like when he mentions in passing that everyone in Buster Douglas' camp was terrified of Douglas.It would have been nice to know why and what happened.

The depth of story telling is on par with what you would hear on Jonathan Ross or Jay Leno.

So I guess my one star comes from my huge disappointment that the book has been so thoroughly neutered and sanitized.

Not as good as "Facing Ali" but an entertaining read
Plenty of info on the life of a man in the center of the boxing world for many years. Well written and a fun read, but overall I enjoyed "Facing Ali" more.

My View from the Corner
An excellent bio from Angelo Dundee...a slice of the times,insight and history of prominent past boxers (Ali, Basilio, Frazier, Liston,et al),that can never be found anywhere else. Just outstanding! J.Boylan ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Kasia Boddy's book is a knock-out!
Kasia Boddy's book is the most thorough, entertaining, and informative book on boxing I've ever seen.The color illustrations are dazzling. She is a marvel.If you'd like to hear my WPKN interview with Kasia from last year:
[....]

Enjoyable and Fascinating
This is not a book for detailed fight histories of Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson; it is probably more "cultural history" than "boxing"; it is somehow both heavily-footnoted and fun reading.It turns out that boxing provides a fascinating lens through which to view the past.The author shows boxing affecting every level of society and appearing in seemingly every form of art.It has come and gone from mainstream fashion more than once.As the author puts it at the end of the first chapter, boxing seems to contain a "mixture . . . which has made it for so long and so productively a way to imagine conflict".

Blood, Culture, and Glorious Prose.
I was given this--wouldn't have imagined that I was interested in boxing.After reading the section on Dickens (the reason I was given the book), I started the preceding chapter, then started from the beginning, then had to read the end.Boddy's writing is so witty and interesting and her bits of information so thought-provoking that I kept wanting to read it to friends.(I had to explain all my references to 'claret,' Regency slang for 'blood.') Everyone I've shown it to has found a different reason for wanting to read it.It's a bit like an encyclopaedia and provides the same pleasure as the Oxford Companion to Food.The illustrations are wonderful.
This book makes a wonderful present, even to oneself. ... Read more

Product Description
A practical boxing guide covering developmental and fitness exercises, skill tips, technical information, and competitive strategies. This handbook contains essential information for competitive boxers, fitness boxers, martial artists, coaches, and fans.

Find answers to your boxing questions, including: Why should a boxer lead with the shoulder? How should my boxing strategy change, depending upon the style of my opponent? How do judges score bouts? Which drills will make me more effective in the ring?

Easy-to-follow instructions, diagrams, charts and tables help you understand competitive boxing skills and strategy you can put to use in the gym or in the ring. Learn to make informed decisions about your training, and gain the competitive edge for immediate success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A Comprehensive Publication
"The Ultimate Boxer" by Cristy Halbert is a comprehensive publication. There is something in it for everyone. Beginners and present boxers, as well as coaches will find information that is useful to them. For the working athlete, basic and advanced techniques are covered in detail. For trainers there are tips and important things to consider in dealing with athletes under their supervision. For those developing boxing programs there is information on ring dimensions, and supportive material such as boxing web sites and equipment and apparel resources. There was extensive use of drawings throughout the book and it is this factor that kept me from giving five stars to the publication. There are times when a drawing adequately serves the purpose, but in my opinion the demonstrations of skills are best done by real athletes. Some may have to be posed and others may be action pictures. However, most of the pictures should be images of live persons. In that way, the reader can follow the guidelines of the book even to the point of positioning himself exactly as copied from the example in the book. I still consider this book to be one of the best and most comprehensive books on boxing. I give this book four stars.

By Al Gotay, Ed.D., author of "Boxing Basics" and "Self Defense Basics".

Pearls of wisdom in this book
Recommended for those starting out in learning serious fighting and not powder puff hitting. Read everything, talk with everyone, and sort out what you can use. This is a good basic book for understanding the science of boxing. The real learning takes place in sparring and actual boxing.

1,1,2B
This is a great introduction to boxing. I read the book before I started training, now I am way ahead of the game only a month in and I am sparring with guys months more advanced than I am. Great book

Quite comprehensive
Quite comprehensive. More than just the basic though I wish it can go more in-depth. One of the best boxing books I can find so far.

One Book Is All You Need
I'm an amateur boxing coach, including collegiate level, and I've read a fair number of handbooks and manuals. This book is written by an elite-level USAB coach armed with a a PhD - qualifications don't come more thorough than that. When I started out, I learned absolutely everything I needed to know from this book to begin coaching - it is a comprehensive guide. Once you get the basics down, there are any number of opportunities to make these ideas fit your own style. You can't go wrong making this book the foundation of your amateur coaching. ... Read more

Product Description
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Duties/Responsibilities and Procedures
Banker?s Trophy Points
Team Competition
Brigade Open
Scoring System
The Job of Boxing Coach
Handwrapping
Roadwork
Shadow Boxing
Sparring
Jumping Rope
Heavy Bag
Calisthenics
Average Day?s Workout
Boxing Training Notes
Points to be stressed in Teaching Boxing Skills
Stance
Footwork
Left Jab
Defense for Left Jab
Straight Right
Defense for Straight Right
Left Hook
Defense for Left Hook
Straight Left to the Body
Straight Right to the Body
Left Hook to the Body
Defense for Body Blows
General Rules for Punching
General Rules for Defense
Combination Blows
Counters
Preparation for Bouts
The Bout
Between Rounds - Seconding
Coaching Between Rounds
Bout Strategy
Against Sluggers ... Read more

Product Description
Are today's boxers better than their predecessors, or is modern boxing a shadow of its former self? Boxing historians discuss the socioeconomic and demographic changes that have affected the quality, prominence and popularity of the sport over the past century. Among the interviewees are world-renowned scholars, some of the sport's premier trainers, and former amateur and professional world champions. Chapters cover such topics as the ongoing deterioration of boxers' skills, their endurance, the decline in the number of fights and the psychological readiness of championship-caliber boxers. The strengths and weaknesses of today's superstars are analyzed and compared to those of such past greats as Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey and Jake LaMotta. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

An expert analysis of the origins and the current state of boxing.
I enjoyed this book. A major strength of this book is its wonderful compilation of interviews with boxing legends. The interviews tell a story of the history boxing, one of the most primal and basic human activities we engage in as people. The imagery of this book is also amazing, both the imagery formed by words and the stunning visuals. The tone is very "New York". You feel like you are sitting and listening in on a chat with boxing experts in their own gyms. The interviews obtained by Mike Silver are second to none in quality. This book is vital in any sports or boxing collection. It catalogues the history of boxing with a strong insight and expert analysis.

Repetitious, One Sided and a Complete Waste of Time and Money
When my good friend and fellow boxing fan, Marty Garfield, urged me to read "The Arc Of Boxing", I obliged him gladly as I am familiar with both its author and its central argument; that the boxers of the "Golden Age", the 1920s to the 1950s, were superior to the fighters of today. While I disagree with Silver's views, it is with the book itself that I have the greater problem.

I have been a devoted follower of boxing for almost 50 years and for me to find a book on my beloved sport boring is quite a stretch, but "The Arc of Boxing" doesn't read like a conventional book.TAOB is predominately a collection of monologues by boxing trainers and old-time observers of the sport, which sound suspiciously like taped phone conversations, each one stating and re-stating the book's central argument.I fault the author (actually the compiler) on his technique in that there is little interviewing done here.Each long paragraph continues, unbroken by questions, with each contributor stating the book's case over and over again until the mind-numbing repetition became almost too much for me to continue reading.

TAOB's argument for the inherent superiority of the old time boxers breaks down along two lines, that:
1."Golden Age" boxers had many more fights then modern boxers, giving them more "seasoning" and:
2.Modern fighters, trainers, managers, promoters, referees, officials and corner men are either incompetent, dishonest, or only in it for the money, as opposed to the wise, forthright and selfless participants of the "Golden Age"

Even though I disagree with his basic argument, I do have great respect and admiration for the abilities of the boxing legends referred to in Silver's book. I just find it amusing that boxing is the only sport where a sizeable number of its fans believe that the practitioners of more than 50 years ago are superior to their modern counterparts.This argument flies in the face of every measureable attribute of athletic ability.The human race is unquestionably bigger, faster, better conditioned, and possess superior training, nutrition and equipment than those athletes of the 1920's though the 1950's.

My quarrel with Silver's book is not with its argument but with its high price, lack of substance and its mean-spirited dismissal of everything and everyone connected with boxing over the last 50 years.Silver pushes me too far, however, when he demands that boxing be banned and asks his readership to join him by turning their collective backs on the sport.It is the coward's way out.

When I became a fan in the early 1960's, a movement to ban boxing had already gathered considerable momentum during the Kefauver hearings, and then subsequently, with the ring deaths of world champions Benny Paret and Sugar Ramos.If that effort had been successful, look what we would have missed!No Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran or Sugar Ray Leonard, no Mike Tyson or George Foreman, no Oscar De La Hoya or Manny Pacquiao, no Vinny Pazienza for Christ's sake!Would we have been better off, as these old-timers seem to wish, with just our memories and the old fight films to keep us happy?I think not.Just because this thing we love may be old and gray or have put on a few pounds doesn't justify taking her out behind the barn and shooting her.After all, there are some people around who love her still.

Just Plain Thin
The book is thin for the $44 price tag, the scholarship is thin for a book intended to advance and support a thesis, and the actual contribution by the author himself is terribly thin for a book with his name on it.

It would be more honest to name the various experts interviewed for the book as co-authors rather than put Mr. Silver's name on it as sole author. A good 3/5 to 3/4 of the book is content provided by someone other than the putative author.

A college professor would give a paper written the way Mr. Silver wrote his book a 'D'... if they felt generous. The support offered for the book's thesis is simple: 'All these really smart people agree with me.'

The refutation of counter-arguments is equally simple: 'Anyone who disagrees with me is an idiot because, see, all these really smart people agree with me.'

If you want to read some smart commentary on modern boxing by Teddy Atlas, Freddie Roach, and Emmanuel Steward and don't mind overpaying for it then the book might be worth it to you. If you want to actually read a book and expect to actually see the promise made in the forward, that the book will make you think, kept... give it a pass.

Said smart contributions by the trainers named above is the only reason the book rates a second star, in my opinion. Without it, the bad scholarship and inflated price would make it completely worthless.

Doesn't say anything new
to an experienced boxing fan who has read other similar books and watched old fights.It is very subjective, and the price is ridiculously high.

Redundant and disappointing
I guess I should have known by the title but I was hoping more for a book the re-introduced some of the lost art.The author was dead on when showing why boxing is in decline when he showed the statistics of active fighters and the number of rounds they fought and such but the book was horribly redundant in its' claims that "the old guys knew how to do this" or "the old guys knew how to do that" and "nobody teaches this anymore".

What I'd have liked to see him do is approach some of the other guys with more of an attachment to the old school like a Georgie Benton and start to see what it would take to rediscover some of the old techniques rather than whining that boxing isn't like what it was in it's golden years.Guess what, nothing is!!

... Read more