Pictorial History of Boxing

The written history itself, while very good, is only overview but they had the archives of The Ring magazines images and photographs to choose from so the pictorial part is great. Its all covered from the bare knuckle era to the mid 1980s. This is a huge book. Its hard to find pics with more feel and character than whats in this book.

I loved the way Nat Fleisher and the other co-authors authored the book in chronological fashion. I have the 1995 edition with Joe Louis pictured on the back. It shows the history and origins of the sport and does a good job of covering all divisions in boxing up to 1995 I think. I think I have the Fifth Edition of this book.

This is the classic, complete history of boxing for those looking for that and not merely for records. Great photos, oither illustrations, and narratives as well as thorough coverage of the divisions will have you spend lots of time with the book and return to it time and again. I swa this first inf 1965, when I was just 14.5 years old and a fan. I made my father purchase it (for $6.95!) as my Three Kings Day's gift (January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, was for Spanish speaking countries the major Christmas, gift-giving holiday). I have purchased a couple of new editions lthrough the years, and it has never lost the original's flavour. A must read and posses book for boxing fans. Enrique Bird, San Juan, Puerto Ric