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The Good Son: The Life of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini
From the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of Namath and Pistol comes another remarkable biography—the life of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. In the early 1980s, Mancini was more than the lightweight champ. He was a national hero. Sinatra fawned over him. Warren Zevon wrote a tribute song. Sylvester Stallone produced his life story as a movie of the week. After all, an adoring public considered Boom Boom the real Rocky. Lenny Mancini—the original Boom Boom, as he was known—had been a lightweight contender himself before fragments of German mortar shell almost killed him in 1944. By winning the championship just as he vowed—for his wounded father—Ray produced his own feel-good fable for network television. But it all came apart in a brutal 1982 battle against an obscure Korean challenger. Deuk Koo Kim lost consciousness in the fourteenth round and died within days. Three months later, his despondent mother took her own life. The deaths would haunt Ray and ruin his image, turning boxing’s All-American Boy into a pariah. Now, thirty years later, Kriegel finally uncovers the story’s full dimensions, tracking the Mancini and Kim families across generations and excavating mysteries—from the killing of Mancini’s brother to the fate of Kim’s son. Even as the scenes move from Youngstown to New York, Las Vegas to Seoul, Reno to Hollywood, The Good Son remains an intimate history, a saga of fathers and fighters, loss and redemption.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 27, 2025
Published in 2012, this is an Advance Reader’s Edition’ of the book which I picked up at a used book sale. So, I don’t know what the actual finished book looks like. In this one there are a TON of typos, incorrect words all over the place, and no pictures at all. If proofread or edited before this it was very poorly done.
A fairly decent biography of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. A boxer I used to love to watch until his career tragically ended. Unraveling after the death of Duk Koo Kim following the title fight between them. I just wish someone else wrote the book. This was terribly written. To date I have not been able to locate another book about “Boom Boom”. Three stars.
A fairly decent biography of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. A boxer I used to love to watch until his career tragically ended. Unraveling after the death of Duk Koo Kim following the title fight between them. I just wish someone else wrote the book. This was terribly written. To date I have not been able to locate another book about “Boom Boom”. Three stars.
October 21, 2012
Seldom have I come across a book on the "NEW" table and snatched it up immediately. The thought of reading about Boom Boom Mancini and his boxing career was a surprise, and a must-have.
I wonder if the writer is from the tri-state area, writing about Beaver Falls' Joe Namath, Aliquippa's Pistol Pete Maravich and Youngstown's Ray Mancini. If not, we're just lucky.
The book was a page-turner and I'm always impressed by tons of footnotes and an index in the back of the book. Well thought out, and professionally written. I appreciated the photographs and wish there were more. The tragedy of Duk Koo Kim, and the attention the writer paid to Kim's family added another dimension.
Any tale of fathers and sons is irresistible; obviously Ray was a caring father. I would have liked more detail about Ray today, and also whatever happened to Diana Louise Kirkwood. But what came across was something very difficult to achieve ... a genuine and emotional feeling for how adored Boom Boom was. I was a fan ... and reading the book, I'm happy to say I still am.
I wonder if the writer is from the tri-state area, writing about Beaver Falls' Joe Namath, Aliquippa's Pistol Pete Maravich and Youngstown's Ray Mancini. If not, we're just lucky.
The book was a page-turner and I'm always impressed by tons of footnotes and an index in the back of the book. Well thought out, and professionally written. I appreciated the photographs and wish there were more. The tragedy of Duk Koo Kim, and the attention the writer paid to Kim's family added another dimension.
Any tale of fathers and sons is irresistible; obviously Ray was a caring father. I would have liked more detail about Ray today, and also whatever happened to Diana Louise Kirkwood. But what came across was something very difficult to achieve ... a genuine and emotional feeling for how adored Boom Boom was. I was a fan ... and reading the book, I'm happy to say I still am.
October 9, 2012
I'm one of the young folks out there who can still call themselves a boxing fan. What I am not, however, is a boxing historian. So any chance I can get to read up on some of the old-time guys, I take it (well, old-time for me. I'm in my early 20s).
A couple of months ago I found out that veteran sportswriter Mark Kriegel was writing a book about Ray Mancini, one of the most popular boxers from the 80s. Knowing about Kriegel’s work as a sportswriter and biographer (he wrote Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich, a book that I love) I knew I had to read it.
Before reading The Good Son: The Life of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, I wasn’t very informed about Mancini. I have, however, heard some details about his battle with Duk Koo Kim, a 1982 championship fight that was so brutal, Kim would end up losing his life.
That fight is covered extensively in the book, and it sort of represents the start of the end for Mancini as a boxer. After that bout Mancini would fight eight more times, losing four of those battles. That bout also represents the split of the book.
The fight is a pivotal moment and Kriegel does a fantastic job building up that point, detailing not only Mancini’s rise as jubilant fighter but the story of his father and, just as importantly, the story of Youngstown, Ohio, Mancini’s place of birth.
In fact, for me the most fascinating stories aren’t the ones about Ray (who, by all accounts seemed like a very decent catholic man) but it was the people around him: This story of his father, Boom, who was a professional fighter in the 40s, but never got his title shot due to World War 2, his brother Lenny, who was wild and who died under suspicious circumstances and Doo Koo Kim, who left behind a grieving pregnant wife and a grieving mother who would commit suicide some time after the fight.
Kriegel takes a chapter out to tell the story of Kim and his upbringing. It truly is mesmerizing stuff and easily the most memorable portion of the book. Kudos to Kriegel for doing the in depth reporting and making sure Kim is represented well. Kriegel really is a beast of a writer. He’s a fluid storyteller, and he keeps himself completely out of the story, while writing in his own hip, kind of street-savvy voice.
If there's a weakness in the book, it's parts of the conclusion. I don't want to say too much, but the fate of Boom's parents seems kind of skimmed over. The father was an important part of the book for two/thirds of the story, so for him to exit the book so anticlimactically seemed odd.
But those are minor grips for a book that I found fascinating.
A couple of months ago I found out that veteran sportswriter Mark Kriegel was writing a book about Ray Mancini, one of the most popular boxers from the 80s. Knowing about Kriegel’s work as a sportswriter and biographer (he wrote Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich, a book that I love) I knew I had to read it.
Before reading The Good Son: The Life of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, I wasn’t very informed about Mancini. I have, however, heard some details about his battle with Duk Koo Kim, a 1982 championship fight that was so brutal, Kim would end up losing his life.
That fight is covered extensively in the book, and it sort of represents the start of the end for Mancini as a boxer. After that bout Mancini would fight eight more times, losing four of those battles. That bout also represents the split of the book.
The fight is a pivotal moment and Kriegel does a fantastic job building up that point, detailing not only Mancini’s rise as jubilant fighter but the story of his father and, just as importantly, the story of Youngstown, Ohio, Mancini’s place of birth.
In fact, for me the most fascinating stories aren’t the ones about Ray (who, by all accounts seemed like a very decent catholic man) but it was the people around him: This story of his father, Boom, who was a professional fighter in the 40s, but never got his title shot due to World War 2, his brother Lenny, who was wild and who died under suspicious circumstances and Doo Koo Kim, who left behind a grieving pregnant wife and a grieving mother who would commit suicide some time after the fight.
Kriegel takes a chapter out to tell the story of Kim and his upbringing. It truly is mesmerizing stuff and easily the most memorable portion of the book. Kudos to Kriegel for doing the in depth reporting and making sure Kim is represented well. Kriegel really is a beast of a writer. He’s a fluid storyteller, and he keeps himself completely out of the story, while writing in his own hip, kind of street-savvy voice.
If there's a weakness in the book, it's parts of the conclusion. I don't want to say too much, but the fate of Boom's parents seems kind of skimmed over. The father was an important part of the book for two/thirds of the story, so for him to exit the book so anticlimactically seemed odd.
But those are minor grips for a book that I found fascinating.
November 1, 2012
Touching book about a boxer who achieves his dream of winning the title his father never got a chance to win and the guilt of having killed a man in the ring. Ray Mancini's story was something seemingly crafted by a gifted screen writer, especially on the day he knocked out Frias in the first round to win a title. But less than a year, after 14 brutal rounds, his opponent would never regain consciousness, tainting the story book tale with blood. the author chronicles the life of both Lenny and Ray Mancini and Korean boxer Doo Koo Kim with brilliance and warmth. This is one of the best boxing books I have read in a long time. (read 11/01/12).
October 1, 2025
Boxing in the 1980’s saw a rise in the popularity of lighter weights and one of those popular boxers was Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. His life both in and out of the ring is told well in this book by Mark Kriegel, an accomplished sports biographer.
Mancini came from a boxing family. His father Lenny, also nicknamed “Boom Boom” was a promising fighter until he was injured serving in WWII and was not the same. Ray always wanted to please his father, and the ties between them as well as those Ray had with his mother and siblings are captured well by Kriegel.
Of course, there is plenty of text about Ray inside the ring and in training. While he did earn the lightweight title, sadly he is most remembered for a fight in which his opponent, DunKu Kim from South Korea, died in a hospital several hours after Mancini knocked him out in the 14th round. That affected him deeply in both his professional and personal life. That is told superbly both in Kriegel's writing and McAllany’s narration. What gives it an even better touch is that Kim’s family is included in the book - what they did in the wake of his death is both sad and inspiring.
This also affected the Mancini family hard as well. Like his father’s career after returning from the war, Ray’s career wasn’t the same as it was after the Kim fight. It was clear that he didn’t have the same desire in both training and the bouts. While he put up a great effort to regain his title, he knew it was time to retire. The book tells about this and his subsequent failed marriage. Through it all, the book has even-mannered, informative and engrossing stories that will keep the reader engaged, where using the print or audio version.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Mancini came from a boxing family. His father Lenny, also nicknamed “Boom Boom” was a promising fighter until he was injured serving in WWII and was not the same. Ray always wanted to please his father, and the ties between them as well as those Ray had with his mother and siblings are captured well by Kriegel.
Of course, there is plenty of text about Ray inside the ring and in training. While he did earn the lightweight title, sadly he is most remembered for a fight in which his opponent, DunKu Kim from South Korea, died in a hospital several hours after Mancini knocked him out in the 14th round. That affected him deeply in both his professional and personal life. That is told superbly both in Kriegel's writing and McAllany’s narration. What gives it an even better touch is that Kim’s family is included in the book - what they did in the wake of his death is both sad and inspiring.
This also affected the Mancini family hard as well. Like his father’s career after returning from the war, Ray’s career wasn’t the same as it was after the Kim fight. It was clear that he didn’t have the same desire in both training and the bouts. While he put up a great effort to regain his title, he knew it was time to retire. The book tells about this and his subsequent failed marriage. Through it all, the book has even-mannered, informative and engrossing stories that will keep the reader engaged, where using the print or audio version.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
August 31, 2023
A great example of why boxing biographies are so interesting. This covers so many angles of what drives some people to be how they are. From the need for adoration, redemption and all too often self destruction.
November 20, 2013
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini was my favorite boxer as a young teen, and remains my favorite even today. He could knock the living daylights out of you, could take a punch, and his story was awesome. Until tragedy struck. I assume most everybody knows about it, and it takes up a large portion of the book, but the author does a great job of treating it with dignity and respect.
Boom Boom was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, a rust belt former steel town with a big Mob presence. His dad had been a fighter and was the number one challenger in the world, up for the title fight, before World War II called and ended his career with a drastic injury. Ray grew up idolizing his father and it seems like he always wanted to be a fighter. He decided early on that he would one day win the world championship that eluded his father, and he would do it for his father. And he fought with fury. He had real presence about him, a magnetism, charisma, and since I lived in the Pittsburgh area with Youngstown so close by, he felt like a homeboy to me. Oh yes, I rooted for him.
He trained hard and he fought hard. Forgive me if I don't get my facts straight, but I read this in e-book format and can't go back to look up the figures, but by age 20 or so, Boom Boom was something like 23-0 or 23-1, most with knockouts. (He was a lightweight.) When he finally won the world championship, you feel like cheering alongside Ray. He fought a few more fights, but as is the case, you have to fight the top challengers to hang onto your belt, and in 1982, an unknown South Korean named Duk Koo Kim was the top challenger. Watching video of him, Ray and his team felt like he mirrored Ray in never stepping back, in always pursuing with dogged tenacity, in taking punches, and dealing out punishment. Ray, always confident, was a little worried, but he trained hard and when it came time for the fight -- which I think was held outdoors in Reno -- he was ready. But the fight was difficult -- for both fighters. They pummeled each other. They held nothing back. They both bled and bruised and inflicted pain. It was a 15 round fight and it was pretty even until the 14th, when Ray caught Kim and knocked him out with a series of blows. Ray's family and team rushed the ring, and he celebrated, but he missed seeing Kim taken out on a stretcher to a local hospital, where tests showed he had severe bleeding in his brain. He wasn't going to live. Within about three days, Kim was dead and a lot of people now viewed Mancini as a murderer. It was devastating! He couldn't believe it. And he thought, as did others, it could have been him. This death in the ring was the beginning of the end for Boom Boom. He'd fight about eight more times, losing four, getting abused twice by one person who won the belt off him (Bramble). His heart wasn't in it anymore, so he retired. At age 23 or 24. Amazing.
However, the book is a lot more than just this. It shows Ray meeting his virginal Cuban American wife in Miami, courting her, marrying her and having three children together. It shows them moving to Santa Monica, where Ray ate and drank with famous people like David Mamet and Ed O'Neil virtually every night. Ray even tried to go into acting, getting some bit parts. Sylvester Stallone did a movie of the week of Ray, starring Ray. The book also has a chapter on Kim, and his upbringing, from a hard childhood to his eventual boxing stardom. It shows the pregnant fiance he left behind, his mother, his family. Ray was further devastated when Kim's mother committed suicide three months after his death. Everywhere he went, people asked him about it, and he just wanted to leave it in the past, haunted the whole time by it. Eventually, Ray screwed up and went for another girl, an actress, was caught by his wife, who divorced him, but who remained a good parent with him for their children. In this book, we see Ray's father, Boom, getting dementia, his brother Lenny getting shot to death. There's a lot of tragedy in this book, as well as honor and excitement. It's a well researched book and surprisingly meaty for being so short. Kriegel could have butchered Mancini -- an easy target for some -- but he treated him and everyone in the book with the respect they deserved, and I thought that was classy. I especially enjoyed the section when Kim's fiance and son came to California to visit Ray and help heal him of his demons. Even if you're not a boxing fan, this book has enough human interest in it to make it appealing to just about anyone. Recommended.
Boom Boom was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, a rust belt former steel town with a big Mob presence. His dad had been a fighter and was the number one challenger in the world, up for the title fight, before World War II called and ended his career with a drastic injury. Ray grew up idolizing his father and it seems like he always wanted to be a fighter. He decided early on that he would one day win the world championship that eluded his father, and he would do it for his father. And he fought with fury. He had real presence about him, a magnetism, charisma, and since I lived in the Pittsburgh area with Youngstown so close by, he felt like a homeboy to me. Oh yes, I rooted for him.
He trained hard and he fought hard. Forgive me if I don't get my facts straight, but I read this in e-book format and can't go back to look up the figures, but by age 20 or so, Boom Boom was something like 23-0 or 23-1, most with knockouts. (He was a lightweight.) When he finally won the world championship, you feel like cheering alongside Ray. He fought a few more fights, but as is the case, you have to fight the top challengers to hang onto your belt, and in 1982, an unknown South Korean named Duk Koo Kim was the top challenger. Watching video of him, Ray and his team felt like he mirrored Ray in never stepping back, in always pursuing with dogged tenacity, in taking punches, and dealing out punishment. Ray, always confident, was a little worried, but he trained hard and when it came time for the fight -- which I think was held outdoors in Reno -- he was ready. But the fight was difficult -- for both fighters. They pummeled each other. They held nothing back. They both bled and bruised and inflicted pain. It was a 15 round fight and it was pretty even until the 14th, when Ray caught Kim and knocked him out with a series of blows. Ray's family and team rushed the ring, and he celebrated, but he missed seeing Kim taken out on a stretcher to a local hospital, where tests showed he had severe bleeding in his brain. He wasn't going to live. Within about three days, Kim was dead and a lot of people now viewed Mancini as a murderer. It was devastating! He couldn't believe it. And he thought, as did others, it could have been him. This death in the ring was the beginning of the end for Boom Boom. He'd fight about eight more times, losing four, getting abused twice by one person who won the belt off him (Bramble). His heart wasn't in it anymore, so he retired. At age 23 or 24. Amazing.
However, the book is a lot more than just this. It shows Ray meeting his virginal Cuban American wife in Miami, courting her, marrying her and having three children together. It shows them moving to Santa Monica, where Ray ate and drank with famous people like David Mamet and Ed O'Neil virtually every night. Ray even tried to go into acting, getting some bit parts. Sylvester Stallone did a movie of the week of Ray, starring Ray. The book also has a chapter on Kim, and his upbringing, from a hard childhood to his eventual boxing stardom. It shows the pregnant fiance he left behind, his mother, his family. Ray was further devastated when Kim's mother committed suicide three months after his death. Everywhere he went, people asked him about it, and he just wanted to leave it in the past, haunted the whole time by it. Eventually, Ray screwed up and went for another girl, an actress, was caught by his wife, who divorced him, but who remained a good parent with him for their children. In this book, we see Ray's father, Boom, getting dementia, his brother Lenny getting shot to death. There's a lot of tragedy in this book, as well as honor and excitement. It's a well researched book and surprisingly meaty for being so short. Kriegel could have butchered Mancini -- an easy target for some -- but he treated him and everyone in the book with the respect they deserved, and I thought that was classy. I especially enjoyed the section when Kim's fiance and son came to California to visit Ray and help heal him of his demons. Even if you're not a boxing fan, this book has enough human interest in it to make it appealing to just about anyone. Recommended.
July 15, 2012
“The Good Son, The Life of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini” by Mark Kriegel, published by Free Press.
Category – Biography
For those of you who do not know Ray Mancini, Ray was a boxer in the 1980’s who fought in the lightweight division. Now, before you quit reading, this is much, much, more than a story about a boxer.
Ray grew up in Youngstown, Ohio which was going through a terrible time with the steel mills shutting down and the mob running the town. Ray’s father was a boxer and almost made it to the lightweight division championship except for being drafted and being injured in the World War II. Ray took up his father’s torch and promised him the division championship.
The story follows “Boom Boom’s” quest by giving a vivid description of the fight game, the personalities involved, the big fights, the corruption, and the state of the country. Ray became an instant success with his “no step back” and “straight at them” attitude.
Ray, at the time was commanding the biggest gates and payoffs in boxing, until he met Duk Koo Kim from South Korea. Duk mirrored the fighting style of Mancini and prophesied that one of them would not leave the ring alive. It was a great fight until the 14th round when Ray hit Duk and knocked him unconscious. Duk would die several days later and a black pall was put over the sport of boxing and actually led Howard Cosell to quit announcing the sport.
The story follows how Ray, after a long period and soul searching was able to live with Duk’s death. Unfortunately, it also led to the evils of boxing, drug use, infidelity, and rampant spending, but the thing that hurt Ray most was his loss of being a national hero with a tarnished image.
Category – Biography
For those of you who do not know Ray Mancini, Ray was a boxer in the 1980’s who fought in the lightweight division. Now, before you quit reading, this is much, much, more than a story about a boxer.
Ray grew up in Youngstown, Ohio which was going through a terrible time with the steel mills shutting down and the mob running the town. Ray’s father was a boxer and almost made it to the lightweight division championship except for being drafted and being injured in the World War II. Ray took up his father’s torch and promised him the division championship.
The story follows “Boom Boom’s” quest by giving a vivid description of the fight game, the personalities involved, the big fights, the corruption, and the state of the country. Ray became an instant success with his “no step back” and “straight at them” attitude.
Ray, at the time was commanding the biggest gates and payoffs in boxing, until he met Duk Koo Kim from South Korea. Duk mirrored the fighting style of Mancini and prophesied that one of them would not leave the ring alive. It was a great fight until the 14th round when Ray hit Duk and knocked him unconscious. Duk would die several days later and a black pall was put over the sport of boxing and actually led Howard Cosell to quit announcing the sport.
The story follows how Ray, after a long period and soul searching was able to live with Duk’s death. Unfortunately, it also led to the evils of boxing, drug use, infidelity, and rampant spending, but the thing that hurt Ray most was his loss of being a national hero with a tarnished image.
September 13, 2024
I can't remember the last time I read a sports biography, if ever. But for some reason, boxing stories are never just about boxing - whether it's Rocky or Raging Bull or Cinderella Man or just the real life story of Muhammad Ali, boxing is somehow always a metaphor for something greater and usually tragic, which is what makes boxing stories so much more interesting than, say, football stories.
The Good Son is no exception. Mancini led a complex life full of both ups and downs. The mere fact that Boom Boom survived and continues to live relatively happily-ever-after when so many of his contemporaries are either dead or worse, (and it was interesting to learn that his sometime opponent Hector "Macho" Comacho died just last month after being shot in the face), is really about the happiest ending you could expect, when compared to the truly sad stories that seem to dog almost all professional boxers.
This is a really well-written book about a fascinating individual who dedicated his life to a really horrendous sport. If there is one simple takeaway, for me it would be: don't ever let your sons put on the gloves.
The Good Son is no exception. Mancini led a complex life full of both ups and downs. The mere fact that Boom Boom survived and continues to live relatively happily-ever-after when so many of his contemporaries are either dead or worse, (and it was interesting to learn that his sometime opponent Hector "Macho" Comacho died just last month after being shot in the face), is really about the happiest ending you could expect, when compared to the truly sad stories that seem to dog almost all professional boxers.
This is a really well-written book about a fascinating individual who dedicated his life to a really horrendous sport. If there is one simple takeaway, for me it would be: don't ever let your sons put on the gloves.
August 13, 2012
Received as an ARC from the publisher. Finished it today. An excellent book about a remarkable boxer, one with talent, courage and integrity. This book gets into Ray Mancini's head, not just his life. I learned much about him that I'd never read in news reports over the years. Mr Kriegel's skill lets you feel his victories and his pain.
October 12, 2012
A very good book about his life and some of his boxing matches and how he over came a tragic boxing incident but it took him many years. A good book.
September 9, 2025
Well researched and engaging. This is the third sports bio I have read by Mark Kriegel of a larger than life national athlete I followed in my younger days, and they have all been excellent (Namath, Maravich, and now Mancini). A clear and convincing subplot throughout details the cesspool that is and was professional boxing. I'm glad I gave up following this 'sport' some 30 years ago. I don't miss it, and from my understanding it has devolved even more precipitously in the ensuing decades.
Three moments from my days as a boxing fan which keep those days permanently in the dustbin of memory:
I watched the Mancini - Duk Koo Kim fight with my father. We were both riveted to the brawl and were both mentioning throughout that it was one of the 'best' fights we had seen. When Kim lost consciousness, my regard and empathy for the precious gift of human life made for a watershed opportunity to reassess my fandom. However I was still too young to get there and step away.
I was a huge fan of local (Hartford, CT) boxer Marlon Starling and followed his career closely and passionately, witnessing his rise to eventual world champion and even attending one of his matches in Hartford along with about twelve thousand like minded fans. When he knocked out Mark Breland for the title, I was incredulous that the local boxing hero and underdog was about to win the world championship. I found myself face to face with the television screaming 'hit him, hit him, hit him !!! '. And this from someone who has never had and never will have any interest in gambling. I just wanted him to win that badly. Not one of my prouder moments.
Perhaps a couple of years later, I was watching some now forgotten boxing match on television with my girlfriend. I think she was slightly appalled and sickened by the 'sport'. At some point in an interlude of silence, she innocuously asked me , 'isn't the point to keep hitting each other in the head?'. That was more or less my eventual epiphany. I permanently gave up watching boxing shortly thereafter.
Three moments from my days as a boxing fan which keep those days permanently in the dustbin of memory:
I watched the Mancini - Duk Koo Kim fight with my father. We were both riveted to the brawl and were both mentioning throughout that it was one of the 'best' fights we had seen. When Kim lost consciousness, my regard and empathy for the precious gift of human life made for a watershed opportunity to reassess my fandom. However I was still too young to get there and step away.
I was a huge fan of local (Hartford, CT) boxer Marlon Starling and followed his career closely and passionately, witnessing his rise to eventual world champion and even attending one of his matches in Hartford along with about twelve thousand like minded fans. When he knocked out Mark Breland for the title, I was incredulous that the local boxing hero and underdog was about to win the world championship. I found myself face to face with the television screaming 'hit him, hit him, hit him !!! '. And this from someone who has never had and never will have any interest in gambling. I just wanted him to win that badly. Not one of my prouder moments.
Perhaps a couple of years later, I was watching some now forgotten boxing match on television with my girlfriend. I think she was slightly appalled and sickened by the 'sport'. At some point in an interlude of silence, she innocuously asked me , 'isn't the point to keep hitting each other in the head?'. That was more or less my eventual epiphany. I permanently gave up watching boxing shortly thereafter.
January 19, 2025
I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, actually, Hubbard just outside of Youngstown. Still the same area where the Mancini family lived. Anybody who followed sports of any type, and even those who didn’t, had heard of Ray Mancini. I’ve had two occasions to shake the champ’s hand and even briefly talk to him. He’s a very gracious champion. Funny enough, before I had the chance to meet Ray for the first time, I would be baffled how this little man could knock these guys out, many of which were taller than Ray. Then came the day I first met him. It was easily clear how he could elicit pain to an opponent. Ray was SUPER cut; his upper body was massive.
I also knew Ray’s parents (not personally mind you). Ray’s father Lenny “Boom” Mancini and I worked at General Fireproofing (an office furniture manufacturer). Then there was an Isaly’s Dairy not too far from the Mancini home on the south side of Youngstown that both Ray’s mother, Ellen, and father, Lenny, frequented. Anyone who was anyone in Youngstown, connected, politician, judges or just a Joe Schmo like myself grabbed a meal at Isaly’s. Personally, I loved their breakfasts.
Back to the book. Mark Kriegel is a very good writer. I just felt I had to turn the next page to see what was happening with the Mancini family. There was everything from total elation to tragedy and many parts in between. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sports story, a true story or just is a reader such as myself.
I also knew Ray’s parents (not personally mind you). Ray’s father Lenny “Boom” Mancini and I worked at General Fireproofing (an office furniture manufacturer). Then there was an Isaly’s Dairy not too far from the Mancini home on the south side of Youngstown that both Ray’s mother, Ellen, and father, Lenny, frequented. Anyone who was anyone in Youngstown, connected, politician, judges or just a Joe Schmo like myself grabbed a meal at Isaly’s. Personally, I loved their breakfasts.
Back to the book. Mark Kriegel is a very good writer. I just felt I had to turn the next page to see what was happening with the Mancini family. There was everything from total elation to tragedy and many parts in between. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sports story, a true story or just is a reader such as myself.
November 8, 2023
Lenny “Boom Boom” Mancini dropped out of school at fourteen (during the depression) and learned how to fight. Deprivation breeds fighters and Lenny quickly moved up. Soon Lenny was scheduled for a shot at the title. Unfortunately, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Lenny missed his shot. Later, an exploding mortar shell left him disabled.
Ray became a boxer and told his dad that he would win the Title for him. Eventually Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini won the title. Then, defending his title, he fought Duk Koo Kim. A hungry fighter who never took a step back; just like Ray. Ray knocked him out in the 14th round and Duk was taken out on a stretcher. He died a few days later. His mother was so distraught that she committed suicide. Worse yet, Duke’s wife was pregnant. Suddenly, Ray’s carefully crafted image as an All American boy was gone …
Ray became a boxer and told his dad that he would win the Title for him. Eventually Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini won the title. Then, defending his title, he fought Duk Koo Kim. A hungry fighter who never took a step back; just like Ray. Ray knocked him out in the 14th round and Duk was taken out on a stretcher. He died a few days later. His mother was so distraught that she committed suicide. Worse yet, Duke’s wife was pregnant. Suddenly, Ray’s carefully crafted image as an All American boy was gone …
January 24, 2024
Outside of the Zevon song and the fight with Duk Koo Kim, I knew very little about Ray Mancini. After watching that fight through the miracle of YouTube, my curiosity was piqued and I picked up Mark Kriegel's biography. It is a comprehensive, well-paced bio that reveals a fascinating life--before and after the fight that changed boxing. As a biographer, Mr. Kriegel is masterful. Thoroughly researched and very well written, I was impressed. I look forward to reading his take on Pistol Pete Maravich's life in the near future. A great book for boxing fans or anyone who enjoys a good biography.
April 21, 2018
This is an exceptional story of victory and tragedy. Youngstown is the boxing capital of the world. We have had so many great fighters come from our city. It was a true delight to turn back the clock and relive some of the old fights. Ray doesn't get the full respect that he deserves because of Doo Koo Kim death and that is sad because he had an amazing career.
March 27, 2019
A tale of two books? The first 2/3 of this book were spectacular in detailing the successful rise of a thoughtful driven athlete. The last 1/3 seems comprised of random interesting anecdotes of his failed family life and acting career. While they weren't so much as interesting as they were long and pointless. Author made a poor choice in spending so much time on irrelevant aspects.
August 17, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised buy this book. It really brought me back to some memorable days of watching boxing. Given to me by my father-in-law, Leon Gast, of When We Were Kings fame. I've been watching and studying boxing for a long time, and it is a very sad sport with so many problems and so bad for the human brain. But, as far as sports books go, this one is a great read.
February 24, 2020
Man, Mark Kriegel sure can write! I was more interested in reading Krigel’s work than actually learnibg about Ray, but I was quickly hooked and pulled along for the ride.
As much as I loved the story, I focused mostly on how Kriegel writes as tight and as hard ad Boom Boom’s punches!
As much as I loved the story, I focused mostly on how Kriegel writes as tight and as hard ad Boom Boom’s punches!
April 1, 2018
Great boxing read!
March 7, 2019
Mark Kreigel gives an honest account and has ongoing involvement with Boxing.
Check out the indie movie "The Search for One Eyed Jimmy" that Mancini bankrolled and appeared in.
Check out the indie movie "The Search for One Eyed Jimmy" that Mancini bankrolled and appeared in.
December 30, 2022
KSKS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2015
When sugar ray Leonard left the limelight by the late 1970s the path was opened for a new champion of the world who the masses could shout and cheer behind and ray boom boom mancini filled this mantle perfectly. He was white, good looking, the son of a relatively well known Italian fighter and ridiculously nice to go with it all. At some point after winning the world title in the early 80s he had it all. A beautiful wife and children and once he retired a film career in the making. He could count frank Sinatra and Sylvester Stallone amongst his friends. Then in 1982 his world changed when he killed someone in the ring. Duk Koo Kim died a few days of the injuries he had sustained in the 14th round of his fight with Ray and Ray was never able to box the same after that A few months after the fight Kim’s mother committed suicide. Not long after her the referee committed suicide also. His world slowly fell apart. His wife suspected him of an affair with the daughter of Raquel Welch (Tahnee Welch) and his 3 kids suffered from the breakup of the marriage. Before all this older brother (another promising boxer) was found shot dead in a motel with a girl.
I loved this book though – it was very honest and I got to know a character that I hadn’t heard that much about in the boxing circles as he was a few years before my time. The book again is quite useful in showing you how a supreme hard hard hitting athlete trained. Ray was known never to take a step back and his style while technically not the best was certainly entertaining. He would happily take a few heavy hits so long as he could hit back. He was a powerful powerful body hitter and his never say die mentality which he got from his own father served him will though some really trying phases of his life.
I loved this book though – it was very honest and I got to know a character that I hadn’t heard that much about in the boxing circles as he was a few years before my time. The book again is quite useful in showing you how a supreme hard hard hitting athlete trained. Ray was known never to take a step back and his style while technically not the best was certainly entertaining. He would happily take a few heavy hits so long as he could hit back. He was a powerful powerful body hitter and his never say die mentality which he got from his own father served him will though some really trying phases of his life.
November 15, 2012
Most men of my age grew up with the "sweet science" delivered directly to their living rooms through the Friday Night Fights or the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports. Boxing was introduced to us by our fathers complete with history and side notes. This book takes the first real in depth look at what would become the death spiral for the sport. Ray Mancini was the All American Boy, committed to winning the Lightweight belt that was yanked from his father's grasp by WWll and some ill placed shrapnel. This well crafted biography establishes the Mancino clan from arrival to America and Youngstown Ohio, through the Great Depression and the demise of the steel industry in the rust belt.
Throughout the book, Mark Kriegel crafts a story that is chronologically solid and well annotated. Having access to Boom Boom, his sister and many of the people who were involved first hand in Ray's life didn't hurt either.
The Duck Do Kim tragedy would be the undoing of the last real "Great White Hope" (a term Mancini despised), taking from Ray the one thing a fighter must have to succeed, the ability to act without any thought to the possible consequences.
I highly recommend this book to all boxing fans, but it is really a lot more than a sports book. The value placed on family, the demons we all face and the desire and drive that is constantly challenged by day to day life is a theme that all can relate to.
January 9, 2013
I put this book on order at my library before it was even on the shelf, that's how excited I was about it's coming out. As a youngster, Mancini was my one and only favorite boxer and when he quit fighting, I never had another. This being said...I didnt like the book. I had no knowledge of the author or his background; I had no idea he was a sports columnist. And for me that's what was wrong with this book; it read like one long column. I was looking for a more in-depth look at the man himself and I feel like the author fell short of that. I know about Mancin's fights, his wins and losses, the horrible fight with Kim. I wanted more of who he was and I think, that Mancini being a very private man won't give up that information. The blow by blows of every fight, the dialogue between his promoter and whoever he may be addressing at the time simply fell short of what I was looking for.
August 26, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book was about his life, both in and out of the ring. It was not strictly a blow-by-blow account of his fights. I previously read Kriegel's book on "Pistol" Pete Maravich, and will endeavour to pick up his book on Joe Namath. I have always been motivated by boxing and its boxers. The way they continue to battle ever onward. Whether fighting for the fame or the fortune or the mere sake of fighting, I guess I see a little of me in each one I read about. I am currently awaiting a "Hector Camacho" or Arturo Gatti" biography. Recently completed "Roberto Duran" and "Sugar Ray Leonard" bios and have made steps towards completed the Four Kings by ordering "Thomas Hearns" and "Marvin Hagler" books. I will pass on my reviews once completed.
January 16, 2013
I must confess that I read this not because I'm a big fan of Mancini, although I certainly was aware of him while he was a premier boxer, but because I'm fascinated by the man most perpetually linked with Mancini: Kim Duk-Koo.
I really started the book because I wanted to glean as much as I could about Kim, but I ended up being more of a fan of Mancini than I was when he was in his prime. Kriegel does a good job of telling things like they were, warts and all, for everyone involved. His documented sources are very extensive, and it shows in the writing.
Oh yes, I did learn more about Kim, but not too much I didn't already know. :)
I really started the book because I wanted to glean as much as I could about Kim, but I ended up being more of a fan of Mancini than I was when he was in his prime. Kriegel does a good job of telling things like they were, warts and all, for everyone involved. His documented sources are very extensive, and it shows in the writing.
Oh yes, I did learn more about Kim, but not too much I didn't already know. :)
July 29, 2015
A well researched and written book on Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, who was a very good boxer in the early part of the 1980's. The book talks about his relationship with his father, who was also a boxer before an injury in WWII hurt him. It also discusses how he once landed a punch on a fighter in 1982 that would end up killing him. The book, and author Mark Kriegel, talks about how Mancini tries to come to grips with that. Krigel has written good biographies on Joe Namath and Pete Maravich. Add this one to that list. I gave it three stars because I just didn't think the actual story was all that great. Will still be reading Kriegel's next book though whenever it comes out. He's a good writer.
September 4, 2013
An interesting read and engaging. Particularly enjoyed the early years and development in Youngstown, OH. In the end - I did question whether Ray Mancini's career was truly unique enough from other former professional boxers to warrant a book at this time. The tragic bout with Kim really defined Boom Boom Mancini - unfortunately. More could have been done to explore the legacy - like the excellent documentary "Ring of Fire" about Emile Griffith.
Still an engaging read
Still an engaging read
March 5, 2013
The first half of the book leading up to the inevitable clash between Mancini and Kim which defined Mancini's career is greatly entertaining. However, after Boom Boom's fight career is all but over, the story gets less interesting as the book seems to lose the fire Ray carried with him in his younger days.
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