Bar Brawler

by David "Tank" Abbott

Walter Foxx, Happening Beach, California’s most feared bar brawler, works at Sea Lion Beach Liquor at night, attends Wong Beach State College in the day, and dishes out street justice in his spare time to the scumbags, posers, wannabes, and bullies of the world who violate his personal code of honor. Driving a 1987 Chevy Sprint with his faithful pit bull Adolf riding shotgun, Walter and his twisted crew of Poppa Chulo, Rolando, Big Cal, and Gonzo hold court at the Dead Grunion bar where they take on all comers. When Walter sees a man beating his girlfriend one night and steps in to assist her, he gets punched for his trouble and makes the perp pay. The man has friends in high places, though, and Walter soon finds himself facing felony assault charges that his 600 pound bench-press-fueled fighting skills alone can’t beat. As he battles liars on the stand and his own hapless attorney John Wittless in a desperate bid to clear his name and avoid prison, Walter struggles to understand what his life means and what his future holds.Author David "Tank" Abbott, the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” and the world’s most famous brawler, had over 200 street fights before bursting onto the MMA scene in 1995 when he shocked the world by defeating larger opponents with crushing ferocity inside the cage to become a household name. He later went on to star in the most watched “Friends” episode of all time before becoming a fixture at Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling where he quickly became one of its most recognizable and popular personalities. He later returned to the cage with his trademark intensity, leaving an indelible and enduring legacy.This seminal three-novel work chronicles the adventures of fictional character Walter Foxx, who is at the crossroads of his life and who navigates the harsh worlds of bar brawling and street fighting with the goal of living his dream and following his passion and someday becoming a no-holds-barred fighter. Written from the ultimate insider’s perspective, Tank Abbott takes readers from the parking lot to the cage with a realism and honesty about mixed martial arts never before told or exposed − until now!

306 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2012

About the author

David Lee "Tank" Abbott (born April 26, 1965) is an American mixed martial arts fighter, former professional wrestler, and author. In 1997, Abbott appeared as a UFC fighter in the TV show Friends.

Reviews

[Jason Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew Tank wrote some books, but they are listed as novels, and the main character is Walter Foxx, so I never really paid attention to them.
Tank was on Rogan’s podcast recently and they talked about the books, and he said they were “fiction” so there is plausible deniability. He went on to tell some stories on the pod… these books are his life story….lol
Glad I heard him on the pod, and enjoyed book 1.

Now is it the best book I’ve ever read? No
But it’s a fun, quick, easy read.
If you are a Tank fan, it’s definitely worth checking out, and I look forward to book 2!

[NET7 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bar Brawler is more of an altered personal biography written in the form of a diary. After reading through the whole thing it seems that Abbott is writing about his life in 1990's Huntington Beach but altering details to make this fictional novel. Bar Brawler is a personal experience of street fighting, run ins and escapes from law enforcement, and 90's Southern California bar culture. In Tank's world, it's put up or shut up and if respect isn't given it's beaten into the offending party, and all bets are off in the violence involved with making others respect you. Abbott grew up in an environment where 'respect' and 'honor' are earned with fists; it's barbaric and uncivilized. I doubt there will be a sequel, I bought the book years ago on the Kindle and a sequel hasn't materialized. However, if I met Abbott I'd buy him a beer and say he was a noteworthy page in the history of old school mixed martial arts, in the days when it was pure violence and real men fought in duels where the rules showed who was the toughest fighter, unlike today where the rules have been watered down and tainted the purity of what MMA should be, no hold barred combat.

[Brandon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Repetitive, poorly written, racist, contains the single most unlikeable protagonist I've ever read, and a sex scene so odd and lifeless that there's more chemistry between the main character and his dog than with the love interest who shows up in the last fifth of the book. It is a fascinating look into how Tank Abbott's mind works, but it also works exactly how one would imagine.

[Todd Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

Captivating and fast moving. Great insight into the darker side of life. Can’t wait to read the next two books.

[Antero Hiisijärvi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mediocre piece of writing that gives us a view into the mind of a bully who fails to see himself for what he is. It is an autobiography written under a false name to avoid legal consequences, and if even half of the events depicted in the novel are true, it would be enough to put him behind bars for the rest of his life.

Tank Abbott is one of the most interesting no-holds-barred fighters of all time, which is pretty much the only thing that makes this book worth the read.

He has a weird warrior’s honor code that is based on an extremely flimsy philosophy which wouldn’t last 5 seconds of critical analysis if he ever went deep enough to really explore it. The book is also a masterpiece in arrogance, as pretty much everyone besides our antihero and his closest friends are typically referred as geeks, morons, or idiots.

What I found appealing, though, is the true and undeniable passion that Tank has for fighting. I delved into this strange affinity of his with great curiosity and it kept me interested enough to start the second part right after reading the first book.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Tank Abbott for years. This book is his life in pages, from his 200+ fights before he started UFC, to some about his life afterwards, in the WWE and other pursuits. He's a rough customer and his life has been up and down, like all of ours have been. Tank has been on the wrong and right side of the law, but his disdain for order and laws is pretty evident in these pages.
The book was written pretty well but I noticed it was bland in places. I still enjoyed it and its a niche book, for people who want to know a little more about Tank. Good place to get the truth in his own words, istead of the interwebs and the media.

Danny

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found that this book was so off-putting. His writing style was well done and he has lead an interesting life.

I found the forward enraged me a bit as it was so disrespectful. I don't understand how Simone who made such a great amount of strides in the MMA could disparage that which made him famous.

I was not happy as I felt that it showed no respect for those who fight now and in the past who are stylists

[Mark Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan since UFC 6

Been searching for this trilogy for quite some time. Finally able to purchase two out of the three from Kindle. Mr. Abbott tells a very entertaining story. Looking forward to Street Warrior...

[George Rivera Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting autobiography that "isn't" an autobiography...wink, wink. The AI narrator was a little frustrating to hear sometimes. I do suggest the book and look forward to reading the next 2 books.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s pretty good just a 28 year old that likes to drink and fight - he had a dog named Adolf

[Jerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Atrocious.

[Matt Vandelay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tank tells some good stories. Veracity impossible to establish.