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Boxing's Greatest Controversies: Blunders, Blood Feuds, and Mob Corruption
A provocative and revealing look at the scandals and corruption behind the Sweet Science’s greatest fights.Controversy is the one constant running throughout modern boxing’s history since its inception in England in 1698. Boxing's Greatest Controversies takes an incisive look at several big name fights, finally laying to rest some of the most popular rumours surrounding them while also considering the social, cultural, political and sporting impact these fights had on the world at large. Did the eras shape the fights or did the fights shape the eras? Boxing history is vibrant and continuous. Boxing controversies never end. They just get passed down to the next generation of fight fans. These prized bouts are some of the most enduring and notorious fights boxing has ever produced.
- GenresSports
280 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 17, 2024
Boxing has always had controversy - whether it was claims of fixed fights, influence by organized crime or illegal acts by fighters in the ring, it seems like there’s always something suspicious that gets boxing fans talking. This book by Louis Joshua Eisen takes a look at some of these events that are still talked about many years after that particular incident.
What stood out for me with this book was Eisen’s excellent research and writing on this topic for two fights prior to the 20th century. One involved a fixed fight in the 1770’s and one was about the racism against Black fighters in the 19th century. That topic carries over to the 20th century with two of Jack Johnson’s fights discussed. Eisen makes a compelling case about Black boxer Joe Gans in his account of the second fight discussed in this book as being one of the best boxers of all time. Having never heard of Gans before reading this book, I appreciated the information on not only Gans, but about the sport in general during that time.
Of course, some of the most famous controversial bouts are included. Eisen writes with the same level of detail on fights such as the “long count” match between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, the early knockout of Sonny Liston by Muhammad Ali in their second match and the famous “bite fight” between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. Each fight discussed follows a format of a brief description to set the scene, portraits of each fighter, events that led up to the controversial fight, then the fight itself. After that, Eisen breaks down what was the controversy, explains why it was judged the way it was (or may still be inconclusive) through a breakdown of film on the fight. This makes the book very informative, detailed and enjoyable to read as Eisen gives the reader education on the issues of the fight. Highly recommended for any baking fan or historian.
I wish to thank Dundurn Press for providing a review copy of the book The views expressed are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
What stood out for me with this book was Eisen’s excellent research and writing on this topic for two fights prior to the 20th century. One involved a fixed fight in the 1770’s and one was about the racism against Black fighters in the 19th century. That topic carries over to the 20th century with two of Jack Johnson’s fights discussed. Eisen makes a compelling case about Black boxer Joe Gans in his account of the second fight discussed in this book as being one of the best boxers of all time. Having never heard of Gans before reading this book, I appreciated the information on not only Gans, but about the sport in general during that time.
Of course, some of the most famous controversial bouts are included. Eisen writes with the same level of detail on fights such as the “long count” match between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, the early knockout of Sonny Liston by Muhammad Ali in their second match and the famous “bite fight” between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. Each fight discussed follows a format of a brief description to set the scene, portraits of each fighter, events that led up to the controversial fight, then the fight itself. After that, Eisen breaks down what was the controversy, explains why it was judged the way it was (or may still be inconclusive) through a breakdown of film on the fight. This makes the book very informative, detailed and enjoyable to read as Eisen gives the reader education on the issues of the fight. Highly recommended for any baking fan or historian.
I wish to thank Dundurn Press for providing a review copy of the book The views expressed are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
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January 5, 2026I must admit that I was never the biggest boxing fan in the world, other than the times Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali was on the card. He had the swagger and talent to become one of the biggest names in the business for many years. In the book BOXING’S BIGGEST CONTROVERSIES, Louis Joshua Eisen looks into the world of boxing from as far back 1700’s, tracing some of the biggest matches and boxers, along with some of the factors that resulted in very controversial outcomes. Eisen is a boxing writer and historian, and it more than shows up in this fascinating book. The casual boxing fan will appreciate the book just as much as the diehard lover of the sport. There is little question from some of the earlier days of the sport, that boxing wasn’t the most legitimate sport. Part of the that was because there was the very prominent mob influence, with organized crime controlling the outcome of many matches, because they were in line for a great payday when their fighter won. And they would go to any lengths to make it happen, threatening the fighter destined to lose with violence, if he did not throw the fight and lay down for the ten count like a good boy. Even his family factored into this with threats on their life as well.
There was also the dilemma of the Black fighter, and the discrimination they faced in the boxing ring, or even getting to the ring. Joe Gans is one the African American fighters noted in the book, a most talented fighter who faced violence and death threats on a regular basis. It seems the White population could not tolerate or accept a Black fighter of superior skills, winning over one of their own. The classic match between Gans and Terry McGovern is noted here, and Gan’s manager Al Herford, promising Gans $45,000 to throw the fight. He did but only saw a pittance of that total. McGovern of course won, but it is said he had no idea the fix was in.
The Jack Dempsey versus Gene Tunney II fight, is also mentioned thanks to its outcome. It got the nickname “The Long Count Fight.” Tunney fell to the canvas after a flurry of punches, but Dempsey did not go a neutral corner despite the referee’s urging. They said if Dempsey had gone to the corner, Tunney would have been counted out, but those extra seconds gave him a chance to stage a comeback, resulting in a win, and to retain his title.
There are other classic and controversial matches here, including the Cassius Clay versus Sonny Liston fight, and Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield. And there are also two different matches where boxers died from either the fight or a serious medical condition that was a ticking time bomb. BOXING’S GREATEST CONTROVERSIES packs a powerful literary punch, that truly is championship material.
There was also the dilemma of the Black fighter, and the discrimination they faced in the boxing ring, or even getting to the ring. Joe Gans is one the African American fighters noted in the book, a most talented fighter who faced violence and death threats on a regular basis. It seems the White population could not tolerate or accept a Black fighter of superior skills, winning over one of their own. The classic match between Gans and Terry McGovern is noted here, and Gan’s manager Al Herford, promising Gans $45,000 to throw the fight. He did but only saw a pittance of that total. McGovern of course won, but it is said he had no idea the fix was in.
The Jack Dempsey versus Gene Tunney II fight, is also mentioned thanks to its outcome. It got the nickname “The Long Count Fight.” Tunney fell to the canvas after a flurry of punches, but Dempsey did not go a neutral corner despite the referee’s urging. They said if Dempsey had gone to the corner, Tunney would have been counted out, but those extra seconds gave him a chance to stage a comeback, resulting in a win, and to retain his title.
There are other classic and controversial matches here, including the Cassius Clay versus Sonny Liston fight, and Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield. And there are also two different matches where boxers died from either the fight or a serious medical condition that was a ticking time bomb. BOXING’S GREATEST CONTROVERSIES packs a powerful literary punch, that truly is championship material.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews