A Neutral Corner: Boxing Essays

by A.J. Liebling, Fred Warner (Editor), James Barbour (Editor)

A Neutral Corner collects fifteen previously unpublished boxing pieces written by legendary sportswriter A.J. Liebling between 1952 and 1963.

Demonstrating A.J. Liebling's abiding passion for the "sweet science" of boxing, A Neutral Corner brings together previously unpublished material. Antic, clear-eyed, and wildly entertaining, these essays showcase a The New Yorker journalist at the top of his form. Here one relives the high drama of the classic Patterson-Johansson championship bout of 1959, and Liebling's early prescient portrayal of Cassius Clay's style as a boxer and a poet is not to be missed.

Liebling always finds the human story that makes these essays appealing to aficionados of boxing and prose alike. Alive with a true fan's reverence for the sport, yet balanced by a true skeptic's disdain for sentiment, A Neutral Corner is an American treasure.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Journalism, Essays

245 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Abbott Joseph "A. J." Liebling was an American journalist who was closely associated with The New Yorker from 1935 until his death.

Reviews

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays Liebling wrote for the New Yorker back in the 1950's and early 1960's. Liebling does a great job of capturing the atmosphere around the fights, training camps and boxing gyms. Liebling is a humorous writer who really captures the personalities of fighters, managers, trainers and the overall feel for the boxing game. He points out the eccentricities and oddities of many people he encounters in the sport and while he finds humor in their weirdness and quirks he does so in a funny but affectionate way. I've spent many years around the boxing gyms and for all the bad things that go on, there are also some of the most unique and great people you will ever meet involved in the sport too. There is a certain character that exists in boxing that doesn't exist in major team sports whose players tend to be overpaid, spoiled, pampered, and totally lacking in brains, heart, personality and character.

Essays included in A Neutral Corner are his portrayal of Stillmans Gym in 1950's New York City, along with the local club fight scene in NYC at that time, great stuff about Archie Moore, Floyd Patterson, Ingemar Johansson, Sonny Liston, a young Cassius Clay, Cus D'Amato, the atmosphere and stories around fight cards in England, Tunisia and other places. This is all great stuff that really captures the essence of boxing. Liebling really loved boxing and appreciated the people involved and was far superior than the wormy cynical morons (in all fairness there are a few good writers covering the sport today) that pass themselves off as boxing writers today. This is classic boxing journalism!

[Robert Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beauty of Liebling is that when he writes about boxing he's really writing about boxing as a sport and not just the couple minute bout. The managers, the training camps, the boxers and their entourages. The culture and roots of the sport, the sweet science of bruising. Liebling describes it all with characteristic wit and candor.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of essays by New Yorker essayist AJ Liebling focus on the New York boxing scene, epitomized by “8th Ave University” of creating prize fighters. It is a glimpse into a different world. Liebling mainly follows Floyd Patterson, a heavy weight fighter who became champion, fell, rose again, and finally totally fell. But it is a first hand account into the politics and racial identity of boxers, through fine prose.

[Kenneth Bernstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Riveting account of the most interesting of sports in the most interesting of times by the most interesting of men.

[Paul Wilner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best.

[Natta Kuiski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant collection of articles by the 20th century's Pierce Egan, the only man who could repeatedly reference Ibn Khaldun and mark out over Floyd Patterson without ever coming across as being in the wrong business.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liebling's best collection of NYkr arcicles about boxing. My favo painting (of Dempsy/Firpo) on the cover!!!!!!

[Bax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shares all the strengths and flaws of the slightly stronger anthology The Sweet Science.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may not love watching boxing, but for some reason I love reading about it.

[Ike · Rating 4 out of 5]

One would not need be a boxing fan to enjoy this. But I imagine it would help.