Journeymen: The Other Side of the Boxing Business: A New Perspective on the Noble Art - Couverture rigide

Turley, Mark

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 1909626538 ISBN 13 : 9781909626539

Editeur : Pitch Publishing Ltd, 2014

Synopsis

Journeymen tells a story that is often purposely ignored - that of the modern-day boxers who lose for a living. Far from huge purses and pay-per-view hype, the book lays bare the reality of the boxing business and the way it works in small-hall venues countrywide. October 2013 saw the 100th and final fight in the career of East London's Johnny Greaves, remarkable in that he won only four contests. He took fights at short notice, facing young prospects with the implicit understanding that he was not there to win. Journeymen features in-depth interviews with Greaves and other men who have similarly served the fight game, including Kristian Laight (180 defeats), Jason Nesbitt (178) and Daniel Thorpe (113). Though sometimes dark, their tales reveal humour, wisdom and sporting pride: the journeymen eschew glamour, make the best of what they have and face the world with a smile and a wink.

A propos du livre

Revue de presse :

Long-listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2015

"THE BEST SPORTS BOOKS OF 2015. If history is rarely written by or about losers, Mark Turley's Journeymen triumphs in breaking the mould, explaining not only the boxing practices that trap professional 'opponents' as career losers, but the compulsion that keeps them coming back to the ring." -- Huw Richards, The Guardian

"Did you know there are home and away corners in boxing? Or that the home boxer's ticket sales pay the referee's fee? No, nor did I. This is the murky world examined in Mark Turley's fascinating book. Away fighters, the journeymen of the title, rarely - if ever - win. Many of the fighters interviewed in the book have led seemingly tragic lives. Despite this, the fighters all betray an unquenchable lust for life and a seeming inability to be downcast for long. An elegant and enlightening book. Turley's prose is pacy and accessible, his subjects are engaging, open and honest about themselves and their profession." --Racing Post

"A phenomenal new book." --Steve Bunce's Boxing Hour

"The author provides some telling home truths about the nature of professional boxing; his subjects prove not only eloquent but also sufficiently disparate in their views and characters to make for vivid and memorable reading. A mere one page review of Journeymen is grossly inadequate to convey its many merits. This is essential reading for the pugilist-specialist-reader and novice alike. Highly recommended." --Boxing Monthly

"A perfect mix of quotes and narrative that paints a picture that is shocking in its reality but refreshing in its purpose. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. This was an exceptional read and transformed the way I look at the sport." --Kasim Dilla, First Class Boxing

"Mark Turley's book tells the story of boxing's journeymen. Travelling from one city to another, on very short notice and fighting in matches that aren't fixed, but usually organised to ensure the success to their opponents. This book finally does them justice, by highlighting the other side of boxing. Turley celebrates those pugilists who get in the ring to lose for a living." --Gazzetta Dello Sport

"Fascinating reading... a terrific insight into the business of boxing. A must-read for anybody in the fight game, fans and fighters and everybody else alike." --James Harte, Midlands Professional Boxing News

"It's approaching that time of the year again where you need to get some stocking fillers and if the person you are looking to buy for is a boxing nut, you won't go far wrong by wrapping this up in some Christmas paper. Why is it that journeymen are an essential ingredient to the sport of boxing? Journeymen addresses this and much much more, by shining a torch into many of the dark, murky corners of boxing, including addressing taboo topics such as match fixing. Mark Turley has managed to piece together some great stories from some polar opposite journeymen. I'd certainly recommend getting a copy." --Paul Zanon, Daily Sport

"Turley has exposed us to a deep pool of talent, boxing's 'foot-soldiers and anonymous infantrymen' upon whom promoters depend. A compelling voyage through boxing's darkened alleyways and down-at-heel venues where we glance unsavoury characters, brush past the dodgiest dealers and ultimately have great empathy with men prepared to climb into the ring for a few hundred pounds. Few readers will have heard of Matthew Seawright, Daniel Thorpe or the wonderfully-named Max Maxwell, but their stories are as engaging as those told by any world champion." --SportsBookoftheMonth.com

"BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS: A Sports Bookshelf selection of gift idea for the sports fan. What can be recommended as a Christmas stocking filler from 2015's crop of sports books? Boxing gems include Journeymen: The Other Side of the Boxing Business, in which Mark Turley offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of boxing's professional losers, who make a living out of stepping into the ring merely to be notches on the belt of up-and-coming stars." --SportsBookshelf.com

"Boxing writing, like the sport itself, has champions, contenders, journeymen, and bums. Sometimes you need a change from Jack Reacher or Dave Robicheaux. And often real-life boxers are more fascinating than any fictional characters created by writers." --Daniel Herbert, BoxingNewsOnline.net

Biographie de l'auteur :

Mark Turley is a staff writer for BoxRec.com, and regularly attends and covers small-hall shows across the country. He is from a boxing family and is related to several former and current professional fighters. Originally from south of the river, he now lives in North London with his wife and two daughters.

À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: Pitch Publishing Ltd
• Date d'édition: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1909626538
• ISBN 13: 9781909626539
• Reliure: Relié
• Numéro d'édition: 1
• Nombre de pages: 256