Boxing Legacy

This book is a celebration of legendary African American sports writer and boxing cartoonist Ted Carroll, whose career spanned one of the most exciting periods of boxing’s past, from Joe Louis to Muhammad Ali. His experiences and commentary are of great historical significance, encompassing issues of race, sport, culture, and society.

Ian Phimister and David Patrick are both members of the International Studies Group at the University of the Free State (South Africa). Ian has written widely on African and world history, while David's research interests focus on media representations of historical phenomena, including mass violence and contemporary politics. He is the author of Reporting Genocide: Media, Mass Violence and Human Rights. Ian and David share an obsessive interest in professional boxing.

Acknowledgments Introduction Section I: Profiling the Greats Joe A Real Champ Has Met 'Em All Marciano, the Human Blockbuster, Has Experts Wondering What Style Would Stop Rocky? Mickey Walker: D'Artagnan of the Ring Billy Conn, The Collar Ad Hero Ray Robinson: The Greatest Champion Since 1922? How Would Clay Have Done Against Stars Of Past? The Man In The Broadway Window, Matchless Dempsey Was Greb Really Best Fighter for His Pounds? Section II: Here, There and Everywhere South America in Pugilism New York Stars British Prestige Booms The Fighting Irish Men of Africa! The Italians: Past and Present, Hold Special Niche in Boxing History Philly's Fight History Features Greats Galore Japanese Boxing, Born In 1905, Has Enjoyed Spectacular Success Der Mox, Once Champion, Still Germany's No. 1 Idol Jewish Fighters Have Achieved Fame Beyond Their Limited Numbers Section III: African American Boxing Sepian Sockers Supreme Sable Sockers to the Fore Boxing Sets Pace in Fair Play "Dark Hopes" Showed Great Boxers with Pittance Pay I. The American Black Man and Boxing II. Johnson, Gans, Walcott and Langford Salient as Negro Stars Embellished Ring Annals III. The Joe Louis Era IV. Television Helped Vastly in Destroying Colour Line; Robinson Reign Spectacular V. Charles, Patterson Too Quiet; Liston Too Involved; Then Came Brash Mr Clay VI. Clay's Rise to Championship Climax of Negro Takeover In Heavyweight Excitement VII. Negro Achievements Galore in Boxing Have Battered Down Old Racial Barriers Section IV: Brains vs Brawn Puncher Always Has a Chance Stamina Is A Great Ring Asset Secrets of Hitting Age vs. Experience Every Fistic Great Has Style Nemesis KOs Thrill But The Name Of The Game Is Boxing And Buchanan Proves It Section V: Fighters and Fans Clean Living Fighters Scorn Father Time The Manager's Role The Art of Training Food For Thought When Is A Boy A Man? One Fight Too Many. Training.Men vs. Women Not All Fighters End Up Broke Do Fans Make Brutality? Appendix: Complete listing of Ted Carroll's published articles for The Ring (1936 - 1972) About the Editors