19.06.08 – by James Slater: “To be a fight fan is to be a cockeyed – or is it black-eyed – optimist, with hope everlasting.” – Budd Schulberg.
“Ringside – a treasury of boxing reportage” is a Budd Schulberg book that is on the shelves now in both America and Great Britain. As one would expect of any writing by the great New Yorker, the collection of work is a superb read indeed.. Comprising of a collection of the genius writer’s most memorable boxing stories, “Ringside” is a thoroughly enjoyable 347 pages of both the veteran’s on-site reporting as well as his imminently qualified take on a few legendary fighters that were on the go before even as long-lived a writer as the 94-year-old.
There is, for example, a chapter on the 19th century battle between Tom Cribb and Tom Molineaux that simply has to be read to be appreciated. No comments from this young writer could possibly do the chapter justice. More up to date, but no less superbly written, are chapters on modern day warriors like Arturo Gatti, Lennox Lewis, Oscar De La Hoya and Roy Jones Junior – all of whom Schulberg has seen fight live.
The chapter on Gatti, from 2006, is especially good. Just look at some of these masterful observations Schulberg uses to describe both Gatti and his fighting style. On Gatti’s second fight with Ivan Robinson: “watching became either exhilarating or sickening to see, depending on the strength of your stomach.” And, also on the same rematch fight: “Gatti was going forward like a battle-crazed soldier charging a machine gun nest.” Talk about apt descriptions of the ever-fearless Gatti.
Schulberg ends this chapter on “The Human Highlight Reel” by sharing with us his worries for Gatti’s long-term health. In the chapter on Lennox Lewis (from 2000), Budd also expresses his concerns for the future – this time the well being of the heavyweight division’s. Referring to Lewis as a fighter who is both physically well endowed and a marvellous specimen, Schulberg also discusses the quite annoying fact of how reluctant Lewis is in many of his fights. “A reluctant dragon” is how Schulberg labels Lewis. Finishing this chapter by calling wholeheartedly for a fighter who can bring back passion and intensity to the heavyweight division, Schulberg is once again spot on. Eight years later, we are still waiting.
The pages given to Andrew Golota ( from 2000) are equally excellent. Again summing up a whole fighter, his style and – in this case his psyche – with but a few words, Schulberg refers to the Pole’s tendency to suffer “refrigerated anxiety” when going into big fights. “A self destructive anxiety freak,” is another accurate and eloquent portrayal the great writer gives when focusing on Golota. Of course, no boxing book would be complete without chapters on Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. Both men get generous reportage in “Ringside.” Both sections are also highlights of the book.
Schulberg saw the full Ali legend bloom firsthand and as such the 1998 and 2002 chapters on “The Greatest” are fascinating and a little different from what has been done by other writers. The pages on Tyson (from the years 1995-2002) are also hugely emotive. Schulberg, in the chapter on Tyson-Holyfield II, refers to Tyson as a fighter who “took boxing back to the cave.” Who could disagree?
Without a doubt, “Ringside” is an absolute must for anyone who is even remotely a boxing fan. Fighters old and fighters new are given generous coverage and this makes the book – available now at $27.50/£11.99 from Mainstream Publishing – well worth buying.
To order a copy, visit www.mainstreampublishing.com