ON BOXING

There is much to be appreciated about this book for those who wish to truly contemplate boxing fully. Oates’ prose is beautiful, and she weaves a narrative which will keep the lover of literature and history stimulated as much as the lover of fighting. Sam Sheridan refers to Oates’ On Boxing many times in his A Fighter’s Heart. I am using Sheridan’s text for the second time in a writing course I am teaching at the college, and I finally broke down and bought the book this week. The first half was amazing, but the book is a collection of essays, was originally published in 1985-86, and it is, in many ways, a historical artifact that gives you a poetic vision of boxing up to that time, but does not age well in its insights into the contemporary heroes of the time, such as Tyson (his doc, which I have shown in part this week, sits on top of my worn copy of A Fighter’s Heart next to me), though, again, they are interesting historically. Her writing on Muhammad Ali is excellent, however, and needs to be read. I cannot entirely praise this book as a complete work, however, for the problem with this being a collection of essays is that the passionate prose style of Oates can just become hyperbolic when the same phrases or theories (the atavistic urge, the warrior primitive man, the sacrificial victim and sacred rite of boxing, the oft-repeated assertion that boxing is “not the most dangerous sport” but seventh, etc.) are used over and over again. And, as a man who has fought all of his life, mostly in the streets, it is hard to read too much from someone who writes “about violence”, but seems to have had no direct life-threatening experience of it herself.This said, the more you know about the history of boxing, going back to the bare-knuckle days or ancient Greece (and I am currently reading Keirnan’s The Duel in European History, Mee’s The History of Bare Knuckle Prize Fighting, and Gorn’s excellent The Manly Art: Bare-Knuckle Prize Fighting in America), the more you will enjoy this book.I have to mention that some of the writing on the history of race and boxing is powerful and extremely important, from before Jack Johnson through Ali and Tyson. She covers racism, lynchings, and all of those things that came before, during, and after that intertwine with the history of boxing.An example of Oates’s prose:“Where in his feckless youth Ali was a dazzling figure combining, say, the brashness of Hotspur and the insouciance of Lear’s Fool, he became in these dark, brooding, increasingly willed fights the closest analogue boxing contains to Lear himself; or, rather, since there is no great fight without two great boxers, the title matches Ali-Frazier I (which Frazier won by a decision) and Ali-Frazier III (which Ali won, just barely, when Frazier virtually collapsed after the fourteenth round) are boxing’s analogues to King Lear—ordeals of unfathomable human courage and resilience raised to the level of classic tragedy.” (197)

I had only read one piece by Ms. Oates. It was scary story about a family living on the Delaware River north of New Hope, PA. I liked it but I would never have believed that the same Ms. Oates was so knowledgable about "The Sweet Science." My father did some exhibition boxing for the USO during WWII. He never wanted me to box but I joined a gym and did quite a bit of training and sparring when I was young. I know just enough to realize that Ms. Oates knows her stuff. I really enjoyed this book. She includes some interviews and I was fascinated by her take on Mike Tyson. I knew one of Evander Holyfield's trainers and hated Tyson for his conduct when he bit Holyfield's ear. Reading her interviews with Tyson made me see him as a human being for the first time. This is a great book by a great writer in my opinion.

These are great stand alone essays but they don't compile very well into a cohesive singular book because the background information becomes repetitive. Marciano's record, integrating fights, boxing's place among the most dangerous sports, and so on, while all interesting and integral to the individual essays at hand, become tedious, especially after the third time, should the reader decide to tackle the book in one fell swoop. The brevity of the book suggests well-edited succinct writing, but, unfortunately, as the essays run together quickly the reader finds himself thinking, `Didn't I just read that a few minutes ago?' I still think it's important to have Oates' boxing essays compiled together. However, it may be a helpful suggestion for some readers to spread out the reading of these essays if this kind of repetition annoys you.

Written with much insight. This kindle is my second copy actually. My hardcopy which I bought decades ago has become brittle and damaged. Got a kindle version for the pleasure of reading it again

An honest discussion of a gritty and dangerous sport. The approach of the essay is from the viewpoint of the boxer, as well as from the spectators and the culture that embraces the brutality of combat sports. A short and very readable work that holds the readers interest.

One of the best works I have read. Joyce Carol Oates is a terrific writer, and her insights got me re excited about boxing. The sweet Science.

I found On Boxing to be a disjoined book. The first and biggest section, also titled On Boxing is a well-written essay summarising a history of boxing from its origins to its hey-day when boxers were making millions and includes some examples of famous fights. This is interesting and well-written. The second section, On Mike Tyson is also an interesting read focusing on his career and the fact JCO interviewed him. Unfortunately, the book goes downhill after this. The book is a collection of JCO’s essays about boxing. The nature of this means there is some repetition in the remaining sections of the book. If the book has ended after On Mike Tyson I would likely have given it one more star. As it is, the repetition and the fact the passion earlier in the book seems to fade a little brings my rating down.

Oates's study of boxing is based on her long-standing interest in the sport and is informed by her attendance at some of the matches she discusses. Her perspective as an academic leads to a genuine effort to understand the contradictions of that crazy yet compelling activity, probably best named prize-fighting. Her book is unusual in the intelligence of its insights and I would recommend it to any thoughtful fan of the not always so sweet science.

Excellent

Very informative and in good condition as promised

Female perspective, articulate and a classic for the right reasons. Joyce nails it!