Overview

Philadelphia was essentially the birthplace of boxing in America, the city where matches first took shape in the back of bars. Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champ, fought more times in Philly than any other city besides his hometown; Sugar Ray Robinson, perhaps the best boxer ever, fought under his first promotional contract in Philadelphia, appearing there twenty times; and Joe Louis, one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, was trained by a Philadelphia fighter. In Boxing in Philadelphia, Gabe Oppenheim examines the rise and fall of boxing in Philadelphia, and how it often mirrored the city’s own narrative arc. Originating from the tales told to Oppenheim by a retired Philadelphia trainer, this history of boxing is drawn from personal interviews with current and former fighters and managers, from attending the fights in local arenas, and from watching the boxers train in their gyms. In this book, Oppenheim opens a window into the lives of such fighters as Jimmy Young, Meldrick “The Kid” Taylor, Teon Kennedy, and Mike Jones, telling with remarkable detail their struggles, triumphs, and defeats. Throughout, Oppenheim weaves together cultural history, urban studies, and biographical sketches of past boxers to create this comprehensive account of Philadelphia and its fighters. Featuring an array of photographs and exclusive interviews, this book captures the unique history of Philadelphia boxing. It will interest boxing fans, those who enjoy sports and cultural histories, and of course, native Philadelphians who want to discover more about their city and their fighters.

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9781442236455

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Reviews

Oppenheim sifts through the grit, the black eyes, and the corruption to present a candid, loving look at a sport that has been so historically important in this town that there is a breed known as 'The Philly Fighter.' The Philadelphia Inquirer After the quality of prose and the depth of admiration the author feels for his subjects, commitment is what resonates most about this book. To write a book like this about lesser-known figures in a lesser city requires much, much more than would a book about Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkin's favorite Philly cheesesteak spot of Oscar De La Hova's escape from East Los Angeles...Oppenheim's book will be deservedly considered one of the last good books written about [boxing]. 15 Rounds I found it enlightening and personal and valuable and smart and fresh. -- Larry Merchant, former HBO Boxing commentator, New York Post columnist, and Philadelphia Daily News editor The book captured the unique feel of the Philadelphia boxing experience... the mystique that is Philadelphia boxing. It is too good not to be read by boxing enthusiasts. -- Chuck Hasson, boxing historian, author of Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage: 1876-1976 I read this with the gathering sense of nodding my head, and say everywhere to myself in the figurative margins: yes. -- Paul Hendrickson, best-selling author of Hemingway's Boat, National Book Critics Circle Award Winner

Oppenheim sifts through the grit, the black eyes, and the corruption to present a candid, loving look at a sport that has been so historically important in this town that there is a breed known as 'The Philly Fighter.' Philadelphia Inquirer After the quality of prose and the depth of admiration the author feels for his subjects, commitment is what resonates most about this book. To write a book like this about lesser-known figures in a lesser city requires much, much more than would a book about Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkin's favorite Philly cheesesteak spot of Oscar De La Hova's escape from East Los Angeles...Oppenheim's book will be deservedly considered one of the last good books written about [boxing]. 15 Rounds I found it enlightening and personal and valuable and smart and fresh. -- Larry Merchant, former HBO Boxing commentator, New York Post columnist, and Philadelphia Daily News editor The book captured the unique feel of the Philadelphia boxing experience... the mystique that is Philadelphia boxing. It is too good not to be read by boxing enthusiasts. -- Chuck Hasson, boxing historian, author of Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage: 1876-1976 I read this with the gathering sense of nodding my head, and say everywhere to myself in the figurative margins: yes. -- Paul Hendrickson, best-selling author of Hemingway's Boat, National Book Critics Circle Award Winner

I found it enlightening and personal and valuable and smart and fresh. -- Larry Merchant, former HBO Boxing commentator, New York Post columnist, and Philadelphia Daily News editor The book captured the unique feel of the Philadelphia boxing experience... the mystique that is Philadelphia boxing. It is too good not to be read by boxing enthusiasts. -- Chuck Hasson, boxing historian, author of Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage: 1876-1976 I read this with the gathering sense of nodding my head, and say everywhere to myself in the figurative margins: yes. -- Paul Hendrickson, best-selling author of Hemingway's Boat, National Book Critics Circle Award Winner

Author Information

Gabe Oppenheim is a freelance writer in New York. He has written features and movie reviews for The Washington Post, as well as a novella.

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