Boxing
A Concise History of the Sweet Science
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $37.99
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- $37.99
Publisher Description
In Boxing: A Concise History of the Sweet Science, Gerald R. Gems provides a succinct yet comprehensive coverage of the sport, recounting boxing’s ancient roots, evolution, and globalization. Throughout, Gems describes important events and individuals, illuminating their impact on the boxing world. Presented in a clear and readable manner, Gems not only includes a historical account of boxing, but also explores such issues as race, religion, rivalries, and the growth of female boxing. While the primary coverage of the book focuses on the United States, Gems’ examination encompasses the sport around the world as well. Featuring numerous photographs, Boxing: A Concise History of the Sweet Science will be of interest to boxing fans, historians, scholars, and those wanting to learn more about the sport.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gems (The Athletic Crusade) presents a dynamic history of boxing from the death fights in ancient Greece to the hyped bouts of today, with a lens towards the sport's evolution and cultural impact. Attempting neither to glorify nor vilify the sport, the author's goal rather is to flush out boxing's place in context of human history. The best parts of the book focus on when the sport has been used for political and social means. Communist countries have used female boxers to proclaim the might of their people. Nations staged fights for regional power. The section on gender in sports is particularly strong as well. Women were boxing in modern times as early as the 1700s, though have always been looked at lesser than male counterparts. The discussion of class and race is also refreshing in a sports history and emblematic of Gem's ability to be thorough in both scope and specificity. This minutia will delight boxing fanatics well but may slow the reading experience for those with only a casual interest. Gem's meticulously researched book serves as an exemplar cultural overview of a sport in its full view.
