Whether you are a seasoned boxer, MMA fighter, or the fan who has seen Rocky 100 times, reading about boxing takes the sport to the next level. From getting inside the head of arguably one of the best heavyweight boxers in the world, Mike Tyson, to learning new techniques in the ring, there’s something from everyone.
But where better to start than the history of boxing? Understanding its beautiful background is the first step in becoming a fan or good fighter. For starters, it originated in England despite being a beloved American sport.
Here are the top books in every genre from training to autobiography, to history.
Boxing Training:
Even if you are just a fan that will never step foot in a ring, understanding the basics behind a boxer can make watching events much more exciting. Sometimes as fans we understand what is going on but we don’t understand the why behind it.
Beginners and advanced fighters can benefit from these books by either refining or introduce new skills. As an athlete hearing the same instructions in the same way from a coach can sometimes go right over their head. A new perspective gives an athlete a new opportunity to learn something.
The Art of the Sweet Science: Boxing Training for the Body and Mind by Shahan Dudayev
There are many elements to boxing that go far beyond footwork and good jabs. This book covers every aspect and detail that a boxer must know from mindset to physical strength training and most importantly the strategy you need to compete.
This new book is up-to-date and while old teachings can be useful the sport has evolved. Boxers are faster and stronger with better endurance. That’s why the author starts with training because without the physical aspect you can’t apply your tactics. From there you’ll dive into how to properly apply the training to take advantage of your moves. While mindset is introduced last it is certainly not the least important. Correct execution won’t be a matter of training but instead a matter of mind.
This book offers the complete package regardless of what level you’re at.
Reviews
“The Art of the Sweet Science is an absolute must-read for ANY boxing enthusiast. I would also seriously recommend it to all martial artists, as a ton of the info applies to any fighting style. Written by a great authority in the space, it presents its information in a very straightforward, concise manner. The book covers offensive techniques, defensive techniques, footwork, and tons of drills to get you fighting fit.”
“This book is a very good read. Best I’ve read in a very long time. It definitely caters to boxers and fans of the sport, but there’s also a LOT of life lessons that can be implemented in day-to-day life.”
Championship Fighting by Jack Dempsy
One of the greatest boxers of all time Jack Dempsy takes you inside his head when inside the ring. Being crowned heavyweight champion from 1919-1926 Dempsy offers easy-to-understand instruction on technique with detailed illustrations.
For amateurs and professionals, they can learn proper footwork, applying powerful punches, training methods, theory, stance, aggressive defense, and feinting. Every technical aspect of the fight is covered by Dempsy. This book applies to boxing, martial arts, and other forms of MMA.
If there is one way to describe this book, it’s the closest thing to a manual on boxing.
Reviews
“This is a very good primer on boxing. It almost always is part of any “Top10” list of boxing books, and often top 3, if not at the very top of the list. It also helps that it is easy to read, and uses the large font. For less than $10 dollars, you can’t go wrong buying this book. If you can read only 3 books about how to box, this should be part of your shortlist.”
“This book is meant to be studied over and over again. Despite being six decades old, these instructions hold up well. It does take some dedication and several reads, but THIS BOOK CONTAINS SOLID ADVICE AND INSTRUCTION. Mine is full of handwritten notes and hi-liter. I highly recommend for someone looking to further their boxing or fighting skills.”
Boxing Mastery: Advanced Technique, Tactics, and Strategies from the Sweet Science by Mark Hatmaker, Doug Werner
Geared more towards seasoned boxers this book dives into the nitty-gritty. Having said that this book can take beginners to the next level when they dive in. From offensive to defensive movements in the ring, to feints, draws, and fakes, this book covers every detail needed to become a master in the ring.
To go a step further clinching techniques, counter-punching chains, bodywork, and head-hunting are all covered with strategic mentoring and application. These authors offer up drills for speedwork and learning how to generate power behind every move.
This book doesn’t even end there. Refining your skills and honing in your style starts here.
Reviews
“I’ve got a decently sized collection of martial arts book by now but so far, this is the one that has given me the biggest boost in actual ability and probably the one that if studied and worked through closely (with a friend ideally – get out some gloves and maybe some focus mitts.) would give me the biggest benefits inside the training halls and on the streets, too. Great buy, even if you’re not a pure boxer, if you do any kind of striking with your hands you’ll appreciate what this book has to offer.”
“A really good guide on correct positions and functions of the boxer’s feet and hands during offense and defense. I wore myself out in 30 minutes doing 10 reps of each punch and only got halfway through the list. The book is a replacement for a personal boxing trainer.”
Boxing Biographies:
There is no better experience than hearing from the greats in the ring. Going inside Mike Tyson’s head offers up an unfiltered and unforgettable experience. But it wouldn’t be a biography list without reading The Soul of a Butterfly by Muhammed Ali.
These books will either make you fall in love with boxing for the first time or confirm why you are involved in the sport in the first place regardless of fan or fighter.
Undisputed Truth by Mike Tyson
This is not a light read by any means. Bringing Tyson’s story back to the days where he was bullied in a poor neighborhood in Brooklynn to reveal how he became one of the most physically imposing and terrifying fighters in the world. He became one of the youngest heavyweight champions of all time and throughout this book you see why when diving into his mind.
But this biography goes beyond the ring as he talks about his unstable years with addiction and how he came out of that to have a successful acting career and becoming a great father.
This is a must-read on one of the greats because of his inspiring and raw story.
Reviews
“Almost as engaging to read as Mike Tyson was to watch, this book really laid bare the way an individual as complex as Mike Tyson thinks. Having watched him in various interviews, I found myself imagining Tyson’s voice reading this book to me as I went; the way the sentences are structured, the language used, and the open and candid nature of the descriptions of the numerous experiences he had throughout his career and personal life, all contribute to an intriguing – and brutally honest – account of the life and lifestyle of the most famous Heavyweight Champion of the World. Highly recommended.”
The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life’s Journey by Muhammed Ali
The man who changed the sport forever. While this book focuses more on the spiritual journey and teachings that guided Ali, it is nonetheless one of the greatest biographies in the genre of boxing of all time. From childhood to adulthood Alli shares his secrets and beliefs that led him to be the man he is today and his success in the ring.
Like Tyson, he offers a raw transition from after sport and the struggles and blessings that have come with it. Such as meeting the Dalai Lama and bringing awareness to Afghanston’s dire situation. Many have come to read this book to better understand his practice of what he referred to as “true Islam” and how it brought peace to his everyday life and overall journey.
This book is much more than a biography about Ali. It’s about the footprint he forever left on this world.
Reviews
“Since Muhammad Ali was arguably the most famous American Muslim, I chose this book in hopes of a better understanding of Islam. In it, he details the highlights of his life and his spirituality in a series of very simple and sincere short stories. I think anyone who has admired him will only find their admiration multiplied many times by reading these “Reflections”.
“Firstly, let me point out that this is not a book about boxing. Obviously, various bouts are mentioned but only to set the scene and mark the various points in the life of this great man. The book is titled “The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on life’s journey” and this is exactly what the book achieves. It is a poignant and deeply moving collection of memories and interpretations that show Ali not only as a great champion in the ring but also a great champion out of it too.’
Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran by Christian Guidice
It’s no surprise that Roberto Duran made the list seeing as he is one of the greatest boxers of all time. Holding four different titles in different weight classes as well as fighting in five different decades, Duran’s life is covered in and out of the ring through interviews with Duran himself, his closest friends, and family. While he may be featured in every history book on boxing, this book takes the most personal and close-up view of Roberto Duran’s life.
From poverty in Panama to his debut in New York, Guidice covers it all including the controversial title win against Scot Ken Buchanan. From his reckless behavior to his kindest moments and even the possible link between him and the regime of General Noreiga.
This biography is often described as “gripping” and something that “every fight fan should read.”
Reviews
“This is one of the best biographies I have read. It paints a picture of a great fighter showing warts and all. It also describes the brutality of life in the slums of Panama and what people have to do to survive. Duran himself is a complex character with many faults, but, without a doubt is one of the greatest fighters of all time. He belongs with those “golden age” icons, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Wilfred Benitez.”
“This best sums up Roberto Duran in this great boxing novel, which has to be one of the best boxing autobiographies of all time.It covers his early life right through to his retirement, shows Duran exhibiting the best there is in human nature, as well as the brutal, rude, arrogant, animalistic side of human nature. This is the key to this novel’s (and soon-to-be-released movie) success. It proves that to be successful as a boxer at this elite level, you need to be able to “flick the switch” on your emotions, and adapt to whatever the situation is at hand.”
Boxing History
The spectacle today that we see in boxing and MMA is not quite the same show as it used to be when it originated. While many elements of the sport have remained true to themselves, there has also been quite the evolution from the caliber of athletes to technique and entertainment.
Every fan and fighter should dive into these books to understand where exactly boxing came from and renew their appreciation for the sport.
The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing by Bob Mee and Harry Mullan
The title is simply the best description of this book. Covering all aspects of boxing A-Z from the early beginnings of illegal big-money fights to the crazy entertainment deals that exist today. More importantly, detailed coverage of the greatest boxers from when it started to today’s heroes in the ring.
But it wouldn’t be complete without talking about the history of the greatest fights and the promoters who made it all possible. But it doesn’t just stick to the U.S. when it comes to the love of boxing. You get to take a look at what boxing means around the world and what its popularity is as well as how it has evolved over time.
The factbook of all factbooks when it comes to boxing done with beautiful illustrations makes this encyclopedia a must-read for fans, fighters, and newbies alike.
Reviews
“Ordered this for my 88 yr old father, who is very hard to buy for. When it arrived, I asked him if he liked it. He said ” I absolutely love it! ” That says it all as I’ve never had a response like that.”
“Excellent coffee table or reference book. I bought it for my brother-in-law’s birthday and he loves it.”
“My dad really is a boxing walking-encyclopedia himself, so I wanted a boxing book that could challenge his knowledge, by including info on lesser-known or celebrated boxers, especially from his “hey-dey”. Mom said he started reading it immediately & did not stop until finished. (Good sign!)”
Boxing a Cultural History by Kasia Boddy
Now more than ever has culture and appreciation of different cultures matter. This book dives into the history of boxing through cultural analysis from sculptures to hip-hop lyrics. Studying past works of poets, novelists, painters, potters, and more, Boddy wastes no time in interpreting the struggle for power and respect while ultimately boxers use just their fists to gain these two things.
A unique body of work, that explains the history of boxing and how we have arrived at the glamorous and entertainment-filled world through boxing today. Through social and political reforms in history using figures such as Ali, you won’t finish this book without having a new perspective of the sport.
While this book may not give you the play-by-play from the best fights, it takes a different approach to study the economic impacts and social impacts of boxing in today’s world. Great for history lovers or just fans in general.
A must-read for those who love to be enlightened.
Reviews
“This is not a book for detailed fight histories of Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson; it is probably more “cultural history” than “boxing”; it is somehow both heavily-footnoted and fun reading. It turns out that boxing provides a fascinating lens through which to view the past. The author shows boxing affecting every level of society and appearing in seemingly every form of art. It has come and gone from mainstream fashion more than once. As the author puts it at the end of the first chapter, boxing seems to contain a “mixture . . . which has made it for so long and so productively a way to imagine conflict”.
“I was given this–wouldn’t have imagined that I was interested in boxing. After reading the section on Dickens (the reason I was given the book), I started the preceding chapter, then started from the beginning, then had to read the end. Boddy’s writing is so witty and interesting and her bits of information so thought-provoking that I kept wanting to read it to friends. (I had to explain all my references to ‘claret,’ Regency slang for ‘blood.’) Everyone I’ve shown it to has found a different reason for wanting to read it. It’s a bit like an encyclopedia and provides the same pleasure as the Oxford Companion to Food. The illustrations are wonderful.”
An Illustrated History Of Boxing by Nat Fleischer, Sam Andre, Nigel Collins, Dan Rafael
For those who hate to read and read then this book is for you. With beautiful photographs and illustrated art, you can relive the days of Muhammed Ali, Mike Tyson, Jack Dempsy, and more. This makes the perfect coffee table book because you can pick it up and simply flip through anywhere and start learning.
With a little bit of a focus on heavyweight champions, it really covers the big moments in boxing history that most would know. Having said that it does take a deeper dive into more obscure facts that a true fan would be able to engage on.
This book while being released a while ago has been updated to fit time and standard. And while Nat Fleischer (founder of Ring Magazine) has passed away, it is his great work and other boxing journalists that bring you the top 10 lists and valuable information.
Regardless if you know it all or you know nothing about boxing this book is great to read and look at.
Reviews
“This book documents the history of boxing with excellent writing by respected boxing journalists. But the highlight has to be its outstanding collection of photos and sketches. The book was originally written in 1959 and its strength clearly lies with its coverage of earlier heavyweight champions like Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis. But the current sixth edition is revised and updated through 2001. The emphasis is definitely on the heavyweights but the lower weight classes are also covered. For serious fans of boxing, this is a must-have book!”
“This book was my first boxing book in the early 60s, and it is a great browsing volume for a beginning or long-time fight fan, especially for the photographs and artwork. Nat Fleischer, the founder of Ring Magazine, passed away some time ago, and it is well updated. “
