Boxing

April 21, 2014
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.

June 1, 2014

Gems (health and physical education, North Central Coll.; Sport and the Shaping of Italian-American Identity; The Athletic Crusade) traces boxing's growth and influence from prehistory to today. Eschewing a strictly chronological account the author presents the sport through the lenses of such issues as race, ethnicity, social class, and religion. Even gender is considered (the sport illustrates the drive to prove one's hypermasculinity as when Emile Griffith beat to the death in the ring Benny "Kid" Paret, who had the temerity to call Griffith a maricon [gay]). Female participation in the sport since the 1700s is examined as well, which is fortunate since boxing fans have all heard of Laila Ali, but who knew that Clara Bow, the "It Girl" of 1920s film, surreptitiously boxed? Many of the elements covered are interrelated so there is some overlap from chapter to chapter but that does nothing to damage the author's presentation. VERDICT A unanimous decision for a heavily documented study that should also appeal to many readers of popular sports history.--Jim Burns, Jacksonville P.L., FL

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