Boxing in Philadelphia
Title | Boxing in Philadelphia PDF eBook |
Author | Gabe Oppenheim |
Publisher | Rowman & Littlefield |
Pages | 251 |
Release | 2014-10-16 |
Genre | Sports & Recreation |
ISBN | 1442236469 |
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.
Philadelphia Fighters
Title | Philadelphia Fighters PDF eBook |
Author | Lew Freedman |
Publisher | Camino Books |
Pages | 0 |
Release | 2015 |
Genre | Sports & Recreation |
ISBN | 9781933822655 |
The 1970s and early 1980s were truly a golden era of boxing in Philadelphia. Fighters from the city and the surrounding area were remarkably well represented in the world ratings. The fists and personalities of legends like Smokin' Joe Frazier and Randy "Tex" Cobb brought an atmosphere of genuine excitement to Philadelphia fans. It was a grand time for the sport of boxing overall and especially for the City of Brotherly Love. This book tells the story of that golden era. Larry Holmes of Easton, Pennsylvania, ruled the heavyweight ranks. South Philadelphia's Jeff Chandler was about to become the bantamweight champion. And there was a tough, wily group of middleweight contenders-from Bennie Briscoe to Cyclone Hart to Bobby Watts to Willie Monroe and Curtis Parker-all of them Philadel-phians. Then Frank Fletcher came along. Matthew Saad Muhammad, a man whose matches always seemed to carry the dramatic punch of a Eugene O'Neill play, owned a piece of the light-heavyweight crown. So did New Jersey's Mike Rossman. Then Michael Spinks, the Olympic gold medalist from St. Louis, won a piece of the title and practically became a fixture at the casinos in Atlantic City. Dwight Braxton - soon to be Dwight Muhammad Qawi-rose up from South Jersey and captured the light-heavyweight prize. These men may have been the greatest group of light-heavyweights to battle at the same time. Although the gyms all remained in Philadelphia, boxers, trainers, managers and legendary promoters like J. Russell Peltz made the 60-mile trek to Atlantic City during the '70s and early '80s. More than 30 years have gone by, and picking up the story of many of the fighters of that era became a special part of this book. But sadnesses were revealed as well. Some fighters had passed away, and others had fallen on hard times. Yet many of the old contenders and champions have gone on with life, and they still savor their glory years. Book jacket.
Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage 1876-1976
Title | Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage 1876-1976 PDF eBook |
Author | Tracy Callis |
Publisher | Arcadia Publishing |
Pages | 132 |
Release | 2002 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 9780738511344 |
Philadelphia has long been called the number one fight town in the world. The relentless fighting style of its boxers has thrilled fans over the years. Twenty-seven champions have come from the city over the course of more than a century. Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage: 1876-1976 retraces the legacy of determined battlers such as Joe Frazier, Benny Bass, Gil Turner, Bob Montgomery, and Bennie Briscoe. Philadelphia has also produced legions of highly skilled craftsmen such as Tommy Loughran, Jack O'Brien, Midget Wolgast, Harold Johnson, and Joey Giardello. In 1926, the Gene Tunney-Jack Dempsy heavyweight championship bout was witnessed by more than one hundred thousand fans. In 1956, Rocky Marciano brought his guns to town and won the heavyweight title from Jersey Joe Walcott. In 1971, Philadelphia-trained Joe Frazier won the "Fight of the Century" from Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden in New York. Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage: 1876-1976 showcases these legends and retraces their championship bouts through more than two hundred dazzling photographs.
Philly Sports
Title | Philly Sports PDF eBook |
Author | Ryan Swanson |
Publisher | University of Arkansas Press |
Pages | 335 |
Release | 2016-05-02 |
Genre | Sports & Recreation |
ISBN | 1557281874 |
Not distributed; available at Arkansas State Library.
Silk Stockings and Socialism
Title | Silk Stockings and Socialism PDF eBook |
Author | Sharon McConnell-Sidorick |
Publisher | UNC Press Books |
Pages | 295 |
Release | 2017-02-23 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 1469632969 |
The 1920s Jazz Age is remembered for flappers and speakeasies, not for the success of a declining labor movement. A more complex story was unfolding among the young women and men in the hosiery mills of Kensington, the working-class heart of Philadelphia. Their product was silk stockings, the iconic fashion item of the flapper culture then sweeping America and the world. Although the young people who flooded into this booming industry were avid participants in Jazz Age culture, they also embraced a surprising, rights-based labor movement, headed by the socialist-led American Federation of Full-Fashioned Hosiery Workers (AFFFHW). In this first history of this remarkable union, Sharon McConnell-Sidorick reveals how activists ingeniously fused youth culture and radical politics to build a subculture that included dances and parties as well as picket lines and sit-down strikes, while forging a vision for social change. In documenting AFFFHW members and the Kensington community, McConnell-Sidorick shows how labor federations like the Congress of Industrial Organizations and government programs like the New Deal did not spring from the heads of union leaders or policy experts but were instead nurtured by grassroots social movements across America.
Fodor's Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Title | Fodor's Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country PDF eBook |
Author | |
Publisher | Fodors Travel Publications |
Pages | 306 |
Release | 2007-12-04 |
Genre | Travel |
ISBN | 1400018226 |
Describes hotels, historic sites, museums, events, shopping areas, and night life in Philadelphia, and looks at the highlights of the surrounding area, including Brandywine Valley, Bucks County, Lancaster County, and Valley Forge
Never Tell a Boy Not to Fight
Title | Never Tell a Boy Not to Fight PDF eBook |
Author | Harry Boonin |
Publisher | |
Pages | |
Release | 2016-02-01 |
Genre | |
ISBN | 9781495192937 |