Presents a collection of articles about professional boxing and boxers, which were written in 2009.

Throughout its history, boxing has thrilled, outraged and elevated fans with its intoxicating combination of primal violence, gutwrenching drama and stirring courage. That potent mix has attracted many of the world's finest writers. The Book of Boxing is a collection of their most powerful efforts.

Boxing is no cakewalk! Azumah Ring Professor Nelson in the Social History of Ghanaian Boxing explores the social history of boxing in Ghana and its interesting nexus with the biography of Azumah Nelson, unquestionably Ghanas most celebrated boxer. The book posits that sports constitute more than mere games that people play. They are endowed with enormous political, cultural, economic and social power that can influence peoples lives in various ways. Boxing is no cakewalk! interrogates the social meaning and impact of boxing within the colonial and postcolonial milieux of popular culture in Ghana. Consequently, it reconsiders the prevailing conception of boxing as adversative to enlightened human culture by arguing that it is a positive formulator of individual and national identities. The historicising of sports and the lives of sportspersons in Ghana provides an eloquent backdrop for an understanding of the past social dynamics and their effect in the present. The books analytical narrative offers an intellectual contribution to the promising areas of social and cultural history in Ghanas historiography and the scholarly discourse on identity formation and social empowerment through the popular culture of sports.

Kicking ass and taking notes—what it’s like to be a woman in the ring. Alison Dean teaches English literature. She also punches people. Hard. But despite several amateur fights under her belt, she knows she will never be taken as seriously as a male boxer. “You punch like a girl” still isn’t a compliment — women aren’t supposed to choose to participate in violence. Her unique perspective as a 30-something university lecturer turned amateur fighter allows Dean to articulately and with great insight delve into the ways martial arts can change a person’s — and particularly a woman’s — relationship to their body and to the world around them, and at the same time considers the ways in which women might change martial arts. Combining historical research, anecdotal experience, and interviews with coaches and fighters, Seconds Out explores our culture’s relationship with violence, and particularly with violence practiced by women. "An important addition to women’s martial arts scholarship, Dean provides personal insight into the radical space women occupy in sport fighting. Seconds Out is a must-read for all fighters looking for mentors in the complicated world of martial arts." —L.A. Jennings, author of Mixed Martial Arts: A History from Ancient Fighting Sports to the UFC "Dean brings a fresh new female voice to the topic of combat sports." —Trevor Wittman, renowned MMA trainer, UFC analyst, and founder of ONX Sports "Trained in the discipline and art of both fighting and literature, Dean combines both with style. She honors the fighters, writers, and historians who have come before her and definitively ends the idea of women fighters as a novelty. Seconds Out is a must-read for anyone who feels the call of the bell and reverence for a good fight." —Sue Jaye Johnson

"The Text Book of Boxing" is one of the most important boxing books of all time. First published in 1914 and written by England's finest fighter, "The Text Book of Boxing" is a master class in the manly art of pugilism. This boxing manual contains over 40 photographs and detailed instructions on the proper execution of boxing techniques for both offense and defense. ***** This deluxe edition contains a newspaper report of the 1909 fight between Jim Driscoll and Abe Attell. ***** "Peerless" Jim Driscoll was born in Cardiff, Wales in 1881 and began his boxing career in 1901. He is considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter of all time. During his illustrious boxing career, he earned the title of featherweight champion of the world and won the coveted Lonsdale Belt. ***** "Driscoll was the king of all boxers. From Driscoll, by a close study of his ways, I learned the wisdom of always leading with the left hand; he taught me much about stance, and how to time my blows so that they would have all the weight of my body behind them." Georges Carpentier

It's no wonder that photographer Howard Schatz, trained as an ophthalmologist, has an unwavering eye for the human form. Well known for his series of improvisional portraits of actors for Vanity Fair, the acclaimed photographer now takes on the ultimate theatre of sport and physique in At the Fights. Over the last six years Schatz has entrenched himself in the world of boxing, photographing and interviewing the game's biggest stars and newest players as well as managers, trainers, promoters, club fighters and many others. In 256 oversized pages, Schatz's remarkably powerful images are paired with insightful commentary to provide a truly unique look into the sport. As promoter Lou DiBella tells Schatz, "Boxing is a sport in its purest, most basic form. No sport is more theatrical, dramatic or real." At the Fights beautifully captures all of those aspects in a striking, deluxe package that includes introductory comments by HBO commentator Jim Lampley. Howard Schatz's award-winning photography has been featured in Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine, The Ring magazine, The New York Times Magazine and Vanity Fair. He is a well-known and regular ringside presence. At the Fights will be his 19th book.