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The Arc of Boxing: The Rise and Decline of the Sweet Science
Are today's boxers better than their predecessors, or is modern boxing a shadow of its former self? Boxing historians discuss the socioeconomic and demographic changes that have affected the quality, prominence and popularity of the sport over the past century. Among the interviewees are world-renowned scholars, some of the sport's premier trainers, and former amateur and professional world champions. Chapters cover such topics as the ongoing deterioration of boxer's skills, their endurance, the decline in the number of fights and the psychological readiness of championship-caliber boxers. The strengths and weaknesses of today's superstars are analyzed and compared to those of such past greats as Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey and Jake LaMotta.
- GenresSportsHistoryNonfiction
229 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 20, 2020
So I stumbled across this book while doing some research and the title was enough to grab me. I knew going in that I was merely a casual fan of boxing with almost no historical knowledge of the sport except what I gleaned from an article here and there.
It is no secret that boxing is in a state of decline, especially with the rise in popularity of MMA, but I had no idea just how seriously rotten boxing is. Like most fans, I have been lulled into the idea that our champions are the greatest due to their size, KO records, multiple titles, and flashy marketing. I was aware of boxing corruption, but little did I know that the technique of the sport itself has been in a steep decline since the 70's.
Not only does this book give you a solid general education on what boxing is and where it originated, but it also makes you question everything you know about boxing and yearn for a real peek at the fights and fighting education of the golden days.
Boxing is an incredible martial art with a rich history and colorful characters, however when you read this book you'll question if boxing will ever recover its once great heights, if the techniques that seem to be lost to time will ever return and your view of the modern eras champions will be questioned and found seriously wanting.
As a whole, the book is pretty good and quite informative, however it does seem to get a little repetitive at times. The author does heavily rely on interview material that could have been fashioned together in something other than AUTHORITY A ANSWERING QUESTION, AUTHORITY B - SAME QUESTION, AUTHORITY C - . . . . . but it still works.
It is no secret that boxing is in a state of decline, especially with the rise in popularity of MMA, but I had no idea just how seriously rotten boxing is. Like most fans, I have been lulled into the idea that our champions are the greatest due to their size, KO records, multiple titles, and flashy marketing. I was aware of boxing corruption, but little did I know that the technique of the sport itself has been in a steep decline since the 70's.
Not only does this book give you a solid general education on what boxing is and where it originated, but it also makes you question everything you know about boxing and yearn for a real peek at the fights and fighting education of the golden days.
Boxing is an incredible martial art with a rich history and colorful characters, however when you read this book you'll question if boxing will ever recover its once great heights, if the techniques that seem to be lost to time will ever return and your view of the modern eras champions will be questioned and found seriously wanting.
As a whole, the book is pretty good and quite informative, however it does seem to get a little repetitive at times. The author does heavily rely on interview material that could have been fashioned together in something other than AUTHORITY A ANSWERING QUESTION, AUTHORITY B - SAME QUESTION, AUTHORITY C - . . . . . but it still works.
May 22, 2019
An absolute must read for any aspiring boxing history buffs. Mike’s arguments about modern fighters vs old timers will make you rethink how you rank the all-time greats.
November 6, 2018
Silver's position that the quality of boxing has declined is well argued from multiple perspectives - such as training, experience, and activity - supported by authoritative opinions of boxing experts.
February 23, 2019
Great essays. Particularly liked discussion comparing boxers of today with past greats. There is still much to admire about the Old School” in boxing.
August 18, 2020
As a boxing writer myself with five books to my credit I have no idea why it has taken me so long to read Mike Silver's The Arc Of Boxing...The Rise and Decline of the Sweet Science. Although written in 2008 what Mike writes in this effort holds true today. As a follower of boxing for a long time Mike offers his opinions and tells the negative sides of boxing that need to be told. One can be a lover of boxing and still admit that things have changed in recent years and not necessarily for the good.
I have followed boxing for over 60 years and have written about it since 1970. I know a good book when I read it and I know the difference between an average writer and an exceptional one. Mike Silver definitely falls under the exceptional category.
I highly recommend this book!
Jerry Fitch
Cleveland Boxing Historian,
Author of Cleveland's Greatest Fighters of All Time, James Louis Bivins...The Man Who Would Be Champion and Johnny Risko...The Cleveland Rubber Man.
I have followed boxing for over 60 years and have written about it since 1970. I know a good book when I read it and I know the difference between an average writer and an exceptional one. Mike Silver definitely falls under the exceptional category.
I highly recommend this book!
Jerry Fitch
Cleveland Boxing Historian,
Author of Cleveland's Greatest Fighters of All Time, James Louis Bivins...The Man Who Would Be Champion and Johnny Risko...The Cleveland Rubber Man.
February 21, 2023
This is an interesting book but the same points could have been in a shorter version. The old time boxers fought every 2-4 weeks and today's fighters fight once or maybe twice a year. To be a better boxer you need to box. No doubt about that. I get it. But the entire first half of this book makes this point again, again and again. In any case, some of the fighs mentioned in the book can be seen on YouTube. Gotta love YouTube.
The second half of the book was pretty informative, talking about specific boxers and how they'd compare to the OGs. There is plenty about the decline of boxing since the 1950's. I wished the author had gone into more detail about the rise of boxing before the 1920's.
The second half of the book was pretty informative, talking about specific boxers and how they'd compare to the OGs. There is plenty about the decline of boxing since the 1950's. I wished the author had gone into more detail about the rise of boxing before the 1920's.
July 3, 2024
Loved this book. I would have a hard copy so I can share it with those who want to know why past boxing legends are better than the newer era.
My only limitation was that it was sometimes repetitive and a lot of the chapters were interview answers that were very similar and long. Great to know everyone knows the golden era of boxers and trainers were amazing but 75 pages of the same 6 trainers saying the same thing can be more concise.
Still a must read for anyone interested in the greats!
My only limitation was that it was sometimes repetitive and a lot of the chapters were interview answers that were very similar and long. Great to know everyone knows the golden era of boxers and trainers were amazing but 75 pages of the same 6 trainers saying the same thing can be more concise.
Still a must read for anyone interested in the greats!
January 6, 2025
An excellent book with a fascinating (and only gently "kids these days") premise: that modern boxing, where fighters fight perhaps 3 times yearly, the best fighters often dodge one another, and whose ruleset has slowly incentivized a fixation on headshots and disincentivized much of what was once considered the fundamentals of defense, is in many ways much removed from the Boxing of the early/mid 20th century.
February 11, 2023
Good read, but sluggish and repetitive at times. Actually, it is super repetitive, with the same points hammered home again and again. All valid points, and all important to understand, just hard to read. That said, I am glad I read it. I leaned plenty about boxers I wasn’t familiar with and gained a fresh perspective on the sport. I’d recommend this book to any true boxing fan.
February 20, 2023
Compelling argument, detailed analysis, extremely repetitive, but utterly convincing.
November 12, 2024
thin on evidence
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews