David Martinez Boxing

By Jim Amato / Senior Boxing Writer

I just read a book about a man who may be the best boxer to come out of my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. As an accomplished amateur he knocked out future world light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim. As a professional fighter he defeated some of the best heavyweights and light heavyweights of that era. Men like Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Charley Burley, Gus Lesnevich,Maxim, Billy Soose and many others tasted defeat at the hands of Bivins. Jimmy even took on Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott.For his great accomplishments Bivins was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.

The author of this book is fellow Clevelander Jerry Fitch. Jerry is a well respected boxing historian who has developed a long friendship with Jimmy and his family. This connection enabled Jerry to tell the story of Bivins and his roller coaster life and career.Along with the great text Fitch published some vintage photos that are priceless.

I’ll say say this is a “must read” for boxing fans. I feel you will enjoy it as much as I did.

BOOK NAME ~ James Louis Bivins; The man who would be CHAMPION; Author Jerry Fitch

The book is available at www.amazon.com

Barnes and Nobles and various sites in the UK.

It is also available by contacting jerryfitch@aol.com

Hard Luck: The Triumph And Tragedy Of “Irish” Jerry Quarry
AUTHORS – Steve Springer and Blake Chavez
FOREWORD by George Foreman

I have always been a big fan of Jerry Quarry. He was a mainstay in the talent laden heavyweight division during the late 1960s and into the 70′s. His multitude of fans shared in his triumphs and his disappointments throughout his roller coaster career. Whenever you counted Jerry out he would win a major fight to propel himself back to the heavyweight forefront. His victories over Floyd Patterson,Thad Spencer,Buster Mathis Sr.,Mac Foster,Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers always kept him in the thick of the heavyweight title picture. Then there were the losses to Ali and Frazier who both defeated Jerry twice. There were the losses to Jimmy Ellis, George Chuvalo and later in his career to Kenny Norton.

Much has been documented on Jerry’s career and his battle later in life with Dementia Pugilistica. A battle that would take his life in 1999. The authors of this book do a tremendous job of detailing Jerry’s life and career from the beginning to the bitter end. It brought back a lot of memories both good and bad but it also reminded me of why I was such a fan of Quarry and that era of heavyweight boxing.

This is more than a book on Jerry Quarry. It was like reading and reliving that historic time frame in fistic history. Other then Muhammad Ali himself,no one stirred the pot of controversy better then Quarry during that time frame. Along with his great boxing ability Jerry had something else. Loads of charisma that most of today’s heavyweights lack.

I highly recommend this book to all boxing fans. It is a great read. If you are a Jerry Quarry fan…Well what are you waiting for ???

By Jim Amato / Senior Boxing Writer

What a way to start out the year 2011. I just finished reading an excellent book by an author I have great respect for. Steve Maguire is a top shelf boxing historian. In his recent book”Boxing’s Top Tens”, Steve gives his opinions and insights on some of the greatest boxers and historical boxing events of all time. He does this in a style which really opens up room for agreement or debate by the reader. Agree or disagree,Steve makes a solid case for his choices. This author did his homework!
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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

Wow! My read on My Life Among the Icons written by Johnny Ortiz is that it is simply a must for boxing fans, including the novice aficionado.

It is a wonderful and interesting collection of Johnny’s life from the age of fifteen to 1999. Johnny has been involved with the sport of boxing for over fifty years. I have personally known this fine gentleman for the last twenty years as a boxing associate, mentor and dear friend, and now his book has brought out a personal, in depth touch into his life.
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By Jim Amato

THE TERROR OF TERRE HAUTE … Bud Taylor And The 1920′s.

AUTHOR: John D. Wright

THIS was a great book! When I received it I had heard of Charles “Bud” Taylor. I knew he was in the Hall of Fame but he was a fighter from the past. I really knew little about him. I know better now thanks to author John D. Wright. John’s labor of love brought to light a career forgotten. A career that should be remembered. Bud Taylor was a hell of fighter. He was a hell of a man too and Mr.Wright covers all the bases.
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Billy Soose – The Champion Time Forgot
A book by Rusty Rubin and Tom Donelson

Billy Soose was an American boxer who won the world middleweight championship in 1941.

After a collegiate boxing career, Soose became a professional boxer in 1938. That same year he met Charley Burley, defeated Soose by a unanimous decision. In 1940 Soose defeated two future middleweight champions, Ken Overlin and Tony Zale. He began 1941 by defeating future heavyweight and light heavyweight title challenger Tami Mauriello and then, in May of that year, beat old foe Overlin for Overlin’s middleweight title. He never defended the title and retired in 1942 after losing a bout to Jimmy Bivins.
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By Jim Amato

HANDS OF STONE : The Life And Legend Of Roberto Duran

Author: Christian Giudice

Roberto Duran is my favorite fighter of all time. Because of this fact I thought I may be a little bias in my opinion of the book ” Hands Of Stone “. Would I over rate it because the subject was Duran or would I be too harsh and expect too much ? All I know is when it hit the shelf, I had to have it. Although time is not a luxury for me these days I was going to make time to read this book. I’m glad I did.
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