NEW James J. Corbett book

[apollack]

Check out my new book: In the Ring With James J. Corbett

It is available at lulu.com. See Adam Pollack's Storefront - Lulu.com ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Those who enjoyed my John L. Sullivan book will enjoy this one. It is $30 paperback, $45 hardback. The preface and intro are available for review.

This is the second book in Adam J. Pollack’s series on the heavyweight champions of the gloved era. It is the most thoroughly researched boxing-detailed biography on James J. Corbett’s career ever written. It reveals new dates, bouts, and facts, shedding fresh light on his experience, skills, and ability. It meticulously describes his bouts and provides multiple viewpoints by local next day newspapers, giving it unparalleled authenticity and accuracy. The exhaustive research provides an encyclopedic wealth of knowledge about Corbett’s boxing career. His bouts are placed into social, legal, racial, and historic contexts, including anti-prize fighting laws and the color line. A complete record of Corbett’s career is included. 435 pages, 51 photos, 820 footnotes, bibliography, index.

Adam J. Pollack is a staff writer for Cyberboxingzone.com, vice chair of USA Boxing’s Judicial Committee and a member of its Women’s Task Force. He is also a boxing coach and attorney living in Iowa City, Iowa.

[McGrain]

I just ordered my copy. It better be bloody brilliant is all i can say, I haven't spent that much on a book since I "graduated".

;)

[Arthur]

Awesome. look forward to reading it mate.

[Langford]

I thought the Sullivan book was really good, Adam. I am really looking forward to the Corbett book, now. Are you planning on writing about all the champions or John L and Gent. Jim, only?

If you are writing about Jeffries, it will be hard to top Kelly Nicholson's "A Man Amongst Men" which I really liked. Also, you will have your hands full with trying to come up with a book more than ten pages long about Marvin Hart!

Thanks for the writing.

[Bad_Intentions]

I thought the Sullivan book was really good, Adam. I am really looking forward to the Corbett book, now. Are you planning on writing about all the champions or John L and Gent. Jim, only?

If you are writing about Jeffries, it will be hard to top Kelly Nicholson's "A Man Amongst Men" which I really liked. Also, you will have your hands full with trying to come up with a book more than ten pages long about Marvin Hart!

Thanks for the writing.He's currently working on a James Jeffries and a Bob Fitzsimmons Book.

[Zakman]

I've said before, I'll say it again - these are great books, real "boxing fan" books. None of the fluff you get in most boxing books, but ALL the details about their boxing careers, from primary sources. If the Sullivan book is any indication, I am sure this book is exceptionally well-researched and well-documented. Can't wait to read it.

[apollack]

I thought the Sullivan book was really good, Adam. I am really looking forward to the Corbett book, now. Are you planning on writing about all the champions or John L and Gent. Jim, only?

If you are writing about Jeffries, it will be hard to top Kelly Nicholson's "A Man Amongst Men" which I really liked. Also, you will have your hands full with trying to come up with a book more than ten pages long about Marvin Hart!

Thanks for the writing.

Thank you for all the kind words, everyone. Yes, this will be an ongoing series. Fitz is next. Nicholson's book was good. Mine will be better. I already have over 100 pages written on Marvin Hart, an underappreciated champion. This guy was all action and a big puncher with a good chin. Kind of like a Gatti type. Underappreciated.

[Bad_Intentions]

adam, after fitzsimmons, jeffries is next?

[apollack]

Yup. Jeff will follow Fitz. All written with the same detail and thoroughness, based on next day local and national reports. Be sure to post your reviews. Thanks.

[Bad_Intentions]

Yup. Jeff will follow Fitz. All written with the same detail and thoroughness, based on next day local and national reports. Be sure to post your reviews. Thanks.one more question. is the john sullivan book still avaiable? if so can i have the link to it?

Thanks.

[Dempsey1238]

Do Henry Pearce down the line lol. Its about time he is due for a book.

[apollack]

John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion is available at [Only registered and activated users can see links]

More specifically,

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

In the Ring With James J. Corbett is available at [Only registered and activated users can see links]

More specifically,

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

The hardback version will be available again in a couple of days. I removed it temporarily because I'm dealing with isbn issues. Bottom line is I'm not going to get an isbn because if I do it would mean I'd only make $3.00 per book. I'll spare you the details.

[Senya13]

My review of Adam's 'John L. Sullivan - The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion' book.


John L. Sullivan had become a mythical figure long before he decided to quit the ring. Mythical in both his status as quite possibly the greatest athlete there was in the 19th century, and in the number of stories or legends about him, which were not always true. One of the biggest examples of the latter was that he was primarily a bareknuckle fighter.

A lot was written about Sullivan, some books focusing on him exclusively, some dedicating a chapter to his role in the history of heavyweight boxing. But too often they focused primarily on his biggest fights and on his personality, and offered little about his lesser-known fights and opponents. There wasn't one book that stood out as the consensus best about him. Some preferred his autobiography, some thought Isenberg's 'John L. Sullivan and His America' was best and most thoroughly researched, while some chose Chidsey's 'John the Great' for his writing style.

And while the question about the best description of his personality and his life remains unanswered, it seems to be consensus opinion now that the best book on him as a fighter is the one written by Adam J. Pollack. It's hard to disagree with that.

The author of 'John L. Sullivan - The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion' reveals his goals from the very beginning:

- present facts and analysis that is based mostly on primary sources;
- provide multiple views where there's a discrepancy between different sources and let the reader decide which of them seems to be closer to truth;
- discuss his opponents, to provide insight into significance of each fight;
- describe the way Sullivan developed as a fighter, his skills and abilities, providing opinions of both his critics and his followers and fans;
- describe the epoch when he fought, and his influence on the course of history in general, and the history of boxing in particular.

The book fulfills these tasks nearly perfectly. The efforts Adam J. Pollack has put into his research is visible from the start, the number of sources and the quality of them is immense, and the way he treats them as a true historian, with excellent objectivity and neutrality, that are not at all clouded by his affection to the object of his research.

The fighting record of Sullivan not only grows in size and rids of multiple errors as compared to any other version that has been compiled before, but it stops being just a list of names on paper too. The author carefully paints images of many of them, who they were and how significant was their role on the boxing scene.

And even though Adam J. Pollack has decided to concentrate only on that part of Sullivan's life that is relevant to his fighting career, the personality of this great pugilist becomes much clearer after reading this book than can be achieved from reading of any other books on him. Dislike of bareknuckle rules; lack of passion for boxing later in his career, drawing the color line and the indecision about his position on it - all these points are discussed in detail.

It can be only criticized the way the book ends at the Corbett fight, without much discussion on it and on what happened to Sullivan afterwards, but this is easily excused by the fact that the author is going to continue and finish the story of Sullivan in his later books, one of which has already been finished and is available via lulu.com, and supposedly discusses the conqueror of Sullivan, James J. Corbett, as thoroughly as the book being reviewed discusses Sullivan. It’s called: In the Ring With James J. Corbett.

In all, the book is a must-have for any follower of the 'sweet science', and fully deserves a place on the shelf with the best books ever written on boxing.

[Bad_Intentions]

great review senya

[McGrain]

Nice review Senya maybe i'll pick one up...wait and see if Corbett agrees with me first though.

[apollack]

This is what Kevin Smith (Ksmith9116) had to say:

I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of Adam's new book and I can assure you that it is quite worth the price of admission. Like Adam's work on Sullivan, In the Ring With James J. Corbett, is a highly detailed, well written, well researched and thoroughly detailed work. I am a big fan of primary sources and this book supplies them in detail, using them to craft a thoroughly accurate and objective look at Corbett's fighting career, his machinations and his business acumen. Adam remains objective in his prose, giving several sides to each fight, each story. In my opinion, Adam's series on the heavyweight champions is the most exhaustively comprehensive group of works available on the fighting lives of these very public and very important social figures. If you want to know about Jim Corbett's career as a fighter, you needn't look any further than In the Ring With James J. Corbett.

I might also add that at 435 pages, the price tag of $30 is a bargain.

[amhlilhaus]

you have over a hundred pages on marvin hart? that might actually be a huge part of your legacy as a writer, most sources claim there wasn't anything on him.

[janitor]

In my opinion, Adam's series on the heavyweight champions is the most exhaustively comprehensive group of works available on the fighting lives of these very public and very important social figures.

High praise indeed. I just hope you live long enough to get through to the Lennox Lewis volume.

[amhlilhaus]

High praise indeed. I just hope you live long enough to get through to the Lennox Lewis volume.

I would think by the time he gets to the modern heavyweights that the game has changed so much, his writing style might not be in line with the times. what fascinates about the sullivan book is that they were still coming off the bareknuckle era, and only guys with serious reputations seem to have fought the more well known guys like sully (except for on his tour) and the only reason his tour opponents were recorded was because of his immense popularity. nowadays a fighter fights dozens of nondescript opponents to build their skills and confidence and there probably isn't any written account of those fights except a static may 3 1989 lennox lewis ko 3 joe schmoe.

[amhlilhaus]

hey adam, not to divulge too much information but did you come across the story that fitzsimmons loaded his wraps with plaster to fight jeffries the second time? it's one of those great things you've heard but in the back of your mind you wonder who heard it, when etc?

[apollack]

It wilil be addressed in the Jeffries volume. Sit tight.

[Bad_Intentions]

adam, how's the jeffries book going?

[apollack]

Finishing off Fitzsimmons right now. Got over 350 pages written already. Please post how you folks feel about my Corbett book (if and when you read it - which will take awhile - it's long).

[Bad_Intentions]

did you add the pictures i sent ya of fitzsimmons?

[apollack]

Haven't gotten to that yet. I do photos towards the end, after all the text has been written.

[Bad_Intentions]

Haven't gotten to that yet. I do photos towards the end, after all the text has been written.no problem :good

[McGrain]

Mine arrived a couple of days ago. If it reads as good as it looks, should be in for a treat.

[Bad_Intentions]

Mine arrived a couple of days ago. If it reads as good as it looks, should be in for a treat.hardcover?

[McGrain]

hardcover?


Nope, the other kind.

[Bad_Intentions]

paperback :D

[apollack]

It is available in both hard and paper. Hard is $45. Paper is $30.

McGrain, be sure to let me know what you think of it. Thanks though for the preliminary plug.

[amhlilhaus]

It wilil be addressed in the Jeffries volume. Sit tight.

you big tease:nut

[Zakman]

I just started the book, and so far it seems every bit as impressive as the Sullivan book. Like the Sullivan book it provides some excellent context at the outset, and really gives a good sense of what the game was like in the late 19th century. And this time you have a choice of a relatively inexpensive paperback, as opposed to the higher priced Sullivan book. Based on what I've read so far, I highly recommend it.

[apollack]

This from Jason Simons:

"I finished In The Ring With James J. Corbett and, once again, I am VERY impressed. This is a scholarly work worthy of any boxing library. Adam Pollack has done an amazing job with the research and does a good job showing the backgrounds behind the fights and doing as good a job as possible recreating the fights themselves, since, except for a staged bout that not much footage exists from, the fights were not filmed. He has to use eyewitness accounts and newspaper excerpts to recreate the fights and does a very good job with this. I found the descriptions of Corbett's involvement with Joe Choynski particularly fascinating. Once again, like in the Sullivan book, Corbett's personal life is barely and almost never touched upon, but that's fine here. The title indicates that the book deals with the ring life of Corbett and it most certainly achieves that. I definitely look forward to the Fitzsimmons and Jeffries volumes that are mentioned as coming out in the future."

[Bad_Intentions]

adam, do you have in mind in writing a jack johnson book in the future?

[apollack]

If I get that far....It would be in the same style of my other books - focus on his boxing life - not so much on the out of ring life unless and to the extent that it affected his in the ring life. There are more than enough books on Johnson's personal life, so maybe my type of book is what is needed, because I don't think anyone has ever truly focused on his career on a fight by fight basis.

[Mike South]

Maybe you could write a companion to your Sullivan book that gives us an idea of what kind of a person he was out of the ring so that when we read the play-by-play book we can get an idea of who we're reading about?

[apollack]

I truly believe the best way to learn about the man is by what he says about the fight game, himself, his opponents, and most improtantly, how he conducts himself as a fighter in the ring, and who he fights and doesn't fight. The rest is often mostly b.s. and is not as revealing. I feel that you do indeed get a feel for Corbett and Sullivan as people through my books, although not in the conventional way. But I think I paint a truer picture of who they were inside.

[McGrain]

McGrain, be sure to let me know what you think of it. Thanks though for the preliminary plug.

Great job.

Well done to you, sir.

[McGrain]

McGrain, be sure to let me know what you think of it.

In The Ring With James Corbett is a book that has been written by an attorney. It's hard for me to advise you to do anything that might make an attorney richer, but I have to tell you that this book is worth the cover price and more.

What is most interesting is Adam's angle - it's about the boxing, and all the way to the hilt. This makes for a slow start, as Corbett, the most professional of amatuers, tours the country making a bit of sly cash under a pseudonym so as not to jeprodise his attatchment to the Olympic sporting club, which sounds like a hell of a place. Even these earlier fights are treated with tender loving care by the writer and it is interesting to read the boxer's words regarding his early experiences.

Early in my experience I used to be fond of parrying blows. I found that they would sometimes get through my guard in spite of everything. Then I began to rely upon my legs and eyesight. I found it a great deal better plan...






This ties in with Adam's exhaustive post fight analysis of the Sullivan-Corbett duel and there is a real sense of the book "coming together" as you read. There is a complete picture of Corbett and no mistake.


Once the book lifts of, it's almost impossible to put down. Adam doesn't drop any sauce into his accounts of the great Corbett battles, he understands the drama exsists regardless and so we are treated to little opinion or speculation but we do get multiple sources for each round of the Corbett-Peter Jackson war of May, 1891.

The coverage is exhaustive and I can honestly say that I have a real sense of what occured in this fight with having ever being able to see it and that's a treat.

The Sullivan fight is treated as a near Holy thing with multiple sources (including The New Orleans Daily Picayune, The New Orleans Times-Democrat, Birminghan Age Herald, The New York Times, New York Herald and New York Sun) compressed into one thrilling account so thrilling it's the closest thing to watching the fight you could ever experience.

After this fight we run into the books limitations a little bit. There is nothing about how Corbett celebrated, what women he saw, what his family made of the events, how quickly he recovered (though he was at the "sparring" not long after)...pretty much none of that. To some that will be a relief, but I felt it was a shame. However, give Adam credit - he set out to write a book purely about boxing and that's what he's done, regardless of the temptation to do otherwise here.

And the book soon goes into overdrive again. Jackson had the sore end of his draw with Corbett but it was a draw, and Jackson was very much the #1 contender - now followed a fascinating rhetorical joust between Corbett's people, Jackson's people and the society of the day as to whether and where a fight between the two should take place. This part of the book - relevant because it concerns making a fight - is my favourite, with astonishing insights into the colour politics of the time through the windown of contempory accounts. Nowhere does Adam judge Corbett but nor does he duck "Gentleman Jim's" conduct in this matter.

I submit that the details concerning the attempts to make the failed Jackson fight are worth the price alone.

Although there is an inevitable sense of "those days were better" in the tone - inevitable because the writer has to descibe scenes like this one, where Corbett and Sullivan spar (long before their fight):

...the boxers wore large gloves, their dinner outfits, including their vests, pants, shirtsleeves, collars and neckties, to the surprise of the spectators. They barely ruffled each other's hair over the 3 rounds...






But nevertheless Adam keeps a very reasonable detatchment from proceedings, probably because his subject runs directly into the next one - Fitzimmons. That book will be a treat, I suspect, though the one i'm looking forward to most is Jeffries.

So just tell yourself that Adam Pollack is most likely a human rights lawyer of some sort and order the book

Details in the thread.

9/10

[Zakman]

I truly believe the best way to learn about the man is by what he says about the fight game, himself, his opponents, and most improtantly, how he conducts himself as a fighter in the ring, and who he fights and doesn't fight. The rest is often mostly b.s. and is not as revealing. I feel that you do indeed get a feel for Corbett and Sullivan as people through my books, although not in the conventional way. But I think I paint a truer picture of who they were inside.

I thoroughly agree. I'm now about 130 pages into the book, and I already have a far clearer picture of Corbett than I did before. THe way in which a fighter conducts himself in the ring, and how he goes about his career does say alot about him. As a boxing fan, too, this is what I am primarily interested in. I frankly have little interest in details of his personal life, and certainly no interest in his vaudeville or acting careers.

The approach taken in these books is refreshing in that it is purely factually-based, with minimal speculation, and none of the historical distortions or errors typically found in boxing books. Most of all, I enjoy the focus on BOXING. I look forward to reading the next two-thirds of the book.

[apollack]

Tracy Callis' review is now available.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[amhlilhaus]

hey adam, if you do get to jack johnson, would you also present your views on him based on the films of his fights? correct me if I'm wrong but johnson is the first 'filmed' heavyweight champion where theres a lot of on film action of him.

I hope you at least get to johnson personally.

[apollack]

All depends on how well received my series is. If the demand is there, I'll continue. If not, I'm only going up to Tommy Burns.

[McGrain]

All depends on how well received my series is. If the demand is there, I'll continue. If not, I'm only going up to Tommy Burns.

Interestingly, you may need to hit Johnson to "cross over".

But it's fighters like Greb, Burley, Wills, McVey who wold benefit the most from the "Pollack treatment".

[amhlilhaus]

Interestingly, you may need to hit Johnson to "cross over".

But it's fighters like Greb, Burley, Wills, McVey who wold benefit the most from the "Pollack treatment".

I like that phrase. any book on a fighter using primary newspaper reports has been pollacked.

[fists of fury]

I'm planning on getting the Sullivan book first, then this one. Hardcover, of course...just need to pay off some debt first. :)

[Zakman]

I'm planning on getting the Sullivan book first, then this one. Hardcover, of course...just need to pay off some debt first. :)

Adam can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Sullivan book is available in hardcover. At least it wasn't when I ordered it last year!!

Whatever format these books come in, they are great. Well worth reading if you are interested in detailed, documented boxing history.

[apollack]

Yeah, Sullivan is only available in paperback. Don't blame me. That's the publisher's decision. Corbett is available in either hardback or paperback. Credit me for that. I self published it.

[fists of fury]

That's too bad. Hard cover ftw!

[apollack]

What you will get in this book:

More detail and accuracy regarding the fights than ever before. Round by round accounts. Pre and post fight analysis. All based on multiple local next day newspaper reports.

Dates and local reports of fights which were previously unknown, or for which no one was able to provide a description because the dates were unknown, including William Welch, Joe Choynski, Mike Cleary, Dave Eiseman, etc.

Discussion of Corbett’s semi-fixed fights with Frank Smith, Duncan McDonald, and Dave Campbell, using accounts written at the time.

Massive coverage and discussion of the Burke and Choynski bouts, the Peter Jackson fight and subsequent attempts to negotiate a rematch, the Sullivan, McCaffrey, Kilrain, Mitchell, and Sharkey bouts, Corbett’s many exhibitions, and the filmed Courtney bout.

Analysis of race issues and context for how legal issues affected and impeded the fights.

[apollack]

Check out Zakman's really nice and well written review on the eastside homepage.

[Zakman]

Yeah, here's the link for those who are interested:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[guilalah]

I finished Apollack's Sullivan book last week, it was very impressive! I ordered his Corbett book yesterday.