Boxing in Philadelphia Tales of Struggle and Survival [Hardcover]

Oppenheim sifts through the grit, the black eyes, and the corruption to present a candid, loving look at a sport that has been so historically important in this town that there is a breed known as The Philly Fighter.After the quality of prose and the depth of admiration the author feels for his subjects, commitment is what resonates most about this book. To write a book like this about lesser-known figures in a lesser city requires much, much more than would a book about Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkin's favorite Philly cheesesteak spot of Oscar De La Hova's escape from East Los Angeles. . . .Oppenheim's book will be deservedly considered one of the last good books written about [boxing].Boxing in Philadelphia makes for a good read because it is a voyage of discovery. Many of the boxers scrutinized are relatively unknown fighters who had to scrap and bully and live out a precarious existence in which life was all about struggle and survival (the books subtittle). . . .Oppenheims book has an earthy, genuine, leather, sweat-and-swat feel to it. This man is passionate about boxing and has the rare gift of seeing himself, and his vision, as it really is. . . .As a fan of boxing, this writer enjoyed studying Oppenheims methodology.Anyone familiar with or interested in the Philly fight game will enjoy a fast-paced read that can be picked up and put down at will. Researchers exploring the history of sport in Philadelphia or comparable urban centers may find some valuable sources or stories on any given page of Boxing in Philadelphia. . . .Oppenheimers book might resonate with college-level teachers because it is, ultimately, his own narrativeand it looks a lot like the kind we see on campus every year. His story is about a bright-eyed student away from home who takes some risks, finds new interests, and applies it to the pursuit of his desired career with an admirable passion. Many of us enjoy watching our students grow and mature from their first semester through thls$