An extraordinary piece of work, 718 pages, large format.

Mr. Christer Franzén, IBRO member, is by far very successful with this compilation that any Scandinavian thought was impossible. This book covers professional boxing in Sweden, from 1880 until 1969. Not only ordinary professional cards, but also including any promotion associated with professional boxing, such as exhibitions, mixed sports cards, obscure events, etc.

The first part covers the events with results in statistic form, accompanied by revues, analyzes of circumstances and associated people and organizations involved.

The second part is a record book that covers every Swedish boxer that ever touched gloves in the nation and abroad. This part also includes records of all the active professional boxers who were forced to perform abroad after the prohibition of 1969.

All in all, you will find names and events you never heard about. This piece is a historical document, one of the biggest in Swedish Sports History.

The book can be purchased through the author at:

mrboxhist@tele2.se

Viewing Boxing From Ringside

By Frank Lotierzo and Tom Donelson

It's a curious thing about boxing fans. They seemed more enthralled about hypothetical pairings than in anything else. And I must admit I'm no different.  And the beauty about hypothetical theories is that everyone has an opinion as to why their opinions are correct. You can believe what you want, and people can argue until they're too hoarse to talk, in the final analysis you can't prove a thing.

The biggest arguments lately seem to settle in on the heavyweight division. After all, the magnetism of the heavyweight championship (and I'm talking linear, not the phony alphabet titles) is unequalled, in my humble opinion, as a world sporting attraction even today. Even the English were torn between watching England's participation in the World Cup and the Lewis-Tyson fight. The reason - what other sporting event remains so unique for pre-event furore, fills you with the tension of the moment and for sustained post-event comment.

For your reading pleasure Tom Donelson and Frank Lotierzo have put together a series of their boxing essays on such legendary performers as Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Floyd Patterson, Sugar Ray Robinson and many more from the past as well as modern day warriors such as Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.

Their essays do not attempt to span boxing's rich history; they merely are intended to provide a picture of a variety of fighters and to judge them on the basis of their distinctive qualities. 

To that end, I think Tom and Frank do a excellent job of portraying the essence of the sport of boxing through the quality of their observations about boxing and the short bios about some of the most notable characters of the sport.

This book is not only an enjoyable read, but will also stimulate further dialogue among boxing fans.

The book is published by iUniverse and can be purchased at

Amazon.com