mons (1990).
The book is separated into six chapters. Chapter 1 (p.8-28) seeks to address boxing through a historical context. Throughout are discussions of the English and American origins from as early as the Eighteenth century. Sugden provides us with a worthy review of such encounters from the London Prize Ring rules in 1983 and how they were codified, and in particular the emergence John Douglas in his creation of ‘the marquis of Queensbury rules’ (The mention of gloves in boxing, no wrestling or hugging, a 24- foot ring etc.). Consequent chapters exemplify how these rules still serve well as the code of conduct in which modern boxing is based to date. In Chapter 2 (p.29-55) Sugden discusses the political economy of boxing and how its rising popularity saw many boxers struggle to achieve legitimacy over it becoming Outlawed in England and much of the United States, largely over the disputed case of R v. Coney in 1882 and that of prizefighting at gambling venues. Shortly after this era, Sugden endeavors to illuminate how boxing commissions and other sanctioning bodies are firmly established to regulate the sport and launch universally recognized champions from John L. Sullivan to Jack Dempsey.
Within these two chapters, we see that like modern sports in context, boxing has become subjugated to specialization, commercialization, rationalization, and bureaucratization in its evolvement into the late Nineteenth century. This enables the reader to evaluate their conclusions and draw their own interpretations for the consequent chapters, drawing associations to the parallel expressions of Guttmann (2004). Yet whilst it is unfortunate that Sugden offers little to the history of Cuban boxing, social stratification in historical context is at times inconclusive. Surely it’s vital that a book comprising a uniquely broad view of social stratification in boxing, that one considers such great historical detail before turning this wealth of ethnographic evidence into a cohesive theory. Above and beyond, Anderson (2007) correctly points out that this section fails to account for the cultural circumstances surrounding important boxing characters, such peter Jackson and John Sullivan in American society. It begs the belief that Anderson’s thesis is better supported in cultural comparison as these biographical interpretations seem necessary for inclusion.
Whilst it is disappointing that Sugden’s historical review offers little favors to his fieldwork, the bulk of Sugden’s book and also the strength present itself through chapters 3-5 in his ethnographic studies of Hartford, Connecticut, USA (p.56-88) Belfast, Northern Ireland (p.89-13) and Havana, Cuba (p.131-171). Featured throughout these chapters we can see how Sugden’s work is unique in the depth it takes to explore boxing and its relationship to each society. For instance, the circumstances surrounding Hartford, and the unemployed African Americans and Hispanics, who tussle to survive on a daily basis. Here we interpret how the Memorial boxing club exploits such individuals to meet the needs of the dominant commercial forces that enforce the club. At the same time we become aware of how rather than being a strategy to escape urban deprivation these individuals seek to learn to box as a means of coping with everyday life in the ghetto. Sugden’s discussions of other communities such as New lodge estate in Belfast speak of how for the catholic community, boxing has become a social and physical means by which participants keep in touch with their culture, in divide against the historical civil conflict between the protestants. In Havana, Sugden begs the belief that the weak economy leaves a high percentage of boxers with limited resources and hope of success. Despite the Castro revolution and successes of former professional boxers which he interviews, Cuban society continues to be a cite of racism and anarchy.
Whilst Sugden’s work is unique in terms of the depth in which he researches the economic, social, political and ideological inequalities among different boxing communities, it seems necessary to point out again that his historical overview of said communities lacks clarity. I believe that increasing the amount of primary evidence within Sugdens study will vitalize the books overall thesis. Compared with Andersons (2007) review, Sugden’s historical overview is disappointing, as it does not enable the reader to see the validity of his chosen themes. However, Sugdens work still remains a rich source of Cuban American and Irish ethnographic data. Furthermore, the work of Sugden (1996) and Sammon’s (1990) correlates, as they both come to similar conclusions, adding value to the once bias accusations of American boxing society. That said, Sugden’s work elaborates and enforces the exploitation of individuals within the boxing community, who are faced with dominant commercial forces in America.
All in all, Sugden’s considerations of all his topics unrelated to his ethnographic study’s through pages (56-171) are bleak. Although, due to a cohesive wealth of evidence over international seas, Sugden’s ethnographic work is anything but concise, and a praiseworthy source for reference in the study of boxing in society over an international analysis. Yet, whilst his cohesive theory’s may not fully comprehend such historical accounts, his work remains untainted by other research in the area and one which continues to be the only resource which nicely comprehends the underlying motivations of boxing in society from a qualitative perspective. Collectively I would recommend either Boddy’s (2009), or Rodriguez’s (2009) for a more explicit historical view of the subject, and in particular Anderson (2007) who offers a more open understanding of such codifications and regulations. Perhaps, the latter research can help question how the surrounding community members perceive boxers? Or, is their irony in the fact that boxers themselves don’t sense that they part of this larger spectacle? One thing is for certain this book takes us a step further on the subject, and asks further questions.
References
Anderson, J. (2007) The Legality of boxing: A punch drunk love? Oxon, Routledge.
Boddy’s, K. (2009) Boxing: a cultural history. New york, Reaktion Books.
Guttmann, Allen (2004). From Ritual to Record: The Nature of Modern Sports. New York, Columbia University Press.
Rodriguez, G. (2009) The regulation of boxing: a history and comparative analysis of policies among American states. North Carolina, Macfarland and Company.
Sammons, J. (1990) Beyond the ring: The role of boxing in American society. Urbana, University of Illinois Press.
Sugden, J. Barneir, A. (1993), Sport, Sectarianism and society in a divided Ireland. Leicester, Leicester University Press.
Sugden J. (1996) Boxing and Society: An International Analysis. Manchester,
Manchester University Press.
Sugden, J. and Tomlinson, A. (1998) FIFA and the Contest for World Football:
Who Rules the People’s Game? Cambridge, Polity.
Sugden, J. and Tomlinson, A. (eds) (2002) Power Games: A Critical Sociology
of Sport. London, Routledge.
