Stiff Jab's Top Five Boxing Longreads of 2011

by Gautham Nagesh

1.  "$50 UNDER 11.5 ROUNDS FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR. VS. VICTOR ORTIZ.“ by David Hill, McSweeney’s

A beautifully wrought essay that relates Mayweather’s controversial stoppage of Ortiz in September while pondering the nature of fear and the impact of fatherhood. Hill describes his own upbringing and that of his father, the archetypal American tough guy who nevertheless embraced his considerably softer son. In doing so Hill reveals the source of his disdain for Mayweather: his refusal to acknowledge his father’s considerable impact on his professional success. Even if you’re in the camp that gives most of the credit to Uncle Roger, Floyd Sr. (who trained Ricky Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya among others) has had an undeniable influence on son’s legacy. Hill reminds of us of that fact in the year’s most poignant fight piece.

2. "Al Haymon Quietly Shakes Up Boxing” by Greg Bishop, New York Times

The Times’ lead boxing writer pulls back the curtain on the mystery man many believe pulls the major strings in the boxing world. Haymon’s shroud is opaque enough that yours truly didn’t even recognize him last month in Cincinnati as he sat directly across the ring. The fact his background is surprisingly respectable, borderline corporate for the boxing world, does nothing to lessen the mystique. With Haymon currently advising Mayweather, Broner, Gary Russell Jr. and Seth Mitchell among others, there’s little doubt he will play a primary role in the pugilistic conspiracy theories of the coming years.

3. “A Bad Night In Newark, Redeemed By A Single Punch” by Hamilton Nolan, Deadspin

Not quite the length of some of the other pieces here but Nolan’s dispatch from ringside of the Zab Judah-Kaizer Mabuza card at Newark’s Prudential Center in March was colorful enough to put my conventional fight report to shame. Of the several talented young writers covering the fight game Hamilton is less burdened by the conventions of the form than most, enabling him to capture the absurdity and irreverence that makes the Sweet Science so captivating. Reading this piece prompted me to reach out and acquaint myself with someone whose writing on the sport will doubtless become a mainstay at more mainstream outlets in the coming years.

4. “Boxer Tony Suggs is fighting to let go of the past” by Brigid Schulte, Washington Post Magazine

A promising NoVa amateur lightweight in the 1980s who succumbed to crack addiction one fight before qualifying for the Olympics, Suggs’ story is told simply and sympathetically by Schulte and should seem familiar to anyone in the fight game. The ring often offers young men a temporary refuge but one can’t forget the call of the streets is usually too strong to resist. Despite finally overcoming addiction Suggs still can’t relinquish his demons, nor can he convince his sons to avoid the same missteps. A heartbreaking but common tale repeated in gyms across the country everyday.

5. “Yuriorkis Gamboa Sizzles Amidst AC Sleaze” by Gautham Nagesh, Stiff Jab

What good is a listicle without a little shameless self-promotion? If you’ve never traveled to the sewer by the sea that is Atlantic City and sat in an auditorium half-full of hardcore fight fans for a glimpse of a potential phenom, this piece by yours truly attempts to approximate the experience. In retrospect the unsatisfying result, questionable accommodations and general sense of seediness all fade from memory, leaving only a brief glimpse of something spectacular from the Cuban featherweight. Most connoisseurs believe Gamboa has already arrived, though much of the world is still unaware. Despite all its frustrations, that night in Boardwalk Hall perfectly captured the maddening beauty of the traveling circus that is boxing.

Honorable mention: Sam Mellinger’s sterling and tragic piece on former heavyweight titlist Tommy Morrison, who insists he isn’t HIV positive and can still fight despite all evidence to the contrary. Sadly the article from the Kansas City Star is no longer available online. Update: Josh Wood of the Wichita Eagle helpfully notes his paper still has a link to the article.

Thanks for following folks, we look forward to bringing you more of the best writing on boxing both here and elsewhere in 2012. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!