Full Description
On June 28, 1868, a group of men gathered alongside a road 35 miles north of Albuquerque to witness a 165-round, 6-hour bare-knuckle brawl between well-known Colorado pugilist Barney Duffy and "Jack," an unidentified fighter who died of his injuries. Thought to be the first "official" prizefight in New Mexico, this tragic spectacle marked the beginning of the rich and varied history of boxing in the state. Oftentimes an underdog in its battles with the law and public opinion, boxing in New Mexico has paralleled the state's struggles and glories, through the Wild West, statehood, the Depression, war, and economic growth. It is a story set in boomtowns, ghost towns and mining camps, along railroads and in casinos, and populated by cowboys, soldiers, laborers, barrio-bred locals and more. This work chronicles more than 70 years of New Mexico's colorful boxing past, representing the most in-depth exploration of prizefighting in one region yet undertaken.
Contents
Table of Contents
Foreword by Bruce Trampler
Preface by Chris Cozzone
Part I. The Territorial Years, 1868-1911
1. Bareknuckle, 1868
2. Prizefighting Arrives, 1880s
3. The Rise of Prizefighting, 1890-1895
4. The Fall of Prizefighting, 1895-1896
5. Outlawed, 1896-1911
6. Hometown Pioneers, Pre-1912
Part II. First Golden Age of Boxing, 1912-1917
7. The Boxing Explosion of 1912
8. The First Golden Age, 1912-1916
9. Rise of New Mexicans, 1912-1916
10. Fall and Rise, Fall and Rise—The Saga of Benny Chavez, 1912-1917
Part III. War, 1916-1922
11. Border Battles, Soldier Wars, 1916-1919
12. Veterans of the Ring, Veterans of the War, 1918-1922
Part IV. Second Golden Age of Boxing, 1922-1932
13. In Search of a Champion, 1922-1925
14. The House That Mack Built, 1925-1928
15. The Uncrowned Champion, 1929-1930
16. Mackless New Mexico, 1929-1930
17. End of an Era, 1931-1932
Part V. Final Golden Age of Boxing, 1932-1940
18. Three for One, 1930-1935
19. The Clouting Caballero, 1930-1939
20. The Big Scene Goes "Small," 1935-1940
Finales
Glossary
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
