Connecticut Boxing: The Fights, The Fighters and The Fight Game

by Mark Allen Baker

Overview

Sandwiched between New York and Boston, Connecticut has produced some of the fight game's most prominent pugilists, including Jack Delaney, Louis "Kid" Kaplan, Christopher "Bat" Battalino, Willie Pep and Marlon Starling. The state also has hosted a long list of legendary fighters that includes Lou Ambers, James J. Braddock, George Dixon, Joe Gans, Rocky Graziano, Harry Greb, Beau Jack, Sugar Ray Robinson, Tommy Ryan and Joe Walcott. And some of the finest boxing matches ever seen happened here, such as Micky Ward's stunning victory over Arturo Gatti at Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort. So, pull up your ringside seat and join boxing historian Mark Allen Baker as he details the history behind the headlines.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467148085
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	05/17/2021
Series:	Sports
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	1,021,921
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Mark Allen Baker is a former business executive, author, biographer and writer of hundreds of articles and more than twenty-five nonfiction books. He is the only person to serve the International Boxing Hall of Fame as an author, historian, chairperson, sponsor, volunteer and biographer. And he is also on the board of directors of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. A graduate of the State University of New York, his expertise has been referenced in numerous periodicals, including USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Money magazine.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction: Against All Odds, or Perhaps with Them 11

Chapter 1 Connecticut, a Place to Call Home: Gene Tunney 15

Chapter 2 Bridgeport's Bright Eyes: Jack Delaney 19

Chapter 3 Meriden Muscle in Hanover Park: Louis "Kid" Kaplan 25

Chapter 4 The Epic Rise: Christopher "Bat" Battalino 31

Chapter 5 "Will-o'-the-Wisp": Willie Pep 40

Chapter 6 The Beloved: Johnny Duke 50

Chapter 7 "El Indio": Gaspar Ortega 57

Chapter 8 The Magnificent: Marlon Starling 61

Chapter 9 Great Venues 66

Chapter 10 The Fighters and the Fights 81

Chapter 11 The Fight Game: Outside the Ropes 110

Chapter 12 Casino Boxing 131

Chapter 13 Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame 154

Notes 163

Bibliography 171

About the Author 175