Urbanities, Vol. 11 · No 1· May 2021 © 2021 Urbanities BOOK REVIEWS from boxing, which is perhaps true of boxing today, and that, from the very M. Bell and G. Armstrong, 2021. A Social History of Sheffield Boxing, Vol. 1 – Rings beginning, the safety of boxing was of Steel, 1720-1970. New York: Palgrave questioned. In fact, the introduction of Macmillan. gloves, in response to the dangers of bare- knuckle fighting, seemed to lead to even This book, published in the Series ‘Palgrave more injuries and inevitably deaths. If the Studies in Urban Anthropology’, sets out to Government had taken more notice of the discover the history of boxing and to inherent dangers in boxing, then one could establish how Sheffield grew into a city that argue that it should have been banned long is now synonymous with boxing world ago. Boxing was also linked with drinking champions and trainers. The authors Bell and betting, which tended to attract a and Armstrong, neither of whom claim to be rowdier clientele. experts on boxing or pugilism, use a wide The first Sheffield boxer was George range of sources of information to track the James Corfield — born in London — who development of boxing in the city. It is the fought for the first time in 1890, but up until depth of research that makes this book so that time, most of the events were held with compelling and informative, using historical fighters from the USA and other parts of the written evidence from newspapers, UK. He quickly established himself as a Government publications, a number of trainer and promoter and built a boxing club important images and even notes from court with some of his earnings to help develop proceedings. the next generation of fighter. This is not just a book about boxing, but The setting up of the Boxing Board of a commentary on the social conditions in Control and the support of the King, in the Sheffield around 150 years ago, when the late 1920s further legitimised boxing, first boxing events took place in the City. although many boxers continued to die as a Sheffield was never considered to be a result of their injuries. Boxing was further pleasant place to live, certainly a ‘tough’ promoted as a ‘morale builder’ and one that Northern working-class industrial city as could address class issues, and its portrayed in Samuel Sydney’s comment in popularity grew. Rides on Railways, ‘Sheffield is very ugly It is for the reader to make up their mind and gloomy: it is scarcely possible to say about the importance of boxing and its that there is a single good street’. This might inherent dangers to boxers, and this volume be one of the reasons why boxing became sets up the reader to discover more about the popular as a way to escape poverty, when in history of boxing in Sheffield. This volume the late 1880s a typical prize was as much a ends in the 1960s, a period of considerable factory worker might earn in a year, and change in the city; but in boxing terms, boxers could earn more than in any other Sheffield was set to become an important sport at that time. What this book also centre for producing future world shows is that it was the promoters and champions. What makes this book stand out investors in boxing who earned the most https://www.anthrojournal-urbanities.com/vol-11-no-1-may-2021/ 101 Urbanities, Vol. 11 · No 1· May 2021 © 2021 Urbanities is the level of research and attention to Neither is the research the product of detail covering some 80 years of sporting funding. They are, as they state in volume and social history, featuring not only 1, just two nosey locals who were fascinated Sheffield and its boxers, but also boxers by any correlate between place and athletic from other cities and countries. This book is ability. a must for those interested in the history of The outcome is not a book about who sport, the sociology of sport and even the hit whom where and when. It — obviously business of sport. — focuses on many individuals crucial to what one commentator has termed Reference Sydney, S. 1851. Rides on Railways ‘showbusiness with blood’ but equal Leading to the Lake and Mountain consideration is afforded the circumstances Districts of Cumberland, North in which, in a city undergoing enormous Wales, and the Dales of Derbyshire. economic, political and social upheaval, the W. S. Orr and Company. neighbourhood boxing club led by Nick Wilde dedicated and caring innovators inspired University Campus of Football Business, U.K. young people to escape both themselves in [email protected] many ways and the tyranny of the ‘street’. Boxing is described as one of Matthew Bell and Gary Armstrong, Sheffield’s success stories at a time when 2021. A Social History of Sheffield Boxing, Vol. 2 – Scrap Merchants, 1970-2020. New the city, at a low point, bedevilled by the York: Palgrave MacMillan. impact of industrial change and strife, sought to re-emerge from decay. In For me, a lad born and reared in inner city searching an explanation for this success, Sheffield in the 1950s and 1960s, Bell and the authors’ focus is on lesser-known Armstrong have not only crafted in this practitioners rather than the superstars who volume (as Sean Bean dubs it in his have written their autobiographies to tell inspiring Foreword) a ‘great read’ but they their stories. As the authors say, their work have also expertly evidenced the power of is intended to be a ‘biography of a city and sport (in this case boxing) to transform lives its boxing people’. for generations of young people born into An explanation of the context of the disadvantage. fight game and the complexities of Sheffield born and well known for their exploring its soul and energy emerge in two contributions to the written knowledge of dozen life stories. Collectively these present aspects of a city that had faced a powerful picture and convey a sense of deindustrialisation on a massive scale, the ‘salvation’ (‘redemption’) from waywardness, authors’ comprehensive and detailed criminality, drugs that obeying the strict chapters notes and references illustrate the discipline and rules of the gym demands. depth of their journey into the world of Many individuals are remodelled, changed, boxing. freed from the practices of the street but Interestingly, neither of them is from remain (as they record) ‘one of us’. the sport or make a living reporting on it. https://www.anthrojournal-urbanities.com/vol-11-no-1-may-2021/ 102 Urbanities, Vol. 11 · No 1· May 2021 © 2021 Urbanities Crucially, the authors account for those who addict to community champion. As co- lapsed in their pursuit of the straight road; founder of the ‘De Hood’ social enterprise boxing does not work for everybody. at the Manor Top, one of Sheffield’s most For this reader, the role played by difficult areas, Denton presides over a Brendan Ingle, his family and others who premise that provides a safe place from have followed in their path most relates to austerity, community breakdown and offers my own experience. Taken off the streets to meanwhile all who enter a chance in his play table tennis, tennis and football by words to ‘learn from my mistakes’. dedicated grassroots coaches changed my Chapters 1 and 5 provide fascinating whole view of what life could be about and insights into the beliefs, characteristics and what I could achieve through hard graft. modus operandi of the mentors, trainers, None of those teaching me reached the organisers who played a huge part in heights of the Ingles whose innovatory creating what has been the enduring success practices challenged the boxing orthodoxy of the City’s boxing achievements. That of the time, imposed a rigid and unbending journeys from gyms in the backstreets of discipline on their boxers, and acted as the Sheffield were not smooth is hardly standard for others who left their teachings surprising. Harnessing the ‘hard man’ to open boxing clubs in other disadvantaged identity that had arisen to replace the areas. They like the Ingles cared deeply masculine identity associated with gruelling about their protegés not necessarily as work in tough industries (mining/steel) not potential champions like Herol Graham, only required a personal philosophy that Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter, Kell Brook was applied equally to all to be they and others, but as young people who could potential champions, journeymen or just make a better and healthier life for young men seeking sanctuary from the themselves through participation in their streets but also a single-minded dedication sport. to the goals of the enterprise. The Ingle gym was not about making Challenging the orthodoxy of the time, champions — champions were almost a by- dealing with spectacular break ups (as product of more modest ambitions. In between Ingle and Prince Nasim), and Ingle’s words, progress was ‘[…] someone handling events that ranged through going to College rather than being a working men’s clubs to spectacular world labourer’ and someone else ‘[…] holding championship fights held in football stadia down a job’. Examples include ‘Towering’ and on TV with huge audiences evidence Towers who was transformed from drugs the authors’ description of Brendan Ingle as and violence to being a trainer and who ‘innovator, technician, entrepreneur, recounted that ‘[Ingle] saw qualities in me philanthropist, disciplinarian’. Chapters 2-4 that I weren’t experienced or educated exemplify the relationships between boxers, enough to see’; and Reagan Denton who mentors, and the art of boxing; the final was once a boxing champion who lapsed chapter, in summarising the characteristics into drugs, then transformed from heroin of the young men who came forward to https://www.anthrojournal-urbanities.com/vol-11-no-1-may-2021/ 103 Urbanities, Vol.