This book tells a story that is often purposely ignored—that of the modern-day boxers who lose for a living. Far from the pay-per-view hype, the book lays bare the reality of modern-day boxing and the way it works in small-hall venues countrywide. 2013 saw the 100th and final fight in the career of East London's Johnny Greaves, remarkable for the fact that he won only four of those contests. He took fights at short notice, facing young prospects with the implicit understanding that he was ...

Into the Woods provides a sharp insight into the true motivations of fighting men. Rather than dealing in cliche, hype or the myth of the 'noble art', former world light heavyweight champion, Clinton Woods, lays bare the culture that surrounds his sport. From meagre beginnings in a large family, on Sheffield estates decimated by Margaret Thatcher's attacks on the steel industry, to booze, drugs and tussles with the law, Woods had chaotic and bloodstained origins. Having boxed as a...

Wiped Out? tells the story of welterweight prospect Jerome "Wipeout" Wilson—and shines a light on boxing's ultimate taboo. On September 12, 2014, in his 11th professional fight, Jerome was knocked out in the sixth round. He never got up. Wilson was rushed to hospital and spent 10 days comatose. He had suffered a subdural hematoma, a large bleed on the brain. When he finally came to, his sense of reality had unraveled. He was unable to speak or move. Eventually he was discharged wi...

Glyn Rhodes MBE has devoted his life to boxing. Since wandering into the world-famous St Thomas' gym in Sheffield as a directionless teenager, he has spent more than 40 years working inside and outside the ropes. Cognisant of how this hardest of sports both saved and brutalised him, he is now ready to tell his story. Rhodes' reflections offer fresh perspectives on the likes of Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Herol Graham, Clinton Woods, the British Boxing Board of Control, plus his complicate...

In this exclusive ebook-only edition, Phil Tufnell, aka 'Tuffers', the Sunday Times bestselling author of Tuffers' Cricket Tales, shares a selection of the most outrageous and hilarious cricket stories he has received from his Twitter followers.

On 4 August 2012 Jessica Ennis kicked off what some described as the greatest night in British sporting history. For her it was the end of a long, winding, and sometimes harrowing road. Nobody was under more pressure at the London Olympics than 'the face of the Games'. Yet Jessica delivered the heptathlon gold medal, and the huge outpouring of relief she showed afterwards hinted at the roller-coaster journey she had been on. Behind the smiles and politeness, Jessica has endured much. Bulli...

Australian cricketers have always liked to keep in shape. It's just that a lot of the time that shape is a circle. When Shane Warne waddled out to play South Africa in the 1997 Boxing Day test, his physique wasn't exactly streamlined, but his competitive spirit was still in fine shape.'I've waited two years for another chance to humiliate you,' he growled at his 'bunny', batsman Daryl Cullinan.The bunny looked Warne up and down. 'Looks like you spent it eating'.Davi...

Sheffield boxing legend Herol Graham's long awaited autobiography has been critically acclaimed in the boxing world.The retired fighter, who has enjoyed unrivalled popularity in the city and entertained boxing fans worldwide with his artful style, decided to share his thoughts on his three world title shots, his turbulent relationship with Brendan Ingle and Barney Eastwood, and his battle with depression. Funny, sad and heart warming in equal measures, Herol has left very few stone...

'The Fever PItch of five-a-side' TONY PARSONSA must-have for anyone who has ever played and enjoyed amateur football.James Brown has been playing football since growing up in the backstreets of Leeds. The sudden death of one his long-standing team mates made James ponder the unique bond between men who meet each other once a week for years, but don't know any personal details beyond pitch prowess.Five-a-Side football is whe...

Putting his unique spin on our sporting life, Peter FitzSimons celebrates the tall tales and true, the outrageous yarns and the knockabout humour from the footy fields, cricket grounds, dressing rooms, bars and commentary boxes of Australia.From the clever sledges behind the bales and the goalposts to the quick wit of lounge room commentators and the ever so slightly exaggerated tales of holes in one and other great sporting feats, comes this collection of wicked tales, killer quot...

Terry Ryan was poised to take the hockey world by storm when he was selected eighth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1995 NHL draft, their highest draft pick in a decade. Expected to go on to become a hockey star, Ryan played a total of eight NHL games for the Canadiens, scoring no goals and no assists: not exactly the career he, or anyone else, was expecting.Though Terry’s NHL career wasn’t long, he experienced a lot and has no shortage of hilarious and fascinating revelat...

Football fans will love this insight into the life and mind of Big Sam. With nearly 20 years as a player - plus almost 25 years as a coach and manager - under his belt, Sam Allardyce is one of the most recognisable figures in British football.'Big Sam' has been a robust defensive general throughout the seventies and eighties, and an imposing touchline presence as a gaffer since 1994.Over the last four decades, Allardyce has seen it all. The game he so loves...