Bareknuckles

Father. Fighter. Champion. Outlaw. Hailed as an “exhilarating debut” by Publishers Weekly, Bare Knuckle by former Rolling Stone editor Stayton Bonner (nominated for the Dan Jenkins Medal of Excellence in Sportswriting) takes readers into a previously unknown world: the underground circuit of illegal bare-knuckle fighting. Bare Knuckle is the remarkable true tale of Bobby Gunn, the 73–0 undisputed champion of bare-knuckle boxing. An inspiring underdog story that reads like a real-life Rocky. Bobby Gunn has been fighting for his existence since a childhood spent living under the hand of his volatile father, and would do anything to give his seven-year-old daughter a better life—including betting on himself in the underground world of bare-knuckle boxing. In 1984, Gunn was an eleven-year-old boxer in Ontario when his father woke him in the middle of the night to fight grown men in motel parking lots for money, his old man pocketing the cash. From there, Gunn traveled to Las Vegas, Tijuana, and beyond, competing in ringed matches as well as in biker bars and mobster dens on the side, brawling to make ends meet. But it was only with the birth of his daughter—and his desire to help her avoid his fate—that Gunn entered the big-time world of underground Russian-mob matches of up to $50,000 a night in New York City, hoping to finally raise his family above the fray. Former Rolling Stone editor Stayton Bonner travels the underground for years with Gunn, the world champion of bare-knuckle boxing with a 73–0 record, shining a light on a secret circuit that’s never before been revealed. Along the way, we explore the fascinating history of this first sport in America, Gunn’s Irish Traveler community—a sect of religious fighters best known through Brad Pitt’s depiction in Snatch—as well as his part in the improbable rise of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the first legal revival of the sport. Bare Knuckle, a tale of triumph, loss, and a father’s love for his family, is a heartbreaking but ultimately inspiring story that will have you rooting until the end.

Chronicling the incomparable life of boxing and Saratoga Race Course legend John Morrissey. John "Old Smoke" Morrissey was one of the most dynamic characters of his time. He went from a career as an undefeated bare-knuckle boxer, founded the Saratoga Race Course and eventually won elections to Congress and the New York State Senate. A poor, uneducated Irish immigrant, Morrissey became a leader in the Dead Rabbits street gang. He won fame as a fighter and fortune as the operator of a string of successful gambling houses. Morrissey then took Saratoga Springs by storm, improbably resurrecting thoroughbred racing during the Civil War and opening his famous Club House, which was the most glamorous casino the country had ever seen. Author and National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame director of communications Brien Bouyea takes you on this fascinating journey and shows just how Morrissey did it all.

In a book as fierce and stunning as a prize fight, Ed Rollins tells of his many triumphs and sometimes spectacular blunders during a thirty-year career in American politics. From the Reagan presidency to the campaigns of Ross Perot and Christine Todd Whitman, Rollins has long been at the red-hot center. Now, in Bare Knuckles and Back Rooms, he gives us the inside story on Washington and many of its most prominent players with sharp reflections, revealing and frequently irreverent anecdotes, and always astonishing candor. Once a champion amateur boxer, Rollins brings the pugnacious spirit of a born fighter to everything he does. Never shy about his opinions, he now delivers the kind of take-no-prisoners honesty for which he is notorious. He dissects the personalities of Richard Nixon, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, George Bush, Ross Perot, James Baker, Michael and Arianna Huffington, and Newt Gingrich. He shows how political campaigns really operate, and he offers keen insight on this year's contenders, from Bill Clinton to Bob Dole and Pat Buchanan. Part autobiography and part political primer, this is a deeply compelling story and a highly personal look into the inner workings of government and campaigns. Ed Rollins's passion for the game and thoughtful insight into our political system make this a must-read for anyone interested in how the game of contemporary politics is really played.

In its heyday, which spanned the mid-18th to the late-19th centuries, the bare-knuckle prize-fight was a wildly popular sport. With contests lasting hours and going into over 100 thrilling, punishing rounds, the sport drew crowds both common and elite-from royals and politicians to writers like Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope to Dickens and Thackaray, to the middle- and working-classes-all drawn together by the brutal excitement and the spirited wagering the sport generated. In Bare Fists, Bob Mee shows the fascinating evolution of bare-knuckle boxing, from the earliest days when there were no rules, to what was, for bare-knuckle fighting, the beginning of the end-the Marquess of Queensbury Rules, with their call for gloves and timed rounds. Rich in rare and exhilarating anecdote, Bare Fists recreates with thrilling immediacy all of the big bouts of the sport, including those of the legendary American champion of the 1880s, John L. Sullivan.

One of the biggest challenges for new managers is how to get the best out of each of their team members so they achieve superior results—and make you, the new manager, look good! In Bare Knuckle People Management authors Sean O'Neil and John Kulisek cut through the crap to show managers how to push their teams to success, not by following fluffy leadership training but by using the skills that got them promoted in the first place. Forget kumbayas or one-minute managing. The best people managers know that approaches that work great with one employee will be lost on the next. With the same irreverent and straightforward style they use in their management training workshops, O'Neil and Kulisek describe the 16 basic worker types you must learn to recognize, from The Badass to The Burnout, and how to customize your leadership style for each type. The authors encourage the readers to take pieces of what works from each of the sections and they also remind them to follow the gut instinct that got them to their new management position in the first place. Written in short, easily digestible sections, and both entertaining and insightful throughout, Bare Knuckle People Management is perfect for any manager pressed for time and in need of some straightforward advice.

"They Will Have to Die Now is the story of what happened after most Americans stopped paying attention to Iraq…It will take its place among the very best war writing of the past two decades." —George Packer, author of Our Man and The Assassins’ Gate James Verini arrived in Iraq in the summer of 2016 to write about life in the Islamic State. He stayed to cover the jihadis’ last great stand, the Battle of Mosul, not knowing it would go on for nearly a year, nor that it would become, in the words of the Pentagon, "the most significant urban combat since WWII." They Will Have to Die Now takes the reader into the heart of the conflict against the most lethal insurgency of our time. We see unspeakable violence, improbable humanity, and occasional humor. We meet an Iraqi major fighting his way through the city with a bad leg; a general who taunts snipers; an American sergeant who removes his glass eye to unnerve his troops; a pair of Moslawi brothers who welcomed the Islamic State, believing, as so many Moslawis did, that it might improve their shattered lives. Verini also relates the rich history of Iraq, and of Mosul, one of the most beguiling cities in the Middle East.

Bareknuckle fighting was one of the first organised spectators' sports and the first to boast a World Championship. Yet paradoxically throughout its history it was illegal. Dennis Brailsford is the first historian to describe the entire history of bareknuckle fighting from the Regency period until its decline in the early years of this century. He covers not only the London Ring spread of bareknuckle fighting to America and Australia. He introduces us to the individuals, the great names of bareknuckle fighting: Mendoza, Gully, and 'Gentleman' John Jackson, looking at their lives, how they trained, how matches were set up, fighting styles, financial rewards and their post-fighting careers. He also shows how new methods of travel and communication affected the organisation of fights and the efforts of those who tried to prevent them.

You probably hate giving presentations. You probably hate listening to them too. Why? Because most business presentations are too long, too detailed, too boring...and submerged under a blizzard of PowerPoint. But the single most important presentational tool known to man isn't a slideshow. It's you. Whether you're speaking to one person across a table, 20 people in a boardroom or 1,000 people in a ballroom, it's all about the words you say and how you say them. The Presentation Coach shows you how to use what you've already got to give you clarity, confidence and impact in every speaking challenge you will ever face. You'll learn the unique Bare Knuckle 5-step process to effective presenting, and how to apply it to all business speaking, from large-scale presentations to one-to-one client meetings. Graham Davies has been coaching high-profile individuals from the worlds of business, politics and entertainment in exactly these techniques for the past 25 years. Now it's your turn. Praise for The Presentation Coach "Graham Davies is a brilliantly funny speaker who knows how to inspire and enthuse anyone who sees presenting as a bore, a burden or a source of terror." Nick Robinson, Political Editor, BBC "This book really captures Graham's intense and robust sense of coaching. Just like the author, it is amusing, punchy and really comforting to have access to in all presentation situations." Michel Combes, CEO,Vodafone Europe "Required reading for anyone who wants their presentations to enthuse rather than euthanize their audience." Tim Curtis, MD, Northern Europe, Land's End "Graham is a highly effective presentation coach. He is always honest and gets straight to the point. His book is just as direct and entertaining as he is in person." Nick Jeffery, CEO, Vodafone Global Enterprise "I don't know anyone who could wear the label 'the presentation coach' more confidently than Graham." Daniel Finkelstein, Executive Editor, The Times "I use Graham's system strictly and religiously in every speech. In fact on almost every important occasion when I need to get a message across.... You will never regret buying and using this book." George Clarke, MD, Heidelberg UK "Graham helped me develop my very own presentation style, true to myself, with high impact and focused very much on the audience." Phil Clarke, CEO Designate, Tesco "Graham's approach is ruthlessly robust and utterly practical. This book is the next best thing to seeing him in person, and much less of a strain on your budget." Matthew Wilson, CEO Brit Global Markets "...Davies's compelling book illuminates all the pitfalls and provides a simple guide to allowing personality into presentations - radical stuff indeed!" Andy Street, MD, John Lewis "Whether you are a Prime Minister, chief executive or anyone else who needs make an impact, then you must read this challenging and innovative book by Graham Davies." Neil Sherlock, Partner, Public Affairs, KPMG "...I wish Graham had written it 20 years ago..." Richard Klein, MD, Bank of America Merrill Lynch "Never again will you commit the crime of Death by Bullet-Point." Penny Philpot, Group Vice President, Worldwide Partner Services, Oracle "Graham Davis is a talented gagmeister who shows that the best way of exposing a bad argument is with a good joke." Boris Johnson, Mayor of London "Reading his book will spur you on to win your own presentational race." Richard Dunwoody, twice winner of the Grand National "Graham completely reframed my approach to presenting. His approach works!" Otto Thoresen, CEO, Aegon UK "A process that you can use no matter what the situation. I heartily recommend it." Michael Gove MP "This book is not a coaching guide for the faint-hearted. Prepare to be beaten into being bloody brilliant!" Francis Edmonds, broadcaster, author and professional speaker

The Comprehensive Guide to Bare-Knuckle Boxing Techniques Martial artists David Lindholm and Ulf Karlsson present this practical guide to learning and effectively applying the classic combative skill of bare-knuckle boxing in real-world situations. This age-old fighting practice, also known as pugilism, began long ago in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire and developed over time into a precursor to the modern sport of boxing. Lindholm and Karlsson discuss the differences between the bare-knuckle approaches used by various historical teachers, and provide useful technical instruction on how to implement the strategies yourself. They cover stances, strikes, punches, kicks, counters, throws, and avoidance as well as essential components of training and conditioning. Studying these time-tested techniques and carefully practicing the patterns will allow you strike hard yet still protect your ungloved hands, and be able to do so in a variety of conditions and scenarios. The Bare-Knuckle Boxer's Companion is illustrated with hundreds of pictures depicting classical actions and poses, and is also rounded out with a superb bibliography of recommended historical source texts. This valuable guide is a must-have resource for any modern-day self-defense student, from beginners to experienced martial artists, as well as anyone interested in the history of fighting and boxing. This book is also available from Echo Point Books in paperback (ISBN 1648370993).

In 1855, New York City was scandalized by one of the most infamous murders in its history, that of gang leader Bill "the Butcher" Poole, the feared knife-fighter who later would inspire Daniel Day-Lewis's character in Martin Scorsese's film The Gangs of New York. The acknowledged mastermind in the Butcher's undoing was John Morrissey, a two-fisted Irish immigrant who, more than any other man of the age, represented the nefarious links between organized crime, politics, sports, and high finance in America. The loose inspiration behind Leonardo DiCaprio's character in The Gangs of New York, he was an undefeated bareknuckle prize-fighter, widely recognized as the national champion, as well as a feared gangster and mob boss before either term was coined, rumored leader of the Dead Rabbits street gang, and eventually U.S. Congressman and member of the New York state senate. He became the millionaire operator of some of the world's most opulent gambling halls, and was the founder of the Saratoga thoroughbred racecourse. Equally comfortable hobnobbing with pimps, cut-throats, and thieves as he was with Presidents Lincoln, Johnson, and Grant, or railroad tycoons like Cornelius Vanderbilt, the once impoverished street kid rose to a level of wealth and power unprecedented for Irish Americans to that point in the nation's history.The culmination of eight years of research, The Life and Crimes of John Morrissey is the most in-depth biography ever published about one of the nineteenth century's most notorious men. Drawing from the original newspaper accounts, as well as the memoirs of men who knew him, this is the true tale of gang wars and bloody riots in the notorious Five Points slum, a high-seas mutiny near Panama, bare-knuckle brawls in Canada and California, neck-and-neck horse races in Saratoga, million-dollar wagers on Wall Street, and back-room deals in Washington D.C. that encompass the short but daring life of John Morrissey.