The Fighting Life - Tales from the World of Boxing

The Short and Violent Life of Stanley Ketchel

Stanley Ketchel, the Michigan Assassin, was one of the most ferocious fighters of his generation. His fearless, all-action style saw him rip through the middleweight ranks and earn fame across America. But his life outside the ring was as wild as the punches he threw and at just 24-years-old he was murdered, shot in the back like the Wild West outlaws he admired. In this podcast we trace Ketchel's rise from hobo brawler to heavyweight contender, before investigating his murder on a ranch in Missouri. Pop in your mouthguard and fasten your groin guard, because it's a hard-hitting story from the opening bell to the final count. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Frank Slavin: Adventurer, Soldier and Bare-Knuckle Boxing Champ

Today, we're going back to the dawn of modern boxing, when brutish bare-knuckle contests gave way to only slightly less brutal glove fights. And we're telling the story of Frank Paddy Slavin, bare-knuckle champion, adventurer, and war veteran. A lot of listeners will never have heard of Frank Slavin, but in his time, the Australian heavyweight could stake a claim to being the toughest man on the planet.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Tale of "Two Ton" Tony Galento

Throughout this podcast, we've told stories of boxing greats – fighters who rose to fame on the back of boundless talent and unrelenting hard work. Today's subject isn't one of those fighters. He was lazy, overweight, reckless, and downright dirty. But one night at Yankee Stadium in 1939, he almost pulled off the greatest upset in boxing history against the heavyweight champion of the world. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Sonny Liston: The Original “Baddest Man on the Planet”

Feared inside the ring and out, Sonny Liston was the most intimidating heavyweight boxer to ever climb between the ropes.  At his best, he crushed the greatest fighters in his division as he forged a path to the heavyweight title. But his was a life of crime, violence and mayhem. Even Mike Tyson once said, Sonny Liston made him look like a boy scout.  Often reduced to a brute by the media or presented as a misunderstood object of pity, Liston was one of the most enigmatic of champions. Today we shed some light on this tragic figure. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Kid McCoy: Boxing Champ, Con Man, Killer, Hero

A hobo, a heavyweight boxer, and a Hollywood star. A suspected jewellery thief, and a convicted killer. It sounds like a collection of characters from a Tarantino film, but it's all one man. Kid McCoy packed more into his life than seems possible. As a boxer, he was known for his dirty tricks as much as his superior skills, while outside the ring, his escapades often made front page news. Born with the mundane name of Norman Selby, the Indiana native carved out a persona and career that was anything but dull. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.