Feb
Saturday Salon: Bare-knuckle Boxing
The fighting arm of Jack Dempsey, The Manassa Mauler, who held the World Heavyweight Championship from 1919-1926.
I’m currently working on the third Rules of Scoundrels novel, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished.
The book is Temple’s story — Temple, the broad-shouldered, broken-nosed bare-knuckle boxer who handles security at the casino. Oh, and who is known across London as the Killer Duke. Needless to say, Temple’s like no other hero I’ve ever written — extraordinarily physical and filled with emotion that he can barely hold on to, which makes for a rather unpredictable hero.
As I’ve been writing about a fighter, I’ve been doing a lot of research on fighting in the 1830s and in general. I’ve learned some wild things–some of which will end up in this book and some of which will likely never see the light of day: The way fighters used beeswax to stop their teeth from cutting their cheeks; the way they wrapped their knuckles in long strips of linen in precise, perfect patterns; the fact that true bare-knuckle matches lasted 80-100 rounds and that boxing gloves were actually designed to pack heavier punch and make fights more quick and brutal–not to to protect fighters as you might imagine.
I’ve been reading books and watching movies and thinking about fighting a lot as I craft Temple and his story. Movies like Snatch and Knuckle (the Irish travelers have kept bare-knuckle boxing alive and held most closely to its original origins) have been a huge inspiration, and I must confess I’ve watched this clip from the first Sherlock Holmes movie more than I’d like to admit:
Colum McCann writes in his introduction to At the Fights: American Writers on Boxing:
“Writers love boxing, even if they can’t box. And maybe writers love boxing especially because they can’t box. The language is all cinema and violence….what you have with a fight is what you have with writing, and they each become metaphors for each other: the ring, the page; the punch, the word.”
It’s true, of course.
When I came at Temple’s story, I knew I would have to learn about fighting…I just didn’t know I would learn to love it so much.
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Is there a sport that really speaks to you, either as a spectator or a player?
Feb 16, 2013
11:09 am
I would have to say baseball. When I was little, I wasn’t into it. I saw everyone was into it and trying to get me into it and softball. Occassionally I would play softball with friends or the neighborhood kids, as long as I could have that HUGE plastic bat. With the neighborhood kids, we played on a hill and any ball OFF the hill would not only be an automatic out, but usually the end of the game. I was the first generation of girls, who could play Little League. I was pleaded to join, but I didn’t want to play. So, what got me finally into baseball? It was the Philadelphia Phillies and a free ticket to a ball game.
In the late 70s, the team was getting good and I had a crush on the short stop at the time – Larry Bowa. Still love Larry. I wanted to see him play, but my parents wouldn’t take me. Some years later, my church went to a game and I went. Larry was no longer playing, but Mike Schmidt and Von Hayes was. Von became my new player to watch. My friend, Kim, was in LOVE with Mike and even named her first born after him. She got me a ticket to go with her. That is what got me into the game. Watching the game the way she did, by not only watching the game, but the players, the crowd and the whole atomosphere.
To this day, I still love it. When a favorite player leaves the team, I pick a new one. I have watched Jimmy Rollins career since he was in the minor leagues and he is my man! I love the way he plays and I love his smile and swagger. When he gets on base, it is really good for our team, because a win is almost in the bag – so is second base because he is a great base stealer. If you see Jimmy’s uniform get dirty, it is a good game. Clean uniform usually means we could possibly lose the game.
Feb 16, 2013
11:16 am
Fascinating post, Sarah! I admit, I haven’t watched the first Sherlock Holmes movie yet, but that clip you included definitely makes me want to!
I am not athletic, by any stretch of the imagination. But I do like watching the Olympics, especially figure skating in the winter. I love how it combines grace and athleticism, and I hold my breath any time a jump is attempted. The tension is palpable, and I’m hoping and crossing my fingers nobody falls! Most of all, I think it’s great that the routines are paired with music. For example, here is Torbvill and Dean’s famous Bolero routine and the 1984 Olympics.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcCj0xfO3H8&w=420&h=315
Feb 16, 2013
12:30 pm
Figure skating was probably the first sport I ever paid attention to!
Feb 16, 2013
3:39 pm
Did you ever watch the Olympics when you were a kid, and then skate around your kitchen floor in your socks?
I can never listen to Bolero without wanting to throw my arms wide and sashay around the room. Good times.
Feb 16, 2013
12:51 pm
Love this post and so looking forward to Temple. I wouldn’t say I have a sport that speaks to me although in the past I loved fencing and ballroom dancing.
Feb 16, 2013
1:34 pm
This whole post gave me shivers. I actually love boxing–it’s how I got in shape for my wedding! I miss it, and kickboxing (more readily available at gyms) is NOT the same. I’ve rarely experienced anything more visceral. It’s PERFECT for Temple! Can’t wait to read his story.
Feb 16, 2013
2:43 pm
Hi Sarah,
I’m soooo looking forward to Temple’s story – he’s big, he’s burly, but I suspect there is a tenderness deep inside that the right woman is going to lavish in. ; )
Boxing makes me cringe – I just don’t like one on one violence like that. If it’s in the movies or books it’s one thing but to watch two men duke it out in real life just turns my stomach.
Creative sports speak to me – gymnastics, diving, etc. – I suppose it’s because I lived these but they demonstrate the beauty that the human form can create. I will add martial arts, and fencing to this mix. Good post!
Happy Saturday Everyone!
Feb 16, 2013
3:11 pm
Have you seen Ripper Street and Copper? They both have bare knuckled boxing. By the way, I can’t wait for Temple’s story.
Feb 16, 2013
3:45 pm
I don’t know about the sports question. I watch and enjoy several things that have surprised me over the years. Like Wimbledon – who knew that tennis is entertaining to watch. I didn’t!
But that first pic is so yummy I had to make it my desk top background. I think you shared this image on your blog several months ago, so while I was reading One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, I pictured that ‘arm’ every time Temple had a little page time. And drooled. *sigh*
Feb 16, 2013
4:08 pm
I do love college football. I’ll watch a lot of other sports, too. I am really looking forward to Temple’s book. (Can you write faster?)
Feb 16, 2013
4:26 pm
I agree please write faster lol.
Feb 16, 2013
4:26 pm
I am not really a big sports fan, but I can not wait for Temple’s story. I am currently reading Cross’s story and loving it so far. Thank you for all your awesome books.
Feb 16, 2013
5:03 pm
Great post – So excited about Temples story. I love to watch college football.
Baseball always speaks to me – probably from years of watching field of dreams, the natural and other stories.
Feb 16, 2013
6:24 pm
Been married to a guy for 30 plus years and he’s a former football player [hs] and hs coach.. so I guess I’m a football fan. Since I live in Indiana, it goes to say I am also a basketball fan… We’ve been to some ice skating events.. and that’s what I wish I was athletic enough to participate..
Feb 16, 2013
7:32 pm
So can’t wait for Temple’s story! For me it might have been football, although I was never fond of it that much. And when I started playing Flag football for my club, just for fun, it was a great work out. I still don’t really care about it but it was much fun to play.
Feb 16, 2013
8:29 pm
I love volleyball. I will watch it on TV every chance that I get. However, I love to play. My position is setter and I have played in coed power volleyball leagues since college.
Feb 16, 2013
9:48 pm
I like watching down hill skiing, probably because I love skiing and can really understand what’s going on.
Feb 17, 2013
12:24 am
I LOVE pro football. There is so much action going on. Watching a game really gets my blood going. My favorite players are: Eric Weddell (#32 free safety), Ronnie Brown (#11 running back) Vincent Brown (#30 wide reciever) and Danario Alexander (# 84 wide receiver). I am a HUGE Chargers fan. I love them whether they win or lose. I love that scene in Sherlock Holmes. I have seen both films and love them.
Feb 17, 2013
2:28 pm
Great post, Sarah! I am so looking forward to Temple’s story!
I’m a broad spectrum sports fan but football, hockey and Nascar racing are my top three. My dad was taking me to college football games before I was old enough to walk. I’m one of those people who paces the room and yells at the TV and sitting in a stadium surrounded by 80,000 screaming college football fans makes me supremely happy. I was a fan of hockey before meeting him but my hockey playing, college boyfriend sealed the deal for that sport. And the first time I sat behind the wheel of my Firebird 400 (at age 19) and felt the power of the engine rumbling around me, I felt the need…for…speed!
May 6, 2013
1:58 am
Figure skating is a sport and activity in which individuals, duos, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. The four Olympic disciplines are men’s singles, ladies’ singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Non-Olympic disciplines include synchronized skating and four skating. In senior-level competition, skaters generally perform two programs (short and long) which, depending on the discipline, may include spins, jumps, moves in the field, lifts, throw jumps, death spirals, and other elements or moves.`.
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