On Boxing: Critical Interventions in the Bittersweet Science

This book offers a philosophical and cultural critique of contemporary boxing, exploring its complexities as a situated cultural practice and formalized competitive sport. It discusses the cultural embeddedness of boxing and gyms, the formation of pugilistic selfhood, combat sport violence, sparring, and the aesthetics and ethics of cornering a match. With an interdisciplinary focus, it provides a new theoretical framework for analyzing boxing and sport.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 94 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book is a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of contemporary boxing, delving into its philosophical and cultural dimensions. It aims to broaden and deepen our understanding of a sport that is often misunderstood and reduced to stereotypes. The author employs an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from ethnography, sociology, urban studies, and the philosophy of sport. Through extensive research in boxing gyms in the United States, the book presents a multifaceted perspective of professional boxing as both a situated cultural practice and a formalized competitive sport. It delves into various aspects, including the cultural embeddedness of boxing and boxing gyms, the formation of pugilistic selfhood and the concept of 'boxer cool,' the nature and function of combat sport violence and sparring, and the aesthetics and ethics of cornering a boxing match. By examining these topics from multiple angles, the book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of professional pugilism.

Written for a broad audience, this book is essential reading for scholars and students engaged in the fields of philosophy and sociology of sport, as well as combat sport studies. It provides a new theoretical framework for analyzing boxing and sport in general. Chapter 3 of the book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. This allows for widespread access and dissemination of the valuable insights contained within the book.

In conclusion, On Boxing is a groundbreaking work that offers a profound and multifaceted exploration of contemporary boxing. It challenges preconceptions and sheds light on the complex realities of a sport that is both thrilling and controversial. Through its interdisciplinary approach, the book provides valuable insights for scholars, students, policy makers, coaches, and commentators alike, contributing to our understanding of boxing and sport in the modern world.

Weight: 200g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032052366