Book review: My Favorite Fights by Jerry Fitch

Two things you can count when you read any of Jerry Fitch’s books. You’ll enjoy them, and learn something.

Jerry’s latest, My Favorite Fights fits nicely with other books that I’ve reviewed: Cleveland’s Greatest Fighters and James Louis Bivins’ The Man who Would be Champion.

In My Favorite Fights, Jerry gives his take on fights (famous and not so famous) he witnessed live, or watched via video or TV. He includes a number of classics, Gene Tunney vs. Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling II, and the first bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Jerry discusses all aspects of the fights, offering his own informed views and opinions.

A Cleveland, OH, native, Jerry has loved boxing pretty much his entire life. He recounts the first boxing match he saw live (Carmen Basilio vs. Johnny Saxton III) at Cleveland Arena in 1957.

The fight was over in two rounds. Jerry, who met, and befriended, Basilio 20 years later recalls telling Basilio about being in the arena that night.

The former champion remarked, “Here’s your five dollars, you got cheated.”

Another reason the book is so much fun to read is the personal touch that Jerry brings to it. He fondly tells of his friendships with fighters Billy Conn, Jersey Joe Walcott, Bob Foster, Carlos Palomino, and Larry Holmes.

In my favorite chapter, he writes of his friendship with the two boxers Billy Wagner, and John Griffin II. When the two met for the second time in 1972, Jerry had to write about the fight. He said he was torn since he liked them both, but was closer to Wagner. Yet he had to remain impartial.

It’s this inside information, seen through Jerry’s eyes, that makes reading the book enjoyable.

There are chapters (25 in total) about the night Bob Foster brutally knocked out Mike Quarry, the war between Danny Lopez and Bobby Chacon, the Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott fight, among others.

Also included are a copious collection of photos from the author’s personal collection.

My Favorite Fights continues the theme Jerry began when his first book, Cleveland’s Greatest Fighters of All Time, was published in 2002. You’ll smile and nod while you read it, and remember.

To order a copy of My Favorite Fights, or any of Jerry’s previous books, email him at jerryfitch1946@gmail.com

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