Pugilistica

By Michael Gerald

Pugilistica explores the history of modern prize fighting from its bare-knuckled roots in England, the adaptation of the Marquess of Queensberry rules, to its migration to America, and why so many athletes and fans love the sport so much. Stories, anecdotes, and truisms about some of our most beloved and lesser known professional boxers are revealed along the way, while raising awareness about the need for a future universal pension and health plan for those participating in the art of pugilism to better secure their medical and financial futures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Gerald
• Release date: Aug 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463536308

Michael Gerald

Michael Gerald is a professional writer, producer, and director with numerous literary properties to his credit and over twenty years of entertainment industry experience.Born in New Orleans, La., he attended the prestigious St. Augustine High School, before traveling extensively throughout the world. He is a military veteran who served in the United States Navy during The Gulf War. Japan, Thailand, Singapore, UAE, The Philippines, Morocco, and Mexico are just a few of the places he has visited during his travels.Growing up, he had a desire to become a professional athlete, and some of those skills would later prove to be useful as a stuntperson and military technical advisor on show’s and movies like “Boomtown”, “The Closer”, and “Rules of Engagement”. But it was his love and knowledge of comedy movies and television as a kid, and many years working on production sets that would lure him into screenwriting an ultimately writing and directing as a whole.In 2008, Mr. Gerald, got his first feature movie directorial opportunity with a suspense drama he co-wrote, entitled, “Unchained Melody”. Since then he has directed and produced music videos, television commercials, short films, and a non-scripted TVseries. In 2018 Michael became co-owner of a new production company entitled 5Picture Films.Mr. Gerald most recently completed his second book, “Pugilistica”, a book about the history of boxing and the need for a universal pension and health plan for the sport. He is currently writing his next feature comedy screenplay entitled, “Extreme Therapy”, and has begun production on the Pugilistica documentary based on the book.

Book preview

By Michael Gerald

Copyright 2018 5Picture Films, LLC.

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Contents

Intro To Pugilistica

The History

Early 1900’s

World War II Era

The Mexican & Puerto Rican Influence

Women In Boxing

The Television Revolution

Sanctioning Bodies & Laws

Houston Boxing Scene

California Professional Boxer's Pension Fund

Case Study's In Brain Trauma

Comparable Industries & Pensions

INTRO TO PUGILISTICA

By Michael Gerald

I fell in love with boxing at a time when Muhammad Ali was on the twilight of his career. Ali, I recognized due to his larger than life persona, his relationship and banter with the likes of Howard Cosell, and the antics leading up to his fights. He was more like an icon by then, I mean the guy had his own action figure. That put him right up there with GI Joe, Star Wars characters, and He-Man.

But it was watching Sugar Ray Leonard win the Olympic gold medal at the 1976 Bi-Centennial Summer Olympics, during the hype of the United States' patriotic consciousness, and that is what made me fall in love with boxing as a six year old kid.

Two years later, Muhammad Ali would fight Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans for the World Boxing Association World Heavyweight Title. In my hometown, a fight that ABC would pay over $5 million for the rights. 90 million watched on television and over 63,000 attended in the Superdome. The fact that Ali lost their first fight exactly seven months earlier only added to the suspense.

And all though I was alive for Ali's fights against Floyd Patterson, Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman bouts, I was only old enough to remember the third respective fights with Norton and Frazier. Probably because of the sheer size of Norton, or perhaps because of Ali's gorilla antics ramping up to the third Frazier fight in the Philippines. However, it would be his fights with Spinks, Larry Holmes, and Trevor Berbick that stuck with me the most.

Especially the TKO stoppage he received from Larry Holmes. Some thought the fight should have been stopped much sooner because of the manner in which Larry Holmes toyed with him, even though Holmes spared Ali from receiving more damage out of the respect he held for him. I was only a kid, but I still despised Holmes for beating Ali.

And that is the kind of passion boxing fans have for their favorite fighters, and local town heroes. Over time I came to truly appreciate Holmes' work in the ring. Especially that piston like jab he offered to his opponents throughout his career, and 20 title defenses. His jab was just remarkable.

But Sugar Ray Leonard, he got my attention because of his talent and dazzling display of skill, hand speed, and footwork. He was amazing to watch, and I got to see him at his sharpest and brightest.

And by 1980, he was looking to reclaim the World Boxing Council World Welterweight Title from the legendary Roberto Duran, and the fight would take place once again at the Superdome in New Orleans, which Leonard won. It would be the second of their trilogy of title fights, and the infamous No Mas fight where