Book Review: Taking the Punches by Mike Edwards

286 pages published by Harper Collins 2020

Taking the Punches offers insights into sixty years of involvement in the sport of boxing in Australasia by Mike Edwards who began as an enthusiastic amateur and became a trainer, manager and finally a promoter, following in his father’s footsteps. Depending on the needs of the boxers he was representing he would frequently perform two or more of these roles simultaneously.

The style Is conversational, focusing chapter by chapter on different aspects of the sport and giving insights into the characters and achievements of many famous and not so famous participants. Older readers will remember the likes of Lance Revill, Monty Betham Snr, George Stankovich, and will value the reminiscences about them. More recent fighters like Anthony Mundine, David Tua and Joseph Parker feature as well. This book is not about New Zealand boxers in an historical context, rather it is about associations with boxers that the author promoted and others that received world recognition that he did not promote over his tenure. 

Mike's book will appeal to those interested in the sport, but I am not so sure it will captivate others although it is a valuable insight into the vagaries of the sport and the difficulty of making money which relies so heavily on ‘bums on seats’. Much of a promoter’s energy, it seems, is taken up with ensuring the purse is paid as agreed. It was probably fortunate that the author had a successful sports photography business to back him during lean times. Mike certainly got to see the world in his various roles in the sport, even dealing with the infamous Don King on behalf of a few of his fighters. It is enlightening to realise how many boxing associations there are in NZ with no overarching body to ensure consistency of regulations. Mismatches were common practice in New Zealand and promoters were quick to pick out willing, but ill-trained individuals, quite a few garnered from the Pacific Island communities, who had the warrior spirit. These individuals were sadly lacking in any defensive tactics and 'put up a great show' for very little dough. Trainers really do need to protect their fighters with good advice although referees are the only ones able to end a fight for safety reasons. 

The book annoyingly lacks an index but does not lack the author's opinions of boxers and others even though he did not promote them.