Fleischer, Nat – Nat Fleischer’s All-Time Ring Record Book 1944 Edition

Description

Fleischer, Nat ‘Nat Fleischer’s All-Time Ring Record Book 1944 Edition’ 592-pages. Good condition with bright green covers with a bit of wear on the spine and slightly bumped corners, tight binding, straight and very clean. Book plate of a former owner named William Cox inside front cover, and the inside of the rear cover has a small light blue stamp of longtime sports book seller Goldwin McFadden in the lower right corner.

Nat Fleischer’s All-Time Ring Record Book (1944 Edition) is the third installment of the authoritative boxing encyclopedia compiled by The Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer, published in Norwalk, Connecticut by the O’Brien Suburban Press. Released in May 1944, this massive 592-page green-covered volume serves as a comprehensive, historical, and statistical “bible” of professional boxing, containing the updated records of 1,982 prizefighters and over 60,000 bouts tracked through December 31, 1943.

At the time of its release, Fleischer famously considered this edition to be his final “labor of love” reference guide (though the annual series eventually resumed and continued for decades).Key Content and FeaturesWorld War II Service Roll: Because it was published at the height of World War II, a major defining feature of this 1944 edition is a specialized war-service honor roll dedicated to the boxing records of fighters serving in the Armed Forces.

Fistic Firsts and Historical Trivia: The book is celebrated for tracking obscure and fascinating milestones throughout boxing history, dating as far back as antiquity. Notable entries include Theagenes of Thasos: Recorded as the first Olympic victor of 450 B.C. who famously fought with iron-loaded leather fist-stiffeners called the cestus.

Elizabeth Wilkinson: Documented as the first woman fighter on record (England, 1722).Bill Richmond: Recognized as the first American fighter to gain immense sports prominence across Europe.

Manager and Promoter Directory: To aid the business side of the sport, Fleischer integrated the first comprehensive global directory specifically tracking prominent active boxing managers and promoters.

Tribute to African American Boxers: At a time when mainstream media often marginalized minority athletes, Fleischer used this text to pay great historical tribute to Black prizefighters, documenting the complete, verified fight records of pioneer champions who were otherwise ignored by typical sports journals of the early 20th century.

John L. Sullivan’s Barnstorming Tour: The history captures specific legendary anecdotes, such as John L. Sullivan’s famous tour where he offered a $1,000 prize to any man who could last four rounds with him in the ring (a feat only accomplished by Tug Wilson).