Goodwin, Jack (Famous trainer) – Myself and My Boxers

Description

Goodwin, Jack (Famous trainer) ‘Myself and My Boxers’ .1924 1st ed. 255-pages. Two copies: One in red cloth published by Hutchinson & Co. Paternoster Row, London with some bumping to corners that has the handwritten name and book stamp of longtime South African boxing collector J. Karel de Vries Jr. on the frontispiece, and a bookplate of the WH Smith & Sons Library on the inside of the front cover, and another in blue cloth by the same publisher with some bumping to corners as well, and a half circle stain on the front cover. $35 each. (Note: I’ve only head of one party who found this book with a dust jacket.)

Myself and My Boxers is a rare 1924 autobiographical sports memoir and training chronicle written by Jack Goodwin, one of the most successful and revered British boxing trainers of the early 20th century. Edited by B.J. Evans and published in a 255-page hardcover volume by Hutchinson & Co. in London, the book serves as both a firsthand history of British prize fighting and an old-school training manual.

Book Summary: The Fighter Turn Trainer: Goodwin reflects on his own early competitive fighting days, where he earned massive credentials across the UK and Europe. However, the core narrative focuses on his transition to mastering the “noble science” from the corner as a coach, corner-man, and manager.

The Legendary Roster: The title refers to the elite stable of iconic British and international boxing champions Goodwin conditioned and guided through the squared circle. He shares behind-the-scenes stories, personality profiles, and technical breakdowns of historic fighters like Jimmy Wilde, Ted “Kid” Lewis, Sid Burns, Harry Mansfield, Bandsman Blake, and Joe Fox.

A Centennial Fight Game Window: The memoir is filled with colorful, unfiltered yarns that capture the gritty atmosphere of the sport 100 years ago. One notable anecdote detailed in the book describes a middleweight title bout at the National Sporting Club involving his fighter, Bandsman Blake; Blake became so unnerved by a German Zeppelin dropping bombs nearby during an active wartime air raid that he couldn’t settle down and was knocked out cold in the second round.

The Fine Points of Coaching: Interspersed between fighter biographies, Goodwin outlines his core philosophies on gym culture, exercise, and the often-neglected aspects of mid-1920s athletic preparation—such as diet, cutting weight, and nutrition. He also candidly addresses societal issues surrounding the sport at the time, including the heavy influence of gambling and a perceived decline in coaching expertise. (Historical Note: The book captures Goodwin at the absolute pinnacle of his wisdom. Eight years after its publication, in 1932, Goodwin tragically suffered a fatal heart attack and collapsed right in the corner during the 13th round of a high-stakes heavyweight bout at the Royal Albert Hall while assisting contender Larry Gains). Because of its small global printing run a century ago, original copies of this book are highly scarce, generally trading between $35 and $50 depending on spine wear.