Boxing in New Mexico, 1868-1940

By Chris Cozzone and Jim Boggio

Book Description

On June 28, 1868, a group of men gathered alongside a road 35 miles north of Albuquerque to witness a 165-round, 6-hour bare-knuckle brawl between well-known Colorado pugilist Barney Duffy and “Jack,” an unidentified fighter who died of his injuries. Thought to be the first “official” prizefight in New Mexico, this tragic spectacle marked the beginning of the rich and varied history of boxing in the state. Oftentimes an underdog in its battles with the law and public opinion, boxing in New Mexico has paralleled the state’s struggles and glories, through the Wild West, statehood, the Depression, war, and economic growth. It is a story set in boomtowns, ghost towns and mining camps, along railroads and in casinos, and populated by cowboys, soldiers, laborers, barrio-bred locals and more. This work chronicles more than 70 years of New Mexico’s colorful boxing past, representing the most in-depth exploration of prizefighting in one region yet undertaken.

About the Author

Chris Cozzone is a freelance boxing writer, photographer and historian. His work has appeared in magazines, newspapers and on websites, including Fightnews.com, The Ring and ESPN. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The late Jim Boggio of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was a journalist and chairman of the New Mexico Athletic Commission.

Chris Cozzone and Jim Boggio
Foreword by Bruce Trampler

Print ISBN: 978-0-7864-6828-7
Ebook ISBN: 978-0-7864-9316-6
100 photos, glossary, notes, bibliography, index
448pp. softcover (7 x 10) 2013

The book can be ordered directly from the publisher at McFarland Press or at Amazon.Com and Barnes and Noble.