BOOK REVIEW
Tracy Callis
BILLY MISKE The St. Paul Thunderbolt By Clay Moyle
This book is another outstanding work by boxing historian and author, Clay Moyle. It contains many interesting details and rare photos. The sources of data are well documented. As with his first book, SAM LANGFORD, it is a smooth and easy read.
As most fans of boxing know, Billy Miske was an outstanding fighter who never received due credit for his skills until recently when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Clay tells his story in this splendid account of The "St. Paul Thunderbolt" and his ring encounters.
Miske was loaded with fighting savvy and could box or punch. In a career of more than one hundred bouts, he fought the best men in his weight class and defeated such men as Tommy Gibbons, Fred Fulton, "Fireman" Jim Flynn, Ed "Gunboat" Smith, Jim Barry, Dick Gilbert, Homer Smith, Willie Meehan and Jack Renault while losing only a handful of official decisions. Miske failed to go the distance only once - against the great Jack Dempsey - when he was in failing health. In a remarkable last performance, Miske defeated Bill Brennan while close to his deathbed.
Mr. Moyle has gleaned important detail from accounts of Miske's life and ring battles. Various personal incidents in Billy's life are incorporated into the fight descriptions. Readers will come away with a much better knowledge of Billy. Nice (even if brief) tidbits of information are also included such as - the correct pronunciation of Billy's last name since he was of German/Prussian heritage, the efforts to marry to Marie (of the Catholic religion) since Billy was Lutheran, differences of views in various matters with Jack Reddy (his manager), the death of Tommy Gibbons' father at the time of the October 1922 fight with Miske, efforts to operate an automobile business, that fishing and hunting were two of his favorite pastimes and - the Epilogue where Clay informs us of the status of Billy's family members.Informative discussion is given to particular Miske fights with selected top fighters such as Jack Dempsey, Tommy Gibbons, Harry Greb, Fred Fulton, "Battling" Levinsky and others. Two chapters (14 and 15) are devoted to the Jack Dempsey-Tommy Gibbons title fight in Shelby, Montana. Additional interesting events in Miske's life are discussed and numerous comments by boxing dignitaries about Billy's fighting skills as well as his personal character are presented too.
Win By KO Publications has this to say --
Win By KO Publications is proud to publish Clay Moyle's Billy Miske: The St. Paul Thunderbolt . It is Clay Moyle's second biography and a worthy successor to his critically acclaimed tome concerning the life and career of Sam Langford.
Hall of Fame boxer Billy Miske was arguably the most courageous and inspirational figure in boxing history, and his story is long overdue. During a career that was impeded and cut short as a result of his ongoing battle with a terminal illness, Billy fought a number of the greatest fighters who ever lived, including the likes of Jack Dillon, Harry Greb and Jack Dempsey. The thrilling details and stories surrounding those fights and those of many other ring legends are all here, brought back to life for the reader to enjoy. This book goes far beyond simply chronicling Miske's career, but provides the reader with an in-depth view of a number of the sport's greatest contests and one of the more remarkable periods in boxing's history. Miske's courage and perseverance in the face of his impending death, and his personal sacrifice to provide his family with one last Christmas to remember him by, will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with an indelible image of the man.
while Amazon describes the book as follows --
Billy Miske: The St. Paul Thunderbolt is Clay Moyle's second biography and a worthy successor to his critically acclaimed tome concerning the life and career of Sam Langford. Hall of Fame boxer Billy Miske was arguably the most courageous and inspirational figure in boxing history, and his story is long overdue. During a career that was impeded and cut short as a result of his ongoing battle with a terminal illness, Billy fought a number of the greatest fighters who ever lived, including the likes of Jack Dillon, Harry Greb and Jack Dempsey. The thrilling details and stories surrounding those fights and those of many other ring legends are all here, brought back to life for the reader to enjoy. This book goes far beyond simply chronicling Miske's career, but provides the reader with an in-depth view of a number of the sport's greatest contests and one of the more remarkable periods in boxing's history. Miske's courage and perseverance in the face of his impending death, and his personal sacrifice to provide his family with one last Christmas to remember him by, will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with an indelible image of the man. The book is comprised of 206 pages, including 61 photographs, and includes Miske's record, footnotes and an index.This book is an outstanding source for the facts of Billy Miske's ring career and adult life - and is very informative and enjoyable as a read.
Clay Moyle resides in Edgewood, Washington and is a member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). He is a collector of boxing memorabilia and books - and owns an extensive collection of over 3,000 titles that can be seen at his a personal website, www.prizefightingbooks.com.A signed or inscribed copy of this fine book can be ordered directly from Clay by emailing him at cmoyle@aol.com
It can also be ordered from --
Win By KO Publications, Iowa City, Iowa or Amazon.com
ISBN: 978-0-9799822-4-8
206 pages, 61 photographs, Billy Miske's ring career record, footnotes, index
$29.95
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