Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing

Hardcover book by Tris Dixon (Author)

Overview

It’s an old story—a fighter gains fame, drives fast cars, makes piles of cash, and dates beautiful women. Then comes the fall—booze, drugs, depression, poverty, illness. This dark narrative has been playing out for a hundred years. Doctors first identified “Punch Drunk Syndrome” in 1928. It later became known as “Dementia Pugilistica.” Today, we call it CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). The secret history of this disease in boxing has never been fully told— until now. In Damage, Tris Dixon uncovers the difficult truths of boxing and CTE and chronicles the lives of fighters affected by it. He interviews some of the sport’s biggest names, some lesser-known journeymen, and highly respected trainers and other figures to try to understand why no one wants to discuss CTE or take responsibility for it. Ultimately, Dixon takes aim at what boxing can do to help the warriors who sacrifice their health seeking glory in the ring. Will this book finally drive the sport to address the issue and help fighters get the help they deserve?

Praise

“Anyone who loves boxing–even the sport’s most die-hard supporters–must take a longer and more serious look at the issues that Tris Dixon writes about with such nuance and humanity in Damage…”–Greg Bishop, Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated

“Damage isn’t merely excellent or overdue; it should be mandatory reading for anyone who claims to care about boxing…”–Mark Kriegel, ESPN commentator, author of The Good Son: The Life of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini

“This is the book that boxing has always needed…It is shattering yet moving, informative yet tender as Dixon charts the history and the science of CTE and meets boxers who have suffered damage over the years. An essential read for anyone who cares about boxing and its courageous, damaged fighters.”—Donald McRae, The Guardian

About the Author

Tris Dixon has written about boxing at all levels for more than two decades. He is the former editor of Boxing News and has covered the sport in more than a dozen countries and over four continents. Dixon has written for The Ring and Boxing Scene and has worked as a boxing broadcaster for Sky Sports, BT Sport, and CNN. He authored the books The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands and Money: The Life and Fast Times of Floyd Mayweather, and he ghostwrote War and Peace: My Story with British boxing icon Ricky Hatton. He’s also an elector for the International Boxing Hall of Fame, a member of The Ring ratings panel, the Boxing Writer’s Club, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Dixon currently resides in New Forest, United Kingdom.

Details

Publisher : Hamilcar Publications; 1st edition (May 25, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 312 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1949590210
Item Weight : 1.74 lb (0.79 kg)
Dimensions : 6 x 9 inches (15.2 x 22.9 cm)