Professor mike donovan, battling nelsonthe durable dane, and stockyards harold smith their stories are as colorful as their names. Chicagos boxing history is as exciting and unpredictable as any prize fight within the ring. Donovan was a twohanded fighter, very fast on his feet, who utilized quick head movements to avoid blows. The difference between a streetfight and a bareknuckle boxing match is an accepted set of rules, such as not striking a downed opponent. Boxing and self defense taught by the marshall stillman principle support professor mike donovan thought so much of mar shall stillman and the shorthand or subcon scious method of teaching boxing that he heartily endorsed both, and posed for the illustrations in this book.
Boxing and self defense taught by the marshall stillman. A 1936 publication considered the definitive biography of legendary middleweight boxing champion harry greb, considered one of the greatest boxers ever. One of these instructors was the professor mike donovan, who gained his nickname for his technical mastery of the sport. After thirty years as instructor of boxing at the new york athletic club, mike donovan is to be retired on half pay. The fighting donovans the boxing and football family of. Professor mike donovan 18471918, 19thcentury middleweight boxing.
Mike donovans weight was from 145 to 150, and in the majority of his. In 1893 donovan wrote a popular instructional book titled, the science of boxing. Mike donovan boxers and their battles by thormanby boxing. Sport, boxing, circa 1894, professor mike donovan, born in chicago, who fought the great john l,sullivan on 2 occasions in 4 round contests and later went on to teach boxing and was boxing instructor at new york athletic club photo by bob thomaspopperfoto via getty imagesgetty images. Complete illustrated instructions in the art of selfdefense by spaldings pacls philippine boxing forum view topic rey migreno kos. Michael donovan kidnapper, jailed for the kidnapping of shannon matthews in january 2009 mike donovan musician born 1971, san francisco based musician see powell and donovan for mike donovan, roboticist in isaac asimov stories. Donovans text on boxing is one of the oldest to be published in the us pre 1923 and contains clear instruction on all the primary techniques of western boxing. Boxing and self defense taught by the marshall stillman principle geer alpheus. Mike donovan was a middleweight boxer of the bareknuckle era and later became one of the foremost teachers of the sport. Roberto jose andrade franco boxing has long been a sport for the. The rules of boxing have changed significantly since this early text but for students of martial sports this book is a necessity. Mike donovans book is essential reading for students of boxing history, and for martial artists who want to gain an edge in defensive skills and hitting harder. Full text of the science of boxing, also rules and articles on training. As the upperclasses increasingly took part in the sport, a few athletic clubs hired exbareknuckle boxers to show their elite members the intricacies of the sweet science.
Donovan was the boxing coach of teddy roosevelt and would have been 58 years old when this film was shot. Full text of the science of boxing, also rules and. The science of boxing by professor mike donovan reddit. Also rules and articles on training, generalship in the ring and kindred subjects. In 1893 he published a detailed book on boxing titled the science of boxing. Mike donovan also known as professor mike donovan and mike o donovan born 18470927 in chicago, il died 19180324 was a middleweight boxer of the bareknuckle era and later became one of the foremost teachers of the sport. The new york athletic club hired donovan to teach the same sport to upperclass clientele that in earlier generations considered it too barbaric and.
There is included with this course a separate complimentary volume of mike donovan s famous book, science of boxing. One of these instructors was the professor mike donovan, who gained his nickname. Mike donovan is the author of the science of boxing 3. Rules and articles on training generalship in the ring and kindred subjects by mike donovan isbn. I have read carefully the advance sheets of your book, 14 the science of. Michael donovan born 1953 is a tv voice actor michael donovan may also refer to. An early and significant book on the art of boxing by a former middleweight. Although he is wearing gloves in the photographs taken for the. From civil war to the nfl, donovans went the distance. See all books authored by mike donovan, including the science of boxing. In a career that spanned from 1866 to 1891, middleweight professor mike donovan fought with gloves or without and often took on opponents who were 20 to 30pounds heavier. Generalship in the ring and kindred subjects, and early american history.
The marquess of queensberry rules modern boxing is a code of generally accepted rules in the sport of boxing. Many books have been published on boxing, but the majority show signs of hasty preparation and a lack of definiteness in detail. The author of the present work has given much time and close study to its preparation. As a middle weight an aged donovan fought two bouts against a prime john l sullivan, losing the first and winning the second. Sport, boxing, circa 1894, professor mike donovan, born in. Mike donovan, a middleweight title claimant in 1881, became professor donovan in honor of his being named boxing instructor at the prestigious new york athletic club. His favorite technique was a left to the pit of the stomach followed by a right to the jaw. That same year sullivan boxed an exhibition with the noted fitness freak and boxing trainer professor mike donovan. The boxing and football family of professor mike o donovan. Donovan was elected to the international boxing hall of fame in 1998. Professor mike donovan thought so much of mar shall stillman and the shorthand or subcon scious method of teaching boxing that he heartily endorsed both, and posed for the illustrations in this book. It eventually evolved directly into the doubleend bag. Donovan is in the international boxing hall of fame. Books by mike donovan author of the science of boxing.
Mike donov an september 27, 1847 march 24, 1918 also known as professor mike d on ovan and mike o donovan was a middleweight boxer of the bareknuckle era and later became one of the foremost teachers of the sport. Mike donovan was an excellent fighter himself as well as being a well recognized coach after his career. Super rare 1893 professor mike donovan boxing book the science. The science of boxing by mike donovan 1996, paperback. This is likely the predecessor to the wellknown speed bag used today. He often fought bigger men 175210 lbs and handled them quite easily. Some of the most memorable boutsgreat, infamous or otherwisetook place in the citys clubs, parks and arenas, and chicago has seen its share of champions and. Mike donovan september 27, 1847 march 24, 1918 also known as professor mike donovan and mike odonovan was a middleweight boxer of the. They were named so because the 9th marquess of queensberry publicly endorsed the code. Keep in mind the sweet science was 174 years old by 1893, if you date boxing from the beginning of james figgs 1719 reign as english bareknuckle boxing champion. A neat boxing text from the turn of the last century. He was known as the professor because he was an advocate of the science of boxing and he would later become one of the foremost teachers of the sport. This is donovan s system of boxing taught by marshall stillmans principle of instruction.
Donovan s science of boxing by mike donovan, 9780965295253, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Mike donovan, is marked 1893 and is printed identical to the singular copies ive seen listed. One of these instructors was the professor mike donovan, who gained his nickname for. The science of boxing, also rules and articles on training, generalship in the ring and kindred subjects. Rare boxing book give him to the angels the story of. Mike donovan has 111 books on goodreads with 78 ratings. Though most of the techniques are quite antiquated, donovans science of boxing provides a rare opportunity to learn boxing skills from an actual bare knuckle champion. Professor mike donovan began his service as professional instructor of boxing. Super rare rocky marciano boxing book this guy marciano. In his 1893 work the science of boxing, donovan describes the process as follows.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The grandfather, then known as professor mike donovan, served 35 years as boxing instructor at the new york athletic club, a preserve for dignitaries and the swells of society. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. Mike donovan s most popular book is the science of boxing.