Slats: The Legend and Life of Jimmy Slattery Paperback – May 14, 2015

Jimmy Slattery has become an historically obscure Champion. And yet, in his time, he lifted the hopes of his native Buffalo, New York City and captured the attention of a boxing world that was well informed, and had only eight champions, and none of the title proliferation we see today.The author, Rich Blake, whom I had not read before, brings both Slattery and his times to life in this interesting and engaging biography.Slattery was a Billy Conn caliber fighter who could move, work angles and punch with power. Blake shows us his warts, as alcoholism dissipates his career, and Slattery turns his back on fatherhood. He also takes us into his post fight career, where Slattery has blown his money, and further diminishes his health by lifestyle choices.The fight reconstructions are vivid, which is difficult, as virtually no footage remains of his ring battles. Slattery battled several Champions including Paul Berlenbach, Maxie Rosenbloom (seven times), and Jim Braddock. The backgrounds of the other fighters are interesting, which makes the match ups more compelling.Clearly, this was a work of passion for Mr. Blake, and my compliments on a fine bio, on an unlikely subject.

Well written and extremely well researched. As an avid boxing fan I had heard of Jimmy Slattery but knew very little about his boxing career , much less the person , "Slats" changed that ! Slattery's fast rise to hero/idol status and his equally fast embarrassing and humiliating fall, would strongly account for why this great fighters name drifted into near obscurity . After viewing the only film ever found of Slattery , (can be seen on U-Tube ) I was reminded of a young Clay/Ali , tall, lean, slick and fast, hands dangling at his sides. Not since " A Flame Of Pure Fire " have I read a boxing bio that really transformed me into the time period that all the events took place. This is an excellent read, a very must ,especially for any boxing enthusiast .

Very well-written story. I recommend it to anyone interested in boxing history. Slats is easy to root for. A good read.

I have not finished this book yet , so this review will be incomplete. My family is a product of The Beach and this generated immediate interest. Isabelle Houlihan was my grandmother and I have often heard reference to the Boardman family. It seems everyone on the Beach was related in one way or another. The book itself is extremely interesting and not just to boxing fans. The twenties were exciting period in Buffalo's history and the author has done an exceptional job in researching the colorful characters who lived during this period. Poor Slattery was a typical Irishman from the First Ward who allowed the phrase " Too many parties , and too many pals " to contribute to his ultimate downfall. However , it could be said that he lived a life that many could only dream of. What a whirlwind career !!

This was an interesting book in that Jimmy Slattery's story may have been really something but I simply did not have the faintest interest in him at all. I am not sure if it is the author's style (not a style that got me enthralled) or the boxer himself who sounds like he was simply someone who lost his way and ended up like so many boxers, down and out.I did find it curious that the subject of alcohol was teased fairly early on in the book but the fact that Slattery was an alcoholic from a young age wasn't really stated outright until quite a distance into the biography. I guess there comes the point where someone goes from being a partying playboy to an alcoholic.He might have had a lot of talent but I am not sure he warrants the adulation heaped on him in the book, maybe it goes overboard.That being said, I did read the book cover to cover and found it to be a well researched work that demonstrated the author's skill in maintaining the reader's attention throughout, just that I wasn't grabbed by the boxer whatsoever.

Blake has done an exceptional job of unearthing not only the Slattery story but of placing the fighter in the context of a spectacular Jazz Age boxing scene that included stars like Dempsey and Tunney, as well as the lesser lights such as Lou Scozza. He also manages to weave in the story of a city, Buffalo, that at the time was growing both its ethnic and industrial base. Slattery's colorful story ultimately mirrors that of so many champion fighters past and present: An exceptionally talented boxer, Slattery lacked the martial spirit and discipline required to become a great fighter, he let the bottle get the best of him, and he ended up dead-flat broke. Kudos to Blake for weaving a terrific story that's passionately written. A must-read for fight fans or anyone interested in one of the most colorful eras in American sports.

This book is a must read if you know remember life in the First Ward, or even the second. Buffalo as it will never be again and the tragic life of a champ.

This book is SWEET. Maybe super sweet. Not beat at all, not super beat for sure. Well written, engaging history/story--loved it. Really paints a picture of the man and a period in time. Great stuff.

Story, sadly, of a boxer going from riches to rags as well about Buffalo NY.

Brilliant book describing the Golden Age of boxing.

The item is arrived cheap time,i beginning to ride it,without mark and dust jacket,very satisfied,thank you

My husband reads them they are gifts for him