Stars and Scars - by Jeff Jones (Paperback)

About the Book

Jeff Jones tells the incredible story of Jewish boxing in London - a tale that stretches back centuries and includes a remarkable cast of characters who fought prejudice both inside and outside the ring.

Book Synopsis

Stars and Scars traces the development of the Jewish boxing scene in London from the 1760s to more recent times. Jeff Jones examines the role that Jewish boxers played in both the progression of the sport itself and the influence they had on increasing the standing of the Jewish community in London. Starting with the first Jewish boxing stars of the bare-knuckle days, the story winds its way through the prize fighting of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and its links to the infamous Jewish street gangs of the era. It chronicles the rise of the great London Jewish boxers at the turn of the twentieth century and the many Jewish boys' clubs, boxing clubs and gyms that produced a huge number of fine boxers through the first half of the twentieth century. The links to the community in which they, and boxing generally, flourished, is extensively explored. Jeff Jones has produced a comprehensive picture of the London Jewish boxing culture that gave rise not only to excellent boxers, but also great boxing trainers, managers and promoters.

Review Quotes

'Fans of Jewish boxing and of British boxing should have Scars and Stars in their personal libraries. The richness of boxing history within its pages easily outweighs any of its shortcomings.'--The Jewish Boxing Blog, September 2023

'Jones puts together a thrilling collection of character portraits and pugilistic set pieces, going as far back as the eighteenth century.'--The TLS, October 2023