Abstract
Where and how innate ability meets with social environment to produce athletic excellence has fascinated many both inside and outside academe. Focusing specifically on boxing, this chapter explores one renowned boxing gym in the English city of Sheffield seeking answers to what motivates and makes a pugilist. The answer the authors suggest lies in notions of inequality and redemption. A crucial factor in the making of a champion, however, is the philosophy of the institution that teaches and the acquired paternal wisdom of the gym owner.
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Notes
- 1.
‘Doxa’ (ancient Greek δόξα) is a Greek word meaning ‘common belief’ or ‘popular opinion’.
- 2.
The most famous work of Dublin-born Tressell (1870–1911), the novel The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists (1914), is an explicitly political work regarded as a classic of working-class literature. It advocates a Socialist society in which work is performed to satisfy the needs of all rather than to generate profit for a few.
- 3.
Sheffield’s Catholic Cathedral.
- 4.
The rather childish song that goes: ‘Red and yellow and pink and green […]’.
- 5.
The Nigeria-born, Norwich-based Hide won the WBO heavyweight title in March 1994 when he beat the British-born American Michael Bentt, then lost his first defence a year later against the USA’s Riddick Bowe. Hide joined the Ingle gym for a short time after this defeat.
- 6.
The four-fight bill saw victories for Ingle boxers Walter Clayton, Brian Anderson, Steve Farnsworth and Chris Devine.
- 7.
Opened in 1991, the Sheffield Arena was later sponsored by a local radio station and became known as the Hallam FM Arena. Renamed the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena under the sponsorship of a car dealership, it is now known the FlyDSA Arena, in reference to sponsors Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to the time and wisdom afforded their questions by Brendan Ingle (RIP). Thanks are also due to Bridget Ingle, Dominic Ingle and John Ingle. The research was facilitated throughout by the intellect and kindness of Peter Markie. The ideas of Professors Paul Richards and Dick Hobbs were integral to the story. The edits and suggestions of Dr Malcolm Young are gratefully received. Our thanks are due as always to Giuliana B. Prato and Italo Pardo for their ever-constructive suggestions and invitation to publish.
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Armstrong, G., Bell, M. (2021). Inequalities and Redemption: A Boxing Story. In: Pardo, I., Prato, G. (eds) Urban Inequalities. Palgrave Studies in Urban Anthropology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51724-3_13
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