The First Boxers is now available in print through DarkEyedGirl Books. With 47 original illustrations by Joseph Bellofatto, this is a systematic investigation of the origins of boxing, including a biomechanical index of boxing methods; an exploration of sacral prizefighting in Babylon; the methods of the stick-fighting boxers of Egypt; and the secrets of the mysterious boxer kings of Crete. This is the first of four volumes that comprise The Broken Dance: A Fighter’s View of Boxing and Prize-fighting from Pre-history to the Fall of Rome.

The First Boxers is, to date, the only comprehensive investigation of the origins and diffusion of western boxing. I gave it to my niece, Jamie, to publish, so help a pretty girl out and buy this book about the world's first knuckleheads.

Begun in 1998, The First Boxers took five years of research, sparring and illustrating, and 13 years of writing, editorial hassles, and publishing hurdles to finally bring to print. Before the end of 2015 we hope to have the other two volumes in print: The Gods of Boxing and All-power-fighting. The fourth volume, The Boxer Dread will be serialized here on the site before print publication, beginning in early 2016—unless boxing dementia sets in first, in which case I leave my three binders of notes to Jamie to publish in some fashion.