Bummy Davis Vs. Murder, Inc.: The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Mafia and an Ill-Fated Prizefighter

by Ron Ross

Book Overview

A tough kid with a heart of gold, Al "Bummy" Davis grew up in the streets of Brownsville, New York on the fringes of the Jewish mob during the 20's and 30's-thanks to his older brother, a feared racketeer. But as much as he resisted the underworld of Murder, Inc. by becoming a championship fighter and a Brownsville hero, he never did escape the Jewish Mob's shadow. Though he repeatedly stood up to mob kingpins, Bummy suffered a spectacular fall from...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312306385
• ISBN13: 9780312306380
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 418 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

This book is a gourmet meal to be savored

I seldom reread a book; this book I have read twice and bought three copies to give away. I will read it again; the writing is so funny, so dazzling. The characters are so real, their stories so poignant. Jewish readers will especially love this book; we know these people though we have never met. I fell in love with Bummy Davis and when he died, I felt a loss. My gangster imagination loved reading about all the mob characters, though I am not a fan of violence or boxing for that matter. I read this book as my husband lay dying of cancer; it kept me uplifted during this difficult time. I loved that it was long and hated that it had to end. This is such a special book, and I haven't even mentioned the awesome research it must have taken to write it.

A Masterpiece About One Tough Jew

Ron Ross masterfully recreates the world of the "Brownsville Bum"-which is how WC Heinz referred to Albert Davidoff in his well known sports story.Ross takes Bummy-who Ring Magazine rated 54th of boxing's 100 best lb. for lb. punchers of all time-to the next level,in quite possibly the best "factional novel" ever written-at least about boxing,gangsters and Brownsville,Brooklyn in a world that dramatically changed in 1945,when Bummy's life ended trying to prevent a bar holdup with his fists.And Davis also didn't take any crap from Murder Incorporated either;Ross beautifully recreates the scene in which the leaders of Murder Inc. drive up to Davis after a fight they lost money on-and Davis drops his gym bag,ready to kayo all of them in the street;this showdown finally gave people the courage to testify against Murder Incorporated in court.The final bar showdown-if this gets to the movies-could be the best final showdown in movie history;I'm looking forward to it.

devasting story of trying to survive the depression...

what a masterpiece....it parrallels the rise and fall of jewish mobsters and al "bummy" davis during the great depression in brownsville, brooklyn, the toughest neighborhood around ...davis rose above it to become a top lightweight contender during the late 30's...he had his ups and downs crossing paths with murder inc, who prevented him from fighting for the championship...however, his story is more....he's a fierce customer in and out of the ring, but does have a heart of gold...he doesn't want to be rich and famous, he wants to buy his parents a house and have a wife and family....he stands up to the mobsters admirably, even at his own loss....the book details the candy stores, shops and pushcarts of depression life,of which "bummy" got his start....there's a cast of characters named, "bugsy" "puggy" and "fat yerna" etc...your emotions will be stirred as to what happens to them...i'm glad i read this book and would like to say i have more admiration for al "bummy" davis than anyone else except my own father who grew up in similar surroundings in the bronx...

A Great Human Interest Story

You don't have to be a fan of boxing to enjoy this book. It is more of a human interest story than anything else. Once you start reading this book, you will find it very difficult to put down. As you are reading this book, you feel like you are transformed back to Brownsville, Brooklyn with all of the characters and living in that time period. Congratulations to Ron Ross for his hard work and research of an ill-fated boxer who had a heart of gold and got a bum rap from the press and the media. This book is simply a must read for everyone who enjoys reading.

Depression era Brooklyn

Ron Ross' dazzlingly descriptive biographical novel does a wonderful job in the recreation of the Brooklyn Jewish ghetto of Brownsville during the throes of the Great Depression. Ross exhaustively researched his material to give us a feel for the sights, sounds, smells of the crowded, sometimes squalid tenement that Brownsville was, complete with Yiddish expressions and verbiage common for the time.Brownsville spawned both Murder Inc., the Jewish Mafia, and Albert Abraham Davidoff, better known as Bummy Davis, a dynamic lightweight boxing contender with a thunderous left hook. Murder Inc. was headed by Louis "Lepke" Buchalter. He used local Jewish thugs such Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, "Pittsburgh Phil" Strauss and "Buggsy" Goldstein to enforce policiesof protection, loan sharking, extortion, prostitution, and bootlegging. They terrorized the community using murder to keep everyone in line.Davis, whose dad was a local merchant, had an older brother Willie who was a Lepke henchman. Davis who was a loyal, thoughtful, industrious and respectful guy, could never shake a negative image brought about by the exploits of his brother. After working as a fruit peddlar from a pushcart at the tender age of 10, he soon discovered that his fighting skills learned on the streets could be honed into productive boxing skills.He turned professional at 16 lying about his age and became a money making prize fighter with exceptional skills. He used his money to buy his parents a home and refused to be controlled by the mobsters in cohoots with Murder Inc.The story goes on to chronicle both the rise anf fall of the Brownsville Jewish mafia. Unfortunately the storied life of Bummy Davis was also abbreviated. At the tender age of 25 having retired from boxing due to the rampant corruption and prejudices that existed and about to begin a new career, he was gunned down in a bar room stick up trying to protect his friends.