White Collar Boxing: One Man's Journey from the Office to the Ring

by John E. Oden

Book Overview

Fists, fury and the sweet science of white collar boxing. From elite boarding schools to executive boardrooms, white collar boxing has never been more popular. With its roots in the English... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1578262070
• ISBN13: 9781578262076
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Hatherleigh Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

"Macho, Macho Man... He's Got to be...a Macho Man!"

Packs a punch. Hedge fund Wall Streeter John Oden pursues his Walter Mitty fantasy of lacing up the boxing gloves. Actually, he turns out to be very good at it and gives a passionate case for why the sport is a great avenue to fitness and self-knowledge. (A good riff and chapter on Bruce Lee as an inspiration!) Two comments -- Oden says nothing about a wife and kids. The committment needed to be an effective boxer -- even a white collar boxer -- may be unrealistic for those with family responsibilities. Second, Oden does have an occasional annoying habit to name-drop about the famous people he knows or the post fight limo rides to sumptuous NYC restaurants. With all this, I still found it an absorbing read..... Geezer jocks of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose ... except some flab or an occasional black eye!!

A Remarkable Contender!!!

John Oden's 'White Collar Boxing' is an inspirational read. It speaks of one man's journey into the ring while providing a peek into the entire world and culture of White Collar Boxing. This man's story both encourages and captivates the reader. Each chapter is complete, informative and educational. Oden writes with clarity and knowledge. It clearly shines through in his historical account of the "Sweet Science". This chapter is one of the best and most comprehensive I have read on the history of boxing. Chapter 16, entitled "Emanuel and Me", truly epitomizes the special relationship between an athlete and coach. This entertaining chapter clearly demonstrates the author's self discipline and confirms that he is not only a competitor but a true professional, both in the ring and out of it (where he is money manager by day). John Oden proves that anything is possible and goals can be attained. This book is a must for all boxing --correction, make that all sports-- fans and an essential addition to any library. My advice is to find a quiet place and prepare to read this one all the way through in one sitting. By the end, you may want to go back and reread every page, as I have. You won't be disappointed!

A great personal and boxing success story

I should disclose that although I have not seen John Oden in years, many years ago we were close friends- we both lived in the same neighborhood in Manhattan and one summer shared a beach house in the Hamptons with 20 other New Yorkers. In addition to partying hard with John(we were both a lot younger),I was also involved in several business ventures in NY and Dallas with John. John is one of the most honest, hard working, generous, and reliable people I've ever met. He's the one friend we all would like to have. The thing I enjoyed most about the book is how inspirational it is, both from a boxing and personal career perspective. The author does a good job telling how he made his way from a very small town in Texas to becoming a partner in a major NY investment firm, and along the way helped put white collar boxing on the map. I can recall an incident years ago, when I was living in San Francisco-I was able to convince my girlfriend to let me attend one of John's famous weekend Mahattan parties. Before the party, we worked out at the New York Athletic Club, and just in passing, John said "I think I might sign up for some boxing lessons." I thought he was joking, but apparently he was not. The book is not written from the perspective of a professional boxer, but instead from the point of view of a guy, with a full-time professional job, who decides to jump into a totally unfamiliar area of life-boxing, and through shear drive and persistance, succeeds, and in a big way. The book includes a good amount of white collar boxing detail- its history, the boxers, the trainers, the Hollywood connection, the boxing gyms, training programs, fight night, the international boxing competitions, etc, but I think this book could be enjoyed by any regular guy or gal who has a dream to reach out and explore a totally new realm. A great book for anyone who has ever said, " I can't do that, I don't have the time, I don't have the talent, people will think I'm crazy."

Hello, John!

I will order this book immediately! I grew up with John Oden in Pecos, Texas, and I don't even have to read it to know it's a good one!!! Suzanne Barker Massey

The Real Deal

Oden has captured the beauty, the incredibly hard work and the deep fear that all roils together to make boxing, especially white collar boxing, the great experience and sport it is. If you've ever been in a white collar match, you know he's caught the whole thing: the physicality, the love, the pain, the joy. If you've never fought, Oden will be your inspiration. Great book.