If anyone is interested in the evolution of boxing, or a lot of other sports, in the Jewish-American scene, I would recommend Jewish Encounter with American Sports by Jeffrey Gurock, history prof at YU, written about 5 years ago. The writing tends to be a little scholarly and sometimes difficult to read but he touches on the content of Jewish athletics dating to the Greek gymnasiums, a relatively dormant period until the 19th century in Germany, then a more constistent role in America with institutional sponsorship and cult heroes.
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