In anticipation for the upcoming release of “12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym: Boxing and Manhood in Appalachia,” we are checking in with some of the most accomplished and respected boxing figures from the state of West Virginia. These are road warriors, guys who fight anyone, anywhere, anytime — Appalachian underdogs of the squared circle. Their […]
rhetoric
Interview with Tim Wheeler (WV Series)
We are now less than a month away from the opening bell. With the March 1st release date of “12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym: Boxing and Manhood in Appalachia” just around the corner, I have invited a few key characters to the blog so that you can become familiar with their stories before reading the […]
Interview with Jeremy “The Beast” Bates (WV Series)
In anticipation for the upcoming release of “12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym: Boxing and Manhood in Appalachia,” we are checking in with some of the most accomplished and respected boxing figures from the state of West Virginia. These are road warriors, guys who fight anyone, anywhere, anytime — Appalachian underdogs of the squared circle. Their […]
Interview with Chris Algieri
“12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym” is not your typical boxing book. It’s the story of an Appalachian-coal-mining-boxing-trainer, his makeshift boxing gyms located in Beauty Shops and Baptist Churches. In the spirit of the book, I’ve decided to feature a few pugilists with unique paths to glory. To say today’s guest had a non-traditional path to […]
Interview with Ann Pancake
My upcoming book, “12 Rounds in Lo’s Gym: Boxing and Manhood in Appalachia,” is as much about Appalachian culture as it is the sport of boxing. From my first journal article, to my graduate school dissertation (“The Hillbilly Speaks of Rhetoric”), to my more recent publications, Appalachia continues to serve as my creative muse. I […]
Interview with James “Lights Out” Toney
June. 2017. It was a happenstance meeting. The kind of thing I’ve come to expect at the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s annual festivities. It was me, my father, and my brother-in-law. We were entering the ballroom of the Oncenter, located in downtown Syracuse, New York, excited to take in the “Banquet of Champions.” We […]