Inspiration takes many forms. Some athletes had jock parents, other earned letters in hopes of attracting the opposite sex. Legend has it that the former Cassius Clay took up boxing to wreak revenge on an unknown bicycle thief.
Brian DeVido's debut novel "Every Time I Talk to Liston" (Bloomsbury, 2004, $22.95 hardcover) studies the mind/body of journeyman heavyweight Amos "Scrap Iron" Fletcher.
Written by a former Virginia Golden Gloves champ, the story concerns Fletcher's transition from undercard fighter to snakebitten trainer. Whenever "Scrap" needs an emotional lift, he visits the Vegas gravesite of heavyweight menace Sonny Liston and bares his soul.
This tale is more than metaphor, though symbolic homages to former pugs are interspersed. Fletcher views the misunderstood Liston as a father-confessor, the living Liston was led into the fight game by a prison priest. There's a CNN sportscaster named (with different spelling) for a Liston advisor. Despite such inside references, one need not be a fight fan to enjoy this examination of the heart.
Through unfortunate circumstances, the pensive Fletcher, 37, evolves from sparring partner for a new heavyweight champ, to manager-trainer for slugger TNT Timmons. With the aptly-named loose cannon TNT, Fletcher has the opportunity to avenge some personal demons. DeVido's pugilistic universe is one of noble trainers, blowdried broadcasters, and hot babes with gold hearts.
Scrap is a lonely soul whose quest is to settle a score via TNT's mighty fists. With the suspense surrounding the corner "marriage" of Scrap and TNT, DeVido takes us into the swank suites of Vegas and the sweaty gyms of Trenton. The most entertaining passages explore the Liston psyche, those who know little of Sonny other than his two defeats at the hands (and feet) of The Greatest will be enlightened. Fighters are complex people engaed in solitary pursuits.
"Every Time I Talk to Liston" puts a brain behind the face of a brain-bashing sport. A prizefighter, formally educated or not, is nothing if not a thinker. This is why scribes the likes of London, Hemingway, Mailer, Plimpton, and Joyce Carol Oates have been drawn to the game. Not many boxers have taken up the pen (Jose Torres being the exception), so it's noteworthy that Brian DeVido scores a literary KO in his first bout.
Leave a Comment