This is a true boxing book in every sense of the word. Boxers are, by nature, performers, and every chapter in this book is an individual performance. There are ten interviews that comprise the main body of the book. The selection is made up of some of the best and least known practitioners of the Noble Art in Britain. The individual personalities come across clearly, providing plenty of 'laugh out loud' moments, together with some thought provoking insights into what goes on in a boxers mind and the unique world in which fighters live. Because each chapter is a separate entity, this is a book that the reader can pick up and put down at their own convenience.Interview subjects are, in order of appearance: George 'Jim' Cooper, Clinton McKenzie, Teddy Lewis, Bob 'BF' Williams, Michael Sprott, Mark Rowe, Jane Couch, Ivor 'The Engine' Jones, Tony booth and Colin Jones. There is also an introduction featuring Sylvester Mittee and "The Last Word", which comes from James Cook MBE.George Cooper (the lesser known twin brother of Henry who fought under the ring name of Jim) was a talented boxer in his own right. This is the first time his career has been properly documented and the chapter reveals many little known facts about him. George's career was blighted by a tendency to cut, a broken ankle and a bout of scarlet fever. By the time he was able to string a series of wins together, Henry was British, Empire and European Heavyweight Champion. George would never fight his brother, so he retired and became Henry's trainer, helping him defend his titles several times. George is a charming character and he eases the reader into the book smoothly. Next on the 'hit list' is Clinton McKenzie, who was the most exciting and underrated of the famous McKenzie brothers.Clinton's version of events is colourful and lively. He is a real shot in the arm. He talks about his Olympic challenge to Sugar Ray Leonard in Montreal and some of his most electrifying performances as a professional. He ends up speaking frankly about the financial need to make a comeback and how he had to adapt his style, which he did with a lot of success.Teddy Lewis is the oldest boxer in the book (in his late seventies). He boxed in the 40s and 50s, and he had several fights in the fairground boxing booths. He talks about being evacuated to Devon as a young boy, working as a fish porter on Billingsgate Market and offers sage views on the problems with our youth culture of today. His memories are vivid and his words are spoken with that special kind of quiet wisdom that makes one sit up avidly and take notice. Next in line is Bob 'BF' Williams. In his own words, Bob was one up from a journeyman and one down from a champion. Bob cheerfully confesses that, in his boxing years, he was known by all his mates as "Canvas Arse", which might give the impression that he did not take his boxing seriously. However, his love for boxing comes across clearly in the chapter and his story ends in the present day, when Bob is proud to announce that he has achieved his ambition of becoming a professional referee.Michael Sprott's chapter is an endearing one. Michael has an almost childlike innocence about him, which is accentuated by the fact that he is heavyweight. His sensitivity takes the reader somewhat by surprise, and he tells a hilarious story about being chased down the street by four Rottweilers in South Africa. Michael's chapter is made all the more poignant by the presence of Johnny Bloomfield, who passed away before the book was finished (it is dedicated to Johnny's memory). However, it finishes on a happy note, when Michael describes his stoppage win over Audley Harrison earlier in 2007.This book is full of intriguing anecdotes. One of those is the story of how the author met the next interviewee, Mark Rowe (who was a glamour boy of the ring in the early 1970s). The two met at an 'Angels with Dirty Faces' Boxers v. Blind event - you have to read about it to believe it. Mark's modest and unassuming account of his boxing life, is complimented by the straightforward, no nonsense approach of his mentor during his career, Bill Chevalley, a man who pulls no punches in the pages of the book.Next in line comes Jane Couch MBE. Jane is, by far, the most famous female boxer in Britain. She has won World titles at several weights, but still finds herself boxing for GBP 100s rather than GBP 1,000s. Jane and the author portray the impression of a double act in this one, giving the chapter a unique style of humour. When Lloyd went to meet her for the first time, she felt the gender issue might be an obstacle (Jane is the only woman that Lloyd has ever interviewed). However, Lloyd declares that Jane is a fighter, just like any other she has ever met.This is an emotional and sometimes shocking chapter. One of the most humorous chapters is that of Ivor 'The Engine' Jones. Ivor was virtually unknown outside the boxing world, but he could fill any venue with his army of fans (including the Royal Albert Hall) because of his all-action style of fighting and his relentless will to win. He tells of his life as an apprentice jockey at Newmarket, where he met his trainer and mentor, Colin Lake, who also makes a healthy contribution. The two tell of how they cleaned windows in Newmarket, using a car that was stuck in reverse gear, delighting the locals when they drove round the streets backwards.Journeymen boxers are a breed of tough, have gloves/will travel fighters. They step in at the last moment to save many shows, and they are usually "the opponent", meaning that they are not expected to win. Tony's no nonsense description of what is required of him in this capacity is refreshingly honest. He has had over 150 professional fights. Basically, if the money is right he will take a fight at the drop of a hat and occasionally, when the mood takes him, he will turn the applecart clean over. He is a natural comedian and he provides plenty of chuckles.The final chapter is an interview with Welsh hard man, Colin Jones. When he was boxing, Colin was a man known for his direct approach, which was always honest, sometimes critical, but never emotional. Nothing has changed in this respect, and his words are sometimes quite chilling, like cold steel. His descriptions of his two epic British Title fights with Kirkland Laing and his World Title challenges against Milton McCrory will leave the reader breathless. At the same time, he has a mischievous sense of humour, which manifests itself when the reader least expects it.The book ends strongly with "The Last Word", an interview with James Cook, who was awarded the MBE in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List for Services to Youth Justice in Hackney. James lives in an area of Hackney which the Daily Telegraph once described as "More dangerous than Soweto". James runs the Pedro Youth Club, an oasis of hope nestled between three colossal housing estates. He talks about what he does to keep the youth off the streets and get them into some form of education, and he talks about what motivates him to keep going. An array of guest speakers crop up throughout the book, some more so than others, and they all help to paint the picture. All in all, this book is a must for any boxing fan. Finally, it is worth noting that this is not just a book about boxing. It is a book about life.