REVIEW OF LORI GRINKER’S MIKE TYSON PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK

REVIEW OF LORI GRINKER’S MIKE TYSON PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK

By Chris Akers

Boxing books are plentiful. Most are either biographical or are a deep dive into a time in the sport’s history that boxing fans still find memorable and on some occasions, have transcended the sport.

There are however exceptions to this.  One such book is by Lori Grinker, a photographer who, though does not generally take photos of athletes, was given the opportunity to take photos of a group of boxers living in the Catskills in the early 1980s under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Cus D’Amato.

Anyone who knows anything about the sport is aware that the most famous boxer in this group is Mike Tyson, and this is whom the book focuses on.

The book, simply titled Mike Tyson, is essentially a portfolio of photos of Tyson during a 10-year span from 1981. The book contains photos of Tyson in the usual environments photos of boxers are taken – in the gym, at a weigh-in and in the ring. However, the book contains images of Tyson working with D’Amato before he became Iron Mike. They show him with his pigeons, his then-wife, on the phone. There is even a photo of Tyson being fitted for a suit.

The book shows a clear timeline of the initially shy teenager who would become a cultural icon in and out of the ring.  The colourful nature of Tyson’s life during this period is demonstrated by the initial use of black and white photography to the move towards colour from his fight with Marvis Frazier.

Tyson is a man who so much has been written about and discussed. Grinker’s photos are wonderful in their originality in capturing a boxer in environments that we are not used to seeing them in.

Overall, the book is an excellent capture of the vibrancy of Tyson’s life in the spotlight and in his personal life. Highly recommended not just for fans of boxing or sports, but also for fans of photography.