How Boxing Helped Shape Modern Mexico

Written by Joe Hicketts

In a review, David Wood from the University of Sheffield gives his thoughts on A History of Boxing in Mexico: Masculinity, Modernity and Nationalism (2017) written by Stephen Allen. The book explores the three themes of masculinity, modernity and nationalism by following prominent Mexican boxers who competed in the 1930-80s. The book has 6 core chapters, and in five of these one prominent boxer is focussed on with their story explored along with their contribution and interaction with the changing Mexican culture, boxers range from the 1930s Bantamweight Rodolfo Casanova to former 80s Featherweight title holder Salvador Sanchez. 

Stephen Allen's Book

Mexican Boxers and Politics 

The book attempts to link cultural changes in Mexico to prominent boxers at the time and how both take from and contribute to each other. For instance this time period experienced stages of high nationalistic sentiment (political idea of high devotion to the state and its culture) and the film 1946 Campeón sin corona (Champions without a crown) drew heavily on Rodolfo Casanova’s life in order to build an idea of Mexican masculinity and national pride, furthermore during this time it was common for Mexican boxers to endorse presidential candidates thus showing the level of influence they had within the culture. 

1960s-70s 

The second half of the book focusses on three boxers who competed in the 1960s-70s, Vicente Saldivar, Rubén Olivares and José Nápoles. This period is explored in greater detail due to the speed of the change happening during this time due to the: 1960s sexual revolution, changing regulation of the sport, the Tlatelolco massacre where unarmed university students were killed by the Mexican armed forces and the rise of broadcast media. There are also racial themes via Napoles who is Cuban born and thus has a complicated relationship with Mexican and Cuban fans.  

US’s Cultural Impact 

Finally running through the book there are many times where the US’s impact on Mexican culture is explored either via the closer working of Mexican fighters and American west coast promoters or the general changing culture of West Coast America where many Mexicans live.  

Final Thoughts 

The book while sometimes lacking deep analysis due to its breadth of sources is a thoroughly researched and well put together book which gives a great look into the often poverty stricken places where these boxers hail from. It is also a great introduction into Mexican culture generally and the impact that boxing has made as part of it during the mid century period.