Best Songs About Boxers

While most of the country focused on Louisville for the biggest horse race of the year, fight fans on May 1 eagerly watched an event more important to them than the Kentucky Derby. Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather fought Shane Mosley in what the New York Times called Mosley's "most important fight."

The crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena seemed to be divided. Those fight fans at home likely were rooting more for a good fight than favoring either boxer, since the only way to see it on TV was through a rather pricey pay-per-view option.

Of course the event brought to mind all the other historic fights and legendary boxers. I saw elements of the previously undefeated Mayweather, a 4 to 1 favorite, that reminded me of some of the fighters of the 70s. The 38 year old Mosley unfortunately at times resembled the numerous other fighters who had been slowed by age. So after twelve rounds, Mayweather was the clear winner by points.

I was so enthralled by the event that I began composing a song about Mayweather. Though the song is far from completed, it did make me wonder about some of the other tunes written about boxers and their sport. Here is the list I ended up with:

10. Boxing Champ by Kaiser Chiefs: This bonus track from the indie band's Yours Truly, Angry Mob tells the story of a boy who is glad that he got knocked out in his first bout, so that he never tried to box again. He says, "If there's one thing I've learned, it is to run away."

9. TKO (Boxing Day) by Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Costello, ever the wordsmith, applies the sport to the British holiday on this cut from Punch the Clock. Besides the refrain, "From this day I can count you out," Costello's lyrics include jabs such as, "You need a back to break or a back to stab" and "They put the slum into slumber and the cut into cutie."

8. Hey Sugar Ray by Johnny Wakelin: He had a bigger hit about a bigger fighter, but this ode to Sugar Ray Leonard has a catchy rhythm and lyrics that extol the qualities of the champ who in a much-hyped bout caused Roberto Duran to mutter the infamous phrase, "No mas, no mas."

7.Song for Sonny Liston by Mark Knopfler: The Dire Straits front man pays tribute on Shangri-La to the heavyweight who lost his title to young Cassius Clay. After a fall from the "Phantom Punch" in the controversial rematch, Liston's biggest fights were against allegations that he had ties to the mob.

6. Boom Boom Mancini by Warren Zevon: The singer-songwriter's sarcastic tone is evident here, as he encourages people to "Hurry home early, Hurry on home, Boom Boom Mancini is fighting Bobby Chacon." In a previous fight Mancini had knocked out Koo Kim, who died shortly after from injuries in the ring.

5. Hurricane by Bob Dylan: Dylan's epic tale from Desire about the racial injustice that sent Ruben Carter to the pen for murder helped to eventually get the conviction overturned.

4. Black Superman by Johnny Wakelin: A catchy chorus and a classic vocal imitation of the heavyweight champ make this a delightful tune, set to a breezy, tropical music backdrop. By the second chorus, "He's Muhammad, Muhammad Ali, He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee" had become one of the most contagious refrains of the 70s sports scene.

3. Zanzibar by Billy Joel: The song from 52^nd Street opens with Ali dancing and the audience applauding, as the Piano Man proves that he appreciates the sport he himself once dabbled in. Joel commends Muhammad's entertaining, playful style, saying "Ali don't you go downtown, You gave away another round for free."

2. Dream Street by John Gorka: The folk singer, in this track from the excellent Land of the Bottom Line album, bemoans the fact that "they never leave the ring before it's too late, they never seem to quit in their prime" in this anthem that mentions champs such as Ali, Frazier, and Holmes.

1. The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel: Like the boxers mentioned in Gorka's tune, this song doesn't know when to quit. In spite of the fact that the ending drags on a few "lie-la-lie's" too many, Simon's images of the impoverished young fighter make this lament the perfect anthem for the toughest career choice in sports.