‘DANGEROUS’ – IAN ‘ROPE BURNS’ PROBERT IS BACK

Pitch Publishing is a fantastic imprint – they do all the great Got, Not Gots and retro sports titles.

James Brown, The Late Tackle, talkSPORT

Pitch Publishing show the way for enterprising sports book publishers and remains a beacon of hope for sports authors aspiring or established.

The Sports Bookshelf.com

Pitch Publishing, an outfit whose "pitch perfect" commissioning of boxing material stands as a rebuke to more established houses

Boxing Monthly

Pitch capture the real spirit of sport with entertaining and clever ideas. They work out what the aficianado would want to read, then deliver it with great verve.

Paul Hayward, The Daily Telegraph

Pitch have enabled me to write in the ways I enjoy most. Their production support is superb, delivering eye-catching designs, attentive proof-reading, energetic marketing and helpful advice.

Tim Quelch, Bent Arms & Dodgy Wickets, Underdog!

Pitch are willing to back out-of-the-blue and innovative ideas and turn them into viable, entertaining books. They do so with great presentation and editorial flair.

Justin Parkinson, Then Came Massacre

Pitch saw the potential in my story, used their expertise to polish it, published it and helped inspire thousands around the world to get into triathlon.

Andy Holgate, Can’t Swim, Can’t Ride, Can’t Run

The process of working with Pitch to produce Picking up the Threads was enjoyable and rewarding, with the final edition surpassing expectations and becoming a resounding success.

John Chandler, Picking up the Threads

Pitch will take a chance on books that other publishers won't and realise that interest in football extends beyond the Premier League and the top 20 countries in the FIFA rankings.

Steve Menary, Outcasts!

Pitch have the vision to look beyond the obvious, seeking out interesting ideas and subjects and matching them with the right target audience.

David Tossell, Tony Greig, The Great English Final, Grovel!

Pitch have been an absolute joy to work with, contributing their passion, expertise, knowledge and experience to help produce a brilliant book.

Sam Pilger, Ashes Match of My Life

Pitch took our original concept and further enhanced it, using their knowledge, experience and expertise, and helped make Got, Not Got one of the football books of the year for 2011.

Derek Hammond, Got, Not Got

Pitch bought into the concept of development through football, channeling profits and proceeds from Eleven into helping some of the most disadvantaged young people in the world.

Steve Fleming, Eleven

In the highly competitive world of sport publishing,
Pitch have consistently demonstrated the happy
knack of spotting, nurturing and promoting winners.

Neil Dunkin, Anfield of Dreams

23 Sep

‘DANGEROUS’ – IAN ‘ROPE BURNS’ PROBERT IS BACK

Monday 26th September sees an Islington launch event for Ian Probert’s new book, Dangerous, and a new edition of his boxing classic, Rope Burns. Come and help Ian celebrate at Waterstones, Islington Green, 7pm. Admission is free. For more info see IanProbert.com.

A quarter of a century ago journalist and author Ian Probert decided never to write about boxing again. His decision was prompted by the injuries sustained by boxer Michael Watson during his world title fight with Chris Eubank. Now, in common with so many fighters, Probert is making an inevitable comeback. Dangerous sees Probert return to the scene of an obsession that has gripped him from childhood.

From an illuminating and honest encounter with transgender fight manager Kellie Maloney to an emotional reunion with Watson himself, Probert discovers just how much the sport has changed during his absence. The end result is one of the most fascinating and unusual books ever to have been written about boxing.

Dangerous is no ordinary book on boxing, it is an emotional journey:

During the writing of the book Probert’s daughter almost dies. In a bizarre coincidence ex-boxer Herol Graham is in the very next hospital ward, also on the brink of death. Probert finds himself caring for both.
In a deeply emotional meeting with boxer Mark King, Probert discusses the loss of King’s son, who was fatally stabbed in the school playground.
Probert swaps experiences of depression, alcohol and drug abuse with ex-boxer Glenn McCrory.
Probert discusses his shared experience of being the victim of child abuse with ex-boxer Herol Graham.
Probert talks to father and son boxers Alan Minter and Ross Minter, discovering how Ross rescued his famous father back from the brink.
After initially failing to recognise Probert during a comical first encounter, injured ex-boxer Michael Watson rekindles his once close friendship with the writer.
Because of the unlikely therapy provided by meeting boxing figures from the past Probert has an emotional meeting with his mother and reveals his childhood abuse to her.

Click here for more information, or to read a sample from Dangerous.

The critically acclaimed Rope Burns is the true story of what can happen when an obsession takes over your life, sucks you in and spits you back out again.

‘The Fever Pitch of Boxing’ – Daily Telegraph

Click here for more information, or to read a sample from Rope Burns.