This book tells the story of the extraordinary life of a man from North London, from 1960 to 2020. He battles his way through life, mostly in a catastrophic manner. To the reader he openly admits his faults and mistakes, from violence, cocaine, sexual differences, prison, and to Northern Ireland and back to London. Whilst reading this book you will feel joy, sorrow, then more joy. You will want to love him, hit him, then love him some more. It’s an enjoyable read for everyone to learn from his mistakes and understand how he turned his life around to success.
Seán Mannion was once ranked the #1 US light middleweight boxer and in 1984 he fought Mike McCallum for the world title, only to fall just short of his dreams. Featuring exclusive interviews with Mannion, this book provides an inside perspective on his boxing career, 1980s Boston, and his present search for purpose outside the ring. In 1977, looking to fulfill a dream as a pro boxer, 17-year-old Seán Mannion flew into Boston from Ireland, straight into a world of gun smugglers, drug dealers, and the world’s best boxers. By 1983, Mannion was ranked the number one US light middleweight boxer. In The Man Who Was Never Knocked Down: The Life of Boxer Seán Mannion, Rónán Mac Con Iomaire recounts Mannion’s struggles and triumphs in and out of the ring. Despite dubious management and the attention of the Boston Irish Mafia, Mannion quickly climbed his way up from the lower rungs of one of the most competitive weight divisions in boxing history. This biography is more than a boxing story; it’s a personal story that also intersects with notorious crime figures, world-class fighters, and several pivotal moments in history. Featuring the likes of Micky Ward, Pat Nee, Marty Walsh, and Kevin Cullen, The Man Who Was Never Knocked Down is provides an inside perspective on the boxer, the fighting culture of his era, and on 1980s South Boston.
Jack Dempsey was perfectly suited to the time in which he fought, the time when the United States first felt the throb of its own overwhelming power. For eight years and two months after World War I, Dempsey, with his fierce good looks and matchless dedication to the kill, was heavyweight champion of the world. A Flame of Pure Fire is the extraordinary story of a man and a country growing to maturity in a blaze of strength and exuberance that nearly burned them to ash. Hobo, roughneck, fighter, lover, millionaire, movie star, and, finally, a gentleman of rare generosity and sincerity, Dempsey embodied an America grappling with the confusing demands of preeminence. Dempsey lived a life that touched every part of the American experience in the first half of the twentieth century. Roger Kahn, one of our preeminent writers about the human side of sport, has found in Dempsey a subject that matches his own manifold talents. A friend of Dempsey's and an insightful observer of the ways in which sport can measure a society's evolution, Kahn reaches a new and exciting stage in his acclaimed career with this book. In the story of a man John Lardner called "a flame of pure fire, at last a hero," Roger Kahn finds the heart of America.
In 'Roger the Bold: A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico' by F. S. Brereton, readers are taken on a thrilling journey back to the dramatic events of the Conquest of Mexico. Brereton's descriptive and vivid writing style brings to life the struggles and triumphs of the characters involved in this historical event. The book is rich in historical detail, showcasing Brereton's meticulous research and attention to accuracy in portraying the era. Through his captivating narrative, Brereton sheds light on the complex interactions between the indigenous peoples and the Spanish conquerors, capturing the essence of this pivotal moment in history. Readers will be enthralled by the action-packed scenes and the deeper themes of power, ambition, and cultural clash that permeate the story. F. S. Brereton was a celebrated author known for his historical fiction novels that often centered around military history and adventure. His background in military service provided him with firsthand experiences that he incorporated into his writing, adding a layer of authenticity to his narratives. Brereton's expertise in the subject matter shines through in 'Roger the Bold,' making it a compelling and engrossing read for history enthusiasts and fiction lovers alike. Readers with an interest in historical epics and tales of daring conquests will find 'Roger the Bold' to be a captivating and thought-provoking novel that will transport them to a bygone era of exploration and conquest.
In The Death of Professional Boxing, long-time professional referee Roger Yanez analyzes the reasons why boxing lacks the fan base other sports enjoy, and why boxers are some of the lowest-paid professional athletes. Although Yanez --who refereed more than 3,000 professional bouts in his career spanning four decades-- makes a sharp criticism of the factors that have sent boxing to a defunct state, the minor administrative changes he's been proposing for decades seek to bring boxing to the high audience and revenue levels as other professional sports. Yanez believes that the most important measure to resurrect boxing resides in the way professional fights are scored. His book presents a proven method that, if implemented, will bring respect to the boxing fans, credibility to the sport, and ultimately make boxing the biggest winner.
Boxing might not have survived the 1930s if not for Max Baer. A contender for every heavyweight championship 1932-1941, California's "Glamour Boy" brought back the "million-dollar gate" not seen since the 1920s. His radio voice sold millions of Gillette razor blades; his leading-man appeal made him a heartthrob in The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933). The film was banned in Nazi Germany--Baer had worn a Star of David on his trunks when he TKOed German former champ Max Schmeling. Baer defeated 275-pound Primo Carnera in 1934 for the championship, losing it to Jim Braddock the next year. Contrary to Cinderella Man, (2005), Baer--favored 10 to 1--was not a villain and the fight was more controversial than the film suggested. His battle with Joe Louis three months later drew the highest gate of the decade. This first comprehensive biography covers Baer's complete ring record, his early life, his career on radio, film, stage and television, and his World War II army service.
In the illustrious history of the theatrical Fishers, there are two Georges. One is a peculiar but endearing 11-year-old, raised in the seedy world of `70s boarding houses and backstages, now packed off to school for the first time; the other, a garrulous ventriloquist's dummy who belonged to George's grandfather, a favorite traveling act of the British troops in World War II. The two Georges know nothing of each other -- until events conspire to unite them in a search to uncover the family's deepest secrets. Weaving the boy's tale and the puppet's "memoirs," By George unveils the fascinating Fisher family -- its weak men, its dominant women, its disgruntled boys, and its shocking and dramatic secrets. At once bitingly funny and exquisitely tender, Stace's novel is the unforgettable journey of two young boys separated by years but driven by the same desires: to find a voice, and to be loved. "By George is one of those rare works of fiction with an essential triple helix -- it's funny, it's clever and it's perfectly woven together with story. If writing is how we imagine not being lonely, as Wesley Stace suggests, then his conjuring trick as a writer is that he brings a large crowd along with him. This is a wonderful follow-up to his debut novel, Misfortune." -- Colum McCann, author of Zoli and Dancer
Kathryn, a member of the greatest generation, once an assistant buyer for a major department store, an assistant fire chiefs wife, mother to a son and a daughter, a grandmother to four boys, a life long friend to many friends who knew her as Kay or Dolly is in her late seventies when, little by little, she finds her mind changing through a series of strokes beginning Christmas, 1986. Kathryn loses her ability to walk and speak all in that one December. Her daughter, an artist, who once worked in reading and dance therapy with brain damaged children, begins to see into her mothers darkness and finds an imaginary world of her mothers creation where both mother and daughter can find their way back to the Light and each other. As medicines change and therapies continue, Kathryn finds her brain healing through the things that have been consistent throughout her life, her love of God, people, and animals and a delightful humor to find out what in the world they all are thinking!
Fighting sports may seem at odds with Christian tradition, yet modern ministries have embraced them as a means for evangelism and social outreach. While news media often sensationalize fighting sports, churches see them as a way to appeal to male congregants, presenting a peace-loving yet tough model of discipleship. From martial arts programs at suburban churches to urban boxing ministries geared towards at-risk youth, this book examines the substantial history of church sponsored training in combat sports, and presents arguments by Christian ethicists about their compatibility with church teachings and settings. Interviews with boxing and martial arts ministry leaders describe their programs and the relationship between fight sports and faith.
