Shamrocks v. Sombreros
Once upon-a-time the Clones Cyclone, the Pocket Rocket, and the Celtic Warrior, commanded the attention of a nation when they stepped into a ring. I remember being in a village in Sligo - Enniskrone - in Tom’s Top Ten - a great name for a pub - when that distasteful Dub, the Celtic Warrior, was fighting for a World Title.
The pub was full - jammed - as we all stood shoulder to shoulder watching an hour and a half of build-up before the bout itself began. And everyone talked boxing. I never knew there were that many boxing experts in Ireland, let alone on the coast of Sligo.
Last Night John Duddy from Derry beat Luis ‘Yori Boy’ Campos at Madison Square Garden for the vacant IBA Middleweight Title, in what was advertised as the Shamrocks v. Sombreros bout. Umar ben-Ivan over on East Side Boxing talks about Duddy and the relationship of the Irish and boxing to New York and each other:
Duddy just isn’t Irish; he is a living and breathing part of the historic Irish community of New York City. He shows up for charity events in Queens, the Bronx, Yonkers and other places and several months ago he stood up and addressed Senator John McCain at St. Barnabas Church which is nestled on the border of the Bronx and Yonkers and introduced himself as John Duddy and the thousands in attendance stood up and gave him a loud ovation at this Legalize the Irish event.
People I knew in Ireland used to talk about boxing. Boxers, and not just Irish ones, were a part of life, more than chefs and chat show hosts. When Nigel Benn first lost his crown he wasn’t beaten, he was Dark Destroyed. I have sat for hours in offices, houses and pubs while being regaled by grown men on pugilistic history.
I very rarely hear anyone in Kansas City talk about boxing. And except for a cursory nod to Jack Dempsey, or reminisces of Barry McGuigan’s father singing Danny Boy, I never hear talk of boxing from KC’s greater Irish community. Was Duddy’s fight on television? Did Irish people and organizations congregate in pubs and cheer? Did anybody sing Olé Olé Olé? Maybe I need to go out more.
See Also:
• Dan Donnelly’s Arm in America
• Synthetic Testosterone Reported for Landis
• All-Ireland Sunday
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
No need for television (I think it was on MSG Network the following weekend)… Every Irishman on the East coast seemed to be in the Garden or the pubs surrounding it that night.
Many of them were wearing Legalize the Irish shirts like Duddy.