BOOK REVIEW
Tracy Callis
THE IRISH CHAMPION PETER MAHER
By Matt Donnellon
Matt Donnellon’s book, The Irish Champion Peter Maher, is a wonderful work that is well-researched and contains many factual accounts of his ring career and personal events too. The book focuses on Maher’s boxing career, from rural Galway to the bright lights of the large cities such as New York and Philadelphia.
As stated on the back cover “This is the great untold story of Peter Maher, Ireland’s only World Heavyweight Champion, a man blessed with a knock out punch the equal of any man before or since”
Included are accounts of fights and events from newspaper reports and various other publications. Brief discussions of fighters, personalities and situations are included that shed light on the happenings in Peter’s career. Opinions of Maher’s fighting skills by many boxing people are included as well as a section containing Peter’s career record and those of many fighters from the pre-1900 and early 1900 years. A variety of interesting and informative rare old photos and images that enhance the presentation are displayed. Many rare facts are discussed that give a more exact description of Maher than ever provided before.
This book is a real collector's item - interesting, informative and destined to become a major source of facts regarding the clever, two-fisted boxer. It is a must read for die-hard historians and fans. As a result of this book, I will update my Maher record on the Cyber Boxing Zone.
Matt Donnellon resides in Ireland, is an Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) judge, a boxing coach with his local Kilmaine boxing club, County Mayo and a member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). He is married to Mary Steede, of Kilbannon, birthplace of Peter Maher, and they have six children – three girls (Grainne, Niamh and Tara) and three sons (Shane, Niall and Brian). The sons were all boxers and have won Connaught (West of Ireland) regional championships.
This very detailed book can be ordered at major online book retailers such as amazon.com
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| Peter Maher | Matt Donnellon |
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Callis description --
Maher was the
most dangerous hitter of the pre-1900 years, bar none ! He moved quickly
and struck with vicious paralyzing blows - on the order of Bob
Fitzsimmons and Pat Killen; His weakness lay in his lack of refined
boxing skills and a fairly weak chin |
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