Overview

"On 19 July 1972, Muhammad Ali defeated Al ""Blue"" Lewis in 11 rounds at Croke Park, Dublin. It was an extraordinary week both for Ali and the sporting and cultural history of Ireland. Thirty years on, through interviews with dozens of those whose paths Ali crossed, Hannigan presents this narrative."

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9780224063067

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A great book about a remarkable event in the sporting and cultural history of Ireland.

The idea of the great Muhammad Ali fighting in Ireland seemed an almost laughable concept. But the boxer was trying to rebuild his career after having his fight licence revoked for refusing army service and in any case he did have a white Irish ancestor, so why not? From his arrival at Dublin Airport Ali wowed the waiting crowds and worked hard at winning the hearts and minds of the Irish nation. To say that he was successful would be a huge understatement. Whether he was hugging an elderly roadsweeper, charming the outspoken civil rights campaigner Bernadette Devlin, taking tea with Jack Lynch, the then Taoiseach, or playing a practical joke on Cathal O'Shannon's television show, Ali was never less than a one-man entertainment package. By the time of the match on July 19 1972, it hardly mattered that his opponent was only Al 'Blue' Lewis, an ex-convict from downtown Detroit, and that so many spectators climbed the fences to avoid paying the entrance fee that the whole match was a financial failure. This was Ali before the Rumble in the Jungle, before the Thrilla in Manila and Dublin could always boast of having hosted one of his fights. Here Dave Hannigan weaves together a mass of recollections and anecdotes from the people who were with Ali during his time in Dublin. The result is a fascinating study of Ali the man and Ali the boxer. Ever a man to court controversy with his radical political outlook and religious beliefs, he was a mass of contradictions, advocating family values yet sexually promiscuous himself. As a boxer he was always more than confident, focused and enthralling - a consummate crowd-pleaser who today is still revered as the champion of champions. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Currently based in New York where he writes for Dublin's Sunday Tribune, Dave Hannigan was formerly Irish football correspondent for the Sunday Times. In 1988 he wrote The Garrison Game, a portrait of Irish football. He has been honoured in Ireland's National Media Awards twice. In 1995, he was named Young Journalist of the Year and in 1999, he won the TV sport category for a documentary he co-produced on the troubled life of the former Manchester United and Aston Villa centre-half Paul McGrath.

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