Mannion made his cherished dream a reality in the States
AS FAR as comparisons go, it’s fair to say that the sprawling city of Boston and the rural isolation of the village of Ros Muc in Connemara are poles apart. And it must have been an eye-opening experience for 17-year-old Seán Mannion when he stepped off a plane from Ireland in 1977 with a dream on his mind.
The teenager from a poverty-stricken parish on the west coast had been a boxing fanatic along with his brothers from a very early age, with his love for the sport growing after he joined a local club on the day it opened its doors.
It was clear from an early age that he had talent to burn, but would that be enough to fulfil his ultimate goal, namely to turn professional?
The journey he took to not alone tick that box, but to be ranked the number one U.S. light middleweight contender just six years later in 1983, is re-told in ‘The Man Who Was Never Knocked Down - The Life Of Boxer Seán Mannion’.
It is written by Rónán Mac Con Iomaire, who was star-struck when he met the subject of his book for the first time as a child on one of
Mannion’s visits home to Ros Muc from his American base.
And among the main aspects of
Mannion’s life that shines through is his complete devotion to his native place, and his determination to keep himself grounded by always prioritising his roots, his family, and the language and culture that he left behind.
Those principles led to him turning down his first chance for that much sought-after professional contract in the States, but he made progress quickly despite coming into contact with some less than desirable figures along the way.
One of of the notorious Boston Irish Mafia was also a native of Ros Muc, and he made it clear from an early stage that he had Mannion’s back.
That message was relayed loud and clear to anyone who cared to listen one day in a crowded gym, with everyone understanding quite clearly that the new arrival wasn’t to be messed with.
Mannion’s big shot at glory arrived in 1984 when he fought Mike McCallum in Madison Square Gardens for the world light middleweight title.
And while it didn’t go according to plan and he never got another opportunity to claim the ultimate prize, that didn’t stop the people of Galway from treating him like a hero when he returned home for an extended spell after the defeat.
While Ros Muc was always foremost in his heart, Mannion realised that the life he had made for himself was very much focused on Boston, and that’s where he still lives to this very day.
I would have liked to see his experiences after he retired from the ring at the age of 36 explored in more detail, but the book is centred primarily on the highs and lows of his career.
He was fighting in one of the most competitive weight divisions in the history of the sport, but unfortunately he never got an opportunity to take on one of the legendary ‘four kings’ of his era: Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran or Sugar Ray Leonard.
The story of Seán Mannion deserves to be told, particularly given the relative success of a career that happened many miles from his native place.
Because of that, he might have slipped below the radar, but not any more thanks to this revealing portrait of an interesting character. ALAN AHERNE
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