Customer Reviews

Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Bob Halloran has captured the essence of a rags to riches boxer. You don't need to be a fan of boxing though to enjoy this fast paced story. It has all the makings of chasing the American dream by a young man who has been down but not out. I think anyone who wants to read a feel good story will enjoy Bob Halloran's tale. He keeps you hanging on every jab Mickey gives and takes throughout his life.

Other than Jack Kerouac and a few other Lowell greats I'm probably missing, Micky Ward is Lowell's pride. The book is an excellent read only because Micky's life-story is so remarkable and inspiring, other than that Bob Halloran's writing style is bleak.

Micky Ward grew up when Lowell was tougher than it is today--UMass Lowell has brought so much money into the city it's been on the up-and-up since 1992--where his half-brother/trainer is a crack addict, his dad did hard time for defrauding old ladies in his roofing business and yet Micky even steered clear of marijuana while staying on his sworn path of becoming a champion boxer. Throughout his boxing career, he maintained a modest career paving roads for the city of Lowell and to my knowledge is still doing it to this day, he's only 42.

Micky Ward is an honest man and a working class hero, and that's why so many people love him--"The Warrior's Code" the album by the Dropkick Murphys is about Micky Ward and "The Fighter" is a movie about him starring Mark Wahlberg and Brad Pitt to be released in 2009.

This book is highly recommended, and will hopefully inspire you to hit the gym and work as hard as Micky did.

Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward is a great biography of the blue collar boxer from Lowell, MA. Bob Halloran does an excellent job chronicling Micky's career and the trials and tribulations he faced to get there. Right from the beginning, Bob illustrates the vision of Lowell, a once proud boxing town that had become a haven for decadence and despair. Although Micky would fall not victim to the drugs that had claimed many before him, the obstacles presented to him were constant whether it was injured hands, his family, bad management, big fights falling through, or his own self confidence. The fact that Micky persevered to become a popular and well respected boxer personifies his character. Halloran gives you a rundown of his fights throughout the book and his vivid recollections of Micky's wars with Arturo Gatti, Emanuel Burton, Reggie Green, and others make you feel like you're watching the fight as it happens. However, what really keeps the reader glued to this book is the behind the scenes drama. And as it often goes with money, the more there is to be made, the more drama comes with it. Most of the fight facts and recaps are accurate with the only obvious mistake being that Pernell Whitaker won a decision over Oscar De La Hoya, when in fact it was the other way around. All told, this is a well written biography and I would recommend this to any boxing fan.

This is probably one of the best books ever written describing the life and hard times of any fighter from a non-boxing-fan perspective. Not being an avid reader, I was unable to put the book down. Enjoyed it but left feeling with a heavy heart for the folks that endure so much in this industry.

Not being a huge fan of boxing I wasn't sure what to expect. This book is about so much more than boxing! Irish Thunder really shows the dedication and hard work that Micky Ward used to overcome his surroundings. Just when you thought it was his turn to succeed he had to overcome another obsticle. It really is the Rudy of the boxing world. Great read now I can't wait to read the author's other book Destiny Derailed.

I just finished this and enjoyed it very much. I read it expressly because of the Dropkick Murphys song Warrior's Code, and because Micky Ward was one of their special guests at their 2008 St. Patrick's Day concerts in Lowell.
I think the book has the right balance between fight details and life outside the ring. In addition to learning about Micky Ward, I learned alot about professional boxers and about the business of boxing. I have a greater understanding of the nature of the warrior, and I have much more insight into the Murphys song, which will make it even more fun to listen to. The author does a good job putting you at ringside with his details, yet I still think it's too bad there weren't any pictures.

Good book to read before movie about Micky Ward's life comes out. It is interesting to see how much he struggled and did not give up after many setbacks in boxing. If you are a boxing fan or want to get some information before movie this would be a good one to pick up and read.

It has been many years since a home grown American fighter has truly caught the imagination of the domestic boxing public. Oscar DeLaHoya was undoubtedly a boxing superstar, yet appealed most heavily to the burgeoning Hispanic fan base. Roy Jones may be the most talented fighter of his generation, yet outside the ring had difficulty conneccting to the casual fight fan. Turn the clock back to 1976, and Sugar Ray Leonard to find the last American born crossover boxing Superstar.

In his wake, weekly boxing shows appeared on ESPN and USA channels. They fattened their ratings with great fighters past their prime, like George Foreman and Larry Holmes. And young fighters looking to make a name for themselves, as prelim fighters. Mickey ward, became one such favorite. A fearless white welterweight, who would take on everyone, fight with heart, and punch with paralyzing power. Like many young fighters, he started fast, winning his first fourteen fights. Like many others, once defeat loomed, it became commonplace.

"Irish" Micky Ward retired, and in another story told all too often, launched a comeback. Most quickly rediscover what led them to retirement in the first place. Micky Ward's story ended much differently.

Bob Halloran's story is gripping, reads quickly, and the fight recaps are authentic and exciting.

Micky Ward is refreshing. A man who stays focused despite the stress of a dysfunctional family and a tough neighborhood. Yet he pushes on, displaying an iron will in the ring, and a perserverence few fighters have displayed. He defeats fighters of greater talent, often by sheer heart.

In the end, Ward becomes the type of crossover star fighter exemplified by the fictional Rocky Balboa character. Not the talent of a Sugar Ray Leonard, the domination of a Marvin Hagler, or the lights out power of Tommy Hearns, yet a fighter respected for the course he has taken, and loved for being solely himself.

The culmination was his three fight classic series against Arturo Gatti, who was a more talented version of himself.

Though an excellent and highly recommended boxing read, it falls short in this writers estimation, in that beyond the feeling that Ward is an earnest man and a decent, loyal friend, there really is no descriptive writing as to who Ward really is. What was his motivation? What got him through the tough times? How did he push through the really discouraging times in the ring and in his personal life? Where did his inner strength come from?

Still, a compelling read. I hope the movie does it justice.

This is a biography like no other. Micky Ward makes Rocky look like Jose Cansaco. A true inspiration. If you are on the fence about this book, just youtube some of Micky's fights. Read it before it is turned into a movie.

I have always been a boxing fan especially attached to the Irish. Ward's story is the classic American underdog story. I remember watching his fights early in his career and thought this fighter has that something special and could be world champion. However, he would look great in one fight and just be a punching bag in another. I thought just let your hands go! What if he had an excellent and more professional trainer early and throughout his career to have given him the guidance he needed?
His story is of the American underdog and his maturity as a man. I enjoyed reading the details of his personal and boxing life. I do agree with another reviewer that pictures should have been included inside the book. Still the book is excellent.
Ward is truly the courageous warrior and I wish him well in his life. Take care Mickey!