Overview

Perfect for readers of Seabiscuit, The Boys in the Boat, and Unbroken ""Electrifying and elegant... told with journalistic precision and pulse-quickening action."" - Men's Health ""A high-velocity work of narrative history, full of heart, soul, and fury."" - Steve Hockensmith, bestselling author of Holmes on the Range ""The kind of true story Hollywood spends years looking for."" - Paul Tamasy, Oscar-nominated writer/producer, The Fighter AS THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ROARS TO LIFE, EVERYONE HAS A DREAM, SO EVERYONE HAS A FIGHT For Mike Gibbons, a penniless, bullied Irish American kid from the hardscrabble streets of St. Paul, the fight is destiny. Beneath the light of Halley's Comet in 1910, Mike and his younger brother, Tommy, vow to punch their way out of poverty and become champions of the outlawed prize ring. Guided by a priest, a firefighter, and a beloved sportswriter-and mentored by America's first Black champions, Joe Gans, Jack Johnson, and Sam Langford-Mike pioneers a dazzling new style of scientific boxing, one that prizes strategy over brute force. It carries him from backroom brawls to the roar of Madison Square Garden and into the orbit of titans such as Harry Houdini, Tex Rickard, President Theodore Roosevelt, General John J. Pershing, Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. As his legend grows, he earns the name ""The St. Paul Phantom."" But Mike's meteoric ascent, shadowed by romance and sacrifice, is fraught with conflict. Torn between his immigrant father's bloody rebel past and his mother's fear for his life, he falls for a fierce-willed suffragist who demands that he abandon the ring forever. His loyalty is tested further when his greatest rival turns out to be his own brother. Mike and Tommy's daring quest spans rails and oceans-to the nation's grand arenas, to the birth of jazz and cinema, to the eruption of race riots and the rise of organized crime; from famine- weary Ireland to Gotham's bedlam, quake-scarred San Francisco, and the immaculate shores of Havana. Just as their dreams come within reach, World War I and the devastating influenza pandemic upend the globe, calling them to trade gloves for uniforms and help strengthen America's fighting forces. In the war's aftermath, an aging Mike returns to the ring for one final shot at the world middleweight championship against a dangerous young fighter he once trained. THE ST. PAUL PHANTOM is more than a boxing story. It is a sweeping historical epic that illuminates the American experience and the common ground that binds us together. Lavishly illustrated with dozens of rare, never-before-seen photographs and more than 75 original pen-and-ink illustrations, it is an inspiring, panoramic true story of courage, faith, love, brotherhood, and redemption-and a powerful reflection of the hope, promise, and opportunity of the American Dream. As the nation celebrates America250, rediscover a remarkable chapter of the American Dream. Step into the ring and follow the extraordinary journey of the Gibbons brothers-an unforgettable saga of courage, ambition, and glory forged in the dawn of modern America. Order your copy today!

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Reviews

Perfect for readers of Seabiscuit, The Boys in the Boat, and Unbroken - Biography.com ""Electrifying and elegant... told with journalistic precision and pulse-quickening action."" - Men's Health ""This is the kind of true story Hollywood spends years looking for... a rare mix of action, gravitas, heart and soul-packed with unforgettable characters. I know stories about brothers, and this one punches-up to greatness."" - Paul Tamasy, Oscar-nominated writer/producer, The Fighter ""A high-velocity work of narrative history, full of heart, soul, and fury."" - Steve Hockensmith, bestselling author of Holmes on the Range ""It's been famously said, 'If you build it, they will come, ' and that's precisely what Gerard Gibbons has done with this extraordinary American family legacy story. I'm proud to champion Fight for Glory!"" - Brian Frankish, Oscar-nominated producer, Field of Dreams ""Considered the most consummate boxer in history by way of defense, offense, speed, power, and ring IQ... The St. Paul Phantom finally crowns this long-forgotten hero of the ring."" - Frank Stallone, Grammy-nominated musician/singer, actor, boxing historian ""A master class in sports biography!"" - Clay Moyle, Author; International Boxing Research Organization ""A powerful, fast-paced, unforgettable psychological portrait of a profoundly vulnerable, compelling hero up against impossible odds."" - Perry Bosmajian, PhD, Former U.S. Dept. of Defense Psychological Health Center of Excellence ""An epic true adventure that sweeps the early 20th century with page-turning, heart-pounding action, romance, and heroism... Full of electrifying images, beautiful illustrations, and fiery spirit!"" - Chuck Caplinger, American Fine Artist ""A must-read! A rhapsodic, inspiring journey into the heart of faith and grace... where the fiercest battles are for honor, redemption and resilience."" - Reverend Barbara Bornemann, Lutheran Pastor (retired) ""We were deeply invested in the human, familial, and community dimensions of American culture you so powerfully explored. Our readers were magically transported to another time and place."" - David Hartley, Organizer, The Glasgow Book Club (UK) ""This captivating chronicle of two valorous brothers who trade personal glory for national service is a powerful affirmation of America's enduring resolve."" - Dr. John E. Lapham, Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency ""I love this book! I didn't expect to be drawn to boxing, but this is a compelling American tale! Great characters, unlikely friendships, an unforgettable love story!"" - Dr. Susan Partovi, Author of Renegade MD ""The Gibbons brothers are the American Dream incarnate. Their grit and determination, dedication to their families and country is eloquently told. An inspiring story of a boxing legacy."" - Enzo Villani, CEO, AlphaTON Capital

Author Information

Gerard Gibbons is a nonfiction author, historian, and descendant of the legendary Gibbons boxing family. Drawing from a trove of century-old family archives, rare memoir and memorabilia, and more than a decade of research in libraries, galleries, and museums around the world, he uncovers the lost legacy of his great-uncle and grandfather, Mike and Tommy Gibbons. In doing so, he restores a forgotten chapter of American sports and cultural history. Gibbons is a member of the International Boxing Research Organization and his literary works have been awarded Book of the Year by West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame. Before developing the Fight for Glory franchise for page and screen, Dr. Gerard Gibbons, as CEO/founder of Visual Eyes Inc., spent thirty years as an award-winning filmmaker, storyteller, and brand strategist for clients including the U.S. Department of Defense, Special Operations Command, DARPA, Military Health System, NASA, Johnson & Johnson, and Disney Imagineering.

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