Book description
Bernard Dunne boxed for the first time at the age of 6. Twenty-three
years later, in an electrifying performance at the O2 arena in Dublin,
he stopped the brilliant Ricardo Cordoba to take the WBA World Super
Bantamweight belt. The path from the gym in west Dublin to the world
title was often a rocky one. Here, for the first time, Bernard Dunne
tells his own amazing story. It begins in Neilstown, where boxing ran in
the family. In his amateur career, Bernard never lost to an Irish
fighter; but he narrowly missed out on the 2000 Olympics, and rather
than spend another four years as an amateur in search of Olympic glory
he decided to go pro. Going pro meant going to California, and, under
the tutelage of Sugar Ray Leonard and Freddie Roach, California became a
land of dreams for Bernard. Twelve of his fourteen professional fights
in America were televised nationally, and he was working towards a title
fight. But he missed home, missed his family. He wanted it all: he
wanted to win a world title, and he wanted to do it in Ireland. The way
he went about doing that has made Bernard Dunne an Irish national
treasure. After winning a European belt, he was defeated by Kiko
Martinez; but he bounced back with courage and brilliance to win the WBA
super bantamweight belt from Cordoba in front of a delirious crowd at
the O2 arena. Rather than rest on his laurels, as many champions in his
position would do, Bernard accepted the toughest challenge of all: from
a slab of granite named Poonsawat. He lost the belt, but his courage and
dignity in defeat were heroic. Now, Bernard tells the full story of his
life and boxing career - a story full of surprises. It will thrill all
his old fans and win him new ones. Bernard Dunne held at various times
the IBC World Super Bantamweight title, the European Super Bantamweight
title, and the WBA Super Bantamweight title. He announced his retirement
from boxing in February 2010.
