It seems odd, from my perspective, that Donn Byrne doesn’t mention the person who managed “Irish” in this story about a young boxer. Sure, he mentions corner men, but who was the manager? Byrne tells us that “Irish” was a talented young fighter on the rise who took a fight he didn’t believe he was prepared for, a fight he didn’t believe he could win. He also tells us the fight was held on the big stage in New York City—Madison Square Garden. Does any unmanaged boxer ever fight there, even back in the day? So was “Irish” a sucker? Was he betrayed by a manager on the take?

   Okay—Byrne indicates “Irish” needed money right away to support his father. So that suggests “Irish” must have convinced his manager and/or trainer he needed to take the fight. But during the fight he believes he would triumph if he only had had six more month’s of fights to prepare him to face the Italian, a rival contender who was rated just one spot ahead of “Irish” in line to challenge for the championship. Did “Irish” lie to convince his people he was ready to fight the Italian without additional preparation via further experience? And if so, did his manager and trainer believe the lie, or did they give in to his request because they thought his need for immediate money was more important than a potential big payday for all of them in the immediate future? One way or the other, this sounds suspicious. So what was the backstory in this? I’m almost dying to know.

   But I do know this— Donn Byrne knew New York City. He was a man who knew the big city well, every corner of it, and he knew all the ropes there and every way each rope twisted. A prizefighter getting played for a sucker would have been one New York City twist that Donn Byrne would have known all about when he wrote the story. So I say “Irish” got played, one way or another, whether the story tells us that or not.  A fighter with one rival between him and a shot at the championship does not convinve his manager to let him fight that rival and get his butt beat before he is fully prepared for the challenge. No way would it happen in New York City that way unless there was a payoff for somebody. And don’t you know it, too? So what ya takin’ us for, Donn Byrne? A buncha fools?

   Aw, shucks! It’s still a darn good story, though. A good fight story and maybe an even better father-son story. And the illustrations that support the story, plus the illustrations in the other prizefight/father-son story—A Man’s Game—all by young artist Liam O’Neil—are superb.

These two illustrated stories are bound together now in one volume and available now for a modest price. So go take your payoff now, why don’t ya, then keep your big mouth shut unless you want to brag these stories up. There’s plenty you’ll like in each one of them, so I bet you won’t resist. Or you could take your lumps and miss out on both, but I’m betting you don’t want to do that! Your choice.