why are irish heavies so poor?

[SeanBrennan]

I do find it cringe at the faux Irish-ness. My father was born in Fermanagh. I was born in Scunthorpe. I'm as Irish as Morris Dancing.

[margaret thatcher]

just having an irish grandparent will do it? someone tell all these st patriicks day irish yanks

[The Gratest]

He did, although that title is one of the most worthless and weakest titles ever. It is worse than any fringe belt in history. It has only been contested 6 times in 75 years since 1949. And all of the people before Fury were objectively shite. The Irish HW title means less than nothing.

After David Price KO'd John McDermott in 1 round, the BBBoC called for purse bids for Tyson Fury to defend his British title against Price. Fury vacated the British title and Andy Lee's father signed an affidavit (proclaiming that Fury's grandmother was Irish) so that Fury could then fight Martin Rogan for the Irish title.

Andy Lee pretends he's related to Tyson doesn't he?

Cousin I think?

[SeanBrennan]

After David Price KO'd John McDermott in 1 round, the BBBoC called for purse bids for Tyson Fury to defend his British title against Price. Fury vacated the British title and Andy Lee's father signed an affidavit (proclaiming that Fury's grandmother was Irish) so that Fury could then fight Martin Rogan for the Irish title.

Andy Lee pretends he's related to Tyson doesn't he?

Cousin I think?

Cousin my eye.

[JamesPhilips]

amusingly he's still top 3 Irish heavyweights

What of all time? Surely you’re joking me

God no James. I'm a moron but not that moronic. I was being silly - there are only 2 current Irish HW pros so therefore if Joe comes back he's in the top 3....out of 3.

Phewwwwwww my turn to be a retard

[JamesPhilips]

What of all time? Surely you’re joking me

God no James. I'm a moron but not that moronic. I was being silly - there are only 2 current Irish HW pros so therefore if Joe comes back he's in the top 3....out of 3.

No way, Egan now would be like number 4, and number 6 on the all time list

You must mean the globe? Being the toughest white man ever means he must rate above Marciano, Dempsey, Klits, Fury, Usyk and all the other white boys at the very least…

TBH honest I think you can only count Louis, Ali, Frazier, Larry Holmes and possibly Lennox ahead of Big Joe. I actually think he’d outlast Mike Tyson, iron Mike basically admits it by stressing how tough the big Irishman is…..

[SeanBrennan]

What of all time? Surely you’re joking me

God no James. I'm a moron but not that moronic. I was being silly - there are only 2 current Irish HW pros so therefore if Joe comes back he's in the top 3....out of 3.

Phewwwwwww my turn to be a retard

not at all James, it's my poor humour causing confusion mate.

[wrighty]

just having an irish grandparent will do it? someone tell all these st patriicks day irish yanks

I always find that really strange that Americans will say they're Irish, but just as many British, German and Polish immigrants went to live in America. You don't get Americans trying to pretend that they're German

[JamesPhilips]

I do find it cringe at the faux Irish-ness. My father was born in Fermanagh. I was born in Scunthorpe. I'm as Irish as Morris Dancing.

Really? I think most second generation Irish in U.K. consider themselves largely Irish still in their blood. I would still feel a link to a Ireland if my dad was born here. All the Irish cockneys i know have their allegiance to Ireland

[SeanBrennan]

I do find it cringe at the faux Irish-ness. My father was born in Fermanagh. I was born in Scunthorpe. I'm as Irish as Morris Dancing.

Really? I think most second generation Irish in U.K. consider themselves largely Irish still in their blood. I would still feel a link to a Ireland if my dad was born here. All the Irish cockneys i know have their allegiance to Ireland

I can only speak for me really. I went there in 2015 to see if I felt any affinity. None. I've never felt so English. Lovely people though. I did used to get constant republican spiel spouted at me as a youth though so probably was less than enamoured with Irishness.

[Frostieballs]

I do find it cringe at the faux Irish-ness. My father was born in Fermanagh. I was born in Scunthorpe. I'm as Irish as Morris Dancing.

Really? I think most second generation Irish in U.K. consider themselves largely Irish still in their blood. I would still feel a link to a Ireland if my dad was born here. All the Irish cockneys i know have their allegiance to Ireland

I can only speak for me really. I went there in 2015 to see if I felt any affinity. None. I've never felt so English. Lovely people though. I did used to get constant republican spiel spouted at me as a youth though so probably was less than enamoured with Irishness.

Ah mate. My partner mum’s is Irish and that it certainly where her affinity lies.

And mine now if I’m honest. We visit a lot and plan to spend at least half of our time there in the near future.

It’s a far nicer place to live. Better way of life and kinder people with far less ego and prejudices.

[banjo]

just having an irish grandparent will do it? someone tell all these st patriicks day irish yanks

I always find that really strange that Americans will say they're Irish, but just as many British, German and Polish immigrants went to live in America. You don't get Americans trying to pretend that they're German

The thing is I've met a couple of Yanks who referred to themselves as German-American, I've met one who is Russian-American and I'm married to a Mexican-American.

Americans rarely seem to be just American

[Coco]

Then you get the Joe Biden sort, half of his ancestors originated from England, the other half from Ireland at the end of the 18th century, and he claims to be Irish!

He's like 8th generation! Well half of him is!

He has also claimed to be black.....

[SeanBrennan]

Really? I think most second generation Irish in U.K. consider themselves largely Irish still in their blood. I would still feel a link to a Ireland if my dad was born here. All the Irish cockneys i know have their allegiance to Ireland

I can only speak for me really. I went there in 2015 to see if I felt any affinity. None. I've never felt so English. Lovely people though. I did used to get constant republican spiel spouted at me as a youth though so probably was less than enamoured with Irishness.

Ah mate. My partner mum’s is Irish and that it certainly were her affinity lies.

And mine now if I’m honest. We visit a lot and plan to spend at least half of our time there in the near future.

It’s a far nicer place to live. Better way of life and kinder people with far less ego and prejudices.

certainly a lovely place. I live in a town everyone mocks but it's home so I love it. I'm definitely a home bird, does the wife's head in.

[jtourettes]

just having an irish grandparent will do it? someone tell all these st patriicks day irish yanks

I always find that really strange that Americans will say they're Irish, but just as many British, German and Polish immigrants went to live in America. You don't get Americans trying to pretend that they're German

The thing is I've met a couple of Yanks who referred to themselves as German-American, I've met one who is Russian-American and I'm married to a Mexican-American.

Americans rarely seem to be just American

That's true. They be able to tell you how many sixteenths they are off many different nationalities, the dumbf ucks Having said that, when I was exploring queens and Brooklyn earlier this year, I was surprised that in some areas you could get by without English at all, Greek and Russian were easy enough to get by with

[Fray Bentos]

just having an irish grandparent will do it? someone tell all these st patriicks day irish yanks

I always find that really strange that Americans will say they're Irish, but just as many British, German and Polish immigrants went to live in America. You don't get Americans trying to pretend that they're German

The thing is I've met a couple of Yanks who referred to themselves as German-American, I've met one who is Russian-American and I'm married to a Mexican-American.

Americans rarely seem to be just American

This is a simple one, the 'Americans' are the natives of the land which some Irish or Polish descendant isn't.

It's quite interesting, in Australia, they do the 'acknowledgement of the land' and they do it on TV or radio or during political rallies - and it goes something like 'we would like to pay respect to the 'xyz' tribe of the land where this recording is being broadcast and that we respect their ancestors and elders' what they're acknowledging is they're guests, the same as a German-American is a guest - they weren't invited to that land, they took it by force and when they're 'Irish' they don't mean they're Irish or Polish like someone born and raised there but obviously they're not descended from Chief Big Foot.

https://www.psc.nsw.gov.au/culture-and- ... of-country

I think most post-colonial societies settled by Europeans have similar mindsets - it's similar in Brazil and Argentina - when i was in Buenos Aires, plenty of people wear Spanish or Italian national football shirts, they're proud of their recent European heritage.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Generally smaller people/ poor diet and malnutrition.

The city Irish seem to be smaller but the farmers/countryside folk are often gigantic. Know plenty of 6'3 plus fellas from that way, my farming family included

My dad's grandfather on his mother's side, was from rural ireland (not sure where) and was from farming stock, he was 6 foot 7 and a giant of a man apparently.

He won the kings medal for gallantry, after he rescued a man who was being robbed by three gypsies at a local fair, he beat the three of them up, and threw them into the river. My dad has the letter that accompanied the medal still, though not the medal apparently.

[SeanBrennan]

Generally smaller people/ poor diet and malnutrition.

The city Irish seem to be smaller but the farmers/countryside folk are often gigantic. Know plenty of 6'3 plus fellas from that way, my farming family included

My dad's grandfather on his mother's side, was from rural ireland (not sure where) and was from farming stock, he was 6 foot 7 and a giant of a man apparently.

He won the kings medal for gallantry, after he rescued a man who was being robbed by three gypsies at a local fair, he beat the three of them up, and threw them into the river. My dad has the letter that accompanied the medal still, though not the medal apparently.

it was probably my family doing the robbing, sorry about that James. River was a nice wash too

[jamesmcdonnell]

The city Irish seem to be smaller but the farmers/countryside folk are often gigantic. Know plenty of 6'3 plus fellas from that way, my farming family included

My dad's grandfather on his mother's side, was from rural ireland (not sure where) and was from farming stock, he was 6 foot 7 and a giant of a man apparently.

He won the kings medal for gallantry, after he rescued a man who was being robbed by three gypsies at a local fair, he beat the three of them up, and threw them into the river. My dad has the letter that accompanied the medal still, though not the medal apparently.

it was probably my family doing the robbing, sorry about that James. River was a nice wash too

Ach well Sean, all water under the bridge now Sean.

It must be in the blood, my old man is 92 this year, and still acts like he's dead hard. He wasn't a big bloke ever, maybe 12 stone in his prime, but he would fight at the drop of a hat if someone gave him any shite.

His last fight was when he was 72, he was in a pub and got in a row with some bloke in his 30's, who was obviously a proper pudendum starting a row with an old bloke, it all calmed down, and then the bloke sucker punched my dad, knocking him flying, and busting up his mouth really badly.

The bloke wasn't satisfied, so came in for the kill, but my dad managed to get up, and grabbed one of the cast iron barstools and rammed the business end right down the blokes gob, smashing all his railings in. Luckily my dad was still pretty strong right into his late 70s. Funnily enough the guy didn't fancy it after that - the prick threatened to press charges, before a bunch of the regulars told him to fck off before he got more of a shooing and the landlord barred him and sent him packing.

My dad refused to go to the doctor, his bottom lip was half hanging off, and the inside of his gums were all cut to bits, his wife's a nurse and begged him to go to get medical help,. but he point blank refused, in the end in took 3-4 months to heal up fully- with him gargling salt water every day. Stubbon old bastard he is.

[jameswilson]

I think at one point Coleman Barrett was the number one Irish heavyweight but I might be wrong.

In Prizefighter he got to the final and was really going at Audley Harrison and won the first round as Audley did his regular cover up and do absolutely nothing. Then in the second round Audley threw a one two and it was like the pub fight where someone gets smacked and they are out cold on their feet and just tumble backwards. Barrett’s corner immediately got in the ring with the towel. Unfortunately the only YouTube coverage of that fight is really grainy.

[SeanBrennan]

My dad's grandfather on his mother's side, was from rural ireland (not sure where) and was from farming stock, he was 6 foot 7 and a giant of a man apparently.

He won the kings medal for gallantry, after he rescued a man who was being robbed by three gypsies at a local fair, he beat the three of them up, and threw them into the river. My dad has the letter that accompanied the medal still, though not the medal apparently.

it was probably my family doing the robbing, sorry about that James. River was a nice wash too

Ach well Sean, all water under the bridge now Sean.

It must be in the blood, my old man is 92 this year, and still acts like he's dead hard. He wasn't a big bloke ever, maybe 12 stone in his prime, but he would fight at the drop of a hat if someone gave him any shite.

His last fight was when he was 72, he was in a pub and got in a row with some bloke in his 30's, who was obviously a proper pudendum starting a row with an old bloke, it all calmed down, and then the bloke sucker punched my dad, knocking him flying, and busting up his mouth really badly.

The bloke wasn't satisfied, so came in for the kill, but my dad managed to get up, and grabbed one of the cast iron barstools and rammed the business end right down the blokes gob, smashing all his railings in. Luckily my dad was still pretty strong right into his late 70s. Funnily enough the guy didn't fancy it after that - the prick threatened to press charges, before a bunch of the regulars told him to fck off before he got more of a shooing and the landlord barred him and sent him packing.

My dad refused to go to the doctor, his bottom lip was half hanging off, and the inside of his gums were all cut to bits, his wife's a nurse and begged him to go to get medical help,. but he point blank refused, in the end in took 3-4 months to heal up fully- with him gargling salt water every day. Stubbon old bastard he is.

Jesus he's a tough bugger. I do admire that level of stubbornness! Excellent to hear!

[jamesmcdonnell]

it was probably my family doing the robbing, sorry about that James. River was a nice wash too

Ach well Sean, all water under the bridge now Sean.

It must be in the blood, my old man is 92 this year, and still acts like he's dead hard. He wasn't a big bloke ever, maybe 12 stone in his prime, but he would fight at the drop of a hat if someone gave him any shite.

His last fight was when he was 72, he was in a pub and got in a row with some bloke in his 30's, who was obviously a proper pudendum starting a row with an old bloke, it all calmed down, and then the bloke sucker punched my dad, knocking him flying, and busting up his mouth really badly.

The bloke wasn't satisfied, so came in for the kill, but my dad managed to get up, and grabbed one of the cast iron barstools and rammed the business end right down the blokes gob, smashing all his railings in. Luckily my dad was still pretty strong right into his late 70s. Funnily enough the guy didn't fancy it after that - the prick threatened to press charges, before a bunch of the regulars told him to fck off before he got more of a shooing and the landlord barred him and sent him packing.

My dad refused to go to the doctor, his bottom lip was half hanging off, and the inside of his gums were all cut to bits, his wife's a nurse and begged him to go to get medical help,. but he point blank refused, in the end in took 3-4 months to heal up fully- with him gargling salt water every day. Stubbon old bastard he is.

Jesus he's a tough bugger. I do admire that level of stubbornness! Excellent to hear!

He's a walking Miracle the old man, he's 5z to survive some serious health scares, including an operation on his carotid artery at the age of 87, and leukemia. He smoked like a chimney, and was pissed every day for a good 50+ years, he started drinking and smoking at the age of 14, playing cards with his uncles at his aunt sadies house.

[SeanBrennan]

Ach well Sean, all water under the bridge now Sean.

It must be in the blood, my old man is 92 this year, and still acts like he's dead hard. He wasn't a big bloke ever, maybe 12 stone in his prime, but he would fight at the drop of a hat if someone gave him any shite.

His last fight was when he was 72, he was in a pub and got in a row with some bloke in his 30's, who was obviously a proper pudendum starting a row with an old bloke, it all calmed down, and then the bloke sucker punched my dad, knocking him flying, and busting up his mouth really badly.

The bloke wasn't satisfied, so came in for the kill, but my dad managed to get up, and grabbed one of the cast iron barstools and rammed the business end right down the blokes gob, smashing all his railings in. Luckily my dad was still pretty strong right into his late 70s. Funnily enough the guy didn't fancy it after that - the prick threatened to press charges, before a bunch of the regulars told him to fck off before he got more of a shooing and the landlord barred him and sent him packing.

My dad refused to go to the doctor, his bottom lip was half hanging off, and the inside of his gums were all cut to bits, his wife's a nurse and begged him to go to get medical help,. but he point blank refused, in the end in took 3-4 months to heal up fully- with him gargling salt water every day. Stubbon old bastard he is.

Jesus he's a tough bugger. I do admire that level of stubbornness! Excellent to hear!

He's a walking Miracle the old man, he's 5z to survive some serious health scares, including an operation on his carotid artery at the age of 87, and leukemia. He smoked like a chimney, and was pissed every day for a good 50+ years, he started drinking and smoking at the age of 14, playing cards with his uncles at his aunt sadies house.

He sounds brilliant mate. Thanks for sharing too it's genuinely interesting.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Jesus he's a tough bugger. I do admire that level of stubbornness! Excellent to hear!

He's a walking Miracle the old man, he's 5z to survive some serious health scares, including an operation on his carotid artery at the age of 87, and leukemia. He smoked like a chimney, and was pissed every day for a good 50+ years, he started drinking and smoking at the age of 14, playing cards with his uncles at his aunt sadies house.

He sounds brilliant mate. Thanks for sharing too it's genuinely interesting.

He's a right grump old sod, but he is very very funny, I speak to him most weeks, he lives in Ipswich, whenever Ipswich is mentioned, he invariable says "I fcking hate it here." He's been there 26 years., and he's hated every single day of it. I think his hatred of ipswich might be what keeps him going.

[SeanBrennan]

He's a walking Miracle the old man, he's 5z to survive some serious health scares, including an operation on his carotid artery at the age of 87, and leukemia. He smoked like a chimney, and was pissed every day for a good 50+ years, he started drinking and smoking at the age of 14, playing cards with his uncles at his aunt sadies house.

He sounds brilliant mate. Thanks for sharing too it's genuinely interesting.

He's a right grump old sod, but he is very very funny, I speak to him most weeks, he lives in Ipswich, whenever Ipswich is mentioned, he invariable says "I fcking hate it here." He's been there 26 years., and he's hated every single day of it. I think his hatred of ipswich might be what keeps him going.

hahahahah we all need something to live for. I look forward to being a right grump when I'm older. And too old to smack.