BoxRec

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Not a lot, other than he's a pal and former sparring partner of Mike Tyson. Think he was Irish heavyweight champ at one time.

A seven-time Irish amateur champion, he beat future WBA world heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon in the vest and also shared a ring with Lennox Lewis. He won 80 times, won the Golden Gloves and also fought Steve Collins, then an Irish junior champion, in his second fight. He won three of four as a pro and has lived in Birmingham for almost 20 years.

Everyone knows him around here. Top man.

Podmore has it spot on. Only thing he missed was his car crash that arguably ended his career. Joe was one of Tyson's most respected friends, presumably he still is. Mike wrote the foreword for his book and was present at Joe's book signing.

Tom, did the Birmingham gang fight really happen? I was suprised when I read about it in his book and don't remember anything about it in the news. Sounded like a blood bath.

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Tom, did the Birmingham gang fight really happen? I was suprised when I read about it in his book and don't remember anything about it in the news. Sounded like a blood bath.

Tom was there with his notebook. He was just about to write 'The mallet-fisted Dudley carpet fitter' when he got pushed over a hedge.

As for Big Joe Egan, all I know is that he is the hardest white man on the planet. EVER.

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:Tom was there with his notebook. He was just about to write 'The mallet-fisted Dudley carpet fitter' when he got pushed over a hedge.

You know me too well, sir.

Remember seeing Him as a 17 year old, in over his Head at Enfield. Thinking what a great talent he was then, today one nice guy.

Proper good bloke

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

his record make your minds up hardley worth discussing

SexySouthPaw wrote:http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

his record make your minds up hardley worth discussing

His pro boxing record says nothing about him as a man or as a boxer.

As a man he is a very likeable, larger than life character

As a boxer, he has an excellent amateur whose career was cut short by aa car crash. He earned his corn as a sparring partner in America, most notably working for Tyson, who said that he was the toughest white guy on earth. That comment gave Joe the title for his autobiography.

Coco wrote:

SexySouthPaw wrote:http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

his record make your minds up hardley worth discussing

His pro boxing record says nothing about him as a man or as a boxer.

As a man he is a very likeable, larger than life character

As a boxer, he has an excellent amateur whose career was cut short by aa car crash. He earned his corn as a sparring partner in America, most notably working for Tyson, who said that he was the toughest white guy on earth. That comment gave Joe the title for his autobiography.

yeah yeah all smoke and mirrors save the praise for real fighters

Yea but boxing wouldnt have many fans if it werent for some characters. Dont know this guy but he is sounds like a real character and thats one of the reasons why I take an interest in boxing.

SexySouthPaw wrote:

Coco wrote:

SexySouthPaw wrote:http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

his record make your minds up hardley worth discussing

His pro boxing record says nothing about him as a man or as a boxer.

As a man he is a very likeable, larger than life character

As a boxer, he has an excellent amateur whose career was cut short by aa car crash. He earned his corn as a sparring partner in America, most notably working for Tyson, who said that he was the toughest white guy on earth. That comment gave Joe the title for his autobiography.

yeah yeah all smoke and mirrors save the praise for real fighters

How is he not a real fighter?

SexySouthPaw wrote:

Coco wrote:

SexySouthPaw wrote:http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

his record make your minds up hardley worth discussing

His pro boxing record says nothing about him as a man or as a boxer.

As a man he is a very likeable, larger than life character

As a boxer, he has an excellent amateur whose career was cut short by aa car crash. He earned his corn as a sparring partner in America, most notably working for Tyson, who said that he was the toughest white guy on earth. That comment gave Joe the title for his autobiography.

yeah yeah all smoke and mirrors save the praise for real fighters

Are you real??????
Is Felix Savon not a real fighter??
If you read his book it is far more about his cheuqered life than boxing, but the fact he had 4 pro fights(unbeaten) beat Bruce Sheldon and won many amateur titles to boot makes him a real fighter in my eyes.
Mike Tyson thought he was a real fighter, and I feel you are in a minority of 1 in your opinion

Not to be pedantic but he wasnt unbeaten.

I was flicking through the freeview channels recently and came across big Joe on QVC 'minding' a set of diamonds. Anne Diamond was desperately plugging them but the amusing thing was, she kept referring to Joe as much as she did the diamonds. It was Joe this and Joe that. She was gagging for him.
Forget the diamonds, the smirk on Joe's face was priceless.

He's at most of Ricky's fights ain't he? I remember him at least twice being backstage for his title fights.

Met him at a Dunne fight in Dublin. He was tip top, the amount of people who said they knew him was staggering and I thought they were all bullshitting till he came over and started chatting to them, old school mates, friends, neighbours the works.

I chatted to him and he was a proper gent. The biggest pair of hands I'd ever seen, they were like spades.

Had the pleasure of being in Joe's company a few years ago now, when he guested at a charity function for me in Sheffield.
Great company and a gentle giant - with the ladies !!
Boxing is no different to other sports in that you dont have to be one of the greats to be of interest to talk to - and Joe fits that bill.
I sat him with a mix of people from working class lads to serious money making businessmen and they were all facinated by the guy.

Saw Joe while out shopping the other day, but I'm not the kind to interrupt a guy out with his grandkids as much id have loved to ask him that question he's answered so many times before.


A while later I'm talking to my mate in the car park, & Big Joe comes over unprompted, & asks how I'm doing, shaking my hand. My mate said "Who's that?"........I said "Big Joe Eagan. Mike Tyson said 'The toughest white guy on the planet'"...... My mate said "feck off you wind up pudendum!"............ As my mate said that, Big Joe gets into his pick-up truck, fully decaled in the above slogan, with a pic of himself & Tyson on the side, plus a massive anti knife crime advert plastered. A nice guy!.

I've met him a few times and took to him.

Has been making a living on the speaking circuit etc, could be teased for turning up for the opening of a door! But that's work for him, has built up a profile around the Tyson thing etc, but when you speak proper to him there was no bs

He works on Fury’s evening with shows.

He seemed the only genuine person on the stage and in the room at times! Had a lot of time for everyone who recognised him or wanted to chat to him

He took regular hidings from a prime Mike Tyson.

If that doesn't earn him eternal respect I don't know what does

why ???