Best of Enemies

by Barry Flynn

The boxing saga of John Caldwell and Freddie Gilroy is a story of two world beating Belfast boxers in an era long gone in the social history of Belfast. The two best friends and Olympic medalists in 1956 for Ireland became world famous within their sport and their story is one of fame and adulation, coupled with despair and poverty. A story of alcoholism, of troubles, of despair and glory, of rags to riches to rags again.The professional fight between Caldwell and Gilroy on a cold, sober night in October 1962 was dramatic and brutal. Caldwell and Gilroy attracted a crowd of 16,000 people to the King s Hall. The Cuban Missile Crisis was still ongoing and atomic war was a distinct possibility between the USA and the USSR, but Belfast was more concerned about the fight between its own two super powers at the King s Hall. From the top of their sporting career, both men would later enter the depths of alcoholism as Belfast and the Troubles impacted on their lives."Best of Enemies" is a reflection of society in the 1960s and brings to life a re-lived rivalry which invigorated a generation, binding the social fabric of a city in a sporting event is a hallmark of Irish sporting folklore."

222 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2014

Reviews

[Sean Okeeffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 1950s and 1960s, boxers John Caldwell and Freddie Gilroy reached the pinnacle of their sport, bringing immense pride to Belfast and Ireland, gaining international acclaim also. The two best friends – and Olympic medallists in 1956 for Ireland – became world famous within their sport.

From childhood friends to international champions, the two men's rivalry peaked when Caldwell claimed a share of the world bantamweight crown in a fight that had been promised to Gilroy. Caldwell and Gilroy were pitched against each other in a bloody battle in Belfast’s King’s Hall on a cold, sober Saturday, on 20 October 1962. The two fighters attracted a crowd of 16,000 people to the King’s Hall. The Cuban Missile Crisis was still ongoing and atomic war was a distinct possibility between the USA and the USSR, but Belfast was more concerned about the fight between its own two super powers at the King’s Hall.

However, that gripping night did not resolve the question of who was the better boxer, which lingers to this day. Best of Enemies is a reflection of a fragmented society in the 1960s, bringing to life a re-lived rivalry which vitalised an entire generation, creating a hallmark of Irish sporting folklore.

[T H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well told boxing story of 2 Belfast boxing rivals and there hangers on
The picture of Belfast when there was no television to entertain the general populace. And fighters fought every 4 weeks. Vivid

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book about two Legends of the Northern Irish Boxing scene. A great insight not only to the sport of Boxing in Belfast at the time, but also to the City in general as well as the sport across Europe. I have been to several talks in the Ulster Hall hosted by Barry Flynn so I knew this book would be insightful and well researched. I also had the pleaure of meeting Freddie Gilroy at the launch for this book. Great read!