"A breathtaking, cinematic true story of underdogs that leaps off the page like Seabiscuit and The Boys in the Boat."
—Biography.com
"An electrifying and inspiring rendition of the American Dream."
—The U.S. Review of Books
“A masterclass in sports biography!”
—Clay Moyleauthor/historian
“★★★★1/2—An epic American odyssey, exhilarating, empathetic, and undeniably romantic, with unforgettable characters, thrilling slugfests, and fascinating historical cameos.”
—The Self-Publishing Review
“A high-velocity work of narrative history, full of heart, soul, and fury.”
—Steve Hockensmithbestselling author, Holmes on the Range
“Epic and intimate… intensely personal and highly entertaining, boasting a distinctly cinematic feel.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
“A generous, radiant work of American history written with a descendant’s love and a journalist's discipline.”
—Shelf Unbound

As the twentieth century roars to life, everyone has a dream,
so everyone has a fight.

For Mike Gibbons, a penniless Irish-American kid from St. Paul’s hardscrabble
Frogtown, the fight is destiny. Beneath Halley’s Comet, Mike and his younger brother
Tommy vow to punch their way out of poverty and become champions of boxing’s
outlaw Golden Age. Mentored by priests, newspapermen, and pioneering Black
champions, Mike perfects a dazzling “scientific” style that carries him from backroom
brawls to Madison Square Garden—and earns him the name The St. Paul Phantom.
Perfect for fans of Seabiscuit, Unbroken, and The Boys in the Boat, this is more than a
boxing biography—it’s a powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit and the
enduring promise of America.

LEARN MORE HERE
"A breathtaking, cinematic true story of underdogs that leaps off the page like Seabiscuit and The Boys in the Boat."
—Biography.com
"An electrifying and inspiring rendition of the American Dream."
—The U.S. Review of Books
“A masterclass in sports biography!”
—Clay Moyleauthor/historian
“★★★★1/2—An epic American odyssey, exhilarating, empathetic, and undeniably romantic, with unforgettable characters, thrilling slugfests, and fascinating historical cameos.”
—The Self-Publishing Review
“A high-velocity work of narrative history, full of heart, soul, and fury.”
—Steve Hockensmithbestselling author, Holmes on the Range
“Epic and intimate… intensely personal and highly entertaining, boasting a distinctly cinematic feel.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
“A generous, radiant work of American history written with a descendant’s love and a journalist's discipline.”
—Shelf Unbound

As the twentieth century roars to life, everyone has a dream, so everyone has a fight.

For Mike Gibbons, a penniless Irish-American kid from St. Paul’s hardscrabble Frogtown, the fight is destiny. Beneath Halley’s Comet, Mike and his younger brother Tommy vow to punch their way out of poverty and become champions of boxing’s outlaw Golden Age. Mentored by priests, newspapermen, and pioneering Black champions, Mike perfects a dazzling “scientific” style that carries him from backroom brawls to Madison Square Garden—and earns him the name The St. Paul Phantom.
Perfect for fans of Seabiscuit, Unbroken, and The Boys in the Boat, this is more than a boxing biography—it’s a powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit and the enduring promise of America.

LEARN MORE HERE
"Book of the Year!”
—West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame
“An absolute knockout! Crisply written and breathtakingly illustrated… A cinematic roller coaster that reads like Rocky in the Wild West!”
—Biography.com
“A triumph… one of the most valuable books in all of prizefighting literature.”
—Kelly Nicholsonauthor/historian
“A timeless, ‘true-good story’ most urgently needed in today’s world!”
—Aaron FlintMontana Talks / Montana PBS
“A hugely satisfying adventure in which courage, honor, and love win out over villainy and greed.”
—Lucy Mooreauthor, Anything Goes: A Biography of the Roaring Twenties

An impossible dream. A million-dollar prizefight.
A battle of life and death.

In the roaring Jazz Age, always-smiling boxing maestro Tommy “The Happy Warrior” Gibbons races against time to claim the heavyweight crown and save his beloved wife from debilitating illness. Standing in his way: savage champion Jack Dempsey and his villainous manager Jack Kearns—“The Beelzebub of Boxing.”
Tommy’s quest leads him to tiny Shelby, Montana—“the little town that God forgot”—a desperate Wild West outpost betting everything on one epic showdown. Filled with con artists, cowboys, Blackfeet warriors, bootleggers, and movie stars, this exhaustively researched and lushly illustrated saga explodes with heart-pounding action, star-crossed romance, and unbreakable spirit.

LEARN MORE HERE
"Book of the Year!”
—West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame
“An absolute knockout! Crisply written and breathtakingly illustrated… A cinematic roller coaster that reads like Rocky in the Wild West!”
—Biography.com
“A triumph… one of the most valuable books in all of prizefighting literature.”
—Kelly Nicholsonauthor/historian
“A timeless, ‘true-good story’ most urgently needed in today’s world!”
—Aaron FlintMontana Talks / Montana PBS
“A hugely satisfying adventure in which courage, honor, and love win out over villainy and greed.”
—Lucy Mooreauthor, Anything Goes: A Biography of the Roaring Twenties

An impossible dream. A million-dollar prizefight. A battle of life and death.

In the roaring Jazz Age, always-smiling boxing maestro Tommy “The Happy Warrior” Gibbons races against time to claim the heavyweight crown and save his beloved wife from debilitating illness. Standing in his way: savage champion Jack Dempsey and his villainous manager Jack Kearns—“The Beelzebub of Boxing.” Tommy’s quest leads him to tiny Shelby, Montana—“the little town that God forgot”—a desperate Wild West outpost betting everything on one epic showdown. Filled with con artists, cowboys, Blackfeet warriors, bootleggers, and movie stars, this exhaustively researched and lushly illustrated saga explodes with heart-pounding action, star-crossed romance, and unbreakable spirit.

LEARN MORE HERE
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