| Jack Doyle known as "The Gorgeous Gael" was born august 31, 1913 in Cobh, Co. Cork in Ireland. He was at one time a contender for the British Boxing Championship, he was a Hollywood actor and an accomplished tenor. His division was heavyweight, stance orthodox, height 6'5," reach 31", won 17 (KO 16) + lost 6 (KO 4) + drawn 0 = 23 He died in 1978 at St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington and was buried in his native Cobh. The Contender was written by Jimmy McCarthy around 1983, And performed by Tommy Fleming. The Contender by Jimmy McCarthy When I was young and I was in my day I could steal what woman's heart there was away Sing and dance into the dawning Blaze a trail until the morning Long before I was the man you see today And I was born beneath the star that promised all I could have lived my life between Cork, Cobh and Youghal But the wheel of fortune took me From the highest point she shook me By the bottle live by the bottle i shall fall But there in the mirror on the wall I see the dream is fading From the contender to the fall The ring, the rose, the matador, raving And when I die I'll die a drunk down on the street You can count me out to ten in clear defeat Rap the Starry Plough around me Let the piper's air resound me There I'll rest until the lord of love I meet But there in the mirror on the wall I see the dream is fading From the contender to the brawl The ring, the rose, the matador, raving |
