Ringsend-born Joe Egan recently launched his autobiography ‘The Toughest White Man on the Planet’ which is reviewed on page 21. Joe has now retired from boxing and works as head of security for a large payroll company in Birmingham. He recently paid a visit to his hometown, which is where Newsfour caught up with him.

Can I ask you first how the idea of the book came about?
It was through friends of mine, Charlie Hale of Sky TV and Ken Purcess, who is a big fight promoter in the UK. We were just sitting down one day and I was telling some stories and they both encouraged me to write it down. They introduced me to Cass Pennant, who has written several books including some best sellers.

I sat down with Cass for months and months and told him my story and together with Ranald Gramham, who wrote the screenplay for ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ and ‘Snatch’, the two Guy Richie films, we had a nice format for the book. It was a great team effort.

The book launch was an event in itself, I believe.
We had Mike Tyson, who has been a friend of mine for nearly 20 years over for the launch in London last November. We also had ex-Irish World Champions Steve Collins and Barry Mc Guigan as well plus the likes of Chris Eubank, Alan Minter and Frank Bruno.

There is a great camaraderie among boxers and I have got to know quite a few of them over the years on the circuit, so it was great to see so many great boxers there, lending their support. We had hundreds of people there, some queuing up for hours just to see Tyson and sign the book. It was an unbelievable occasion. I’m still pinching myself. They said it was the biggest sports book launch last year.

You grew up in Ringsend. Where did you get the idea to start boxing?
My dad was an amateur boxer. He encouraged me and my two brothers to box. I started boxing with Donore Amateur Club and won several Irish titles, including a junior title and four senior titles and I represented my country on a number of occasions, which I am very proud to say.

I always had great support from the people in Ringsend through my career. I love the place and will always come home to it. My mam still lives here in Ringsend.

How did your trouble start with the Irish Boxing authorities?
I had a very good amateur career. I didn’t really want to turn pro but I was sort of forced into it because I was banned by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association for six months. The reason I was banned was I was picked to go to America to box for Ireland, but I had just come home from America after living there for a number of years and also I had started a good job in Delta Airways and my boss wasn’t too keen on me going. The IAWA told me I didn’t give them enough notification of deciding not to go– which is not true– so they suspended me.

You mentioned in the book about missing out twice on boxing in the Olympics for Ireland.
In the 1984 Olympics, the IAWA said I was too young despite me being Irish Champion and beating the number four in the world at the time. I wasn’t given the chance. I think I spoke my mind and told certain officials what I thought was right for me and they didn’t like it.

In 1988, I beat the number one American choice, Bruce Seldon in an amateur fight. Again I was Irish Champion and in great shape. They couldn’t say I was too young for the Olympics this time, so they came up with the excuse there was only so many boxers we could send and our best chances lay in the lighter weights. I felt I was robbed in my chance to represent Ireland.
When did you decide to turn professional?

I turned pro in 1990. I didn’t really want to turn pro as I said, but because of my dispute with the IABA, I had little choice if I wanted to keep boxing. Barney Eastwood signed me up. He gave me a good deal and it was very harmonious with Barney.

I felt good in my boxing ability. I have toughness and durability and could give anyone a great fight over three rounds, but I knew in my heart of hearts I didn’t have the potential to be a pro. I didn’t have a knockout punch needed to be a champ. As an amateur, you could get away with not having a great punch over three rounds but over longer distances, that big punch means an awful lot.

Looking back on your boxing career, are you happy the way events turned out?
I would have loved to get to the Olympics. I t was heartbreaking not be involved. Just to be at the opening ceremony: to walk out under your country’s flag, with all the best athletes from all over the world, that would have been special.

To win a medal would have been a dream come true, but just to be part of such a unique sporting event, I would dearly have loved to be there. If I could have changed anything in my career, it would be that.

I missed out on two Olympics and I earned the right to be there because I was national champion, so I am quite bitter about that. They say time heals all wounds, and the scars from boxing in the ring will heal, but the fact I was deprived of my place in the Irish Olympic team, I don’t think that wound will heal.

Above: Mike Tyson and Joe.