Dan Donnelly (boxer) - Beating A Bully

Beating A Bully

He was a tall, strapping man. He was nearly six feet (1.83 m) tall and weighed almost 14 stone (196 lbs, 89 kg). He was a courageous man. His strongest trait, however, was his outgoing, sociable personality. He was fond of the company of others and this was reciprocated.

News of Dan's fighting exploits with Dublin's feuding gangs spread swiftly. He gained a reputation for keeping the city's crooks in check. One boxer, recognized as Champion of the City, became jealous of Donnelly's reputation and took to following his foe around the local taverns demanding a fight. Eventually, Donnelly relented and the fight was staged on the banks of the Grand Canal. The event aroused a great deal of interest in Dublin, and a good crowd turned up. Right up to the time they took sparring positions, Donnelly tried to talk his rival out of fighting, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. As the fight dragged on, Donnelly gradually overcame his rival, and in a furious attack in the 16th round, beat him to the ground. Donnelly was declared the new Champion of the City.

Around this time, an Irish aristocrat was sitting in an English tavern. Captain William Kelly listened on as a pair of English prize-fighters mocked Ireland's reputation as a nation of courageous men. Kelly considered this an affront to his native land and resolved to find a fighting Irishman to take up the challenge. His search eventually took him to Dublin and to Dan Donnelly.