Connemara's Sean Mannion really was a contender

A new film about Sean Mannion charts his amazing journey from Connemara teenager to South Boston boxing hero, writes Richard Fitzpatrick

THERE’S a scene towards the start of Rocky Ros Muc, a documentary film about the life and times of Sean Mannion. The Connemara boxer, who moved to Boston as a 20-year-old in 1977, was about to fight Mike ‘The Bodysnatcher’ McCallum for the vacant world light middleweight title in Madison Square Garden in 1984.

The owner of an American firm phoned up Mannion looking to put the name of his company across the waistband of Mannion’s boxing trunks. He offered $5,000. Mannion rejected the offer, as he wanted to put “Rosmuc” on it. The company boss kept putting up his offer in increments of $5,000, thinking Mannion was playing hardball until he hit $25,000. “Whoever they are, I’ll match them,” said the businessman.