
THE ST. PAUL PHANTOM
The Gibbons Brothers' Fight for Glory, Volume I
By: Gerard Gibbons
Paperback | 15 September 2026
At a Glance
534 Pages
22.86 x 15.24 x 2.74
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Perfect for readers of Seabiscuit, The Boys in the Boat, and Unbroken
"Electrifying and elegant... told with journalistic precision and pulse-quickening action."
- Men's Health
"A high-velocity work of narrative history, full of heart, soul, and fury."
- Steve Hockensmith, bestselling author of Holmes on the Range
"The kind of true story Hollywood spends years looking for."
- Paul Tamasy, Oscar-nominated writer/producer, The Fighter
AS THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ROARS TO LIFE,
EVERYONE HAS A DREAM, SO EVERYONE HAS A FIGHT
For Mike Gibbons, a penniless, bullied Irish American kid from the hardscrabble streets of St. Paul, the fight is destiny. Beneath the light of Halley's Comet in 1910, Mike and his younger brother, Tommy, vow to punch their way out of poverty and become champions of the outlawed prize ring.
Guided by a priest, a firefighter, and a beloved sportswriter-and mentored by America's first Black champions, Joe Gans, Jack Johnson, and Sam Langford-Mike pioneers a dazzling new style of scientific boxing, one that prizes strategy over brute force. It carries him from backroom brawls to the roar of Madison Square Garden and into the orbit of titans such as Harry Houdini, Tex Rickard, President Theodore Roosevelt, General John J. Pershing, Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. As his legend grows, he earns the name "The St. Paul Phantom."
But Mike's meteoric ascent, shadowed by romance and sacrifice, is fraught with conflict. Torn between his immigrant father's bloody rebel past and his mother's fear for his life, he falls for a fierce-willed suffragist who demands that he abandon the ring forever. His loyalty is tested further when his greatest rival turns out to be his own brother.
Mike and Tommy's daring quest spans rails and oceans-to the nation's grand arenas, to the birth of jazz and cinema, to the eruption of race riots and the rise of organized crime; from famine- weary Ireland to Gotham's bedlam, quake-scarred San Francisco, and the immaculate shores of Havana. Just as their dreams come within reach, World War I and the devastating influenza pandemic upend the globe, calling them to trade gloves for uniforms and help strengthen America's fighting forces.
In the war's aftermath, an aging Mike returns to the ring for one final shot at the world middleweight championship against a dangerous young fighter he once trained.
THE ST. PAUL PHANTOM is more than a boxing story. It is a sweeping historical epic that illuminates the American experience and the common ground that binds us together. Lavishly illustrated with dozens of rare, never-before-seen photographs and more than 75 original pen-and-ink illustrations, it is an inspiring, panoramic true story of courage, faith, love, brotherhood, and redemption-and a powerful reflection of the hope, promise, and opportunity of the American Dream.
As the nation celebrates America250, step into the ring and follow the extraordinary journey of the Gibbons brothers-an unforgettable saga of courage, ambition, and glory forged in the dawn of modern America. Order your copy today!
Industry Reviews
"Perfect for readers of Seabiscuit, The Boys in the Boat, and Unbroken." - Biography.com
"An electrifying and inspiring rendition of the American Dream.... A riveting, delectable balance of action and character development." - The U.S. Review of Books
"A cinematic, kaleidoscopic portrayal of an era in transition... rich with expansive breadth and intimacy." - Foreword Reviews
"Moving and engaging, written with zeal and exuberance..." - BlueInk Review
"Electrifying and elegant... told with journalistic precision and pulse-quickening action." - Men's Health
"A high-velocity work of narrative history, full of heart, soul, and fury." - Steve Hockensmith, bestselling author of Holmes on the Range
"This is the kind of true story Hollywood spends years looking for... a rare mix of action, gravitas, heart and soul, packed with unforgettable characters. I know stories about brothers, and this one punches up to greatness." - Paul Tamasy, Oscar-nominated writer/producer of The Fighter
"It's been famously said, 'If you build it, they will come,' and that's precisely what Gerard Gibbons has done with this extraordinary American family legacy story. I'm proud to champion Fight for Glory!" - Brian Frankish, Oscar-nominated producer of Field of Dreams
"Considered the most consummate boxer in history by way of defense, offense, speed, power, and ring IQ... The St. Paul Phantom finally crowns this long-forgotten hero of the ring." - Frank Stallone, Grammy-nominated musician, actor, and boxing historian
"A master class in sports biography!" - Clay Moyle, author; International Boxing Research Organization
"A powerful, fast-paced, unforgettable psychological portrait of a profoundly vulnerable, compelling hero up against impossible odds." - Perry Bosmajian, PhD, Former U.S. Dept. of Defense Psychological Health Center of Excellence
"An epic true adventure that sweeps the early 20th century with page-turning, heart-pounding action, romance, and heroism... Full of electrifying images, beautiful illustrations, and fiery spirit!" - Chuck Caplinger, American Fine Artist
"This captivating chronicle of two valorous brothers who trade personal glory for national service is a powerful affirmation of America's enduring resolve." - Dr. John E. Lapham, Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency
"I love this book! I didn't expect to be drawn to boxing, but this is a compelling American tale! Great characters, unlikely friendships, an unforgettable love story!" - Dr. Susan Partovi, author of Renegade MD
"We were deeply invested in the human, familial, and community dimensions of American culture you so powerfully explored. Our readers were magically transported to another time and place." - David Hartley, Organizer, The Glasgow Book Club (UK)
"A must-read! A rhapsodic, inspiring journey into the heart of faith and grace... where the fiercest battles are for honor, redemption and resilience." - Reverend Barbara Bornemann, Lutheran Pastor (retired)
"The Gibbons brothers are the American Dream incarnate. Their grit and determination, dedication to their families and country is eloquently told. An inspiring story of a boxing legacy." - Enzo Villani, CEO, AlphaTON Capital
Front Matter:
ADVANCE PRAISE
ALSO BY GERARD GIBBONS
DEDICATION
EPIGRAPH
INTRODUCTION
HISTORICAL CAST
OLD SAINT PAUL ILLUSTRATION
PART I - BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS - (1850-1911)
Chapter One: THE COMET VOW
Chapter Two: FROGTOWN HUSTLE
Chapter Three: FALL FROM GRACE
Chapter Four: EXODUS
Chapter Five: TROUBLE
Chapter Six: GLORIOUS LITTLE FELLA
Chapter Seven: SILVER DOLLAR BABY
Chapter Eight: FIRE WITH FIRE
Chapter Nine: THE HANDCUFF KING
Chapter Ten: THE OLD MASTER
Chapter Eleven: THE ART OF WAR
Chapter Twelve: THE GHOST WHO CROSSED AN OCEAN
Chapter Thirteen: EVERYWHERE BUT THE RING
Chapter Fourteen: OH-SA-KIS
PHOTO SECTION I
PART II - TWICE REMOVED FROM YESTERDAY - (1911-1917)
Chapter Fifteen: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Chapter Sixteen: KNIGHTED
Chapter Seventeen: A SORT OF HOMECOMING
Chapter Eighteen: POOL OF RED, SEA OF GREEN
Chapter Nineteen: COULDA
Chapter Twenty: THE MIDDLEWEIGHT MUDDLE
Chapter Twenty-One: THE LONG ROAD
Chapter Twenty-Two: THE BIG SMOKE
Chapter Twenty-Three: LOCAL GODS
Chapter Twenty-Four: THE DEVIL'S OPERA
Chapter Twenty-Five: THE VILLAINS WE NEED
PHOTO SECTION II
PART III - TOWARD ABUNDANCE OR OBLIVION (1917-1920)
Chapter Twenty-Six: TEN ROUNDS AT CAMP DODGE
Chapter Twenty-Seven: THE LITTLE BIRD
Chapter Twenty-Eight: RHAPSODY IN RED
Chapter Twenty-Nine: THE AFTERMATH
Chapter Thirty: THE GILDED CAGE
Chapter Thirty-One: THE LAST HURRAH
Chapter Thirty-Two: THIS SIDE OF PARADISE
Backmatter:
BENEDICTION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
PHOTO & IMAGE CREDITS
A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
COMING SOON
ISBN: 9798995115014
Series: FIGHT FOR GLORY
Published: 15th September 2026
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 534
Audience: General Adult
Publisher: Fight for Glory, LLC
Dimensions (cm): 22.86 x 15.24 x 2.74
Weight (kg): 0.71
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