My Call to the Ring: A Memoir of a Girl Who Yearns to Box

by Deirdre Gogarty, Darrelyn Saloom

Although in the late 1980's boxing is socially frowned upon and illegal for women in Ireland, a young women named Deirdre Gogarty has one to be the first world champion. Unable to fit in at school and in the midst of her parents' unraveling marriage, she plans her suicide. Death hovers in the back of her mind, but boxing beckons as Gogarty defies the odds and finds a gym and coach who is willing to train her. Her fierce determination leads to underground bouts in Ireland and Britain. But how can a shy, young misfit become a professional boxer in a country that bans women from the sport? Gogarty follows her calling to compete and journeys from the Irish Sea to the Gulf of Mexico, from outcast to center ring, from the depths of depression to the championship fight of her life.

228 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

Reviews

[Dave Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Call to the Ring is such a rich and powerful story. I found myself incredibly drawn into the life of this girl who first has to survive the nuns at school and then knows deep inside she wants to be a boxer—so her first order of business is to construct a makeshift punching bag filled with newspaper. This memoir is that kind of story—rich in detail, rich in emotion. In Ireland in the 80s and following, women aren't allowed to box, and so I was so pulling for Deirdre to overcome all those obstacles—which is analogous of life to each of us. And that is a big draw about this book to me, you don't have to be a boxer, a woman, Irish, in order to feel deeply these moments—life is about challenge, failure, success, love. In addition to My Call being this amazing tale, the prose is clean, vivid, and packs a punch as hard as Deirdre's fists surely do. But I'm not one who wants to find out that particular detail!

[Shirley Showalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story compelling from beginning to end. The authors focus on the development of courage and independence through persistence in the face of obstacles. If you love underdog sports stories (and I do -- Hoosiers, Moneyball, Miracle, Million Dollar Baby, etc. -- you will love this book. It deserves to be made into a movie. It reads like a movie with great visual detail and emotional realism. Highly recommended.

[Jo Crabtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed Deirdre’s journey. She actually trained with my husband and she mentions him in two chapters of the book. If you like boxing, particularly women in boxing, get this book.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read in years, and certainly one of my all time favourites. When I wasn't laughing I was crying, or nervous, or giddy with excitement....more