A Fighter S Heart

Recounts the personal story and international travels of a professional fighter, from his initial discovery of his passion for fighting upon his arrival in Australia, to his training at Bangkok's legendary Fairtex gym, to his research throughout the world in search of historical and contemporary fighting disciplines. Reprint.

With the success of the critically-acclaimed, Academy Award-winning film “The Fighter,” the world stood up and cheered for the inspiring true story of Micky Ward—a heart-and-soul warrior who overcame the odds to make history in the ring. But that was only part of the tale… Now, in his own words, “Irish” Micky Ward tells his inspirational life story as only he can. From his first bout at the age of seven, Micky Ward was known first and foremost for giving as good as he got, and for leaving absolutely everything he had in the ring. When he fought, quitting was never an option. It was that indomitable spirit that would allow him to survive, battle against, and overcome the harsh realities that he faced every day of his life. For it was outside the ring that Ward’s heart would be most needed, from witnessing his idolized older half-brother Dicky fall from grace, to dealing with his wildly dysfunctional—if frighteningly loyal—family, to the darkest of secrets that he has never revealed until now, and the numerous setbacks and defeats that would have stopped a lesser man. Micky Ward has remained a fighter, through and through—both as a professional boxer, and as a man who finally found his greatest strength in friendship, family, and faith in himself From the rough streets of Lowell, Massachusetts, to the blood and sweat of the international fight game, to the bright lights and adulation of Hollywood, this is the rousing, moving, tragic, and humorous story of the one and only Micky Ward.

From the acclaimed author of A Fighter’s Heart comes an “entertaining and enlightening” look inside the mental game of mixed martial arts fighting (Dave Doyle, Yahoo! Sports). In his acclaimed national bestseller, A Fighter’s Heart, Sam Sheridan took readers with him into the dangerous world of professional fighting. From a muay Thai bout in Bangkok to Iowa, where he fought the toughest mixed martial arts stars, Sheridan threw himself into a quest to understand how and why we fight. In The Fighter’s Mind, Sheridan explores the mental discipline required of an elite fighter. In his training, Sheridan heard time and again (in Yogi Berra fashion) that “fighting is ninety percent mental, half the time.” But what does this mean, exactly? To uncover the secrets of mental strength and success, Sheridan interviewed dozens of the world’s most fascinating and dangerous men. He spoke with celebrated trainers Freddie Roach and Greg Jackson; champion fighters Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, and Marcelo Garcia; ultrarunner David Horton; chess prodigy (and the inspiration for Searching for Bobby Fischer) turned tai chi expert Josh Waitzkin; and the legendary wrestler Dan Gable, among others. “Fantastic . . . One of the best MMA books I’ve ever read, and I’ve certainly read my fair share.” —Eric O’Brien, “Way of the Warrior,” ESPN radio “You don’t have to care about fighting, or even know that MMA stands for mixed martial arts, to find insights into human behavior in Sam Sheridan’s The Fighter’s Mind.” —David M. Shribman, Bloomberg

I hate everything about MMA bad boy Jase Rawlins, but the biggest promotion of my life depends on me convincing the world he’s reformed. After breaking up with my violent ex, I want nothing else to do with professional fighters. Unfortunately, my job as a publicist is on the line unless I can turn my ex’s biggest rival into a media darling. Jase’s infuriating attitude pushes all of my buttons, but the more I get to know him, the more I wonder if I’ve gotten him wrong. Our chemistry is blazing hot, but if we give in to the attraction, I could lose my job, and Jase could lose his freedom. FIGHTER’S HEART is intended for fans of Katy Evans and Mariana Zapata. Download now to start reading your copy of this steamy sports romance today!

My best friend is hot, rich, and emotionally unavailable. Falling in love with him is the worst idea ever but try telling that to my heart. As a doctor who aced her way through medical school, I should be too smart to fall for Gabe Mendoza, a man who's married to his MMA career. For years, I've patched his wounds and cheered him on, but I'm tired of hoping he'll wake up and see what's right in front of him. I'm ready to find someone who will put me first. The last thing I expect is for Gabe to scare off my dates and tell me all the dirty things he wants to do to me. He asks for a chance, but with the fight of his life on the horizon, his attention is divided, and I'm scared that when push comes to shove, I'll be left heartbroken. Can I trust Gabe enough to fight for our happily ever after? Or was our end written before it even began? Fighter's Best Friend is a standalone sports romance with a broody hero and a strong heroine who knows him better than anyone. Buy Fighter's Best Friend to fall in love with a possessive fighter today!

This “whirling, no-holds-barred,” national bestselling memoir of mixed martial arts by the author of The Fighter’s Mind is “adrenaline-addled and addictive” (Playboy). In A Fighter’s Heart, former merchant marine and Harvard graduate Sam Sheridan shares a “fascinating” first-person account of his life inside the world of professional MMA fighting “and his behind-the-scenes access makes for a gripping read” (Sara Cardace, The Washington Post). In 1999, after a series of adventurous jobs—construction at the South Pole, ranching in Montana, and sailing private yachts around the world—Sheridan found himself in Australia with time to finally indulge a long-dormant obsession: fighting. After training in Bangkok at the legendary Fairtex Gym, Sheridan stepped through the ropes for a professional bout, embarking on an epic journey to discover what only a fighter can know about fear, violence, and most of all, himself. From small-town Iowa to the beaches of Rio, from the streets of Oakland to the arenas of Tokyo, Sheridan trained, traveled, and fought with Olympic boxers, Brazilian jiu-jitsu stars, and Ultimate Fighting champions. This chronicle offers an insightful look at violence as a spectator sport, as well as a dizzying account of what it’s like to hit—and be hit by—some of the best fighters in the world.

Our marriage crumbled three years ago, but I’m ready for a baby and I want him to be the father. I’ve dreamed of being a mother, but so far, that dream has fallen flat. Now, my options are limited to choosing a dad from a catalog or sucking up my pride and asking my ex for help. Seth Isles has all the charm of a bulldozer, but there’s no one else I’d rather have as my baby’s father. I’ve got nothing to offer, so I’m shocked when he agrees to my outrageous proposal. The trouble is, the more time we spend together, the more I remember why we fell in love… and forget why it ended. Is this our second chance at happily ever after, or will we break each other all over again? If you like books by Katy Evans and Mariana Zapata, you’ll love FIGHTER’S SECOND CHANCE. Buy now to start reading this steamy sports romance today!

Father Boyle started Homeboy Industries nearly 20 years ago, which has served members of more than half of the gangs in Los Angeles. This collection presents parables about kinship and the sacredness of life drawn from Boyle's years of working with gangs.