A video of a super-fit 89-year-old Irishman working the punch bag has gone viral – and caught the attention of heavyweight legends Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno.
Stephen Maher of Ballyfermot, Dublin was visiting relatives when he spotted a punch bag at their home.
Maher was a keen boxer in his younger days and was a founder member of St Matthew’s Boxing club.
Despite being dressed in a shirt and tie, he wasted no time in showing that he still had the skills and threw an incredible 40 punch combination in just 13 seconds – at least it looked like 40, his hands were too fast for this writer’s eyes.
Men a quarter of his age wouldn’t want to be getting into any trouble with him!
Maher’s granddaughter Ciara filmed him in action and posted the video to social media with the caption: “Never lost it, my grandad, 89 years of age!! Fit as a fiddle.”
The video caught the attention of Lewis and Bruno who expressed their admiration for Maher.
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lewis said: “Hope I look that good at his age!”
Bruno, the former WBC heavyweight king added: “What a champ.”
Irish middleweight contender Jason Quigley said: “Now that’s a man I will never call out.”
Ciara told the Irish Mirror: “He’s huge into fitness. He trains every morning in the Knight’s Brook hotel in Trim and the gym there decided to hand him a free membership as he was there every morning.
“He was one of the founders of St Matthew’s boxing club. He just basically makes sure he gets his exercise done every morning.”
Take a look at the video below.
Never lost it my grandad 89 years of age!! Fit as a fiddle??? #boxing @frankbrunoboxer @FloydMayweather @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/AYzKptE25m
— Ciara Maher (@MaherCiara4) 22 September 2019
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling