Beyond the ordinary

Physically abused as a young boy, Bobby Cassidy found his worth using his fists. Hundreds of street fights led him to the boxing ring, becoming a world-ranked contender, only to nearly lose everything to alcohol. On the brink, he made a promise to his sons — and kept it for life. He fought back into title contention while living a dangerous double life in Organized Crime. Requiem for a Middleweight is the true story of a fighter whose greatest victories came outside the ring by finding redemption in sobriety and becoming the father he never had.

This book is a series of stories and anecdotes about my father, Thomas (Tommy Ryan) Eboli and me, Xavier Eboli. I have crossed paths with many interesting characters throughout my life, most of them an extension of Dad's numerous relationships. I have met celebrities, crime bosses, and professional athletes. It was quite an interesting ride. There is no firsthand knowledge of violence or bloodshed that one may be accustomed to reading in other books about organized crime. This book is about a boss who kept his family and his Mafia family separate. He did not often take his work home with him. Although I may have overheard things over the years or picked up on subtle hints, he never discussed his daily routine. His children were naive as to who he was until we became adults and read about our dad in the newspaper.