Sammy is one of the least known men to ever be crowned heavyweight champion despite being one of the crowd pleasers of his day. He was crowned champion in Ireland, America, and Canada, and defeated the English champion in an unlicensed fight. I've gathered a bunch of excerpts from papers during his activity. For the most part I'm going to let them tell the story. It should be noted, I can't tell for sure what every word is in these old as dirt articles, but mistakes should be nominal and I don't think the narrative is lost. Dublin Observer: A complaint being laid before the magistrates respecting Mr. Samuel O’Rourke, the pugilist, he made his appearance of his own accord to answer the charge the substance of which is as follows: - In January last, Mr. O’Rourke was returning from Portarlington in a gig with his sister, when they met six men coming from the market in Tullamore, who made use of some very offensive epithets to Mr. O’Rourke and his sister, which caused him to stop, and a regular row ensued; the six men thinking to have it all their own way, but Mr. O’Rourke exerting his powerful strength, completely defeated the six. One man, however had the meanness to get a warrant, and it was on his complaint that Mr. O’Rourke appeared. His name is Bryan. The magistrates confiding in Mr.O’R’s honour took his own bail to answer the complaint at the sessions. According to The Butte Daily Bulletin O'Rourke traveled to American shortly after wining the Irish championship in the early 1830s and was crowned the Irish-American champion. A headline from an article in the Dublin Observer, Saturday, 21 December 1833, called Samuel O’Rourke the Irish‐American boxer. He had fought and beaten a man named Fenning at Athlone, County Roscommon, on the 9th of December that year. Previously, in America, he was noted for “bating only fourteen coveys almost out of their wits”. He had “returned with ‘Fortune backed to his back,’ and seven gold and silver cups snug in his peter, the fruits of victory”. Fenning described his opponent in the papers. “He’s as long as a steeple chase; a monument of a fellow! Six foot two inches in height and thirteen stone”. The fight lasted seven rounds and at the eighteenth minute Fenning was laid out with a right hand blow. O’Rourke was declared ready to take on whatever London might offer. This article ends with a report that O’Rourke’s “celebrated grey mare” beat James Kelly’s black mare from County Meath in a trotting match at Phoenix Park in Dublin. “O'Rourke, it seems, is equally at home on horseback as he is in the ring, and to show his activity, he jumped over the mare's back afterwards, without touching her with his hands or feet." Dublin Observer reports Sam O'Rourke beating Deaf Burke in an impromptu fight at Harrington's, Common‐Street on the North Wallin 1834: THE IRISH CHAMPION, O’ROURKE, ADDING ANOTHER LAUREL TO HIS CAP. It is attested a great writer that a little learning is dangerous thing and it is likewise insisted upon great hero in the Prize Ring, the renowned pugilistic champion, Tom Crib, that a mere knowledge of sparring is a horse of another colour compared with practical boxing! according to the boys on the quays, who sometimes sport their cole on such occasions, seeing is believing; and after all there is nothing like a bit of good truth. Then thus it is On Tuesday last, at Harrington’s, Common-street, ou the North Wail, John Burke, the mate of English trader, was sounding the praises of his namesake, Deaf Burke, the milling cove, the other side of the water, and that he would back him against O’Rourke, and bring him over, to wallop the Irish champion, for ,£lOO. O’Rourke, who was also present, observed, I am much obliged to you, Sir, for the offer, and you will find ready at any time meet your customer. Alter some chaff-cutting, Burke was on such good terms with himself, and screwing his courage to the sticking place, that he offered to have a turn-up with O’Rourke in the room for five pounds. His offer could not be accepted on the score of propriety, as they had no license lor it, and it was also intimated to them, that a long fight would not he permitted by the beaks. It was then agreed between them, that the first knock down blow should decide the question at issue; the best man? They immediately adjourned to a close field, followed by the lovers of milling achievements, when Burke, to shew his pluck and agility, leaped over the wall. On stripping. Burke, though rather shorter than his opponent, appeared a fine athletic man, and possessing an arm capable of doing great mischief; also put up his arms well, and did not appear an absolute novice. Burke commenced the attack rather furiously, but O’Rourke, downy as a Barrister of the Four Courts on the points ot practice, waited for him, parried his efforts, and in the twinkling of a peeper, touched him on the jugular. Not only gave his senses a holiday, but tipped him a floorer which made Burke embrace his mother earth something after the manner ot our old friend, Davy Rees in Jemmy Greene, in Life in Dublin, In his set-to with jerry, “who is quite a loss to know where he has been, his upper works are in such a state of confusion.” Poor Burke’s nob was confusion, worse than confounded; and he would not believe he had been treated in such manner, and again commenced the attack. O’Rourke put a little one in when the spectators interfered, and put an end to the combat. O’Rourke pocketed the flimsey with the utmost sang froid, jumped over the wall, and returned to the city without the slightest appearance Of having been engaged in an actual combat. O’Rourke is a remarkably wellbehaved man. civil and polite to the echo, improved by his travels, and only terrific in his proper place; the Ring. Bell's Life: although little known in this country(England), he has signalized himself by winning, no less than seventeen prize battles, never having been beaten. America seems to have been his most fortunate, as well as most profitable field of action; for from his victories there, and the generosity of the American people, he has realized sufficient to make him independent for life. Warden & Dublin Weekly Mail: It appears that O'Rourke, a pupil of the late Simon Byrne, has returned from America and offers to fight Deaf Burke for 200 pounds or 500 pounds, the battle to come off on the Curragh of Kildare. Bell's Life: while in the Northern part of the States, we believe Cincinnati, he had an argument with a Canadian named Duberville on the advantage of science and the arms of nature over the cowardly appeal to the dirk. The battle came off in the presence of thousands. made several lounges, which O’Rourke evaded by jumping back; this O’Rourke parried with his left hand, the blade ripping up one of his fingers to the knuckle, but with the right he knocked his antagonist down and according to previous agreement, took the liberty of kicking his nose off his face, to the infinite amusement of the spectators. the discipline of the toe continued until the Canadian confessed himself to be beaten. New York Evening Star: O'Rourke, the Irish Champion, has arrived at Quebec and is giving lessons in the manly art. New York Evening Star: O'Rourke, the Irish Champion, has been challenged to a fight for $100 by Thomas Kearney of Montreal The Rise of Sports in New Orleans: Samuel O’Rourke was brash and insulting in 1836 and continued to challenge the British champion Deaf Burke for the boxing title while claiming the American version of the title. Burke declined to fight in Ireland. Fights for the Championship - The Men and Their Times: There were only three rounds fought. In the second Mickey Carson, who was seconding O'Rourke, slipped behind the Deaf 'Un whilst he was fighting and pushed him into the arms of his opponent, who threw him. The Deaf 'Un was indignant, and swore that if he did it again he'd knock him down. At this, Mickey, producing a bowie knife from his belt, declared with an oath that if Burke came near to him he'd rip him up from his navel to his chin. In the third round, the Deaf 'Un caught O'Rourke one or two smashing blows in the mouth, and there is little doubt that he would have very soon knocked the great, blustering, half‐trained bully out had not Mickey Carson again got in the way. Jim could keep his temper no longer, with a straight hit with the left he caught the second full on the nose, and down he went like a ninepin. Then the fat was in the fire. The wild Irish mob cut the ropes in a dozen places and entered the ring. The Deaf 'Un stood his ground for a minute, knocking over two or three, including O'Rourke's other second, MacSweeney, when Jim Phelan cried, “Run, Burke, run; they mean to have your life." The Kings County Chronicle: On The 8th of May last it appears that O'Rourke had a quarrel with a man named Brady who subsequently shot the North American champion as he was riding on the road near his own residence and threw his body into the river For more ye olde british newspaper stuffs I suggest here: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk Link Byrne vs Burke Link Heavyweight Champions Ancient to Present If anyone's still reading these, thanks bud. I know it's not a fan fiction about a fantasy fight or a Marciano diatribe or anything really interesting like that so thanks for giving me some time.