Paul Zanon – författare

Growing up on one of Scarborough's toughest estates, Paul Ingle pulled on his first pair of boxing gloves at the age of seven. Known by fans, foes and friends as 'The Yorkshire Hunter' he fought almost 200 times as an amateur, representing his country in every major international tournament and, in November 1999, beat Manuel Medina for the IBF featherweight world title. Months later, in front of a packed crowd at Madison Square Garden, Paul came off the canvas and stopped Junior Jones in an eleven-round epic to add the IBO belt. In December 2000, he fought Mbulelo Botile in what ought to have been a straightforward defence. But then, knocked down in the twelfth, Paul was rushed to hospital where he had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. The Yorkshire Hunter tells the story of an endearing and enduring man who never left his roots. With a foreword by Kellie Maloney, this is the tale of a fighter whose fiercest battle came outside the ring.

In 2003, Major William Edwards and Lt. Col. Robert P. Walters of the 165th Military Intelligence Battalion were given the near-impossible task of improving the U.S. Army's security posture at Abu Ghraib prison under unfathomable conditions. With input from officers who served with them, their candid firsthand accounts of life at the notorious prison reveal unpublished details of the human devastation that took place there, along with unexpected glimpses of humanity.

Sinner and Saint is the inspirational story of Martin Murray, St Helens' flawed yet favourite son. A promising amateur teenage boxer, Murray was drawn into a life fuelled with drugs, alcohol and street fighting. By the age of 24, he had completed four jail sentences, one of them in a notorious Cypriot prison. He still managed to win the ABA welterweight title in 2004 - while on the run! The reintroduction of boxing back into his life and a settled family life proved to be his saviour. Turning pro in 2007, Murray went on to win the Commonwealth and British middleweight titles, and challenged for the world title on no fewer than four occasions. Murray pulls no punches as he recounts his story in the most intimate and vivid way - a rollercoaster life ultimately redeemed through his success in boxing.

In this eagerly awaited sequel to his bestselling memoir Redemption, John McAvoy returns with a candid, gripping account of a decade that defies belief and provides further proof of the transformative power of sport. After serving ten years in some of the UK’s toughest prisons, McAvoy emerged determined to make a difference. Soon after his release he became a Nike athlete, and embarked on a mission to help some of the most underprivileged youngsters in the country and enable them to change the trajectories of their lives through trail running. This gripping story is interwoven with exclusive interviews with leading figures in sport, government and grassroots communities – including prisoners and the young people whose lives McAvoy has transformed. From serving a life sentence to becoming a Nike-backed Ironman athlete, McAvoy’s journey stands as a powerful testament to resilience, redemption and the life-changing force of second chances.

Mooresy: The Fighter's Fighter is the life story of one of Britain's most-loved boxers. Not always an angelic teen and a product of the 'Salford Overspill', Jamie Moore was sucked into the slipstream of the thrill which came with car theft. At 15, his luck ran out after a helicopter police chase. Boxing turned out to be his saviour. Progressing through the amateur ranks, he turned pro in 1999 aged 20 and went on to become British, Irish, Commonwealth and European light middleweight champion. Known by many as 'Britain's most exciting fighter' Moore engaged in some epic battles, and was one half of boxing's Fight of the Year three times within a five-year period. Four shoulder operations and three brain scans prompted him to quit in 2010. He was snapped up by Sky Sports and started training his own stable of champions. Life was good. That life was almost permanently taken away from him in August 2014, after being shot at five times in Marbella. Despite having a bullet lodged in his right hip and constant pain to his left leg as a result of another bullet passing straight through his thigh, Moore does not dwell on his brush with death. His serene acceptance of life is inspirational as he remains a husband, proud father, former champion, trainer - and occasional actor.

In a footballing career spanning 21 years, Tony Gale played over 720 games on almost every league pitch across the four divisions. He is one of only 16 players in the UK to have played over 300 games for two teams and one of a handful to be part of a Premier League winning side. As a pundit he's commentated on over 3,000 live games for the likes of Sky and Capital Gold, covering virtually every major football competition in his inimitable light hearted manner.Gale made his first team debut at Fulham Football Club at the ripe age of 16, before being made captain at 18. Playing alongside a golden era of greats, the anecdotes which Gale recounts while playing alongside George Best, Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh are a nostalgic masterclass. Moving to West Ham for the next decade, the Pimlico born defender was part of the iconic 'Boys of 86' squad, which broke 17 records that year, 16 of which are still unbeaten.Exiting at his lowest point from West Ham in 1994, with two weeks to go before the new season, Gale was in effect homeless and jobless in footballing terms. That however all changed when he landed a place at Blackburn Rovers. Sir Kenny Dalglish recalled the decision to include 35-year-old Gale into the squad of 94/95. "His experience was a big help and the positive impact he made in the dressing room was excellent. He made his contribution to us winning the league, same as everybody on that team."Void of any media training, Gale's move into radio and television commentary in the late 90's was as natural as kicking a ball. In the words of Chris Kamara, "The one thing that stayed with Galey is that dressing room humour, which you all miss when you stop playing football. The one liners, the windups. Galey brought them from the dressing room and into real life."

For every success story, there's always a back story. Behind The Brilliance will shine a torch behind the superstardom, whether it be in sport, entertainment, business etc. and the journey that person has had along the way to reach that brilliance.Tales of death, destruction, terror and heartache feature in some of the biggest rollercoaster anecdotes which either happened before the fame or ran parallel to it. How each person comes to terms with these episodes varies chapter by chapter, as does their methods employed to bouncing back from challenge in the face of adversity.Whatever the vocation of the individual featured in the book, exercise has been a path to redemption, helping to contribute to their state of well-being and mental health, not to mention the influence of sport to those around them in society. How and when exercise presented itself will differ person to person, but the fundamental difference it makes to each individual will certainly have similarities and to the reader, they will have a combination of empathy and inspiration whilst reading each story.As this book rides through a rollercoaster of emotions from nostalgia, to happiness, fear and determination, it will also, very importantly serve as a source of hope for those battling depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.Each chapter will have a 'Behind The Brilliance Mantra' at the end which will we believe will Inspire, Educate and Change Lives.Behind The Brilliance was founded by Connie Henry MBE, an award-winning social impact strategist, former international athlete, and founder of Behind the Brilliance. Connie conceived the book to spotlight the individuals and organisations using sport as a powerful tool for social change across the UK. She commissioned writer Paul Zanon to bring these stories to life, ensuring the project reflects both authenticity and reach.Behind the Brilliance is dedicated to supporting underrepresented communities through sport, education, and leadership development. Proceeds from Behind the Brilliance directly support Behind the Brilliance Giving, helping to expand its work with grassroots organisations and future leaders across the UK.

“A gritty, engrossing, and concise account of a boxer’s meteoric career and tortured personal life.”—Kirkus Reviews "If I wake up, I know I'm a success. The day I don't wake up, I know I'll be home. I have one foot on this earth and one foot has crossed over. I didn’t just die, I lived.”—Johnny Tapia...the ghost of Johnny Tapia lives on“Mi Vida Loca” (My Crazy Life) was Johnny Tapia’s nickname and his reason for being. Haunted by the brutal murder of his beloved mother when he was a child, fighting and drugs gave him the escape he craved—and he did both with gusto. In The Ghost Of Johnny Tapia, Paul Zanon, with the help of Tapia’s widow Teresa, tells the harrowing and unforgettable story of a boxing genius who couldn’t, in the end, defeat his demons.From the Foreword:"Johnny had incredible heart, was such a sweet man, but was also tormented. He had two sides to him. The sweetest, nicest guy, but then the other side which could probably kill you. He was tortured with his addictions, but Johnny was always pure emotion in that ring."—Sammy ‘The Red Rocker’ Hagar, MusicianThe Ghost of Johnny Tapia is the second in the Hamilcar Noir series. Hamilcar Noir is "Hard-Hitting True Crime" that blends boxing and true crime, featuring riveting stories captured in high-quality prose, with cover art inspired by classic pulp novels.Perfect Gift For Boxing and True Crime Fans!The Ghost of Johnny Tapia, combined with other books in the Hamilcar Noir series, makes a great gift for fans of stories about the darker side of boxing. Books in the Hamilcar Noir series also make for a great gift idea for true crime fans—whether they are a die-hard boxing fan or not, they will devour these quick reads and ask for more!