Joe Egan

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Joe Egan, affectionately known as “Big Joe,” embarked on his boxing journey at the Phoenix Club. He quickly rose through the amateur ranks, notably fighting the national junior champion Steve Collins. By the age of 24, Egan had achieved over 80 wins, secured 7 Irish titles, and earned the Golden Gloves Champion distinction. His amateur career included 11 fights representing Ireland, and he gained further recognition for going the distance with Lennox Lewis and defeating future WBA champion Bruce Seldon. Following encouragement from Floyd Patterson, Egan moved to the USA, joining Mike Tyson’s training camp with Cus D’Amato, where Tyson referred to him as “the Toughest White Man on the Planet.”

Egan’s boxing career was cut short due to a serious road accident after his second professional fight. After a hiatus of 12 years, he made a comeback to the ring in May 2004 at the age of 38. In 2008, Egan transitioned into acting, personally asked by Guy Ritchie to appear as “Big Joe Egan” in the 2009 film ‘Sherlock Holmes’. He reprised his role in the sequel, ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ in 2011. His acting career includes over 25 films and television dramas, including ‘Cass’ (2008), ‘Dead Man Running’ (2009), and ‘Freight’ (2010).

Beyond his work in boxing and acting, Egan is also involved with boxing clubs and events, and is a noted after-dinner speaker and host. He published his autobiography, “Big Joe Egan: The Toughest White Man on the Planet,” in 2009, reflecting on his diverse experiences. He continues to engage with audiences through his public appearances, sharing anecdotes from his careers.