Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

In Jim Sano’s The Fighter, Danny Nolan has built his life around his daughter Jenny, funding their Boston home through underground boxing before collecting illicit money for Michael Quigley. As Jenny prepares for college, her questions about the mother she has never known begin pushing Danny toward a family history he has kept hidden since his own parents disappeared. Her concern brings Father Tom Fitzpatrick into Danny’s life. Tom’s friend Angelo Salvato sees enough talent in the thirty-four-year-old fighter to steer him toward the New England Golden Gloves. A legitimate tournament could offer Danny a future beyond Quigley’s criminal operation, yet every step toward it places new pressure on the secrets surrounding his past. With Jenny demanding answers, Danny can no longer keep every part of his life in separate corners.

Jim Sano’s The Fighter is excellent Christian sports fiction, with Danny written as the kind of character readers can genuinely get behind. The author gives his relationship with Jenny a warm affection that feels completely natural, shown when wooden spoons turn into microphones during a kitchen duet. The boxing scenes put the physical demands of the sport right in front of you. At Greene’s Gym, Angelo drills Danny on a three-punch combination until his arms finally drop from exhaustion. Danny’s connection with Father Tom gives the Christian foundation a sincere place in his life, with their conversations about God fitting naturally into the way he understands himself. Manny Alvarez brings a gracious spirit to the book, proven when he crosses the dressing room before facing Danny simply to wish him luck. Boston has a wonderful sense of place. Saint Francis Church glows through colored stained glass at night, then Harvard Stadium provides an imposing backdrop as Danny trains on its steep concrete steps before sunrise. Boxing fans and lovers of Christian sports fiction are in for a real treat. Very highly recommended.