‘A gang of six big guys came in to rob the cash register … that wasn’t going to happen’
Liberties kickboxing legend Filippo Fusco on teaching the sport to generations of kids and the night he fought off a mob
‘A gang of six big guys came in to rob the cash register … that wasn’t going to happen’
An 82-year-old Dublin chip shop owner has revealed how his love of kickboxing once saved his life.
Filippo Fusco lived in Italy and Paris before moving to Dublin over 60 years ago. When he was just 22 years old, he opened Fusco’s, his very own business on Meath Street.
Not only has he been feeding the people in the Liberties for generations, the martial arts expert has been training locals in the area to kickbox in a ring above his restaurant and takeaway for years.
Martial arts expert Fillipo Fusco once fought off six attackers at his chipper on Meath Street. Pic: Mark Condren
He spoke to the Irish Independent about one incident where he was forced to use his kickboxing skills to defend the chipper when a gang tried to rob the premises 32 years ago.
At the time, he had turned 50 and was considering retirement from the sport.
“One night, a gang of six big guys came in wanting to rob the cash register. They weren’t from the area, and they asked me to give them all the cash I had,” Mr Fusco said.
“That wasn’t going to happen. I took off my shoes and was able to fight them off for one hour and twenty minutes, wringing my shirt with blood when I was done.
“Someone must have called the police, and they were all taken away to St James’s Hospital. I was left with a slight bruise on my cheek and leg.”
He added that he told them that the area was “controlled by him” and that he takes care of everyone along the street.
Mr Fusco believes that without his kickboxing skills he “could’ve been killed” on that fateful night, and took the incident as a sign to continue in the sport.
Fillipo Fusco outside the family business in Dublin's Liberties. Pic: Mark Condren
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the chip shop, Kevin’s Street Garda Station sent out a group of officers to present him an actual garda badge for his involvement in the community and for taking care of Meath Street.
He said that although he has received multiple medals during his career in martial arts, receiving that badge “went straight to his heart”.
Mr Fusco first started training in Judo and once he got a black belt in that sport, he went into kickboxing, eventually becoming European champion in 1986.
He continues to instruct people in the Liberties, with one particular student, Shannon Magee, becoming a black belt in kickboxing under his guidance.
Mr Fusco also encourages all people to get involved in a sport, saying it’s important to be able to protect yourself and that it helps people in the area from “going down a wrong path”.
Fillipo Fusco sits under a photo of his younger years at the family takeaway on Meath Street. Pic: Mark Condren
Fusco’s café is still going strong as a family affair with Mr Fusco’s daughter Norina still working at the well known establishment.
She said that most of the time “they can’t go anywhere” without people from the area recognising his face for his involvement in teaching kids kickboxing.
The owner of the chipper explained that he likes to go back to Italy once or twice a year but that “Meath Street is his home” due to his strong connection with the local community.
“I know all of Liberties people, because we talk every time I see them and you watch kids grow from a baby to a teenager,” he said.
“When I was celebrating our 60th anniversary I put some food out there for people to have and I was expecting a couple of hundred to show up for the free food, but there was roughly 1,000 people in the street.
“I called Imelda May to come down too and she sang some songs for everyone, it was very special,” he added.
