If you are truly a boxing enthusiast, not only do you box for exercise and watch every boxing event you can, you probably love boxing movies, as well. The following list includes some of the greatest boxing movies of all time.
Numbers one and two are pretty much required to go to Rocky and Raging Bull. These are quintessential and iconic boxing films. Rocky is an easy character to root for, an underdog with a kind heart. Rocky is easily Sylvester Stallone's greatest role, and he also wrote the script which is fantastic. Raging Bull's Jake La Motta is a bit harder to love but just as compelling on screen. Robert De Niro captures the essence of La Motta, who was truly one of the greatest fighters of all time. De Niro actually trained with La Motta to help him better reflect the fighter's style.
When it comes to boxing personalities, there are none as iconic as Muhammad Ali's. His brilliance in the ring combined as well as his uniqueness as an individual both are highlighted in the film "When We Were Kings." While this is a documentary and not technically a movie, it did win the Oscar for Best Documentary Film, and it showcases an amazing moment in boxing history and is a look back at the early 1970s. Ali was a beloved and controversial figure who had been suspended for several years after refusing to obey the draft. George Foreman was the current heavyweight champ and definitely a force to be reckoned with. When you combine it all, the result was a fantastic documentary well worth a look.
If you're a big Ali fan, another film to check out is the 1962 film, "Requiem for a Heavyweight." The film is the story of Luis "Mountain" Rivera, who is at the end of his career and pretty much washed up. He is badly beaten by a young fighter, portrayed by Muhammad Ali when he was still known as Cassius Clay. His manager had bet on the fight, losing a substantial amount and is now in trouble with the Mob. Rivera wants to help but is told that he has brain damage from fighting and should never fight again.
Boxing movies typically aren't cheerful, but they do seem to do an excellent job of showcasing interesting characters and relationships. "Million Dollar Baby" is certainly as dark as any boxing film and definitely worth watching. The performances, especially the scenes between Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood, are amazing. Eastwood stars and directs and earned an Oscar for his direction. Swank picked up her second Oscar for her performance as Maggie Fitzgerald, and Morgan Freeman also earned an Academy Award playing Eastwood's partner and only friend.
These are just a few great boxing films, and there are many more, some old and some new, and many based upon real-life fighters. "The Fighter," which stars Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg is a dramatization of fighter Micky Ward and his complicated half-brother, Dicky Eklund, who helped Ward train for the world light welterweight title. Another great film about boxing is "Cinderella Man," which starts Russell Crowe and legendary fighter James Braddock. In "The Hurricane," Denzel Washington does an admirable job of portraying Ruben "Hurricane" Carter, a rising star in the boxing world who is sent to prison after being wrongly accused of murder. The last movie is less about boxing than the others but still a great movie.
Numbers one and two are pretty much required to go to Rocky and Raging Bull. These are quintessential and iconic boxing films. Rocky is an easy character to root for, an underdog with a kind heart. Rocky is easily Sylvester Stallone's greatest role, and he also wrote the script which is fantastic. Raging Bull's Jake La Motta is a bit harder to love but just as compelling on screen. Robert De Niro captures the essence of La Motta, who was truly one of the greatest fighters of all time. De Niro actually trained with La Motta to help him better reflect the fighter's style.
When it comes to boxing personalities, there are none as iconic as Muhammad Ali's. His brilliance in the ring combined as well as his uniqueness as an individual both are highlighted in the film "When We Were Kings." While this is a documentary and not technically a movie, it did win the Oscar for Best Documentary Film, and it showcases an amazing moment in boxing history and is a look back at the early 1970s. Ali was a beloved and controversial figure who had been suspended for several years after refusing to obey the draft. George Foreman was the current heavyweight champ and definitely a force to be reckoned with. When you combine it all, the result was a fantastic documentary well worth a look.
If you're a big Ali fan, another film to check out is the 1962 film, "Requiem for a Heavyweight." The film is the story of Luis "Mountain" Rivera, who is at the end of his career and pretty much washed up. He is badly beaten by a young fighter, portrayed by Muhammad Ali when he was still known as Cassius Clay. His manager had bet on the fight, losing a substantial amount and is now in trouble with the Mob. Rivera wants to help but is told that he has brain damage from fighting and should never fight again.
Boxing movies typically aren't cheerful, but they do seem to do an excellent job of showcasing interesting characters and relationships. "Million Dollar Baby" is certainly as dark as any boxing film and definitely worth watching. The performances, especially the scenes between Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood, are amazing. Eastwood stars and directs and earned an Oscar for his direction. Swank picked up her second Oscar for her performance as Maggie Fitzgerald, and Morgan Freeman also earned an Academy Award playing Eastwood's partner and only friend.
These are just a few great boxing films, and there are many more, some old and some new, and many based upon real-life fighters. "The Fighter," which stars Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg is a dramatization of fighter Micky Ward and his complicated half-brother, Dicky Eklund, who helped Ward train for the world light welterweight title. Another great film about boxing is "Cinderella Man," which starts Russell Crowe and legendary fighter James Braddock. In "The Hurricane," Denzel Washington does an admirable job of portraying Ruben "Hurricane" Carter, a rising star in the boxing world who is sent to prison after being wrongly accused of murder. The last movie is less about boxing than the others but still a great movie.
About the Author:
Rod Bourgoine likes blogging about mixed martial arts benefits. For more information about boxing gyms in San Diego or to find boxing clubs San Diego, please visit The Arena MMA site today.
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