| Boxing is a combat sport of English origin in which | | | | Lucky number seven on our countdown is Raging Bull |
| two participants of similar weight fight each other | | | | the two-time Oscar winning movie directed by Martin |
| with their fists in a series of one to three-minute | | | | Scorsese. When Jake LaMotta played by (Robert De |
| intervals called rounds. Victory is achieved if the | | | | Niro) steps into a boxing ring and obliterates his |
| opponent is knocked down and unable to get up | | | | opponent, he's a prized-fighter. However when he |
| before the referee counts to ten (a Knockout, or | | | | treats his family and friends the same way, he's a |
| KO) or if the opponent is deemed too injured to | | | | ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. |
| continue (a Technical Knockout, or TKO). If there is | | | | Though LaMotta desires his family's love, something |
| no stoppage of the fight before an agreed number | | | | always seems to come between them. Perhaps it's |
| of rounds, a winner is determined either by the | | | | his violent bouts of paranoia and jealousy. This kind |
| referee's decision or by judges' scorecards. | | | | of rage helped make him a champ, but in real life, he |
| In the passage above boxing is explained as two | | | | winds up in the ring alone. An emotionally |
| people fighting of similar weight, however rarely of | | | | self-destructive boxer's journey through life, as the |
| similar backgrounds. In ancient times gladiators were | | | | violence and temper that leads him to the top in the |
| pited against each other to fight to their deaths for | | | | ring, destroys his life outside it. |
| entertainment. A gladiator was often the underdog | | | | 6. Rocky II (1979) |
| fighting for survival against a superior force. | | | | Rocky II the sequel to Rocky was one of the most |
| On the big screen boxing movies have become more | | | | eagerly anticipated and successful sequels of all time. |
| successful than any other sports related film. Boxing | | | | Directed and starred in by Sylvester Stallone playing |
| movies such as Rocky and million Dollar Baby are the | | | | (Rocky Balboa) is a little-known boxer who was given |
| only sports related films to win Acadamey Awards | | | | a shot at the heavyweight champ, Apollo Creed. |
| for Best Picture. | | | | Having done much better than anyone expected, |
| Directors of boxing movies have the great ability of | | | | Creed demands a rematch, embarrassed by his |
| creating characters with so much in common with the | | | | inability to dominate the "amateur" Balboa. |
| audience. Characters who come from disadvantage | | | | Unfortunately, he soon runs out of money, so he is |
| backgrounds that are used to scrapping for food and | | | | forced to accept Creed's offer for a rematch. They |
| money to support families and loved ones, thus when | | | | called it "The Rematch Of The Century". |
| it comes to fighting for survival in a boxing ring they | | | | 5. Rocky Balboa (2006) |
| have what it takes to win. | | | | Rocky Balboa the latest in the series of Rocky |
| However they never have the guidance or | | | | movies sees Sylvester Stallone return to the big |
| confidence to realize their full potential. This is where | | | | screen as director and Rocky Balboa returning to the |
| directors creates a kind, lovable, knowledgeable | | | | Boxing Ring. This hard-hitting, action-packed battle of |
| character who acts as a father figure and mentor. | | | | the age's story sees Rocky Balboa finding life hard. |
| The audience is then taken on a journey of these | | | | His wife, Adrian (Shire) has unfortunately died and |
| two characters quest for glory which involves some | | | | the relationship between him and his son (Ventimiglia) |
| of the following, heartbreak, struggle, sacrifice and | | | | isn't perfect. But when a computer simulation pits a |
| belief. | | | | in-his-prime Rocky vs. the current undefeated |
| In any sport no matter what it is people will be | | | | champion Mason Dixon Rocky becomes focused on a |
| drawn naturally to the underdog and cheer for them. | | | | return to the ring to let loose the 'beast' one final |
| People don't like favorites winning unless of course | | | | time. Co Stars: Mike Tyson as himself and Burt Young |
| they have the favorite backed! This is where | | | | as "Paulie". |
| directors create another character one that the | | | | 4. Million Dollar Baby (2004) |
| audience dislikes, rude, arrogant, cocky etc.. who is at | | | | Weighing in at number four with four Oscars to its |
| the top of the sport. | | | | name is the Clint Eastwood directed movie Million |
| These two rivals are finally pitted against each other, | | | | Dollar Baby. Starring heavyweight actors Hillary |
| in one corner you have a fighter that everyone | | | | Swank (Maggie Fitzgerald), Morgan Freeman (Eddie |
| hates and in the other corner a fighter whom | | | | Scrap-Iron Dupris) and of course Clint Eastwood |
| everyone has come to love and admire. | | | | (Frankie Dunn). Maggie Fitzgerald, is a poor thirty-one |
| Audiences like happy endings they are brought up | | | | year old waitress from the very lower classes and |
| with the stories of Snow white, Cinderella etc.. they | | | | with a dysfunctional loser family, decides to make a |
| want to exit the cinema happier than they entered. | | | | difference through boxing. She convinces the |
| They want the underdog to win because they know | | | | experienced hardened boxing trainer Frankie Dunn to |
| how it feels to be an underdog. | | | | coach her and be her manager. Morgan Freeman |
| The audience admires a character with pride strength | | | | plays the role of Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris an old |
| and courage. Great Directors are aware of this | | | | partner of Frankie who sees great potential in Maggie. |
| knowing what the audience desires and gives it to | | | | Frankie had always a conflict relationship with his own |
| them. | | | | daughter and practically adopts Maggie along her |
| Boxing movies work because everyone loves a good | | | | career. |
| underdog story! | | | | 3. Hurricane, The (1999) |
| Top Ten Boxing Movies Countdown | | | | Down to the Top Three and Norman Jewison's "The |
| 10.Rocky III (1982) | | | | Hurricane" takes its place on our countdown. The |
| Released in 1982 Rocky III written, directed and | | | | true story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter played by |
| starred in by Sylvester Stallone became the third | | | | Denzel Washington, an African-American man who |
| movie of the Rocky Franchise. Boxer Rocky Balboa | | | | rose above his troubled youth to become a top |
| enjoys the wealth he has as world-champion. He only | | | | contender for the middle-weight boxing title. |
| fights against straightforward opponents. Then he is | | | | However, his dreams turn to nightmare when he is |
| challenged by the arrogant Clubber Lang. Rocky | | | | accused of a triple murder, and sentenced to three |
| accepts the challenge to prove once more that there | | | | natural-life terms in prison. He writes an |
| is only one world-champion. But Lang wins and | | | | Autobiography to prove his innocence becoming |
| becomes the new champion. Nobody believes in | | | | more and more discouraged. An African-American |
| Rocky anymore, except one man: former | | | | boy and his Canadian mentors read his book and are |
| world-champion Apollo Creed. Creed trains Rocky in | | | | convinced of his innocence enough to work for his |
| an effort to regain his title. Co Stars: Talia Shire as | | | | exoneration. Proving his innocence is not going to be |
| "Adrian Balboa" Burt Young as "Paulie" and Carl | | | | easy. Co Starring: Vicellous Reon Shannon (Lesra |
| Weathers as "Apollo Creed". | | | | Martin) |
| 9. Diggstown (1992) | | | | 2. Cinderella Man (2005) |
| Rolling in at number nine is the film directed by | | | | Making it to the number one contender spot on our |
| Michael Ritchie, Diggstown starring James Wood | | | | countdown is the Ron Howard movie set in the |
| (Gabriel Caine) Louis Gossett (Honey) and Bruce Dern | | | | 1930's Cinderella Man. In the North American Great |
| (John Gillion). Gabriel Caine has only left prison when | | | | Depression, the former successful boxer James |
| he sets up a bet with a wealthy businessman. This | | | | Braddock played by Russell Crowe loses all his |
| businessman owns most of a boxing-mad town called | | | | possessions and savings with the crash of the stock |
| Diggstown. The bet is that "Gabe" can find a boxer | | | | market. Mae Braddock his beloved wife played by |
| that will knock out 10 Diggstown men, in a boxing | | | | Renée Zellweger and their three children |
| ring, within 24 hours. "Honey" Roy Palmer is that man | | | | survive to starvation and lack of heating and the daily |
| - although at 48, many say he is well past it. A sub | | | | difficulties supported by their love. In 1934, when |
| plot is thrown in about Charles Macum Diggs - the | | | | Jim's coach and manager Joe Gould offers him a |
| heavyweight champion that gave the town its name | | | | chance to return to boxing, he becomes the symbol |
| - and who is now confined to a wheelchair. | | | | of hope for hopeless people in a ruined nation. |
| 8. City for Conquest (1940) | | | | 1. Rocky (1976) |
| Anatole Litvak directs this film based on the novel | | | | Ladies and Gentlemen the Number One Boxing Movie |
| called City of Conquest. Filled with fire and fury | | | | ever made through unanimous decision is Rocky! |
| starring James Cagney as Danny Kenny (Young | | | | Champion of our countdown Oscar winning Rocky |
| Samson) a truck driver who enters "the fight game" | | | | directed by John G. Avildsen starring Sylvester |
| and Ann Sheridan as Peggy 'Peg' Nash his former | | | | Stalone (Rocky), Talia Shire (Adriann), Burt Young |
| girlfriend. Danny's success in the ring is helping him | | | | (Paulie) Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed) and Burgess |
| pay for his brother Eddie's music education. Danny | | | | Meredith (Mickey) was were "The Italian Stallion" was |
| becomes blinded by acid in a bout, and when efforts | | | | born. Rocky Balboa, is a aspiring boxer in downtown |
| to get even fail his former manager finances a | | | | Philadelphia. His one chance to make a better life for |
| newsstand for the now blind and handicapped Danny. | | | | himself is through his boxing and Adrian, a girl who |
| Eddie becomes a composer and dedicates a | | | | works in the local pet store. Through a publicity stunt, |
| symphony at Carnegie Hall to Danny who listens to it | | | | Rocky is set up to fight Apollo Creed, the current |
| on his radio from his newsstand. Peggy rushes from | | | | heavyweight champion who is already set to win. A |
| the concert to reunite with Danny at the newsstand. | | | | magnificent underdog story! |
| 7. Raging Bull (1980) | | | | |