Category Archives: Movies

“After The Last Round”

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Movies

*** FLASHBACK *** This article originally was published on www.dmboxing.com for viewing on February 3, 2009

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

On January 29, 2009, the setting was the Lobero Theater, site of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival for the world premiere of the movie “After The Last Round” .

There were several hundred people in attendance including acclaimed movie director Ron Shelton. They were treated to director Ryan Pettey’s eighty eight minute boxing documentary based on the careers of former junior middleweight champion Denny Moyer and his brother Phil, who both fought in the late fifties and into the late sixties with both sustaining long term brain injuries .

Tom Moyer, a cousin to Denny and Phil, is the Executive producer and was instrumental in putting this project together.

I was first approached by Tom and his son Patrick and Ryan Pettey in 2006 about appearing in the film and I am just honored to have been able to contribute .

There were an array of boxing experts and personalities throughout the film, such as: Bert Sugar, Emanuel Stewart, Freddie Roach, former Canadian heavyweight champion George Chuvalo, Johnny Ortiz – former radio host of “Ringside LA”, Alex Ramos and Jacquie Richardson with the Retired Boxers Foundation, top heavyweight contender DaVarryl Williamson, and current IFBA women’s champion Kelsey Jeffries. Also highlighted into the film were a cast of doctors who added their expertise.

Williamson’s wife Shalifa, and Jeffries manager Bruce Anderson were simply positive and added wonderfully to the film.

Continue reading “After The Last Round” →

Hands of Stone – Movie Review

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Lightweights, Middleweights, Movies

******* FLASHBACK *******

This article originally appeared on www.dmboxing.com on August 29, 2016

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

I am reluctant to expose the full contents of the latest boxing movie, Hands of Stone, as my intent is not to spoil it for those of you that have not seen it yet. I will just touch the tip of it in this review.

Duran 1

I was the first in line last Friday morning (11am) on the first day of release and the first showing at the theatre, so nobody could tell me anything about the movie before I could see it myself .  Although I pretty much knew the whole story in following Roberto Duran in the five decades (1968-2001) of his boxing career, I was anxious to see it.

Duran 3

Continue reading Hands of Stone – Movie Review →

Night at the Movies

DMBoxing News, Middleweights, Movies, Steve Corbo

This previously published movie review appears courtesy of the Author and the Italian American Veterans Museum – iavmuseum.org

By Steve Corbo

“Somebody Up There Likes Me”

This 1956 movie, directed by Robert Wise, is based on the autobiography by boxer Rocky Graziano. Starring Paul Newman as Rocky and Pier Angeli as his wife, it also features appearances by Sal Mineo and Steve McQueen.

Raised on New York’s Lower East Side, Rocky was a gang member and criminal by his early teens. As a child, his father made him fight for the entertainment of adults in the neighborhood. He soon developed a talent for knocking down anybody that stood in his way. In and out of reform schools, Rocky was on a fast track to the graveyard or the penitentiary. If you thought his stint in the Army might straighten him out, think again.

Despite his lengthy criminal record, he was drafted during WW II. The Army didn’t have a chance. He refused to train, was constantly in trouble and when push came to shove, he shoved back hard. He crossed the line when he beat up his commanding officer. Now in serious trouble, Rocky went AWOL back to the streets of New York. Hiding out and wanted by the authorities, he wandered into Stillman’s Gym hoping to make a couple of bucks as a sparring partner. As he prepared to climb into the ring to face a pro fighter, he’s told to make sure he has the protective cup all boxers wear. Unfamiliar with the world of pro boxing, Rocky replies, “I don’t need no cup, I’ll drink out of the bottle.”  He then proceeds to knock the other fighter out with his sledgehammer right hand.

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At The Movies

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Movies

*** FLASHBACK *** this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on May 26, 2012 and February 10, 2016

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

I am often asked about boxing movies, and which one is the best. My personal best is Raging Bull, but a close second is one that nobody talks about except me and that movie is “The Set-Up” (1949) starring Robert Ryan.

The list of boxing movie’s is endless Raging Bull (1980), Rocky (1976), Gentleman Jim (1942), The Great White Hope (1970), Fat City (1972), Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), The Harder They Fall (1956), Ali (2001), Cinderella Man (2005), Requiem For A Heavyweight (1962) are the ten at the top of most movie critic lists.

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Let’s Get a Boxing Movie

FLASHBACK, Jim Amato, Movies

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on December 12, 2012

By Jim Amato / Senior Boxing Writer 

Since this is the holiday season you may have some time off of work to relax and watch a few movies. There are several classic boxing movies that are available at your local video store to fill a void left by a lack of live boxing action. I’m going to list some of my favorites that you may find entertaining. “Gentleman Jim”, the story of James J. Corbett is my personal favorite. Errol Flynn is great as Corbett and Ward Bond is even better as John L. Sullivan. Next up would be Paul Newman as Rocky Graziano in “Somebody Up There Likes Me”. Then Robert DeNiro in the story of Jake LaMotta titled “Raging Bull”.

Robert Ryan is a hard luck, aging but proud fighter in “The Set Up”. Charles Bronson plays a bare knuckle battler and James Coburn is his fast talking manager in “Hard Times”.  More than a boxing movie, with a great cast like Marlon Brando, Rod Stieger and Lee J. Cobb, is “On The Waterfront”. It gave us Brando’s character, Tommy Malloy’s unforgetable line,”I coulda’ been a contender”.

Continue reading Let’s Get a Boxing Movie →

Hands of Stone – Movie Review

David Martinez, Movies

Duran movie

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

I am reluctant to expose the full contents of the latest boxing movie, Hands of Stone, as my intent is not to spoil it for those of you that have not seen it yet. I will just touch the tip of it in this review.

Duran 1

I was the first in line last Friday morning (11am) on the first day of release and the first showing at the theatre, so nobody could tell me anything about the movie before I could see it myself.  Although I pretty much knew the whole story in following Roberto Duran in the five decades (1968-2001) of his boxing career, I was anxious to see it.

Duran 3

Continue reading Hands of Stone – Movie Review →

At the Movies

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Movies

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on May 26, 2012

TheSetUp1949-BoxArt

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

I am often asked about boxing movies, and which one is the best. My personal best is Raging Bull, but a close second is one that nobody talks about except me and that movie is “The Set-Up” (1949) starring Robert Ryan.

The list of boxing movie’s is endless Raging Bull (1980), Rocky (1976), Gentleman Jim (1942), The Great White Hope (1970), Fat City (1972), Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), The Harder They Fall (1956), Ali (2001), Cinderella Man (2005), Requiem For A Heavyweight (1962) are the ten at the top of most movie critic lists.

Continue reading At the Movies →

Movie Preview

DMBoxing News, Movies

pic

THE GOOD SON: THE RAY MANCINI STORY

Ultra VOD on July 16 | In Theaters August 9th

DIRECTED BY | Jessie James Miller

PRODUCED BY | Chris Tavlarides and Jimmy Lynn

FEATURING | Sugar Ray Leonard, Mickey Rourke, and Ed O’Neill

SYNOPSIS | THE GOOD SON tells the story of Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini, who wasn’t merely the lightweight boxing champ – he was a national sports hero, personifying blue-collar toughness and tight ethnic family ties.  His vow to win the championship for his father, the original “Boom Boom”, captivated the country.  On the cusp of breakout celebrity, Ray fought Korean challenger Duk Koo Kim in an epic bout that left Kim in a fatal coma, and changed Mancini’s life and boxing itself.  Now, 30 years later, Ray Mancini faces Kim’s fiancée and the son he never knew.

RUN TIME | 85 Minutes

THE GOOD SON includes appearances by fellow Youngstowner Ed O’Neill (Modern Family), boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, actor and pugilist Mickey Rourke and all of the surviving central characters. The project was developed and executive produced by Chris Tavlarides and Jimmy Lynn.

THE GOOD SON will be available to rent on Video on Demand via cable and satellite providers and iTunes on July 16th, followed by a theatrical opening in select theaters nationwide on August 9th.  Gathr will handle theatrical distribution on behalf of SnagFilms.

For more information on THE GOOD SON visit www.snagfilms.com/thegoodson.

FRANK PR | 646.861.0843

Let’s Get a Boxing Movie

Jim Amato, Movies

            By Jim Amato

      Senior Boxing Writer 

Since this is the holiday season you may have some time off of work to relax and watch a few movies. There are several classic boxing movies that are available at your local video store to fill a void left by a lack of live boxing action. I’m going to list some of my favorites that you may find entertaining. “Gentleman Jim”, the story of James J. Corbett is my personal favorite. Errol Flynn is great as Corbett and Ward Bond is even better as John L. Sullivan. Next up would be Paul Newman as Rocky Graziano in “Somebody Up There Likes Me”. Then Robert DeNiro in the story of Jake LaMotta titled “Raging Bull”.

Robert Ryan is a hard luck, aging but proud fighter in “The Set Up”. Charles Bronson plays a bare knuckle battler and James Coburn is his fast talking manager in “Hard Times”.  More than a boxing movie, with a great cast like Marlon Brando, Rod Stieger and Lee J. Cobb, is “On The Waterfront”. It gave us Brando’s character, Tommy Malloy’s unforgetable line,”I coulda’ been a contender”.

At the Movies…

Movies

I am often asked about boxing movies, and which one is the best. My personal best is Raging Bull, but a close second is one that nobody talks about except me and that movie is “The Set-Up” (1949) starring Robert Ryan.

The list of boxing movie’s is endless Raging Bull (1980), Rocky (1976), Gentleman Jim (1942), The Great White Hope (1970), Fat City (1972), Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), The Harder They Fall (1956), Ali (2001), Cinderella Man (2005), Requim For A Heavyweight (1962) are the ten at the top of most movie critic lists.

In “The Set-Up,” Robert Ryan plays an aging fighter who is brutally punished for refusing to take a dive. The plot line has been used many times in boxing movies, but the beauty of this film is it captures the corrupt underworld in the golden era of boxing and Ryan is nothing less than brilliant in the lead role. Ryan himself was a collegiate boxing champion at Dartmouth.

The movie is directed by Robert Wise who has directed such outstanding films as The Day The Earth Stood Still, West Side Story, Run Silent – Run Deep, The Sound of Music, The Sand Pebbles, The Hindenburg, and The Andromeda Strain, just to name a few.

I fully recommend this film to any boxing fan. “The Set-Up” is worth viewing, as I consider it to be one of the best films on boxing that I have ever seen!