Let's Get Ready To Rumble: 10 Boxing Films To Revisit

July 24, 2015 - 11:03 am by VIBE

Whenever we need that extra motivation to tackle damn near impossible odds, there’s nothing like watching a good ol' slugfest on the big screen.

Whenever we need that extra motivation to tackle damn near impossible odds, there’s nothing like watching a good ol' slugfest to help us knock out adversity.

Boxing films have been Hollywood cornerstones with bad a** characters having their biggest (and sometimes bloodiest) bouts in and outside the ring. Whether stories of real-life brawling legends like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Jake Lamotta, or fictional fighters like Rocky Balboa, fight flicks were meant to beat up the big screen, for all the right reasons.

READ: ‘Southpaw’ Fight Knights 50 Cent & Jake Gyllenhaal Get Raw

In honor of the new Jake Gyllenhaal and 50 Cent film, Southpaw (in theaters today!), and the upcoming Rocky spinoff, Creed, starring Michael B. Jordan, here are 10 boxing films to dust off.—Mark Braboy (@DRD_Poetry17)

Rocky (1976)

This classic was the start of a multi-million dollar franchise that flexed the boxing movie muscle in Hollywood. The tale of Rocky Balboa begins during his tough guy days in Philly, working for a loan shark. Under the guidance of his trainer, Mickey, who reluctantly takes him in, he goes to take on his future rival and later BFF, Apollo Creed. This was the flick that also inspired the phrase, “Yo Adrian! We dd”

Undisputed (2002)

Ving Rhames and Wesley Snipes star in the 2002 boxing film that involves one man fighting for his honor and the other, for his freedom. Rhames plays Iceman Chambers, a boxer who’s convicted of rape and eventually fights the undisputed prison champion, Monroe Hutchen (Snipes). While it didn’t knock out at the box office, Undisputed still proves to be an entertaining boxing flick.

Tyson (1995)

In the first of many Mike Tyson biographical films and documentaries, actor and martial artist Michael Jai White stars as The Baddest Man on The Planet in the HBO movie. This film goes into his childhood upbringing in Catskills, Brooklyn and struggles leading up to his 1992 conviction for the alleged rape of Miss America contestant, Desiree Washington.

Girlfight (2000)

Michelle Rodiguez leads the coming-of-age flick as troubled teenager, Diana Guzman. After she’s introduced to boxing by visiting a local gym, she pursues her passions, even swiping dough when necessary. Eventually, she rises to the top of the amateur ranks leading up to a compelling bout with love interest, Adrian Sturges (played by Santiago Douglas).

Diggstown (1992)

The film revolves around con man, Gabriel Caine (played by James Woods), who drunkenly bets that he can find a fighter who can knock out 10 men in one day in the Diggstown ring and beat the record of local legend, Charles Macum Diggs. He also links up with his 48-year-old, "Honey" Roy Palmer (Louis Gossett, Jr.), who just may win the bet.

Real Steel (2011)

Hugh Jackman stars in a heartwarming and unique boxing film where he plays former prizefighter, Charlie Kenton. After facing hard times, he and his estranged son team up to build their own chip-level fighter to take on the champion Zeus in an adventure that bonds the two closer together.

The Boxer (1997)

This film shows an early Daniel Day-Lewis as Danny Flynn, a former IRA member. Flynn and his old trainer start a boxing gym as he gets back with his old lady, Maggie, but all is in jeopardy when his old IRA buddies come knocking. This flick was nominated for four Golden Globes.

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

This classic hit starring Hillary Swank and Clint Eastwood tells the story of Maggie Fitzgerald, a struggling waitress who decides to take up boxing. After Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), an old trainer with personal demons keeps refusing to train her, he eventually gives in helps her on her way to becoming a professional fighter. This Eastwood-directed boxing flick was a knockout at the Academy Awards, winning four Oscars.

Ali (2001)

Here, Will Smith lends his talents to the Michael Mann-directed biopic of The Greatest, Muhammad Ali. Viewers watch the rise of Cassius Clay from his conversion to Islam (including the famous "What's My Name" bout), all the way to The Rumble in The Jungle fight in Zaire against one of his toughest foes, George Foreman.

Raging Bull (1980)

Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro tag team for a legendary performance in Raging Bull as DeNiro plays boxing legend, Jake LaMotta. Stylized in black and white, the film tells his self-destructive story as he fights his way up the middleweight ranks and struggles through rage and sexual jealousy. Although initially met with negative reviews, it went on to become one of Scorcese’s finest works.

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