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“Stack’s” Top Three Boxing Movies of All Time

CMBy Anthony “Stacks” Saldana

#3 Cinderella Man: The story of James J. Braddock in the Roaring ’20s. For James life is good, he’s winning fights, has good health and money is not an issue. By 1933 in the thick of “The Great Depression” Jim is forced to retire due to a streak of losses and a broken hand. Daily Jim along with 15 million other unemployed are out looking for work. His only hope each day is that he’ll be picked to work on the docks for a day’s pay. But despite the threat of having no electricity, heat or food for the family, Jim refuses to send his kids off to live with wealthier relatives. What makes Braddock’s story so compelling is his embodiment of many characteristics universally accepted as virtuous and worthy of emulation. Many people are tough, many are resilient, and many have a solemn sense of personal responsibility. But people who can lay claim to having all of those characteristics, at the same time, have all of the markers of greatness.

Braddock had these characteristics in spades. Braddock lived through the worst of the Great Depression with his wife and children but refused to take any handouts until his situation became untenable. He refused to stop working on the docks even though he frequently did so with a badly injured and broken right hand, which he hurt in the ring. And, most importantly, he never gave up on a career in boxing despite losing a number of bouts and being labeled a “has been.” Braddock persevered though extremely tough times in the Great Depression and managed to overcome a number of obstacles placed in his way in his journey to becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

#2 Southpaw: The story of Billy “The Great” Hope. After retaining his title, the next business move for Billy would seem to be to give #1 contender Miguel ‘Magic’ Escobar a shot, but his wife, SPMaureen, is urging him to take some time off just as his manager Jordan Mains (50 Cent) is offering him a two year, three fight deal with HBO worth $30 million. Billy decides to hold off on a decision for the time being and spend some time with Maureen and their young daughter, Leila, but tragedy soon strikes at a charity event where Billy’s wife is killed, sending Billy’s life into what may be the all-time cinematic tailspin. This is a true life redemption movie. Although the boxing scenes are to me “just OK”. The storyline pulled me in, and for people who are not boxing fans this movie gives a pretty good quick inside look at today’s boxing business world. It sort of reminded me of every Rocky movie ever made rolled up into one. Jake Gyllenhaal’s strong acting performance really helps bring this movie together.

Rocky#1 Rocky: Let’s start with the opening scene November 25th my birthday. If that isn’t reason enough to make it my favorite movie I don’t what is. Rocky “The Italian Stallion”, is a hard-muscled southpaw boxer who’s not bad enough to quit and not good enough to make it into the big time. A trainer at the gym in the Philadelphia slum where he lives tells him: “You’re a tomato…You got the heart but you fight like an ape.” In his spare time, Rocky works as a heavy for a loan shark. But he can’t even bring himself to break the thumb of a client since he knows the man may be worse off than he is. Rocky’s heart goes out to Adrian, an ugly duckling who blooms under the nurturance of his love. She becomes devoted to him. Fate tips it hat when Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed chooses Rocky as his replacement opponent in a special contest to celebrate the Bicentennial. No one believes that Rocky has a chance. But he surprises everyone including himself. Rocky is gritty, real, and very easy to relate with.

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