Boxers/Boxing stories they should make a film about?

Ok, so we have had some famous ones and some brilliant ones, and sometimes both.

Hard to top Raging Bull, IMO.

That aside, which stories or Bio's would you like to see made into a film?

So many wonderful, inspiring and often tragic tales to be told.

Have always said Kassim Ouma would be a belter. Sold into the army as a child soldier in a civil war as a child before growing up to get free of this and go on to become a world champion, is a story made for the cinema that one.

Joe Louis would make for a good film, the struggles he had to endure post Johnson just to secure a shot, enough back room shenanigans to provide sufficient sub plots and his war efforts and subsequent treatment at the hands of the IRS should provide the films emotional gravitas.

Mickey Walker wouldn't be a bad start. All-time pound for pound great, but that's only scratching the surface. A hellraiser through and through involved in many bar-room scraps, married four women in his life, married three of those women twice (!) and then, in retirement, became an internationally-respected painter.

Quite a life.

Buster Douglas... Wouldn't be a dry eye in the house

Rowley wrote:Have always said Kassim Ouma would be a belter. Sold into the army as a child soldier in a civil war as a child before growing up to get free of this and go on to become a world champion, is a story made for the cinema that one.

Joe Louis would make for a good film, the struggles he had to endure post Johnson just to secure a shot, enough back room shenanigans to provide sufficient sub plots and his war efforts and subsequent treatment at the hands of the IRS should provide the films emotional gravitas.

Wow! Didn't know of Ouma's story. Amazing

David haye. He could play himself... Said he didn't want any action roles

Bhop - but only if he played himself.

From what I've heard of Johnny Tapia's life a film wouldn't be believable. Also on the flip side of Joe Louis a Max Schmeling film would have a lot to offer.

Young Perez.

Or any of the guys from Tino's unsung heros series really.

Tapia is a great shout. His story deserves to be told. Given what he has been through it was a miracle he achieved anything positive with his life, which he did

Just had a quick scan about Ouma and it would appear Rowley that a documentary on his life was made a few years back; Kassim the dream.

Tapia has a life which I don't think would make for easy watching, would be one i'd steer clear of.

Jose Torres was due to fight in the Garden......

Any how his opponent pulled out at the last minute...The Promoter went white with fear as the crowd had already filtered in...

Anyway as he was panicking he saw a journeyman light heavyweight at the hot dog stall.....(forgot his name..sorry)......................

He explained the situation and begged him to help..........

"I can't"..........................."Why not"??

"haven't got any trunks"..............."I'll get you some!!!"

"This hot dog has just cost me a couple of bucks"..."I'll add it to your pay"

"The ticket cost me 20 bucks!!!"........I'll add it to your pay"

"Okay".............

The guy went the distance and lost a decision....

True story!!!

bellchees wrote:Also on the flip side of Joe Louis a Max Schmeling film would have a lot to offer.

I watched a film about Schmeling a couple of years back - former Super-Middleweight world titlist Henry Maske played Max, while Arthur Abraham also featured. It's called 'Max Schmeling - The Fist of the Reich.'

Decent enough film if you're a boxing nut, I suppose, but not one you'd feel compelled to watch again in all probability.

That should read former Light-Heavy titlist Henry Maske of course, not Super-Middle!

88Chris05 wrote:

bellchees wrote:Also on the flip side of Joe Louis a Max Schmeling film would have a lot to offer.

I watched a film about Schmeling a couple of years back - former Super-Middleweight world titlist Henry Maske played Max, while Arthur Abraham also featured. It's called 'Max Schmeling - The Fist of the Reich.'

Decent enough film if you're a boxing nut, I suppose, but not one you'd feel compelled to watch again in all probability.

Does Louis move his head in that film ??

bellchees wrote:Also on the flip side of Joe Louis a Max Schmeling film would have a lot to offer.

There was an American TV movie made about Joe Louis and Max Scmeling a few years ago. You might be able to pick up a copy on eBay.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281938/

Jimmy wilde would be a great story. I started writing a story about an imagination boxer and it turned out to be almost exactly the same as Jimmy wildes life.

TopHat24/7 wrote:Young Perez.

Or any of the guys from Tino's unsung heros series really.

You're too kind, TopHat.

Perez is a great story but Barney Ross has to be the subject of a film one day. Father shot dead resisting a robbery, Barney being a three weight world champion, retiring and joining the Marine's, war hero on Guadalcanal and then beating a morphine addiction. It's made for Hollywood. Absolutely made for it.

I would write a screenplay but I don't have the talent to put one together.

the rise and fall of frank warren

Edwin Valero, would be pretty harrowing though.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

TopHat24/7 wrote:Young Perez.

Or any of the guys from Tino's unsung heros series really.

You're too kind, TopHat.

Perez is a great story but Barney Ross has to be the subject of a film one day. Father shot dead resisting a robbery, Barney being a three weight world champion, retiring and joining the Marine's, war hero on Guadalcanal and then beating a morphine addiction. It's made for Hollywood. Absolutely made for it.

I would write a screenplay but I don't have the talent to put one together.

Lack of talent doesnt seem to hold back a lot of screenwriters. I'd imagine a guy who writes well like you tina could make a decent fist of it. Have confidence and live the dream!

Evan Field.

Micheal Katsidis would be interesting. Trying to find the big fights, willing to travel, the death of his brother etc. And he seems like a genuine warrior and nice guy.

Id also like to see a film based on Evander Holyfield. The Cruiserweight come Heavyweight champ, fights with Lewis, his ear biting scenario with Tyson, the millions of dollar debt, the countless kids, the ongoing title hunt.

The PEDs.....

I read somewhere they are planning on making a sequel to The Fighter. I appreciate the film did well but come on, do we really need two films about Mickey bleeding Ward when one considers all the truly great fighters and brilliant stories in the sport whose stories have not yet been told.

Seems most boxers lives follow a couple of typical patterns usually with them losing everything. It's really the personal life of the fighter that might be interesting. Not many fighters lead interesting lives, it all training and then the fights.

Jack Johnston's story has a bit of depth to it around race issues.

Imagine making a movie about Floyd or Manny, it would be like watching paint dry.


A mafia movie based around the fight game and taking on cases like Sonny Liston might have potential. There's enough material around fight fixing and the dilemmas fighters faced. Good opportunities for violence.

Rowley wrote:I read somewhere they are planning on making a sequel to The Fighter. I appreciate the film did well but come on, do we really need two films about Mickey bleeding Ward when one considers all the truly great fighters and brilliant stories in the sport whose stories have not yet been told.

Given that they glossed over what were arguably the best fights of his career (cos he didn't actually win the series so it doesn't make for a good movie) they should have a director's cut of it instead of a sequel. Failing that, what about a film of Gatti?

Of course, the ultimate boxing film would have to be the life of Peter Jackson although how they'd managed to find an actor able to give the role the dignity and grace it would so badly need, I don't know. Perhaps they'll just give it to the newly released Wesley Snipes.

DAVE667 wrote:Perhaps they'll just give it to the newly released Wesley Snipes.

I can see Daniel Day Lewis playing John L Sullivan as well.

He would love the method acting involved with that part.

Jackson is actually not a bad shout Dave, his refusal to participate in fixed fights and sportsmanship irrespective of what that did to his chances of getting a title shot would make it easy for him to be portrayed as the heroic figure of the piece. The only issue would be having seen the job Cinderella Man did on Baer one could only imagine how bad Sullivan would come out of the film looking.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:Perhaps they'll just give it to the newly released Wesley Snipes.

I can see Daniel Day Lewis playing John L Sullivan as well.

He would love the method acting involved with that part.

He had the tashe nailed already in Gangs of New York, he is half way there.

Rowley wrote:

He had the tashe nailed already in Gangs of New York, he is half way there.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Knowing Dave's luck, they would get Christian Bale to overact the part.

Daniel Day Lewis? They'd be lucky to get Daniel Radcliffe.

DAVE667 wrote:Daniel Day Lewis? They'd be lucky to get Daniel Radcliffe.

Idras Elba for Jackson Dave, solely because I can't think of any other black actors who are big units.

Rowley wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:Daniel Day Lewis? They'd be lucky to get Daniel Radcliffe.

Idras Elba for Jackson Dave, solely because I can't think of any other black actors who are big units.

Eammon Walker? He played Muslim Leader Kereem Said in "Oz"

DAVE667 wrote:

Rowley wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:Daniel Day Lewis? They'd be lucky to get Daniel Radcliffe.

Idras Elba for Jackson Dave, solely because I can't think of any other black actors who are big units.

Eammon Walker? He played Muslim Leader Kereem Said in "Oz"

Never watched it Dave, you will never improve on the Judy Garland version for me.

One of those great HBO series like "Sopranos" or "The Wire"

Definitely worth watching

Anyway, Walker also played the gay homehelp in "In Sickness and in Health" I think Alf Garnett called him "Marigold"

Americans do those sorts of series so much better than we do. Loved the Sopranos, Wire and West Wing. Am currently ploughing through Breaking Bad on Netflix which is awesome, Sons Of Anarchy is next on the list.

SOA is brilliant. Have to say I wasn't sold on Charlie Hunham but he's grown on me, still Ron Pearlman is great and the cast in pretty good throughout. However, since the arrival of my daughter, all tv watching has degenerated into "The Cuddlies" and "Rainbow Horse" (although Bobby's magic balloon house is great - the man's a balloon modelling genius!) and I haven't watched the last series yet (Danny Trejo's in it), but I'm off work next week and as t'little 'un is now at Nursery, I forsee plenty of catching up on my programmes.

Audley Harrison

Olympic gold medalist who came back from the brink, after a series of crushing defeats to be hevayweight champion of the world. Film title could be....

'Destiny'

This pretty much writes itself doesn't it

Pedro147 wrote:Audley Harrison

Olympic gold medalist who came back from the brink, after a series of crushing defeats to be hevayweight champion of the world. Film title could be....

'Destiny'

This pretty much writes itself doesn't it

Who would play the drawing board?

Dr Gregory House MD wrote:

Pedro147 wrote:Audley Harrison

Olympic gold medalist who came back from the brink, after a series of crushing defeats to be hevayweight champion of the world. Film title could be....

'Destiny'

This pretty much writes itself doesn't it

Who would play the drawing board?

Samuel L. Jackson, he'll appear in anything these days.

Would it be better as a musical? 'dancing to my tune' encapsulating the rhythm of his finest performances in both the ring and the dance floor.

Dr Gregory House MD wrote:Who would play the drawing board?

Sounds about Keanu Reeves' level, if he can just add a bit more fluidity to his 'acting.'

milkyboy wrote:Would it be better as a musical? 'dancing to my tune' encapsulating the rhythm of his finest performances in both the ring and the dance floor.

Could get David Haye to play Audley in a bizzare twist. His big screen debut.

.. He doesn't want action roles... So it would fit the bill. Just need to work out who plays haye now, and the cast's sorted. Will smith? He can do smug.

milkyboy wrote:.. He doesn't want action roles... So it would fit the bill. Just need to work out who plays haye now, and the cast's sorted. Will smith? He can do smug.

I know, he got several million dollars for "Hancock". Utterly dreadful film, didn't even touch on that bit in the "Blood Donor"

"It may be a drop to you mate but it's life of death to some of us!"

BTW, never rated Tony Hancock. He's very much like John Cleese in that I'm supposed to find him hilarious because he's been in some "classic comedy" but I just watch it and say "Meh!"

Hancock was just the first of his type i think Dave... Seen the act so many times it doesn't look so funny to our generation.

That said, our generation finds Michael mcyntire amusing. Progress eh.

milkyboy wrote:.. He doesn't want action roles... So it would fit the bill. Just need to work out who plays haye now, and the cast's sorted. Will smith? He can do smug.

Perfect choice for playing Audley then.

Err... that was my bad joke pedro. Get your own