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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the 1976 film. For the franchise, see Rocky (franchise). For the title character, see Rocky Balboa. For other uses, see Rocky (disambiguation).
Rocky
In a black-and-white poster, Rocky in his boxing outfit is holding hands with another person. The tagline above the film's title reads "His whole life was a million-to-one shot." The film's credits are printed below the poster.
Theatrical release poster
Directed by John G. Avildsen
Written by Sylvester Stallone
Produced by
Irwin Winkler
Robert Chartoff
Starring
Sylvester Stallone
Talia Shire
Burt Young
Carl Weathers
Burgess Meredith
Cinematography James Crabe
Edited by
Richard Halsey
Scott Conrad
Music by Bill Conti
Production
company
Chartoff-Winkler Productions
Distributed by United Artists
Release dates
November 20, 1976 (Paramount Theatre)
December 3, 1976 (United States)
Running time 119 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1 million[2]
Box office $225 million[2]
Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone.[3] It is the first installment in the Rocky film series and also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith. In the film, Rocky Balboa (Stallone), a poor small-time club fighter and loanshark debt collector from Philadelphia, gets an unlikely once in a lifetime shot at the world heavyweight championship held by Apollo Creed (Weathers).
Rocky entered development in March 1975, after Stallone wrote the screenplay in three days. It entered a complicated production process after Stallone refused to allow the film to be made without him in the lead role; United Artists eventually agreed to cast Stallone after he rejected a six figure deal for the film rights. Principal photography began in January 1976, with filming primarily held in Philadelphia; several locations featured in the film, such as the Rocky Steps, are now considered cultural landmarks.[4] With an estimated production budget of about $1 million, Rocky popularized the rags to riches and American Dream themes of sports dramas which preceded the film.
Rocky had its premiere at the Paramount Theatre in New York City on November 20, 1976, and was released in the United States on December 3. Rocky became the highest-grossing film of 1976, earning approximately $225 million worldwide. The film received critical acclaim for Stallone's writing, as well as the film's performances, direction, musical score, cinematography and editing; among other accolades, it received ten Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Picture. It has been ranked by numerous publications as one of the greatest films of all time, as well as one of the most iconic sports films ever.
Rocky and its theme song have become a pop-cultural phenomenon and an important part of 1970s American popular culture. In 2006, the Library of Congress selected Rocky for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".[5][6] The first sequel in the series, Rocky II, was released in 1979.
Plot
To mark the upcoming United States Bicentennial, heavyweight boxing world champion Apollo Creed plans to hold a title bout in Philadelphia. However, he is informed five weeks from the fight date that his scheduled opponent, Mac Lee Green, is unable to compete due to an injured hand. All other potential replacements are either booked or unable to get into shape in time. Having invested heavily into the fight, Apollo decides to give a local contender a chance to challenge him.
He selects Rocky Balboa, an Italian-American journeyman southpaw boxer living in poverty, who primarily fights in small gyms and works as a collector for a Mafia loan shark. Rocky is chosen on the basis of his nickname, "The Italian Stallion", because Apollo feels that the name is most suitable for marketing purposes. Rocky meets with promoter George Jergens and agrees to the fight, which will pay him $150,000. Rocky puts himself through several weeks of unorthodox and improvised training, such as using sides of beef as punching bags.
He is later approached by Mickey Goldmill, a former bantamweight fighter-turned-trainer whose gym Rocky frequents, about further training. Rocky is not willing initially, as Mickey has not shown much interest in helping him before and saw him as a wasted talent, but eventually he accepts the offer.
Rocky builds a romantic relationship with Adrianna "Adrian" Pennino, a shy woman who is working part-time at the J&M Tropical Fish pet store. Adrian's brother and Rocky's best friend, Paulie, sets his sister up on a date with Rocky. She initially rejects his advances but consents to each subsequent step of the date when he continues to ask. Paulie also offers to work as a cornerman with him for the fight, an offer Rocky turns down. Paulie becomes jealous of Rocky's success, but Rocky placates him by agreeing to advertise the meat packing business where Paulie works as part of the fight. Rocky trains extensively for the match, while Apollo is unconcerned and puts more effort into promotion than training. The night before the match, Rocky visits the Spectrum and begins to lose confidence. He confesses to Adrian that he does not believe he can win but strives to go the distance against Apollo, which no other fighter has done, to prove himself.
On New Year's Day, the fight is held with Apollo making a dramatic entrance dressed as George Washington and then Uncle Sam. Taking advantage of his overconfidence, Rocky knocks him down in the first round—the first time that Apollo has ever been knocked down. Humbled and worried, Apollo takes Rocky more seriously for the rest of the fight, which goes on for the full fifteen rounds, with both combatants sustaining various injuries: Rocky, with hits to the head and swollen eyes, requires his right eyelid to be cut to restore his vision, while Apollo, with internal bleeding and a broken rib, struggles to breathe. As the fight concludes, Apollo's skill is countered by Rocky's stamina, toughness and will. As the final bell sounds, Apollo tells Rocky there "ain't gonna be no rematch". Rocky replies that he does not want one.
As the ring is flooded with reporters and excited fans, Rocky calls out repeatedly for Adrian, who makes her way into the ring. As Jergens declares Apollo the winner by virtue of a split decision, Rocky and Adrian embrace and profess their love for each other, unconcerned with the outcome of the fight.
Cast
Sylvester Stallone in 1977
See also: List of Rocky characters
Sylvester Stallone as Robert "Rocky" Balboa
Talia Shire as Adrianna "Adrian" Pennino
Burt Young as Paulie Pennino
Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed
Burgess Meredith as Michael "Mickey" Goldmill
Thayer David as George "Miles" Jergens
Joe Spinell as Tony Gazzo
Jimmy Gambina as Mike
Tony Burton as Tony "Duke" Evers
Pedro Lovell as Spider Rico
Stan Shaw as "Big Dipper" Brown
Jodi Letizia as Marie
Frank Stallone as Streetcorner Singer
Joe Frazier as Himself
Production
Development and writing
Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay for Rocky in three and a half days, shortly after watching the championship match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner that took place at Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio, on March 24, 1975. Wepner was TKO'd in the 15th round of the match by Ali, with few expecting him to last as long as he did. Despite the match motivating Stallone to begin work on Rocky,[7] he has denied Wepner provided any inspiration for the script.[8][9][10] Other inspiration for the film may have included characteristics of real-life boxers Rocky Marciano and Joe Frazier,[11][12] as well as Rocky Graziano's autobiography Somebody Up There Likes Me and the movie of the same name. Wepner sued Stallone, and eventually settled for an undisclosed amount.[9]
Henry Winkler, Stallone's co-star in The Lords of Flatbush who then broke out as Arthur Fonzarelli on ABC's Happy Days, said he had taken the script to executives at the network. They expressed interest in turning it into a made-for-television movie and actually bought the script but insisted that someone else rewrite it. Upon hearing the news, Stallone begged Winkler not to let ABC change writers, so Winkler went back to the executives and offered to return the money in exchange for the rights. While ABC refused at first, Winkler said he was able to use his status as one of its biggest stars at the time to convince them to sell the rights back.[13]
At the time, Film Artists Management Enterprises (FAME), a joint venture between Hollywood talent agents Craig T. Rumar and Larry Kubik, represented Stallone. He submitted his script to Rumar and Kubik, who immediately saw the potential for it to be made into a motion picture. They shopped the script to various producers and studios in Hollywood but were repeatedly rejected because Stallone insisted that he be cast in the lead role. Eventually, they secured a meeting with Winkler-Chartoff productions (no relation to Henry Winkler). After repeated negotiations with Rumar and Kubik, Winkler-Chartoff agreed to a contract for Stallone to be the writer and also star in the lead role for Rocky.[14] Stallone offered the script to Ralph Bakshi to direct, because he loved Bakshi's 1973 film Heavy Traffic, but Bakshi turned it down because he didn't want to leave animation, and John G. Avildsen signed on to direct instead.[15]
United Artists liked Stallone's script and viewed it as a vehicle for a well-established star like Robert Redford, Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, or James Caan.[16] United Artists initially thought the project was going to be a disaster.[17] Stallone's agents insisted that Stallone portray the title character, to the point of issuing an ultimatum. Stallone later said that he would never have forgiven himself had the film become a success with somebody else in the lead.[18][19] He also knew that producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff's contract with the studio enabled them to "greenlight" a project if the budget was kept low enough. The producers also collateralized any possible losses with their big-budget entry, New York City (whose eventual losses were covered by Rocky's success).[20][21] The film's production budget ended up being $1,075,000, with a further $100,000 spent on producers' fees and $4.2 million on advertising costs.[22]
Pre-production
Although Chartoff and Irwin Winkler were enthusiastic about the script and the idea of Stallone playing the lead character, they were hesitant about having an unknown headline the film. The producers also had trouble casting other major characters in the story, with Apollo Creed and Adrian cast unusually late by the production standards.[citation needed] Real-life boxer Ken Norton was initially sought for the role of Apollo Creed, but he pulled out and the role was ultimately given to Carl Weathers.[23] Norton, upon whom Creed was loosely based, fought Muhammad Ali three times. According to The Rocky Scrapbook, Carrie Snodgress was originally chosen to play Adrian, but a money dispute forced the producers to look elsewhere. Susan Sarandon and Cher auditioned for the role but Sarandon was deemed too pretty for the character and Cher too expensive. After Talia Shire's ensuing audition, Chartoff and Winkler, and director John Avildsen,[4] insisted that she play the part.[citation needed]
Philadelphia-based boxer Joe Frazier has a cameo appearance in the film. Frazier has claimed that some of the plot's most memorable moments—Rocky's carcass-punching scenes and Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of his training regimen—are taken without credit from his own real-life exploits.[24]
Ali, the outspoken boxer and one of Frazier's main rivals who had fought him three times (the last, the Thrilla in Manila, being the year before the film was released), influenced the character of Apollo Creed. At the 49th Academy Awards, Ali, at the time in his second reign as the real-life world heavyweight champion, was a surprise presenter alongside Stallone for Best Supporting Actress. Ali told Stallone, "I'm the real Apollo Creed!" They had a lighthearted confrontation onstage to show the film did not offend Ali before presenting the award, which Beatrice Straight won while only appearing in Network for five minutes and two seconds – the record for the shortest amount of screentime to win the award.[25]
Because of the film's comparatively low budget, members of Stallone's family played minor roles. His father rings the bell to signal the start and end of a round; his brother Frank plays a street corner singer, and his first wife, Sasha, was stills photographer.[26] Other cameos include former Philadelphia and then Los Angeles television sportscaster Stu Nahan playing himself, alongside radio and TV broadcaster Bill Baldwin; and Lloyd Kaufman, founder of the independent film company Troma, appearing as a drunk. Diana Lewis, then a news anchor in Los Angeles and later in Detroit, has a minor scene as a TV news reporter. Tony Burton appears as Apollo Creed's trainer, Tony "Duke" Evers, a role he would reprise throughout the entire Rocky series, though the character is not named until Rocky II. Michael Dorn, who would later gain fame as the Klingon Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, made his acting debut, albeit uncredited, as Creed's bodyguard.[27]
Filming
Principal photography for Rocky began on January 9, 1976.[28] Filming took place primarily throughout Philadelphia, with a few scenes shot in Los Angeles. Rocky's house was located at 1818 East Tusculum Street in the Kensington neighborhood of North Philadelphia.[29] Inventor Garrett Brown's new Steadicam was used to accomplish smooth photography while running alongside Rocky during the film's Philadelphia street training sequences and the run up the Art Museum's flight of stairs, now colloquially known as the Rocky Steps.[30] It was also used for some shots in the fight scenes and can be seen at the ringside during some wide shots of the final fight. Rocky is often erroneously cited as the first film to use the Steadicam, although it was actually the third, after Bound for Glory and Marathon Man.[31]
Certain elements of the story were altered during filming. The original script had a darker tone: Mickey was portrayed as racist, and the script ended with Rocky throwing the fight after realizing he did not want to be part of the professional boxing world after all.[20]
Both Stallone and Weathers suffered injuries during the shooting of the final fight; Stallone suffered bruised ribs and Weathers suffered a damaged nose, the opposite injuries of what their characters had.[32]
The first date between Rocky and Adrian, in which Rocky bribes a janitor to allow them to skate after closing hours on a deserted ice skating rink, was shot that way due to budgetary concerns — the scene was originally scheduled to be shot in a public skating rink during regular business hours, but the producers decided they could not afford the hundreds of extras that would have been required.[33]
The poster seen above the ring before Rocky fights Apollo Creed shows Rocky wearing red shorts with a white stripe when he actually wears white shorts with a red stripe. When Rocky points this out, promoter George Jergens tells him that it "doesn't really matter, does it?".[34] Avildsen said this was an actual mistake made by the props department that they could not afford to rectify, so the brief scene was written to ensure the audience did not see it as a goof.[35] Conversely, Stallone has said he was indeed supposed to wear red shorts with a white stripe as Rocky, but changed to the opposite colors "at the last moment".[36] Similarly, when Rocky's robe arrived far too baggy on the day it was needed for filming, Stallone wrote in dialogue where Rocky points this out.[37]
Music
Soundtrack
Main article: Rocky (soundtrack)
Bill Conti composed the musical score for Rocky. He had composed a score for director John G. Avildsen's W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975) that the studio ultimately rejected.[38] David Shire (then-husband of Talia Shire) was the first to be offered the chance to compose the music for Rocky but had to turn it down because of prior commitments.[39] Avildsen reached out to Conti without any studio help because of the film's relatively low budget. Avildsen said, "The budget for the music was 25 grand. And that was for everything: The composer's fee, that was to pay the musicians, that was to rent the studio, that was to buy the tape that it was going to be recorded on."[40]
The main theme song, "Gonna Fly Now", made it to number one on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 list for one week (from July 2 to July 8, 1977) and the American Film Institute placed it 58th on its AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs.[41][42] United Artists Records released the soundtrack album on November 12, 1976.[43] EMI re-released the album on CD and cassette.[44]
Frank Stallone's song "Take You Back" is also on the soundtrack, and he also sings the song in the movie with other friends around a trash can fire.
Release
Theatrical
The movie began with two premieres in New York, starting with the world premiere for Rocky, which would take place at Paramount Theatre in New York City on Saturday, November 20, 1976, by United Artists and the other on the day after Sunday, November 21, 1976, by United Artists at Cinema II in New York City. The Los Angeles premiere took place at the Plaza in Westwood Village on December 1, 1976. This was then followed by a full official release on December 3, 1976, all throughout North America in the United States and Canada.[45]
Home media
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1980 UK video release by Intervision Betamax, VHS (Rental Only)
1982 – CED Videodisc, Betamax and VHS; VHS release is rental only; 20th Century Fox Video release, Warner Home Video has rest of the World rights
October 27, 1990 (VHS and LaserDisc)
April 16, 1996 (VHS and LaserDisc)
March 24, 1997 (DVD)
April 24, 2001 (DVD, also packed with the Five-Disc Boxed Set)
2001 (VHS, 25th anniversary edition)
December 14, 2004 (DVD, also packed with the Rocky Anthology box set)
February 8, 2005 (DVD, also packed with the Rocky Anthology box set)
December 5, 2006 (DVD and Blu-ray Disc – 2-Disc Collector's Edition, the DVD was the first version released by Fox and was also packed with the Rocky Anthology box set and the Blu-ray was the first version released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
December 4, 2007 (DVD box set – Rocky The Complete Saga. This new set contains the new Rocky Balboa, but does not include the recent 2 disc Rocky. There are still no special features for Rocky II through Rocky V, although Rocky Balboa's DVD special features are all intact.)
November 3, 2009 (Blu-ray box set – Rocky The Undisputed Collection. This release included six films in a box set. Previously, only the first film and Rocky Balboa were available on the format. Those two discs are identical to their individual releases, and the set also contains a disc of bonus material, new and old alike.[46])
May 6, 2014 – Blu-ray re-release with an all new 4K remaster and the previous special features of the old release.[47]
October 13, 2015 – Blu-ray box set, Rocky Heavyweight Collection 40th Anniversary Edition. All six films plus over three hours of bonus material, including the 4K remaster of the first film.[48]
Reception
Box office
Rocky grossed $5,488 on its opening day at Cinema II, a house record.[45] When it was released nationally, it grossed $5 million during its first wide weekend and consistently performed well for eight months[49] and eventually reached $117 million at the North American box office.[50] Adjusted for inflation in 2018, the film earned over $500 million in North America alone.[51] Overseas, Rocky grossed $107 million, for a worldwide box office total of $225 million.[52] With its production budget of about $1 million, Rocky is notable for its worldwide percentage return of over 11,000 percent.[53] It was the highest-grossing film released in 1976 in the United States and Canada[54] and the second highest-grossing film of 1977, behind Star Wars.[55]
Critical response
Rocky received positive reviews at the time of its release. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it 4 out of 4 stars and said that Stallone reminded him of "the young Marlon Brando."[56] Box Office Magazine claimed audiences would be "touting Sylvester 'Sly' Stallone as a new star".[57][58] Frank Rich liked the film, calling it "almost 100 per cent schmaltz", but favoring it over the cynicism that was prevalent in movies at that time, although he referred to the plot as "gimmicky" and the script "heavy-handed".[59] Several reviews, including Richard Eder's (as well as Canby's negative review), compared the work to that of Frank Capra.
The film did not escape criticism. Vincent Canby, of The New York Times, called it "pure '30s make believe" and dismissed both Stallone's acting and Avildsen's directing, calling the latter "none too decisive".[60] Andrew Sarris found the Capra comparisons disingenuous: "Capra's movies projected more despair deep down than a movie like Rocky could envisage, and most previous ring movies have been much more cynical about the fight scene"; commenting on Rocky's work for a loan shark, Sarris says the film "teeters on the edge of sentimentalizing gangsters". He found Meredith "oddly cast in the kind of part the late James Gleason used to pick his teeth".[61]
The film enjoys a reputation as a classic and still receives nearly universal praise. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 93% approval rating based on 75 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The site's critics consensus states: "This story of a down-on-his-luck boxer is thoroughly predictable, but Sylvester Stallone's script and stunning performance in the title role brush aside complaints."[62] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 70 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[63]
Accolades
Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards Best Picture Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler Won [64]
Best Director John G. Avildsen Won
Best Actor Sylvester Stallone Nominated
Best Actress Talia Shire Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Burgess Meredith Nominated
Burt Young Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Sylvester Stallone Nominated
Best Film Editing Richard Halsey and Scott Conrad Won
Best Original Song "Gonna Fly Now"
Music by Bill Conti;
Lyrics by Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins Nominated
Best Sound Harry Warren Tetrick,[a] William McCaughey,
Lyle J. Burbridge, and Bud Alper Nominated
British Academy Film Awards Best Film John G. Avildsen Nominated [65]
Best Direction Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role Sylvester Stallone Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Editing Richard Halsey Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture – Drama Won [66]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Sylvester Stallone Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Talia Shire Nominated
Best Director John G. Avildsen Nominated
Best Screenplay Sylvester Stallone Nominated
Best Original Score Bill Conti Nominated
Legacy
The Directors Guild of America awarded Rocky its annual award for best film of the year in 1976. Additionally, the Directors Guild voted Rocky as the 65th best-directed film of all time in 2016,[67] and in 2006, Sylvester Stallone's original screenplay for the film was selected by the Writers Guild of America as the 78th best screenplay of all time.[68] In a 2012 survey of members of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, Rocky was voted as one of the 75 best-edited films in all of cinema.[69]
In 2006, the Library of Congress selected Rocky for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".[70][71]
In 1998, the American Film Institute (AFI) ranked Rocky as the 78th best film in American cinema.[72] The film's ranking rose to No. 57 on AFI's 10th anniversary edition of the list in 2007.[73] Additionally, in June 2008, AFI revealed its 10 Top 10—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. Rocky was acknowledged as the second-best film in the sports genre, after Raging Bull.[74][75]
Film scholar Steven J. Schneider included Rocky in his book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, writing that the film is "often overlooked as schmaltz".[76] Filmsite.org, a subsidiary of American Movie Classics, included the film on their list of the 300 greatest films of all time.[77] Additionally, Films101.com ranked the film as the 228th best of all time.[78]
In 2006, British film magazine Total Film ranked Rocky at No. 71 on their list of the 100 greatest films of all time.[79] Based on their 2020 readers' poll, the film ranked No. 60 on Rolling Stone Australia's "100 Greatest Movies of All Time".[80] Additionally, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Rocky at No. 2 on their list of the 30 greatest sports films.[81]
In 2022, Esquire included the film on their list of "The 100 Best Movies of All Time".[82] Esquire also included both Rocky and its spinoff sequel Creed on their list of "The 30 Best Sports Movies of All Time".[83] In 2023, Slashfilm included Rocky on their list of the "Top 100 Movies of All Time", as voted by a selection of their writers and editors.[84] In 2024, entertainment news site Comic Book Resources ranked the film No. 23 on their list of the "55 Best Movies of All Time",[85] while Parade magazine ranked the film No. 45 on their list of the "100 Best Movies of All Time".[86]
In 2014, Rocky was ranked No. 95 by British film magazine Empire on their list of "The 301 Greatest Movies of All Time",[87] It was ranked No. 370 on their previous list of the 500 greatest films in 2008.[88] Conversely, in a 2005 poll by Empire, Rocky was No. 9 on their list of "The Top 10 Worst Pictures to Win Best Picture Oscar".[89]
In June 2014, The Hollywood Reporter compiled a list of the 100 best movies ever made, polling film industry insiders on their favorite films of all time.[90] Rocky ranked No. 91.[90] The following year The Hollywood Reporter polled hundreds of Academy members, asking them to re-vote on past controversial decisions. Academy members indicated that, given a second chance, they would award the 1977 Oscar for Best Picture to All the President's Men instead.[91]
Time Out ranked Rocky No. 1 on their list of the "50 Best Sports Movies of All Time".[92] On their list of "The 50 Greatest Sports Movies of All Time", entertainment news website Vulture ranked Rocky at No. 3.[93] In 2015, Thrillist compiled a list of "The 1001 Best Movies of All Time" by weighing ratings from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and Letterboxd. Rocky ranked No. 589.[94][95]
In 2021, the film ranked 2nd on ESPN's "Top 20 Sports Movies of All-Time".[96] In 2024, Forbes magazine ranked Rocky No. 1 on their list of "The 42 Greatest Sports Movies of All Time".[97]
British film site CinemaBlend ranked Rocky and Creed No. 1 and No. 17 respectively on their list of "The 25 Best Sports Movies".[98] On their list of "100 Best Movies of All Time", entertainment news website Collider ranked Rocky No. 94,[99] and on their list of "The 30 Greatest Sports Movies of All Time", Collider ranked the film No. 2.[100] On their list of the "Top 25 Sports Movies of All Time", entertainment news website MovieWeb ranked Rocky No. 4.[101] MovieWeb also ranked the film No. 3 on their list of the "20 Movies That Represent American Culture".[102]
On their list of "The 150 Best Sports Movies of All Time", Rotten Tomatoes ranked Rocky No. 17 and Creed No. 2.[103] Men's Health included Rocky on their list of the "50 of the Absolute Best Sports Movies Ever Made".[104] British GQ ranked the film No. 1 on their list of "The 22 Best Sports Movies".[105]
Year-end lists
Rocky has also appeared on several of the American Film Institute's 100 Years lists.
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (1998) – No. 78[72]
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills (2001) – No. 52
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions (2002) – Nominated[106]
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains (2003)
Rocky Balboa – No. 7 Hero[107]
AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs (2004)
"Gonna Fly Now" – No. 58
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes (2005)
"Yo, Adrian!" – No. 80[108]
AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores (2005) – Nominated[109]
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers (2006) – No. 4[110]
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) (2007) – No. 57[73]
AFI's 10 Top 10 (2008) – No. 2 Sports Film[74]
Franchise
Main article: Rocky (franchise)
Sequels
Main articles: Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V, and Rocky Balboa (film)
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The film's success led to eight sequels, beginning with Rocky II in 1979, followed by Rocky III in 1982, Rocky IV in 1985, Rocky V in 1990, and Rocky Balboa in 2006.
Spin-off series
Main articles: Creed (film), Creed II, and Creed III
A series of spin-off films starring Michael B. Jordan began with Creed in 2015, followed by Creed II in 2018. Another sequel, titled Creed III, was released in 2023; however, Stallone did not appear in this installment.
Possible prequel, I Play Rocky
In July 2019, Stallone said in an interview that there have been ongoing discussions about a prequel to the original film based on the life of a young Rocky Balboa.[111]
I Play Rocky, a biopic which chronicles the making of the first film, is slated for release in November 2026.
Other media
Rocky Steps
Main article: Rocky Steps
Rocky running up the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The scene became a cultural icon of the 1970s, with the steps becoming eponymously known as the "Rocky steps."
The famous scene of Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art has become a cultural icon, with the steps acquiring the vernacular title of "Rocky Steps".[112] In 1982, a statue of Rocky, commissioned by Stallone for Rocky III, was placed at the top of the Rocky Steps. City Commerce Director Dick Doran claimed that Stallone and Rocky had done more for the city's image than "anyone since Ben Franklin".[113]
Differing opinions of the statue and its placement led to a relocation to the sidewalk outside the Spectrum Arena, although the statue was temporarily returned to the top of the steps in 1990 for Rocky V, and again in 2006 for the 30th anniversary of the original Rocky (although this time it was placed at the bottom of the steps). Later that year, it was moved permanently to a spot next to the steps.[113]
The scene is frequently parodied in other media. In the 2008 movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Zohan's nemesis, Phantom, goes through a parody training sequence finishing with him running up a desert dune and raising his hands in victory. In the fourth-season finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as the credits roll at the end of the episode, Will is seen running up the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; however, as he celebrates after finishing his climb, he passes out in exhaustion, and while he lies unconscious on the ground, a pickpocket steals his wallet and his wool hat. In The Nutty Professor, there is a scene where Sherman Klump (Eddie Murphy) struggles to, and eventually succeeds at, running up a lengthy flight of steps on his college campus, victoriously throwing punches at the top.
In 2006, E! named the "Rocky Steps" scene number 13 on its 101 Most Awesome Moments in Entertainment list.[114]
During the 1996 Summer Olympics torch relay, Philadelphia native Dawn Staley was chosen to run up the museum steps. In 2004, presidential candidate John Kerry ended his pre-convention campaign at the foot of the steps before going to Boston to accept his party's nomination for president.[115]
Novelization
Upon the film's release, a paperback novelization of the screenplay written by Rosalyn Drexler under the pseudonym Julia Sorel and published by Ballantine Books was released.[116][117]
Video games
Main articles: Rocky (1987 video game), Rocky (2002 video game), and Rocky Legends
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Several video games have been produced based on the film. Rocky was released in 1987 for the Master System. Rocky was released in 2002 for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, and a sequel, Rocky Legends, was released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. In 2016, Tapinator released a mobile game named ROCKY for the iOS platform, with a planned 2017 release for Google Play and Amazon platforms.[118]
Musical
See also: Rocky the Musical
A musical was written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics and music), with the book by Thomas Meehan, based on the film. The musical premiered in Hamburg, Germany in October 2012. It began performances at the Winter Garden Theater on Broadway on February 11, 2014, and officially opened on March 13, 2014.[119][120][121]
Documentaries
Rocky is featured in the 2017 documentary John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs about Academy Award-winning Rocky director John G. Avildsen, directed and produced by Derek Wayne Johnson.[122]
Stallone later hand-picked Johnson to direct and produce a documentary on the making of the original Rocky, entitled 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic, which was released in 2020. The documentary features Stallone narrating behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the film.[123]
Parodies
Rocky has been parodied a lot over the years, even getting a feature length spoof called Ricky 1 in 1988. In 1986, Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki made an 8-minute spoof of Rocky IV called Rocky VI.
National Museum of American history
The red satin robe and black hat worn by Stallone in Rocky are featured in the National Museum of American History. Likewise, the red gloves worn by Stallone in Rocky II (1979), his white Nike boxing shoes, and striped boxing trunks from Rocky III (1981) are archived at the museum.[124] All items were on display for a temporary period following Stallone's donation in 2006, and have since been moved to the museum archives.
See also
Film portal
List of boxing films
Notes
Posthumous nomination.
References
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External links
Wikiquote has quotations related to Rocky.
Rocky at IMDb
Rocky at Box Office Mojo
Rocky at Rotten Tomatoes
The Making of Rocky by Sylvester Stallone
A Movie of Blood, Spit and Tears by Royce Webb
Six Little Known Truths about Rocky by Ralph Wiley
Which Rocky is the real champ? by Bill Simmons
Rocky: Behind the Scenes
Rocky, a critical discussion
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Rocky
Films
Original series
Rocky (1976)Rocky II (1979)Rocky III (1982)Rocky IV (1985)Rocky V (1990)Rocky Balboa (2006)
Spin-off series
Creed (2015)Creed II (2018)Creed III (2023)
Characters
Rocky BalboaAdrian PenninoApollo CreedMickey GoldmillClubber LangIvan DragoAdonis Creed
Music
Rocky "Gonna Fly Now"Rocky IIRocky III "Eye of the Tiger"Rocky IV "Burning Heart""Heart's on Fire""Living in America"Rocky V: Music from and Inspired by the Motion PictureRocky Balboa: The Best of RockyRocky BroadwayCreedCreed II: The Album "Shea Butter Baby"Creed III: The Soundtrack
Video games
Rocky Super Action BoxingRocky (1987)Rocky (2002)Rocky LegendsRocky BalboaCreed: Rise to Glory
Related
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a ClassicAnderson v. StalloneBalboa ProductionsGrudge MatchMuhammad Ali vs. Chuck WepnerI Play RockyRocky StepsRocky the MusicalRocky VIStatue of Rocky in Žitište
Category
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Films directed by John G. Avildsen
Turn On to Love (1969)Guess What We Learned in School Today? (1970)Joe (1970)Cry Uncle! (1971)Okay Bill (1971)The Stoolie (1972)Save the Tiger (1973)Fore Play (1975)W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975)Rocky (1976)Slow Dancing in the Big City (1978)The Formula (1980)Neighbors (1981)Traveling Hopefully (1982)A Night in Heaven (1983)The Karate Kid (1984)The Karate Kid Part II (1986)Happy New Year (1987)For Keeps (1988)Lean on Me (1989)The Karate Kid Part III (1989)Rocky V (1990)The Power of One (1992)8 Seconds (1994)Inferno (1999)
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Films by Sylvester Stallone
FilmographyAwards and nominationsBalboa Productions
Directed
Paradise Alley (1978)Rocky II (1979)Rocky III (1982)Staying Alive (1983)Rocky IV (1985)Rocky Balboa (2006)Rambo (2008)The Expendables (2010)
Written
The Lords of Flatbush (1974)Rocky (1976)F.I.S.T. (1978)First Blood (1982)Rhinestone (1984)Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)Cobra (1986)Over the Top (1987)Rambo III (1988)Rocky V (1990)Cliffhanger (1993)Driven (2001)The Expendables 2 (2012)Homefront (2013)The Expendables 3 (2014)Creed II (2018)Rambo: Last Blood (2019)A Working Man (2025)
Produced only
Creed (2015)Samaritan (2022)Creed III (2023)Lost on a Mountain in Maine (2024)Untitled Mike Thornton biopic film (TBA)
Awards for Rocky
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Academy Award for Best Picture
Wings (1927–1928)The Broadway Melody (1928–1929)All Quiet on the Western Front (1929–1930)Cimarron (1930–1931)Grand Hotel (1931–1932)Cavalcade (1932–1933)It Happened One Night (1934)Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)The Great Ziegfeld (1936)The Life of Emile Zola (1937)You Can't Take It with You (1938)Gone with the Wind (1939)Rebecca (1940)How Green Was My Valley (1941)Mrs. Miniver (1942)Casablanca (1943)Going My Way (1944)The Lost Weekend (1945)The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)Gentleman's Agreement (1947)Hamlet (1948)All the King's Men (1949)All About Eve (1950) An American in Paris (1951)The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)From Here to Eternity (1953)On the Waterfront (1954)Marty (1955)Around the World in 80 Days (1956)The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)Gigi (1958)Ben-Hur (1959)The Apartment (1960)West Side Story (1961)Lawrence of Arabia (1962)Tom Jones (1963)My Fair Lady (1964)The Sound of Music (1965)A Man for All Seasons (1966)In the Heat of the Night (1967)Oliver! (1968)Midnight Cowboy (1969)Patton (1970)The French Connection (1971)The Godfather (1972)The Sting (1973)The Godfather Part II (1974)One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)Rocky (1976)Annie Hall (1977)The Deer Hunter (1978)Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)Ordinary People (1980)Chariots of Fire (1981)Gandhi (1982)Terms of Endearment (1983)Amadeus (1984)Out of Africa (1985)Platoon (1986)The Last Emperor (1987)Rain Man (1988)Driving Miss Daisy (1989)Dances With Wolves (1990)The Silence of the Lambs (1991)Unforgiven (1992)Schindler's List (1993)Forrest Gump (1994)Braveheart (1995)The English Patient (1996)Titanic (1997)Shakespeare in Love (1998)American Beauty (1999)Gladiator (2000)A Beautiful Mind (2001)Chicago (2002)The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)Million Dollar Baby (2004)Crash (2005)The Departed (2006)No Country for Old Men (2007)Slumdog Millionaire (2008)The Hurt Locker (2009)The King's Speech (2010)The Artist (2011)Argo (2012)12 Years a Slave (2013)Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)Spotlight (2015)Moonlight (2016)The Shape of Water (2017)Green Book (2018)Parasite (2019)Nomadland (2020)CODA (2021)Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)Oppenheimer (2023)Anora (2024)One Battle After Another (2025)
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Blue Ribbon Award for Best Foreign Film
Sunset Boulevard (1951)Monsieur Verdoux (1952)Forbidden Games (1953)The Wages of Fear (1954)East of Eden (1955)Gervaise (1956)La Strada (1957)The Old Man and the Sea (1958)12 Angry Men (1959)On the Beach (1960)Two Women (1961)The Grapes of Wrath (1962)Sundays and Cybele (1963)Lilies of the Field (1964)Mary Poppins (1965)A Man and a Woman (1966)Lenny (1975)Taxi Driver (1976)Rocky (1977)Conversation Piece (1978)The Deer Hunter (1979)Kramer vs. Kramer (1980)The Tin Drum (1981)E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)Flashdance (1983)The Right Stuff (1984)Witness (1985)The Color Purple (1986)The Untouchables (1987)Wings of Desire (1988)Die Hard (1989)Field of Dreams (1990)The Silence of the Lambs (1991)JFK (1992)Jurassic Park (1993)Pulp Fiction (1994)The Bridges of Madison County (1995)Seven (1996)Titanic (1997)L.A. Confidential (1998)Life Is Beautiful (1999)Dancer in the Dark (2000)Joint Security Area (2001)Shaolin Soccer (2002)Infernal Affairs (2003)Mystic River (2004)Million Dollar Baby (2005)Flags of Our Fathers (2006)Dreamgirls (2007)The Dark Knight (2008)Gran Torino (2009)District 9 (2010)Black Swan (2011)Les Misérables (2012)Gravity (2013)Jersey Boys (2014)Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)Rogue One (2016)Hidden Figures (2017)Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)Joker (2019)Parasite (2020)No Time to Die (2021)Top Gun: Maverick (2022)The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)Oppenheimer (2024)Conclave (2025)
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Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
The Song of Bernadette (1943)Going My Way (1944)The Lost Weekend (1945)The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)Gentleman's Agreement (1947)Johnny Belinda / The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)All the King's Men (1949)Sunset Boulevard (1950)A Place in the Sun (1951)The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)The Robe (1953)On the Waterfront (1954)East of Eden (1955)Around the World in 80 Days (1956)The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)The Defiant Ones (1958)Ben-Hur (1959)Spartacus (1960)The Guns of Navarone (1961)Lawrence of Arabia (1962)The Cardinal (1963)Becket (1964)Doctor Zhivago (1965)A Man for All Seasons (1966)In the Heat of the Night (1967)The Lion in Winter (1968)Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)Love Story (1970)The French Connection (1971)The Godfather (1972)The Exorcist (1973)Chinatown (1974)One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)Rocky (1976)The Turning Point (1977)Midnight Express (1978)Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)Ordinary People (1980)On Golden Pond (1981)E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)Terms of Endearment (1983)Amadeus (1984)Out of Africa (1985)Platoon (1986)The Last Emperor (1987)Rain Man (1988)Born on the Fourth of July (1989)Dances With Wolves (1990)Bugsy (1991)Scent of a Woman (1992)Schindler's List (1993)Forrest Gump (1994)Sense and Sensibility (1995)The English Patient (1996)Titanic (1997)Saving Private Ryan (1998)American Beauty (1999)Gladiator (2000)A Beautiful Mind (2001)The Hours (2002)The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)The Aviator (2004)Brokeback Mountain (2005)Babel (2006)Atonement (2007)Slumdog Millionaire (2008)Avatar (2009)The Social Network (2010)The Descendants (2011)Argo (2012)12 Years a Slave (2013)Boyhood (2014)The Revenant (2015)Moonlight (2016)Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)1917 (2019)Nomadland (2020)The Power of the Dog (2021)The Fabelmans (2022)Oppenheimer (2023)The Brutalist (2024)Hamnet (2025)
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Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Prizefighter" redirects here. For other uses, see Prizefighter (disambiguation).
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George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali in 1974, one of the most famous fights in the history of professional boxing.
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by the contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory authority to guarantee the fighters' safety. Most high-profile bouts obtain the endorsement of a sanctioning body, which awards championship belts, establishes rules, and assigns its own judges and referees.[1]
In contrast with amateur boxing, professional bouts are typically much longer and can last up to twelve rounds, though less significant fights can be as short as four rounds. Protective headgear[2] is not permitted, and boxers are generally allowed to take substantial punishment before a fight is halted. Professional boxing has enjoyed a much higher profile than amateur boxing throughout the 20th century and beyond.
History
Early history
Duration: 24 seconds.0:24
The June 1894 Leonard–Cushing bout. Each of the six one-minute rounds recorded by the Kinetograph was made available to exhibitors for $22.50.[3] Customers who watched the final round saw Leonard score a knockdown.
In 1891, the National Sporting Club (N.S.C), a private club in London, began to promote professional glove fights at its own premises, and created nine of its own rules to augment the Queensberry Rules. These rules specified more accurately, the role of the officials, and produced a system of scoring that enabled the referee to decide the result of a fight. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) was first formed in 1919 with close links to the N.S.C., and was re-formed in 1929 after the N.S.C. closed.[4]
In 1909, the first of twenty-two belts were presented by the fifth Earl of Lonsdale to the winner of a British title fight held at the N.S.C. In 1929, the BBBofC continued to award Lonsdale Belts to any British boxer who won three title fights in the same weight division. The "title fight" has always been the focal point in professional boxing. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, however, there were title fights at each weight. Promoters who could stage profitable title fights became influential in the sport, as did boxers' managers. The best promoters and managers have been instrumental in bringing boxing to new audiences and provoking media and public interest. The most famous of all three-way partnership (fighter-manager-promoter) was that of Jack Dempsey (heavyweight champion 1919–1926), his manager Jack Kearns, and the promoter Tex Rickard. Together they grossed US$8.4 million in only five fights between 1921 and 1927 and ushered in a "golden age" of popularity for professional boxing in the 1920s.[5] They were also responsible for the first live radio broadcast of a title fight (Dempsey v. Georges Carpentier, in 1921). In the United Kingdom, Jack Solomons' success as a fight promoter helped re-establish professional boxing after the Second World War and made the UK a popular place for title fights in the 1950s and 1960s.
Modern history
1900 to 1920
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
In the early twentieth century, most professional bouts took place in the United States and Britain, and champions were recognised by popular consensus as expressed in the newspapers of the day. Among the great champions of the era were the peerless heavyweight Jim Jeffries and Bob Fitzsimmons, who weighed more than 190 pounds (86 kilograms) but won world titles at middleweight (1892), light heavyweight (1903), and heavyweight (1897). Other famous champions included light heavyweight Philadelphia Jack O'Brien and middleweight Tommy Ryan. After winning the Bantamweight title in 1892, Canada's George Dixon became the first-ever Black athlete to win a World Championship in any sport; he was also the first Canadian-born boxing champion. On May 12, 1902, lightweight Joe Gans became the first Black American to be a boxing champion. Despite the public's enthusiasm, this was an era of far-reaching regulation of the sport, often with the stated goal of outright prohibition. In 1900, the State of New York enacted the Lewis Law, which banned prizefights except for those held in private athletic clubs between members. Thus, when introducing the fighters, the announcer frequently added the phrase "Both members of this club," as George Wesley Bellows titled one of his paintings.[6] The western region of the United States tended to be more tolerant of prizefights in this era, although the private club arrangement was standard practice here as well, the San Francisco Athletic Club being a prominent example.[6]
On December 26, 1908, heavyweight Jack Johnson became the first Black heavyweight champion and a highly controversial figure in that racially charged era. Prizefights often had unlimited rounds and could easily become endurance tests, favouring patient tacticians like Johnson. At lighter weights, ten round fights were common, and lightweight Benny Leonard dominated his division from the late teens into the early twenties.
Championship-level prizefighters, in this period, were the premier sports celebrities, and any title bout generated intense public interest. Long before bars became popular venues in which to watch sporting events on television, enterprising saloon keepers were known to set up ticker machines and announce the progress of an important bout, blow by blow. Local kids often hung about outside the saloon doors, hoping for news of the fight. Harpo Marx, then fifteen, recounted vicariously experiencing the 1904 Jeffries-Munroe championship fight in this way.[7]
1920 to present
Main articles: Boxing in the 1920s, Boxing in the 1930s, Boxing in the 1940s, Boxing in the 1950s, Boxing in the 1960s, Boxing in the 1970s, Boxing in the 1980s, Boxing in the 1990s, Boxing in the 2000s, and Boxing in the 2010s
Famous fights
Early years
Few athletes embodied, from today's perspective, the unusual world of 19th-century athletisism as much as Jack McAuliffe. He defeated Jack Hooper outdoors in freezing temperatures and later described it as a miracle that both men survived the fight. His title fight against the Canadian Harry Gilmore took place in a hardware store that had a boxing ring. However, the ring only had ropes on three sides; the fourth side was a brick wall. This proved dangerous for both title contenders: McAuliffe "only" broke his thumb, while Gilmore hit his head against the wall and suffered a concussion. At that time (1887), Jack was recognized by most as the lightweight champion. Only a bricklayer from Birmingham named Jem Carney disagreed. He was the British national champion and feared on both sides of the Atlantic. This time, the duel was held in a dimly lit barn, lasted over five hours, and was stopped after 74 rounds. Ringside reporter A.D. Phillips reported on McAuliffe's technical superiority, while Carney possessed greater punching power. From the sixtieth round on, McAuliffe showed signs of severe fatigue and was nearly knocked out twice. Carney's supporters complained about the fight being stopped too early and an unfair decision that prevented a non-American from winning; McAuliffe's supporters, on the other hand, argued that the Englishman should have been disqualified for repeated kneeing.
James John Corbett is considered a pioneer of boxing training. He placed great importance on technique and, due to his innovative training methods, was called the father of modern boxing. In May 1891, he faced Peter "Black Prince" Jackson. The fight lasted 61 rounds; no winner. In the autumn of 1892, he fought John L. Sullivan for the title. By then, his self-developed training proved useful: he had internalized a very strong defense, which allowed him to evade Sullivan's punches. After what was, by the standards of the time, only 21 rounds, he knocked Sullivan to the ground.
On 26 December 1908, Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia, becoming the first Black world heavyweight champion. The bout was stopped by police in the fourteenth round, with Johnson dominant throughout. Johnson's victory became a major event in the history of boxing and race relations, and helped fuel the subsequent search for a white challenger popularly described as a "Great White Hope". Johnson's victory over Burns, who had refused to take on Black fighters[8] until public pressure forced the match, was a direct challenge to white supremacy at a time when segregation and racist ideas were prevalent.
1920 to 1959
Chicago, late '20s. Gene Tunney was one of the first heavyweight champions who could move light-footed. Dempsey, by contrast, was an intense, energetic pressure fighter. His attitude, safety last, was loved by the audience; his aggression, legendary. "He looked as if he wanted to kill me. I never faced such eyes before," Tunney recalled. In front of over 100,000 spectators, Tunney managed to win many rounds, keeping Dempsey away with jabs and good footwork when necessary. However, in round seven, Dempsey slightly moved to the left to elude one jab and landed a right. That was enough to throw Tunney off rhythm and push him back toward the ropes. It was all Dempsey needed. Six quick punches later, he knocked Tunney down—but not out. Tunney got up after 14 seconds, as the referee had delayed the count until Dempsey moved toward a neutral corner. Tunney would go on to score a knockdown of his own and ultimately win the fight. The reign of Jack Dempsey, one of the most feared fighters ever, was over.
On June 19, 1936, the German boxer Max Schmeling faced the undefeated "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis, who was considered the greatest boxer in history up to that point and thought to be unbeatable. Hardly anyone gave Schmeling a chance to defeat Louis – not even Louis himself, who paid little attention to his opponent. However, Schmeling, who followed the example of former world champion Gene Tunney by studying films of his opponent's fights, had discovered a weakness in Louis' boxing style. After throwing a punch with his left hand, Louis would drop it too low, leaving the left side of his face – especially his temple – unprotected. As a result, Louis had to endure brutal punches from Schmeling's right hand during the fight and was ultimately knocked out in the 12th round.
When the year 1942 ended, Sugar Ray Robinson accumulated 125 victories, 40 as a professional. One of his opponents was the "Raging Bull". The second bout was in Detroit – his former hometown. LaMotta focused on body shots: From time to time a whistle sounded that nobody else ascribed importance to. Just one of the noises during a sporting event. But it was a calculated signal that rang every time to tell LaMotta that he was aiming too much at the head. The strategy proved successful: In front of 18,930 people, he landed a couple of hard blows to the stomach and the rips. In the eighth round, he hit him out of the ring. According to the renowned Ring Magazine, BoxRec, and Muhammad Ali, Ray Robinson is the greatest fighter of all time. The image of the best hanging on the ropes with a face distorted in pain circulated around the world.[9]
1960 to 1979
Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston after the "phantom punch"
Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston after the "phantom punch"
February 25, 1964: Cassius Clay was offered the chance to fight for the title against Sonny Liston. The maverick was declared the winner in the seventh round. Liston wasn't able to hit the light-footed Clay and permanently received shots. A year later, May 25, the rematch took place. Clay, who had by then changed his name to Muhammad Ali, knocked Liston down in the first round and won. Many suspected fraud because they didn't see a clear punch. All the same, slow motion revealed that Ali landed a fast, sharp hit. This lightning-fast strike was called "Phantom punch". However, it is not believable that any boxer would have been knocked out by such a blow, especially not a world-class athlete like Liston.[10]
Because Muhammad Ali refused to serve in the military (it was during the Vietnam War), the boxing organizations stripped him of his titles; it wasn't until the 70s that he was allowed to box again. After two more or less easy fights he faced off with "Smokin' Joe" Frazier. This Fight of the Century brought together two undefeated boxers. It went down in history as one of the most spectacular title fights. In round 15, Frazier landed a mighty left hook and sent Ali down to the canvas. This knock down contributed to his win on points. Before the fight, Ali was using PR-methods in which he offended Frazier personally, that caused both competitors to become personal enemies.
1980 to 1999
Four athletes helped define a golden age of welter- and middleweight boxing: Roberto Durán from Panama, Wilfred Benitez from Puerto Rico, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler from the United States. In June 1980 Duran met Leonard. A direct confrontation with Duràn was considered too risky, after all, there was a reason they called him Manos de Pierna (hands of stone). Everyone expected Leonard to keep his distance. To everyone's surprise, the opposite happened: Again and again he voluntarily chose to fight from close range. In the end, Durán got the title and Leonard earned praise for his courage.
A young, ambitious boxer with a unique style worked his way up the ranks and earned a title shot: Mike Tyson. Nicknamed "Kid Dynamite", he was just 20 years old and had an impressive record of 27 victories with no defeats. All his fights had ended by knockout or technical knockout, most of them within the early rounds. The same pattern followed in his title fight against Trevor Berbick. By the second round, Berbick already appeared exhausted. After another devastating punch, Berbick went down and the fight was over. This knockout became famous because Berbick attempted to stand up but kept falling repeatedly — a blow to the ear had severely disrupted his balance. Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. Shortly afterward, he unified the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion.
The undisputed champion defended his titles for three years. No one could stop him—not even Michael Spinks. The man from Missouri lasted only 91 seconds, despite being undefeated. Tyson, like many others, came to believe in his own invincibility. Personal problems and this overconfidence contributed to his sensational loss to Buster Douglas. February 11, 1990, became a nightmare for Tyson. He was the worse boxer that night, although he managed to knock Douglas down at the end of the eighth round. However, Douglas beat the count at nine and was saved by the bell. In the tenth round, Tyson was caught by a hard uppercut, followed by a series of combinations. Tyson went down, confused, fumbling for his mouthpiece. Many believed Tyson could have ruled the heavyweight division until the new millennium if he had stayed focused. Nobody expected him to lose—he was the overwhelming favorite.
In March 1990, two extraordinary athletes faced each other in the ring: Julio César Chávez from Mexico and Meldrick Taylor from the United States. Chávez had an incredible record of 68 professional victories, while Taylor, despite his youth, was already an Olympic gold medalist and IBF champion. Taylor was determined to reach the very top. Spectators witnessed a thrilling contest where Taylor displayed dazzling hand speed. However, many of his punches missed their mark, as Chávez combined solid defense with smart evasive movement and responded with heavier, more punishing shots. It was a fierce, back-and-forth duel, where both fighters stood their ground and respected each other's abilities. In the dramatic final moments, the fight was decided in the last ten seconds — by knockout.
2000 to 2019
Naseem Hamed had successfully defended his championship title ten times before stepping into the ring against Marco Antonio Barrera. Hamed was already famous for his unorthodox style: he often kept his hands low, relying on anticipation and almost serpentine flexibility. In addition to this nonchalant stance, he was gifted with immense punching power. Barrera, widely known for his thrilling and brutal battles with Érik Morales, was expected to use his relentless style against "The Prince". Many anticipated a non-stop clash, with Barrera refusing to back down. However, in April 2001, Barrera surprised everyone with a considered, disciplined approach, delivering a lesson in boxing technique. Despite the high level of skill on display, the fight had its rough edges: Hamed was penalized for holding Barrera's neck and wrestling him to the ground, while in the final round Barrera returned the favor, locking Hamed's arm behind his back like a policeman.
Ricky Hatton fought Manny Pacquiao in the year 2009. He was already one of the best Englishmen that laced on gloves. The Philippine was in his prime in speed, punching volume and agility. Hatton chose an offensive strategy against the pound for pound best boxer in the world. It turned out to be a disastrous choice. In round one he went down two times. In the second he suffered a horrible knock out.
After 2020
In August 2022, Naoya Inoue had a title unification against reigning WBO bantamweight champion Paul Butler. Butler fought very cautious against the first number one pound for pound Japanese boxer. Inoue occasionally held his arms out in a T position, gently urging Butler to come forward and stop retreating behind a tight, defensive guard. Later, he even dropped his hands completely and leaned in, sticking his head out - a bold gesture that was equal parts provocation and invitation. On this evening, the young man from Kanagawa Prefecture proved he was more than just a knockout artist, showcasing beautiful defensive skill as he slipped some punches by leaning his head subtly backward. Still, he knocked Butler out, becoming the first undisputed bantamweight champion since Enrique Pinder in 1972. He also made history as the first boxer to defeat all four major sanctioning body champions by knockout, and set a new record for most wins in unified bantamweight title bouts with seven, surpassing the legendary Rubén Olivares.
Length of bouts
Professional boxing bouts are normally scheduled for a fixed number of rounds, up to a maximum of twelve. Rounds are generally three minutes long with a one-minute interval between rounds, making the total bout 47 minutes long. Some jurisdictions and contest types provide for two-minute rounds, particularly in women's boxing.[11] Non-title or early-career professional bouts are commonly scheduled for fewer rounds, often between four and ten.Through the early twentieth century, it was common for fights to have unlimited rounds, ending only when one fighter quit or the fight was stopped by police. In the 1910s and 1920s, a fifteen-round limit gradually became the norm, benefiting high-energy fighters like Jack Dempsey.[1][12]
For decades, boxing matches went on for 15 rounds. The death of South Korean boxer Kim Duk-koo after his 1982 bout with Ray Mancini contributed to the decline of 15-round championship fights.[13] Studies following the fight have concluded that his brain had become more susceptible to damage after the 12th round. The WBC reduced its championship bouts to 12 rounds from 1983, and other major sanctioning bodies later followed.[14]
Scoring
If the bout "goes the distance", meaning that the scheduled time has fully elapsed, the outcome is determined by decision. In the early days of boxing, the referee decided the outcome by raising the winner's arm at the end of the bout, a practice that is still used for some professional bouts in the United Kingdom. In the early twentieth century, it became the practice for the referee or judge to score bouts by the number of rounds won by each boxer. To improve the reliability of scoring, two ringside judges were added besides the referee, and the winner was decided by majority decision. Since the late twentieth century, it has become common practice for the judges to be three ringside observers who award a score to each boxer for each round, with the referee having the authority to deduct points for certain violations.
At the conclusion of the bout, each of the three judges tallies the points awarded to each boxer. A winner is declared if at least two judges score the bout in favour of the same boxer. The result is either a (win by) "unanimous decision", by "majority decision" (if the third judge scores a draw), or by "split decision" (if the third judge scores the bout in favour of the other boxer). Otherwise, the result is a draw: a "unanimous draw" (if all three judges scored the bout a draw), a "majority draw" (if two judges scored the bout a draw, regardless of the result reached by the third judge), or a "split draw" (if each boxer was the winner on one scorecard, and the third judge scored a draw).
10-point system
The 10-point system was first introduced in 1968 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) as a rational way of scoring fights.[15] It was viewed as such because it allowed judges to reward knockdowns and distinguish between close rounds, as well as rounds where one fighter clearly dominated their opponent. Furthermore, the subsequent adoption of this system, both nationally and internationally, allowed for greater judging consistency, which was something that was sorely needed at the time.[15] There are many factors that inform the judge's decision but the most important of these are: clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship and defense. Judges use these metrics as a means of discerning which fighter has a clear advantage over the other, regardless of how minute the advantage.
Development
Modern boxing rules were initially derived from the Marquess of Queensberry rules which mainly outlined core aspects of the sport, such as the establishment of rounds and their duration, as well as the determination of proper attire in the ring such as gloves and wraps.[16] These rules did not, however, provide unified guidelines for scoring fights and instead left this in the hands of individual sanctioning organizations. This meant that fights would be scored differently depending on the rules established by the governing body overseeing the fight. It is from this environment that the 10-point system evolved.[15] The adoption of this system, both nationally and internationally, established the foundation for greater judging consistency in professional boxing.[15]
Usage
In the event the winner of a bout cannot be determined by a knockout, technical knockout, or disqualification, the final decision rests in the hands of three ringside judges approved by the commission. The three judges are usually seated along the edge of the boxing ring, separated from each other. The judges are forbidden from sharing their scores with each other or consulting with one another.[16] At the end of each round, judges must hand in their scores to the referee who then hands them to the clerk who records and totals the final scores.[16] Judges are to award 10 points (less any point deductions) to the victor of the round and a lesser score (less any point deductions) to the loser. The losing contestant's score can vary depending on different factors.
The "10-point must" system is the most widely used scoring system since the mid-20th century. It is so named because a judge "must" award 10 points to at least one fighter each round (before deductions for fouls). A scoring of 10–9 is commonly seen, with 10 points for the fighter who won the round, and 9 points for the fighter the judge believes lost the round. If a round is judged to be even, it is scored 10–10. For each knockdown in a round, the judge typically deducts an additional point from the fighter knocked down, resulting in a 10–8 score if there is one knockdown or a 10–7 score if there are two knockdowns. If the referee instructs the judges to deduct a point for a foul, this deduction is applied after the preliminary computation. So, if a fighter wins a round, but is penalised for a foul, the score changes from 10–9 to 9–9. If that same fighter scored a knockdown in the round, the score would change from 10–8 in his favour to 9–8. While uncommon, if a fighter completely dominates a round but does not score a knockdown, a judge can still score that round 10–8. Judges do not have the ability to disregard an official knockdown; if the referee declares a fighter going down to be a knockdown, the judges must score it as such.[17]
If a fight is stopped due to an injury that the referee has ruled to be the result of an unintentional foul, the fight goes to the scorecards only if a specified number of rounds (usually three, sometimes four) have been completed. Whoever is ahead on the scorecards wins by a technical decision. If the required number of rounds has not been completed, the fight is declared a technical draw or a no contest.
If a fight is stopped due to a cut resulting from a legal punch, the other participant is awarded a technical knockout win. For this reason, fighters often employ cutmen, whose job is to treat cuts between rounds so that the boxer is able to continue despite the cut.[18]
Variants
Other scoring systems have also been used in various locations, including the five-point must system (in which the winning fighter is awarded five points, the loser four or fewer), the one-point system (in which the winning fighter is awarded one or more points, and the losing fighter is awarded zero), and the rounds system which simply awards the round to the winning fighter. In the rounds system, the bout is won by the fighter determined to have won more rounds. This system often used a supplemental points system (generally the 10-point must) in the case of even rounds.
Regulation and licensing
Professional boxing is not governed by a single worldwide regulator. Bouts are usually supervised by national, regional, state, or provincial boxing commissions and boards, which may license boxers, promoters, managers, seconds, referees, judges, timekeepers, and other officials; approve matches; appoint officials; and enforce medical and safety requirements.[19][20]
In the United Kingdom, professional boxing has been overseen by the British Boxing Board of Control since 1929. The board states that its work includes licensing people involved in the sport, appointing referees and timekeepers, applying rules and disciplinary procedures, and improving medical protection standards.[19] In the United States, the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 requires, among other things, a physical examination of each boxer, the presence of a ringside physician, ambulance or medical personnel with appropriate resuscitation equipment, and health insurance for injuries sustained in a bout.[21][22]
Other jurisdictions use different regulatory structures. In Japan, the Japan Boxing Commission issues and renews professional boxing licences through regional offices, with medical examinations forming part of the licensing process.[23] the Japanese regulator has also revised safety measures in response to medical incidents. In 2025, after two fighters died from brain injuries sustained at the same event, Japanese boxing authorities announced stricter measures on rapid weight loss, hydration testing, and ringside emergency medical services.[24] In the Philippines, professional boxing is regulated by the Games and Amusements Board, whose rules require permits for boxing contests and exhibitions.[25] At the regional level, the European Boxing Union organizes European professional title contests through affiliated national associations, with local federations and appointed supervisors involved in the conduct of contests.[26]
Championships
Main article: List of current world boxing champions
Modern professional boxing developed from earlier forms of prizefighting, including bare-knuckle contests governed by rules such as the London Prize Ring Rules, before the gradual adoption of gloved boxing under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules in the late nineteenth century. The Queensberry code, first published in 1867, required boxing gloves and established timed rounds, helping distinguish modern professional boxing from earlier bare-knuckle prizefighting.[1]
In the first part of the 20th century, the United States became the center for professional boxing. It was generally accepted that the "world champions" were those listed by the Police Gazette.[27] After 1920, the National Boxing Association (NBA) began to sanction "title fights". Also during that time, The Ring was founded, and it listed champions and awarded championship belts. The NBA was renamed in 1962 and became the World Boxing Association (WBA). The following year, a rival body, the World Boxing Council (WBC) was formed.[28] In 1983, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) was formed. In 1988, another world sanctioning body, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) was formed. In the 2010s a boxer had to be recognised by these four bodies to be the undisputed world champion; minor bodies like the International Boxing Organization (IBO) and World Boxing Union (WBU) are disregarded. Regional sanctioning bodies such as the North American Boxing Federation (NABF), the North American Boxing Council (NABC) and the United States Boxing Association (USBA) also awarded championships. The Ring magazine also continued listing the world champion of each weight division, and its rankings continue to be appreciated by fans.
Major sanctioning bodies
See also: List of boxing organisations § Worldwide organisations
Since the late twentieth century, professional boxing championships have been divided among multiple sanctioning bodies. The organizations most commonly treated as major world-title bodies are the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO), each of which maintains rankings and awards titles in multiple weight divisions.[1]
International Boxing Federation (IBF)
World Boxing Association (WBA)
World Boxing Council (WBC)
World Boxing Organization (WBO)
Citations
Combat sports: Professional boxing championship rules; Government of Ontario. (2016, June 28). Retrieved November 11, 2018
Did Lennox Lewis Beat Evander Holyfield?: Methods for Analysing Small Sample Interrater Agreement Problems; Herbert K. H. Lee, Cork, D., & Algranati, D. (2002). Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series D (The Statistician), 51(2), pp. 129–146.
Rules for IBF, USBA & Intercontinental Championship and Elimination Bouts; IBF, O. (2015, June). Retrieved November 7, 2018
WORLD BOXING FEDERATION RULES & REGULATIONS OF CHAMPIONSHIP CONTESTS Archived 2019-04-10 at the Wayback Machine; WBF. (2009). Retrieved November 6, 2016.
ABC Unified Rules of Boxing; WBO, E., & ABC. (2008, July 3). Retrieved November 6, 2018.
References
Olver, Ron; Collins, Nigel. "Boxing | History, Rules, Weight Divisions, Notable Fighters, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
Hjellen, Bjørnar (December 16, 2014). "Brækhus fikk drømmen oppfylt". BBC News.
Leonard–Cushing fight Part of the Library of Congress/Inventing Entertainment educational website. Retrieved 12/14/06.
"boxing-gyms.com". Archived from the original on 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
"Jack Dempsey - Boxer". boxrec.com. Archived from the original on 2006-04-10. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
Robert G. Rodriguez. The regulation of boxing, p32. McFarland & Co., Jefferson, NC 2008
Harpo Speaks! pp 59–60. Limelight Editions, New York, 1961
Runstedtler, Theresa (2012). Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line (1 ed.). University of California Press. doi:10.1525/j.ctt7zw1s8. ISBN 978-0-520-27160-9.
Haygood, Wil (2009). Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson.
Legends of Boxing in Color (2022-01-01). Jack Dempsey & Rocky Marciano on the Phantom Punch - Colorized Interview. Retrieved 2025-07-14 – via YouTube.
"The Rules of Boxing". British Boxing Board of Control. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
Bianco, Massimiliano; Loosemore, Mike; Daniele, Gianlorenzo; Palmieri, Vincenzo; Faina, Marcello; Zeppilli, Paolo (2013). "Amateur boxing in the last 59 years. Impact of rules changes on the type of verdicts recorded and implications on boxers' health". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 47 (7): 452–457. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2012-091771. ISSN 0306-3674. PMID 23314931. S2CID 27177824.
Goodman, Margaret (November 13, 2007). "Ring tragedy from a doctor's perspective". ESPN.com.
Sugden, John Peter (1996). Boxing and society : an international analysis. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-4320-4. OCLC 35174810.
Tom, Kaczmarek (1996). You be the boxing judge! : judging professional boxing for the TV boxing fan. Pittsburgh, Pa.: Dorrance Pub. Co. ISBN 978-0805939033. OCLC 39257557.
Lee, Herbert K.H; Cork, Daniel.L; Algranati, David.J (2002). "Did Lennox Lewis Beat Evander Holyfield?: Methods for Analysing Small Sample Interrater Agreement Problems". Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. series D (the statistician) (51(2)): 129–146. doi:10.1111/1467-9884.00306. JSTOR 3650314.
"General Rules of Judging – Professional" (PDF). Association of Boxing Commissions. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024. "never act as a referee, when a ref says it is a knockdown; you score it as a knockdown."
Bert Randolph Sugar (2001). "Boxing", World Book Online Americas Edition
"About The British Boxing Board of Control". British Boxing Board of Control. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
"ABC Regulatory Guidelines". Association of Boxing Commissions. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
Williams, Pat (1996-10-09). "H.R.4167 - 104th Congress (1995-1996): Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
"1996 Professional Boxing Safety Act | NC DPS". www.ncdps.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
"ライセンス発行（新規、更新）手続きについて" [Licence issuance and renewal procedures]. Japan Boxing Commission (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 July 2026.
McCurry, Justin (13 August 2025). "Japan boxing authorities toughen up safety measures after deaths of two fighters in two days". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
"Amended Rules and Regulations Governing Professional Boxing in the Philippines". Supreme Court E-Library. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
"European Championships Rules". European Boxing Union. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
"The Police Gazette". Encyclopædia Britannica.
Pini, Piero; Velásquez, Ramón G. (2006). "History & Founding Fathers". WBCboxing. Archived from the original on 2003-12-16. Retrieved 2006-06-06.
External links
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The 50 Best Boxing Movies of All Time
by Paste Magazine
Created by
teokir
Updated 9y ago
356,421 visits
50
items
List order
John Garfield, Hazel Brooks, and Lilli Palmer in Body and Soul (1947)
1. Body and Soul
19471h 44mA
7.6
(5.9K)
A talented boxer's young career hits difficult terrain when an unethical promoter takes interest in him.
DirectorRobert RossenStarsJohn GarfieldLilli PalmerHazel Brooks
Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980)
2. Raging Bull
19802h 9mX90Metascore
8.1
(414K)
The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.
DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroCathy MoriartyJoe Pesci
Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire in Rocky (1976)
3. Rocky
19762hA70Metascore
8.1
(701K)
A small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.
DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsSylvester StalloneTalia ShireBurt Young
Fat City (1972)
4. Fat City
19721h 36mAA89Metascore
7.2
(12K)
Two men, working as professional boxers, come to blows when their careers each begin to take different directions.
DirectorJohn HustonStarsStacy KeachJeff BridgesSusan Tyrrell
Alan Baxter, Wallace Ford, Robert Ryan, George Tobias, and Audrey Totter in The Set-Up (1949)
5. The Set-Up
19491h 13mPG75Metascore
7.8
(11K)
Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.
DirectorRobert WiseStarsRobert RyanAudrey TotterGeorge Tobias
Blood Money (1962)
6. Blood Money
19621h 35mA
7.8
(5.3K)
After suffering a brutal defeat and being told he can no longer fight, 37-year-old, scar-ridden prizefighter Louis 'Mountain' Rivera struggles to find a new direction in life.
DirectorRalph NelsonStarsAnthony QuinnJackie GleasonMickey Rooney
Humphrey Bogart, Rod Steiger, and Jan Sterling in The Harder They Fall (1956)
7. The Harder They Fall
19561h 49m1578Metascore
7.5
(10K)
An ex-sportswriter is hired by a shady fight promoter to promote his latest find, an unknown but easily exploitable rising star from Argentina.
DirectorMark RobsonStarsHumphrey BogartRod SteigerJan Sterling
Jack Johnson in Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)
8. Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
20043h 34mTV-PG
8.3
(1.8K)
The story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight boxing champion.
DirectorKen BurnsStarsKeith DavidJack JohnsonStanley Crouch
Muhammad Ali in When We Were Kings (1996)
9. When We Were Kings
19961h 28mPG83Metascore
7.9
(19K)
Boxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.
DirectorLeon GastStarsMuhammad AliGeorge ForemanDon King
Mike Tyson in Tyson (2008)
10. Tyson
20081h 30m1583Metascore
7.4
(13K)
A mixture of original interviews, archival footage, and photographs sheds light on the life experiences of Mike Tyson.
DirectorJames TobackStarsMike TysonMills LaneTrevor Berbick
Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes in Muhammad and Larry (2009)
11. Muhammad and Larry
S1.E4
30 for 30
2009–
51m
TV-G
TV Episode
7.0
(984)
We follow the preparations for Ali's final attempt to win back the World Heavyweight title. Even during the lead up to the fight grave concerns were held for Ali's health and the man who stepped into the ring was frail imitation of his former self.
DirectorsBradley KaplanAlbert MayslesStarsMuhammad AliLarry HolmesAngelo Dundee
Muhammad Ali in The Greatest (1977)
12. The Greatest
19771h 41mA
5.9
(1.8K)
Muhammad Ali plays himself in a reconstruction of the events that brought him to fame.
DirectorsTom GriesMonte HellmanStarsMuhammad AliErnest BorgnineJohn Marley
Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Maxwell in Champion (1949)
13. Champion
19491h 39mA
7.3
(5.4K)
Boxer Midge Kelly rises to fame...mainly by stepping on other people.
DirectorMark RobsonStarsKirk DouglasArthur KennedyMarilyn Maxwell
Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby (2004)
14. Million Dollar Baby
20042h 12m12A86Metascore
8.1
(773K)
Frankie, an ill-tempered old coach, reluctantly agrees to train aspiring boxer Maggie. Impressed with her determination and talent, he helps her become the best and the two soon form a close bond.
DirectorClint EastwoodStarsHilary SwankClint EastwoodMorgan Freeman
Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story (2005)
15. Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story
20051h 27m
7.5
(399)
A story of violence, love, sex, politics and media centered around the life of Griffith, a six-time world welterweight champion.
DirectorsRon BergerDan KloresStarsDon DunphyBenny ParetEmile Griffith
Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon, Spyros Fokas, Annie Girardot, and Renato Salvatori in Rocco and His Brothers (1960)
16. Rocco and His Brothers
19602h 59mX84Metascore
8.2
(26K)
Having recently been uprooted to Milan, Rocco and his four brothers each look for a new way in life when a prostitute comes between Rocco and his brother Simone.
DirectorLuchino ViscontiStarsAlain DelonRenato SalvatoriAnnie Girardot
Paul Newman and Pier Angeli in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
17. Somebody Up There Likes Me
19561h 53mPG
7.5
(9.8K)
Boxer Rocky Graziano's biopic, based on his autobiography, from childhood to his World Middleweight Championship title win at age 28 in 1947.
DirectorRobert WiseStarsPaul NewmanPier AngeliEverett Sloane
Day of the Fight (1951)
18. Day of the Fight
195116mApprovedShort
6.2
(5.8K)
After a short study of boxing's history, narrated by newscaster Douglas Edwards, we follow a day in the life of a middleweight Irish boxer named Walter Cartier. Explains why 6,000 men in America have become professional prize fighters.
DirectorStanley KubrickStarsDouglas EdwardsNat FleischerWalter Cartier
Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale in The Fighter (2010)
19. The Fighter
20101h 56m1579Metascore
7.8
(411K)
Based on the story of Micky Ward, a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.
DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsMark WahlbergChristian BaleAmy Adams
Douglas Santiago and Michelle Rodriguez in Girlfight (2000)
20. Girlfight
20001h 50m1570Metascore
6.7
(11K)
Diana, without her father knowing it, trains as a boxer and achieves impressive success, blazing new trails for female boxers.
DirectorKaryn KusamaStarsMichelle RodriguezDouglas SantiagoJamie Tirelli
TwentyFourSeven (1997)
21. TwentyFourSeven
19971h 36m15
7.0
(2.9K)
A passionate mentor transforms rival street gangs into a united boxing club in a working-class English town. As the youths train and bond through boxing and wilderness excursions, they prepare for their first public match.
DirectorShane MeadowsStarsBob HoskinsDanny NussbaumToby
Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in Creed (2015)
22. Creed
20152h 13m12A82Metascore
7.6
(340K)
The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanSylvester StalloneTessa Thompson
Will Smith in Ali (2001)
23. Ali
20012h 37m1565Metascore
6.7
(111K)
A biography of sports legend Muhammad Ali, focusing on his triumphs and controversies between 1964 and 1974.
DirectorMichael MannStarsWill SmithJamie FoxxJon Voight
Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, and Jamie Foxx in The Great White Hype (1996)
24. The Great White Hype
19961h 31m15
5.5
(9.9K)
The boxing champ's promoter thinks change is needed. He finds the one man who's beaten his champ, a white man now in a rock band. Like Rocky, he trains heavily whereas the champ slacks.
DirectorReginald HudlinStarsSamuel L. JacksonJeff GoldblumDamon Wayans
Sylvester Stallone in Rocky Balboa (2006)
25. Rocky Balboa
20061h 42m12A63Metascore
7.1
(246K)
Thirty years after the ring of the first bell, Rocky Balboa comes out of retirement and dons his gloves for his final fight against the reigning heavyweight champ Mason 'The Line' Dixon.
DirectorSylvester StalloneStarsSylvester StalloneAntonio TarverMilo Ventimiglia
Aaron Eckhart, Miles Teller, and Christine Evangelista in Bleed for This (2016)
26. Bleed for This
20161h 57m1562Metascore
6.8
(34K)
The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sports' most incredible comebacks.
DirectorBen YoungerStarsMiles TellerAaron EckhartKatey Sagal
Myrna Loy, Max Baer, and Primo Carnera in The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)
27. The Prizefighter and the Lady
19331h 42mA
6.3
(1.2K)
An ex-sailor turned boxer finds romance and gets a shot at the heavyweight title.
DirectorsW.S. Van DykeHoward HawksStarsMyrna LoyMax BaerPrimo Carnera
Night and the City (1992)
28. Night and the City
19921h 45m1561Metascore
5.8
(5.6K)
The story about a cheating and incompetent lawyer (Harry Fabian) who suddenly gets obsessed on becoming a boxing promoter.
DirectorIrwin WinklerStarsRobert De NiroJessica LangeCliff Gorman
Meg Smaker in Boxeadora (2015)
29. Boxeadora
201515mShort
6.5
(15)
One woman defies Fidel Castro's ban on female boxing to follow her dreams of Olympic glory and become Cuba's first female boxer.
DirectorMeg Smaker
Ving Rhames and Wesley Snipes in Undisputed (2002)
30. Undisputed
20021h 36m1558Metascore
6.1
(36K)
When heavyweight champion George "Iceman" Chambers lands in prison, the resident gangster arranges a boxing match with the reigning prison champ.
DirectorWalter HillStarsWesley SnipesVing RhamesPeter Falk
Ving Rhames in Don King: Only in America (1997)
31. Don King: Only in America
19972h 1mRTV Movie
7.0
(1.4K)
A cinematic portrait of the famous fight promoter and boxing manager.
DirectorJohn HerzfeldStarsVing RhamesVondie Curtis-HallJeremy Piven
Bette Davis and Edward G. Robinson in Kid Galahad (1937)
32. Kid Galahad
19371h 42mPG64Metascore
7.2
(4.4K)
Fight promoter Nick Donati grooms a bellhop as a future champ, but has second thoughts after the now-named Kid Galahad falls for his sister.
DirectorMichael CurtizStarsEdward G. RobinsonBette DavisHumphrey Bogart
Edna Mae Harris and Gladys Williams in The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940)
33. The Notorious Elinor Lee
19401h 47m
4.3
(21)
Gangsters use a woman to get to a boxer and convince him to throw a big fight.
DirectorOscar MicheauxStarsGladys WilliamsRobert Earl JonesCarman Newsome
William Holden and Barbara Stanwyck in Golden Boy (1939)
34. Golden Boy
19391h 39mA
6.8
(2.4K)
A poor young Italian man, who is a virtuoso on the violin, wishes to become a champion boxer to make a fortune for his family. But what is the road to success and happiness, and what is the price?
DirectorRouben MamoulianStarsBarbara StanwyckAdolphe MenjouWilliam Holden
Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, and Irene Rich in The Champ (1931)
35. The Champ
19311h 26mApproved
7.2
(4K)
An alcoholic ex-boxer struggles to provide a good living for his son.
DirectorKing VidorStarsWallace BeeryJackie CooperIrene Rich
Golden Girl (2016)
36. Golden Girl
20161h 23mNot Rated
6.7
(41)
Golden Girl is a film about the forces at play around Frida Wallberg, WBC world champion. It's about putting it all on the line in a deadly sport. About rosy dreams that crash into a nothing less than brutal reality.
DirectorSusanna EdwardsStarsFrida Wallberg
Errol Flynn and Alexis Smith in Gentleman Jim (1942)
37. Gentleman Jim
19421h 44mU
7.5
(4.6K)
As bare-knuckled boxing enters the modern era, brash extrovert, Jim Corbett, uses new rules and dazzlingly innovative footwork to rise to the top of the top of the boxing world.
DirectorRaoul WalshStarsErrol FlynnAlexis SmithJack Carson
The Ring (1927)
38. The Ring
19271h 56mA71Metascore
6.1
(4.4K)
Two boxers compete for the love of a woman.
DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsCarl BrissonLillian Hall-DavisIan Hunter
Knuckle (2011)
39. Knuckle
20111h 37m1565Metascore
6.8
(3.3K)
An epic 12-year journey into the brutal and secretive world of Irish Traveler bare-knuckle fighting. This film follows a history of violent feuding between rival clans.
DirectorIan PalmerStarsJames Quinn McDonaghPaddy Quinn McDonaghMichael Quinn McDonagh
Liev Schreiber in The Bleeder (2016)
40. The Bleeder
20161h 38m1568Metascore
6.5
(7.6K)
A drama inspired by the life of heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, who had a once-in-a-lifetime bout with Muhammad Ali that would inspire the film Rocky (1976).
DirectorPhilippe FalardeauStarsLiev SchreiberElisabeth MossRon Perlman
Cinderella Man (2005)
41. Cinderella Man
20052h 24m12A69Metascore
8.0
(211K)
The true story of James J. Braddock, a supposedly washed-up boxer, who returned to the spotlight to win the heavyweight championship of the world.
DirectorRon HowardStarsRussell CroweRenée ZellwegerCraig Bierko
Denzel Washington in The Hurricane (1999)
42. The Hurricane
19992h 26m1574Metascore
7.6
(109K)
The story of Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, a boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder, and the people who aided in his fight to prove his innocence.
DirectorNorman JewisonStarsDenzel WashingtonVicellous ShannonDeborah Kara Unger
Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson in The Boxer (1997)
43. The Boxer
19971h 53m1575Metascore
7.0
(24K)
Young Danny Flynn is released from prison 14 years after "taking the rap" for the IRA and tries to rebuild his life in his old Belfast neighborhood.
DirectorJim SheridanStarsDaniel Day-LewisEmily WatsonDaragh Donnelly
Resurrecting the Champ (2007)
44. Resurrecting the Champ
20071h 52m1255Metascore
6.7
(22K)
Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. What begins as an opportunity to resurrect Champ's story and escape the shadow of his father's success becomes a personal journey as the ambitious reporter reexamines his own life and his relationship with his family.
DirectorRod LurieStarsSamuel L. JacksonJosh HartnettKathryn Morris
Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, and The Goldwyn Girls in The Kid from Brooklyn (1946)
45. The Kid from Brooklyn
19461h 53mU
6.5
(1.4K)
After a timid milkman knocks unconscious a boxing champion who was accosting his sister, he decides to take up boxing himself in order to impress a beautiful nightclub singer.
DirectorNorman Z. McLeodStarsDanny KayeVirginia MayoVera-Ellen
Lew Ayres and Jean Harlow in The Iron Man (1931)
46. The Iron Man
19311h 13mA
5.8
(366)
Prizefighter Mason loses his opening fight so wife Rose leaves him for Hollywood. Without her around Mason trains and starts winning. Rose comes back and wants Mason to dump his manager Regan and replace him with her secret lover Lewis.
DirectorTod BrowningStarsLew AyresRobert ArmstrongJean Harlow
Buster Keaton in Battling Butler (1926)
47. Battling Butler
19261h 17mPG
7.0
(4.6K)
A love-struck weakling must pretend to be boxer in order to gain respect from the family of the girl he loves.
DirectorBuster KeatonStarsBuster KeatonSnitz EdwardsSally O'Neil
Sons of Cuba (2009)
48. Sons of Cuba
20091h 28mNot Rated
7.5
(136)
The Havana Boxing Academy is a Cuban boarding school that takes 9-year-old boys, and turns them into the best boxers in the world.
DirectorAndrew LangStarsYosvani BonacheaCristian MartinezSantos Urguelles
Coley Wallace in The Joe Louis Story (1953)
49. The Joe Louis Story
19531h 28mU
5.9
(433)
The life and career of Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis, who held the title for 12 years--longer than any other boxer in history--and who had to not only battle opponents inside the ring and racism outside it.
DirectorRobert GordonStarsColey WallacePaul StewartHilda Simms
The Gordon Sisters Boxing (1901)
50. The Gordon Sisters Boxing
19012mShort
4.9
(203)
The scene is a theatre stage with a painted panorama of French garden, with a central alley between lawns, with a couple of marble steps and balcony in front, and a line of trees in the background. Two young women step in front of this scenario, one in black, and the other in white knee-length skirts and sleeveless shirts. Both are curly blondes, keeping their hair in place by means of ribbons. They have 8-ounce boxing gloves (228 grams) well tied to their wrists. They box each other in fast, intuitive action, with not much protection. Most punches end on the opponent's leather clad fists, but several reach their bare arms, and they exchange at least 20 punches to head and chest, at close quarter and with considerable power, showing that both sisters had reasonable training in boxing, and were not afraid of taking punches themselves. The girl in black seems to dominate most of the 1m30s round, though near the end the girl in white does a courageous comeback # not enough to win, if points were awarded. The fight, or the film copy from which the tape was extracted, ends suddenly, after a solid head punch by the black skirted girl # but it's not enough to down her similarly strong opponent.
DirectorEdwin S. PorterStarsBessie GordonMinnie Gordon