What Boxer should they make a film about?

[orbtastic]

Scottish legend Benny Lynch.

At the ago of 23 Lynch became the undisputed world flyweight boxing champion. Just 2 years later his career came to an end due to alcoholism. In his 7 year professional career Lynch fought 102 times. In 1946, aged just 33, Lynch died of malnutrition. The man died broke and alone.

I might be dreaming this, but there was something about ten years ago with Robert Carlyle?

[hurlock]

Scottish legend Benny Lynch.

At the ago of 23 Lynch became the undisputed world flyweight boxing champion. Just 2 years later his career came to an end due to alcoholism. In his 7 year professional career Lynch fought 102 times. In 1946, aged just 33, Lynch died of malnutrition. The man died broke and alone.

I might be dreaming this, but there was something about ten years ago with Robert Carlyle?

Trainspotting??

[mickey1975]

Paul Sykes

Agreed. A film based on Sykes' book Sweet Agony would be good. A more objective assessment of his life would end up as as horror story though.

Sykes does not need a film. There is enough kicking about on YouTube to get a good look at what he was like. As you say, a true story would be horrific. It would be like a sequel to Nil By Mouth, just grittier!

[alfiemulleno]

Jackie Patterson world flyweight champion 1940s born Irvine 1920 moved to America when 8 years old returned to Glasgow when a teenager held world, british, commonwealth flyweight titles and commonwealth european bantam weight titles simultaneously,emigrated to south africa and stabbed to death outside a pub in south africa in 1966,earned an estimated £100,000 from his fights and squandered most on greyhound racing

[mickey1975]

There are no good points, though. He was an extremely violent bully, pisshead, liked underage girls (by his own admission in Sweet Agony, quit in his shot at the big time and died of Cirrhosis an alcoholic tramp living in a skip!

[Mimmy]

Paul Sykes

gotta go with this one

[stevieb_8006]

sonny liston. they could call it "sonny"

[misterpunch]

yeah but because of the 1970's sitcom starring eric, hattie, richard wattis and derek guyler still warm in our memories the film could not possibly be called "SYKES"

[keithmoonhangover]

Murder, booze, violence, opium, whores, fast cars, guns and world title fights.

The Stanley Ketchel story is crying out to be made and one day I'll write and direct it, you've gotta aim high in life.

James McAvoy would be perfect as Stanley.

Ketchel earned $250,000 and spent most of it before he was shot and killed aged 24.

[Cyclops]

There are no good points, though. He was an extremely violent bully, pisshead, liked underage girls (by his own admission in Sweet Agony, quit in his shot at the big time and died of Cirrhosis an alcoholic tramp living in a skip!

I take your point, Mickey. I am fully aware of Sykes' various habits but they would sanitise it, and a good film could still be made based on the book: his release from jail and rise to fight for the British title, getting involved in various scrapes and escapades along the way etc, I think it would work. You are, however, probably right in saying Sykes doesn't deserve a film - it would probably only glamorise his life and gloss over all the pain and suffering he caused.

There's a lot of rumors kicking about that he was a prison rapist. Got the young lads into his cell and then had his way with them... Allegedly. Check the comments on the videos of him on Youtube.

Also the way he treats his kids in the Documentary about his life is terrifying. A 6'3" 16 stone man saying "I'm going to have to beat him up" about his boy and then the horrible disturbing shot of his youngest kid flinching when he moves in case he lamps him... Sorry, Paul Sykes was a horrible, horrible c*nt.

Aren't both those lads in prison now? For murder or something? They didn't have a chance.

You don't need a film about him, because you've got the footage which is frightening enough.

I say this in the knowledge I suggested Edwin Valero, who was just as bad. But there's no candid documentary footage of Valero and I think he'd make for a really interesting, dark, disturbing movie. Somebody should at least research and write a book.

[mickey1975]

Both of Paul's lads are now doing life. You are just echoing everything i said. There is no glamour in Paul's story, it is brutal.

[johnnykayo]

sikes was also a son of a prison officer who was a screw in wakefield,his father apparently was a out n out bully to sikes when he was a kid and use to thrash him with a belt, a harsh upbringing indeed. as for benny lynch their was a play about him in the 70,s one of them play for today things,i think it come out in 1975. i think a film should be made on frankie de paula,fought bob foster for the title but was a mafia enforcer and got gunned down at age 32. also another good un would be on tony ayala,the one that angelo dundee said could of been of been one of the greatest,he also served a lot of bird.

[johnnykayo]

forgot to mention another good movie would be on charlie "devil" green,he fought larry holmes,floyd patterson and jose torres. he was sentenced in 1983 for the murders of 3 people,i met him a few years ago in shawangunk maximum security in upstate new york with my pal george chuvalo as he use to spar with the devil. gotta say what a smashin man he was and he was on about a film being made on him as he had been in touch with spike lee and wanted denzil washington to play him.

[palooka]

I think Ayala is still in prison and will be in for a long time yet; a film of his life would not be right uplifting really - a fantastic boxer who had kidnap and rape on his mind, (more than once). His brother Mike would be a better subject.

[palooka]

Both of Paul's lads are now doing life. You are just echoing everything i said. There is no glamour in Paul's story, it is brutal.

I was in Hull Prison for being a pudendum in 1989 and Sykes was down the block. There were loads of local lads in there and they knew all about him - he weren't a Robin Hood from all accounts and would put it on people though he was supposed to be a really hard man.

[Mensa07]

Hopkins definitely, a great story.

[hurlock]

Suprised Sykes got away with taking so many libertys!!
Surely he must if been set about on a good few occasions

[Mimmy]

sikes was also a son of a prison officer who was a screw in wakefield,his father apparently was a out n out bully to sikes when he was a kid and use to thrash him with a belt, a harsh upbringing indeed. as for benny lynch their was a play about him in the 70,s one of them play for today things,i think it come out in 1975. i think a film should be made on frankie de paula,fought bob foster for the title but was a mafia enforcer and got gunned down at age 32. also another good un would be on tony ayala,the one that angelo dundee said could of been of been one of the greatest,he also served a lot of bird.

Did you ever see Sykes dad? I cant imagine that guy being a bully he was a bit of a wally

[jonp]

sikes was also a son of a prison officer who was a screw in wakefield,his father apparently was a out n out bully to sikes when he was a kid and use to thrash him with a belt, a harsh upbringing indeed. as for benny lynch their was a play about him in the 70,s one of them play for today things,i think it come out in 1975. i think a film should be made on frankie de paula,fought bob foster for the title but was a mafia enforcer and got gunned down at age 32. also another good un would be on tony ayala,the one that angelo dundee said could of been of been one of the greatest,he also served a lot of bird.

Did you ever see Sykes dad? I cant imagine that guy being a bully he was a bit of a wally

Sometimes a wally can be the worst one, a ten year old lad hasnt got much to say against even a full grown man who wants to throw his weight around.

On sykes some one told me who is a very good judge that sykes is one of the hardest men hed seen in the jail.Said he was just unstoppable in a street fight.

[johnnykayo]

i can see that Prison/ boxers do make a good movie cos youve only gotta look at carters film "the hurricane" and his book "the 16th round" which he wrote inside was a total classic,epic book ! so yea sikes would make a good film but whatabout someone more recent like garry delaney. if guy richie wants to make movies on east end tough guys then why doesnt he do one on a real one like garry delaney ! not only would his life make a good book but a film for sure,he was labelled "the new billy walker" and "the claret and blue hammer" and had a massive following down the east end and even charlie kray was a big fan of his too. i recently read the notorious prisoner charlie bronson,s book "diaries from hell" were HE even says "garrys life would make a great movie,top geezer and all the delaneys are true pals to me". he fought some great fighters in his day and was a explosive puncher at light-heavyweight,he sparred with eubank,benn and watson when he was 18 ! so yea it would make good viewing,with a promising boxing career to a life inprisonment. it seems to me any fighters fall from grace and ending up on the wrong side of the law always make a good film

[mickey1975]

Could be a little insensitive to the victims family.

[johnnykayo]

Could be a little insensitive to the victims family.

yea but isnt it insensitive to any victims family when they do a film on criminals ????

[mickey1975]

Could be a little insensitive to the victims family.

yea but isnt it insensitive to any victims family when they do a film on criminals ????

Well they could at least wait until he has served his sentence.

[misterpunch]

any film on these guys - delaney, sykes, carter etc - would have to be honest accounts of their lives, not just glorifying them. the families of the victims couldnt object too much if the film showed all sides of these complex and very filmic characters.

[dookus]

What was Sweet Agony like? Anyone read it?