BoxRec

Philo Beddoe and Chaney were two of my favorites.

Ken Clean-Air System

hhaehre wrote: ↑24 Sep 2018, 10:36 Ken Clean-Air System

That's a classic bit

DrDuke wrote: ↑13 Sep 2018, 13:02 Billy Tully.

When I saw the title/subject of this thread DrDuke, I was quite confident that I was going to be the only individual to choose Billy Tully as my favorite. I'd have placed money on it, in fact. So, imagine my surprise when upon opening it up you chose Tully just three posts in! Great choice.
FAT CITY is, of course, my all-time favorite boxing film. It's among my top ten films of any genre actually.

FAT CITY is my favorite boxing movie, primarily because it's about the "rest of us" who never really made it in the business. Managers who never made it, fighters who never made it, trainers who never made it, etc. Everyone in the movie is essentially a loser, or someone who got swept under the rug after a defeat.

The fact it was directed by John Huston who had first-hand knowledge and experience in "that life" as a young man gave it a kind of authenticity that most fight films simply don't have.

Billy Tully, is boxing's version of Willy Loman (Death of a Salesman). We root for him because he is each & every single one of us. But, we also hate him because he is us. Nobody wants to be Willy Loman, and nobody wants to be Billy Tully.

But... Honey Roy Palmer was my favorite because he's a "never was" who eeked out a living doing cash fights under the jurisdiction of commission's and pulls off this seemingly invincible task of beating ten men in one day... It's a bit of a stretch, but, mind you in earlier eras guys like LaMar Clark & Bob Fitzsimmons fought multiple opponents in single events.

sweetviolenturge wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 06:23 FAT CITY is, of course, my all-time favorite boxing film.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 06:58 FAT CITY is my favorite boxing movie

And mine as well.

DrDuke wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 07:54

sweetviolenturge wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 06:23 FAT CITY is, of course, my all-time favorite boxing film.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 06:58 FAT CITY is my favorite boxing movie

And mine as well.

Mine too. It's not only a great boxing movie, but a great movie period.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 06:58 FAT CITY is my favorite boxing movie, primarily because it's about the "rest of us" who never really made it in the business. Managers who never made it, fighters who never made it, trainers who never made it, etc. Everyone in the movie is essentially a loser, or someone who got swept under the rug after a defeat.

The fact it was directed by John Huston who had first-hand knowledge and experience in "that life" as a young man gave it a kind of authenticity that most fight films simply don't have.

Billy Tully, is boxing's version of Willy Loman (Death of a Salesman). We root for him because he is each & every single one of us. But, we also hate him because he is us. Nobody wants to be Willy Loman, and nobody wants to be Billy Tully.

But... Honey Roy Palmer was my favorite because he's a "never was" who eeked out a living doing cash fights under the jurisdiction of commission's and pulls off this seemingly invincible task of beating ten men in one day... It's a bit of a stretch, but, mind you in earlier eras guys like LaMar Clark & Bob Fitzsimmons fought multiple opponents in single events.

FAT CITY & its protagonist, Billy Tully had a lasting impact on my own boxing career.
When I first saw the film I was just a young teen, a budding amateur myself who even then, at that early stage knew my own limitations. I wasn't a gifted athlete or a "natural" boxer. But, I was driven & durable. A tough, walk-in banger who could punch, especially to the body. Being a realist, I knew that Olympic glory wasn't in my future. Nor would there likely be championships on the pro level.
No, what I desired most of all was to become a professional like Billy Tully. A good solid pro who could be respected & be proud of his accomplishments. That was my dream. Modest? Perhaps. But, wholely attainable I believed & with that as a driving force I was able to push myself into being just that.
I didn't become a contender like Billy Tully once was but I became an honest to God pro. Someone who was good enough & respected enough to be hired on as a steady sparring partner for several world champions & top contenders. Something that I'm very proud of. By doing so I was able to actually exceed what I'd hoped for in my career. & it was from FAT CITY that I drew much of my inspiration.