Help identifying mystery boxing documentary

surgeklick · Post by **surgeklick** » 15 Mar 2006, 10:26

A long time ago I saw a documentary about a young boxer who was working his way up the rankings and hyped as a future World Champion. Along the way he fought an experienced fighter and got his face badly mashed up, which people ringside thought was suspitious because the experienced boxer wasn't hitting him that hard. It turned out the other boxer had cheated by taking padding out of his gloves, so he was basically fighting bare-knuckle. The young lad had to retire because of the damage to his face, and ultimately drank himself to death.

I say documentary, but my recollation is so vague it may well have been a film or some kind of as well. It may well be very well known and I'm making a tit of myself, but I really don't know.

I think the young fighter was an Irish lightweight, but I'm not sure.

Any help identifying either boxer or any information on the fight or documentary would be greatly appreciated.

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 15 Mar 2006, 10:39

Luis Resto v. Billy Collins, 1983-6-16.

Arsenal · Post by **Arsenal** » 15 Mar 2006, 12:05

I posted about this fight some time ago. What a tragedy that was.

surgeklick · Post by **surgeklick** » 15 Mar 2006, 13:55

Thanks alot. I've found articles about it, but can't find anything on imdb.com about the documentary.

bigzab · Post by **bigzab** » 15 Mar 2006, 14:41

This is eerie. I posted about this yesterday, in 'fighters whose life stories would be good films', or something along those lines.

surgeklick · Post by **surgeklick** » 15 Mar 2006, 14:59

It is. I searched his name after Wouter and Arsenal helped me out, I found 3 or 4 identical threads to this one from the last couple of years.

bigzab · Post by **bigzab** » 15 Mar 2006, 15:33

There are so many tragic episodes from boxings history, but this always chokes me up, probably coz there is an element of foul play here, which is rare in our sport.
i don't know if you have seen this article, surge, but it really gives you a rare angle, and amazingly (I remember reading it years ago, so i think i am right here) but i think it made me sympathetic for Resto.

Here's the link.

http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/0003/two.