BoxRec

A light hearted topic but I was thinking of the worldwide interest in boxing generated because of the Rocky movies. Several fighters amateur and professional claim they started boxing or having an interest because of these films. And of course many people who have never fought became boxing fans because of the films !!!

So what if they were never made? What fighters maybe would have ended up working 9-5 jobs?

I remember Vinny Pazienza saying he was inspired by Rocky.
I think that first flick certainly helped add to the sports popularity at the time.

I may have dreamed this so if anyone can verify it please state...

I'm sure back in the 1980s Rocky Lockridge was interviewed and asked about why he took the name Rocky... The interviewer asked him if he was inspired by Marciano and Lockridge said, "No, Balboa..."

I know I loved Rocky as a kid but there were always fight fans and writers who claimed that the over the top fight scenes might have turned parents off from allowing their kids to participate.

The cinematic world would be better off had they never been made
I know, let’s make some movies which reinforce the most negative stereotypes of Italian Americans, African Americans, Eastern Europeans, and the sport of boxing in general. Great idea huh ?
Some say the original was a “classic” . Yeah, classic cheesy trash. The promoter always wearing a red carnation, and Adrian going form a mild downs syndrome patient to an articulate ethnic IAP (Italian American princess) in the time it took to get back from the skating rink, was a nice touch, don’t you think ?
As for it's impact on boxing ? Who knows.
Lee Canalito got to join his Buddy Stallone's group of milingering leaches and most likely got to bang a production assistant or two. One can only hope he was a better lackey then a fighter.
Other then that and the misrepresentation of it's nature, boxing came out mostly unaffected

we wouldnt have had a load of shit 'boxing' ? movies

apparently cinderella is good but ive always avoided cos the fight scenes are sooooooo silly



remember when rockys corner actually slash his mouse with a razor

we'd be without a great theme song. always gets the blood pumping.

cosand wrote:The cinematic world would be better off had they never been made
I know, let’s make some movies which reinforce the most negative stereotypes of Italian Americans, African Americans, Eastern Europeans, and the sport of boxing in general. Great idea huh ?
Some say the original was a “classic” . Yeah, classic cheesy trash. The promoter always wearing a red carnation, and Adrian going form a mild downs syndrome patient to an articulate ethnic IAP (Italian American princess) in the time it took to get back from the skating rink, was a nice touch, don’t you think ?
As for it's impact on boxing ? Who knows.
Lee Canalito got to join his Buddy Stallone's group of milingering leaches and most likely got to bang a production assistant or two. One can only hope he was a better lackey then a fighter.
Other then that and the misrepresentation of it's nature, boxing came out mostly unaffected

Man! I always considered the Rocky movies,just that, "movies".I never took them to heart,nor felt predjudice or bias towards the nationalities portrayed in the films,and I'm pretty sure that there are a LOT more movies than this series,that promotes the racial streotypes you accuse these of.Why don't you take a look at a few Spike Lee films?Like "Do the right thing" for one,or Jungle fever.Then talk about stereotyping.Rocky may have been a bit corny,and exaggerated in the fight scenes,but they were way better than "Body & Soul",and the Penetentiary movies.Look at those phony fights,and you will be thinking Balboa was Ray Robinson in comparison,
zuru

Like it or not, Rocky movies have inspired a LOT of people to get involved in boxing. Some of them former and actual world champions.

There would be no Spider Rico.

Hulk Hogan and Mr. T would not have become superstars.

zuru



Joined: 10 Mar 2005
Posts: 231

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:11 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Man! I always considered the Rocky movies,just that, "movies".I never took them to heart,nor felt predjudice or bias towards the nationalities portrayed in the films,and I'm pretty sure that there are a LOT more movies than this series,that promotes the racial streotypes you accuse these of.Why don't you take a look at a few Spike Lee films?Like "Do the right thing" for one,or Jungle fever.Then talk about stereotyping.Rocky may have been a bit corny,and exaggerated in the fight scenes,but they were way better than "Body & Soul",and the Penetentiary movies.Look at those phony fights,and you will be thinking Balboa was Ray Robinson in comparison,
zuru

I hear ya.
The whole racial, "white hope" and nationalistic thing (USA, USA, USA !!!!!!) just annoys me, thats all.
I know media reflects mindsets more then it shapes them, but a movie that had 300 white people in theaters yelling "Knock out that Mooley" as if it was reality, just validates knuckle dragging biggots.

Without Rocky, Chuck Wepner would have no one paying any attention to him everytime a new Rocky movie came out.

zojo, wrote:Without Rocky, Chuck Wepner would have no one paying any attention to him everytime a new Rocky movie came out.

Yeah, but we'd still be seeing ol' Chuck get tomato-canned by Muhammad Ali about twice a week on ESPN Classics, a.k.a. the "All Ali, All the Time Network."

Tens of thousands of historic fights in their library, and all ESPN shows is Ali...