Sylvester Stallone's Favorite Boxing Movies

Sylvester Stallone, best known for starring in the Rocky franchise, has opened up about his favorite films.  

Stallone starred in six Rocky films and two of the Creed spin-offs. However, beyond the franchise, there were plenty of other boxing films he recommended. Stallone mentions ‘Winner Take All.’ This film follows a boxer whose life spirals out of control due to his wild life and womanizing. The film is less about the fighting in the ring, but more about how a fighter has to control their life outside of the ring to keep themselves in check. Despite Oscar De La Hoya being a six-weight world champion, the Golden Boy Promoter has been open about his struggles with substance abuse. 

Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winner_Take_All_(1932_film)#/media/File:WinnerTakeAll1932.jpg

Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_City_(film)#/media/File:Fat_City_DVD_cover.jpg

Other Films

Another film on the list was ‘Fat City.’ Released in 1972, this film follows two boxers who are no longer at the top of their game. One is a washed-up veteran and the other a young hopeful. Stallone felt the film summed up the sport, as "most fighters have these horrible lives." The movie delves into the loneliness, financial struggles, and the physical toll of a boxing career. 

Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raging_Bull#/media/File:Raging_Bull_poster.jpg

Stallone also did not forget to mention Raging Bull. It’s a look at the life of boxing champion Jake LaMotta, played by Robert De Niro. The film explores LaMotta’s self-destructive rage and paranoia, which made him a beast in the ring but a monster outside of it. It shows the dark side of ambition and the self-inflicted wounds that can be more damaging than any punch.

Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Champ_(1979_film)#/media/File:Champposter.jpg

Stallone also named "The Champion." This could have referred to the 1979 remake. It is a story about a former boxer who returns to the ring for the sake of his son. Alternatively, it could have been about the 1915 short film with the same name. The character named, The Tramp, finds a lucky horseshoe and uses it to cheat his way to victory in a boxing match. Despite those films, the Rocky franchise is arguably the most iconic.

“The first one [Rocky film] is my favourite but emotionally the last one, Rocky Balboa. That was the hardest one to get done. No one believed in it, it was such a long shot. The fact that it worked out is incredible so. so I’m incredibly proud of that," Stallone said

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