El Boxeo

There are those who think, foolishly, that boxing's audience has diminished. Those people are as wrong as those who think the earth is flat. The fact, as this masterpiece shows, is that boxing, having become truly international, is bigger than ever. Vast in scope, "El Boxeo" deals with the sport in myriad ways by exploring it as a metaphor for race, language, culture, economics, and politics. But at the same time, it never loses sight of what's been called "The Sweet Science." Told entirely as an oral history, it features champs both past and present, promoters, managers, trainers, broadcasters, referees, historians, and ring announcers -- a veritable "Who's-Who" of the boxing world. Among those seen on screen are Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Israel Vazquez, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Canelo Alvarez, Larry Merchant, Al Bernstein, Jose Sulaiman, Paco Valcarcel, Bobby Chacon, and many, many more. A must see for every sports fan!

Truly remarkable film! Through a series of interviews with experts, past champions and historical footage, this film is truly a gem. Starting with the legends of the sport Round 1 explores the history of the past champions and legendary venues of the sport. Other rounds explore the factors that drove many young man and women to the sport as well to the styles used by the various boxers. The round that explores "Cuba" is particularly spectacular as it goes into depth about the possibilities of Cuban boxers having the ability of going pro at a young age. Speculation of Stevenson vs Ali are rather insightful. There is a round that goes in depth about "Oscar De La Hoya", the man, the myth. Oscar and various expert explore his career, the good the bad and the ugly. What makes this film great is that it is well rounded and tackles various issues including the lack of Heavyweights within the ranks and the current state of affairs comparing the popularity of the sport as it compares to other sports like baseball, football and the MMA.

Director Alan Swyer and staff have put together an excellent documentary on Latino fighters and what they mean to the game of boxing. Swyer makes a fast moving story with a cast of hundreds (from boxers to managers to promoters) that tell the big heart story of Latino boxers who provide the biggest thrills to boxing fans. History documents what Latino boxers bring to the table and their never take a step back approach to battling in the ring. They're all here from Ruben Olivares to Oscar De La Hoya to tell the real story of Latino boxing. Swyer grabs them in restaurants, backyards and in the gym to sit down with past and current Latino boxers. Congratulations to "El Boxeo" for telling the true story of Latino boxing and their place in history.

El Boxeo tells the story of Latinos in the sport of boxing unlike any film I've ever seen. The documentary isn't just about boxing. It's not just about who had the best left hook or knockout punch... It's a story that reveals the difficulties these boxers had to go through just to step into a ring. Whether it was poverty or racism, hunger or politics, broken homes or gang violence, sexism or immigration... El Boxeo tells the intimate accounts of Latino heroes that endured much more than we'll ever understand. Obstacles, that in the end, served to motivate these men and women to fight for their lives and leave everything in the ring in order to provide for their families and serve their countries. It's an inspiring documentary about ordinary men (and women) with the courage, passion and heart to accomplish the extraordinary. When I finished watching the film, I had an incredible understanding of the sport and of the impact of Latinos had on the sport. That said, I also had a wonderful sense of pride, knowing that there is so much to appreciate about the journey my Latino brothers and sisters continue to make in order to have an opportunity to live a life they dream of. Great movie!