Boxing

When We Were Kings

Decades ago, documentary filmmaker Leon Gast attempted to complete a feature about the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" championship bout between boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Sundry complications, though, held up the project until its release in 1996. It was well worth the delay. From Gast's perspective of modern history, the six weeks Ali and Foreman were forced to spend waiting in Africa for their fight to take place now looks like an important moment in America's cultural understanding of African American roots. In a nutshell, Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight champion title because his opposition to the Vietnam War-era draft had landed him in prison. Reigning champ Foreman agreed to a Don King-promoted match in Kinshasa, but after all parties got there the fight was put off. Gast captures the charismatic Ali, in the ensuing days and weeks, going out among the people and getting to know them while the more reclusive Foreman keeps to his own company. Meanwhile, King brings over black American artists such as James Brown and the Spinners to mix it up with African musicians. The sense of excitement and connection is thrilling, as is the boxing footage of Foreman and Ali finally taking swings at one another in a titanic duel. Writers George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, each of whom was covering the fight as journalists, are on hand to recollect the details. Whether you're a fight fan or not, this is a unique experience and a fascinating insight into America's sense of identity. --Tom Keogh

Ringside - The Best of Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson was one of the most feared fighters in boxing. By age 19, his superlative record of wins earned him the nickname "Kid Dynamite." In the two years that followed, Tyson knocked out 19 opponents in a row, eventually becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history. His winning streak expanded to a dazzling 37-0 before Buster Douglas, an 11-1 underdog, TKO'd Tyson in the 10th round in one of boxing's biggest upsets. Now, ESPN Classic Ringside brings you "The Best of Mike Tyson," a new perspective and up-to-date analysis of one of the most dominant figures to ever step foot in the ring. Hosted by ESPN's Brian Kenny and historian/author Bert Randolph Sugar, this two-disc knockout edition DVD set includes 19 thrill-packed Tyson fights from his 1985 professional debut to the historic 1990 Douglas fight. Special guests include Teddy Atlas, Tyson's trainer from '80-'82, and ex-heavyweight champ Larry Holmes.

Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Collection

Before Muhammad Ali, plenty of African American heavyweights boxed, but few did for the game (or for blacks) what Ali did. Ali was bold, outrageous, and controversial. His antics outside of the ring showed an often-hilarious flair for self-promotion, and his conversion to Islam and decision to avoid the Vietnam War only fueled the storm of controversy that surrounded him. The thing about Ali, though, was that he was good enough to get by with it; after all, it's hard to argue with success. In the ring, he showed a sheer prowess and technique that few before or since could approach (the bonus CD-ROM discusses the similarities and contrasts between Ali and the great Joe Louis). Outside the ring, Ali had a sharp mind, good looks, and the strength of his own convictions going for him. This DVD contains footage of Ali's 1964 fight in which he slaughtered Sonny Liston, the 1974 bout where his technique got the better of George Foreman and his fearsome punching power, and the brutal 1975 fight against Joe Frazier (all fights are shown in their entirety). There have been few heavyweight boxers who can compare favorably to Muhammad Ali, and this DVD should be in the collection of all those who consider themselves fans of the sport. --Jerry Renshaw

The Superfight - Marciano vs. Ali

In the late 1960's, a Miami boxing promoter, who had a successful radio series of fantasy boxing bouts between champs of years past, fed their statistics into a computer, which predicted a "winner." Based on the popularity of these fights, he convinced a retired Rocky Marciano and a suspended Muhammad Ali to meet in the ring for filmed fight based on the computer results. On January 20, 1970, The "Fight of the Century - Ali vs. Marciano" was show one time in 1500 theatres across the United States and Europe and once in the early 70's on ABC's Wide World of Sports. All prints of the fight were destroyed, except for one given to the US Copyright office. The SuperFight has not been seen since. Marciano retired as the only undefeated Heavyweight champion. Ali, was 27 and undefeated. Both champs were motivated to find out who was the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.

ESPN Ringside: Ringside Rivalries

Ali vs. Frazier, Dempsey vs. Tunney, Robinson vs. LaMotta...Boxing s all-time marquee matchups are on tap when ESPN Classic presents Ringside Rivalries. From the Thrilla in Manila to the St. Valentine s Day Massacre (immortalized in the classic film Raging Bull ), these epic encounters transcended the sport and became legend. Featuring over four hours of two-fisted fight footage plus blow-by-blow commentary from Brian Kenny, Burt Randolph Sugar and a celebrated panel of boxing experts, Ringside Rivalries is an explosive two-disc DVD collection jam-packed with knockout punches, bad blood and hard-hitting controversy.

Muhammad Ali - Through the Eyes of the World

Muhammad Ali's grace, charisma, and remarkable bravado shine through in this affectionate look at his life and career. Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World takes a fairly straightforward documentary approach, chronicling Ali's life and career through film footage and interviews with journalists, loved ones, and a few bizarre commentators, like Scottish comedian Billy Connolly. The film does an excellent job of conveying both Ali's genuine importance as a historical figure and his incredible personal magnetism. Though the documentary doesn't shy away from his faults, Ali is simply impossible to dislike. Most importantly, the film's commentary and carefully selected fight footage make it clear even to those who don't follow the sport what a remarkable boxer Ali was. At one point, Lennox Lewis refers to the "sweet science" of not getting hit, and watching Ali dodge a barrage of punches, we understand exactly what he means. Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World doesn't pack quite the dramatic wallop of When We Were Kings, but it is a compelling look at one of history's greatest athletes. --Ali Davis

Roy Jones, Jr.'s Greatest Knockouts

A.K.A. Cassius Clay

Made in 1970, just as he was reaching the end of a three-year exile from boxing, A.K.A. Cassius Clay is a documentary about Muhammad Ali's life and career. Produced by Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton, who would go on to manage Mike Tyson, it includes reams of Jacobs's vast collection of fight footage, some of it familiar, some quite rare, such as flickering images of Ali's earliest bouts.

Ali's familiar story is competently related here: his 1960 Olympic triumph, his upset of Sonny Liston in 1964, his conversion to the Nation of Islam, and the plainly vindictive decision on the part of the authorities to revise his draft status and call him up for service in Vietnam. The principal pleasure is watching Ali in full verbal flow, including his maniacal teasing of Liston that proved to be a psychological knockout blow: "The man's too ugly to be the world champ. The world champ should be pretty, like me!" --David Stubbs

"A study of crazy brilliance and flamboyant sincerity" (LA Herald-Examiner), a.k.a. Cassius Clay presents a fascinating look at the incredible life and achievements of one of the most courageous, outspoken and charismatic figures of boxing: Muhammad Ali. Born Cassius Clay in 1942, Alisoon rose to become a renowned athlete, an articulate author and a compelling political leader. Audacious, ambitious and totally fearless, Ali became a symbol of pride, a legend of hope and one of the most extraordinary cultural icons of the 20th century. Filled with "plenty of meat in the visual material" (Newsweek), a.k.a. Cassius Clay charts the voyage of a man who grabbed Olympic gold at the age of 18, captured the world heavyweight title at 21 and ultimately came topower as one of the most forceful leaders of the American civil rights movement. Featuring clips from his most celebrated fights with Archie Moore and Sonny Liston, rare interviews with his trainer Cus D'Amato and extraordinary footage of Ali during his alliance with Malcolm X, a.k.a. Cassius Clay is an "intelligently and artistically assembled" (Los Angeles Times) and "provocative"(Box office) documentary.

Muhammad Ali - The Whole Story

Muhammad Ali. He is known as the most thrilling athlete of all time... he is known as The Greatest. The remarkable story of how he became one of the most loved, hated, intriguing, and controversial figures in American history is brought to life in the 6-hour series, Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story.

You will follow Muhammad Ali from his days as Cassius Clay growing up in Lousiville, Kentucky, to the pinnacle of his amateur career as the light-heavyweight gold medallist in the 1960 Rome Olympics. You will witness Ali's stunning victory over Sonny Liston to become the youngest Heavyweight Champion of the World and then experience his painful struggle to regain his title--a title taken from Ali because his religious beliefs precluded him from entering the Vietnam War. His is a story which fascinates both sports and non-sports lovers alike.

Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story contains 3 hours of exclusive footage of all Ali's greatest and most important fights. You will be ring-side for his famous battles with Ken Norton, "The Rumble in the Jungle" with George Foreman, and the "Thrilla in Manila" with Jor Frazier... it's a boxing fan's dream come true. This unique documentary chronicles the life of a man who, through his amazing athletic talent, brash and outspoken personality, courage, and personal convictions, not only changed the world of sports but the entire world around him. Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story will be one of the most talked about collector's series of all time.

Champions Forever: World Heavyweight Champs!

Five champions together for the last time! Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton. For more than twenty years, these kings of boxing ruled the ring as they passed the world heavyweight title from one to the other. Now, for the first time, see them all come face to face--gloves off--in an unprecedented video event, hosted by Reggie Jackson. In "Champions Forever," you'll discover the real men behind the legends, uncover the hidden anguish and secret passions that drove them to greatness. Hear them talk about themselves--and each other--with surprising candor. Relive the most thrilling moments from dozens of their greatest bouts and hear the fascinating truth about how these legends felt when they squared off to do battle. This is unlike any sports video you've ever seen, an exciting, emotional odyssey through the awesome careers of five bigger than life heroes who, for millions of us, will always be "Champions Forever."