New York Boxing: “Popcorn And Pugilists” At Down Town Association September 18

Boxing films have been an important part of the sports movie genre for generations. Classics such as “On the Waterfront,” “Requiem for A Heavyweight,” “Raging Bull,” and the Rocky classics, and more recently “Million Dollar Baby” and “Cinderella Man, have depicted the Sweet Science and compelling stories on the big screen.

And so, Jim Houlihan, the curator of the Fighting Irishmen exhibit presently at the South Street Seaport, joined by boxing historian Steve Lott, have put together a special evening entitled “Popcorn and Pugilists” set for Tuesday night, September 18, at 7:30 PM at the Down Town Association at 60 Pine Street in New York City.

Lott will serve as the moderator of the forum featuring actor Tony LoBianco, who portrayed Rocky Marciano in the film “Marciano”; boxing promoter Lou DiBella, who played himself in last year’s Rocky Balboa flick; Maureen Shea, the undefeated female fighter who prepped Hilary Swank for “Million Dollar Baby”; and “Irish” Micky Ward, whose life will be profiled in a film currently in production starring Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg. Snippets from many boxing flicks will be shown, as well.

It is hard to believe just how many boxers have actually appeared in movies including such legends as Muhammed Ali, Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Gene Tunney, Jack Johnson, Benny Leonard, James J. Corbett, Jersey Joe Walcott, Primo Carnera and Max Baer.

And the cinema is not without its share of award winning actors who have starred in boxing themed movies reads like a who’s who of movies: Roberto DeNiro, Paul Newman, Daniel Day Lewis, Bob Hope, Kirk Douglas, Jerry Lewis, Jon Voight, Wallace Beery, Charlie Chaplin, Elvis Presley, Leonard Nimoy, Clark Gable, and James Cagney. The great directors who orchestrated boxing films into their cinematic work have included the likes of Hitchcock, Kubrick, Wise, Scorcese, and Howard.

Tickets for the Popcorn and Pugilists forum are priced at $35 and $50, and may be purchased by calling 212-748-8776 or email crauscher@southstseaport.org. The VIP ticket includes a 6:00 PM tour of the exhibit and reception prior to the panel