About this episode
Ellen and Mark explore the unique genre of boxing movies, discussing their historical significance and themes with critics and former champions.
Ellen and Mark step into the ring to explore cinema's most heavyweight genre, fifty years on from Sylvester Stallone's smash-hit film Rocky. What is it about the boxing movie that makes it not just a sports movie, but a genre of its very own? Critic Christina Newland gives Mark a punchy rundown of how boxing movies throughout history - from Body And Soul to Raging Bull - have tackled themes of race, class and identity. Ellen speaks to former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew, who moved from the ring to the big screen in 2016, acting in the Creed films. And Ellen also talks to actor Amir-El Masry, who played the Yemeni-heritage, Yorkshire-born maverick boxing champion Prince Naseem Hamid in the electrifying 2026 biopic Giant. Producer: Jane Long A Prospect Street production for BBC Radio 4
People in this episode
Hosts: Ellen, Mark
Guests: Christina Newland, Tony Bellew, Amir-El Masry
Topics covered
- boxing movies
- cinema
- sports genre
- race
- class
- identity
Keywords
- boxing
- movies
- cinema
- Rocky
- Raging Bull
- identity
- Tony Bellew
- Amir-El Masry
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Rocky, Body And Soul, Raging Bull, Creed, Giant
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