Legendary Champions
Encyclopedia
Legendary Champions is a 1968 documentary film written and directed by Harry Chapin
featuring old boxer
s in action. There are many scenes that show the boxers outside the ring, including some that are the only ones of their kind. Several early boxers, John L. Sullivan
for example, are shown in the only film ever taken of them. The film of the Dempsey-Willard fight is very violent. The history of Jack Johnson
out of the ring is quite interesting. The narrator incorrectly states that Jack Johnson is seen picking a defeated boxer's teeth out of one of his gloves. The attire worn by some of the early boxers is more revealing than what modern-day boxers use, and to the other extreme, tights
were even worn by some boxers.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
.
Harry Chapin
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the...
featuring old boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
s in action. There are many scenes that show the boxers outside the ring, including some that are the only ones of their kind. Several early boxers, John L. Sullivan
John L. Sullivan
John Lawrence Sullivan , also known as the Boston Strong Boy, was recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing from February 7, 1881 to 1892, and is generally recognized as the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing under the London Prize Ring rules...
for example, are shown in the only film ever taken of them. The film of the Dempsey-Willard fight is very violent. The history of Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (boxer)
John Arthur Johnson , nicknamed the “Galveston Giant,” was an American boxer. At the height of the Jim Crow era, Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion...
out of the ring is quite interesting. The narrator incorrectly states that Jack Johnson is seen picking a defeated boxer's teeth out of one of his gloves. The attire worn by some of the early boxers is more revealing than what modern-day boxers use, and to the other extreme, tights
Tights
Tights are a kind of cloth leg garment, most often sheathing the body from about the waist to the feet with a more or less tight fit, hence the name....
were even worn by some boxers.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
Academy Award for Documentary Feature
The Academy Award for Documentary Feature is among the most prestigious awards for documentary films.- Winners and nominees:Following the Academy's practice, films are listed below by the award year...
.