Champs

2015 • 90 minutes

About this movie

More than just a sports documentary, CHAMPS explores the pursuit of the American Dream through boxing and paints a picture of a controversial and unregulated sport in a moment of crisis. Built around the stories of heavyweight legends Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins - who open up about their lives and careers as never seen before - CHAMPS weaves their uncensored recollections with classic fight footage and candid interviews with Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Ron Howard, Spike Lee, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent. Boxing has long given kids from America’s roughest neighborhoods the opportunity to escape violence with violence. But in a sport where careers are made and broken in the blink of an eye, and whose athletes are often ill-equipped for the fame and fortune that accompany a title belt, one question remains… What does it take to be a champ?

Ratings and reviews

Great movies. Amazing movies, gives insight knowledge of 3 former world champion's. Describes the background and hardships most fighters from poverty most overcome. Yes most fighters do come from living situations similar to the 3 hall of fame boxers. Beautiful movie of how you can change your live around and be the sailer of your own destiny. After Tyson and holyfield lost everything. they kept putting one foot in front of the other and continue to learn about themselves. Finally happy breaking the chains.

I'm a boxing fan and a documentary fan. This felt win-win to me. I didn't know as much about these fighters pasts as I thought and to hear them tell it made for a fantastic viewing.

Completely a surprise! Deep, passionate, intelligent, moving, this is not about boxing. It's about all people. It's psychological, sociological, political, educational, and incredible to watch. Heartwarming and heartbreaking, about love and fear and discipline, justice and injustice. All that, and it's great to watch.