Champs isn’t your typical sports documentary. Director Bert Marcus examined the lives of boxing legends Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins, but he did so through the lens of social issues and circumstances that contribute to corruption in the boxing industry.
The film features interviews with the three legendary boxers, personalities from the boxing world and celebrities Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Ron Howard, Spike Lee, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent — all of whom have connections to the sport.
The film is available to purchase on iTunes and viewers can watch it on Sportsnet on July 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET, presented commercial free by Southpaw.
To get you set for Champs, we went 12 rounds with Marcus to get some insight on the film and its featured fighters.
SN: What has the reception been like since the release of the film?
The reception has been great. It’s been really humbling to get a lot of great feedback from people who tell us their lives have been affected by these iconic figures and how this film has helped them through their own plights and struggles and helped put things in perspective. So, it’s been very rewarding and I think the fighters as well have been really pleased with the response because far after their days of glory in the ring I think the thing that’s important to them is having that impact on people.
SN: Have you been a boxing fan your entire life?
I’ve been a huge sports fan and I have been a big boxing fan over the years. Boxing has been kind of a big disappointment, but I feel I’ve always been a fan of these guys and definitely have the utmost respect for guys who are willing to risk everything to go in the ring and make a life for themselves and their family.
SN: It seems there’s never a shortage of captivating boxing films. A few years ago The Fighter was hugely successful and a movie like Southpaw is a highly-anticipated 2015 release. What is it about boxing movies and documentaries that continue to captivate audiences?
Boxing movies in general make for great stories because of what (fighters) have to go through and what they put on the line and the way in which they’re even able to be successful whatsoever, I think that any person can relate to that in their own life.
Whether you’re a sports fan or not, boxing is such a great vehicle to tell stories. When people go through the insurmountable obstacles in life – from poverty to racial inequality and broken homes and drug and alcohol abuse, violence and failure in the educational and prison systems – all these things give so many stories to tell because these guys have been through it all compared to other sports and I think that’s what draws people to continue to make very successful movies. They’re relatable.
SN: What is your favourite boxing movie?
I love Raging Bull. That’s always been a favourite of mine.
SN: Mario Lopez and Mike Tyson helped produce Champs. How did you get involved with them to coordinate this project and how did they influence the film?
Mike and Mario have been really good friends of mine for many years. I have a radio background so I met them in my late teenage years. Mario is one of my oldest friends and Mike’s been a dear friend for many years now.
Basically we wanted to sit down and especially Mike wanted to tell his story in a unique way. He’s had other documentaries but a lot of those were done years before that didn’t encapsulate things that have happened recently (in his life) and he also wanted to open it up to have these other guys in the film because he felt there was a story there that had not been told before. They were very hands-on producers. Not just there for a vanity credit.
Marcus and Tyson (courtesy Bert Marcus Productions)
SN: Some of the most compelling moments in the film involve Mike Tyson when he’s being brutally honest about his history in and out of the ring. You’ve known Mike for years but was there anything you learned about him while filming?
What he went though as a kid and the adversities that he went through, being bullied and coming from a broken home, (a situation where there) were really no parental figures whatsoever and trying to find himself. Another thing that has amazed me in a lot of ways is his humility. The way he has humbled himself over the years. He’s hit the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but he’s an incredible human being.
He didn’t want to make a film that glorified his career or tried to make him look good. He allowed us to present him in a very accurate way. Mike’s just one of those guys who has been through it all.
SN: Is that humility the most endearing quality Tyson, Holyfield and Hopkins share?
I think it is for sure. I think the other thing is their dedication to making a positive change in the world and making an impact after they fight. A lot of these guys you don’t hear from again. They don’t just want to keep their reputation afloat. They want to share themselves as real people because they feel their stories can really help other people who might be in the same situation.
SN: Like Tyson, Bernard Hopkins has a checkered past but he has become a true role model. What surprised you most when filming with him?
Just how articulate he is and how smart he is. Bernard is one of those guys who never felt sorry for himself and started on kind of the opposite side of Mike and Evander. Mike and Evander were at the pinnacle of their careers when Bernard was still in jail even though they’re all roughly the same age. That was what I found unique about intertwining their stories. What ends up happening is when (Tyson and Holyfield) hit their lowest of lows, then Bernard’s on the rise. Not only that but being an executive at Golden Boy and being a spokesperson to help these young fighters.
SN: Evander, although he came from a similar place as Mike and Bernard, has followed a different path. He’s had financial troubles, but not legal trouble like the other two. What did you enjoy most about speaking to Evander?
What I took from him is just his humility and how he conducts himself. He really listens to people. He’s one of the greatest and most iconic athletes of our time yet you wouldn’t know that from talking to him. He’s such a soft spoken but more importantly kind man and also someone who conducts himself in such a professional and calm way. There’s such a calm demeanour about him it’s hard to believe he got in the ring and did what he did because he’s such a soft spoken relaxed guy.
Holyfield and Tyson team up on Marcus (courtesy Bert Marcus Productions)
SN: There’s a great quote from Al Bernstein in the film: “Boxing is laissez faire capitalism run amok.” If you could change one thing about today’s boxing landscape, what would you change?
First and foremost, the health standards for these guys is something I would look into. There are so many flaws in the system that we could get into … but the health standards in the sport have to change. We have to look out for these guys like in other sports. As far as the health benefits, there’s just not anything in place for these guys. There’s no one fighting on their behalf.
SN: Do you think there will ever be a time where a fighters’ union becomes a reality?
I don’t see it happening anytime soon, unfortunately. I’m hoping films like this really hit the mainstream to bring a lot more awareness to people who aren’t involved. You basically have four or five people making all the money in the entire sport and unless they were the ones to say, ‘Hey let’s unionize’ or the ones to put these programs in place, it’s not going to happen. It’s like the Wild West right now.
SN: This year, with Mayweather-Pacquiao and everything, boxing despite all its follies seems to have undergone a slight resurgence in the mainstream. Where do you see boxing headed in the decade or so?
I like to be optimistic. I don’t think boxing is going anywhere. A lot of people say boxing’s a dying sport and yes there are so many aspects of boxing that are so disappointing. Like we talk about in the movie, it’s a reflection of our society and a much bigger issue. I hope films like this can start to turn the tide and help create that awareness for change.
Marcus has an upcoming project he’s working on with Entourage star Jeremy Piven. You can learn more on his official website.