Champs is a wonderful documentary that any boxing fan should watch. It concentrates on the side of the sport that we don't get to see. It tells us the struggle and the reasons why boxers become boxers. The lives of the Holyfields, Tysons, and other sporting legends who found in boxing a door to a better life. And how from the top, they fell down, to find themselves again on the wrong side of life, with barely the means to survive. Boxing is dying little by little. It has lost his soul. Champs is probably the last great documentary we will get to see about boxers that became icons; boxers that paralyzed the world with their punches. A must see, if you care about the noble art.
16 Reviews
Overcome your challenges
prashant_tyangle16 March 2015
It is one of the most inspiring and motivating movie that i have seen lately.Everything about this movie is amazing.Struggle,pain we have in our life and how to overcome it is this movie all about. I always loved boxing though it is not a big sport here in Nepal.i watched it on TV,Youtube.I am a big fan of IRON mike Tyson.He is the man. Poverty,fame and the downfall these things are well defined in this movie. Watch it you will not regret it.This movie is a beautiful journey about passion and the things that you will do to overcome things that you are not able to do. I loved CHAMPS. I give it 8 stars out of 10.
This Doc. is a Knockout!...
MovieHoliks22 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not a sports fan, but for some reason I usually enjoy sports-related dramatic films and documentaries. I just saw this great documentary on boxing greats Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins- which examines their lives in and out of the ring. The film goes into the mentality that generally leads people in oppressed/impoverished groups to fight. As someone points out in the film- rich kids don't have to fight.
I've seen multiple shows/movies/docs about Tyson, and this one explores his insecurities in a way I've not seen in the others so far. The film also interviews dozens of people involved in the sport in one way or another, including Ron Howard (who directed the boxing film "Cinderella Man"), Denzel Washington (who starred in the boxing biopic "The Hurricane"), and Will Smith (who played Cassius Clay AKA Muhammed in "Ali"), etc... First-rate boxing doc!- forgive me, but this film is a "knockout"! o.O O.o
I've seen multiple shows/movies/docs about Tyson, and this one explores his insecurities in a way I've not seen in the others so far. The film also interviews dozens of people involved in the sport in one way or another, including Ron Howard (who directed the boxing film "Cinderella Man"), Denzel Washington (who starred in the boxing biopic "The Hurricane"), and Will Smith (who played Cassius Clay AKA Muhammed in "Ali"), etc... First-rate boxing doc!- forgive me, but this film is a "knockout"! o.O O.o
Knock Out
ganeothem13 March 2015
I'm sorry to be cliché, but I just had to say it. This is an incredibly stunning film that captivated my attention from start to finish. I not only loved the primary stories that traced and captured the three main guys - Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins - but I also loved hearing from the other voices. From experts in the field to A list celebrities, I was completely in awe of seeing people that I wouldn't have expected to be in a documentary about boxing to have such meaningful places. I was lucky enough to attend a special screening with Evander Holyfield, but I am also going to see it again with a few friends this weekend. It was so much more than a movie about the fight game and I am still thinking about it today.
Boxing Through The Prism Of Society (and Vice Versa)
zkonedog26 February 2017
I've always been fascinated by the sport of boxing. My father was an enormous fan of the sport and introduced me to it, and even though I grew up in an era when the sport was practically non- existent, I remember as a young child being fascinated by the exploits of pugilists. I think it's because boxing is as much about the stories behind the fighters as it is the fights. "Champs" does a remarkable job of capturing that essence, telling the story of three boxers through the prism of their life experiences.
The three fighters this documentary primarily focuses on are Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins. Director Bert Marcus is fantastic at telling each individual story within the context of the over-arching theme, which is that boxers primarily come from "broken" environments, rise to fame astronomically, and then usually flare out just as quickly. A version of that story happened to each of the three subjects...Tyson's troubles are well-known, Hopkins spent many years behind bars, and Holyfield was at one point nearly penniless. It is quite interesting to see how three individuals can take different routes to boxing stardom, yet all be pretty much motivated by the same themes: violence, money, and "getting out of the old neighborhood".
Besides the stories of those three fighters, this film spends a good deal of time looking at the socio-economic aspects of boxing. Promoters and trainers are interviewed in order to get their opinion on where the sport was, where it is, and where it might be headed. Again, the common theme here is that "rich people don't box", but rather it is "tough/gangster kids" who are drawn to the sport for the cathartic release of energy and the sense of structure, family, and discipline it can provide.
Perhaps the most moving parts of the documentary, however, come in seeing how these three fighters have gained wisdom over the years. Especially touching is the incredible transformation of Mike Tyson. As a young boxer, he was like a caged animal. When mentor Cus D'Amato died, the animal was let out of the rage and he became a street thug in rich man's clothing...terribly profane and hardly even able to utter a coherent thought. Nowadays, though, Tyson really seems to have taken control of his life. He can speak intelligibly, shows outright intelligence when it comes to matters of boxing, and is self-aware enough to have strong emotions about his past and his family. The transformation is truly staggering from where he was to where he is.
So, if you are at all a fan of the "sweet science", you should give this one a watch. Or, even if you just like stories of loss, hope, and redemption. It truly will give you a lot to think about, and will more than likely stir some emotions along the way.
The three fighters this documentary primarily focuses on are Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins. Director Bert Marcus is fantastic at telling each individual story within the context of the over-arching theme, which is that boxers primarily come from "broken" environments, rise to fame astronomically, and then usually flare out just as quickly. A version of that story happened to each of the three subjects...Tyson's troubles are well-known, Hopkins spent many years behind bars, and Holyfield was at one point nearly penniless. It is quite interesting to see how three individuals can take different routes to boxing stardom, yet all be pretty much motivated by the same themes: violence, money, and "getting out of the old neighborhood".
Besides the stories of those three fighters, this film spends a good deal of time looking at the socio-economic aspects of boxing. Promoters and trainers are interviewed in order to get their opinion on where the sport was, where it is, and where it might be headed. Again, the common theme here is that "rich people don't box", but rather it is "tough/gangster kids" who are drawn to the sport for the cathartic release of energy and the sense of structure, family, and discipline it can provide.
Perhaps the most moving parts of the documentary, however, come in seeing how these three fighters have gained wisdom over the years. Especially touching is the incredible transformation of Mike Tyson. As a young boxer, he was like a caged animal. When mentor Cus D'Amato died, the animal was let out of the rage and he became a street thug in rich man's clothing...terribly profane and hardly even able to utter a coherent thought. Nowadays, though, Tyson really seems to have taken control of his life. He can speak intelligibly, shows outright intelligence when it comes to matters of boxing, and is self-aware enough to have strong emotions about his past and his family. The transformation is truly staggering from where he was to where he is.
So, if you are at all a fan of the "sweet science", you should give this one a watch. Or, even if you just like stories of loss, hope, and redemption. It truly will give you a lot to think about, and will more than likely stir some emotions along the way.
Great Surprise
samanthadonaldson2214 March 2015
As a female who is not super into sports, I wasn't sure if this documentary was going to be my cup of tea. I went with friends anyways to the opening night in NYC. I don't usually write reviews (this is actually my first), but I thought this movie deserved special attention. In a few words, I was totally mesmerized and loved it. I cannot watch boxing, but watching the stories of these incredible men was totally captivating and moving. I found their stories compelling and powerful and the message that I was left with at the end was incredibly inspiring. Thereafter, I was feeling incredibly introspective and started thinking a lot more about various issues we face, as well as issues that I face myself. I would highly recommend.
Brilliant
single-sarah112 March 2015
This is a stand out film. I saw the film because a friend invited me to a special screening and knew nothing about it before watching. Afterwards I was totally floored and so happy to have spent 90 minutes that way. Documentaries can often drag, especially in a theater, but this felt so much like a gorgeously shot narrative film that I had to remind myself afterward that this was entirely real and authentic, not a scripted film. The themes, messages and characters were so full of impact. I especially loved Bernard Hopkins' story because I didn't know a lot about him and he is a truly remarkable person. The celebrity voices were also really fun to watch and totally impressive. Definitely see this one in theaters or on the computer - works so well either way.
Really Great
matttaylor17714 July 2017
This is a really great film in many ways and is incredibly multi-faceted. It's a sports film, an issue film and a really beautiful film all in one. I do like sports docs with heart and this is definitely one of them. I have seen other boxing docs and I think this is my favorite of them all.
Sports with a bit more
danled54617 July 2017
This is a great sports film to watch and gives you more than you bargained for. I am a huge boxing fan and know almost everything about these guys, but I learned a lot that I didn't know, especially about Tyson. They had really awesome access to the main boxers that is really unusual and makes you feel like you're getting really close to these men. It's like a better produced 30 for 30 (which I love, by the way) because you learn a lot about the sport, but also get so much more.
I'm a Huge Fan
lona-matt12 July 2017
This film delivered on all fronts for me. I'm a huge fan of these legends, but I learned a lot about themselves and their careers through this film (Tyson and Holyfield in the Olympics - wow!). I also found it to be entertaining and exciting to watch. I find a lot of documentaries to be boring or slow, even these days when the content is supposed to be good, but this one was great to watch throughout.
Great Story about Human Resilience
jordanmanet17 July 2017
I watched this on Amazon this weekend and felt incredibly compelled to write a review. There is so much negativity in the world today and it is so easy to get caught up in the negative. I often look for films to help me feel inspired and escape the negativity that surrounds us and this is one such film. These men overcome such immense struggles and it's truly motivational to me in my own life to witness their stories and eventual successes.
Passionate, Entertaining and Moving
sam-beeker12 March 2015
I had the pleasure of seeing CHAMPS at an advanced special screening followed by a Q+A with director Bert Marcus and Evander Holyfield. In so few words, the film was phenomenal. I know of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, and knew very little about Bernard Hopkins, but after this film I was a truly passionate fan and admirer of all three men. The film brilliantly weaves stories of their uprbringings and career trajectories with meaningful and powerful socially conscious information. I was engaged for the full span of the film and left asking myself questions about various facets of our society and even of myself. This is a very special work that needs to be seen. The Q+A with the two men afterward was even more impressive. Evander's candid stories and point of view mixed with Bert Marcus' thorough explanations of why certain things were done and how they were accomplished were incredibly entertaining and powerful. I will definitely be telling people about this film.
Best Documentary I've Seen All Year
raymondbiskelle11 March 2015
This is the best documentary that I've seen all year. Although the film stars boxers Tyson, Hopkins and Holyfield, it is so much more than a boxing movie or a movie for boxing fans. The cast ranges from A-listers like Mark Wahlberg, Ron Howard, Denzel Washington and more and then includes a number of other knowledgeable experts on various subject matters. It's an incredibly entertaining film with so much heart. Any person who has ever been through a difficult time can find something to relate to and hold onto in this film. I found myself thinking about it far after I saw it, which to me, is the sign of an impactful story. Champs is a must see for me and I give huge kudos to the filmmaker for getting this story told in such a unique way. Bravo.
The best
crhamar10 July 2017
This is the perfect film to watch when you want something that will not only entertain you, but also enrich you. There are so many great docs out there today and this one stands up with the best of them. The subjects are fascinating and you see them in ways that you never have before, which is a true feat, given how public they are. You will also get completely immersed in the highs that you'll feel from the action of the sport and the juxtaposition of the emotion that is palpable when each one of these men faces a hugely difficult moment in their lives. It's not jut a film about boxing, but it is a film that you can enjoy whether you are a boxing fan or if you are not. I watched on Netflix, but you can find it many places online.
Boxing At Its Best
joshua-m-siegel23 December 2017
The movie is unique, beautifully shot, amazingly edited, and a really in depth truthful viewpoint on how boxing came to be in the US and three of the greatest in the sport, their own personal journeys and how that weaves into the sport overall. It's easily one of if not the best documentaries about boxing ever made.
More than Just a Sports Film
jin_sum14 March 2017
I originally rented this movie because I'm a big boxing fan and I like to watch whatever Mike Tyson is in. I have to say that I was really surprised by how deep this film was and how the topics spanned far beyond a typical sports documentary. Of course, there are great fights and exciting historical moments for the sport, but I also learned a lot about the personal stories of these guys and how they correspond and relate to larger social issues.
I would definitely recommend this to someone who was looking for something that is sports related, but that isn't only about sports. I felt good when I finished this one.
I would definitely recommend this to someone who was looking for something that is sports related, but that isn't only about sports. I felt good when I finished this one.
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