AllMovie

The true story of legendary boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, and the devastating fallout of his fateful 1982 bout against Korean contender Duk Koo Kim, who ultimately died of injuries sustained in the ring. The son of a talented boxing hopeful whose dreams were dashed when he was drafted into World War II, Mancini possessed all of his father's talent and then some -- turning professional at the tender age of 18 and winning the world championship just three years later. Sadly, Mancini's career would take a tragic turn when his Korean challenger Duk Koo Kim fell into a coma after taking a hard right from the reigning champion in the 14th round of their bout, and was then disconnected from life support by his grieving mother five days later. But that was just the beginning, because just a few short months after Koo Kim's mother took her own life, referee Richard Green committed suicide as well. In this documentary, Mancini speaks candidly about his rise to fame as well as that landmark fight, and allows cameras to follow him in his earnest attempt to make amends with Koo Kim's now-grown son. Additional interviews with Mickey Rourke, Ed O'Neill, and Sugar Ray Leonard, among others, offer in-depth insight into Mancini's remarkable legacy.