Finally, a boxing movie worth seeing

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 | 9:36 a.m.

The movie itself may not have been years in the making, but the project has certainly had a lengthy shelf life.

Yet, at long last "Against The Ropes" is due in the theaters, with a Feb. 20 release date for the boxing-related film that stars Meg Ryan loosely cast as Jackie Kallen and Omar Epps as her fledgling fighter.

Ryan committed to the movie several years ago, only to have the project suffer a series of delays before it reached production. Paramount Pictures eventually financed the movie and utilized Charles S. Dutton as director.

"The beauty of the relationship between Jackie (Ryan) and Luther (Epps) is in their conflict," Dutton said in quotes released among the publicity material for the film. "And the beauty of their conflict is that they are both right when it comes to what they want for themselves, and, ultimately, for each other.

"In fact, they both become intoxicated with the idea of fame and fortune, yet their fears, frailties and flaws put their victory -- in and out of the ring -- in jeopardy. In the end, though, I think they redeem one another and have changed each other for the better."

While the name James Toney neither appears in Kallen's 1986 book, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," nor in the movie's publicity material, he, in reality, was not only Kallen's real-life foil but her budding superstar fighter. Yet the omission of any reference to Toney is interesting, given the close relationship he once enjoyed with Kallen.

"There must be something going on that I'm not aware of," publicist Jeff Freedman said from his Los Angeles office, when asked about the absence of references to Toney in the book and movie material. "But that's typical of (an estranged) boxer and manager, isn't it?"

Kallen's book, incidentally, should be avoided by anyone other than her biggest fans or someone who feels the need to read 164 pages of self-help material. While a boxing fan might think the book would trace Kallen's association with the sport and her link to Toney, it, instead, does nothing more than provide a steady dose of how-to-succeed tidbits and guidelines that have no particular connection to boxing.

The movie, however, is about a female working her way into a male-dominated sport and managing an up-and-coming fighter.

"They just connect," Ryan said of the portrayal of the manager and fighter. "Their souls connect ... in a way that's kind of magical. And that connection is the recognition that they are both fighting the good fight."

Epps, in his role as Luther Shaw, sees the interaction between the leading characters in a slightly different light.

"They're like two old dogs that won't back down from each other in a scrap," he said. "Then, 10 minutes, later, you'll see them snuggling up together with the same ragged blanket. Their story is absolutely wonderful."

Co-producer Robert W. Cort said despite the similarities between the film and Kallen's relationship with Toney, "we all knew this was not going to be a biographical film ... we didn't want that. What we wanted was to create a dramatization of Jackie's experiences that would specifically focus on her relationship with Luther and highlight her astounding accomplishments in the man-eat-man world of boxing.

"Some of the details of Jackie's life may have been altered, but certainly none of her spirit has been diminished."

Mandalay Bay has picked up an April 10 card promoted by Don King that will have co-main events: Cory Spinks vs. Zab Judah for the undisputed junior welterweight championship and Wladimir Klitschko vs. Lamon Brewster for a minor heavyweight title. Ricardo Mayorga vs. Jose Antonio Rivera may be added to the card. ... According to papers filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, Mike Tyson had only $5,553 in cash as of Dec. 31. Tyson, who has earned some $200 million in boxing purses, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August, claiming $10.2 million in liabilities. ... If Jose Luis Castillo defeats Derrick Parks Friday in Laughlin, he will advance to a WBC title fight vs. Juan Lazcano at 135 pounds.

That WBC title at 135 pounds is open because Floyd Mayweather Jr. is moving up a division. Top Rank is attempting to place him in a May 8 fight in New York's Madison Square Garden, with Paul Spadafora the preferred opponent. But Spadafora's legal issues are clouding the negotiations, as he not only received a sentence of 100 hours community service this week for "urinating on a street while intoxicated," he's facing a series of charges related to allegedly shooting his girlfriend, Nadine Russo, in the face. Those charges include attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and violation of firearms laws. If Spadafora cannot commit to the fight with Mayweather, HBO has already approved Leonard Dorin as a replacement.