Title of Highly-Anticipated Documentary Chronicling the Collins-Resto Boxing Scandal Changed as Film’s Premiere Date Approaches
NEW YORK (April 15, 2009) – Cornered, A Life Caught In The Ring, the much talked about real-life documentary from Live Star Entertainment, which revisits the infamous Billy Collins Jr.-Luis Resto 1983 boxing scandal, will now be called “Assault In The Ring,” when the film makes its network premiere this summer. A major announcement by the network will be made this Thursday, April 16.
Since the documentary’s rough cut was originally screened last year at IFP in New York City and The Tennessee Film festival, a media buzz and demand for the film swelled to the point where its rights were ultimately purchased – proceeding quickly to the Assault In The Ring completed version.
Nashville, Tennessee’s Irish Billy Collins Jr., a then-undefeated welterweight prospect took on journeyman Luis Resto, from the Bronx, on the undercard of the Roberto Duran-Davey Moore world championship card on June 16, 1983, at Madison Square Garden. Shortly after Resto’s “upset” victory was announced in the ring, a protest was initiated by Collins’ corner – eventually leading to the discovery of tampered gloves and criminal convictions and lifetime bans from boxing for Resto and his trainer Carlos “Panama” Lewis. Billy Collins Jr. died in a car accident nine months after the Resto fight; the final bout of Collins Jr.’s boxing career.
A lawsuit brought against the state of New York by the Collins estate seeking compensatory considerations due to negligence of behalf of the New York State Athletic Commission was later denied due to a hung jury.
Through the work of writer, producer and director Eric Drath, the film Cornered uncovered new evidence which exposed the true nature of the heinous glove-tampering crime to be much worse than previously reported or known. Recently, this new information led to oral arguments in the Federal Court of Claims against the State of New York, to re-open the case.
Now, over 25 years later, Assault In The Ring finally brings some closure to this ugly chapter in sports history.
