Okay, I first saw footage of this very brutal and disturbing ten round assault many years ago. It was part of a documentary about cheating in sport, most of the cheating involved was trivial stuff. A footballer spitting at an opponent,a fencing bout that was rigged. And then came Billy Collins and Luis Resto. This whole story very deeply disturbed me, how an innocent young man can give so much passion and spirit to a sport he loved and then life and boxing can spit in his face. And I refer to Billy Collins NOT POOR OLD LUIS RESTO. Now, when I first heard about this documentary being made I was pleased, I thought somehow old wounds would be healed and the spirit of Billy Collins jr would finally get the respect and honour it deserved. The documentary it has to be said is quite well made, apart from some terrible editing in places,e.g Luis Resto is on his way to Nashville to apologize to Billys family and for reasons known only to him, he is laughing and smiling. Strange. The downside to this film is the blatant way it sides with Luis.Poor old Luis, why is he still being punished? Why can't he box or coach again? Because you disgraced the sport my friend. How could you pound a young mans face until blood streamed down it and he was half blind, knowing you had plaster on your fists and gloves with half the padding removed? STAY AWAY, FAR AWAY FROM ANYTHING TO DO WITH BOXING, GET A JOB AND MOVE ON. The documentary seems to lay the blame of Billys death at his fathers feet, which I found disgusting. Apparently, Billys father should have let him carry on boxing (even though he was half blind) and everything would have been fine. I didn't care for that part at all to be honest. Those parts aside, it has to be said some of this documentary is engrossing, Luis meeting his trainer Panama Lewis again after all these years and demanding the truth. Come on,they all know who tore the stuffing out of those gloves, lets not be stupid here, an experienced boxer knows when padding has been removed from his gloves, he already had plaster wrapped round his knuckles. A very sad story, and I still can't believe Billy never got a penny in compensation for what happened. I am sure he would still be with us if he had. RIP Billy Collins jr
13 Reviews
Manipulative Documentary Film-making
goodfellamikec12 August 2009
The film really starts off great as a very objective approach to what happened at the notorious Resto/Collins fight. But the film loses all credibility when the director breaks the fourth wall and starts parading Resto around.
It is the cardinal sin of a documentary filmmaker to do anything but DOCUMENT. Here, the director pays to have Resto fly all over America and do something he would otherwise not do. That is not a documentary. That is "reality" television.
Furthermore, his constant harassment of Billy Collins family is very uncomfortable. When a subject doesn't want to be interviewed, LEAVE THEM ALONE. There is nothing entertaining about watching a filmmaker bother someone until the police are called. It's something I would expect from network news, not a serious documentary filmmaker.
It's really such a shame because the film had a lot of promise. I won't say it's completely a waste of time, but I felt the filmmaker could have made a great film without Resto's guilt parade.
It is the cardinal sin of a documentary filmmaker to do anything but DOCUMENT. Here, the director pays to have Resto fly all over America and do something he would otherwise not do. That is not a documentary. That is "reality" television.
Furthermore, his constant harassment of Billy Collins family is very uncomfortable. When a subject doesn't want to be interviewed, LEAVE THEM ALONE. There is nothing entertaining about watching a filmmaker bother someone until the police are called. It's something I would expect from network news, not a serious documentary filmmaker.
It's really such a shame because the film had a lot of promise. I won't say it's completely a waste of time, but I felt the filmmaker could have made a great film without Resto's guilt parade.
Exploitation
beatles000127 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The scene where Resto finally admits guilt is a telling one. And part of the reason I gave it a 6. Along with the first 20 minutes. Just great story telling. The shuffling around the country of Resto was pathetic and Drack making himself the star of the show. Pathetic!! Resto is a sad case but likable in a warped way. Panama Lewis is perhaps the worst person I have ever seen on screen. He is a slim above all others. The worst ever!! Resto's sister is not sympathetic and she has too much, way too much sympathy for Resto. What he did was wrong. He isn't a hero. But at least he makes amends. Panama is so sleazy its scary. He wont accept any guilt or claim he did anything wrong.
A harrowing look at guilt, or the lack thereof
udar551 August 2009
Just finished this excellent feature length documentary that details an infamous (in the boxing world at least) 1983 bout between undefeated prospect Billy Collins, Jr. and the guy he was supposed to beat, Luis Resto. The end result is kind of a THE THIN BLUE LINE (1988) for the boxing world as the film examines the illegal activity that occurred during the bout and the tragic consequences it had on a multitude of lives. It certainly exposes the sleaziest side of boxing and you can't help but feel sorry for the guilt-ridden Resto who bares his soul for the filmmakers. Lewis, on the other hand, is a piece of work. I've never seen a more reprehensible human being in my entire life. First time director Eric Drath used to be a boxing agent and he handles a majority of the material well. There is one hugely manipulative misstep though with Drath having Resto travel to Tennessee to apologize to Collins' family, despite their earlier request of not wanting anything to do with the documentary. Regardless, this can be seen as being much more than about dirty boxing - it showcases the workings of the human conscience.
Lose-Lose
crossbow01063 August 2009
This documentary by Eric Drath is about a fight between Luis Resto and Billy Collins. Resto was a fighter with a middling record while Collins was on the path to an eventual title. The fight itself has been mired in controversy ever since, as it was found that a significant amount of the padding from Resto's gloves had been removed prior to the fight. This caused Resto's punches to be more like bare knuckled shots. You don't much like most of the people in this documentary, especially Panama Louis, who allegedly was the mastermind of this. Still, this film is compelling as a morality tale. Neither boxer ended up gaining anything, which is part of the moral. I don't usually watch sports docs but this one, especially about something I didn't know about, but I was intrigued by the characters in this film. The truth is stranger than fiction? You can count on it.
Well made, a story worth shedding light on
bdgill1216 July 2011
On a summer night in 1983, two welterweight boxers met at center ring in front of a large Madison Square Garden crowd. The boxers were on different levels, with Billy Collins having been pegged for stardom and Luis Resto considered by most to be a tune-up fighter, though one with a solid reputation. The battle lasted ten rounds before Resto was named the winner. What should have been a career-making victory for Resto turned out to be short lived as almost immediately it was discovered that Resto's gloves had been tampered with. The padding had been removed from the gloves, essentially allowing Resto to pummel Collins with bare knuckles (see the photo below). For Resto, this meant the end of his boxing career, a stint in jail, and a haunted past. The fight was even more harmful for Collins, who never fully recovered from the beating which, combined with his already dark disposition, led him down a rough path toward a tragic death. 25 years later director Eric Drath follows Resto as he attempts to come to grips with the results of the fight.
Considering the damage he inflicted on Collins (and his family), Resto is an exceedingly sympathetic figure. A poor immigrant from Puerto Rico, Resto found not only a livelihood but also significance when he showed some talent in the ring. He had a chance to better his life and the lives of his family members and he worked extremely hard to make that happen. He learned early on, however, that you never question the men in your corner and that would ultimately lead to his undoing. He didn't remove the padding from the gloves himself but as he reluctantly admits about halfway through the film, he knew something wasn't right. Resto buried himself under a mountain of guilt not only because of the impact the fight had on Collins but because of the way he had disrespected his sport. His grief is written all over his face. By all accounts, this fight ended two lives with Resto holding on as a shell of a man, estranged from friends and family and unable to find redemption.
Drath offers just that, redemption, with a whirl-wind tour to the homes of all those affected by the fight. Resto is given the opportunity to confront his former trainer, Mario Costa, the man ultimately responsible for the customized gloves. While Resto spent two years in prison, Costa was simply stripped of his trainer's license due to a chain of custody issue that resulted in his court case being thrown out. Upon their first on-screen meeting, I was immediately struck by how much power Costa still held over Resto. Here stood the man responsible for Resto's troubles and yet he could not even look him in the eye. When questioned about the events of that night, Costa denies and feigns offense but in later footage he makes it abundantly clear that he would never admit his wrongdoing. It is abundantly clear that while Resto may have known something wasn't right when he stepped into the ring, Costa knew exactly what the game plan was. Drath also sheds a little light on the New York Athletic Commission, leading one to wonder what kind of shady business was conducted behind closed doors and under grimy tables on the way to that night's infamous events. In this sense, Drath allows "Assault" to illustrate what a shady business professional boxing truly is.
If Resto's confrontation with Costa is somewhat unsatisfying, his other meetings pick up the slack. He finally confesses his (limited) knowledge of the tampered gloves with his ex-wife and grown sons and you can see the relief wash over him. He weeps quietly when receiving forgiveness from Collins' widow and is even reunited with his mother and sister. It isn't a picture perfect ending, of course. Collins' father refused Resto's apologies and Costa provides no comfort for his former protégé. Still, Drath's simple and understated film finds a poignant groove and stays within in, capturing the essence of a man who has paid for his mistakes a thousand times over without hope of reprieve, almost as much a victim as the man he sparred with on that fateful night.
Check out my site: httwww.thesoapboxoffice.blogspot.com
Considering the damage he inflicted on Collins (and his family), Resto is an exceedingly sympathetic figure. A poor immigrant from Puerto Rico, Resto found not only a livelihood but also significance when he showed some talent in the ring. He had a chance to better his life and the lives of his family members and he worked extremely hard to make that happen. He learned early on, however, that you never question the men in your corner and that would ultimately lead to his undoing. He didn't remove the padding from the gloves himself but as he reluctantly admits about halfway through the film, he knew something wasn't right. Resto buried himself under a mountain of guilt not only because of the impact the fight had on Collins but because of the way he had disrespected his sport. His grief is written all over his face. By all accounts, this fight ended two lives with Resto holding on as a shell of a man, estranged from friends and family and unable to find redemption.
Drath offers just that, redemption, with a whirl-wind tour to the homes of all those affected by the fight. Resto is given the opportunity to confront his former trainer, Mario Costa, the man ultimately responsible for the customized gloves. While Resto spent two years in prison, Costa was simply stripped of his trainer's license due to a chain of custody issue that resulted in his court case being thrown out. Upon their first on-screen meeting, I was immediately struck by how much power Costa still held over Resto. Here stood the man responsible for Resto's troubles and yet he could not even look him in the eye. When questioned about the events of that night, Costa denies and feigns offense but in later footage he makes it abundantly clear that he would never admit his wrongdoing. It is abundantly clear that while Resto may have known something wasn't right when he stepped into the ring, Costa knew exactly what the game plan was. Drath also sheds a little light on the New York Athletic Commission, leading one to wonder what kind of shady business was conducted behind closed doors and under grimy tables on the way to that night's infamous events. In this sense, Drath allows "Assault" to illustrate what a shady business professional boxing truly is.
If Resto's confrontation with Costa is somewhat unsatisfying, his other meetings pick up the slack. He finally confesses his (limited) knowledge of the tampered gloves with his ex-wife and grown sons and you can see the relief wash over him. He weeps quietly when receiving forgiveness from Collins' widow and is even reunited with his mother and sister. It isn't a picture perfect ending, of course. Collins' father refused Resto's apologies and Costa provides no comfort for his former protégé. Still, Drath's simple and understated film finds a poignant groove and stays within in, capturing the essence of a man who has paid for his mistakes a thousand times over without hope of reprieve, almost as much a victim as the man he sparred with on that fateful night.
Check out my site: httwww.thesoapboxoffice.blogspot.com
Terrible Exploitation
greg8434511 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Is this what constitutes documentary film-making? A non-story revisited. I'm sure the "director" figured the story of an uneducated immigrant athlete beaten down by the powers above would make for an interesting story, too bad the facts got in the way. Nice try Drath Vader. The film's focus Louie Resto, seems to be in over his head in every situation he has ever encountered. In Resto's case, allowing this reality show producer/pariah to follow him around, reshaping his past and the facts, was monetarily beneficial, but morally bankrupt. The "confrontation" between Resto and his former manager, may have been the saddest misuse of the documentary format. Not everyone who wants to tell your story to the world should be trusted.
Manos de piedra...
poe42613 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Luis Resto mans up and admits to having loaded gloves when he fought (and nearly killed) Billy Collins, Jr. It was Collins, Sr., who caught Resto and his accomplice, the dirty "Panama" Lewis, in the act. Although Lewis appears to have gotten away with attempted murder, his underhanded tactics in this fight raise some interesting questions: for years, he trained (or at least assisted in the training of) none other than "Manos de Piedra" ("Hands of Stone") himself, Roberto Duran. More than once, opponents complained that Duran's gloves were loaded. Nothing ever came of any of the charges (at least, not that I know of), but Lewis also worked the corner of Aaron Pryor against Alexis Arguello. Pryor twice gave Arguello a fearsome beating. (I've watched these two fights several times and wondered what Lewis meant when- in a clip that's shown in this documentary- he asks specifically for a water bottle that he had "mixed." Now I know.) Resto comes clean (finally), but Lewis ducks and dodges to this day. The fact that so unsavory a character is still training fighters is all the more reason why a boxing commission of the type espoused by Teddy Atlas is needed. Boxing has YET to step out of The Dark Ages and into the light. Consider the all too recent case of Antonio Margarito: the murderous Margarito seemed to be a fighter on the rise (he "stopped" Kermit Citron and Miguel Cotto) before Shane Mosley's trainer caught Margarito with loaded gloves before their fight. Margarito's hands were re-wrapped... and Mosley knocked him out. Without the plaster cast, Margarito stood exposed (like Resto) for the fraud he was/is. (And Margarito is once again being licensed to fight in this country!) Everyone involved in these fights, from the promoters and matchmakers to the broadcasting companies and the ringside announcers, is responsible to one degree or another for the safety of these fighters. In the words of Roberto Duran himself: "No mas." ("No more.") Boxing's dangerous enough as it is.
Cornered is a Tragedy
dti81231 December 2020
I recently watched this on cable and did not realize it was 12 years old. I remeber the fateful night when Billy Collins was beaten to a pulp and the hands of Luis Resto. This documentary did a great job of exploring Luis Resto and while it set out to vindicate him it wound up making him more guilty for what transpired. While he was the one throwing the blows I think Panama Lewis and deceased Arty Curly where the real ones at fault here. I am not excusing Luis Resto in the least, but I think he was used and manipulated by others. While guilty I find him less so than the others and also a victim. This movie abounds with victims not the least of which was Billy Collins and his wife and daughter. His father was portrayed as something of a money grabber as well but I do not know if that is true. He lost not only his son, but one of his prized fighters. Highly entertianing, not for the faint of heart but I recommend it to any boxing fan especially anyone who remembers the fight and might not recall all of the sordid details of what took place.
Boxing and Guilt: two halves
rmgaspar-49er6 August 2021
People interested in boxing and in atoning will be equally attracted to it. I don't like to focus in subjective angles in reviews, but for this one I liked the story itself develop. The search for the truth. But I was not attracted to the part of the film connected to the guilt and atonement, the story beyond sports. This aspect is important, but I found it long and confused.
Overall, this could be a great 30 for 30 ESPN documentaries. At 90 minutes, it drags a bit. But again, if you like boxing or stories with people paying their dues, it works. Alert: a bit obvious, but if you think boxing is really savage due to its violence, you should really go for something else.
Overall, this could be a great 30 for 30 ESPN documentaries. At 90 minutes, it drags a bit. But again, if you like boxing or stories with people paying their dues, it works. Alert: a bit obvious, but if you think boxing is really savage due to its violence, you should really go for something else.
Great Story but Uneasy Viewing
aidanfurey29 July 2014
Eric Drath recounts a great boxing story but in doing so defiles it. From the Michael Moore school of documentary making, he takes an already exploited, broken man and exploits him some more - always looking for a money shot.
Sending Mr Resto to see his estranged family and then, without prior warning to see the Collins family was beyond crass.
Any documentary maker who needs to put his own face in his film is flawed.
It's a great story and actually does unearth new evidence about the tragedy. It's just a pity that the project was devoid of integrity, empathy and compassion.
Watch Ring of Fire or No Mas instead.
Sending Mr Resto to see his estranged family and then, without prior warning to see the Collins family was beyond crass.
Any documentary maker who needs to put his own face in his film is flawed.
It's a great story and actually does unearth new evidence about the tragedy. It's just a pity that the project was devoid of integrity, empathy and compassion.
Watch Ring of Fire or No Mas instead.
An Often Disgraceful Documentary
Theo Robertson2 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
In June 1983 up and and coming welterweight boxer boxer Billy Collins Jnr fought Luis Resto Collins record was 14wins 11 by KO while Resto had 20 wins , 8 by ko , 8 losses and two draws . It was expected to be a tough fight for Collins but one he was expected to win . Things didn't as expected though and Resto beat the up and coming fighter on points . Considering the damage Collins received in the match it was something of a surprise it went the distance . When Collins dad and trainer shook hands with Resto he instantly knew something was wrong . The referee and boxing commissioner were called over and Resto's gloves were examined . Most of the padding from them had been removed prior to the fight so effectively Resto had been hitting Collins with his bare hands . This documentary by Eric Drath tells of the fall out from the fight
This is a documentary of two halves . Or rather a documentary of one third followed by two thirds . The first half hour is compelling stuff centering around one of the biggest scandals to have rocked the fight game . The pictures of the damage inflicted upon Collins are genuinely shocking . Boxing isn't a sport that attracts the faint of heart but to see Collins battered and swollen face is sickening . Due to this fight he suffered eye injuries that effectively ended his career . Seeing boxing was the only thing Collins knew and that he was being touted as a future star of the sport the lifestyle changes of Collins led to him going of the rails figuratively and going off the road in his car literally in something close to a suicide . Collins had effectively died that June night in 1983
If that first half hour doesn't get you very angry then the following hour will . What Drath has done is make a documentary that comes close to assassinating the memory of Collins . Apparently Collins didn't fight again had very little to do with the eye injuries he received but had more to do with his father and manager Billy Collins Snr trying to bring a multi million dollar court case against Resto's manager Panama Lewis and the boxing authorities . So someone receives a maiming in the ring brought by the most disgraceful cheating imaginable . They receive serious injuries that destroyed their career and they're supposed to just carry on with their life like nothing has happened ? They're just being greedy are they ? This is a disgusting line of thought and the fact the case was thrown out literally adds insult to injury
Resto and Lewis didn't get off with their obscene attempt to cheat . Both of them had criminal charges brought against them and they both spent two and a half years in jail . Resto never fought again but Lewis was still employed as a trainer even though he remains banned from corners during fights . You can see Darth wanting to make Lewis the main villain of the documentary and that Resto too is a victim . Resto suffered terribly after his jail sentence , being unemployable and who lived in the cellar of a boxing gym . But this doesn't wash . It'd be impossible for a boxer to have had the padding of their gloves removed and not notice this . It's similar to people living next door to Dachau and Belsen and not to notice what was happening during the war . Resto eventually comes clean to knowing about the sabotaged gloves but that's telling us something we already knew . There was only one victim in that fight - the late Billy Collins Jnr
This is a documentary of two halves . Or rather a documentary of one third followed by two thirds . The first half hour is compelling stuff centering around one of the biggest scandals to have rocked the fight game . The pictures of the damage inflicted upon Collins are genuinely shocking . Boxing isn't a sport that attracts the faint of heart but to see Collins battered and swollen face is sickening . Due to this fight he suffered eye injuries that effectively ended his career . Seeing boxing was the only thing Collins knew and that he was being touted as a future star of the sport the lifestyle changes of Collins led to him going of the rails figuratively and going off the road in his car literally in something close to a suicide . Collins had effectively died that June night in 1983
If that first half hour doesn't get you very angry then the following hour will . What Drath has done is make a documentary that comes close to assassinating the memory of Collins . Apparently Collins didn't fight again had very little to do with the eye injuries he received but had more to do with his father and manager Billy Collins Snr trying to bring a multi million dollar court case against Resto's manager Panama Lewis and the boxing authorities . So someone receives a maiming in the ring brought by the most disgraceful cheating imaginable . They receive serious injuries that destroyed their career and they're supposed to just carry on with their life like nothing has happened ? They're just being greedy are they ? This is a disgusting line of thought and the fact the case was thrown out literally adds insult to injury
Resto and Lewis didn't get off with their obscene attempt to cheat . Both of them had criminal charges brought against them and they both spent two and a half years in jail . Resto never fought again but Lewis was still employed as a trainer even though he remains banned from corners during fights . You can see Darth wanting to make Lewis the main villain of the documentary and that Resto too is a victim . Resto suffered terribly after his jail sentence , being unemployable and who lived in the cellar of a boxing gym . But this doesn't wash . It'd be impossible for a boxer to have had the padding of their gloves removed and not notice this . It's similar to people living next door to Dachau and Belsen and not to notice what was happening during the war . Resto eventually comes clean to knowing about the sabotaged gloves but that's telling us something we already knew . There was only one victim in that fight - the late Billy Collins Jnr
Resto is a Criminal as are his Trainers
sullir513 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Resto is a Criminal as are his Trainers; this movie and all these other reviews want to forgive Resto for his part of the conspiracy. Not Me, he is a scumbag and so are/were his trainers. Screw him and his guilty feelings. Collins and his father should have been able to take baseball bat to all of their faces. Sick and tired of all these films, movies, tv shows of celebrating the criminal (Sopranos, Breaking Bad, etc). No wonder the youth all want to be scumbag drug dealers and car jackers before becoming rap stars .
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