Pratik Handore
Directed by David O. Russell, ‘The Fighter’ is a 2010 sports drama film that features Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale in the lead roles as two-half brothers struggling to make it in the world of professional boxing while dealing with several personal issues. The riveting narrative is high on drama and ripe with emotional conflict as the brothers leave everything outside the ring. Therefore, it is easy for viewers to wonder whether the movie is based on any actual events. If you’re enticed to find out the same, you’re at the right place. Here is everything you need to know about the inspiration behind ‘The Fighter.’
Is The Fighter a True Story?
Yes, ‘The Fighter’ is based on a true story. It is inspired by the life experiences of real half-brothers Micky Ward and Richard “Dicky” Eklund Jr. The movie focuses on Micky’s return to professional boxing after a slump under the tutelage of his older half-brother. On the other hand, Dicky is the subject of an HBO documentary film while battling cocaine addiction and training his brother. The character arcs of both protagonists are heavily inspired by their real-life counterparts.
In reality, Eklund entered the professional boxing circuit in 1975 as a veteran of 200 fights in the amateur boxing scene. He had a modest career as a professional boxer and participated in 29 fights during his decade-long career. He retired in 1985 with 19 wins and ten losses to his name. After his retirement, Eklund served as the coach of his younger half-brother, Micky Ward, who made his professional debut in 1985.
Ward took part in 28 bouts, winning 21 of them before retiring in 1991. He returned to the boxing ring in 1994 and would go on to become the World Boxing Union (WBU) Light Welterweight Champion. Ward retired for the second time in 2003 with a career total of 38 wins from 51 fights. Meanwhile, Eklund battled cocaine addiction while guiding his brother through a second successful stint in pro boxing. The rise and fall of Eklund and Ward are chronicled in ‘The Fighter.’
How Accurate Is The Fighter?
The inciting incident in ‘The Fighter’ occurs when Micky is set up for a fight with boxer Mike Mungin. Mungin is considerably overweight compared to Micky, and there is a 20-pound weight difference between the two boxers. In reality, the weight difference was only 8.5-pounds. Moreover, the movie shows Micky is on a losing streak before the Mungin fight in 1988. In reality, the Micky Ward vs. Mike Mungin fight took place in 1988, but Micky was on a four-game winning streak at the time.
Ward’s infamous four-game-losing streak would come later in 1991. Similarly, the film’s depiction of Mungin outclassing Micky is inaccurate as the fight lasted ten rounds, and Mungin won by a narrow margin. While ‘The Fighter’ depicts Micky Ward’s run to winning the WBU Light Welterweight Championship, it condenses the events leading up to the title match. Micky earns a shot at the title in the film after defeating Alfonso Sanchez. However, in reality, Micky fought in six more matches after beating Sanchez and faced Shea Neary in the title match in 2000, three years after the Sanchez fight.
Moreover, the film inaccurately states Micky’s career record before the fight with Neary. Unlike the film’s 30-7 record, Micky Ward held a 35-9 record with 25 knockouts. Likewise, the movie mentions the round-by-round points scored in the match with some discrepancies. While the film recreates the Micky Ward vs. Shea Neary fight with immaculate accuracy, the scene depicting Micky getting knocked down did not happen during the actual bout.
Outside the ring, the film portrays the lives of the brothers accurately. Like the film, in reality, Dicky Eklund was the subject of an HBO documentary about cocaine addiction. Similarly, Eklund’s on-screen legal issues are based on actual events, too, albeit with minor cosmetic changes. The depiction of Micky Ward training under policeman Mickey O’Keefe is also rooted in reality, with O’Keefe appearing as a fictionalized version of himself. The movie explores Micky’s relationship with his girlfriend and future wife, Charlene Fleming, in great detail. Although, in reality, the couple met much later than the film states.
Ultimately, ‘The Fighter’ is mostly true to the real-life struggles of Micky Ward, Dicky Eklund, and their family members. It is rooted in the brothers’ fighting spirit and undying attitude to succeed against all odds. Nonetheless, ‘The Fighter’ does take several cinematic liberties while adapting their life stories to the screen. The end result is a riveting piece of cinema that sheds light on the bond between the brothers and their struggles.
Read More: Where Was The Fighter Filmed?
