there be fight movie and then there be movie that fight back . i would see golden boy ( 1939 ) and the setup ( 1949 ) and champion ( 1949 ) and the harder they fall ( 1956 ) and and much later and rocky ( 1976 ) and follow by rag bull ( 1980 ) and all of them only a few year after each be release ( except golden boy ) . somehow and however and i would miss body and soul all these year . i miss it so many time on tv i lose count . well and now that i catch it on late night tv and finally and i can say unequivocally i like all the above well and except for golden boy and rocky . the story and film and however and be still top notch and stand the test of time and in my opinion . not because it a good movie about the fight business which it be but because it be and of them all and the only one that use the story a a blatant metaphor for the sham of the american dream ( although bogie effort in the harder they fall touch upon that idea ) . the story be straight forward represent garfield do garfield play davis and the amateur boxer who gain the eye of a professional coach and quinn ( william conrad ) who gradually bring his protégé along to the professional circuit and thence under the influence of those who control the business and notably the sleazy robert ( lloyd goff ) . thereafter and davis be but a mere puppet for the mob represent do his thing in the ring and make only 50 % for his effort . naturally and davis girl and peg ( lili palmer ) and his buddy and shorty ( joseph pevney ) and his mother anna ( anne revere ) and others all try to dissuade davis from stay in the business which be rotten to the core and a everyone know . but he make it to the top represent champion of the world . and and he get all the trapping of success represent fast car and fast woman and fast booze and fast time the sweet life and or so he think . so why give up what he work so hard to achieve . a davis moan to peg and who urge him to retire and but i be the champ . and peg reply and no and roberts be the champ . she could have say and no and youre the chump . but that might have be a bit too much self reflective angst for audience of that day . nevertheless and throughout the story and davis be make to look like a prize chump a he keep ignore how he be treat by the robert of the world and all of who be bleed him white ( no pun intend ) and and in the finale and to the point of force davis to take a dive in his last bout and retire rich . do he do it or do he redeem his honor . i will let you see the movie . garfield do a solid job in the role of davis and but i be more impressed with pevney role a shorty represent a davis alter ego and he do an admirable turn without be maudlin or sanctimonious . the direction from robert rossen and film from james wong howe be very good and a be the edit from robert parrish and a you would expect anyway . i be glad i get around to this one and a i do recommend it . but and i still prefer champion a my all time favorite .