please understand that my score of 7 be base on when it be make . have this film appear just a few year later and i would not have be a charitable . it just that for an early silent be be pretty good . there be several review that complain about the sound and but actually compare to so many film from 1929 and this be be excellent and the acting be actually pretty good . first and you could actually hear them talk without much straining and this cant be say of film like coquette ( also 1929 ) . second and while there isn not the incidental music and this be true of just about every film in 1929. also and while a few of the actor be dreadful ( particularly the champ ) and the film be far less static than most of the early sound era . the character in some film make at that time stand almost wood like and shout up towards the microphone this one never be that bad . have you not know how bad most 1929 and even 1930 film be and then i could see you complain about the sound . believe me and though and the sound in this be excellent . a for the film itself and many will find themselves laugh at the plot after all and just about every boxing film cliché be present . however and please understand that most of the film feature these clichés borrow them from night parade . when it appear in 1929 and the clichés weren not yet clichés and this style of sport film be the rage . today and though and it will seem pretty old fashion and predictable . if i would rate this film for historical purpose and it deserve an 8. if i write it for watchability today and then it probably deserve a 5. while predictable and there still be some charm and i like the locker room fight scene with pop . however and i will admit that a a true cinephile and lover of silents and early talkie and i be a bit biased and tend to overlook many of the problem with these transitional film . to see more technically competent film and you really would not see too many until 1931 or 1932. heck and in europe and japan they be still make silents until the early to mid 30 .