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 PRESS RELEASE 16 March 2015 The « Raging Bull » Alive and Kicking at SPORTELAmerica, Miami Jake LaMotta will attend SPORTEL on Tuesday 17th March at 5pm From the rough and tumble beginnings of his youth, to his rise as a champion in the ring and a star on the silver screen, Jake LaMotta had to literally fight his way every step up from the poverty-­‐stricken streets of the Bronx to become one of the world’s most celebrated and influential figures in boxing history. Starting his professional boxing career in 1941 at 19, LaMotta would end up fighting 106 fights before hanging up his gloves for good. During that time, there were some legendary bouts, but none more thrilling than what many have called ‘The Second St Valentine’s Day Massacre’ fight against his long-­‐time rival, Sugar Ray Robinson in Chicago on February 14th, 1951. While Robinson won that bloody fight after 13 rounds in a TKO, as LaMotta was helped out of the ring he could be heard yelling at Robinson that he couldn’t knock him out! “I fought Sugar Ray Robinson so many times, it's a wonder I don't have diabetes.” This was the last time the two fought, and in the six confrontations they had, LaMotta had beaten Robinson only once. The LaMotta-­‐Robinson rivalry has proven to be one of the greatest rivalries in boxing history. What made Jake LaMotta so indestructible was how he could take a punch and never give up. His nicknames – The Bronx Bull, and then later on, Raging Bull – clearly summed up how LaMotta liked to fight. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in1990, Jake now spends his time traveling to speaking engagements and is currently working on a new act. Born: July 10th, 1922 in New York, NY, USA Total Fights: 106 Loses: 19 Height: 5 ft 8 (1.73m) Wins: 83 Draws: 4 Weight Divisions: KO: 30 Retired: 1954 Middleweight Light Heavyweight ‘The Future of Boxing’, A. Choko For more information: Virginie Zeghdar, [email protected]