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Boxing fans in search of a gift for themselves have a timely new DVD to put under the Christmas tree. ‘The Toy Tiger’ is a remarkable documentary about one of the most exciting era’s of boxing, which features Canadian dynamo Art Hafey as its focal point. This is more than a biography; it’s also an encapsulation of a six year span of pugilistic bliss known as ‘The West Coast Featherweight Wars’. From 1971 to 1977 Hall of Fame boxers like Ruben Olivares, Alexis Arguello, Bobby Chacon, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, and other elite fighters engaged in a round-robin of classic battles. Though largely forgotten now, Hafey mixed very well in the above company. The director of this movie, Brad Little, is right to call Hafey, “Quite possibly the most deserving fighter not to receive a title shot in the entire 1970’s.”
First, some background on the main subject of this documentary. Hafey was a deserving featherweight contender, continuously ranked in the top ten by the unbiased Ring Magazine ratings from 1973 until his retirement in 1976. He possessed a great work rate, and placed thunderous punches with accuracy and intellect. Knocked out Hall of Famer Ruben Olivares, and Alexis Arguello said no one hit him harder than Hafey. Amazingly, Hafey did not know he was battling a disease as well as opponents. A sparkplug of a man, only standing 5’2”, Hafey was born with Myotonia Congenita (an inability to immediately relax voluntary muscles after contraction), which caused muscles to often stay constricted despite his brain telling Hafey to relax. This gave Hafey the appearance and strength of a weight lifter, without ever lifting a weight. Ironically, an infusion of adrenalin actually weakens sufferers of this malady. So, in an odd way, the disease both hindered and helped Hafey.
Hafey retired from boxing at age 26, mainly because of an eye injury and a brutal style of boxing that wore out his body. This DVD does a great job of capturing Hafey’s entire career, including his early days in Canada. Interviewees are such notables as Ruben Olivares, Richard Steele, Ruben Castillo, Armando Muniz, Don Chargin, writer Bill O,Neill, photographer Theo Ehret, and manager Burke Emery. All of whom provide quality insight, and none of which used the time to promote themselves. Current West Coast boxing fans might even feel cheated because of this movie. Perhaps unaware, or not understanding, just how great of a fight town L.A was when The Olympic Auditorium and Fabulous Forum created great fights in a battle over the same fan base. In a reverse sense, Hafey has to feel that the current state of boxing in Canada, which is red hot, would have snared that elusive title shot given the support boxers enjoy there now.
This documentary is not about a champion, but certainly tells a championship tale. Like many sagas it is the bit players that give the plot line relevance and make it interesting, though the stars are important and are given due consideration here. It is Hafey that gives the documentary its soul, with tension provided by the intrigue revolving around such a deserving contender never getting a title shot. The story is almost delivered like an undercover TV sting, with current interviews intermixed to impart relevant points on a subject covered seconds earlier in archival footage. The documentary goes well beyond the boxers, with managers, trainers, and promoters all given air time to put their roles into proper perspective.
The factual details of the documentary are spot on. I am obsessive about historical accuracy in boxing, and the research team for this film does a spectacular job of educating fans and filling in pieces of the puzzle. The roles of promoters George Parnassus, Aileen Eaton, Don Fraser, matchmaker Don Chargin, and WBC president Jose Sulaiman are fairly evaluated. Even the subject of WBC president Joe Sulaiman’s arrest, for trying to smuggle historic Mexican cultural artifacts out of the country, is broached. An occurrence which I thought had been lost to history beyond my personal reflections of the man. It is attention to detail like this, casting figures in the proper light, and well placed interview footage on topics that put this film a notch above other documentaries.
One of the great joys of this documentary is the relatively current interviews with the boxers featured in the movie, and seeing that the majority of them are doing well. One who comes across particularly well is Ruben Olivares, still as energetic and charismatic as in his prime. Ruben Castillo (an excellent boxing analyst on TV in the early 1990’s, who should be used by someone else) imparts keen insight on Hafey, and how a man of Hafey’s talent could be denied a title shot despite an impressive ring resume. Hafey remains extremely cogent, despite the punishment he took over an eight year pro ring career. A content Hafey does not seem bitter about his time in boxing, and remains a buoyant ball of muscle. Bobby Chacon, who sadly suffers from pugilistic dementia, is the only person shown in interviews that you wish better for.
The vintage boxing footage from the 1970’s (I feel old calling video from this era vintage), such as sparring between Hafey and Bobby Chacon as well as old Mexican movies, is Ken Burns like in its application and effectiveness. The images convey the look and mood of the era, and the majority of it (some look like old 8mm home videos shot from the audience) will never see the light of day beyond this DVD. Director Brad Little utilizes black & white footage and photos to great effect, lending certain scenes a ‘Raging Bull’ look and feel. The choice for background music is inspired, switching from 1970’s style Hollywood spy movie or spaghetti westerns music to Latin and Jazz themes that set the mood brilliantly.
Overall, this DVD stands up to, and in some ways surpasses, the ‘Assault in the ring’ Billy Collins – Louis Resto documentary that received a huge boost from HBO. I can only imagine how grand this project might have been given the funding the Ken Burns documentary on Jack Johnson did from PBS. Which is not to say the film is not without flaws. The narrator’s voice did not lend the story any sense of drama, or pack a punch with its tone. Also, some of the interview footage was done while Hafey and the director were driving in a car; a more suitable venue seemed appropriate and could have added gravitas to Hafey’s words. Other interview footage was not given authority because the lighting was not optimal, or a camera angle seemed off. The ending was almost a bit anticlimactic (not always a bad thing in boxing), but a final quote from Don Fraser rescued the finale and wrapped up the whole documentary marvelously.
The DVD is a culmination of five years of work by filmmaker Brad Little. Boxing fans should give a standing ovation to Little for the dedication shown in fulfilling his vision of this feature film. I highly recommend sports fans, not just boxing aficionados, seek out this documentary. You can purchase, or get more information and view clips of the film, at http://www.toytigermovie.com/. Visit the site, if for no other reason than to familiarize yourself with a great era of boxing. This film takes fans back to one of the most intense scenes in all boxing which, sadly, cannot be relived outside of this special documentary.
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