In Search Of: Boxing Ephemera In TV & Film: A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

Boxing is so ubiquitous that it appears everywhere, much to the delight of its fans, in nearly every corner of the digital and print landscape. To their delight, Boxing aficionados and members of Boxing Anonymous (those addicted to the sport), can find all kinds of Boxing ephemera and events woven through and adorning the walls of hundreds of television shows and old movies.

Tucked away upstairs in my vintage VHS collection is a copy of Joe Palooka with Robert Armstrong and Jimmy Durante, which The Blue Collar Cat From Dublin, Eamo Clyne, and I watched on a still-working VHS player. During the brutal heatwave of 2024, we decided to go on an archival-celluloid dig of vintage Boxing and Boxing stuff on TV. This was inspired by a media assignment we had where Eamo had to dig deep for vintage Boxing photos for a Boxing film project in U.K. I can tell you this: once you set your mind to it, you will find it scattered and hidden and tucked into places you never noticed before or expected to be found. Eamo spent the early part of ’25 looking through oodles of DVDs of various TV series. It’s kind of like what they call in TV and film, “an Easter Egg Hunt,” except its not about eggs, it’s about those little bits and pieces of Boxing that turn up as delightful as that $20 bill you didn’t remember putting in your coat and then finding it on the spot to buy more Boxing stuff.

While I headed up the US TV/Film Boxing “eggs,” Eamo was deep into the massive wave of hundreds of hours of TV series and making lots of notes. Lots! To be honest, it would be possible to fill many more pages because there doesn’t seem to be an end of vintage Boxing pictures in frames on walls; Boxing scenes in TV skits where they only fit in, in the mind of the writer. Thank goodness, or how would we live without Felix in the ring with a bruiser and Oscar coming to his rescue.

Sometimes it isn’t a photo, but a quote charmingly said by the fictional character, Charlie Chan. Sometimes it’s a scene that just takes place in a gym with the star of the show working out. It doesn’t matter, because when we see them, they are so special. After all, we don’t expect them. I remember seeing my first Boxing posters inside the tavern that my grandparents owned from the early days of the of the 1900’s. They caught my eye, and sometimes there would be a Boxer training out back. Boxing got into my veins at a young age when  Boxing was live on TV. Where Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay would go into one of his poetic gestures, which were always funny. Rocky Marciano had a show, too. Those of us who grew up in the golden era of Boxing will never forget those times.

If you want to try to find some of those special Boxing moments that Eamo and I discovered in this deep dive, here’s a list and some commentary.

Starsky & Hutch

There are too many episodes to list that involve Boxing pictures on the wall, scenes in a Boxing Gym and quotes, so have lots of fun, yourself. See how many you can find in this favorite old action series.

The series pilot features Starsky entering a Boxing gym with donuts and Hutch working the heavy bag.

In the last episode, A poster of Ali/Frazier can be seen on the wall. Starsky quotes Muhammad Ali when referring to getting enough vitamins, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” The Heavyweight: Series 3 Episode 18: The plot thickens when Starsky and Hutch get pulled into the world of Boxing.

Pie In The Sky: British Mystery Series

3 Episode 5 Dead  Right  Detective Henry Crabbe is on the job, which brings him to the office of a local talent agent. He sits down to speak to the agent, and right up against the back right behind him are posters of Boxers. One of which is announcing Baby Jake Matala of Africa. This was a total delight as Baby Jake was a favorite of mine. That “egg” gets 10 extra points for Baby Jake.

The Odd Couple

First of all, in the opening trailer of The Odd Couple, it’s easy to see Dempsey’s huge restaurant sign just up the street from Felix and Oscar’s apartment. I love that because that’s exactly where I met Jack Dempsey when I was about 9 or 10 years old.  Oscar’s desk area is surrounded by vintage Boxing photos. And there are a number of Boxing related skits and episodes about Boxing in the series.

Cheers

This popular TV sitcom features lots of Boxing pics to add a bit of sport panache to its film set.

Mr. Moto: Mr. Moto’s Gamble

Boxer Biff Moran winds up in trouble in this ringside episode. Mr. Moto is on the case to save the day.

Burns & Allen: The Kleebab Game: Series 1 Episode 1: Aired Oct. 1, 1950

George is trying to get to the fights but gets side-tracked, nothing new in his life with Gracie! This is a theme running through the half-hour show where that’s his goal, but the idea gets K.O.’d by Gracie’s typical shenanigans. I did check to see what fight was on around October 1, 1950, to connect it to the show, but unfortunately, none appear to have been promoted at that time. A glowing example of how devoted Boxing fans can’t help but sprinkle Boxing into all the corners that they can. No pun intended.

Sherlock Holmes: Half Hour TV Series With Marion Crawford

Boxing photos of the 1890s are displayed over Holmes fireplace mantle in every scene. Difficult to make out who they were, but I think we can guess that one of them, at least, was John L. Sullivan.

Episode 24: The Case of the Baker Street Nursemaids: In this episode, Watson is confronted with a thug whom he quickly knocks out with a mean right hook. He then proceeds to give Holmes a lesson in how to execute the perfect “Right Hook.”

Episode 37: The Case of the Unlucky Gambler: One of the worst Boxing scenes in a TV series since Felix Unger went up against Slugger what’s his name: I can only imagine how sarcastically the late and very missed George Foreman would have commented on this one. This entire series is available for free on YouTube, should you wish to hunt down this really bad Boxing scene just for fun.

Rocky:

In the first iteration of the Rocky quintet, Rocky goes to a bar to get a beer. Behind the bar is a photo of Bennie Briscoe. A nice touch.

In Rocky’s apartment is a poster of Rocky Marciano.

Minder TV series: 1979

 boxer

Season 1 Episode 6: Aces High Some Low. The classic picture of Mohammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

The New Charlie Chan 1957: The Cellini Bowl: Episode 35

In the blink of an eye, Charlie Chan takes a step to the right, revealing a picture on the wall of the French police chief’s office, showing a boxer in a classic stance. I’m hoping it was Marcel Cerdan

Charlie Chan: The Black Camel with Warner Oland. “Assault not allowed unless licensed by Boxing  Commissioner.”

Duffy’s Tavern 1950s TV series, featured Boxing Posters on the walls.

My Spy Eternal City

Star David Bautista finds himself in an unexpected secret underground Boxing ring and has to fight his way out in order to stop a bomb beneath the Vatican. It’s a short but very amusing scene where Boxing, once again, is just that extra little bit of spice found in an unexpected place to add volume to a movie or TV show.

Fighting Fools 1949), with the Bowery Boys, features a Boxing plot. Boxing features throughout these fun old Bowery movies with the East Side Kids. Most are available on YouTube.

Boxing Blitzkrieg: The scene opens with character Danny hitting the Speed Bag. Behind him is an impressive display of various Boxing EQ. In this madcap caper featuring The East Side Kids. Key Luke, Charlie Chan’s #1 son in the Charlie Chan movie series, as Clancy.

Print

Thanks to Eamo’s constant sleuthing for all things Boxing, the Christmas edition of Ireland’s Own, Ireland’s oldest long-standing print publication, featured a completely Boxing-themed crossword in a 2 page spread. Lest anyone start to experience Boxing withdrawal symptoms over the holiday.

Crossword Puzzles: -News publications are typically very generous in sprinkling Boxing clues in numerous crossword puzzles and those of us who are staunch Boxing fans may not know what the number 327 is to Caesar but all of us know the answer to “Ring decision abbr. 3 letters,” or it’s counterpart, Famous Boxing Champion abbr. 3 letters.” TKO and Ali, respectively.  Another common Boxing crossword clue is the 4-letter answer to Boxer Max ----. We all know this can’t be Schmeling, so it has to be Baer. 

Now, it’s your turn to be on the lookout when you’re watching any movie, television show, or printed publication. Boxing is sure to turn up, like that unexpected $20.00 bill, to delight. In fact, let’s dream big and make that a $100. bill instead. Here’s to the sport most used to add a decorative touch to any production. Boxing! Have fun out there and keep your eyes peeled for Boxing, The Ubiquitous Sport.

“It’s like a Boxer, Eric. They never come back. It’s confidence. Daring to lift your judgment against another man. Daring to lift your hand when others won’t.” “But Muhammad Ali came back more than once, Tinker.” Yes, Eric, more than was wise.”   Lovejoy: The Ring: Series 4; Episode 3