Boxing movies are often dark and cynical, but this is something different. This is an anti-boxing movie (or at least, anti-managerial), and as such, it isn't cynical at all. Quite the contrary, it's moralistic. I felt it had a lot of potential, and could have been realistic and subtly ironic. The dialogue is craftily written, but the plot lays the morality on so thick it made me gag, kind of like Schulberg's script A Face in the Crowd. Robson's boxing movie Champion is much better.

A gritty cynical prize fight movie with a good story by Schulberg and fine performances by Bogart and Steiger.

A "message movie" that states that boxing should be outlawed. I'm astonished that anybody would make this. You'll never see filmmakers today with cojones this size

Good solid movie. Bogart ended on a good note.

Strong character performances and a film with a real message - also a brave message for the time. Well worth watching if you like Bogart's style.

In his last role, Bogart draws effectively on his weary cynicism.The expose of the fight racket has a brutal honesty.

Rod Steiger gives another dynamic performance with Bogart struggling in parts, and Jan Sterling being virtually useless. The fight Toro has with the ex champ is like something you never see boxing movies do - undoubtedly deserves some kudos - I just can't ignore how it drags at times. The subject matter holds it up, but it does get heavy-handed.