RESSURECTING THE CHAMP MOVIE SET FOR RELEASE
Posted on | August 24, 2007 | 1 Comment
Resurrecting Bob Satterfield
The movie “Resurrecting the Champ” is set for release on Friday, August 24. The film, written by Michael Bortman and Allison Burnett, is directed by Rod Lurie. It is based largely upon an article by J.R. Moehringer, which was published in the LA Times Magazine years ago.
In this fictionalized account, a young journalist (played by Josh Harnett) saves a stubble-bum from being assaulted by a group of college kids. The homeless wino (played by Samuel Jackson) turns out to be a former boxing champion, Bob Satterfield.
There are, of course, a couple serious errors with the movie. First, when the real life journalist was researching Bob Satterfield, he was smart enough to call boxing historian Hank Kaplan. “The only problem was that Bob
Satterfield died seven years earlier,” Hank said.
More, the movie uses “Champ” as Satterfield’s nickname. The real Bob Satterfield was a “very important fighter who came very close to being a world champion,” Kaplan notes. “But he was completely forgotten. There are
countless others who didn’t win the so-called championship, but who could beat most of the champions around today. I say this: Why should these guys be forgotten? It’s a sin to forget them.”
Bob “Bombardier” Satterfield was born in 1923. At age 17, he won the 147-lb Chicago Golden Gloves Championship. He served in the US Army from 1942 to 1945, and then he began a professional boxing career which ended with a 50-25-4 record.
Satterfield was a slugger. He won his first nine fights by knockout. He then faced journeyman Holman Williams (140-21-10), and suffered his first loss. In 1946, he was KOed by Jake LaMotta. His explosive style made him popular with the fans. His fights frequently included both warriors being decked, often several times. His record, with 35 victories and 13 loses by knockout, is impressive.
In 1948, he was TKOed in 2 rounds by Sam Baroudi. Bob was decked seven times in the fight. Sam would die as a result of injuries he sustained in his next fight, against the great Ezzard Charles. Years later, Ezzard would KO Bob in two rounds. Satterfield, like Charles, fought light heavyweights and heavyweights, though today both would be cruiserweights.
Bob fought three men who held the light heavyweight title. Joey Maxim decisioned him in 1948. In 1949, Archie Moore KOed him in three rounds; Bob was decked 3 times in the 2nd round, and once – for the count – in the 3rd.
He split three fights with Harold Johnson, one of the most under-rated champions in boxing history. Bob decisioned Harold in August of ’52; was KOed in 2 two months later; and lost a decision to Johnson in 1957.
He split fights with Marty Marshall, the first man to beat Charles “Sonny” Liston. He beat tough contenders like Nick Barone, Lee Oma, and Nino Valdez. And he lost to contenders Rex Layne and Bert Whitehurst.
One of his biggest wins came when Charley “Doc” Williams pulled out of a 1954 fight at the last minute. Williams had won a disputed split-decision over Satterfield, and Bob was looking for revenge. The promoters got an
intense young slugger named Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams to sub, and Satterfield got the win. Cleveland would not lose again until he fought Liston five years later.
After he retired, Bob Satterfield was associated with the Chicago jazz scene. He was friends with Miles Davis. It’s interesting to note that Chicago heavyweight contender Ernie Terrell’s sister Tammy was a talented
musician, who would sing with the Supremes and with Marvin Gaye. Satterfield is believed to be the person who introduced Chicago model Sonji Roi to heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali; she became his first wife.
It’s hard to say who JR Moehringer actually met, and although it wasn’t Bob Satterfield, it is possible that it is someone who had once been associated with him. But the real Bob Satterfield deserves to be remembered for who he really was.