Boxing heroes to feature in The Fight - the history of boxing

Encompassing all the thrills and intrigue of championship boxing, The Fight is an exposé of the world's greatest fighters, the most vicious clashes and all the drama that surrounds the sport, negotiated through hundreds of years of history.

A story of the 'bad boys'

The series has been built with each episode looking at one memorable fight, or a classic series of matches, used to explore other themes including race, religion, politics, class and corruption. Telling for the first time the definitive story of boxing in the words of its greatest fighters, trainers, promoters and commentators, The Fight is the story of how boxing's "bad boys" remain its greatest folk heroes.

Whether looking at the remarkable 1938 title fight between black American fighter Joe Louis and German champion Max Schmeling, which pitted the US against Nazi Germany and showed how nationalism shaped fighters, or the extraordinary six times that 'Raging Bull' Jake LaMotta fought the dancing Sugar Ray Robinson in the 1940s and '50s against the backdrop of the Mafia's growing grip on the sport, The Fight looks at the history of boxing in all its gruesome glory.

The Fight premières on Discovery World (DStv channel 250) from 6 December at 9:05pm.