McLarnin documentary on TV

14 December 2008 – Press Release

Setanta Ireland will broadcast a remarkable documentary which tells the story of Irish boxer Jimmy McLarnin at 10pm on Wednesday December 17.

Baby Face Goes to Hollywood, which includes interviews from legendary boxing writers and historians such as Bert Sugar, Herbert Goldman, Peter Benson and Mike Silver, charts the rise of Baby Face as he moved from humble beginnings in Hillsborough, County Down to become one of the worlds greatest ever fighters beating 12 Hall of Fame boxers during his career.

Shot in locations from Down to Sunset Boulevard and using extensive, previously unseen archive footage of his fights and scenes from his movies, Baby Face Goes to Hollywood, is the first biography of the Irish boxer who was recently rated as one of the best twenty fighters at any weight of all time.

The programme also tells the story of McLarnins epic three fight series against Barney Ross as well as his victory over Benny Leonard and his relationship with his manager Charles Pop Foster. The story of Baby Face is set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Al Capone and ethnic gang wars on the streets of New York.

Babyface Goes to Hollywood received funding through the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland Sound and Vision Fund. The programme will be repeated at 8.20pm on Sunday December 28.

He had a hell of a punch, he was crowd pleasing and he gave off this wonderful auraHe had a baby face. Bert Sugar.

Its a great feeling when you start at the bottom and you get to be the champion. That really is something.Jimmy McLarnin.