Leslie Garrett, an African-American champion boxer, must retire after she is diagnosed with breast cancer. While battling cancer, Leslie gets back to work as a defense attorney. Working on a difficult case one evening, Leslie takes a walk to clear her head. She stumbles upon a black man, Anthony Evans, being attacked and robbed by two men. Leslie uses her boxing skills and knocks out both attackers. Soon after, Leslie is visited by her good friend, Wes Taylor, a well-known fight promoter. He persuades Leslie, who is now 39 years old, to return to the ring to reclaim what's really hers - the IFBA Welterweight Championship title. Wes enlists his best friend, Anthony Evans, the best boxing coach in America, to train Leslie.
However, Anthony battles his own demons throughout the story. Feeling guilty about his wife's suicide, Anthony retires from coaching for five years. Now that he's ready to get back into boxing, Anthony doesn't want to train Leslie because she's a female. However, after Wes reminds Anthony that it was Leslie who saved his life, he reluctantly agrees.
With Anthony and Leslie's former trainer, Manny Rodriquez, coaching and training her, Leslie feels, even at her age, that she may have a shot at winning back the IFBA belt, even though she will have to go against Marcia Knight, the current IFBA champion. Marcia’s nickname is “The Killer” for only one reason, whenever she gets in the ring, Marcia always brutally beats her opponent into the ground. Leslie’s fear of fighting Marcia is understandable, especially since the last time Leslie was in the ring, she endured a brutal knockout, not knowing she was sick with cancer. Also, as irrational as it may seem, Leslie feels that boxing and cancer must be linked somehow and if she stays away from boxing, the cancer won’t return.
At first, Leslie and Anthony's relationship is explosive, and Manny and Wes often find themselves in the role of referees. However, over time, Leslie and Anthony form a very unique and supportive relationship. Anthony helps her overcome her fear of getting back in the ring and Leslie helps Anthony overcome the guilt he feels about his deceased wife. As the training becomes more intense and complicated, so does everything else in Leslie's life - the pressure of her mounting court cases, the death of her close friend, and the overwhelming feelings she and Anthony begin to have for each other.
Ultimately, the humanly flawed and vulnerable characters, Leslie and Anthony, develop a relationship built on love and trust, which helps her become a champion once again. Finding the strength to fight through adversity, they heal one another, not only emotionally, but spiritually as well.
Award winning filmmaker, actress, fight choreographer, and athlete (boxer, wrestler, and martial artist) Jillian Bullock, wrote The Champion Inside. She will also wear the hat of producer. Actor Christopher Mann (HBO’s The Wire) will take on the leading role of Anthony Evans. He is also on board as one of the producers on this film. Some of the champion boxers in the film include Christy Martin will play the role of Marcia Knight in the film and Yusef Mack, the current Super Middleweight Champion, who will make his film debut, and others. Some of the sponsors of the film include the IFBA (International Female Boxers Association), Everlast, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and others.
The Champion Inside is an action-packed, feel good, crowd-pleasing story, set in Philadelphia, PA. From the electrifying opening to the unforgettable finale, The Champion Inside, will prove to be a thoroughly suspenseful tale that will appeal to a wide audience: black/white, young/old, male/female, which means this film has the potential to do great, not only at the box office, but at award shows and film festivals as well.
The Champion Inside reinforces our belief in the human spirit.
For more information regarding The Champion Inside contact, Portia Ophelia Cannon, Executive Producer, A P in A Pod Productions, (323) 842-3263.
