MovieChat Forums > Southpaw (2015) Discussion > 4 things I found unbelievable

4 things I found unbelievable

posted 9 years ago by kylerobert-31181
53 replies | jump to latest

1) Why would Magic take this fight? No way he would put his belt on the line for this fight. Unless it was a huge payday or something. I mean I could see if Gyllenhall was the new up and coming boxer, ready to dethrone the champ and make a name for himself, but he wasn't

2) During this "depression" period, Gyllenhall's character puts on no weight, stays incredibly lean, and seemed to just hop back in the ring, literally. U mean he goes from working nights in that gym, to an exhibition fight, then right to a title fight? Albeit just 6 weeks later? I know there was a few minutes in the movie it showed him training, but that was it.

3) Lastly, how was he out of money? That story line wasn't fleshed out all. At the table with 50 & the lawyer, he accuses the lawyer of stealing money, but we don't know how he ran out or was running out of money.

4) In that hotel, with all those witnesses, no one saw the shooting? Saw anyone with a gun? That just doesn't make sense.

Just some plot holes/story lines/occurrences I found odd and/or not believable.

Thoughts?

[–] twacy_anne 9 years ago

1) He took the fight because he'd always wanted to fight Billy. He was challenging Billy to fight him from day one, and after Billy's huge fall from grace, he figured it would be an easy win.

2) His depression period did seem pretty short, but after they took his daughter and all his possessions away, the first thing he did was find a gym. Since everything seemed to go to hell so quickly, he probably wasn't out of action long enough to get too seriously out of shape. Professional athletes take big amounts of time off due to injury quite often, are unable to train, and still don't get terribly out of shape.

3) I think they tried to imply that Billy was a bit loose with his cash. He bought four expensive watches for his friends and told them "I win, you win". We also knew he was undefeated from after 43 matches. That's 43 lots of expensive presents for his friends. Not to mention the Audi and the Ferrari, the big house, the private school...it all adds up, especially if you're not keeping an eye on where your money goes.

4) I can understand nobody seeing because they were focussing on the fist fight. I am, however, surprised that such a fancy place didn't have any CCTV. In fact, I thought that the thing that was going to get Billy to finally fight Miguel was him finding out if was one of Miguel's guys that shot Maureen.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] sean-goddard 9 years ago

The money thing is totally unbelievable. You don't become an undefeated fighter going 43-0 to instantly broke and living in the slums within a couple months.

And the friend thing doesn't add up either. His buddy was driving him around in a beat up Honda and still had the watch to give him.

Billy obviously wasn't taking care of his friends like he should have, let alone paying them insane wages and gifts.

Do you realize how much Mayweather and Pacquaio make per fight?

[–] Tuosma 9 years ago

Do you realize how much Mayweather and Pacquaio make per fight?

Not really a good comparison, the promoter said that "3 fights 10 mil per fight" and then that it was the biggest contract they've ever had.

[–] steelcity92889 9 years ago

I believe they said they froze his accounts, so any money he had he had no access to.

[–] FTHustla420 9 years ago

you're mistaken frozen with stolen. So you're saying since his money is "frozen" he now has to be a custodian. Apparently you think money is frozen forever and no lawyers can not obtain it in a timely manner.

www.twitch.tv/fthustla420

[–] mike_baggly 9 years ago

Mike Tyson declared bankruptcy. How many fights did he win?

[–] TheArkOfGod 9 years ago

50 Cent declared bankruptcy as well...that nig*a ain't broke

this movie was a notch below average

4/10

[–] whoiamnow 9 years ago

That's what so inconsistent. You can file for bankruptcy and still keep your house. No way he'd lose EVERYTHING so quickly.

[–] coolspot18 9 years ago

The money thing is totally unbelievable. You don't become an undefeated fighter going 43-0 to instantly broke and living in the slums within a couple months.

True, this part did seem a bit unrealistic... and also the fact all the trainers would ditch him so easily. Saying that, he probably only made big money on the last few fights - early career fights pay very little.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] twacy_anne 9 years ago

That one friend who was driving him around actually seemed like a decent friend. I think he kept the watch because he was genuinely grateful and tried to give it back to Billy because he knew he had nothing left.

The rest of them, who didn't really hang around once he hit the skids, probably took whatever they could get off him.

[–] KingCobra686 9 years ago

1) I agree. Miguel was cocky and had been challenging him to fights since the start of the movie. He was challenging Billy when Billy was #1 undefeated and at the top of his game. They also showed that Miguel was not abject to fighting dirty and throwing low blows.

Based on all that, what motivation would he have to not accept a fight from Billy when Billy was down and easier to beat? If he was committed to fighting him when there was a questionable chance of him beating Billy, why would he not accept a fight where he had a very good chance of beating him.

Technically Miguel was the champion at that point, but the only way to prove that to the world was to beat Billy directly.

[–] someonesmart21 9 years ago

3) that doesn't make any sense buying expensive gifts for friends doesn't make you broke also his wife is taking care of everything so where's the money gone ?

What in God's holy name are you blathering about? - The Big Lebowski

[–] sapowrcompleto007 9 years ago

Why did Billy get crushed out of apathy and then right after feel the urge to attack the ref? Why did he manage to lose his fortune with a few presents for his friends? Floyd Mayweather is a bon vivant and still insanely rich. I call BS on all that, this movie has some serious sloppy, flimsy writing.

[–] BennyM 9 years ago

I thought that the thing that was going to get Billy to finally fight Miguel was him finding out if was one of Miguel's guys that shot Maureen.

You really, seriously think he (and everyone else) didn't know this all along?

[–] striker84 9 years ago

Escobar would take the fight because a) there would be questions regarding the way in which he won the belt; winning it from a bum that beat an emotionally distraught Hope. There would always be doubts over whether he would have won the belt straight up from Hope. b) huge media and public interest in the fight due to the death of Hope's wife= big purse

[–] joaqalegria 9 years ago

Because it was in the script

[–] RoadSideAssistance 9 years ago

The money thing didn't make any sense to me. Floyd just got like $200M+ from one freaking fight recently. His house was big but he didn't seem to have any flash cars, etc. Would've made sense if they mentioned a gambling problem or something.

[–] vasiltoshev88 9 years ago

He had masserati, ferari, rolls and i think maybach that got repossed and mercedes S class.

it was kinbda expained why he wasw in a money problem. After they took his license from him HBO sued him for a breach of contract (he signed 3 fight deaL). Curtis 50 cent told him they are freezing all his bank accounts untill the case is dismissed closed or he gets back in the ring. On top of that the referee was suing him for 500k and etc.

Ultimately his accounts were all frozen where he got cash and the rest went to pay the morgage of the house and etc. Ultimately he would have gotten some of his money but not sure.

P.S There are tons of proffesional fighters or NBA plasyers etc that go bankrupt a year after they leave the sport look it up in google

[–] Randy-the-Ram 9 years ago

Repossed huh?

Bankruptcy & foreclosure can be dragged out far longer than this script portends with but a few working brain cells. Nevermind that bankruptcy doesn't equal slumming it, quite the opposite. Bankruptcy is merely a means to offload the bad debt. How about his friend... he gives the guy a Cartier but he drives a beater? Haha! The antagonist lives in a ghetto apt at the beginning? Lol.

Anyone who finds this scenario even slightly plausible has never had more than 5 digits in their bank acct.

This film is TERRIBLE, easily one of JG's worst choices. It would have fit the shtick better with Mathers.

[–] marbleann 8 years ago

it was kinbda expained why he wasw in a money problem. After they took his license from him HBO sued him for a breach of contract (he signed 3 fight deal). Curtis 50 cent told him they are freezing all his bank accounts until the case is dismissed closed or he gets back in the ring. On top of that the referee was suing him for 500k and etc.

I just saw this movie and I did not even realize who the actor who was playing the main character was. He was that good. Only John Garfield in Body and Soul , Kirk Douglas in Champion and Robert Ryan in the Set Up was any better. Only around his eyes you can tell.

I agree with the person who said he is one of the best of his generation. Actually in such a anemic amount of good actors his age he is pretty much the top. In any case I was surprised to see this topic. The person in quotes seems to be the only person after 5 pages who saw the movie. lol. The guy was being sued for a whole lot of money and his accounts were frozen. So most of his money was tied up. Actually they let you keep your house but I am sure it was too much money to upkeep. I have almost a 4000 sq ft house and that is a lot so I can imagine a mansion. Just to heat it would costs thousands every month. And I think the referee won his case.

[–] WhiteDiablo 9 years ago

What does Mayweather have to do with anything? He makes WAY more than all other boxers (with the exception of Pacquiao). He's the highest paid athlete in all of sports, every year. Comparing him to Billy Hope is a terrible comparison.

[–] pryce2005 9 years ago

Hope does have a similar record and furthermore a thrilling style and he makes a good show - all things, what fans should like to see. So why does someone like him only gets a $30Mio offer for 3 fights? Makes no sense to me too.

[–] WhiteDiablo 9 years ago

The main reason why Mayweather makes so much money is that he owns his own promotion company. He's also a marketing genius, and one of the best boxers of all time.

$10M is actually a *beep* load for a fight. That's what the top guys make.

Mayweather usually makes like 20M, but he's an anomaly in sports, and someone pointed out his huge payday, but his fight against Pacquiao was against the other cash cow and was the biggest money fight of all time.

[–] cableaddict 9 years ago

Let's be clear here: Mayweather is a very good boxer (certainly not "TBE" ) but he's an idiot.

Al Haymon is the reason he's rich.

[–] luvie2003 9 years ago

How exactly is Mayweather an idiot? He knows how to manage his money.

Always look for the positive in every situation.

[–] RoadSideAssistance 9 years ago

Oh shut the F up. Mayweather makes a ton of money because he is undefeated, has a certain showmanship, etc.

Hope is the same way. He has a certain style (taking more hits makes him Hulk out) and is 43-0 WHITE GUY (this is HUGE) from New York. That guy would be so rich it'd be insane...

[–] sapowrcompleto007 9 years ago

Billy Hope was 43-0 (only 6 wins shorter than Mayweather), not to mention a show man, with his entertaining fighting style. There is absolutely no way a guy like that would go bankrupt within a couple of weeks, that is a drivel.

[–] WhiteDiablo 9 years ago

Yeah it is ridiculous, but Kurt Sutter is a hack. Alls I'm saying is that you can't compare any other boxer to Mayweather when it comes to earnings because he's on an entirely different level.

Mayweather sells so much because he's one of the greatest ever. Watching him is watching boxing history unfold. He dominated a lot of great fighters.

Hope had a great record but it was heavily padded. He didn't beat any great fighters. He was beating up on bums for the most part, and no one would mistake him for being a technical master or one of the great fighters.

Point is, just because he has a record like Mayweather, doesn't mean that he would have gotten paid like Mayweather, because it's not the same situation at all. But yes, him going bankrupt so soon is pretty silly.

[–] silverr8c 8 years ago

QUOTEING
RoadSideAssistance

The money thing didn't make any sense to me. Floyd just got like $200M+ from one freaking fight recently. His house was big but he didn't seem to have any flash cars, etc. Would've made sense if they mentioned a gambling problem or something.

That is why I mentioned in another thread that Sutter is a hack writer. The first thing I thought when I saw Sutter listed as writer is this will be poorly written

BLACK FLIES MATTER
NO JUSTICE NO PEAS

[–] plutoburn 9 years ago

1. Huge payday, yes. Imagine this fight taken in real life. The wife murdered plot alone would have incredible cross over appeal to the mass market, not just boxing fans. The PPV number would have been gigantic and the payday would be incredible.

2. It was implied he was on drugs. It's not inconceivable for him to not put on weight when he is on drugs.

3. You need to watch a documentary by ESPN 30/30 called Broke to understand how common it is for pro athletes who makes millions and can still be broke.

4. It was a blacktie event , most of the securities would have been in the perimeter and entrances with much fewer securities inside.

[–] eak000-803-592657 9 years ago

#1 unbelieveable thing was 50 cents acting

[–] madmax17 9 years ago

You mean because he sucked at it?

[–] armynod 9 years ago

Billy as a light heavy. More like a light weight.

[–] chalituna-975-160578 9 years ago

i agree with everything you said, plus they coulod have found a better actor to play his daughter