Home > Jake LaMotta

LaMotta, who compiled a record of 83 wins, 19 losses and 4 draws with 30 wins by way of knockout, was the first man to beat Sugar Ray Robinson, when he dropped Robinson in the first round and outpointed him over the course of ten rounds during the second fight of their legendary six bout rivalry. LaMotta lost five of those. In 1948, he was knocked out in four rounds by Billy Fox (who was played by world boxing champion Eddie Mustapha Muhammad in Raging Bull, a 1980s movie about LaMotta's life). The fight with Fox would come back to haunt him back later in life.

LaMotta won the world title in 1949 in Detroit against Frenchman Marcel Cerdan, who was the world champion. Cerdan, called by many boxing critics the greatest champion ever from France, dislocated his arm in the first round and gave up before the start of the tenth, the official scoring being LaMotta winner by a knockout in ten because the bell had already rung to begin that round when Cerdan announced he was quitting. A rematch was signed, but while Cerdan was flying back to the United States to fight the rematch, his Air France Caravelle crashed at the AzoresThe Azores (or Acores in Portuguese) are an archipelago of Portuguese islands situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisbon and about 3,900 km from the east coast of North America. The nine Azorean Islands extend for more than 6, killing everyone on board. LaMotta met two challengers and beat them, and then he was challenged by Robinson on their rivalry's sixth fight. Held on February 14February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 320 days remaining, 321 in leap years. Events 1014 Pope Benedict VIII recognizes Henry of Bavaria as King of Germany. 1076 Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Em, 1951Events January events January 9 United Nations headquarters officially opens ( New York City). January 15 Ilse Koch, The "Witch of Buchenwald," wife of the commandant of the Buchenwald concentration camp, is sentenced to life imprisonment in a court in We, the fight became known as boxing's version of The St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Robinson won by a technical knockout in the thirteenth round, when the fight was stopped with LaMotta laying on the ropes. LaMotta approached him afterwards and muttered You couldn't drop me! You never dropped me! to Robinson's ears.

In 19531953 is a common year starting on Thursday (click on link for the calendar). Events January events January 7 President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. January 13 Marshal Josip Broz Tito chosen President of Yugosl, LaMotta shocked the sports world when he was called to testify by the FBI in the hearings they were holding against some mafiaThis article is about the organized crime groups. For other meanings, see Mafia (disambiguation). The Mafia also referred to as La Cosa Nostra ( Italian, variously translated as This Thing Of Ours or Our Thing , is the collective name of various secret or groups. LaMotta said during the hearing, perhaps not realizing that he was also harming his own image, that he had thrown the fight in 1948 with Billy Fox in exchange for a shot against world champion Cerdan. This fight haunted him ever since, and it is a subject he refuses to talk about in public to this day.

After retirement, he bought a few bars and became a stage actor and stand up comedian. In 19801980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. Events January-February January 1- April 1 National steel strike in United Kingdom January 1 Changes to the Swedish Act of Succession creates Victoria of Sweden, Crown Princess over her younger brother January 5 He, Hollywood executives approached him with the idea of a movie about his life, which was filmed with Robert De NiroRobert De Niro (born August 17, 1943 in New York City) is an acclaimed American film actor who is noted for having starred in several of director Martin Scorsese's films. Praised for his commitment to his roles, De Niro gained 50 pounds (23 kg) and learne playing LaMotta. De Niro gained apx. 60 pounds during the shooting of the film, to play a corpulent older La Motta in the later scenes.

The movie depicted a violent and problematic LaMotta who once even went as far as beating his own brother, manager Joey LaMotta , accusing him and his wife ( Vicky LaMotta, who once posed for Playboy magazine) of having an affair.

Legend has it that after attending the premiere with his already ex-wife, LaMotta told her he could not believe he was that bad.

Another plane crash would affect LaMotta life in 1998, when his son, Joseph LaMotta, a noted chef, died in the Swissair flight that crashed in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Today, LaMotta does many tours across the United States to banquets and lectures he holds, and a series of books about his life, his fights with Robinson and other matters about his life have been published. LaMotta is also an avid autograph signer.

He is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.