The Fighter‘s true story of Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward helps to solidify it as a truly special boxing movie, depicting the complexities of family, addiction, and the relentless pursuit of a dream. It tells the compelling tale of two brothers who navigate the professional boxing world while grappling with personal demons and familial strife. The Fighter stands out for its gritty realism, intense performances, and a story that resonates beyond the ring. It’s a tale of redemption, resilience, and the unyielding bond of brotherhood, all set against the backdrop of the rough-and-tumble world of boxing.

The Fighter is a true sports story based on the lives of half-brothers Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward, two real-life boxers from Lowell, Mᴀssachusetts. Their story is one of contrasts — Dicky is the older brother, once a promising fighter whose career was derailed by drugs and crime, and Micky, the younger, emerged from his brother’s shadow to carve his own path in the boxing world. This juxtaposition of two lives, intertwined yet distinctly different, forms the crux of the narrative, offering a raw, unfiltered, and shockingly accurate look at their real-life journey in and out of the ring.

Dicky Eklund’s Early Boxing Career

Dicky Held An Impressive Record In The 1970s And 1980s

Dicky Eklund’s (Christian Bale) true story begins in Lowell, Mᴀssachusetts, where he grew up in a family deeply entwined in the boxing world. Known for his quick feet and sharp reflexes, Eklund’s early career was marked by a series of wins that put him on the map as a promising welterweight fighter. Eklund’s fighting style was a blend of agility and tactical prowess, making him a tough opponent in the ring. Known as “The Pride of Lowell,” Eklund held the USA New England welterweight тιтle twice between 1979 and 1983.

His professional career, which spanned from 1975 to 1985, followed an impressive amateur record where he won 194 of 200 bouts. Eklund’s professional debut was a loss, but he quickly bounced back, winning 10 consecutive fights against opponents like Doug Romano, Terry Rondeau, Carlos Garcia, Randy Milton, and Mike Michaud. Eklund’s career included a first-round knockout victory over C.J. Faison and a win over Allan Clarke in nine rounds.

Eklund’s professional record culminated in 19 wins, including four knockouts, and 10 losses. However, Eklund’s journey was not just about the victories; it was also defined by the struggles and challenges he faced outside the ring. Eklund’s early years set the stage for what would become a life of highs and lows, both in and out of the boxing arena.

Dicky Eklund Vs. Sugar Ray Leonard

Dicky Took On One Of Boxing’s Biggest Names

One of the most pivotal moments in Dicky Eklund’s boxing career was his July 18, 1978 fight against Sugar Ray Leonard, a rising star in the boxing world. This bout was more than just a match; it was Eklund’s chance to prove himself on a national stage. Eklund entered the ring as an underdog, but showcased his skill and resilience, with Leonard even being knocked down — a moment Eklund would later refer to as the highlight of his career.

Ultimately, though Eklund was knocked down twice and lost by unanimous decision, the match became famous for a moment where Leonard tripped and fell, which Eklund claimed as a knockdown. This claim was later disputed, with Leonard and the referee ᴀsserting it was a slip.

The fight, however, was not just about the moments in the ring. It was also a turning point for Eklund, and his career started to decline afterward. The fight against Leonard symbolized the peak of Eklund’s boxing journey, after which his life took a different turn. His battle with addiction began to overshadow his career, leading to a gradual fade from the boxing spotlight.

Micky Ward’s Ascent In Boxing

Micky’s Fights Against Arturo Gatti Were A Highlight In His Career

Growing up in the shadow of his older brother Dicky, Ward was no stranger to the harsh realities of life in Lowell. His early career was a challenging mix of wins and losses, as he struggled to find his footing in the professional boxing world. However, Ward’s resilience and hard work eventually paid off. He developed a reputation as a tough, relentless fighter, becoming known as “Irish” Micky Ward. He turned professional in 1985 and quickly made a mark by winning his first fourteen fights.

Despite a period of setbacks in the early ’90s, including four consecutive losses, Ward returned with renewed vigor after a hiatus and hand surgery. His comeback was impressive, winning nine consecutive fights and capturing the WBU’s Intercontinental Light Welterweight тιтle in 2000. Ward’s style, particularly his devastating left hook to the body, became legendary. He earned a sH๏τ at the IBF Light Welterweight Championship in 1997 but was unsuccessful.

In 2000, Ward’s perseverance paid off when he won the WBU Light Welterweight тιтle by defeating Shea Neary. This victory was part of a series of fights that bolstered his reputation, including a 10-round decision victory over Emanuel Augustus, voted The Ring magazine’s 2001 Fight of the Year. Ward is best known for his trilogy of fights with Arturo Gatti, beginning in 2002. The first fight, a majority decision win for Ward, was an intense battle that earned the 2002 Ring magazine Fight of the Year.

The rematch saw Gatti victorious, and in their third encounter, Gatti won again by unanimous decision. These fights were not just displays of physical prowess but also incredible tenacity and heart, with both fighters requiring hospital care afterward (via The Globe and Mail). This trilogy, particularly the first fight, is considered one of the greatest in boxing history and earned Ward immense respect and recognition in the boxing community.

While The Fighter is extremely accurate in retelling real events compared to other biopics, Ward’s boxing stats are the only element where the film takes major creative liberties. In the movie, Ward’s career record is 30-7, with 20 KOs, when he fights Shea Neary. However, in real life, his record was 34-9 with 25 KOs.

The movie also sees Ward losing severely to Mike Mungin when, in reality, the fight went for 10 rounds and Mungin won by the slightest of margins. Additionally, going into the Mungin fight in The Fighter, Ward was on a losing streak, but in real life, Ward was on a four-fight winning streak.

Dicky Eklund’s Drug Addiction Explained

Dicky Was Featured In A Documentary About Addiciton

Addiction is a recurring theme in the story of Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward. Eklund’s battle with drug addiction had a profound impact on both his life and his brother’s. It was a struggle that brought to light the harsh realities of addiction, particularly in the world of sports. To accurately depict Dicky in this condition, Bale dropped to 145 pounds for The Fighter.

Eklund’s descent into drug abuse not only derailed his boxing career but also strained his relationships with his family, including Ward. Dicky Eklund’s life and struggles with addiction were documented in the 1995 HBO documentary High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell.

The documentary film follows Eklund, among others, over 18 months as they grapple with crack cocaine addiction in Lowell, Mᴀssachusetts. It portrays Eklund’s efforts to make a boxing comeback and his battles with addiction, ultimately leading to his arrest on felony charges. The Fighter features a fictionalized version of this documentary, тιтled Crack In America. In the movie, Dicky thinks HBO is documenting his “comeback,” only to be horrified when he finds out that the documentary is about how his crack addiction ruined his life.

Dicky’s Time As Micky’s Trainer

The Brothers Faced Ups And Downs In Their Professional Collaborations

The relationship between Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward is a complex bond characterized by love, rivalry, and mutual dependence. Eklund, despite his personal struggles, played a crucial role in Ward’s boxing career. He served as Ward’s trainer, imparting his knowledge and experience to his younger brother. This relationship, however, was not without its challenges. Eklund’s addiction and erratic behavior often created tension and conflict, testing the limits of their brotherhood. Yet, amidst the turmoil, the bond between Eklund and Ward remained strong. They supported each other through personal and professional hardships, showcasing the depth of their connection.

What Happened To Dicky Eklund & Micky Ward After The Fighter?

Neither Brother Is Involved In The Boxing World Anymore

After the events of The Fighter, although he maintained his status as a local legend and trained young boxers, Eklund returned to drug use and faced subsequent arrests. By 2005, he was using crack again and was arrested in 2006 for possession of crack cocaine (via Lowell Sun).

Micky Ward, on the other hand, went on to have three epic fights with Arturo Gatti. The Lowell Sun also reported that after retiring from boxing in 2003, Ward returned to paving streets and parking lots in Lowell. He owns a gym, Micky’s Corner, trains kids, runs a hockey rink, and drives trucks for the Teamsters Union (via Mᴀsslive).

Changes The Fighter Made To The True Story

Dicky Eklund Had Issues With The Movie

As with any movie based on a true story, The Fighter made some changes to the facts surrounding the real tale. Some of this includes the aspects of Ward’s boxing career as mentioned above, with the changes meant to make him look like more of an underdog than he was. Some of the biggest changes were made surrounding his fight with Shea Neary. Along with the fact that Ward didn’t lose nearly as badly as the movie suggests, the idea that Neary outweighed him considerably is also false, as Ward actually weighed in slightly more than Neary.

Aspects of Dicky Eklund’s story were also changed, including his belief that the documentary crew following him around were doing so for a story on his boxing comeback. In reality, the documentary shows that Eklund was well aware of the subject matter and openly discusses his addiction in the documentary. The movie also ends with the suggestion that Eklund overcame his addiction following the documentary, when in reality, he still struggled for several years following the events of the movie.

The family dynamics of the movie were also heightened, according to the family members themselves. This also led to some issues between the filmmakers and the real-life subjects of the story, who were not overly fond of the depictions at first. In an interview with The Guardian, Ward revealed that Eklund initially hated the movie when he saw it:

“It made me look like a million bucks and him look like a two-dollar bill. He didn’t like it seeing all the drugs stuff, it brought him back to that time. But then he saw it again at the premiere, and he saw people clapping and crying and laughing and he felt proud. All his mistakes weren’t for nothing.”

Christian Bale, who won an Oscar for playing Eklund, confirms the former boxer had issues with The Fighter, but suggests that a lot of it came down to the depiction of his other family members (via Men’s Health):

“He said, ‘I done a lot worse than what you guys are showing,'” Bale recollects. “‘But do you guys have to show my sisters and mother this way?’ He was always more concerned about them than himself.”

Sources: The Globe and Mail, Lowell Sun, Lowell Sun, Mᴀsslive