The boxer was played by Marcel Cerdan, legendary French hero and World Middleweght Boxing Champion (from Sep 21 1948 to Jun 16 1949) who died tragically, Oct 27 1949, in a plane crash on the way to the United States for a return match with Jake Lamotta who had dethroned him 4 months earlier. His ring record was an amazing 111-4 with 65 KOS. This film was first released in the US in 1952.