Super-pumped and six-packed Jewish actor Jake Gyllenhaal sweats testosterone in Antoine Fuqua's Southpaw and could probably floor heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko with all the training he did to play boxer Billy "The Great" Hope. The rule of thumb (or fist) for boxing movies is to build a tale of triumph over tragedy around a likeable, but not infallible fighter and the template works. Big hitters include the Rocky franchise, Raging Bull, Somebody Up There Likes Me and now Southpaw which is a solid film with a great central performance by the unrecognisable Jake.

Those who have already caught the lengthy cinema trailer will know more than they should about Billy the reigning Junior Middleweight champion with a lavish lifestyle who after his wife (Rachel McAdams) dies in the first 30 minutes is unable to cope or control his temper. Echoing The Champ for that essential tug on the heartstrings, Billy also loses custody of his beguiling 11-year-old daughter (Oona Laurence) and getting her back is dependent on a comeback bout in Vegas for which he is coached by Titus Wills, a legendary retired trainer (fabulous Forest Whitaker). The fight sequences are brutal, so be wary of sitting ringside for this movie which is very nearly a belter.