“Assault In The Ring” Debuts on DVD January 1

Assault In The Ring, the critically acclaimed HBO Sports documentary from Live Star Entertainment, which revisits the infamous 1983 Billy Collins Jr.-Luis Resto boxing scandal, will debut on DVD January 1, 2010, it was announced today by the film’s writer, producer and director, Eric Drath.

In addition to the full-length documentary, the DVD will be jam-packed with bonus footage including the original CBS fight broadcast from Madison Square Garden; interviews with elite boxing trainers Teddy Atlas and Freddie Roach; never-before-seen footage of Luis Resto reconciling with fellow boxers; and insight from experienced corner men discussing illegal and advantageous cheating methods, which unfortunately, still continue to be practiced to this day.

Assault In The Ring was featured at IFP in New York City and The Tennessee Film festival as well as the HBO Latino Film Festival before its network television premiere on August 1, 2009, on HBO. A media buzz and high-praise for the film quickly developed:

“Mr. Drath resurrects it (investigation, criminal charges, lawsuits and death) vividly with a tension worthy of a “Law & Order” episode, but he doesn’t stop there.” – Neil Genzlinger/New York Times

“…Assault in the Ring is a masterpiece of storytelling with plot twists worthy of Alfred Hitchcock.” – Barry Horn/DallasNews.Com

“Assault” focuses on two subjects: Resto’s search for redemption and the truth about that night. The film illuminates the former and brings us closer to the latter.” – David Hinkley/New York Daily News

“Drath is a blend of filmmaker Michael Moore and TV detective Columbo as he manages to convince Resto that the truth will set him free.” – Colin Seymour/Examiner.com (SF)

The movie centers on a professional boxing match from June 16, 1983, where arguably the most heinous crime ever committed in sports was perpetrated. The fight between Billy Collins Jr. and Luis Resto ended in an upset decision victory for Resto, but was it was quickly discovered that his gloves had been tampered with. Collins, who was undefeated going into the fight and already enjoying a very promising career, would never fight again – killing himself eight months later as the result of driving off an embankment and crashing his car, less than one mile from his home in Antioch TN. Resto and his trainer would serve three and a half years in prison and be banned from the sport for life. The film picks up the story 25 years later with Resto living in the basement of a gym in the Bronx.

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The 2 Disc Special Edition “Assault In The Ring” DVD will be available worldwide January 1, for $19.99 (SRP) by visiting assaultinthering.com, amazon.com or by calling (212) 505-7666 from 9 AM – 5 PM EST .

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