Biography for
Jake LaMotta More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

10 July 1921, The Bronx, New York, USA

Birth Name

Giacobe LaMotta

Nickname

The Bronx Bull
Jack
The Raging Bull

Height

5' 8" (1.73 m)

Mini Biography

Jake LaMotta had one of the best chins in boxing history. In over 110 fights against the greatest middleweights in history, LaMotta was only knocked to the canvas once in his entire 14 year career. Turning pro in the early 1940s, Lamotta ran up an impressive undefeated streak before losing. He was the first fighter to defeat the great Sugar Ray Robinson (Robinson was 40-0). Claimed to have "taken a dive" against "Blackjack" Billy Fox in New York City. Fox was 49-1 with 49 knockouts. Captured the World's Middleweight Title from the legendary Frenchman Marcel Cerdan. Made two successful title defenses. Was knocked down by light-heavyweight Danny Nardico in West Palm Beach, Florida in the early 1950s. Made an ill advised comeback and lost to Billy Kilgore in Miami Beach. Ran a popular nightclub on Miami Beach in the 1950s. Served a short prison term. Acted in the movie, The Hustler with Paul Newman.

IMDb Mini Biography By: angelsunchained

Spouse

Vicki LaMotta

(1947 - 1957) (divorced) (3 children)

Trivia

World middleweight boxing champion, 1949-51.

Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1990.

Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1986.

Claimed he took a "dive" in his loss to Billy Fox who was 49-1 with 49 knockouts.

His brother Joey was also a professional boxer.

Claimed in the film Raging Bull that he was never knocked down, when he fact he was knocked down by Danny Nardico in a fight in Coral Gables, Florida.

Owned and operated a night-club on Miami Beach called Jake Lamotta's.

Made an unsuccessful comeback in 1954, losing his last fight at Miami Beach to Billy Kilgore.

Uncle of William Lustig.

A poster of him, promoting one of his historic fights, can be seen in The Godfather (1972), in the scene where Don Corlone (Marlon Brando) is shot.

His nephew John LaMotta is also a boxer turned actor.

Personal Quotes

"The three toughest fighters I've ever been up against were Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Sugar Ray Robinson. I fought Sugar so many times, I'm surprized I'm not diabetic! But I did have him off the canvas once...when he stepped over my body to leave the ring."

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