Resurrecting the Champ

In the bustling newsroom of a Denver newspaper, Erik Kernan Jr. wrestles with the weight of a celebrated father’s legacy while trying to carve out his own voice as a sports reporter. His days are colored by the subtle pressure of an editor who demands excitement, and by a small, honest desire to appear larger-than-life to his curious son. The city’s streets pulse with the ordinary dramas of everyday life, providing a realistic backdrop where ambition and personal history constantly collide.

One crisp evening, after covering a routine sporting event, Erik’s routine is shattered by a startling sight in a dim parking lot: a homeless man who calls himself “Champ” and claims a storied past in the boxing ring. Champ’s gritty charisma and unpolished skill hint at a life once lived under bright lights, stirring Erik’s journalistic instincts and offering a tantalizing glimpse of a story that could bridge his professional frustrations with his yearning for significance.

Seeing an unexpected chance for redemption, Erik enlists the help of a diligent research assistant, Polly, whose quiet tenacity balances his restless drive. Together they begin to peel back layers of memory and rumor, tracing the faded outlines of a once‑legendary heavyweight’s career. The investigation becomes more than a professional scoop; it morphs into a quiet meditation on the price of fame, the allure of second chances, and the quiet dignity found in the margins of society.

The film settles into a contemplative, character‑driven tone that blends the gritty realism of a city’s underbelly with the hopeful cadence of an underdog narrative. As Erik navigates the blurry line between myth and truth, the story invites viewers to wonder how far one will go to resurrect not just a career, but a sense of purpose, and whether the true champion emerges from the ring or from within.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 09:33