My review was written in May 1990 after watching the movie on Vidmark video cassette.
Prolific Italian director Sergio Martino turns in a cornball boxing pic "The Opponent", made in Miami and Rome in 1987 and debuting domestically in video stores.
Yank thesp Daniel Greene toplines for the umpteenth time in an Italian pic, as Bobby Mulligan, a beefy menial worker who dreams of becoming the heavyweight champ.
Bill Wohrman trains him at the local gym but can't get the kid an honest fight, as corrupt fight promoter Giuliano Gemma only wants Greene to take a dive. After Greene becomes involved with Gemma's bombshell girlfriend Mary Stavin, the promoter offers him an honest gig.
Only the dullest viewer will fail to guess that when the big fight comes Gemma orders Greene to kiss the canvas on cue. Predictably, Wohrman is killed and Ernest Borgnine, father of Greene's real girlfriend, steps in to become his new trainer.
Derivative effort telescopes the plot of at least two "Rocky" films with little impact. Greene is inexpressive and filmmaking is by the numbers.
Prolific Italian director Sergio Martino turns in a cornball boxing pic "The Opponent", made in Miami and Rome in 1987 and debuting domestically in video stores.
Yank thesp Daniel Greene toplines for the umpteenth time in an Italian pic, as Bobby Mulligan, a beefy menial worker who dreams of becoming the heavyweight champ.
Bill Wohrman trains him at the local gym but can't get the kid an honest fight, as corrupt fight promoter Giuliano Gemma only wants Greene to take a dive. After Greene becomes involved with Gemma's bombshell girlfriend Mary Stavin, the promoter offers him an honest gig.
Only the dullest viewer will fail to guess that when the big fight comes Gemma orders Greene to kiss the canvas on cue. Predictably, Wohrman is killed and Ernest Borgnine, father of Greene's real girlfriend, steps in to become his new trainer.
Derivative effort telescopes the plot of at least two "Rocky" films with little impact. Greene is inexpressive and filmmaking is by the numbers.