- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGiacobbe LaMotta
- Nicknames
- The Bronx Bull
- Jack
- The Raging Bull
- Bronx Bull
- Height5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
- 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 (1961) with Paul Newman.
- IMDb mini biography by: angelsunchained - Jake LaMotta was an American professional boxer, former World Middleweight Champion, and stand-up comedian. Nicknamed "The Raging Bull", LaMotta was a rough fighter, who although not particularly a big puncher, would subject his opponents to vicious beatings in the ring. With use of constant stalking, brawling and inside fighting, he developed the reputation for being a 'bully', and is often referred to today as a swarmer and a slugger.
Due to his style of fighting, LaMotta often got as much as he was giving in an era of great middleweights; with a thick skull and jaw muscles, LaMotta was able to absorb incredible amounts of punishment over the course of his career, and is thought to have one of the greatest chins in boxing history. LaMotta's six fight rivalry with Sugar Ray Robinson is one of the most notable in the sport, with LaMotta winning just one of the bouts. Although each one was close, LaMotta dropped Robinson multiple times. LaMotta, who has lived a turbulent life in and out of the ring, was portrayed by Robert De Niro in the 1980 film Raging Bull.
His brother Joey LaMotta was his manager. In February 1998, LaMotta's elder son, Jake LaMotta, Jr., died of liver cancer. In September 1998, his younger son, Joseph LaMotta, died in the crash of Swissair Flight 111.
LaMotta died on September 19, 2017 aged 95.
- IMDb mini biography by: Pedro Borges
- SpousesDenise Baker(January 4, 2013 - September 19, 2017) (his death)Dimitria(1970 - ?) (divorced, 1 child)Sallye Carlton(September 12, 1960 - ?) (divorced, 1 child)Vicki LaMotta(1947 - 1957) (divorced, 3 children)
- Incredible capacity for taking punches from opponents
- Lean but muscular build
- Staying within punching distance of his opponent in order to land blows
- Aggressive unrelenting fighting style
- Upon seeing Robert DeNiro's portrayal of him in Raging Bull (1980), he reportedly asked his wife if he was really as bad as he was in the film. His wife told him that he was worse.
- Owned and operated a night-club on Miami Beach called Jake La Motta's.
- A poster advertising one of his fights can be seen in The Godfather (1972) in the scene in which Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is shot. Robert De Niro later won Oscars for playing both the younger Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974) and LaMotta himself in Raging Bull (1980). DeNiro's final scene in that film references Brando's previous Oscar-winning role in On the Waterfront (1954).
- Was turned down for service in World War II due to a mastoid operation on one of his ears.
- Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1986.
- 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 surprised I'm not diabetic! But I did have him off the canvas once...when he stepped over my body to leave the ring.
- [on Robert De Niro] Bobby's a main-event fighter. I'm not kidding. He's thirty-five, but he moves and hits like a nineteen-year-old. Anytime he wants to quit acting I could easily make him into a champion. He's that good.
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