John Avildsen may have been an underdog but he won a directing Oscar for this 1976 Sylvester Stallone movie

To win a 2000 Oscar in this movie Russell Crowe played a real blood sport

He won a Best Actor Oscar for his role as real-life champ Jake LaMotta in 1980's Raging Bull

This Swank-y 2004 film fought its way to Oscars for Best Picture Director Actress & Supporting Actor

Punchy pug Marlon Brando brawled his way to a Best Actor Oscar in this 1954 classic