Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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The director of a film about the legendary Repton Boxing Club is joined by former World Middleweight Champion Darren Barker to talk about Repton, amateur boxing and boxing on film.

Repton Boxing Club is recognised as one of the most famous amateur boxing clubs in the world. Through its candid portrait of Tony Burns, the club’s legendary former head coach of 60 years, captured before his death in 2021, Learning the Ropes presents a singular account of his impact upon the institution’s boxers past and present. It also explores the role of the amateur boxing club as a means of understanding social and community life and, on a wider level, the human condition.

Hosted by Dr Clive Chijioke Nwonka, curator of the BFI's The Cinematic Life of Boxing season: whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=cinematic-life-of-boxing&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

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