Country Brawlers

Sometimes you box for glory. Other times, you box to live. Here, it’s both. Jump into the ring and throw down with Central Appalachia’s rural boxing circuit, where generations of pugilists have fought not just each other but also against a country that has left them poor, addicted to drugs, and desperate for a better life.With a compelling set of interview subjects, COUNTRY BRAWLERS takes a hard-hitting and unblinking look at the lives of several professional boxers within a rural Kentucky community. Centered around Corky Salyer, who trains fighters and manages to keep his local gym afloat, the film is a study in middle American masculinity and striving to overcome the hardships of living in communities shaped by the impact of drugs and few economic opportunities. In the tradition of great sports stories, this documentary takes a raw look at the emotional highs and lows of an athlete’s journey, the thrill of the ring, and the indefatigable hope of the American dream. —C.F.GUEST(S) IN ATTENDANCE