A boxer from the East-End of London prepares for his debut fight in a gripping documentary short from Stuart Douglas

“You can go down your local boozer, have a couple of drinks and everyone thinks they’re a boxer” says Joe Vaughan, a 29 year-old about to make his professional debut. Stuart Douglas’ compelling short follows Vaughan from his gruelling preparations right up until fight night, set against the gritty backdrop of his hometown of Canning Town, one the country’s most deprived areas.

As Vaughan gruellingly spars at the gym and trains amongst rubbish dumps and canalways, he explains exactly what’s necessary to become a fighter. Soon enough it’s his big night and we’re thrown into the fury and tension in the ring, a passion and intensity matched only by Joe’s supporters outside it. The bell rings and the fight’s over… does Vaughan have what it takes?

Stuart Douglas brings his unique visual style to a raw, gritty real-life subject in this tense, uncompromising short. An established name in commercial directing, this documentary clearly demonstrates his exceptional storytelling talent in a whole new medium.

See more of Stuart’s work over at the Nice Shirt website: https://niceshirtfilms.com/director/stuart-douglas