91Èȱ¬

A new film about the life and career of legendary Welsh boxer Howard Winstone is set to have its world première in Cardiff as part of a three-day boxing festival.

Risen is directed by and written by Neil Jones. He co-wrote the film with Stuart Brennan, who stars as boxer Winstone in the film.

A host of boxing personalities also appear in the film, including Enzo Maccarinelli, Steve Robinson, Erik Morales, Tim Witherspoon, Leon Spinks, John H Stracey, Richie Woodhall, Glenn Catley and Robin Reid.

The film also stars John Noble as Eddie Thomas, Shane Ritchie as Mike Barrett, Gary Dourdan as Sugar Ray Robinson and Grainne Joughin as Benita Winstone - Winstone's wife.

Howard Winstone was born in Merthyr Tydfil in April 1939. During his days as an amateur boxer he lost the tips of three fingers on his right hand in an accident at work in a toy factory.

The accident made Winstone reassess his fighting style, as he'd lost most of the punching power in his right hand.

Having won 83 of his 86 amateur fights (the highlight of which was the gold medal he clinched at the Empire Games in Cardiff in 1958) he turned professional in 1960.

Just two years later he won the British Featherweight title, and became the Featherweight Champion of the World at the age of 29 in 1968. He retired just six months later, after losing the crown to Jose Legra. He received an MBE in 1968, and died in 2000 at the age of 61.

In 2006 a short film of the Howard Winstone story - The Fifteenth, by the same producers of Risen, Burn Hand Films - screened at the Cannes Film Festival. In the summer of 2006 plans were put in place to begin the feature film.

Images courtesy of BurnHand Films

Filming took place in Wales and across the UK over a five-week period in the summer of 2006. Following a two year break, the project resumed in September 2008, during which editing also began, and the final instalment was filmed in April 2010.

Risen will première on 29 July at the World Boxing Council Night of Champions event, which will take place over three days from 29-31 July at the Cardiff International Arena.

Additional information

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