Ringside

Ringside brings to life the story of a Depression era boxing sensation. In his own words Ray Dortey Alford describes his hardscrabble life growing up in the South, his family's struggle to lift themselves out of poverty, and his rise to local boxing stardom in Salinas, California. We also hear the heartbreaking story of Ray's deep love and loyalty to a tough father who is unable to return his devotion. Their relationship is forged during hard times as they follow the seasons in search of work. In straight shooting, unadorned language Ringside chronicles the making of a fighter, from grade school battles with bullies to evening boxing matches at migrant camps, to short-lived boxing fame. Along the way, Ray offers us a ringside seat to the ups and downs of a life lived fearlessly by a man who took plenty of punches, but never went down for the count. These stories were recorded, transcribed and edited by his daughter.