From local producers Vista Pop, a short, beautiful documentary about Mike Evgen, a boxer from Saint Paul who rose to prominence in the early nineties. As the producers put it:

5′ 6″. 145. Born amongst steel workers, junkyards, and dives, Mike Evgen became a hero of St. Paul’s working class with a venom jab and a windmill uppercut in the early ’90s. Grandpa called him the revival of the city’s boxing tradition. The writers just called him the Rice Street Rocker. His fingertips jammed into nubs from all the punches, the Rocker was tough enough for HBO and a world title.

Then he got mixed up.

Thrown to the dogs by the Miami mob, the gladiator fell. He went out of sight, out of mind for 16 years. Now, the old town hero faces his ghosts while making good on his vow for redemption.

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7 Comments

  1. Mike

    Dear Mike,

    You have a good name. My name is Deb Gibbons, my grandfather is Mike Gibbons, died 1956. He was a Rice Street fighter, also.You remind me of him in this video because of your courage and integrity. He wrote about those qualities in two of his books, How To Box and How To Train. His books were more about what you said in your video, than about boxing. Keep doing what you are doing. Thank you so much for sharing your story. ps I grew up in WBL, too.

  2. Mike

    We love this doc about the glory days of Mike. What a great guy to know and count as a friend. Our relationship runs deep and love endures. We never missed a fight except the one in Vegas although we watched on TV. Our first date was his first pro fight and he was there when we married 22 years ago…Keep up your great mentoring work, Mike. We are proud of you as always. And, yeah: you’re Tuff Enuff and then some!!!! Love ya, bud.

  4. He’s a true legend, I have a great respect to this man for the things he have done. This post will inspire all the boxers to train hard for the brighter future just like this 2 guys (Pacquiao and Marquez), they will fight each other in the ring for the 4th time this December 4. I’m sure that many people will watch it via pacquiao marquez live stream because tickets in that fight will always be sold out.

  6. Friend

    Great man, Mike your the best. Very nice story put together real nice. Keep your hands up & keep punching.

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