independent film   based on novel   1920s   stabbing   ethnic slur   boxing gym   mob hit   character name in title   sweat   film within a film   face slap   new york city   irish american   fistfight   gangster   singing   italian american   mafia   manhattan new york city   dance   pregnant wife   expectant mother   expectant father   racial slur   left handedness   1930s   fight   racism   african american   coma   nudity   writer director   controversy   punch   jazz   commercial   childbirth   birth   brother in law   box office flop   boxing   zoo   boxer   band   second part   drive by shooting   fist   champion   hero   comeback   fame   black american   ethnic hatred   mob boss   racial prejudice   racist   tap dancing   boxing champion   boxing match   boxing ring   heavyweight champion   racial relations   musician   orchestra   directed by star   harlem manhattan new york city   illiteracy   championship   training montage   dead boy   grand central station manhattan new york city   giving birth   ghetto   underdog   dead children   pet shop   boxing trainer   championship bout   title fight   unusual method of training   baby born   boxer hero   champ   reference to the avon lady   rematch   sequel to best picture winner   title bout   trainer   pregnant sister   flapper   biracial   racial segregation   double child murder   cotton club manhattan new york city   cultural assimilation   dutch schultz   light skinned black   cult favorite   hospital   gang war   muscleman   pregnancy   showdown   violence   husband wife relationship   singer   song   sequel   wedding