A fight film story to make Sly proud

On the surface, J.P. Davis’ stories -- both the one he’s lived and the one he wrote -- read like a Hollywood cliche.

The mostly unknown 28-year-old actor-screenwriter penned and then spent more than three years peddling a script about a down-and-out boxer and a has-been trainer who come together for -- you guessed it -- an improbable title run that might just include a few life lessons along the way.

It immediately brings to mind “Rocky” and “Million Dollar Baby.” And Davis’ tale, titled “Fighting Tommy Riley,” which makes its way to limited release as a low-budget indie this weekend, includes more elements familiar to the boxing genre. But it also brings into the ring a subject rarely discussed in sport, on screen or off: sexual preference.

“Homosexuality is to this film what the right-to-life issue was to ‘Million Dollar Baby,’ ” Davis explained. “It’s a part of the story, but that’s not what the story’s about. Similarly to ‘Million Dollar Baby,’ it’s [more] about the complex relationship between these men who are both down on their luck.”

That’s the story within the story. Then, there’s the story behind the story. Davis’ script didn’t start out as just another manuscript that found its way into the trash bin of every agent and producer in town. To the contrary, it landed Davis reputable literary representation and six-figure studio offers.

But Davis, who calls himself an actor first and writer second, refused to sell the script without himself attached to play the title role. And so he persisted, driving around town in his rusty 1985 BMW -- the one with no air conditioning, a leaky radiator and a waning clutch. “I was kind of stubborn,” Davis said.

Stubborn like Sylvester Stallone. You might recall that in the early ‘70s, Stallone was a struggling twentysomething when he shopped around his own “Rocky” script, and refused to accept offers from studio producers who imagined a Burt Reynolds or a James Caan in the lead role. Stallone finally found a producer willing to take the gamble, then saw his boxing baby turn to millions and launch Stallone’s A-list cinematic career.

“Sly’s story gave me hope,” said Davis, who said he happened to meet Stallone at a recent party and mustered the courage to tell his unknowing mentor, “If it wasn’t for you having done it, I wouldn’t have had the guts to say no to all these offers.” Davis said Stallone gave him a playful jab in the ribs and added, “Good luck, champ.”

Although early reviews of “Fighting Tommy Riley” have been mostly positive, there’s no telling if Davis’ career will take off on a Stallone-like path. But Davis says his fortitude has paid off in the gratification he feels in seeing his vision make its way from the page to the screen. With the help of Los Angeles-based producer Bettina O’Mara and first-time director Eddie O’Flaherty, “Riley” was made for just $200,000. It stars Davis as the boxer attempting a comeback and veteran thespian Eddie Jones (“Seabiscuit”) as his trainer.

“The fact that we made this film for $200,000 is insane,” said Davis. “I mean I was at a theater the other day and saw our poster hanging next to ‘Kingdom of Heaven,’ and I’m looking at this and thinking [that] our movie cost what was essentially the bagel budget for ‘Kingdom of Heaven.’ But they’re opening at the same theater on the same day.

“We’re hoping that word-of-mouth carries us, but I’m looking at it at this point as just the fact that we got it into theaters is like a miracle.”

-- Josh Gajewski