Giacobbe LaMotta (born July 10, 1921), better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former boxing world middleweight champion who was famously portrayed by Robert De Niro in the film Raging Bull.

Early life

LaMotta was born in New York City, in the borough of The Bronx, near the Pelham Parkway and Morris Park area. He was forced by his father into fighting other children to entertain neighborhood adults, who threw pocket change into the ring. Jake's father collected the money and used it to help pay rent.International Boxing Hall of Fame profile