'Rocky' named top sports film

'Rocky' has seen off all challengers to be named movie buffs’ favourite sports film.

The 1976 boxing tale – starring Sylvester Stallone as fighter Rocky Balboa – is one of five movies set in the ring which feature in the top 10.

Other pugilistic stories in the list include 'Million Dollar Baby', 'Raging Bull' and 'The Fighter', while another canvas-set movie, 'The Wrestler', also proved to be a knockout.

Comedy 'Cool Runnings', about the Jamaican Olympic bobsleigh team, was runner-up in the poll by movie rental and streaming firm Lovefilm to mark the release of new Brad Pitt film 'Moneyball'.

Helen Cowley, editor of Lovefilm, said: “With the Olympics on their way and the anticipated release of Moneyball this weekend, sport is a hot topic – from living room to locker room.

“Whether it is football favourites, bobsleighing blunders or boxing Balboas we love to watch sporting heroes cross the finishing line in style.”

Top 10 greatest sporting movies:

1. Rocky (1976) – 28%

2. Cool Runnings (1993) – 15%

3. Million Dollar Baby (2004) – 8%

4= Raging Bull (1980)

4= The Wrestler (2008)

6. The Blind Side (2009)

7. The Damned United (2009)

8= The Fighter (2001)

8= Invictus (2001)

10. Escape To Victory (1981)