The true story of an impoverished fisherman who battles through the crooked boxing world of the 1950’s, family tragedy and his own inner demons to earn a title fight against legendary champion Archie Moore.     

SYNOPSIS:

Miramichi is the true story of boxer Yvon Durelle~~the classic underdog~~whose unlikely journey takes him from pulling lobster traps out of the Miramichi and building ship anchors in his father’s blacksmith shop to within a whisper of a World Championship.

Growing up in the remote fishing village of Baie Sainte-Anne, NB, he stares down a bleak future of poverty and hardship. The story covers his life and career starting in 1946, when, as a bored, uneducated teenager, the seeds of an alternate future are sown when he is introduced to boxing. Alternating between fishing and boxing to eke out a living, he quickly establishes himself as a prize fighter to be feared. All of his adversaries are not in the ring, however. He battles another formidable foe: a wild, impulsive nature which threatens to derail the pursuit of his dreams. Yet, with no formal instruction, an aversion to training and an unorthodox style in the ring, he claws his way to the top of the boxing racket by sheer determination, heart and a punch so powerful he is always only one thunderous blow away from ending any fight. Along the way, he has many glorious victories (two Canadian titles) and several crushing defeats in and out of the ring. He wrangles with crooked promoters, shady managers and his own inner demons. But along the way he captures the hearts of Canadian boxing fans with his formidable persistence and unwavering belief in himself. They call him Doux (French for mild or soft.)

The story ends on December 10, 1958, when Yvon Durelle gets a shot at his dream in the famous bout with Moore. He brings a nation to its feet on that unforgettable wintry night in the Montreal Forum, displaying his lion’s heart in an epic battle which has been ranked 6th best fight of all time.

Although his dream was lost on the canvas that night, his valiant effort~~which brought him to within one second of victory~~elevated him to a place he never foresaw as a young man on a fishing boat in the Miramichi Bay: Canadian hero.

He was a man with one hand on his dream.

MIRAMICHI