Qi Moxiang fights for the WBC belt in 2011. Photo: Courtesy of Han Yi

Banned as a sport "too Western and brutal" for almost three decades, China seemed unlikely to produce boxing champions any time soon.

However since 1986, when the ban on the sport was lifted, China's athletes have been making up for lost time. Champs such as Zou Shiming won gold at the Beijing Olympics and repeated in London, while Xiong Chaozhong became China's first pro boxing champion by winning the WBC Minimumweight belt in 2012.

Canadian-Chinese director Yung Chang captures the sport's humble beginnings and gathering of momentum in the documentary China Heavyweight by focusing on a coach and his teenage boxers in Huili, Sichuan Province.

The movie will hit more than 200 theaters nationwide on December 20, making it the most widely-screened documentary in Chinese history.

"Boxing is considered a very Western sport and a very individual sport. It's about two people in the ring fighting for themselves," says Chang. "I thought that would be very interesting to put in a Chinese context, where the younger generation is experiencing a kind of conflict with individualism and tradition."

The film has proved a knockout at festivals and awards ceremonies across the world, including winning Best Documentary at the Golden Horse Awards in 2012.

But most importantly, unlike the industry's action heroes, Chang pulls ordinary people into the spotlight and highlights real examples of defying the odds. The film's success not only influenced Chang, but also the lives it captured.

For 36-year-old Qi Moxiang, the focus of the documentary, media attention brought him a paid teaching job at the Huili No.2 Middle School in January this year, one month after the Golden Horse Award was announced.

A welcome change, as Qi had run the government-sponsored Huili boxing program without pay since 2006 after taking over for brother-in-law and club founder Zhao Zhong when he was diagnosed with diabetes.

Qi was issued his first paycheck only after the release of China Heavyweight.

A boxing town

Located in the mountains of southwestern Sichuan Province, Huili's fresh air and high altitude serves as a perfect training base for young boxers. Huili's first boxing team was founded in 1987, just one year after boxing was recognized as a formal sport in China. The following year, the boxing club produced its first provincial youth champion, solidifying Huili's reputation as a boxing town. 

Qi joined the club the year it began, and his talents were recognized early. He made the provincial team in 1991 and the national team seven years later. Qi made his first foray into pro boxing in 2004. Two years later he was the number one-ranked fighter in Chinese professional boxing and was described as the nation's next king of the ring."

Every June, Qi visits elementary and middle schools throughout the countryside in search of young recruits. "Boxing can change your life," he tells crowds of fresh faces of students every year, who if selected have a chance to attend Huili No.2 Middle School tuition free.

"Many of my students come from the countryside and mountains. It's very hard for them to change their life by studying, or any way other than boxing," Qi told the Global Times.

The boxer explained that some of his students had never left Sichuan Province before joining up with other provincial boxing teams. "They will know much more after they see more of the country. I find they grow up a lot on the provincial teams," Qi added.

And for those who eventually end their boxing careers, Huili local government offers job placement services to those who bring home gold. "If [boxers] win the provincial youth championship, they're offered a job."

With pride Qi rattled off the names of ex-teammates that later went on to become local administrative chiefs. "They are all good examples of how children can better themselves through boxing," says Qi. "The bravery and perseverance they learn benefit them their entire lives."

On the ropes

Qi's students are also clear of the benefits. Star-student Miu Yunfei, one of the main focuses of the documentary, dreams of becoming a professional boxer because "it's pretty cool when you enter the ring at a professional competition."

Another student Xu Zhichao explained quite candidly during an interview with CCTV how she's fighting for a chance to escape a life of poverty.

While most parents are eager to enroll their children in the free program and a chance at an education, some soon realize the costs far exceed the benefits. Most children often suffer from serious injuries, while the few victors are rewarded with small cash sums.

After winning the provincial title in 2010, the then 17-year-old Miu was only awarded 300 yuan for his title. However his mother, after witnessing the brutality of the sport, implored Miu to abandon his boxing dreams. Miu eventually gave in and got into real estate in nearby Xichang, Sichuan Province. Qi helped him land the job.

Qi told the Global Times that many parents have similar ideas or tell their kids that boxing is useless and persuade them to find jobs or return to work the many tobacco farms that dot the Huili countryside.

Success in failure

To encourage his students and fulfill his own dream of getting back into the ring, Qi took a shot at the WBC belt in 2011.

At the beginning of production, Chang hoped the story would have a Hollywood ending: Qi's students become professional boxers just as he did, Qi makes a tremendous comeback to win the title, and a town cheers for its champion.

However, we are reminded this is a documentary - Qi lost to a Japanese boxer, and his failed title bid was seen as a disgrace in Huili. Qi's story ends as one of a tragic hero.

"Because this is real life, as the story progressed we realized there was a much deeper story here, one that questions the meaning of success," said Chang. "Success became the theme, and that there is success in failure. The film is a lesson to help us rethink how we live our lives."

Chang sees this theme applied universally. "What about people that are not rich and famous? What is their path? Let's look and consider how their experience can influence our life."

After winning the Golden Horse, the film gave its subjects a real-life Hollywood ending: The government recognized hero Qi as a champion and once again became the focus of the sports world. Mainstream media, including CCTV and Xinhua Agencies, descended on Huili to report on his boxing club.

"Some parents have changed their mind about boxing, and the local government is supporting us more," told Qi, hoping all the publicity will bring confidence and strength to aspiring boxers everywhere.