Inside the Ring is a short film that practically begs to be a full-length documentary given the charisma of its central subject and the enthusiasm of the young boxers. Co-directed by Imani Peterkin and Darian Henry, Inside the Ring was selected at the very first Y-CAM Film Festival in 2014, where it won Best Film, as well as being a finalist in the Heartland Film Festival High School Film Competition. Similar in tone to a full-length doc feature, Inside the Ring is actually a beautifully crafted film, spearheaded by two directors who truly captured the spirit and meaning behind the subject they were portraying.

Besides Y-CAM, the film premiered in June at the Los Angeles Film Festival and loved by anyone who appreciates inspirational sports stories or simply a really good and really true story about boxing and how it does truly help these youths.

What is perhaps most memorable about the documentary is how Henry and Peterkin avoid reducing the story to a typical underdog sports narrative. According to Richard Propes from The Independent Critic, even someone skeptical of boxing (“a boxing cynic”) comes away persuaded that the sport “can truly make a difference in the lives of those who participate.” In just a few minutes, they capture a powerful truth: these young boxers aren’t just training for fights — they’re building purpose, community, and hope.