Samuel Pollock

Student film follows boxer’s transition from amateur to professional

Film student Samuel Pollock was uncertain when his classmate Matt Bendo first pitched the idea of making a documentary about Canadian boxer Justin Hocko.

But after meeting Hocko, says Pollock, he realized: “This is a story that has to be told.”

The two third-year communications majors started work on the project and watched it grow into something much bigger than they originally thought. Their 30-minute documentary, Rise of a Champion: The Justin Hocko Story, will enjoy a test screening Saturday, January 19, at Lakeshore Cinemas.