giacobbe "jake" lamotta (july 10, 1922 – september 19, 2017) was an american professional boxer, world middleweight champion, and stand-up comedian. nicknamed "the bronx bull" or "raging bull", lamotta was a rough fighter who was not a particularly big puncher, but he would subject his opponents to vicious beatings in the ring. with use of constant stalking, brawling and inside fighting, he developed the reputation for being a "bully"; he was what is often referred to today as a swarmer and a slugger.