Larger-than-life Shaw Brothers star Chen Kuan-tai enjoyed his first lead role as the title character of this familiar but engrossing period effort. Arriving in Shanghai with no money and no prospects, brawny Ma Yongzhen (Chen) and meek cohort Xiao Jangbei (Cheng Hong-yip) struggle to survive from day-to-day. Ganglord Tan Si (David Chiang Da-wei) is impressed by Ma's kung fu but the proud young man envies the crime boss and is reluctant to ask for his help. Ma defeats hoodlums in the employ of rival boss Yang (Chiang Nan) and goes on to best a Russian wrestling champ (Mario Milano) the gang imported. Although he refuses Yang's invitation to join the organization, Ma is gradually corrupted by the adulation displayed by the common folk, who enjoyed watching him defeat the hoods that had been hitting them up for protection money. Now, they very willingly offer Ma the same fees and, with easy money staring him in the face, his ambitions grow.

Although Chang Cheh co-directed this picture with Pao Hsueh-li (with a young John Woo serving as assistant director), THE BOXER FROM SHANTUNG very much adheres to Chang's favorite themes. The emphasis here is on how brotherhood can be engendered not simply through the normal bonds of friendship but also via the utmost respect for one's role models. The viewer expects Ma Yongzhen to eventually start working for Tan and then help him to vanquish Yang but that never occurs. In fact, Chen and Chiang have very little screentime together; the film instead posits that the two men would share an affinity based on the fact that they are far more honorable than the ever-scheming Yang (Tan's extortion fees are low and Ma allows vendors extra time to pay up when business is bad). This is not really any more logical than the bond that develops between Chow Yun-fat and Danny Lee in THE KILLER but we buy into it because the characters are so vivid and compelling. Whether expressing pleasure over his newfound status or battling against dozens of knife and hatchet wielding attackers, Chen effortlessly commands the screen. Even when the length and violence of the final battle freely flirts with absurdity, Chen's force of nature presence almost makes you believe that this one man just might indeed be able to withstand the incredible punishment being heaped upon him. As mentioned, David Chiang mostly functions as a guest star here but is suitably charming and energetic in his scenes to successfully personify the ideal that Ma hopes to emulate. Ching Li (wasted in an entirely superfluous role as a singer Ma falls for), Ku Feng, Tin Ching, Fung Hark-on, Wong Ching, Yam Sai-kwoon, and Ho Pak-kwong are among the large cast. A very disappointing remake of BOXER was undertaken by Corey Yuen Kwai in 1997 as HERO, with Takeshi Kaneshiro a disastrously poor choice to play Ma.