The belief in perseverance and second chances drives people to fight for a different future. That’s certainly the case for the protagonists in the new sports documentary, ‘Etched in Pavement,’ which offers a glimpse into the resilience that drives Southwest Detroit.
The movie is now playing in theaters, courtesy of Giant Pictures. In honor of the project’s release, Film Factual is premiering an exclusive clip from the feature, titled ‘Keep Going.’
John Sippel directed ‘Etched in Pavement.’ He also served as a producer on the documentary, alongside Jesse Ford. The movie stars Joe Louis Barrow, Dwane Taylor and Michael Futrell.
Filmed over four years, ‘Etched in Pavement’ chronicles Dwane “Street Fighter” Taylor and D-Mike Futrell as they confront personal histories marked by violence, loss and generational trauma. Through professional boxing, youth wrestling and grassroots activism, the men seek to build a different future for themselves, their children and the neighborhood they call home.
The film is set in a corner of Detroit where gun violence, poverty and incarceration have shaped generations. The documentary examines what happens when fighting becomes a tool for transformation rather than destruction.
Taylor’s journey is particularly extraordinary. Having survived two attacks involving more than 100 gunshots within 24 hours, he carries the weight of profound loss while pursuing a future beyond the streets. Alongside his boxing ambitions, Taylor helps develop Pick Your Poison, a grassroots “Guns Down, Gloves Up” movement that encourages people to settle conflicts with boxing gloves instead of firearms.
What begins as informal street fights and backyard matches grows into a broader community initiative. The movement brings together fighters, families and survivors, offering participants an alternative to retaliatory violence. Under the guidance of veteran trainer Coach Jay, a former prisoner who rebuilt his life through boxing, Taylor pursues a professional career. Along the way, he raises his daughters while honoring his late father’s memory.
Meanwhile, Futrell channels his own experiences into coaching young wrestlers. Having struggled with drug dealing and violence in his youth, he understands the circumstances that can pull young people toward destructive choices. His difficult relationship with an abusive father, whose life was also shaped by addiction, gangs and incarceration, informs his commitment to breaking that cycle.
Starting with limited equipment and a small wrestling mat in a garage, Futrell builds a program for children and teenagers. His work eventually leads him to become a high-school wrestling coach, where he emphasizes discipline, humility and perseverance. For Futrell, the goal extends beyond winning matches. He wants his athletes to understand that losing offers an opportunity to learn, grow and keep moving forward.
Together, the stories form the emotional throughline of ‘Etched in Pavement,’ which explores the complicated intersections of fatherhood, mentorship, family wounds and personal ambition. Neither man’s path offers an easy escape from the circumstances that shaped him. Instead, the documentary follows their efforts to create lasting change while navigating the same pressures they hope to help others overcome.
The film also places their experiences within Detroit’s broader history of activism and the enduring legacy of heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. Descendants of Louis reflect on the meaning of inheritance, legacy and the responsibility that comes with carrying a name.
Ultimately, ‘Etched in Pavement’ examines how the legacies people inherit can shape their lives, but need not determine their futures. Through boxing, wrestling and mentorship, Taylor and Futrell demonstrate how personal struggles can become opportunities to help others. Their stories underscore the documentary’s central message: perseverance and second chances can create a path toward change, even in communities shaped by generations of violence.
