Jake LaMotta Facts: Legendary Boxer Who Inspired 'Raging Bull' Dead At 95

Jake LaMotta, the former middleweight boxing legend whose life and career was portrayed in Martin Scorsese's acclaimed film “Raging Bull,” died at the age of 95 due to complications from pneumonia.

His wife Denise baker confirmed the news to TMZ and said he died Tuesday at a nursing home in Florida.

“He had eyes that danced, all the way to the very end,” Baker told the Guardian. “I used to tell him if he was a Native American, they would have called him Eyes That Danced. He had the sharpest, most moving eyes.”

His eldest daughter Christi LaMotta paid tribute to the legendary boxer on Facebook. Her post, also had a picture of him and the world middleweight championship belt, read: “Jake LaMotta July 10, 1922 - September 19, 2017. Rest in Peace Pop.”

Born Giacobbe LaMottaon on July 10, 1922, to Italian parents in the Bronx, New York City, he was said to have taken up boxing after he was rejected by the military due to an unknown medical condition.

He received praise from sports commentators throughout his boxing career for taking severe beatings in order to get close enough to land his best punches on his opponents.

His stamina and energy in the ring earned him the nickname "The Bronx Bull."

In June 1949, LaMotta won the world middleweight championship after defeating Frenchman Marcel Cerdan with a 10th round stoppage. He held on to that title for more than two years before losing it to his long-time rival Sugar Ray Robinson.

LaMotta was famous for his strong chin, as no other boxer at that time could survive heavy punches and remain on his feet like he could. In 1951, he was the victim in the "Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre," the sixth and final bout with his rival Robinson, in which he absorbed so much punishment that the referee began to stop the fight in the 13th round as LaMotta laid on the ropes, but still refused to be knocked down, according to BBC News.

LaMotta retired in 1954, with a record of 83 victories, including 30 by knockouts, with four draws and 19 defeats. After retiring from boxing, he worked as a bar and nightclub owner and also later in the film industry. He appeared in 15 films including "The Hustler" with Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason.

His life was subject to Scorsese's 1980 movie "Raging Bull," which starred Robert De Niro. The critically acclaimed film portrayed the boxer's rise to the world championship title, and then the subsequent fall due to his self-destructive rage and jealousy that in turn destroyed his relationship with his family.

"Rest in Peace, Champ," De Niro said in a statement on Wednesday after the news of LaMotta's death, the Independent reported.

LaMotta’s niece, Diane Ramaglia Bonita, also paid tribute to the boxing legend, and posted his picture along with her own son's and highlighted the remarkable resemblance between the two.

She wrote: "A legend has just left for heaven. My Uncle and Middleweight Champ, Jake LaMotta, whose life story was portrayed by Oscar Winner, Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull, the longest living prize fighter, died today at the age of 95. Out of pain and resting in peace in the loving embrace of our Lord, and forever in my heart, always remembered with loving pride. Rest now Uncle Jake."