Usher Raymond Joining Ranks of Top 10 Actors to Play Boxers
The role of a boxer involves some big gloves to fill whether the athlete is fictional or really from the sport. Usher Raymond is currently filming "Hands of Stone" where he plays famed boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in a role that could change his career.
Usher is one of many actors who stepped into the boxing ring for a movie role, and if "Hands of Stone" is successful he could join 10 other actors who have played boxers successfully.
Robert DeNiro
Famed actor DeNiro has a role in "Hands of Stone," but he will forever be known for his role in "Raging Bull" as Jake La Motta. The boxing scenes in the film are magnificent and DeNiro plays the role with perfection.
Will Smith often plays "Will Smith" in his movies, but he transformed perfectly as Muhammad Ali in the simply titled "Ali." The film runs long, but is a must-see for boxing fans.
Mark Wahlberg
The Academy Awards loved "The Fighter" and it received several nominations thanks to Mark Wahlberg's compelling job as Boston boxer Micky Ward.
Hugh Jackman
Yes, "Real Steel" is actually an entertaining film about robot boxers. The heart of the movie comes from a former boxer who trains and controls robots that fight. Hugh Jackman sheds his X-Men claws for a great story and good action that has sequel potential.
Mr T.
After battling Apollo Creed in "Rocky" and "Rocky II," Mr. T filled the opponent role well for "Rocky III" as Clubber Lang. Mr. T was the perfect villain that brought a lot of intensity into the ring.
Sylvester Stallone
You cannot have a list including Clubber Lang without including his opponent Rocky. One of the most famous fictional boxers, Stallone has played Rocky in six films and the boxer only seems to get better with age.
Who's better to play a boxer than a boxer himself? In "The Hangover" and "The Hangover: Part II," Tyson played himself where he proceeds to sing, reclaim his tiger and deliver a knockout punch. It was one of the funniest parts of the first film and a genuine surprise.
"The Hurricane" may seem like a boxing film, but in the end it's truly a film about innocent lives and the justice system. During the early boxing scenes, Denzel Washington looks like a natural in the ring.
Woody Harrelson
In "Playing it the Bone," two best friend boxers wind up their careers by facing each other for the first time. Harrelson adds a good mix of humor and drama into the role.
Russel Crowe
The Depression is the main focus of "Cinderella Man" and during the film, you cannot help but root for Russel Crowe's character James Braddock as he tries to make his boxing comeback.
Alan Donahue has hundreds of entertainment and sports articles. His favorite teams include the New York Giants and Los Angeles Lakers.
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