Boxers are known for their talent inside the ring, but some are known for their abilities behind the camera, and more so for striking up a pose or even delivering great acting performances. Many renowned boxers have tried acting and stepped into the world of cinema alongside their boxing careers. Some have shone under Hollywood's lights, while others have made dazzling cameos or otherwise forgotten appearances on the silver screen.
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As we shed light on the ten boxers who you forgot made movie appearances, we also explore their roles in the films that transcended their fame from the boxing ring to the glitz and glamour of the film industry.
10 Lenny McLean - Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Known as the "The Guv'nor" and dubbed as "the hardest man in Britain", Lenny McLean was an unlicensed bare-knuckle boxer, bodyguard and bouncer. Apart from being an unlicensed boxer, McLean was also a criminal enforcer in the London underworld crime scene. His notable on-screen appearances include a few cameos in British TV shows, a police chief in The Fifth Element, and most notably as "Barry The Baptist", a hard-bodied criminal enforcer in Guy Ritchie's 1998 gangster comedy "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels."
9 Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko - Oceans 11 (2001)
The 2011 heist comedy remake directed by Steven Soderbergh showcased a boxing match between heavyweights Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko, acting as the main premise of the heist in the movie. Infamously, this particular scene that Lewis spent two days filming in Las Vegas cost him three world titles and a bumper pay deal of $75 million. It has been alleged that this scene gave Hasim Rahman an advantage in training and ultimately helped him win the heavyweight championship title, causing one of the greatest upsets in modern boxing. However, in 2008, Klistchko admitted that he had learned from Lewis' mistakes and trained harder to fight against the dangerous Hasim Rahman.
8 Michael Bentt - Ali (2001)
Director Michael Mann personally picked Michael Bentt to play Sonny Liston in the 2001 biopic starring Will Smith as the great Muhammad Ali. Despite playing the role of Ali's greatest rival, he also helped Will Smith with his training regime. Bentt later went on to admit that his first major film was a fantastic experience, and it was like he'd hit the lottery.
7 Tommy Morrison - Rocky V (1990)
The Arkansas-born heavyweight boxer, Tommy Morrison, starred as the young and aspiring Tommy "The Machine" Gunn in "Rocky V." Morrison's portrayal of Gunn showcased his versatility by stepping into the cinematic ring of the Rocky universe along Sylvester Stallone. Although an unexpected cinematic venture, this was a noteworthy chapter in Morrison's career that left fans with a lasting impression who might have forgotten his significant contribution to one of the greatest sports movie franchises of all time.
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6 Antonio Tarver - Rocky Balboa (2006)
Antonio Tarver's captivating character in real life transformed seamlessly into the one on screen in the portrayal of Mason "The Line" Dixon in "Rocky Balboa" in 2006. Tarver's physical prowess in the ring brought an authentic and compelling presence to the character of Mason Dixon making the audiences forget they're watching a boxer-turned-actor. His on-screen match-up against Sylvester Stallone played a pivotal role in breathing new life into the Rocky franchise after a 16-year hiatus.
5 Joe Frazier - Rocky (1976)
Joe Frazier appeared as himself in the first installment of the Rocky franchise in 1976 that won three Academy Awards. His short twenty-second cameo involves him being introduced to the crowd before the final bout between Rocky and Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). This appearance was a nod to his legendary status as a boxer, added a layer of realism to the movie and served as a historical marker of the era's boxing greats and their influence on pop culture.
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4 Jake LaMotta - The Hustler (1961)
Before Jake LaMotta's story came to light in Martin Scorcese's "Raging Bull" in 1980, LaMotta made many attempts at becoming an actor and a stand-up comedian. Credited as "Bartender" in The Hustler (1961) starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, LaMotta's intriguing, yet fleeting appearance in the movie shocked audiences everywhere. With his unceremonious retirement from boxing coupled with his personal struggles, his short cameo in this movie was only his second role in Hollywood.
3 Sugar Ray Leonard - The Fighter (2010)
In this 2010 Oscar winner, Sugar Ray Leonard appeared as a guest commentator for the fight between Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and Mike Mungin. Leonard is later confronted by Christian Bale (who plays Dicky Eklund) who reminds him of the time that he knocked Leonard down even when Leonard won the fight by a unanimous decision. This cameo by Leonard added a fun and nostalgic layer to a very celebrated boxing movie based on a true story.
2 Mike Tyson - The Hangover (2009)
Mike Tyson's role in 2009's "The Hangover" certainly adds a heavy comedic punch to this raunchy flick. Tyson plays himself in the movie and is none too happy after finding out that his tiger has been kidnapped by a group of male friends partying in Las Vegas, and the outcome is quite a "knockout." His appearance was also made prominent by a tiger in the movie that actually belonged to him. Tyson later admitted that he appeared in the film primarily to fund his drug habit and was severely intoxicated during periods of filming his scenes, and that it made actively made him change his lifestyle.
1 Roy Jones Jr. - The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Roy Jones Jr.'s traded his role as 'Captain Hook' for Captain Mallard in "The Matrix Reloaded." Upon its release, many fans were surprised at the sudden and prominent appearance of Roy Jones Jr. as Captain Mallard who joins Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) in a quest to take down the Matrix. Apart from his role in this sci-fi action thriller, Roy Jones Jr. also made appearances in "The Devil's Advocate," "Southpaw," and "Creed."
These boxers and their foray into films have left an indelible mark in the boxing and film industries alike, showcasing the versatility of some boxing legends as they swapped their boxing gloves for Hollywood scripts.
