For years now, there has been a mutually beneficial and undeniably magnetic connection between the world of professional boxing and Hollywood. Like most other mainstream sports athletes, boxers are absolute celebrities in their own right. They represent their respective ethnicities, cities, states, cultures, and nations. And just as we can list some of the world’s top professional boxers who became actors, there are also a handful of gutsy actors who have chosen to undergo the rigorous training of boxers in preparation for boxing roles in movies. All in all, the excitement of boxing makes it an easy cross-over to Hollywood.
10 Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer Kristofferson, more famously known as Kris Kristofferson, was born in the border town of Brownsville, Texas. The 81-year old multitalented icon was presented with the “Veteran of The Year” Award in 2003 at the 8th Annual American Veterans Awards, and with good reason. He received a Ranger tab for his service as a helicopter pilot. However, his incredible resume doesn’t stop there. Before his superstardom as an actor in classics like A Star is Born (1976) with Barba Streisand, Planet of The Apes (2001), and the Blade Trilogy with Wesley Snipes, he was a certified Golden Gloves Boxer. The talented young amateur at the time was also skilled n rugby, track, and American football, which landed him a feature in Sports Illustrated.
9 Tony Danza
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The Brooklyn-native, Tony Danza, who had become more renowned for his acting career, never had his focus on the entertainment business when he was coming up. The four-time Golden Globe Awards winner confessed that his sights were set on becoming a professional boxer initially. He began as a Golden Gloves fighter and set off to a good start with nine wins by knockout, 7 of which were in the first round. However, he also incurred three losses by knockout. But despite his losses, the best was yet to come for Danza. It happened that he was discovered at his training gym in New York by a producer. After winning his last fight against Billy Perez by knockout, he hung up his gloves and focused on acting, landing roles on sitcoms like Taxi, Who’s The Boss?, Hudson Street, and his very own The Tony Danza Show.
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8 Jack Dempsey
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Nicknamed Kid Backie or The Manassa Mauler, Jack Dempsey’s entire life story could’ve been made into a motivational book. Born in the mid-1890s to an impoverished farming family, Jack possessed a hunger for success that was unrivaled in his time of boxing. He reigned as the heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926 and became renowned for his aggressive fighting style, which caused him to rise up the ranks as an underground fighter, knocking out fighters in saloons and back allies. Dempsey’s one-punch power earned him a tenth place on The Ring magazine’s list of all-time heavyweights. He also starred in an action film named Daredevil Jack (1920), Manhatten Madness (1925), and Mr. Broadway (1933).
7 Joe Fraizer
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The late Joseph William Fraizer wasn’t bestowed with the nickname “Smoking Joe” without good reason. The American-born heavyweight proved to be a brilliant talent as an amateur boxer. It was until his successful victory over Jimmy Ellis in 1970 that he was crowned the heavyweight champion of the world until his loss to George Foreman in 1973. Joe’s aggressive fighting style and powerful left hook earned him more than just the attention of boxing fans and promoters. In 1976, he would be cast in a legendary sports drama film with Sylvester Stallone, Rocky, where he made an appearance as himself in a boxing match against Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Before his death, he released a film of his life story, Joe Fraizer: When the Smoke Cleared, in 2010.
6 Roy Jones Jr.
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Perhaps one of the most animated and talented boxers in the sport of boxing in his time, even in comparison to Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr. was a special talent. Beginning in the junior middleweight division, he is the only boxer in history to begin his career as a middleweight fighter, become a champion in that division, and graduate to winning a heavyweight world championship. Besides his successful boxing career, Jones has also made appearances in movies alongside top-tier actors like Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishbourne in the Matrix Reloaded and his own documentary film, Roy Jones, Jr: The Heart of A Champion.
5 Antonio Tarver
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4 Mike Tyson
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Mike Tyson’s name has made waves at the heights of success and the pits of despair, making his career synonymous with fame and infamy. Tyson enjoyed a steady 20 years in the professional boxing arena from 1985 to 2005, winning his first 19 professional fights by way of knockout. He still holds the record for being the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title at 20 years old, earning him the nickname “Iron Mike” and “The Baddest Man on The Planet.” However, despite the controversy surrounding his boxing career, Tyson managed to break into acting. His first cameo appearance was in Play it To The Bone (1999), The Hangover Part 1, 2, and 3, Kickboxer: Retaliation, and many other movies where he made appearances.
3 Mike Tex Cobb
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You might remember him as the block-head character in The Golden Child starring Eddie Murphy, who was playing the security guard over the boy wonder. He gets manipulated by the child, who ends up being set free from the cage. Although he plays the dim-witted role to perfection, Randall Craig “Tex” Cobbs has a high IQ, both inside and outside the boxing ring. He’s been boxing professionally since 1975 and stopped in 2001, totaling 51 bouts – 41 of which were wins. His knockout punching power and brawler fighting style solidified his place in boxing history. But his acting career is where he would shine forth all the more. He played a number of villainous roles in movies such as Police Academy 4: Citizens of Patrol, Ernest Goes to Jail, Blind Fury, Pet Detective, Liar Liar, The Golden Child, and many other comedies as well as television series and sitcoms.
2 Roberto Duran
The Panamanian knockout artist nicknamed “Hands of Stone,” Roberto Duran was the definition of an unlimited boxer. During the time of his professional boxing career from 1967 to 2002, he reigned as world champion in four different weight classes, beginning with lightweight, then welterweight, junior-middleweight, and middleweight. With an impressive start to his boxing career, Duran flawlessly won the first 32 fights of his career, 26 of which were by knockout. He was recognized for his boxing prowess and, in 2007, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. But his talent hasn’t been limited to boxing. As an actor, he has appeared in movies like Rocky II (1979), Harlem Nights (1989), and Hands of Stone (2016).
1 Michael Bentt
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Born in East Dulwich, London but raised in Queens, Micahel Bentt enjoyed a victorious amateur boxing career before turning pro in the late 1980s. He was born of Jamaican heritage as his father and mother were both Jamaican citizens and credited his domineering father for forcing him into boxing. During his amateur career, he won four New York City Golden Gloves titles, including the right to fight on the Jamaican Olympic Boxing Team. In 1989, he made his first professional debut against Jerry Jones, which ended with Bentt being knocked out in the first round. The shame and mental anguish caused him to despise boxing and his father. But his natural gift as a communicator opened doors for a career in acting. He has worked with celebrities like Will Smith and Johnny Depp and has starred in movies like Ali, Public Enemies, and State Property 2 alongside famed rappers Dame Dash and Beanie Sigel.
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Sources: The Guardian, Sports Illustrated, Screen Rant, CBS Sports
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