We’ve got a thread about boxers portraying themselves, so why not one of those who played other boxers — real, verifiable prizefighters who actually had careers — on the big screen? I’m not talking about someone portraying a nameless or fictional boxer, but actual fighters. For instance: Coley Wallace portrayed Joe Louis in Raging Bull and The Joe Louis Story. James Toney was Joe Frazier in Ali, with Michael Bentt as Sonny Liston. Johnny Turner portrayed Laurent Dauthuille in Raging Bull. Charles Brewer played Michael Moorer in Big George Foreman, with Carlos Takam as Joe Frazier and Cedric Boswell as Sonny Liston. What are some others?
Arthur Abram played Max Schmeling's last opponent Richard Vogt. Ironically this is a case of a real boxer portraying a fighter somewhat less historically significant than himself.
Didnt Tony Danza (a real boxer) play Ray Mancini in a movie that also had Vic Mackey from The Shield as his manager?
Michael Bentt played Sonny Liston in Ali. I'm pretty sure this launched his 2nd career and he never cared much for pro boxing.
Hmmm, can’t find that anywhere. But there was a TV movie about Boom Boom where he was portrayed by Doug McKeon (an actor, not a boxer) but a guy whose only other role was in The Shield, a one-episode appearance (Steve Sotelo). EDIT: Aha! There was a TV movie called Body and Soul starring Ray Mancini and Michael Chiklis (who played Vic Mackey on The Shield) but it was entirely fictional … Ray didn’t portray himself or any other real-life boxer. Although Jeff Mayweather seems to have had a role (as a boxer? not sure). Tony Danza is not in it.
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad played Billy Fox in Raging Bull James Toney played Joe Frazier and Charles Shufford played George Foreman in Ali
2 incidences : 1 Michael Jai White playing iron Mike Tyson (not exactly a boxer, but is a striker, a student of boxing) it was a great movie, the first one lol. AND 2 Mickey ward playing as a fan in the arena at one of his fights in the movie "the fighter" a cheesy cameo of sorts lol.
Mushy Callahan played James J Corbett's legs in Gentleman Jim (Errol Flynn's footwork wasn't quite up to it).
Incidentally, Carl Weathers died a couple of days ago. He was a former NFL, not a boxer, but he became known worldwide by portraying Apollo Creed in the Rocky Saga, giving us some iconic (and very unrealistic) fight and train scenes. Trivia: initially it was Ken Norton the one chosen to be Apollo Creed, but at the end it was replaced by Weathers. This content is protected This content is protected
